10 Perfect Albums From The Golden Age Of Hip Hop

There's a theme developing with this list. It speaks to the sheer level of raw talent and creative innovation prominent during this era. This is yet another debut, which has gone down as one of the most iconic rap records, ever to be released.

There's an outrageous amount of momentum in this body of songs. Primary producer, RZA, is responsible for creating some of the most recognisable beats of the era, notably C.R.E.A.M and Tearz. But the sheer force in numbers is what brings the weight to this record. With nine members making up the Clan, there's a personality for every mood. Ghostface Killah is the muscle, constantly looking to rap battle; GZA, is the smart guy, with shrewd and cunning wordplay; Method Man is all about partying and scoring chicks; and of course, Ol' Dirty Bastard, is the wild card.

Although the lyrics are rooted in the gritty reality of the New York streets, there's a comic strip quality to everything. The themes of kung fu movies, and samurai sword fights are not merely resigned to the album title alone. Highlighting individual tracks, feels like a wasted effort, each has merit. Avoid the temptation to skip to Method Man, or C.R.E.A.M, and just enjoy the full experience. The individual members of the Clan, would go on to release a number of important solo projects, but this is where it all started.