Top Ten by year

1999
- The Slim Shady LP - Eminem - Black on Both Sides - Mos Def - 2001 - Dr. Dre - Things Fall Apart - The Roots - Nia - Blackalicious - Operation: Doomsday - MF Doom - I Am... - Nas - Internal Affairs - Pharoahe Monch - Uncontrolled Substance - Inspectah Deck - A Prince Among Thieves - Prince Paul

1998
- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill - Aquemini - OutKast - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star - Black Star - Hello Nasty - Beastie Boys - Moment of Truth - Gang Starr - Capital Punishment - Big Punisher - Steal This Album - The Coup - Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z - Heavy Mental - Killah Priest - Shut 'Em Down - Onyx

1997
- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill - Aquemini - OutKast - Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star - Black Star - Hello Nasty - Beastie Boys - Moment of Truth - Gang Starr - Capital Punishment - Big Punisher - Steal This Album - The Coup - Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life - Jay-Z - Heavy Mental - Killah Priest - Shut 'Em Down - Onyx

1996
- The Score - Fugees - Endtroducing... - DJ Shadow - All Eyez on Me - 2Pac - Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory - Makaveli - It Was Written - Nas - ATLiens - OutKast - Soul on Ice - Ras Kass - Wrath of the Math - Jeru the Damaja - Ironman - Ghostface Killah

1995 - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - Raekwon - Liquid Swords - Genius / GZA - The Infamous... - Mobb Deep - Me Against the World - 2Pac - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous - Big L - Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - Ol' Dirty Bastard - Dah Shinin' - Smif-N-Wessun - Soul Food - Goodie Mob - Labcabincalifornia - The Pharcyde - Doe or Die - AZ

1994 - Illmatic - Nas - Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G. - Resurrection - Common - The Sun Rises in the East - Jeru the Damaja - Word...Life - O.C. - Stress: The Extinction Agenda - Organized Konfusion - 6 Feet Deep - Gravediggaz - Tical - Method Man - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik - OutKast - Do You Want More?!!!??! - The Roots

1993
- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan - Enta da Stage - Black Moon - Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest - Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg - 93 'til Infinity - Souls of Mischief - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) - Digable Planets - Black Sunday - Cypress Hill - Buhloone Mind State - De La Soul - Jazzmatazz - Guru - Innercity Griots - Freestyle Fellowship

1992
- The Chronic - Dr. Dre - Daily Operation - Gang Starr - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde - The Pharcyde - Check Your Head - Beastie Boys - Whut? Thee Album - Redman - Runaway Slave - Showbiz & A.G. - Mecca and the Soul Brother - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Live and Let Die - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop - Diamond D - Don't Sweat the Technique - Eric B. & Rakim

1991
- The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest - Breaking Atoms - Main Source - Death Certificate - Ice Cube - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep - De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul - Apocalypse '91...The Enemy Strikes Black - Public Enemy - Organized Konfusion - Organized Konfusion - I Wish My Brother George Was Here - Del Tha Funkee Homosapien - O.G. Original Gangster - Ice-T - Ain't a Damn Thang Changed - WC and the Maad Circle

1990
- Fear of a Black Planet - Public Enemy - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Ice Cube - Step in the Arena - Gang Starr - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest - One for All - Brand Nubian - Wanted: Dead or Alive - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Take a Look Around - Masta Ace - Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em - Eric B. & Rakim - Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J - Intelligent Hoodlum - Intelligent Hoodlum