25 Essential UK Hip Hop Albums
UK Hip Hop is a genre that has failed to hit the mainstream ever since its emergence back in the late 1980s, due to its underground nature and conscious, gritty lyricism. I have always been a huge fan of the genre, despite its lack of mainstream appeal, and over the years I have listened to hundreds of dusty albums that fall under the UK Hip Hop umbrella. In my opinion, UK Rap, UK Grime and UK Hip Hop are all completely different sounds and sub-genres under the same art form. While the labelling doesn’t suggest much difference between the three genres at first glance, they all have their own unique rhyme styles, instrumentals, cultures and practices. Generally speaking, UK Hip Hop is heavily influenced by the Golden era/90’s Hip Hop sound, with head-nodding boom-bap, jazz instrumentals and heaving political and conscious lyricism.
For clarity, there are no rap/grime/drill/garage albums included in this list as they’re separate genres in my eyes. Moreover, I’ve decided to include 25 albums by 25 different 25 artists as I want to recommend as many new artists and good music as possible. So, here are 25 essential UK Hip Hop albums in chronological order:
1. London Posse - Gangster Chronicles (1990)
London Posse’s Gangster Chronicles was one of the first Hip Hop albums to come out of the UK, and it still remains a classic to this day. The unique blend of hard-hitting British instrumentals, London slang and Jamaican Patois references and adlibs make this an incredibly unique and influential project. Some may say it sounds dated now, but for me, it perfectly captured a moment in UK hip hop that we will never see again.
2. Lewis Parker - Masquerades & Silhouettes (1998)
Lewis Parker was one of the first well-known Rapper-Producers to come out of the UK. The production on the album is incredibly dusty and eerie, and Lewis Parker’s distinctive British-American delivery and flow make the album unique and timeless! For me, Masquerades & Silhouettes is still Lewis Parker’s best project to date.
3. Phi Life Cypher - Millenium Metaphors (2000)
At a time when US hip-hop was entering into its ‘Gangster Rap’ phase, Phi-Life kept the old-school hip-hop style alive with this breathtaking album in the UK. The politically charged lyrics from Life MC and Si-Philli, backed by heavy scratching and beats from DJ Nappa, led to many citing Phi-Life as the next big thing in Underground UK Hip Hop. If you’re a true boom-bap Hip Hop head do not hesitate to give this album a listen!
4. Skitz - Countryman (2001)
Producer Skitz carefully selected a handful of now legendary artists such as Roots Manuva, Phi-Life, Skinnyman, Task Force, Estelle, and Scratch Perverts to create this timeless masterpiece. If we’re talking about compilation-styled LPs it doesn’t get better than this in relation to UK Hip Hop as it is essentially 17 tracks of the finest bars and top-tier Boombap-styled instrumentals.
5. Roots Manuva - Run Come Save Me (2001)
Roots Manuva's second album was a huge hit in the underground scene, and one of the few albums to crossover and actually get some mainstream recognition with one of, if not the most influential UK Hip Hop tracks of all time “Witness (1 Hope)”! The album is experimental and leftfield at parts (in a good way), and Roots Manuva’s humorous yet complex lyrics and unpredictable flow and cadences makes him a generational talent. This album will always be one of my favourite hip-hop albums as it was one of the first I ever heard!
6. Jehst - The Return Of The Drifter (2002)
The Return Of The Drifter is probably my second favourite UK Hip Hop album of all time (you will see my first, further down the list). Jehsts’ lyrics, flows and cadences are unlike anything I’ve heard before, and the Rapper-producers’ clean cuts and laidback jazzy beats are otherworldly; something about Jehsts’ music is just special and unique in many ways!
7. Ty - Upwards (2003)
Rest in peace Ty. The trailblazing UK rapper was a Brixton-bred rapper and creative who has had lots of influence in the UK music scene. For me, Upwards was his most complete body of work as the album exudes class, and Ty brings infectious energy and clever rhyme schemes over a selection of versatile and innovative instrumentals from start to finish.
8. Foreign Beggars - Asylum Speakers (2003)
Their debut LP Asylum Speakers was one of the first UK Hip Hop albums that I ever listened to after stumbling across “Mind Out” on a YouTube music hunt with mates. The album has styles and moods for all listeners, with beats and bars for every season. This UK Hip Hop classic brings competitive but collaborative rhyme schemes between all involved and you can really hear the hunger in all of the artists’ verses involved on the project.
9. Skinnyman - Council Estate Of Mind (2004)
“When is this album going to be put on Spotify” - says every UK Hip Hop fan ever… Released back in 2004, Council Estate of Mind is the North London rapper’s only album ever released, due to politics and beef with another ex-rapper who I decided not to include in this list… Skinnyman’s Council Estate of the Mind is a bonafide classic from beginning to end with sharp bars, tight flows and vintage hip-hop production. Skinnyman’s highly autobiographical and socially aware album is full of tales of the working class and the unglamorous side of London street life.
10. Klashnekoff - The Sagas Of… (2004)
For me, The Sagas Of… is still singlehandedly the greatest UK Hip Hop album ever. This masterpiece from British Jamaican emcee Klashnekoff is 50 minutes of the finest rap verses to come out of the UK, and for me, it establishes Klashnekoff as one of the nation’s greatest rhymers to ever do it. Delivering razor-sharp flows and vicious energy over some of the finest beats from Lewis Parker, Joe Buhdha and Harry Love. K-lash killed all in sight with this debut release.
11. Contact Play - Champion Fraff (2010)
The supergroup consisting of Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter, Edward Scissortongue, Mr. Key, Ronnie Bosh & DJ Sammy B-Side has only released one album, but their only album Champion Fraff is a true masterpiece. The body of work is a low-key underground classic from beginning to end, with some of the finest flows and instrumentals to come out of the UK. Truthfully, I only found out about this LP recently on a Reddit forum, so it just goes to show how underappreciated the record actually is!
12. Fliptrix - Theory of Rhyme (2010)
High Focus Records head-honcho Fliptrix is one of the most influential people to grace the UK Hip Hop scene. He is a quarter of the supergroup The Four Owls, he has released a series of great solo albums and he also runs the biggest UK Hip Hop record label ever. For me, his sophomore album Theory Of Rhyme is still his best work to date, and it was a pivotal album as it brought the next generation of 90s-styled boom-bap back to the forefront of everyone’s mind! Realistically if it wasn’t for Fliptrix the UK Hip Hop underground scene wouldn’t be where it is today so big respect to this legend!
13. Lowkey - Soundtrack to the Struggle (2011)
Soundtrack To The Struggle by legendary London wordsmith Lowkey is a UK Hip Hop classic to say the least… The heavily conscious body of work will forever be remembered as a great commentary of the time in which it was released, touching on subjects like corrupt politics, the neverending Palestine/Israel conflict, the war in Iraq, AmeriKKKa, societal unrest, poverty, racism, and the struggles of everyday life. Soundtrack To The Struggle is gritty, conscious Hip Hop at its finest, and it is an album to be treasured forever.
14. The Four Owls - Nature’s Greatest Mystery (2011)
If you know about UK Hip Hop, you will know about The Four Owls. The supergroup consists of 4 of the greatest UKHH MCs to grace the mic Verb T, BVA, Fliptrix, and Leaf dog, and although I would say Nature’s Greatest Mystery is their best work, all of their albums have been modern-day classics! Leaf Dog’s production is next level, and all four emcees come through with their own sound and rap styles, making for a top-tier boom-bap album. The Four Owls have been at the forefront of the Hip Hop movement since their arrival back in 2010, and I don’t think we will see a supergroup in UK Hip Hop on this calibre again…
15. Verb T - Morning Process (2012)
Verb T’s Morning Process is one of those albums that never gets old. The producer-rapper has a special way of expressing relatable, witty and conscious bars like no other and the laid-back production just flows perfectly from start to finish! The album is a fantastic addition to any UKHH fan’s collection, however, be sure to check out all of Verb Twazzer’s albums as his consistency in the game is almost unrivalled.
16. Jam Baxter - Gruesome Features (2012)
I think it is fair for me to say that this album solidifies Baxter’s position as one of the best MCs to ever do it in the UK. The wordplay is phenomenal, the delivery is second to none, and the production is clever and unique. Moreover, the artists that feature on the project are impressive, ranging from fellow High Focus heads Leaf Dog, Fliptrix and Dirty Dike, to other respected names on the mic like Chester P, Ramson Badbonez and Dabbla.
17. The Mouse Outfit - Escape Music (2013)
The Mouse Outfit’s Escape Music was the album that put a lot of rappers from Manchester on the map in UK Hip Hop! The collaborative project is a 19-track LP that will leave you speechless from start to finish, and the raw, jazzy production blended with conscious lyricism and slick flows epitomise how UK Hip Hop should sound. If you’re looking for an album to get into northern-hip hop, this is the one for you!
18. Coops - Lost Soul (2014)
Coops’ Lost Soul is gritty, compelling, hard-hitting UK Hip Hop at its finest. The London-based rapper spits on each track with style and finesse, and the album flows like lava from beginning to end. The old-school boom-bap theme is somewhat reminiscent of the golden era and Coops’ politically led bars open your eyes to a lot of things! Since this release, Coops has gone on to release some of the best Hip Hop albums to come out of the UK such as Crimes Against Creation, Lost Souls II and No Brainer, but personally Lost Soul is still my favourite!
19. Dirty Dike - Sucking On Prawns In The Moonlight (2015)
Sucking On Prawns In The Moonlight is Dirty Dike’s best solo project bar none. The album features some of the best rappers and producers to ever do it in the UK and Dirty Dike’s razor-sharp flows and grim British humour makes him stand out. Sucking On Prawns In The Moonlight certainly takes a few listens fully get into, but once it hits, it will take you to a different planet! UK Hip Hop at it’s finest!
20. Ocean Wisdom - Chaos 93’ (2016)
Ocean Wisdom has released a lot of good albums in his time, but in my opinion, Chaos 93 still remains the best of the bunch! Ocean Wisdom’s ferocious pen game, diverse flows and raw ability on the mic mixed with Dirty Dike’s expertly handled production is something truly special. Wizzy took a big step into the limelight after releasing this project and the Brighton-born rapper has now grown into an authentic and revered artist across the nation.
21. Loyle Carner - Yesterday’s Gone (2017)
Loyle Carner brought UK Hip Hop back to the forefront of people’s minds when he burst onto the scene and dropped this modern-day classic back in 2017. The album is cohesive, conscious and calm and the south-London rapper managed to burst into the mainstream by being relatable to the masses and by expressing poignant storytelling narratives. With laid-back Jazzy production and a smiling love for his craft, Loyle Carner is a rapper who has managed to garner fans outside of the UK Hip Hop scene whilst staying true to his sound and without selling out.
22. Teknical Development.is, Figub Brazlevic - Strictly 4 All (2018)
Strictly 4 all is possibly the most underground selection on this list, but my-oh-my is it a great album! Figub’s boom-bap-styled production is heavenly, and Teknical Delopment.is delivery on the mic is both unique and razor-sharp. Keeping to their original and 90s-inspired sound, Strictly 4 All is an album on the list you may need to listen to right now!
23. Kofi Stone - Nobody Cares Till Everybody Does (2019)
Kofi Stone’s debut album was the first ever album featured on this platform for a very good reason. In terms of production, the album covers a variety of different sounds and styles ranging from jazzy piano chords to rugged and raw basslines. The Birmingham-based rapper complements the top-tier production perfectly with razor-sharp flows and laid-back story-telling narratives addressing struggles of parental divorce, family violence, and relationship problems. If you’re a fan of the 90’s sound and looking for a new artist to fulfil your needs, Kofi Stone is the rapper for you!
24. Verbz & Mr Slipz - Radio Waves (2020)
For me, Radio waves is one of the best boom-bap-styled Hip Hop albums to come out in recent years no doubt. The LP takes the listener back in time with introspective rhyme schemes, hard-hitting boom-bap breaks, and chilled jazzy sample chops. Artists like Melanin 9, Confucius MC, Coops, Split Prophets, Riah Knight, Indira May, Benaddict, Fliptrix, and Nelson Dialect, bring lyrical variation and individuality to the table, and at 17-tracks deep this album is a MUST for all the UK Hip Hop heads out there!
25. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert (2021)
Similarly to many on this list, Little Simz has released a whole heap of great albums, but Sometimes I Might Be Introvert is just on a different level! Little Simz effortlessly draws you into her world with next-level flows and personable lyricism addressing topics like racism, womanhood, self-esteem, and family issues. The production is virtually flawless from hard-hitting Hip Hop, & smooth R&B/soul, all the way to Afro-beat, funk and even synth-pop. There are so many different influences crammed into one record resulting in an entirely cohesive package and one of the best albums released in the last five years.
Check out our ‘UK Hip Hop Classics’ playlist on Spotify for a special selection of the finest records to ever come out of the the UK (ranging from old to new):
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