Thursday, September 16th, 2010
23

A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Low End Theory' Correctly Named Greatest Hip-Hop Album Cover Of All Time

I agreeComplex has an enjoyable slide-show thing up ranking Hip-Hop's 50 Greatest Album Covers of all time. They awarded the top spot to A Tribe Called Quest's 1991 classic The Low End Theory. I think that's just right.

But since this is a list, obviously made to be argued with, I'll point out that Run-DMC's King of Rock should have been about 13 spaces higher than its 15th slot.

RunDMC-KingofRock

And Scarface's Mr. Scarface Is Back should have been maybe no. 3, instead of 19.

Scarface-MrScarfaceIsBack

And here are a few more covers that I was sorry not to see on there.

slick rick

radio

rza

n.w.a

jungle bros

ghost

23 Comments / Post A Comment

petejayhawk (#1,249)

I could go either way on most of those, but no "Straight Outta Compton?" Really? That's just silly.

saythatscool (#101)

Are those two delicious spare ribs trapped in that body's anus on the Tribe album?

Arguing!
No Dr. Octogonecologyst. No 6 Feet Deep. No The Infamous. De la Soul Is Dead should be higher.

Bryan Keller (#3,804)

6 Feet Higher and Rising

Dave Bry (#422)

Right! "The Infamous." That is a great cover.

But I'd never seen that Master P cover before, and that is hilarious.

Art Yucko (#1,321)

@CHL: oh man, PUSHEAD, REPRESENT.

Matt (#26)

This is number one.

Matt (#26)

I mean, 48??!? Bah! They better be ready and prepared to be stomped in the ground.

Art Yucko (#1,321)

………….yeah. yeah it is, isn't it.

Natzzzzzz (#7,318)

This list could also be named "Best Loved Rap Albums by White People".

joeks (#5,805)

Oh, those silly white people! When will they ever learn?!?

If that were the case, there'd be more Blackalicious.

Natzzzzzz (#7,318)

As long as there's a 60's classic hooked onto our hip hop, we will never learn.

LondonLee (#922)

'Paid In Full' always seemed like the quintessential rap album cover to me.

And I would like to add that, Christ, the design on that slide show is terrible. You really shouldn't have to scroll down to see what you just clicked on every single bloody time.

TH42 (#1,939)

"Bad" over "Radio" is terrible.

Daily Operation and Death Certificate should be higher.

The Beatnuts Intoxicated Demons EP should be on there in the top 20.

And obv. Straight Outta Compton is a big miss.

In general, it's hard to separate the cover art from how much I like the album. I want to say 93 Til Infinity should be on the list but maybe that's just because I love it.

hungrybee (#2,091)

This is exactly how I feel about 93 Til. My judgment is so clouded.

Brad Nelson (#2,115)

Pretty sure Art will back me on this: Reasonable Doubt without the umlaut is unacceptable.

keisertroll (#1,117)

Where is Big Bear's "Doing Things", or for that matter "THUG.COM" by Trick Daddy?

I am APPALLED.

Dave Bry (#422)

It's true. From a certain perspective, there is nann greater hip-hop album cover than "www.thug.com."

Mauro A. Ortiz (#7,483)

Covers: The Low End Theory for sure.

Albums? Midnight Marauders all the way!

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