Even if you ignore Premo's premimum beatmaking skills, Nas's delivery and social impact; Nas's Poetry alone puts Illmatic in my top 10
A beautiful convergence of soul and hiphop, some of the greatest beats with lovely lyrics. Sampling of the hands of god. AN ABSOLUTE MUST LISTEN.
Emo math rock? Regardless of the offical genre, you endulge in intricate drums and tasty guitar licks; and of course the vocalist belts emotional lyrics. What else can you ask for?
Quintessential political rap. You cannot call yourself a hiphop head without listening to Mos Def. He is hip hop.
Little Simz is what every modern rap artist should strive to be, a deliverer of a message. Every song is clearly thought out, and there are little to no throwaway lines.