I’m ranking my personal favorite rap albums for each year of the genre’s history.  These are my favorites, i.e., the ones I most like to listen to–and the ones I still listen to.  It’s not the most important rap albums of each year (although there is definitely crossover) and it’s not your favorite rap albums.  If I’ve missed any, fee free to drop me a comment and lmk.

Each year so far I’ve tried to do a top 10 list where every entry was a classic, a GOAT, an album with no wasted cuts.  (Except for skits.  I f-ing hate skits.). But some years, there haven’t been ten records that meet my definition.

1997 was such a year.

What’s interesting, though, is that the top three of the year are three of my all-time favorite rap albums.  Each of them are albums I still listen to regularly.

But those are the only three albums released this year that meet my criteria.

So, instead of a top 10 list, I’ve got a top 4 and then a bunch of albums that are mostly good but just not perfect enough for me to count them as GOATs.  Why not?  Some have filler tracks.  Some haven’t aged well.  Whatever.

Here’s my list for the year:

Very good, almost-classics, but just not quite…

• Soundbombing by Rawkus Records.
• RU Still Down (Remember Me?) by 2Pac.  This is probably the last of his posthumous releases that still had more really good songs than mediocre ones.
• For the People by Boot Camp Clik.  Boot Camp as a collective were never as good as they were in their individual projects, but this album is their best.
• Jewelz by The O.C.  A critical success but a sales flop.  Too bad.  It’s been largely forgotten, but it’s great.
• The Untouchable by Scarface.
• Uptown Saturday Night by Camp-Lo.  Maybe the most fun you’ll have listening to 1997 rap.

4. Wu Tang Forever by Wu Tang Clan.  Enter the 36 Chambers is easily one of the most important albums in the history of rap.  Wu Tang Forever, a sprawling double-album, is…Not.  But it’s also not a terrible album.  It’s not even a bad one.  It’s just that as the follow up to one of the greatest of all time, it feels bloated.  Take another listen, though, and try to hear it without the baggage of their debut and I’ll bet you’ll appreciate it more.

3. In My Lifetime Vol. 1 by Jay-Z.  While writing this album, Biggie Smalls was assassinated–leading to a darker overall tone for this album and putting a bit of a “less fun” pall over Jay-Z’s boastful, “The City is Mine.”  Still a great album, though.

2. Supadupafly by Missy Elliot.  It’s probably hard for people who weren’t around when this came out to understand just how important this record was.  It had a kind of stoner vibe that was new and fresh–thanks largely to Timbaland’s innovative production–and although there had been “important” female rappers before, there’d never been one with the swagger, confidence, and incredible skill of Missy.  As I listened to it again for this post, I heard its influences on everyone from Kanye West to Megan Thee Stallion.

It’s really a damn shame Biggie’s album came out this year because this album really could have been #1.

1. Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G.  Technically a posthumous release, Biggie was still alive when the album was being finalized–it came out a couple weeks after he was shot.  It was ambitious with no filler whatsoever.  Probably (definitely) the best double-album in hip hop history–and one of the best examples of the genre.  Period.

I’m ranking my personal favorite rap albums for each year of the genre’s history.  These are my favorites, i.e., the ones I most like to listen to–and the ones I still listen to.  It’s not the most important rap albums …