10 Rap Albums That Rock Fans Need To Check Out

For those of you who stopped listening to the Beastie Boys after the frat parties stopped, there's a good chance you didn't think these buds from New York had that many tricks up their sleeve. I mean, given that most of their schtick was about being the rough and tumble jerks that would rough you up in high school, what's the point of even going on after reaching your 30s? Well, if you take into account Ill Communication, the Beasties grew the hell up in a big way.

Free from the sampladelic musings that were going around on Paul's Boutique and miles past Licensed to Ill, this one record feels like the Beasties coming into their own as a legitimate band, itching to sink their teeth into any genre that would have them. One minute you might think you're listening to some mellow jazz rap, and then you'll be thrown into the field of hardcore punk on songs like Tough Guy.

There's also no getting past the song Sabotage, whose aura is so large that it practically serves as the ideal litmus test for how rock and hip hop can work together so beautifully. Though the flows of these guys might still be rooted in their old tricks, it won't take long to see the genuine talent past the nasally delivery.