#155 Jay-Z, 'The Black Album' (2003)

‘The Black Album’ is an incredible record. The album starts with ‘December 4th,’ an autobiographical track with narration by his mother, Gloria Carter; “Shawn Carter was born December 4th, weighing in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces. He was the last of my four children. The only one who didn't give me any pain when I gave birth to him. And that's how I knew that he was a special child.” The song talks about his days as a drug dealer and goes on to describe his rise as one of music’s biggest musicians.