Earlier this month, Peter Rosenberg, one of the hosts of Hot 97’s popular morning show, counted down his Top 13 Hip Hop Albums of the Decade (2000-2009). I did some thinking and coughed up one of my own (I’m not sure what H-Town’s would be, but here’s mine), hope it takes you back how ten years just slid under your nose!

1. Jay-Z – The Blueprint (Def Jam/2001)

Best Album of the Decade hands down. Jay-Z’s best rhymes since his Reasonable Doubt debut and introduced the world to the genius of Kanye West and Just Blaze, plus battling Nas and rapping alongside Eminem. It was Roc-a-Fella at it’s prime.

2. Nas – Stillmatic (Columbia/2001)

This album restored faith in Nasty Nas that was once a beast in Illmatic. Backed up by hard beats from Ron Browz “Ether”, DJ Premier “2nd Childhood” and killer rhymes on “Destroy & Rebuild” and “What Goes Around” helped Nas get his street cred back in just one album.

3. Jaylib – Champion Sound (Stones Throw/2003)

I remember copping the album during the demise of my grandfather’s health and DJ Food Stamp hooking me up witht he promo LP at the same time and I would always notice the geniuses at work (namely J-Dilla and Madlib) scattered all over this album. It was a damn good follow up from their Slum Village/Lootpack origins.

4. Kanye West – The College Dropout (Roc-a-Fella/Def Jam/2004)

Crazy classics all over this one like “All Falls Down”, “Through The Wire”, “Two Words”, “Spaceship”, “Jesus Walks” and more. Literally puts Kanye on the map as legitimate MC and producer combo and superstar status too. An inspiring album for anyone who feels like the world gave up on them (even God too!), just play this LP.

5. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele (Sony/2000)

While people may argue that Iron Man or Fishscale were better albums, I think Supreme Clientele WAS the last great Wu-Tang album of their great run (that is until Raekwon dropped last month). I listened to this album non stop during my internship driving all over the place. Classic Wu-Tang sound at it’s finest like on “Mighty Healthy”, “Wu Banga 101″ and “Malcolm” which established Ghostface as razor-sharp lyricist.

6. Jay-Z – The Black Album (Def Jam/2003)

Hova’s last great album. American Gangster, Kingdom Come and Blueprint 3 all fail to have this “hungry” Jay-Z that had something in him to prove he’s number one. Well produced album too with The Neptunes, Timbaland, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder and Kanye West all delivering solid sonic contributions.

7. Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor (Atlantic/2006)

Lupe’s debut album is the most sincere album I’ve heard this decade. I was amazed when this record first dropped that people could still make music like this and it brought me back to when Common, Souls of Mischief, Pharcyde and Bush Babees could rap honestly (sans drugs, money and b*tches) and make simple “good” music.

8. The Game – The Documentary (Interscope/2005)

This album surprised me when I was in New York City studying film. I thought the West Coast was shut down until the Game proved me wrong, especially with a star-studded lineup of producers: Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Cool & Dre, Hi-Tek, DJ Khalil, Timbaland, etc.

9. Scarface – The Fix (Def Jam South/2001)

The best Scarface album IMO. Face actually branches out to Nas, The Neptunes, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel to craft a real classic. Reppin’ H-Town too, nuff said!

10. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 (Ice Water/2009)

Best sequel in terms of a hip-hop album. I thought the original one could never be touched and that the Wu fell off, but Raekwon really proved me wrong on this one. Gave me relief that you still can pull out a classic from under the rug.

11. Reflection Eternal – Train of Thought (Rawkus/2000)

Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek blew me away with their first single “Fortified Live” back in 1998, but this album certified their skills on the mic and boards. The last great Rawkus album.

12. Little Brother – The Listening (ABB/2003)

This album brought me back to why I started liking groups like A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Black Sheep aka The Native Tongues. Also a launch pad of 9th Wonder’s soulful production and Phonte’s sense of humor.

13. The Clipse – Lord Willin’ (Arista/2002)

The best Neptunes produced album (better than their N.E.R.D. experimentation IMO), and introduced Malice and Pusha to hip-hop.