The 25 Best Crew Albums in Hip-Hop History

If sharing is caring, then consider rappers to be the most thoughtful people around. Crew albums are a chance for those rappers to showcase each member of their team, while drafting off the leader's established success. Crews are nothing new, but they're definitely bigger than ever—certainly in terms of member numbers—with A$AP, Odd Future, G.O.O.D., MMG and YMCMB all making a tremendous impact in hip-hop today.

As a rule, we define a group as an established faction with one collective voice, like the Clipse. A crew is a collection of solo artists or groups with a similar affiliation, like Star Trak. Therefore, we can't include Slaughterhouse, or other supergroups like The Firm and Westside Connection. Rap crews are like sports teams: Some are stocked with all-star players, and some just need to play their position. So squad up with Complex as we explore The 25 Best Crew Albums in Hip-Hop History.

Written by Eric and Jeff Rosenthal (@itsthereal)

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Label: Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records

Best Song: "Every Girl"

In December 2009, Lil' Wayne's roster, Young Money, put out their debut collective album, creatively titled We Are Young Money. Drake's wildly-popular "Every Girl," the everyone-gets-a-verse "Bedrock," and Nicki's contribution to "Roger That" each excelled, providing the blueprint for every crew album that has come out in the past three years, even if we heard enough Lil' Chuckee for a lifetime in the process.

Label: Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Full Cooperation"

Out of the ashes of the East Coast collective Hit Squad—once the happy home to EPMD and their understudies—superior lyricists Redman, Erick Sermon, and Keith Murray banded together in 1998 to form a new crew: Def Squad.

Their only album, El Nino, debuted that year, featuring the single "Full Cooperation," other bounce tracks like the Warriors-sampling "Can U Dig It?", and climbed the charts to No. 2, eventually going gold. But just like the unpredictable weather systems the album is named after, the crew has seemingly been laying in wait, ever since.

Label: Disturbing The Peace/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Gettin' Some"

At some point in the last 15 years, the Illuminati board of directors voted that all crews must fill the following positions: Boss, Weed Carrier, Female Rapper, Long-Time Best Friend Who Raps, Duo on the Shelf, Newly-Signed Duo Who Was on Someone Else's Shelf, and Male and Female R&B Singers.

And Ludacris, not wanting to break the rules, filled those slots accordingly: Ludacris, Lil' Fate, Shawnna, I-20, Playaz Circle, Field Mob, Bobby V and Shareefa. Longevity nor double-dates were not the big goal for this crew, but happily a few good songs were a result, like "Two Miles An Hour (Remix)," Field Mob's "Georgia" and Shawnna's smash, "Gettin' Some."

Label: Arista Records

Best Song: "Trans DF Express"

The funky, wild, out-of-this-world Dungeon Family (OutKast, Goodie Mob, Organized Noize, and lots of friends) only came together for one official album, Even in Darkness. The music which lives up to the billing, is truly funky, wild, and out-of-this-world, especially "Trans DF Express," "Rollin'," and "White Gutz," but the real achievement here is that the album was even finished, considering there are 20+ people featured. Excellent music comes at a cost, and that cost: deadlines.

Label: Murder Inc./Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Down 4 U"

Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. crew ran the Billboard charts in the late '90s and early Aughts, so it only made sense to put out a couple of compilation albums to capitalize on their success and push their artists not named Ashanti and Ja Rule.

Sure enough, Murder Inc. productions "Down 4 U" and "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" went straight to the top of the charts... thanks to Ashanti and Ja Rule. Songs like "Ride With Us" featuring Jody Mack, Black Child, 0-1, Merc, Ronnie Bumps, D.O. and Caddillac Tah, didn't fare as well, unless you're talking trivia.

Label: Cash Money/Universal Records

Best Song: "Project Bitch"

According to Wikipedia, the film Baller Blockin' revolved around Juvenile's character Tanuk going into the drug business with Beatrice (Beatrice?) and Iceberg Shorty (played by Birdman and Lil' Wayne, respectively). The soundtrack was good, but the movie was incredible. No, wait, we spelled terrible wrong. Whoooooops.

Label: No Limit Records

Best Song: "Burbons and Lacs"

Some would consider this a solo album, but let's get real: It's got more than 40 guest verses, all culled from the ranks of No Limit soldiers. In fact, the point spread goes even wider: Silkk Tha Shocker has 11 spots himself, but—because he raps not-quite-over his own vocals—it's really more like 22.

Label: Purple Ribbon/Virgin Records

Best Song: "Kryptonite"

On this 2005 compilation, Outkast's Big Boi plays principal Joe Clark, taking a ragtag group of misfits and yes, outcasts, and shaping them up into a competitive, fun, witty bunch. Previous administrations didn't know what to do with Killer Mike, Bubba Sparxxx, BlackOwned C-Bone, Janealle Monae, and company, but Big Boi saw the big picture.

The lynchpin of Got Purp? Vol. 2 is definitely "Kryptonite," which has become an Atlanta anthem, and is a staple for every DJ from Earth to Krypton that thinks they're super.

Label: Bad Boy Records

Best Song: "Let's Get It"

"Bad Boy for Life" means a lot to our culture, and so—before we go any further—let's pour a little out for all those who have moved on: Black Rob, Mark Curry, G-Dep, Loon, Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, Kain, Kokane, Cheri Dennis, Mario Winans, Lo & Jack, Bristal, The Hoodfellaz. The saga continues...just not for anyone besides Diddy. But while he was running with this set, they turned out a ton of hits, kicking off Diddy's reign of influence in yet another millennium.

Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "When You Hear That"

Hip-hop in large cities is usually divided by crew or borough or affiliation. What happens if you choose to combine forces? Captain Planet, obviously. But in hip-hop, what happens when you bring together the best rappers from one city together? You get State Property.

While their first effort together, the soundtrack to the film State Property was solid, their followup, The Chain Gang, Vol. 2, was one hell of a project. The Philly collective consisting of Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Young Gunz, Peedi Crakk, Oschino and Sparks, recorded gems like "G.A.M.E.," "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," and "It's On," which featured Beanie Sigel rapping with label boss Jay-Z. Almost 10 years after its release, this album stays in rotation, even if SP is at a standstill.

Label: Shady/Interscope Records

Best Song: "Purple Pills"

As much as he made fun of N*Sync and BSB, Eminem was the face of pop in 2001, and a regular on TRL (and teenybopper magazine covers). He was also rapping at his very best. At the top of the world, Eminem assembled his boy band in the same manner as Lou Pearlman, getting the cute one, the funny one, the shy one and the bad boy.

Then he realized that, in fact, they were all worse than bad boys: Proof, Kon Artis, Bizarre, Kuniva, Swifty and Em went as far out of their way as possible to gross out kids and shock parents. "Purple Pills," their hit single, devolves into Bizarre's verse: "Shut your mouth you dirty slut/You know you want it in your butt/I'll put it in your cunt/Let Bizarre nut." Carson Daly-approved!

Label: Big Beat Records

Best Song: "Get Money"

The funniest thing about Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Conspiracy album is that the people hating on it for being too derivative of Biggie's music, are the same ones who wish music today sounded like "Player's Anthem," "Get Money," and "I Need You Tonight." At the time, Biggie was coming off one of the greatest albums in the genre's history, and his skills were still intact, to a masterful degree.

The second funniest thing about Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Conspiracy album is the music video for "I Need You Tonight," in which the crew throws a house party at Lil' Kim's while she's away negotiating with drug kingpins.

Label: Rap-A-Lot Records

Best Song: "Still Tippin"

This album marked the first appearance of "Still Tippin," the first time that the Houston scene was really presented in a way that America could understand, and the first time that white people were confused by the pronunciation of "Chamillionaire." Unfortunately, all anyone remembers is Mike Jones putting the "Who?" in HOUston. #2813308004 RT RT RT

Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Celebration"

Roc-A-fella Records' first attempt at promoting artists on their label en masse was 1998's Streets Is Watching, the soundtrack to the film of the same name. Roc artists like DJ Clue, Rell, Christión, and Memphis Bleek, teamed with Noreaga, DMX, Ja Rule, M.O.P., and Sauce Money, and collectively pushed the album to No. 3 on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts. It probably didn't hurt to have a certain label boss and burgeoning superstar with his hands all over the lead single, "It's Alright." That's right: the track's co-producer, Dame Dash.

Label: Tommy Boy Records

Best Song: "Ebonics (Premo Mix)"

The Diggin' In The Crates crew—made up of Big L, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, OC, Fat Joe, Buckwild, AG and Showbiz—was hard-hitting, tongue-twisting, with wind-it-back rhymes and looping flows; a cipher that ran more like a relay race.

They were the soundtrack to many a Stretch & Bobbito block, pumping out of radios all over the city a decade ago. And yet, the album didn't perform well, having been delayed over and over. In the time it took to press the disc—a span of two years—both Big L and D.I.T.C. associate Big Pun died, marking the end of an era, and the end of a sound.

Label: Terror Squad/SRC/Universal Records

Best Song: "Lean Back"

True story: You probably didn't think this album would be this good. True story: it is. It's the soundtrack of stick-ups and smackdowns, a rumbling terrordome of a listening experience that stabs brains with nose bones. "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" and "Hum Drum" are Funk Flex staples, and while Tony Sunshine is a weak link, one can't argue with songs like "Lean Back" or else Remy Ma will shoot you. True story.

Label: Maybach Music Group/Warner Bros. Records

Best Song: "Ima Boss"

Rick Ross was supposed to disappear, but—especially in 2011—there was more Ross to go around than ever. On a project that was meant to capitalize off his burgeoning star power, Ross contributed to 11 of 15 tracks.

Hits included "Tupac Back" and "Ima Boss" with Meek Mill, and "600 Benz" with Wale and Jadakiss. Pill drew the second single with "Pacman," but no one really listened to it and so he was out of the group. Luckily, Pill made statements saying that he was never in the group in the first place, even though he was definitely on the cover, but sure! Case closed. *wipes hands*

Label: G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Clique"

Some said Cruel Summer was disappointing, lacking the distinctive vision and quality control Kanye has always provided. Is he too preoccupied with Kim? Or maybe he's uninspired? Or maybe it's great, and everyone who feels differently is wrong. The debate isn't ending anytime soon, but the fact that his album is of such importance to rap fans, says it all. G.O.O.D. Music made a massive statement on Cruel Summer and the album stand alongside hip-hop's best crew albums for the rest of time.

Label: Ruff Ryders/Interscope Records

Best Song: "Down Bottom"

Remember being 16-years-old, riding around in a blacked-out SUV, blasting "Down Bottom" to deafening degrees while passing suburban mothers and children, and thinking you were either the baddest motherfucker in the world or the deadliest. In hindsight, you were neither, but yes, this compilation will put some hair on your chest.

Label: G-Unit/Interscope Records

Best Song: "Poppin' Them Thangs"

This is how we choose to remember G-Unit: their clique tight, their attitudes loose, and their music brooding yet playful. "Stunt 101" announce the crew on a large scale, "I Smell Pussy" was another foot on the chest of Murder Inc., and over a powerful piano loop from Scott Storch, "Poppin' Them Things" has one of the best opening lines ever: "After the VMAs, my baby mama cuss my ass out/Kicked her ass, we back friends, like Puffy and Steve Stoute."

G-Unit went on to become one of the great soap operas in music, but let's not forget when it was plain ol' great. And that said, if you claim G-Unit and you're not 50, Banks, or Yayo, you're Kidd Kidding yourself.

Label: Death Row/Interscope Records

Best Song: "Natural Born Killaz"

Dr. Dre produced much of the soundtrack to Murder Was the Case; the film had Snoop making a deal with the devil. [INSERT SUGE KNIGHT JOKE HERE.] The best song on the soundtrack was "Natural Born Killaz," reuniting Ice Cube and Dre for the first time after having made their pact with the devil. [INSERT JERRY HELLER JOKE HERE.] And, two decades later, Dr. Dre just can't get away from the devil. [INSERT WILL.I.AM JOKE HERE.]

Label: Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "1-900-HUSTLER"

Ostensibly another Jay-Z album—strictly for marketing purposes—this compilation is the perfect example of how to introduce your team. For many consumers, the first time they met Pharrell and "that Neptune sound" was on "I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me)."

The first time they met Freeway was on "1-900-Hustler." The first time they met Just Blaze and Kanye West was on "The R.O.C." and "This Can't Be Life," respectively. The first time they met Beanie Sigel and Amil was on "You, Me, Him and Her." (Interestingly enough, that may also have been the last time people heard Amil.) And for all that, The Dynasty lives on.

Label: Roc-A-Fella/Diplomat/Def Jam Records

Best Song: "Dipset Anthem"

In a time before ego split them up, the Diplomats gave any and all of their friends a microphone; the group was truly democratic in that sense. Jim Jones—the crew's video director and Co-CEO—suddenly became a rapper, and an important one at that.

Thankfully, much of the heavy lifting fell into the hands of Killa Cam, Juelz Santana, Just Blaze and the Heatmakerz. It's like what Kanye said about his own debut: "If [my] raps is wack at least we can throw Cam on every song and save the album."

Label: Bad Boy Records

Best Song: "It's All About the Benjamins"

Sure, No Way Out has always been presented as a solo album, but, much like putting together Puffy's lyrics, it's a group project. (While Dr. Dre's The Chronic and 2001 guest stars many of his protégés, you always get the impression that it's a singular vision: His own.) With Puff, one simply can't argue with proven hits—classics like David Bowie's "Let's Dance," The Police's "Every Breath I Take," and "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash, are sampled, and still sound incredible today.

A tour de force that featured possibly the best collective ever, the bonds soon broke: Biggie was killed, Ma$e retired, The LOX left, Faith Evans came and went, 112 flamed out, etc. Then again, there is one lasting example of crew love: Bad Boy producer Stevie J, who is now synonymous with VH1's Love & Hip-Hop.

Label: Loud Records

Best Song: "C.R.E.A.M."

Wu-Tang is not just a group, like Goodie Mob and A Tribe Called Quest: it's a spiraling collective of a dozen voices, each of them becoming stars in the process. Even before the clan came together, members like GZA had released solo projects. But you know all that. And honestly, what can be said about this album that hasn't been said before? "That ODB, he was great." "GZA is a genius, and not just in name." "Raekwon and Ghostface Killah something something." No. Come on. Do better.

This album has been celebrated in every aspect over the past two decades, and for many good reasons. If you honestly don't know how good it is, lock yourself in your room and think about what you've done—and don't come down for dinner. There's simply nothing else to say! Except that it sucks that Wu-Tang is responsible for Childish Gambino's name. That doesn't get said often enough, for sure.