At the Speed of Life (Loud, 1996) by Xzibit

"It took a long time comin but we waited/Xzibit went from underrated, to now most anticipated/never would of thought that I would rock your set/And get love and respect without no special effects/Only the rugged ruff shit that the hard rock need/Lyrics must contain more then just clothes bitches and weed/Thinkin how you like to see the next man bleed/Tryin to glorify greed; livin life at ridiculous speed - indeed!/The main goal's to achieve, to succeed/Have it laid out for your seed/But the world gets colder every day by day/Physically, mentally gettin drained by L.A./Trying to find piece of mind is like tryin to find a gold mine/It just won't happen, no time for relaxin/Real soldiers of fortune  the front line of the action/ So never show a nigga what you packin (You know what I'm sayin?)/It's too much weight to be jugglin/who do you picture when you think about strugglin/Kids in the bed, no food stomach bubbilin/Or niggaz in the E-class heavy drug smugglin"

-Xzibit, "At the Speed of Life"

Murda Muzik (Loud, 1999) by Mobb Deep

Havoc and Prodigy's fourth album lives up to its title.  It's a dark and murky collection of insight, rage and fear.  Mobb Deep has always been a few steps above the stereotypical "gangsta rap" cliches, and this is no exception.  "Spread Love" is a cry for a change for the better in at risk areas, "The Realest" is a phenomenal collaboration with Kool G. Rap and the "Quiet Storm" remix is one of the best songs Lil Kim has ever done.  Production wise, Havoc sounds better than ever and Prodigy's rhymes are great ("P holds the pen tightly, explode nightly/I count on one finger all y'all rap niggaz that excite me/Y'all niggaz is trash rap - wanna fight me?/You shook to death, take breaths and step lightly).  Although not quite as powerful as The Infamous, Murda Muzik is landmark hardcore hip hop album that held its own at time when hip hop was at its commercial peak.

Yeeeah Baby (Loud, 2000) by Big Pun

This album, while not quite as strong as its predecessor, shows an emcee's emcee doing what he does best.  Big Pun again showcases that his lyrics and flow are pretty much unmatched.  "Watch Those" is a perfect example of that.  Pun also puts his Latin heritage in the spotlight with a flute charanga sample on "100%."  A very interesting cut on the album, "N***a Shit", finds him rapping about African-American stereotypes and "New York Giants" with M.O.P. is an excellent collaboration.  Tragically, Big Pun passed away two months before this album's release.  The album's lead single, "It's So Hard," isn't anything new, but the video is an amazing tribute to a man that the world lost too soon.

Warriorz (Loud, 2000) by M.O.P.

This album is rowdy, and it clearly delivers the high every rapping and stellar production that M.O.P. followers have come to expect.  DJ Premier's board work is excellent as usual.  He even samples Jimi Hendrix's "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" on "Follow Instructions."  "Ante Up" was a great single, but I think album's strongest points are the Fizzy Womack-produced cuts, "Calm Down" and "Cold as Ice" which sample Nona Hendryx and Foreigner respectively.

The Infamous (Loud, 1995) by Mobb Deep

This is my favorite Mobb Deep album.  No disrespect to Murda Muzik ("The Realest" and the "Quiet Storm" records are great), but The Infamous is incredible.  "Shook Ones Pt. II" is one of the best hip-hop records ever.  The track with Nas and Raekwon is dope ("Eye For an Eye [Your Beef is Mine])" and Q-Tip's contributions only add to Havoc's already stellar board work.  This album is on par with Illmatic, Ready to Die, and Reasonable Doubt; not only are all four albums classic from a musical standpoint, but, culturally, they made sure east coast hip-hop still mattered at a time when Left Coast rap was dominating the entire hip hop scene.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (Loud, 1995) by Raekwon

"Yo, first of all son, peep the arson/Many brothers I be sparkin' and bustin mad light inside the dark/Call me dough snatcher, just the brother for the rapture/I handglide, holdin' on strong, hard to capture/Extravagant, RZA bake the track and it's militant/Then I react, like a convict, and start killin' shit/It's manifested, the Gods work like appliances/Dealin' in my cypher I revolve around sciences/The 9th chamber, leave you trapped inside my hallway/You try to flee but you got smoked up by the doorway (blaow! blaow! blaow!)/No question, I send your ass back, right to the essence/Your whole frame is smothered in dirt, now how you restin'/While I'll be trapped by sounds, locked behind loops/Throwin' niggaz off airplanes cause +Cash Rules/Everything Around Me+ black, as you can see/Swallow this murder one verse like God Degree/Then analyze my soundtrack for satisfaction/You adapt like a flashback chain reaction" 

- Ghostface Killah, "Criminology"

Enter the Wu-Tang [36 Chambers] (Loud, 1993) by The Wu-Tang Clan

 Enter the Wu-Tang is amazing because it is so original.  There are nine members in the group, and all of them can rap.  The martial arts film interludes and the classic soul samples are timeless.  RZA's dark, cinematic beats give all the emcees space to kick some of the greatest verses in the history of hip-hop (Raekwon on "C.R.E.A.M.", Ol Dirty Bastard on "Protect Ya Neck").  And the greatest testament to this album, in my opinion, is that it still holds up almost twenty years later.  If this album were to come out today, no current album would be able to compete with it.

Restless (Loud, 2000) by Xzibit

I have been a fan of Xzibit for years (and unlike Granddad on The Boondocks, I really mean it).  From the moment I heard the Taxi Driver-inspired intro on At the Speed of Life, I was an immediate fan.  I remember I was so excited to buy Restless that I made a point of dealing with the heavy snow in Michigan and going out on a snow day to buy it the day of its release.  Xzibit, who is one of the best lyricists out of the West, did not disappoint (especially on "Don't Approach Me").  And Rockwilder, making a beat out of the hydraulic sounds of a lowrider ("Front 2 Back"), is absolutely incredible.

Capital Punishment (Loud, 1998) by Big Punisher

Big Pun is one of the best lyricists ever (props to Rakim, Nas, Biggie, and Eminem as well).  The other thing that is amazing about Pun's delivery is his breath control.  His rhymes go on and on and on.  And yet, his words remain clear and understandable from start to finish.  His collaboration with Joe, "Still Not a Player", was a precursor to the J.Lo and Ja Rule collaborations and the original "I'm Not a Player", which samples The O'Jays, is a masterful blend of old and new.  Then, of course, there's "Twinz (Deep Cover '98)": "Dead in the middle of Little Italy/ Little did we know that we riddled some  middleman who didn't do diddily".  Rest in Peace Pun.  You will forever be loved by hip-hop.