It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (Def Jam, 1988) by Public Enemy

There's nothing I can say about this album that hasn't already been said.  It's political hip hop at its finest.  Chuck D is one of the best emcees ever and Flavor Flav is the greatest hype man of all-time.  The Bomb Squad crafted flawless soundscapes that were a perfect fit for the confrontational nature of the lyrics.  This album changed hip hop forever and is widely recognized as one of the most important albums in music history .  On any top ten list (albums, productions, lyrics, influence, etc.), someone would really only have to think of nine because this album is a shoe in.

Fear of a Black Planet (Def Jam, 1990) by Public Enemy

"As I walk the streets of Hollywood Boulevard/Thinkin' how hard it was to those that starred/ In the movies portrayin' the roles, of butlers and maids, slaves and hoes/Many intelligent Black men seemed, to look uncivilized when on the screen/Like a guess, I figure you to play some jigaboo/On the plantation, what else can a nigger do?/And Black women in this profession/As for playin' a lawyer, out of the question/For what they play, Aunt Jemima is the perfect term/Even if now she got a perm/So let's make our own movies like Spike Lee, cause the roles being offered don't strike me/There's nothing that the Black man could use to earn/Burn Hollywood burn"

-Big Daddy Kane, "Burn Hollywood Burn"