1. Gang Starr, ''Moment of Truth''(Noo Trybe)
Funky. Fresh. Vibrant. Old-school masters Primo and Guru update classic hip-hop rhythms by slyly allowing guitar and keyboard riffs to carry the beat. DJ Premier's producing skills elevate hip-hop, leaving folks like Puff Daddy in the dust.
2. Lauryn Hill, ''The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill''(Ruffhouse)
Move over, Mary J. Blige. With soulful singing and tell-it-like-it-is raps, Hill steals Blige's Queen of Hip-Hop title in her first solo album. Spicing hip-hop with jazz, R&B, blues, funk, and rock, Hill creates invigorating sounds, with layered vocal tracks that make for harmonies richer than Dolby.
3. The Dave Matthews Band, ''Before These Crowded Streets''(RCA)
Brimming with exotic, hypnotic melodies that celebrate life, love, and sex - every song is a treasure.
4. Master P, ''MP Da Last Don ''(No Limit)
Though Master P's rolling in millions and flashing real ice - not cubic zirconia - he hasn't forgotten street life. Harsh, poetic lyrics about the possibility that Congress and corporate America are conspiring against young black men.
5. Jay-Z, ''Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life'' (Roc-A-Fella)
Shawn Carter works the mike the way few MCs can, spitting out rhymes of defiance. In the crowded ring of rappers, Jay-Z is a man among boys.
6. Method Man, ''Tical 2000: Judgement Day''(Def Jam)
Meth stands out from the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan on his second solo effort, with raw lyrics accompanying hectic beats.
7. Maxwell, ''Embrya''(Columbia)
Maxwell delivers a more soothing sound on his second album by replacing funk with fluidity. R&B will never be the same.
8. Hole, ''Celebrity Skin''(DGC)
Courtney Love couldn't keep up the good-girl facade for long, and lucky for us. You can feel the anger ripping through her throat.
9. Crucial Conflict, ''Good Side Bad Side''(Pallas)
These rough-riders layer Southern-style raps on syncopated beats, delivering a truly dynamic sound.
10. Madonna, ''Ray of Light''(Sire)
Madonna has proved she doesn't need to shock. A real artist emerged on this album.
