Dr. Dre - The Chronic

For all you fun-hating prudes who despise everything about hip-hop, you have Dr. Dre to thank. The godfather of all things gangster, the good Doctor has crafted an album too funky and offensive to be ignored. Dr. Dre gave birth to G-Funk. Dr. Dre single-handedly created Snoop Dogg's career. Dr. Dre is why your grandma hates black people.

Okay, perhaps that's a bit of a stretch. But denying the impact of The Chronic is difficult, if not impossible. This album defined '92. The L.A. riots, the civil unrest, the brutality, the racism. It's all here. "The Day The N**gaz Took Over" probably hits the hardest, its lyrics told in excruciating detail, and its news report-esque interludes chilling and eerie. And 18 years later, it can't shake the feeling of being just a little tacky.

Fortunately, Dre has Snoop at his side. Simply put, everything Snoop Dogg touches turns to gold. Providing a bit of a comic edge to tracks like "F**k Wit Dre Day" with his seemingly effortless and carefree flow, almost coming off as lazy at times. Snoop is perhaps the only man that can rap about fellatio and homophobia without a hint of emotion in his voice, a trait that only adds to his charm and appeal. He would later outstage Dre on 1993's phenomenal Doggystyle.

I won't deny that The Chronic sounds quite a bit dated in 2010, the albums that outclass it probably wouldn't exist without it. Laying out a blueprint for hip-hop to come, Dre's synth-heavy beats and biting lyrics are still prevalent in much of today's rap. I guess you could say his legacy is... chronic.