| Release date |
Artist |
Album |
Label |
| January 20 |
Dizzee Rascal |
Boy in da Corner |
Bank Records |
| January 27 |
Twista |
Kamikaze |
Atlantic Records |
| February 3 |
Micranots |
The Emperor & the Assassin |
Rhymesayers Entertainment |
| Various Artists |
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (soundtrack) |
Interscope Records |
| February 10 |
Kanye West |
The College Dropout |
Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings |
| Del tha Funkee Homosapien |
The Best of Del tha Funkee Homosapien: The Elektra Years |
Rhino Entertainment, Elektra Records |
| Drag-On |
Hell and Back |
Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Virgin Records |
| February 24 |
Z-Ro |
The Life of Joseph W. McVey |
Rap-a-Lot Records |
| Royce da 5'9 |
Death is Certain |
E1 Music |
| Trillville and Lil Scrappy |
The King of Crunk & BME Recordings Present: Trillville & Lil Scrappy |
Warner Bros. Records, Black Market Records, Warner Records, Reprise Records |
| Young Gunz |
Tough Luv |
Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings |
| March 1 |
Noah23 & Jaffa Gate |
Ancient Israelites Older Than Anorthosite |
Northstar Imprint[1] |
| March 2 |
Cee-Lo Green |
Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine |
Arista Records |
| Beans |
Now Soon Someday [EP] |
|
| March 3 |
Tunnel Rats |
Tunnel Rats |
Uprok Records |
| March 9 |
Bad Boy Records |
Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits |
Bad Boy Records |
| March 16 |
Clouddead |
Ten |
Big Dada, Mush Records |
| Cassidy |
Split Personality |
Full Surface Records, J Records |
| March 23 |
Blockhead |
Music by Cavelight |
Ninja Tune |
| Cypress Hill |
Till Death Do Us Part |
Columbia Records |
| Eyedea & Abilities |
E&A |
Rhymesayers Entertainment |
| Knoc-turn'al |
The Way I Am |
L.A. Confidential Records, Elektra Records |
| Madvillain |
Madvillainy |
Stones Throw Records |
| Master P |
Good Side, Bad Side |
The New No Limit Records, Koch Records |
| MURS & 9th Wonder |
Murs 3:16 The 9th Edition |
Definitive Jux |
| N*E*R*D |
Fly or Die |
Star Trak Entertainment, Virgin Records |
| Rap-a-Lot Records |
The Day After Hell Broke Loose |
Rap-a-Lot Records |
| Skatterman & Snug Brim |
Urban Legendz |
Strange Music |
| Various Artists |
Never Die Alone (soundtrack) |
Warner Bros. Records |
| March 30 |
Lil Flip |
U Gotta Feel Me |
Sucka Free Records, Clover G Records, Columbia Records, Sony Urban Music |
| April 6 |
Dark Lotus |
Black Rain |
Psychopathic Records |
| Dilated Peoples |
Neighborhood Watch |
Capitol Records |
| J-Kwon |
Hood Hop |
So So Def Recordings, Arista Records, Sony Music Entertainment |
| Non Phixion |
The Green CD/DVD |
Uncle Howie Records |
| April 13 |
Illogic |
Celestial Clockwork |
Weightless Recordings |
| Plague Language |
Farewell Archetypes |
Legendary Entertainment, Plague Language[2] |
| April 20 |
Automato |
Automato |
|
| Ghostface Killah |
The Pretty Toney Album |
Def Jam Recordings |
| April 27 |
D12 |
D12 World |
Shady Records, Interscope Records |
| May 4 |
Ill Bill |
What's Wrong with Bill? |
Psycho+Logical-Records |
| Petey Pablo |
Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry |
Jive Records |
| Various Artists |
United Ghettos of America Vol. 2 |
Smoke-a-Lot Records, Rap-a-Lot Records |
| May 11 |
8Ball & MJG |
Living Legends |
Bad Boy South, Universal Music Group |
| Gift of Gab |
4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up |
Quannum Projects |
| MF Grimm |
Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1 |
Day by Day Entertainment |
| Pete Rock |
Soul Survivor II |
BBE Records |
| May 18 |
Method Man |
Tical 0: The Prequel |
Def Jam Recordings |
| The Streets |
A Grand Don't Come for Free |
|
| Various Artists |
The Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip Hop 1979–1983 |
Stones Throw Records |
| Twiztid |
Cryptic Collection Vol. 3 |
Psychopathic Records |
| UTP |
The Beginning of the End |
Rap-A-Lot Records, UTP Records |
| May 20 |
Lecrae |
Real Talk |
Reach Records |
| May 25 |
M.O.P. |
Mash Out Posse |
Fast Life Music, Inc. |
| May 28 |
Various Artists |
Soul Plane |
Various Records |
| June 1 |
Masta Killa |
No Said Date |
Nature Sounds |
| June 8 |
The X-Ecutioners |
The Revolutions |
Sony Music |
| De La Soul |
De La Mix Tape: Remixes, Rarities and Classics |
|
| Spice 1 |
The Ridah |
|
| June 15 |
Beastie Boys |
To the 5 Boroughs |
Capitol Records |
| Proof |
I Miss the Hip Hop Shop |
Iron Fist Records |
| Sabac Red |
Sabacolypse: A Change Gon' Come |
Psycho+Logical-Records |
| June 22 |
Erick Sermon |
Chilltown, New York |
Motown Records |
| Jadakiss |
Kiss of Death |
Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Interscope Records |
| Phat Kat |
The Undeniable LP |
Barak Records |
| June 27 |
Noah23 |
Sigma Octantis |
Legendary Entertainment, Plague Language[3] |
| Mitochondrial Blues |
| June 29 |
Akon |
Trouble |
SRC Records, UpFront Megatainment, Universal Music Group |
| Goodie Mob |
One Monkey Don't Stop No Show |
Koch Records |
| Headset |
Space Settings |
|
| Various Artists |
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 8 |
Image Entertainment |
| Lloyd Banks |
The Hunger For More |
G-Unit Records, Interscope Records |
| Slum Village |
Detroit Deli: A Taste of Detroit |
Capitol Records |
| Lil Wayne |
Tha Carter |
Cash Money Records |
| July 13 |
Leak Bros. |
Waterworld |
Eastern Conference Records |
| The Pharcyde |
Humboldt Beginnings |
|
| Project: Deadman |
Self Inflicted |
Strange Music |
| The Roots |
The Tipping Point |
Geffen Records |
| 7L & Esoteric |
DC2: Bars of Death |
Babygrande Records |
| July 27 |
Anybody Killa |
Dirty History |
Psychopathic Records |
| Bigg Jus |
Black Mamba Serums v2.0 |
Big Dada |
| OuterSpace |
Blood and Ashes |
Babygrande Records |
| Terror Squad |
True Story |
Terror Squad Productions, SRC Records, Universal Records |
| August 3 |
Body Head Bangerz |
Body Head Bangerz, Vol. 1 |
Body Head Entertainment, Universal Records |
| Masta Ace |
A Long Hot Summer |
M3 Records |
| MF Doom |
VV:2 |
Insomniac, Inc. |
| Theodore Unit |
718 |
|
| August 10 |
Brand Nubian |
Fire in the Hole |
Babygrande Records |
| Kutt Calhoun |
B.L.E.V.E. |
Strange Music |
| Mobb Deep |
Amerikaz Nightmare |
Jive Records |
| Mr. Hyde |
Barn of the Naked Dead |
Psycho+Logical-Records |
| Mystikal |
Prince of the South... The Hits |
Jive Records |
| Shyne |
Godfather Buried Alive |
Def Jam Recordings |
| Suburban Noize Records |
The Royal Family |
Suburban Noize Records |
| August 17 |
Northern State |
All City |
|
| 213 |
The Hard Way |
Doggystyle Records, G-Funk Entertainment, Dogg Foundation, TVT Records |
| August 24 |
E-40 |
The Best of E-40: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow |
Sick Wid It Records, Jive Records |
| The Foreign Exchange |
Connected |
Barely Breaking Even |
| Jedi Mind Tricks |
Legacy of Blood |
Babygrande Records |
| Jim Jones |
On My Way to Church |
Diplomat Records, Koch Records |
| Ma$e |
Welcome Back |
Bad Boy Entertainment |
| MC Breed |
The New Prescription |
Psychopathic Records |
| Pitbull |
M.I.A.M.I. |
TVT Records |
| Young Buck |
Straight Outta Ca$hville |
G-Unit Records, Interscope Records |
| August 31 |
Insane Clown Posse |
The Wraith: Hell's Pit |
Psychopathic Records |
| LL Cool J |
The DEFinition |
Def Jam Recordings |
| September 7 |
Rob Sonic |
Telicatessen |
Definitive Jux |
| September 14 |
Dem Franchize Boyz |
Dem Franchize Boyz |
Universal Records |
| Dizzee Rascal |
Showtime |
|
| Nelly |
Sweat |
Derrty Entertainment, Universal Records |
| Nelly |
Suit |
| September 21 |
Jean Grae |
This Week |
Babygrande Records |
| k-os |
Joyful Rebellion |
|
| Lil' Romeo |
Romeoland |
The New No Limit Records, Koch Records |
| Necro |
The Pre-Fix for Death |
Psycho+Logical-Records |
| Saul Williams |
Saul Williams |
Fader Label |
| The Alchemist |
1st Infantry |
ALC, Koch Records |
| Various Artists |
Shark Tale: Motion Picture Soundtrack |
Geffen Records, DreamWorks Records, UMG Soundtracks |
| September 28 |
Heiruspecs |
A Tiger Dancing |
|
| Shawnna |
Worth tha Weight |
Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings |
| Guerilla Black |
Guerilla City |
Virgin Records |
| Talib Kweli |
The Beautiful Struggle |
Rawkus Records |
| October 5 |
De La Soul |
The Grind Date |
AOI Records |
| The Game |
Untold Story |
Get Low Recordz |
| I-20 |
Self Explanatory |
Disturbing tha Peace, Capitol Records |
| October 12 |
Busta Rhymes |
The Artist Collection: Busta Rhymes |
BMG International |
| Gold Chains And Curly Cie |
When The World Was Our Friend |
|
| Mos Def |
The New Danger |
Rawkus Records, Geffen Records |
| October 19 |
Beans |
Shock City Maverick |
|
| Bizzy Bone |
Alpha and Omega |
|
| Blaze Ya Dead Homie |
Colton Grundy: The Undying |
Psychopathic Records |
| Jin |
The Rest is History |
Ruff Ryders Entertainment, Virgin Records |
| Juvenile |
The Greatest Hits |
Cash Money Records, Universal Records |
| Lil Wyte |
Phinally Phamous |
Hypnotize Minds Productions |
| Q-Unique |
Vengeance Is Mine |
Uncle Howie Records |
| October 26 |
Afrika Bambaataa |
Dark Matter Moving at the Speed of Light |
Tommy Boy Records |
| Goretex |
The Art of Dying |
Psycho+Logical-Records |
| Lateef & the Chief |
Maroons: Ambush |
Quannum Projects |
| Jay-Z & R. Kelly |
Unfinished Business |
Roc-A-Fella Records, Def Jam Recordings, Jive Records, Rockland Records |
| Trick Daddy |
Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets |
Atlantic Records |
| Wu-Tang Clan |
Legend of the Wu-Tang: Wu-Tang Clan's Greatest Hits |
BMG Heritage Records |
| November 1 |
Noah23 |
Jupiter Sajitarius |
2nd Rec[4] |
| November 2 |
Ying Yang Twins |
My Brother & Me |
TVT Records |
| November 9 |
Ed O.G. |
My Own Worst Enemy |
|
| Fabolous |
Real Talk |
Desert Storm Records, Atlantic Records |
| Handsome Boy Modeling School |
White People |
Elektra Records |
| Ja Rule |
R.U.L.E. |
Murder Inc. Records, Def Jam Recordings |
| November 12 |
Eminem |
Encore |
Shady Records, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records, Web Entertainment |
| November 16 |
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony |
Greatest Hits |
Ruthless Records |
| Chingy |
Powerballin' |
Full Dekk Music Group, Capitol Records |
| Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz |
Crunk Juice |
BME Recordings, TVT Records |
| MF Doom |
Mm..Food |
Rhymesayers Entertainment |
| Monoxide Child |
Chainsmoker LP |
Psychopathic Records |
| R.A. the Rugged Man |
Die, Rugged Man, Die |
Nature Sounds |
| Snoop Dogg |
R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece |
Doggystyle Records, Star Trak Entertainment, Geffen Records |
| November 23 |
Apathy |
Where's Your Album?!! |
|
| Axe Murder Boyz |
The Unforgiven Forest |
Canonize Productions |
| The Diplomats |
Diplomatic Immunity 2 |
Diplomat Records, Koch Records |
| UTP |
Nolia Clap (EP) |
Rap-A-Lot Records, UTP Records |
| Various Artists |
Blade: Trinity (soundtrack) |
New Line Records |
| November 30 |
Nas |
Street's Disciple |
Ill Will Records, Columbia Records |
| T.I. |
Urban Legend |
Grand Hustle Records, Atlantic Records |
| December 7 |
Cam'ron |
Purple Haze |
Roc-A-Fella Records, Diplomat Records, Def Jam Recordings |
| Ludacris |
The Red Light District |
Disturbing tha Peace, Def Jam Recordings |
| Various Artists |
The Source Presents: Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 9 |
Image Entertainment |
| Yung Wun |
The Dirtiest Thirstiest |
Full Surface Records, J Records |
| December 14 |
Xzibit |
Weapons of Mass Destruction |
Open Bar Entertainment, Columbia Records, Sony Music |
| 2Pac |
Loyal to the Game |
Amaru Entertainment, Interscope Records |
| December 21 |
Mannie Fresh |
The Mind of Mannie Fresh |
Cash Money Records, Universal Records |
|