RANKED FROM PUBLISHED SCORECARDS
Highest-rated albums of the 1980s.
A leaderboard of the records we've scored. Explore an era, read the reasoning, and see where your own verdict differs.
6albums in this ranking
Browse individual release years
Only the 108 albums with an unambiguous, usable published score can enter these rankings. Equal scores share a rank; alphabetical ordering within a tie does not imply a preference. This is the site's reviewed selection, not a complete survey of every release.
| Rank | Album / artist | Year | Score / 10 | Label & sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paid in Full ↗Eric B. & RakimListening guide → | 1987 | 10 | 4th & Broadway / Island Records |
| 1 | It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ↗Public EnemyListening guide → | 1988 | 10 | Def Jam Recordings / Columbia Records |
| 3 | Paul's Boutique ↗Beastie Boys | 1989 | 9.5 | Capitol Records1 scorecard & notes |
| 3 | 3 Feet High and Rising ↗De La SoulListening guide → | 1989 | 9.5 | Tommy Boy Records |
| 5 | Straight Outta Compton ↗N.W.AListening guide → | 1988 | 9 | Priority Records / Ruthless Records1 scorecard & notesRelease year follows the checked catalogue record; the archive table differs. MusicBrainz — release and track listing ↗ |
| 5 | Raising Hell ↗Run-D.M.C. | 1986 | 9 | Profile Records1 scorecard & notes |