Top 25 MN Hip Hop Albums

1. Brother Ali-Shadows on the Sun

Featuring some of Ant's best beats, Ali paints a picture of life in North Minneapolis like nobody else can.

2. Atmosphere-God Loves Ugly

Slug and Ant hook up for a classic here, as Slug rhymes about life and relationships with the opposite sex.

3. Doomtree-Self Titled

A masterpiece from the entire Doom Crew. They were at the top of their game as a collective on this album.

4. Mixed Blood Majority-Self Titled

A near perfect album. One of my favorite voices and emcees in hip hop, Crescent Moon, combines forces with Joe Horton of No Bird Sing to spit truth over top notch Lazerbeak production.

5. Dessa-A Badly Broken Code

An extremely thought provoking debut full length from the First Lady of Doomtree.

6. Eyedea-First Born

Widely considered the best work from E&A and a brilliant studio album proving Eyedea was much more than just an elite battle rapper.

7. Atmosphere-Lucy Ford

A collection of Atmosphere EPs, this album contained classics such as Like Today, Guns and Cigarettes, Don't Ever Fucking Question That, and The Woman With the Tattoed Hands.

8. The Dynospectrum-Self Titled

A local supergroup featuring Slug, Beyond, I Self Devine, and Mr Gene Poole with production by Ant.

9. P.O.S.-IPECAC NEAT

When RSE heard this solo debut from POS they re-released it on their label along with his future solo albums.

​10. Beyond-Comparison

The first official Rymesayers release featuring production from Ant. Beyond's album was released first because he had the most tracks ready to go at the time.

​11. Cecil Otter-Rebel Yellow

A unique release by Cecil Otter. This album was chalk full of tales of vagrants and poets.

12. Brother Ali-Champion EP

Ali picked up right where he left off on Shadows with the Champion EP. Once again combining his superior mic skills with an uncanny ear for beat selection.

13. Heiruspecs-A Tiger Dancing

Probably the most complete album from the St Paul crew who performs and records with a live band ala The Roots.

14. P.O.S-Audition

This album featured some of Stef's Punk Rock roots and solidified his status among the Twin Cities elite rappers.

15. Brother Ali-The Undisputed
Truth

Ali continued to dominate the underground behind such politically charged tracks as Uncle Sam God Damn.

16. Toki Wright-A Different Mirror

As important and intelligent as any album released in MN, Toki is rivaled only by Big Brother Ali as the Twin Cities Hip Hop Ambassador and Activist.

17. Atmosphere-Seven's Travels

Perhaps the last great Atmosphere album, Sevens Travels is filled with familiar tales of relationships and life on the road. At the end of the album Slug pays tribute to MN by vowing to always come back home.

18. Big Zach-White Jesus

Zach from Kanser weaves stories both serious and hilarious on this album about life on the Southside.

19. Heiruspecs-Small Steps

Felix handles most of the mic duty on this raw but thought provoking album.

​20. Oliver Hart(Eyedea)-How Eye
One the Write to Think

Eyedea handled the production, vocals, and writing on this project. ReyeP to one of the greatest.

21. Mally-The Last Great

Mally joined forces with the Sundance Kid to bring us this refreshing album to help keep the twin city hip hop scene going strong.

22. Atmosphere-Overcast

The debut album by Atmosphere features Slug and Spawn trading verses over some of Ant's bare bones production.

​23. Mike Mictlan-Hand Over Fist

Mike spits abstract lyrics at a break neck speed over some of Beak's best beats.

24. Kanser-Self Titled

My favorite album from Zach and Unicus features some funky production and guest appearances by Dessa and Sarah White.

25. Unknown Prophets-World
​ Premier

Big Jess and Mad Son may have peaked with their debut Workd Premier, but the album featured bangers such as The Wrong Route, The Weekend, and Never(featuring a classic guest appearance by Slug).

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