10 Essential Albums by Lil Rappers

Lil rappers have created some incredible important albums over the years, but one Lil stands out in terms of the sheer amount of music released, as well as his impact on music in general, and that's Lil Wayne. Last month, we highlighted his lasting impact through quotes from his peers, and for this list we limited ourselves to two Wayne albums in order to spread a lil love.

From Lil Kim's groundbreaking debut to Lil Uzi Vert's breakthrough project, here are 10 crucial albums from Lil rappers.

Release date: Dec. 6, 2005

Essential tracks: "Hustler Musik," "Best Rapper Alive"

There are several points in Lil Wayne's career where his evolution is evident, but none as obvious as 2005's Tha Carter II. In the year and a half since Tha Carter, Lil Wayne had leveled up. He showcases his newly harnessed songwriting skills on tracks like "Hustler Muzik" and "Fireman," hinting at his monstrous hit-making ability that would eventually drive him to the top of the charts. Even more impressive, he revealed an insatiable hunger to prove himself as the premier lyricist in hip-hop. Throughout the album, particularly on the hook-less "Fly In" and "Fly Out," Wayne flexed the cerebral athleticism that would end up making him one of the most respected rappers in modern times. At the time of its release, Tha Carter II was an exceptional step up. Looking back, this masterful combination of raw talent and polished skill was a clear sign that Wayne was bound for greatness.

Release date: Nov. 12, 1996

Essential tracks: "Big Momma Thang," "Crush On You," "Queen B@#$H"

When Lil Kim dropped Hard Core, there was no one else like her in rap. She was raunchy, confident, and delivered bars that stood up against the best in the game at the time. Kim kicked down the door for the many unapologetic women that came after her—Hard Core was as sexy as the R&B albums of the time but also just as dark as the grittiest hip-hop. It was one of the most memorable hip-hop debuts and over 20 years later, we can still see Lil Kim's influence on the rappers making waves today.

Release date: Aug. 15, 2017

Essential tracks: "Save That Shit," "Awful Things," "U Said"

Sitting somewhere between emo revival and rap, Lil Peep was an innovator taken from us far too soon. Bringing authenticity to his genre-blending style, his debut album Come Over When You’re Sober Pt. 1 was supposed to be the start of his career, not the end. Dying exactly three months after its release from same drugs that helped him cope in life, he presented a tragic portrait of an artist struggling to get by. “Sometimes life gets fucked up / That’s why we get fucked up,” he sings on “U Said.”

Self-medicating is something more and more young people turn to, and no one was capable of depicting that battle better than Peep. His hurt helped so many feel they weren’t alone, and while we never got the second part of Come Over, his impact will be long-lasting. His understanding of songwriting, as well as his unfiltered honesty, made him an underground legend who had all the tools to cross over.

Release date: Feb. 27, 2012

Essential tracks: "I Own Swag," "God Help Me," "I Love You"

Of all the rappers on this list, Lil B easily has the most intimidating discography. With countless mixtapes, collaborations, and even ambient albums, Lil B is unclassifiable, constantly shifting from one song to the next. What he lacks in cohesion he makes up for with sheer quantity, frequently showing flashes of idiosyncratic brilliance. To pick just one tape from him isn't easy, but God's Father is his masterpiece, containing a little of everything that makes him so fascinating.

Rapping over everything from Final Fantasy to vaporwave-inspired samples, it's one of his most consistently enjoyable releases so far. There's not a bad track on here, and remains entertaining even when he misses the mark. Hyphy one moment and unclassifiable the next, God's Father runs 90 minutes across over 30 tracks and somehow manages to never outstay its welcome.

Release date: April 15, 2016

Essential tracks: "Money Longer," "Ps & Qs," "You Was Right"

It’s difficult to pin down just one project from Lil Uzi Vert because he brings his A-game to all of his releases. Our decision came down to which of the singles and highlight tracks made the biggest waves, and Vs. The World was the first time Uzi came across as a rockstar. Previous project Luv Is Rage introduced a lot of people to Uzi’s distinctive melodic style, but Vs. The World is where he perfected the formula.

Nothing here reached the level of “XO Tour Llif3,” but "Money Longer," "Ps & Qs," and "You Was Right" were all huge moments which provided the launchpad for Uzi's ascent to mainstream star status. The promise is already clear on Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World, and nothing provides a better, filler-free example of his talents. 

Release date: Oct. 29, 2002

Essential tracks: "Get Low," "I Don't Give A...," "Rep Yo City"

Don't dismiss Lil Jon's music because of his outsized personality or his later career moves (looking at you, "Turn Down For What"). In the early 2000s Lil Jon was an undeniable force, hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts with "Get Low" from Kings Of Crunk, which would be the first of two multi-platinum albums to crack the Top 20 of the Billboard album chart. Not only did Kings of Crunk come with tracks to turn the club up throughout, it brought crunk to the mainstream without sacrificing any of the genre's lewd, in-your-face energy.

Kings of Crunk isn't about lyrics or message, but it slaps just as hard over 15 years later, and will always stand as a marker in rap's evolution into mainstream pop culture.

Release date: Oct. 10, 2013

Essential tracks: "Dis Ain't What U Want," "Bang Bros," "52 Bars, Pt. 2," "Who Is This"

Chief Keef was the biggest name to emerge from Chicago's drill scene in the 2010s, but Lil Durk released one of the best and most consistent projects. Signed to the Streets was released after Durk had signed to Def Jam as part of a joint venture with his Only The Family label, but none of his mixtape magic was lost on the DJ Drama-hosted project, which crashed the DatPiff website when it was released. 

Signed to the Streets is punishing and unforgiving, painting a bleak picture of life in the streets, but the excellent production from Young Chop, Paris Beuller, and Zaytoven paired with Durk's impressive songwriting stops the tape from ever feeling repetitive. "Dis Ain't What U Want" was the big hit, but "Bang Bros" might be the most interesting track. As more and more rappers focus on melody and sing-song deliveries, the airy "Bang Bros" wouldn't sound out of place at all on a playlist of some of 2018's biggest rap tracks.

Release date: June 10, 2008

Essential tracks: "A Milli," "Shoot Me Down," "DontGetIt," "Lollipop"

Tha Carter III may be the most obvious selection on this entire list. What makes C3 essential is the wider pop cultural impact and validation that Lil Wayne may have become, by 2008, the greatest rapper alive. After this album we watched a Southern, eccentric, Auto-tuned,  face tatted artist win Grammys for his craft, beating out A-listers like Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, and Nas, three of the most acclaimed lyricists of all time.

Now more than ever, hip-hop is filled with face tattoos, genre-blending production, melodies, and outlandish style coming from young acts all over the world. Who knows how open the masses would be to these new aspects had there not been a wild Martian from New Orleans who wasn't afraid to go toe-to-toe with the greats.

Release date: March 9, 2016

Essential tracks: "One Night," "Minnesota," "Wanna Be Us"

At this point, Lil Yachty is a mainstream star with big brand endorsements, a Grammy nomination, and platinum certified tracks. He's a fixture in rap culture and pop culture, so it's easy to forget the confusion and hate that accompanied his rise. Who was this kid with the red hair sing-rapping over twinkling beats and racking up millions and millions of plays on SoundCloud?

Lil Yachty had already released "One Night" and "Minnesota" in 2015, but it was on 2016's Lil Boat that a unique artist's cohesive vision emerged. From the whimsical artwork to the videos and the beats, "bubblegum trap" was in full effect. Although it would take some time for many listeners to even begin to understand his sound and approach, it was clear on Lil Boat that Yachty was different. In an era of oversaturation and copycats, that might be more valuable than anything.

Release date: Oct. 24, 2006

Essential tracks: "Set It Off," "Zoom," "Smoking On Purple"

Boosie isn't Lil anymore ("I got tired of just people, grown men, like 'What up Lil Boosie?' No, I'm grown. It should be Mr.! You know, I'm Boosie Badazz. I'm a dad, man," he told Noisey of deciding to drop the Lil in 2015), but he was when his major label debut album came out in 2006. He'd already been in the music game for over five years, releasing a string of mixtapes and performing regularly, building up a dedicated fanbase that has continued to follow him through the subsequent ups and downs of his career.

You probably already know "Wipe Me Down" and "Set It Off," tracks that sound great in the club, but Boosie's music details the highs and lows of the trap with a stark honesty. With deep roots in Southern music mainstays No Limit (Yung Bleed is Boosie's cousin and was an early mentor) and Trill Entertainment (Pimp C's label), Boosie has built a legacy on straightforward rap with no gimmicks.