Philadelphia has a long and vibrant history of hip-hop music, with many of its artists making significant progress in the 2000s. From Meek Mill to Will Smith, the city has produced some of the most influential and iconic rap albums of all time. In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at some of the best hip-hop albums to come out of Philadelphia, PA. Meek Mill is a Philadelphia native who got his start with combat rap. His debut album, Dreams and Nightmares, was released in 2012 and was met with critical acclaim.
The album featured guest appearances from Rick Ross, Drake, and Mary J. Blige, among others. It was certified gold by the RIAA and spawned several hit singles, including “Amen” and “Young & Gettin' It”.Will Smith is another Philadelphia native who had a successful career as a rapper in the late 90s and early 2000s. His debut album, Big Willie Style, was released in 1997 and was certified nine times platinum by the RIAA.
The album featured hit singles such as “Gettin' Jiggy wit It” and “Miami”.Cassidy is another Philadelphia rapper who has released several albums over the years. His debut album, Split Personality, was released in 2004 and featured guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Lil' Kim, and Mary J. Blige. The album was certified gold by the RIAA and spawned several hit singles, including “I'm a Hustla” and “B-Boy Stance”.DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince is a duo from West Philadelphia that released their debut album, Rock the House, in 1987. The album featured hit singles such as “Parents Just Don't Understand” and “Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble”.
The duo went on to release several more albums before disbanding in 1993. Schooly D is another Philadelphia rapper who made a big impact in the mid-1980s. He released his debut album, Saturday Night!, in 1985 and it featured hit singles such as “P. S. K.
What Does It Mean?” and “Gucci Time”. Schooly D went on to release several more albums before retiring from rap in 2002. Beanie Sigel is another Philadelphia rapper who achieved popular success while remaining raw and lyrical. He released his debut album, The Truth, in 2000 and it featured hit singles such as “Feel It In The Air” and “Remember Them Days”. Beanie Sigel went on to release several more albums before retiring from rap in 2011. Freeway is another Philadelphia rapper who made a name for himself in late 2001 with State Property.
He appeared mostly on Jay-Z's 2000 album Roc La Familia and his own eponymous debut album State Property in early 2002. Freeway went on to release several more albums before retiring from rap in 2018. Philadelphia has produced some of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. From Meek Mill to Will Smith to Schooly D to Beanie Sigel to Freeway, these artists have left an indelible mark on the city's music scene.
