Over the past couple of years, Hit-Boy has worked with some of the biggest artists in hip-hop: Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and several others. His production style and skills stem from his keen ear, an appreciation of rap classics, and his ability to reinvent that passion.
He's also an up-and-coming MC, whose first project, HITstory, dropped this year. When the opportunity presented, itself we jumped at the chance to speak with the mastermind behind "N****s In Paris" and "Clique" about his favorite albums of all time.
He chose a wide variety of timeless hip-hop LPs, some essential R&B projects, and even mixed in a little gospel. Read on for the stories behind his favorite albums.
As told to Zach Frydenlund (@ThaRealPchopz)
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25. TROOP, Attitude (1989)
Label: Atlantic
Hit-Boy: "This was my first musical inspiration in life, ever. My uncle was in the group so I always got to see them perform the songs off this album and listen to it. This album got me started in being such a huge R&B fan with joints like, "All I Do Is Think Of You" and "I Will Always Love You." You can still play those and shorties will not have a problem with it to this day."
24. The Winans, The Definitive Original Greatest Hits (2005)
23. King Tee, Thy Kingdom Come (1998)
Label: Aftermath/Interscope
Hit-Boy: "This was supposed to be the first album released on Aftermath back in the day. King Tee has one of the illest voices in rap history. If for no other fact, you should peep this album because Ben Baller had something to do with it. A&R swag."
22. Lloyd Banks, The Hunger for More (2004)
Label: G-Unit/Interscope
Hit-Boy: "The beats were retarded on this album and Banks was snapping on every song. This is a must."
21. Rich Boy, Rich Boy (2007)
Label: Interscope
Hit-Boy: "I was involved with Zone 4 at the time and seen the process of making this album so it means a bit more to me. The beats were amazing, Polow was the man back then so you couldn't go wrong with beats by him at the time. I feel like they put it together well and Rich Boy has an ill voice. I fuck with this album heavy."
20. Joe, My Name is Joe (2000)
Label: Jive
Hit-Boy: "This shit solidified my love for R&B. These songs are a perfect example of what I think the genre should be. Every joint is dope 'til this day."
19. Destiny's Child, Destiny Fulfilled (2004)
Label: Columbia
Hit-Boy: "All jams."
18. DMX, It's Dark and Hell is Hot (1998)
Label: Ruff Ryders/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "He was talking that shit and telling great stories with an amazing energy. If you wasn't knocking this shit back in the day, you really wasn't shit."
17. Musiq Soulchild, Aijuswanaseing (2000)
Label: Def Soul
Hit-Boy: "Incredible body of work, top to bottom. If I could sing, I'd make this kind of album. The soulfulness in it was felt on another level."
16. Xzibit, Restless (2000)
Label: Loud
Hit-Boy: "Gangsta shit at it's finest. Real West Coast music. Battlecat had some of his best beats on this album and X had a crazy energy. This was my shit and still is."
15. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter (2004)
Label: Cash Money/Universal
Hit-Boy: "I was always a fan of Wayne but this album did it for me and turned me into a real listener. My cousins back East were on this shit heavy and told me to listen. From the first time I heard it I loved this album. Wayne got his bars up and snapped on all the joints."
14. Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "And to think I almost had a shot at getting on this album. Yhis shit was fresh as is all 'Ye's shit, but the musicality showed is what really got me. The layering of music on certain songs just showed that 'Ye cares about bringing newness every time. Like listen to the end of 'Monster,' putting piano chords on a hard ass track that can play in the club is insane."
13. Mary J. Blige, What's The 411? (1992)
Label: Uptown
Hit-Boy: "The jazzy-ness is what's so ill about this album. Combining jazzy chords with hip-hop drums was some fresh swag shit."
12. Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle (1993)
Label: Death Row
Hit-Boy: "If you're from the West and this isn't one of your fav albums, kill yourself. Niggas took funk and made it gangsta on a whole other level."
11. Kanye West, Graduation (2007)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "This was pure blackout era for Kanye rap-wise. He was snapping on a different level this time. This shit is forever classic. The mood was pure and you could tell 'Ye would be around for a very long time."
10. 2Pac, All Eyez on Me (1996)
Label: Death Row
Hit-Boy: "Pac at his finest. There were just plain old good songs on this shit."
9. Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
Label: Aftermath/Interscope
Hit-Boy: "I was in 7th grade when this shit dropped and it was a phenomenon. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing this album. Now that I'm older and understand sonics I can see why. Every sound was in the perfect place as is anything Dr. Dre is associated with. The content on this album is on an unmatched level in energy and being able to really believe what the artist is saying."
8. R. Kelly, TP-2.com (2000)
Label: Jive
Hit-Boy: "There will never in life be a time when you can't just put this album on and take your significant other down to it. Some of the best R&B music ever put together. The production and songs are top-tier."
7. Outkast, Aquemini (1998)
Label: LaFace
Hit-Boy: "The fresh sound this brought to rap music was necessary, using live instruments with hard ass drums and shit. Crazy. The mood on most of these records is crazy, the transitions with the skits and shit were genius."
6. Usher, Confessions (2004)
Label: LaFace
Hit-Boy: "Incredible top to bottom."
5. Dr. Dre, 2001 (1999)
Label: Aftermath/Interscope
Hit-Boy: "Best West Coast album ever. Every song was perfect."
4. Jay-Z and Kanye West, Watch The Throne (2011)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam/Roc Nation
Hit-Boy: "Modern day classic shit. This brought a freshness to music again, was totally necessary. This album is on the other side of what you hear everyday. Everything sounds new and the raps were stunt-y as fuck. All inspiration."
3. Jay-Z, The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2002)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "Double discs full of swag. The beats and rhymes perfectly complemented each other. Amazing shit."
2. Kanye West, Late Registration (2005)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "The content showed that 'Ye was a force in this shit and was gonna be around. The sonics on this album with all the orchestral moments were fucking awesome. Great shit."
1. Jay-Z, The Blueprint (2001)
Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Hit-Boy: "First album I ever took my own money and bought. One of the greatest bodies of work ever put together. The realness of his stories mixed with the soulful beats. Shit was good as an old time blues album and you could bang it in any setting as such. Pure genius."