One of the most unique things about hip hop music is that emphasis that is put on feature appearances. Very rarely do you get artists in other genres cross collaborate as frequently as you do in hip hop.
For some rap albums, the names of on the guest list is a big part of the marketing strategy. How many times have you listened to an album by an artist you weren’t familiar with just because some of your favourite rappers were feature appearances?
So, what makes a rap album one with a stacked guest features list? Is it purely on name basis? Not quite. I think the guest features have to deliver as well. So it’s volume of notable names along with the quality of verses delivered. Otherwise DJ Khaled albums would be all over this list (spoiler alert there’s only one DJ Khaled album on this list).
From Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy to Dr. Dre’s 2001 , here are 35 hip hop albums with the most stacked guest features.
35. DJ Khaled – Kiss the Ring
Released: August 21, 2012
Label: We the Best, Terror Squad, Young Money, Cash Money, Universal, Republic
Guest features: Scarface, Nas, T.I., Lil Wayne, Future, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, T-Pain, DJ Premier, French MOntana, Jadakiss, Birdman, 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Ace Hood, Plies, Wale, Tyga, Mack Maine, Kirko Bangz, Mavado.
34. Travis Scott – Rodeo
Released: September 4, 2015
Label: Grand Hustle, Epic
Guest features: Quavo, Future, 2 Chainz, Juicy J, Kacy Hill, The Weeknd, Swae Lee, Chief Keef, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Young Thug, Toro y Moi, Schoolboy Q.
33. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
Released: September 8, 2009
Label: Roc Nation, Asylum, Atlantic, Def Jam
Guest features: Kanye West, Drake, J. Cole, Kid Cudi, Pharrell, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Luke Steele, Young Jeezy, Swizz Beatz, Mr Hudson.
32. Gucci Mane – The State vs. Radric Davis
Released: December 8, 2009
Label: 1017 Brick Squad, Asylum, Warner Bros.
Guest features: Lil Wayne, Cam’ron, Rick Ross, Waka Flocka Flame, Soulja Boy, Usher, OJ da Juiceman, Plies, Bun B, Devin The Dude, E-40, Jadakiss, Birdman, Jason Caesar, Keyshia Cole, Mike Epps, Bobby V, Nicki Minaj, Trina, Wooh da Kid.
31. Jadakiss – Kiss tha Game Goodbye
Released: August 7, 2001
Label: Ruff Ryders, Interscope
Guest features: DMX, Nas, Pharrell, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Swizz Beatz, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Drag-On, Eve, Infra-Red, Fiend, 8Ball, Yung Wun, Ann Nesby, E. McCaine, Antoine Stanton, Bill Will, Cross, Icepick, Parle, Carl Thomas, Mashonda.
30. The Game – The Documentary 2
Released: October 9, 2015
Label: Blood Money Entertainment, eOne Music
Guest features: Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Dej Loaf, Sha Sha, Puff Daddy, will.i.am, Ab-Soul, Marcus Black, Jelly Roll, Q-Tip, Eric Bellinger, Future, Sonyae, Kanye West, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Fergie.
29. Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God
Released: October 30, 2020
Label: Conglomerate
Guest features: Rakim, Pete Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Q-Tip, Rick Ross, Anderson .Paak, M.O.P., Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Rapsody, Vybz Kartel, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Bell Biv DeVoe, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Chris Rock.
28. Mobb Deep – Murda Muzik
Released: August 17, 1999
Label: Loud, Columbia
Guest features: Nas, Kool G Rap, Raekwon, Lil’ Kim, Cormega, Big Noyd, Chinky, Lil’ Cease, 8Ball, Infamous Mobb.
27. Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs
Released: October 19, 1999
Label: Rawkus, Priority
Guest features: Lady Luck, Method Man & Redman, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Busta Rhymes, Canibus, M.O.P., Apani B. Fly, Common, Talib Kweli.
26. Pusha T – My Name Is My Name
Released: October 7, 2013
Label: GOOD Music, Def Jam
Guest features: Kendrick Lamar, Pharrell, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Ab-Liva, The-Dream, Young Jeezy, Kevin Cossom, Kelly Rowland, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Future.
25. Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
Released: July 8, 2016
Label: TDE, Interscope
Guest features: Kanye West, Jadakiss, Lance Skiiiwalker, Vince Staples, Candice Pillay, E-40, Tha Dogg Pound, SZA, Anderson .Paak, Miguel, Justine Skye, Traffic, TF.
24. Drake – Take Care
Released: November 15, 2011
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Republic
Guest features: Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Andre 3000, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Birdman, Nicki Minaj.
23. Westside Gunn – Pray for Paris
Released: April 17, 2020
Label: Griselda, EMPIRE
Guest features: Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Joey Badass, Tyler, the Creator, Billie Essco, Wale, Joyce Wrice, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Keisha Plum, Cartier Williams.
22. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV
Released: August 29, 2011
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Republic
Guest features: Drake, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Tech N9ne, Andre 3000, Nas, Bun B, Shyne, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, John Legend, Cory Gunz.
21. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Released: May 23, 2000
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
Guest features: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Nate Dogg, RBX, Sticky Fingaz, D12, Dina Rae.
20. Dr. Dre – 2001
Released: November 16, 1999
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
Guest features: Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, Xzibit, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, Hittman, Six-Two, Defari, Knoc-turn’al, Time Bomb, King T, MC Ren, Kokane, Mary J. Blige, Rell.
19. PRhyme – PRhyme
Released: December 9, 2014
Label: PRhyme, INgrooves
Guest features: Ab-Soul, Mac Miller, Dwele, Common, Jay Electronica, Schoolboy Q, Killer Mike, Slaughterhouse.
18. Kanye West – Late Registration
Released: August 30, 2005
Label: Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
Guest features: Jay-Z, Nas, Common, Adam Levine, Lupe Fiasco, Jamie Foxx, Paul Wall, GLC, The Game, Brandy, Really Doe, Consequence, Cam’ron.
17. Big L – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Released: March 28, 1995
Label: Columbia
Guest features: Kid Capri, Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Big Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J., Mike Boogie, Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay-Z, Party Arty, Grand Daddy I.U.
16. LL Cool J – Phenomenon
Released: October 14, 1997
Label: Def Jam, PolyGram
Guest features: Busta Rhymes, Canibus, DMX, Master P, Method Man, Redman, The Lost Boyz, Tamia, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, LeShaun, Keith Sweat.
15. A$AP Rocky – LONG.LIVE.A$AP
Released: January 15, 2013
Label: ASAP Worldwide, Polo Grounds, RCA
Guest features: Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz, Drake, Big K.R.I.T., Santigold, Overdoz, Yelawolf, Florence Welch, Danny Brown, Action Bronson, Joey Badass, Gunplay, ASAP Ferg, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Pharrell.
14. T.I. – King
Released: March 28, 2006
Label: Grand Hustle, Atlantic
Guest features: UGK, Jamie Foxx, B.G., Young Jeezy, Young Buck, Young Dro, DJ Drama, Pharrell, Common, P$C, Governor.
13. Dr. Dre – The Chronic
Released: December 15, 1992
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Guest features: Snoop Dogg, RBX, Jewell, Daz Dillinger, Warren G, Nate Dogg, The Lady of Rage, Kurupt, Bushwick Bill.
12. Tech N9ne – All 6’s and 7’s
Released: June 7, 2011
Label: Strange Music
Guest features: B.o.B., Hopsin, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Krizz Kaliko, Snoop Dogg, E-40, Jay Rock, Ceza, JL B.Hood, USO, Yelawolf, Twista, Busta Rhymes, D-Loc, Twisted Insane.
11. DMX – Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
Released: December 22, 1998
Label: Def Jam, Ruff Ryders
Guest features: Jadakiss, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Marilyn Manson, Swizz Beatz, Drag-On.
10. Rick Ross – Teflon Don
Released: July 20, 2010
Label: Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide, Def Jam
Guest features: Jay-Z, Cee Lo Green, T.I., Jadakiss, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Diddy, Trey Songs, Gucci Mane, Styles P, Drake, Chrisette Michele, Raphael Saadiq.
9. Puff Daddy & The Family – No Way Out
Released: July 22, 1997
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
Guest features: The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Mase, Lil’ Kim, Carl Thomas, Black Rob, The LOX, Genuine, Twists, Foxy BRown, Faith Evans, 112.
8. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Piñata
Released: March 18, 2014
Label: Madlib Invazion
Guest features: Danny Brown, Raekwon, Domo Genesis, Earl Sweatshirt, Scarface, Ab-Soul, Polyester the Saint, BJ the Chicago Kid, Big Time Watts, G-Wiz, Casey Veggies, Sulaiman, Meechy Darko, Mac Miller.
7. Marley Marl – In Control, Volume 1
Released: September 20, 1988
Label: Cold Chillin’, Warner Bros.
Guest features: Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Craig G, Tragedy Khadfai, Masta Ace, Action, MC Shan, Roxanne Shante, Heavy D.
6. Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Released: September 29, 1998
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Guest features: DMX, The LOX, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Jaz-O, Too $hort, Ja Rule, Amil, Foxy Brown, Sauce Money, Kid Capri, Jermaine Dupri.
5. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Released: March 25, 1997
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
Guest features: Jay-Z, The LOX, Mase, Puff Daddy, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 112, Lil’ Kim, Too Short, DMC, Carl Thomas, Angela Winbush, R. Kelly, Kelly Price.
4. 2Pac – All Eyez on Me
Released: February 13, 1996
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Guest features: Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Dru Down, Hussein Fatal, Yaki Kadafi, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Redman, Method Man, K-Ci and JoJo, Rappin’ 4-Tay, Dramacydal, C-Bo, Storm, Roger Troutman, Danny Boy, George Clinton, Nanci Fletcher, Jewell, The Outlawz, Big Syke, CPO, Richie Rich, Michel’le, Mutah, E-40, B-Legit, D-Shot.
3. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service
Released: November 11, 2016
Label: Epic
Guest features: André 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, Elton John, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, Talib Kweli, Consequence, Busta Rhymes.
2. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Released: November 22, 2010
Label: Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
Guest features: Jay-Z, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, Raekwon, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Swizz Beatz, Cyhi the Prynce, RZA, John Legend.
1. UGK – Underground Kingz
Released: August 7, 2007
Label: Jive
Guest features: OutKast, Too Short, Charlie Wilson, Willie D, Z-Ro, Scarface, Jazze Pha, Rick Ross, Dizzee Rascal, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Slim Thug, Vicious, Middle Fingaz, Young T.O.E., DJ B-Do, Pimpin’ Ken, Talib Kweli, Raheem DeVaughn.
