Hip-Hop Connection, the world’s longest running monthly hip-hop magazine, will release it’s 198th edition on Feb. 7.
The latest issue counts down the top 100 rap albums of the past decade (1995-2005).
Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon’s classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx took the #1 position due to its lyrical content, production, and its impact on hip-hop culture.
“At the very least, [The Top 100 list] is a fairly comprehensive overview of some of the most essential modern hip-hop,” HHC Publisher Andy Cowan told AllHipHop.com. “Hopefully [the issue] will introduce [readers] to some gems they may have missed along the way. We’re also asking the readers to vote for their top ten in the same issue, and we intend to follow this up with a reader-generated top 100 a little later in 2006.”
Albums from Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, Outkast, Mobb Deep, De La Soul and others round out the top ten, while releases from Cam’ron, Group Home, and The Fugees are named in the top 100.
“The albums were selected from several meetings between HHC senior staff and writers,” HHC Publisher Andy Cowan told AllHipHop.com. “Overall, it was a difficult task and we’re not saying our list is perfect. Far from it, though, we do hope to inspire some heated debate amongst our readership.”
Hip-Hop Connection will celebrate the release of its 200th issue in April.