The Best 3-Album Runs in Hip-Hop & R&B

Leave it up to my fam in the Soul In Stereo Cypher on Facebook to bring the good convos.

Earlier this week, there was a discussion about artists with the best three-album runs. So many great R&B and hip-hop stars came to mind that it was only right to show them some love here.

Before we get started, in a futile attempt to keep my DMs from being on fire, let’s define what a three-album run is:

For the purposes of this post, a “three album run” are three great albums released consecutively, AKA, back-to-back. Keep in mind this DOES NOT necessarily have to be an artist’s debut, sophomore and third album (although many on this list are). But again, the albums MUST be released in sequence – anyone who whines about me not picking Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint 1 and The Black Album will be shamed accordingly.

Also, while this list highlights 14 artists, it’s not a definitive list. There are definitely more acts worthy of consideration, but I might save those for Part 2. Gotta give y’all ammunition for future arguments, after all.

But in the meantime, let’s celebrate artists who went three for three on great albums.

Faith Evans

The run:

Faith (1995) – 5 stars

Keep the Faith (1998) – 4 stars

Faithfully (2001) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: The mid-90s run of Bad Boy records is the stuff of legends, and my girl Faith definitely reaped those rewards. Her 5-star review is still highly regarded today and while I wasn’t as big of a fan of her sophomore effort as others, she more than made up for it with her underrated third album. It’s *thisclose* to being yet another 5-star winner.

Kanye West

The run:

The College Dropout (2004) – 5 stars

Late Registration (2005) – 4.5 stars

Graduation (2007) – 4 stars

Edd said: The current decline of Mr. West has been heartbreaking in a billion different ways but we’ll always have his early run – truly a game-changing era for hip-hop. Sure, in terms of mainstream pop star appeal, bigger things (and more annoying stans) would come later. But he still hasn’t recaptured the consistency of his early days.

Kendrick Lamar

The run:

Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (2012) – 4.5 stars

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) – 4.5 stars

DAMN (2017) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: No, we’re not counting Untitled Unmastered here, that’s a compilation, not an official album. But that’s beside the point. In my opinion, Kendrick is the greatest artist of his generation, and his near-spotless album run is a big reason for that.

Janelle Monae

The run:

The ArchAndroid (2010) – 4.5 stars

The Electric Lady (2013) – 4.5 stars

Dirty Computer (2018) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: Easily the most underrated artist on this list and one of the true MVPs of the past decade. Janelle drops a dope album, drinks her water, then goes back to minding her business for a few years. She doesn’t make a lot of noise, she just consistently makes incredible concept albums, each completely unique from the last.

Nas

The run:

Illmatic (1994) – 5 stars

It Was Written (1996) – 4.5 stars

I Am (1999) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: Nas’ first two albums are a given, so I expect the unfairly-maligned I Am to raise the most eyebrows here. But I stand by it – though the final version is far from Nas’ original vision, it’s still great balance of late-90s mainstream cuts and the vicious boom-bap sound that has personified Esco’s more renowned hits. It gives Nas a strong trifecta of great albums.

Outkast

The run:

Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994) – 4.5 stars

ATLliens (1996) – 4.5 stars

Aquemini (1998) – 5 stars

Edd said: The third time was the charm for Outkast, who landed their best album to date with Aquemini. But don’t sleep on the two that landed before it – all three stand as genre-defining Southern rap classics.

Boyz II Men

The run:

Cooleyhighharmony (1991) – 4.5 stars

II (1994) – 5 stars

Evolution (1997) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: I’ve talked about it several times in the past, but Boyz II Men’s Evolution is VASTLY underrated. I know the R&B scene was evolving and many fans were drifting toward younger groups, but B2M remained relevant as ever. Of course, there’s not much to say about their debut and sophomore albums that haven’t been said a billion times already – the former MAY be the best R&B album of the 90s, and that’s saying A LOT.

Luther Vandross

The run:

Never Too Much (1981) – 5 stars

Forever, For Always, for Love (1982) – 4.5 stars

Busy Body (1983) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: LUTHA absolutely owned the 80s, with his first three albums making him R&B’s kingpin in the early days of the decade. Don’t sleep on later releases Give Me the Reason and The Night I Fell In Love either – they might not be of the caliber of these three winners but they’re absolutely noteworthy. Lutha did NOT miss in the 80s, playas.

112

The run:

112 (1996) – 5 stars

Room 112 (1998) – 5 stars

Part III (2001) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: THAT’S RIGHT I SAID IT. I’ve been championing 112’s first three albums as some of the best R&B we’ve heard in the past 30 years, and that still stands. Like their labelmate Faith Evans, 112 rode that Bad Boy gravy train to incredible heights, giving us air-tight albums time and time again. A debut that was a masterclass in the art of ballads, a follow up that embraced hip-hop and a third that married both concepts. Of course, later albums lost that magic but these three are a tough act for anyone to follow.

Mary J. Blige

The run:

What’s the 411? (1992) – 4.5 stars

My Life (1994) – 5 stars

Share My World (1997) – 5 stars

Edd said: Another no-brainer. MJB’s recognized as one of R&B’s 90s pioneers for a reason, with a near-literal mountain of classic songs and albums. All three releases were responsible for shaping the sound of R&B in the 90s. You could make a strong case for her debut being 5 stars as well, and even I’d have a tough time arguing against it. These three albums have become the Queen’s legacy.

A Tribe Called Quest

The run:

People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990) – 4.5 stars

The Low End Theory (1991) – 5 stars

Midnight Marauders (1993) – 5 stars

Edd said: In my humble and NEVER INCORRECT opinion, Tribe has the best discography in rap history. Two five star albums so good that we’re still arguing about which is superior (hint: There is no wrong answer), a revolutionary debut that is nearly is incredible as the albums to follow an even more great albums down the line. No matter which artist you name, no one had a run as consistent our impactful as those Tribe boys.

Prince

The run:

1999 (1982) – 5 stars

Purple Rain (1984) – 5 stars

Around the World in a Day (1985) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: Prince’s 80s run is truly mind-blowing. Since this post is only celebrating trifectas, we’re mainly highlighting Prince’s near flawless run from 82-85. BUT if you add 1986’s Parade (4.5 stars) and 87’s Sign O the Times (5 stars) on the back end and 1980’s Dirty Mind (5 stars) and 81’s Controversy (4 stars) on the front end you get SEVEN incredible albums back to back to back. And y’all wonder why we still miss this man.

Michael Jackson

The run:

Off the Wall (1979) – 5 stars

Thriller (1982) – 5 stars

Bad (1987) – 4.5 stars

Edd said: I know MANY readers who consider Bad to be a 5-star release, as well as Dangerous which followed it. I wouldn’t go all the way on those but hey, this is Michael Jackson we’re talking about here, we’re picking at nits at this point. Two of the greatest albums ever recorded, plus a follow-up that comes VERY close to matching that quality? No need to argue about that, we just have to stand in awe of the man’s talent.

Stevie Wonder

The run:

Innervisions (1973) – 5 stars

Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974) – 5 stars

Songs in the Key of Life (1976) – 5 stars

Edd said: Yes, Stevie is the only artist on our list with THREE consecutive 5 star albums. And if you overlook the extremely divisive Secret Life of Plants soundtrack (which still doesn’t do much for me) you’ll get ANOTHER 5-star release with Hotter Than July. Stevie’s effortless genius proves he may be R&B’s one true GOAT.

Which artists would you add to this list? Let us know below.