#022 | 💎 Apple Music's 100 Best Albums: The Complete List
Discover Apple Music's definitive ranking of the 100 best albums of all time. Complete list from Lauryn Hill to Robyn, plus key insights about this groundbreaking music curation.
The Cultural Impact
Apple Music unveiled their definitive ranking of the 100 greatest albums of all time in May, creating a cultural conversation that spans generations and genres. This isn't just another music list – it's a statement about how we value music in the streaming era.
Key Takeaways
• Lauryn Hill takes the crown - "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" claims #1, beating out classics like "Thriller" and "Abbey Road"
• Hip-hop gets major recognition - Multiple rap albums in the top 20, including Kendrick Lamar (#7) and Frank Ocean (#5)
• Genre diversity rules - From electronic (Daft Punk) to country (Kacey Musgraves) to reggaeton (Bad Bunny)
• Recent releases included - Albums from 2019-2022 make the list, showing Apple values contemporary artistry
• Streaming era perspective - Reflects how music discovery works today, not just traditional critical favorites
• Global representation - International artists and diverse voices get significant placement
The Complete Rankings (1-100)
1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
3. Abbey Road - The Beatles
4. Purple Rain - Prince
5. Blonde - Frank Ocean
6. Songs in the Key of Life - Stevie Wonder
7. good kid, m.A.A.d city (Deluxe Version) - Kendrick Lamar
8. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse
9. Nevermind - Nirvana
10. Lemonade - Beyoncé
11. Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
12. OK Computer - Radiohead
13. The Blueprint - JAY-Z
14. Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan
15. 21 - Adele
16. Blue - Joni Mitchell
17. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
18. 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
19. The Chronic - Dr. Dre
20. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
21. Revolver - The Beatles
22. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
23. Discovery - Daft Punk
24. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars - David Bowie
25. Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
26. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
27. Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
28. The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd
29. The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest
30. WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - Billie Eilish
31. Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette
32. Ready to Die - The Notorious B.I.G.
33. Kid A - Radiohead
34. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
35. London Calling - The Clash
36. BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé
37. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan
38. Tapestry - Carole King
39. Illmatic - Nas
40. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You - Aretha Franklin
41. Aquemini - Outkast
42. Control - Janet Jackson
43. Remain in Light - Talking Heads
44. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder
45. Homogenic - Björk
46. Exodus - Bob Marley & The Wailers
47. Take Care - Drake
48. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys
49. The Joshua Tree - U2
50. Hounds of Love - Kate Bush
51. Sign O' the Times - Prince
52. Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses
53. Exile on Main St. - The Rolling Stones
54. A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
55. ANTI - Rihanna
56. Disintegration - The Cure
57. Voodoo - D'Angelo
58. (What's the Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
59. AM - Arctic Monkeys
60. The Velvet Underground & Nico - The Velvet Underground & Nico
61. Love Deluxe - Sade
62. All Eyez on Me - 2Pac
63. Are You Experienced - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
64. Baduizm - Erykah Badu
65. 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul
66. The Queen Is Dead - The Smiths
67. Dummy - Portishead
68. Is This It - The Strokes
69. Master of Puppets - Metallica
70. Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A
71. Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk
72. SOS - SZA
73. Aja - Steely Dan
74. The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails
75. Supa Dupa Fly - Missy Elliott
76. Un Verano Sin Ti - Bad Bunny
77. Like a Prayer - Madonna
78. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
79. Norman F*****g Rockwell! - Lana Del Rey
80. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
81. After the Gold Rush - Neil Young
82. Get Rich or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent
83. Horses - Patti Smith
84. Doggystyle - Snoop Dogg
85. Golden Hour - Kacey Musgraves
86. My Life - Mary J. Blige
87. Blue Lines - Massive Attack
88. I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone
89. The Fame Monster (Deluxe Edition) - Lady Gaga
90. Back in Black - AC/DC
91. Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 - George Michael
92. Flower Boy - Tyler, The Creator
93. A Seat at the Table - Solange
94. Untrue - Burial
95. Confessions - USHER
96. Pure Heroine - Lorde
97. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine
98. ASTROWORLD - Travis Scott
99. Hotel California - Eagles
100. Body Talk - Robyn
Behind the Rankings: Apple Music's Editorial Process
Apple Music assembled a team of music experts, journalists, and artists to create these rankings. The selection process considered:
Artistic innovation - Albums that pushed musical boundaries
Cultural influence - Impact on society and other artists
Streaming performance - How albums perform in the digital age
Critical consensus - Recognition from music publications and experts
Generational appeal - Albums that resonate across different age groups
Why This List Matters
Apple Music's rankings reflect how we discover and value music today. It's a blend of critical acclaim, cultural impact, and streaming-era sensibilities that creates fascinating debates about musical greatness across generations. The website serves as both a cultural statement and a practical tool for music discovery in the streaming age.