Arts, Music, and Recreation Music 10 Best Hip-Hop Albums 2006 Share Flipboard Email Print Music Rap & Hip Hop Top Picks Basics History Rock Pop Alternative Music Classical Country Folk Rhythm & Blues Dance Music World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Jazz Latin Music Children's Music Christian Music Oldies Music Education View More by Henry Adaso Updated June 29, 2017 01 of 10 #10. AZ - The Format (Quiet Money) #10. AZ - The Format © Quiet Money. Nothing on The Format betrays the fact that Anthony "AZ" Cruz has been around long enough to be considered a graybeard rapper; his hunger is maiden. AZ, the other senior citizen of rap from BK, showcases a multi-faceted approach to wordsmithing throughout The Format. 02 of 10 #9. The Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon (Epitaph) #9. The Coup - Pick A Bigger Weapon © Epitaph. We're reminded of The Coup's staunch refusal to settle for the status quo throughout Pick a Bigger Weapon. Bigger Weapon is loaded with enough politically-fused cannonballs to inject an eargasm in even the harshest Coup critic. 03 of 10 #8. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam) #8. Jay-Z - Kingdom Come © Roc-a-Fella. Just when you thought there was nothing left for him to prove, the self-proclaimed God MC came calling with his 11th studio album. 680,000 people responded the first week. Mixed entirely by Dr. Dre, Kingdom Come finds Hov musing over money, maturation, and MySpace.Jay-Z - Kingdom Come Review 04 of 10 #7. Rhymefest - Blue Collar (J ) #7. Rhymefest - Blue Collar © J. Perhaps Rhymefest's biggest challenge in 2006 was being recognized for anything other than "the guy who co-wrote and won a Grammy for "Jesus Walks" with Kanye West." Eschewing thug fantasy and opting for a killer combination of wit and grit, 'Fest eventually stepped out of Ye's shadow and proved himself as one of the midwest's future greats with Blue Collar.Rhymefest - "Fever" Video Interview with Rhymefest 05 of 10 #6. T.I. - King (Atlantic) #6. T.I. - King © Atlantic. If you have the audacity to name your album KING, then you better drag along some balls to back up your claim. Thankfully, T.I. delivers the goods, giving each track a regal touch and handing us two of the year's best tracks: the Neptunes-blessed "Good Life" and the DJ Toomp-laced "What You Know."T.I. - KING Review 06 of 10 #5. The Game - Doctor's Advocate (Geffen) #5. The Game - Doctor's Advocate © Geffen. Left to work on his second album without any help from erstwhile mentors Dr. Dre and 50 Cent (with Dre taking his cash cow's side in the beef), The Game invokes the biggest production that money can buy. Doctor's Advocate depicts Game as a rising star who's caught between opposing cannons and an inflated sense of loyalty.The Game - Doctor's Advocate ReviewThe Game - "Let's Ride (Strip Club)" 07 of 10 #4. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury (ZLG) #4. Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury © ZLG. Pusha T, Malice and honorary Clipse member Pharrell serve up a percolating, lilting plate of fantasy, brutal reality, and remorse. Hell Hath No Fury is brisk but bold and affords little margin for error with 12 songs that document the Clipse being remorseful, wistful, and "trill." 08 of 10 #3. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (Atlantic) #3. Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor © Atlantic. Whether he's spitting over a rock-influenced sonic or dishing social insight on a soul palette, MC Kool Nerd always has his Steve Urkel-esque eyeglasses tightly-fixated on the big picture. Meet Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor, the year's best debut by one of rap's future greats.Lupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor ReviewLupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott - "Daydreamin'"Individual Lists:Ketchums (Speech Is My Hammer)Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor Ghostface Killah - Fishscale Snoop Dogg - Tha Blue Carpet Treatment Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury The Roots - Game Theory The Game - Doctor's Advocate Busta Rhymes - The Big Bang Ludacris - Release Therapy Obie Trice - Release Therapy Jay-Z - Kingdom Come Rodney Dugue (Fly, Black Scholar)Ghostface - Fishscale Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury T.I. - KING The Game - Doctor's Advocate Rhymefest - Blue Collar Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II The Roots - Game Theory Jay-Z - Kingdom Come Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology 2: The Chip Eskay (Nahright.com)Ghostface Killah - Fishscale Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor Boot Camp - The Last Stand Jay-Z - Kingdom Come AZ - The Format Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter II Ghostface Killah & Trife da God - Put It on the Line Young Dro - Best Thang Smokin' Obie Trice - Second Round's on Me Renato Pagnani: (Until The Train Stops)Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury Sway - This Is My Demo Ghostface - Fishscale Louis Logic & J.J. Brown - Misery Loves Comedy T.I. - King The Roots - Game Theory Spank Rock - YoYoYoYoYo Lupe Fiasco - Food and Liquor Subtle - For Hero: For Fool J Dilla - Donuts 09 of 10 #2. The Roots - Game Theory (Def Jam) #2. The Roots - Game Theory © Def Jam. Themes about confusion, loss (spawned by Katrina and Jay Dee's demise), corporate woes, double standards and war are recurrent on Game Theory. It's their best longplayer since Things Fall Apart.The Roots - Game Theory ReviewThe Roots - "Don't Feel Right" Song Review Individual Lists:Big R (Sumish.com): The Roots -Game TheoryGhostface - FishscaleKenn Starr - Starr StatusTrek Life - Price I've PaidJay-Z - Kingdom ComeLupe Fiasco - Food and LiquorCunninlynguists - A Piece of StrangeJ Dilla - DonutsPanacea - Ink is My DrinkAloe Blacc - Shine ThroughRafi Kam (OhWord.com)The Roots - Game TheoryClipse - Hell Hath No FuryGhostface Killah - FishscaleK-Def - Willie Boo Boo: The FoolAZ - The FormatE-40 - My Ghetto Report CardThe Game - Doctor's AdvocateJay-Z - Kingdom ComeDilla - DonutsJuggaknots - Use Your ConfusionRizoh (The Rap Up)The Roots - Game TheoryGhostface Killah - FishscaleLupe Fiasco - Lupe Fiasco's Food & LiquorThe Coup - Pick a Bigger WeaponK-Os - Atlantis: Hymns for DiscoCunnynlinguists - A Piece of StrangeSway - This Is My DemoRhymefest - Blue CollarLouis Logic & JJ Brown - Misery Loves ComedyThe Game - Doctor's AdvocateIan (Notes from a Different Kitchen)The Game - Doctor's AdvocateTha Dogg Pound - Cali Iz ActiveGhostface & Mick Boogie - The Broiled SalmonDJ Green Lantern - Alive on ArrivalRhymefest - Blue CollarBirdman & Lil Wayne - Like Father, Like SonClipse - Hell Hath No FuryT.I. - KingMatthew Africa & DJ Eleven - Dirty Raps: The Best of Too $hortJibbs - Jibbs featuring Jibbs 10 of 10 #1. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam) #1. Ghostface Killah - Fishscale © Def Jam. Ghostface Killah, the only rapper that can turn swine references into a hood anthem, puts the Wu on his back and returns hip-hop to its essence with Fishscale. And you wonder why everyone loves Tony Starks? Individual Lists:Joey ( Straight Bangin') Ghostface Killah - FishscaleThe Roots - Game TheoryMurs & 9th Wonder - Murray's RevengeBronze Nazareth - The Great MigrationLittle Brother - Separate But EqualDe La Soul - Impossible MissionDudley Perkins - Expressions (2012 A.U.)Jay Dee - DonutsAZ - The FormatRhymefest - Blue CollarByron Crawford ( ByronCrawford.com)Jedi Mind Tricks - Servants in Heaven, Kings in HellDiddy - Press Play7L & Esoteric - A New DopeThe Game - Doctor's AdvocateGhostface Killah - FishscaleMr. Lif - Mo' MegaJuggaknots - Use Your ConfusionLouis Logic & JJ Brown - Misery Loves ComedyRhymefest - Blue CollarJ Dilla - DonutsDel F. Cowie ( Vibes and Stuff)Ghostface Killah - FishscaleThe Roots - Game Theory Lupe Fiasco - Food & Liquor J Dilla - Donuts/The Shining Cadence Weapon - Breaking KayfabeK-OS - Atlantis: Hymns For DiscoThe Coup - Pick a Bigger Weapon More Or Les - The Truth About Rap Rhymefest - Blue CollarMurs & 9th Wonder - Murray's RevengeNoz ( Cocaine, Blunts & Tapes)Trae - RestlessTI - KingClipse - Hell Hath No FuryLil Wayne & DJ Drama - Dedication 2Dogg Pound - Cali Iz ActiveGhostface - FishscaleThe Coup - Pick a Bigger WeaponProject Pat - Crook By The BookMitchy Slick - Urban Survival Syndrome Continue Reading