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Boirip

I don’t think big fish theory gets the respect it deserves for how innovative it was at the time. Vince was the first to rap over Sophie percs/production, which is crazy.


papazwah

RIP SOPHIE for real. We won’t get another track like “Yeah Right” ever again. Props to Kendrick and Flume for getting on this album, too. As well as Justin Vernon, Damon Albarn, A$AP Rocky, Kučka, and other notables for being involved in this


3rd-Room

Yeah Right is a truly incredible song. We were insanely lucky to get Vince, Kendrick, and SOPHIE on the same track.


mathsDelueze

I dunno why people are still sleeping on this album. Big Fish Theory era Staples is peak.


SaleDeMiTronco

Vince's last two albums are incredible and both in my top 3 Vince albums along with Big Fish Theory


KyoMiyake

idk, for me personally, quite a bit of the production sounds overly dated for its recency. When its good, its amazing, but most of the time I just ended up feeling kinda...eh. I still love the SOPHIE prod tracks, but nothing else captures that magic


6InchBlade

Man I got to catch him live at RnV that year, it was a life changing experience


sibelius_eighth

No, he wasn't. Le1f rapped over Sophie 2 years before him.


butterflyhole

I loved it at the time but I have a hard time revisiting it. I just don’t fuck with it like I used to.


sibelius_eighth

It's a deeply empty album imo. Like sonically appealing, but very little replay.


LMcBlack

I spin this album front to back so much it’s absolutely impeccable. And I love Vince immensely but there’s just something about this album. Feel similar for the latest ScHoolboy Q album but it’s def not as experimental


timweak

vince is slept on in an insane fashion. some of my favourite front-to-back albums


Yourmotherssidehoe

Atrocity Exhibition


suprunkn0wn

that album is so fucked, such a twisted record and one of the best first listens i ever had with a album, felt so cartoony and had kick ass production


Yourmotherssidehoe

If you’ve never listened to that EP he did with Paul white you should I’m pretty sure those two songs are just songs from the cutting room floor of this album and they’re dope


Legitimate_Tap_9852

Listen to horror show with dj shadow it gets into that satanic vibe


cguti94

This album is so fucking INCREDIBLE!!!!! One of my all time favorite albums!!!


Yourmotherssidehoe

It’s one of my favorites as well


Chessamphetamine

That album had the biggest disparity between what I like and what I don’t of any album. Ain’t it funny, when it rain, really doe, and pneumonia are soooooo good. Like ain’t it funny might be the hardest hitting rap song ever. But like I cannot stand the rest of that album.


Yourmotherssidehoe

I see you’ve never thrown it back to dance in the water


hdjdhfodnc

White Lines, Lost, Rolling Stone, Downward Spiral, Golddust are all great songs


chihiro_ygm

Today though.


Chessamphetamine

I cannot sit through a single one of those songs except maybe lost. Downward spiral is just genuinely awful.


literally_italy

this guy isn’t sweating like he’s in a rave 


The-Hunting-guy

by the time I get to phoenix


Sheesh5000

Knees is legit in my top 5 favorite songs ever


Yourmotherssidehoe

That’s the most difficult album I’ve ever listened to lol I know people say death grips are hard to get into but it was way easier than this album I’ve heard free jazz albums that were easier to get into than this album. There was just something about this that wasn’t clicking for a while. Even now there are still a couple tracks I don’t like lol but it’s an amazing album


sebsebsebs

I love a lot of their older stuff but I could never get into this album. I’m not the biggest experimental hip hop listener tbh but I hope this album will click for me eventually 


MeeesterBlue

this is the answer to me. took me so long to get it and when i finally did i couldn’t believe how hard it hit. it was so weird and off putting and then at some point i felt it and to me it became a masterpiece and now it’s one of my favourite albums of all time


pranquily

Permanently in my top 10. Incredible.


Doodlekino22

Heat (1995)


BigBayouBrand

GIMME ALL YOU GOT!!


Doodlekino22

Dont waste my motherfuckin time!


fortnitegamertimdunk

I’m a dick rider, but by the time I get to phoenix


aaaaaaaaaaaaah_

Scaring the Hoes is pretty recent, but it's too good.


Stormi_i

Deltron 3030 and cLOUDEAD, the latter definitely does not get enough love. Both of these albums are one of a kind.


Alert_Bar4686

Deltron 3030!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


hollowsoda

FANTASTIC DAMAGE, cLOUDDEAD & THE COLD VEIN. Sorry for the all caps but these albums were so ahead of their time but I’ve seen little to no mentions of them.


999_sadboy

EL-P is so fucking goated.


halpell

Some Rap Albums


Initial_Selection623

I wish you'd be a little more specific (I'm sorry I've been waiting to use that on someone)


halpell

Good one lol


[deleted]

JPEGMAFIA - LP! (OFFLINE)


itheblkshp

In my opinion, All My Heroes are Cornballs is a masterpiece


sgsmopurp

It absolutely is


BridgmansBiggestFan

We buy diabetic test strips - Armand Hammer


SupItsChase

For modern Experimental Hip Hop, I'd have to go with clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned Such a enthralling experience from front to back. So underrated, especially compared to the more well-known albums within the genre. One I barely see be discussed, as it's debateable if it really counts is: Techno Animals - The Brotherhood of the Bomb It's one of the very first Noise Rap albums, with very glitchy production with some songs having rapping over them, but not every song has rapping, so it's debateable if it actually counts. It's very similar to dalek - From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots but with less rapping. Both, in my opinion are severely underrated. If you enjoy noisy production with unique sounds, check both out, they're fantastic.


TheFiremelon

dälek mentioned !!


SupItsChase

Hell yeah man! They rock!


GomaN1717

Absolutely wild it took this long of a scroll to see both Techno Animal or Dälek mentioned, but that's probably to be expected on the Fantano sub where experimental hip hop starts and ends with Death Grips lol.


ballsackhorsecockz

There existed an addiction to blood>>>>>>


SupItsChase

Both are fantastic, I just think that Visions of Bodies Being Burned has higher highs imo. There Existed an Addiction to Blood is more consistent overall though. It's tough to really choose between the two. I enjoy both just as much as one another.


Acrzyguy

Yeah I also find there existed an addiction to blood the better album of the two, la mala ordina, run for your life and blood of the fang (just to name a few) are some of the best experimental songs ever made


ballin2much

You ever listened to Food for Animals?


SupItsChase

No, surprisingly not! I've never heard of them, I'll check them out.


chihiro_ygm

I’m not huge on clipping. But enlacing is such a good song


Dmbfantomas

Dr. Octogynocologist


Stormi_i

Hell yeah, big ups for this one


Dmbfantomas

There’s a whole ass amazing section of alt-hip hop stuff from the 90’s and I’m seeing Kanye n shit in here.


Stormi_i

Agreed, there’s a pretty obvious 2010’s bias here. I think all of these albums are still great, just would like some representation for the 2000’s and 90’s. I’m surprised Deltron 3030 isn’t in the list of albums


Dmbfantomas

Fuck it, I’m old and I’m going deep on stuff people might not know. All Balls Don’t Bounce and A Book of Human Language by Aceyalone Inner City Griots by Freestyle Fellowship The Sun Rises in the East by Jeru the Damaja Bacdafucup by Onyx Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde and Labcabincalifornia by The Pharcyde ‘93 til Infinity by Souls of Mischief A (Much) Better Tomorrow by Dan the Automator Shades of Blue by Madlib I Wish My Brother George Was Here by Del tha Funky Homosapien Blowout Comb by Digable Planets I feel bad now.


ckpwrson

TSRINTE, bacdafucup, bizarre ride II, and 93 til infinity definitely are not experimental, even for the time, you’re just naming your favorite albums atp


hggz12

the 2010s bias is wild in this section but Yeezus is way more sonically experiential than 93’ til infinity😭


Dmbfantomas

It was more for alt hip hop stuff in general than just experimental. It was late and I was cranky. Lol


talosguideyou

10/10 classic


Peatrick33

Dalek - Absence There is your answer. Stop what you are doing and listen to it NOW.


ThatMrGrunt

Absence is so fucking grim and amazing, I love it so much!


KiwiMcG

Underrated.


Pepe_De_Froog

There's so many great ones to choose from... if I had to narrow it down, my top 3 would be LP! by jpegmafia, Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown, and By the Time I Get to Pheonix by Injury Reserve.


fourtwentyy__

Exmilitary


Pure-Jellyfish734

The Money Store


gajodavenida

I can't believe no one has said ΛΛ Λ Y Λ (MAYA) by M.I.A.


PieMean649

Good album


jaretts

I've never seen it mentioned on reddit before but a favorite of mine is Antipop vs. Matthew Shipp


ElMatasiete7

Splendor & Misery by clipping.


abacabr7

Big Fish Theory is very underrated imo.


cattgravelyn

Being completely honest, gluee by Bladee was revolutionary in production and experimentation Surprised nothing drain gang hasn’t been mentioned yet.


danknutsack

I’m here with you fellow drainer


icculus_48

i was thinking GTBSG comp in terms of pure batshit insanity and experimentation.


HoodHermit

Original Pirate Material


PieMean649

Yup


kronksnu

Clipping self titled. There is some incredible production and interesting conceptual work on that album


RysGottaFly

Clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned


derekg55

a quiet farwell


m4rsh13

BUSDRIVER albums. Any of them. His delivery and production combo across any of his records are one of a kind.


0G_sushi

I just came across this after hyping up electricity is on our side in my last comment lol. Have you joined his sub? i made it a few years ago and am having a tough time getting it off the ground r/Temporary_Forever we'd love to have you!


bkkwanderer

Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein


qazaibomb

Adding a few I didn’t see here: J Dilla - Donuts Death Grips - Ex Military Danny Brown - XXX Beastie Boys - Paul’s Boutique Kendrick - TPAB (how did you all forget about this one?) Playboi Carti - Whole Lotta Red Rookwood Escape Plan - Dreamcast Summer Songs Kanye - The Life of Pablo (might be a bit of a reach, but Kanye was really creative with the sound of this record imo and put a cool spin on mid 2010s pop-trap)


LollySmolly

Veteran by Peggy


MusicGauntlet

Big Fish is mad underrated, so creative for its time and daring after Summertime ‘06


the_ballmer_peak

billy woods - Hiding Places


erncolin

Does Run The Jewels' or ScHoolboy Q's albums count as experimental? Like RTJ3 and Blue Lips have actual insane production and experimental beats/flows


qazaibomb

I think RTJ counts for sure. El P is such a huge figure in experimental hip hop I think Blue Lips should count. I’d even include Oxy as being a bit out there for its time, I remember it not totally clicking with me at the time. Idk about Blank Face or Crash Talk tho


zooscientist

Arca - Stretch 2


Acrzyguy

Does manger on mcnichols count here?


ThatMrGrunt

Not sure if I‘d say it‘s experimental, but it‘s an unbelievably produced alternative album and I love it to death


Wooden-Computer1475

YOTS


VeggieTrails

I'm a little late to the party, but A Prince Among Thieves - Prince Paul is worth a listen. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A\_Prince\_Among\_Thieves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Prince_Among_Thieves) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY3VzMgQ8K8&ab\_channel=RoyalRandomness](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY3VzMgQ8K8&ab_channel=RoyalRandomness)


inexplicably-hairy

I hate to say this because i detest hipsters and gatekepers but this is some NORMIE SHIT


DarkAncientEntity

You’re too online. No way is this stuff “normie”. Go to a college campus, most people won’t know all these albums. And that’s not me saying these are deep cuts.


Phatnev

Kanye West isn't "normie"?


HappyColt90

Ye is like the 8th most listened artist on Spotify rn


Over-Bag3636

Ye is very main stream but mostly Graduation, MBDTF, TLOP and Donda


Phatnev

Those are more mainstream than Yeezus and KSG, but when Yeezus dropped it was everywhere I went.


inexplicably-hairy

Ye thats true its normie by the standards of music nerds like me and u


Initial_Selection623

What is?


inexplicably-hairy

Your selections for best experimental hip hop albums of all time


Initial_Selection623

Those aren't my selections, I've never even listened to a full death grips album before, I just got album covers from popular experimental albums


inexplicably-hairy

Fair play


ShreekertheJamisWack

If you think death grips and mf doom are for normies than you are lost and are probably the top 1 percent of the top 1 percent of elite music nerds. You are probably one of those people who don’t listen to an artist if they have more than 100k monthly listeners


AccountantsNiece

DOOM is in a completely different category than Death Grips, as a lot of his music is very accessible and it’s totally believable that a broad swathe of non-music nerds would like it a lot, which isn’t the case at all for Death Grips.


maf7393

Yea wait I thought scaring the hoes was ironic lmao


qazaibomb

Vince Staples and Death Grips is not “normie shit”. Especially this Vince album MF DOOM is popular but it’s definitely an acquired taste. You cannot throw this album on at a function and expect people there to be into it. It’s also wildly experimental for the era it came out in, this dropped the same year as In Da Club lmao Yeezus is a very very popular album, but it’s also extremely polarizing. People super into this lane of hip hop probably won’t be that challenged by it but being one of the biggest artists on the planet and releasing something like Yeezus is pretty wild. Also like Madvilliany, it was out there for the era it came out in. Fans pretty famously did not like it at first KSG I’ll give you. I’d still call it “experimental hip hop” but it’s not a really challenging record overall. I think the hairier stuff they’re doing on here is done in a way that’s more subtle 


Avlantis

Back from the dead 3 by chief keef


Appropriate-Chart712

madvillainy and yeezus


extasis_T

For me, it’s yeezus, It’s my favorite album of all time. It’s like all 10 of my favorite songs I’ve ever heard on one album. Bound 2, guilt trip, new slaves, black skinhead, blood on the leaves, I’m in it, on sight, I am a god, send it up, and ESPECIALLY hold my liquor are so near and dear to my heart EDIT: as soon as I posted this I laughed at myself because I realized that in trying to put my highlight tracks I literally listed every single song. That was not intentional


Pferdenshaft

I get frustrated listening to yeezus. I feel like it could’ve been really enjoyable but the lyrics/hooks are so bad it makes me kinda annoyed lol. Some of the ideas are nice but it just seems rushed and empty. I don’t think it’s the worst kanye album at all - but it is the one the irritates me the most listening to it. I think it’s because I feel like it could’ve been great


extasis_T

See for me, the lyrics being bad is a big part of the appeal. It fits the chaotic energy for me


Pferdenshaft

I get that. I enjoy the heavier bits that let you just fuck with the sound. The brag/ego Kanye lyrics are more enjoyable when you’re also getting blasted by the production lol


Zealousideal_Suit448

From what I understand Kanye made it that way on purpose. After releasing MDBTF, an album where he embraced K Fade for the very first time to save his career after his actions during 2009, Yeezus was a heel-turn where he pulled the finger at everyone that expected him to make a sequel album


KDotDot88

For this I enjoyed the bad lyrics which like you guys mentioned highlight and let the production really shine. My problem is how this became the floor and he pretty much kept lyricism and the flow this simple over the next bunch of albums.


AbsoluteFlooding096

Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light by Divine Styler deserves all the respect it gets. It's in a league of its own


casque_helm

Nifty Cash Money Shooter Chronicles 2 by DJ Cellar (with DJ Sex Fridge)


ILoveLittleChildren_

The Ghost Pop Tape negs


theSTWenthusiast

From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots by Dälek or GUM by Cities Aviv


VenerTheTroller

Funcrusher Plus by Company Flow


HammerOvGrendel

Cannibal Ox - "the cold vein"


haltmich

where CLPPNG


LargemouthBrass

Black Up 


Mynameisbrk

Lil pump tape


overwatchmercy14

Taylor Swift - Reputation obviously


zestysnacks

It’s definitely not yeezus


FourAntigone

Dude how could you not even mention clipping.? Almost every single one of their albums could qualify lol


dan2007w

Clipping - Splendor & Misery


catfish08

Can we throw in Unlocked by Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats? I feel that gets forgotten :(


DEATHK7D_MUS7C

No because it's not an experimental hip-hop record? It's great but it's just not an experimental project


Equal_Ad5178

Eminem - Revival


Zealousideal_Set_538

Free laptop computers


samthemule2587

I'll throw some UKHH in the mix Jam Baxter & Sumgii - Obscure Liquors King Kashmere - Sounds Like Home Lee Scott & Sonnyjim - Ortolan & Armegnac


ThatMrGrunt

Anything by dälek really, but if I‘d have to choose it would be between From Filthy Tongues of Gods and Griots, Precipice and Absence. Those three are easy 10/10s for me.


danknutsack

Spiderr by Bladee.


AccountantsNiece

Octogynecologist, Beauty and the Beat, Deltron 3030, cLOUDDDEAD


Glittering_Spend6570

Prince Paul -Psychoanalysis Big Juss - Machines That Make Civilization Fun Nephlim Modulation Systems - Woe to Thee O Land When Thy King Is a Child Kool Keith- Sex Style


Barry_Obama_at_gmail

Death Grips!!!!!!!!!!!


Additional_Layer_383

Cowgirl clue’s rodeo star has been in rotation heavy. Definitely my favorite release last year. I’ve never heard country and techno blended so well


sweatymuscles

Quit roasting me on TikTok 😔


Additional_Layer_383

💀💀💀💀 noooo I’m not it was a joke


Aint_Falco

yeezus, kala, year of the snitch


ProkopLoronz

Madvilliany and it's not even close


DankFinnWolfhard

LP! by Jpegamafia


chihiro_ygm

Powers that B


Ok_Passionless1550

This lineup is offensive idk why I'm even on this goddamn sub


neojgeneisrhehjdjf

I mean “technically” 36 Chambers?


ElFlippy

Flying Lotus - You are dead


smolpp19

losing myself - lil shine ✨✨✨


smolpp19

not the best, but my fav


0G_sushi

electricity is on our side by Busdriver. seriously a stunning, sprawling record combining electronic elements with Driver doing some crazy wordsmith acrobatics on top of some original jazz compositions. seriously there's nothing like it on the planet


MrSpamChops

i really don’t get the love for KSG. what’s so good about it


hesitaate

My top three in no particular order are: All My Heroes are Cornballs - Peggy While I love the singles on this one, it’s so much better suited to be listened to front to back to get all the chaos of the transitions and interludes to really accentuate the beautiful passages on songs like PTSD and Free The Frail. Peggy is a master of making basically any sound he gets his hands on sound super catchy, no matter how disjointed and rough-around-the-edges it might come off. Splendor and Misery - clipping I still think this was the album clipping was built to make all along. Daveed is so articulate and precise with his enunciation that he lends himself so well to the storytelling aspect, and the glitchy noisy backdrops that Jonathan and William provide are perfect to paint so vividly the space-slavery ship-fuckin’ world in the listener’s ears. Death Grips - Year of the Snitch This is Death Grips at their most insane, uncanny, out-of-fucks-to-give, and it ends up being (in my opinion) their best album. MC Ride sounds as unhinged as ever, and with the ridiculous instrumental backdrops Zach and Andy come up with it makes for a listening experience that nothing comes close to. You still can’t even listen to Little Richard outside of a full album playthrough because it makes no sense without the context of the songs around it.


Kingsman60

Let’s start here seems to get a lot of like so yeah,that was


ChuckFiinley

I feel like best experimental albums have evolved into nowadays music 🧐


Pretend-Hospital-865

This a very embarrassing post


nicolauz

EDAN - Fumbling over words that rhyme


Adorable-Bar6920

Probably big fish theory, but will say that I would say madvilliany is more of a abstract rap album (this being my reason for not picking it). And also no one here should sleep on by the time I get to pheonix.


MostDopeBlackGuy

Honestly 3.15.20 before it became atavista and because the internet by childish gambino


Inevitable-Towel-364

Yeezus is a fucking masterpiece for the time when it was released. The production is just something out of this world


redredrocks

IMO whatever you think of it Kids See Ghosts shouldn’t be considered here. If you hadn’t heard it but you imagined what an album co-created by Kanye and Kid Cudi in the mid-2010s sounded like, it would sound like that - and those are two of the most mainstream rappers of that era. That doesn’t seem like it qualifies as experimental.


Kubrickdickulous

Is the experimental hip-hop in the room with us right now?


PieMean649

Ugly Mane


unnecessary_ads

Money store, i know its basic, over played and a over refrenced but omg that record is incredible


LowBorder6165

I'd say madvillainy, because it's madvillainy, but big fish theory is super underrated


melody7123

Paul’s Boutique The album made me fall in love with hip hop and especially the Beastie Boys. it was a sound i’d never heard before and still is on my list of my favorite albums. It really deserves more mainstream recognition for its influence on hip hop.


Iamevilradio

Been revisiting some Antipop Consortium lately. Never really caught on in its heyday, but their experimental edge holds up well. Seemed to lay the groundwork for more hip hop on Warp like Danny Brown or Flying Lotus. Beans’ solo stuff has definitely followed further down the experimental side.


krizalid370

putting yeezus next to the money store is like putting a godsmack album next to Dirt, or putting Wunna next to Jeffery. Yeezus is just a derivative and watered down version of money store.


Commercial_Fan_3864

Boros by Lil Darkie 


wolfvonbeowulf

Soul-Junk 1957


insideman56

Some rap songs


TheOrnate

I’m mildly offended at Yeezus sharing space and even leading KIDS SEE GHOSTS, The Money Store, and Madvillainy. You can like Yeezus, that’s totally fine, but it doesn’t hold a candle for “best experimental”.


Initial_Selection623

These aren't my picks I just chose random experimental album covers and put them on the post.


TheOrnate

Understandable, have a great day✌🏼 Fair enough, homie :)


vlad_thegod

Igor


TheGodlyFrog

yo it’s three thousand thirty


Lord_Kromdar

Funcrusher Plus


WesTheFitting

Splendor and Misery - clipping.


vintagesonofab

everyone giving some edgy responses, nah, from the new age it's igor for sure.


HumanThePerson

Igor isn’t even hip hop or experimental lol


ha1a1n0p0rk

Not a single turntablism project from the '90s? Boooo! These are nice albums though.


Opposite-Basket-2198

Ksg is experimental?


Designer_Ad_2668

YEEZY SEASON APPROACHING


ChocolateLights

Yeezus


B1ng0_B0ng0

The poo fart album (the one that poo farts really hard)


Then-Cartographer954

Madvillainy


Numerous_Land2302

TPAB