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The 25 Best Rap Debuts of the 21st Century - As you probably already know, today, August 14, 2 Chainz is dropping his much-hyped solo major-label debut, Based on a T.R.U. Story. After his amazing mixtape work in 2011 and sick guest verses this year, Chainz is no doubt aiming to make a classic. Here, in honor of his sky-high aspirations, BET.com counts down the 25 greatest debut rap albums of the 21st century. Though we doubt Chainz will reach the stratospheric heights of the standard-bearing debuts of rap's 20th-century golden age (Nas' Illmatic, Eric B & Rakim's Paid in Full, Biggie's Ready to Die, etc.), 2 Chainz may be able to barge his way into this list's upper echelons. —Alex Gale (Photos from left: PacificCoastNews.com, Mark Davis/Getty Images, Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

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25. Wiz Khalifa, Rolling Papers - Led by the monstrous chart-topper "Black and Yellow," Wiz's 2011 major-label bow found him blending catchy, sing-songy hooks and synth-heavy beats to adapt his college-dorm stoner rap to the masses. (Photo: Atlantic Records)

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24. Rick Ross, Port of Miami - Though it doesn't reach the cinematic heights of his later work, 2006's Port of Miami effectively introduces Ross' larger-than-life Bawse persona — particularly on the undeniable juggernaut of a lead single, "Hustlin'." (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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23. Lloyd Banks, The Hunger for More - With ice-cold wordplay and beats by Eminem, Havoc and Timbaland, Lloyd Banks successfully graduated from mixtape mastery to mainstream success with his chart-topping 2004 debut, confirming 50's golden touch. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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22. Black Rob, Life Story - Gruff Harlem rapper Black Rob's surprisingly good, and criminally slept-on, 2000 debut was a grimy antidote to the bling-bling era championed by his boss, Diddy, with dusty street anthems including "Can I Live?," "Lookin' at Us" and, of course, "Whoa!"   (Photo: Bad Boy Records)

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21. Big K.R.I.T., Live From the Underground - Though it doesn't quite reach the sky-high peaks of his earlier mixtape work, K.R.I.T.'s Def Jam debut is a great introduction for the uninitiated, with the Mississippi producer-MC skillfully, soulfully recalling the South's mid-'90s heyday, inspired by vintage Dungeon Family and UGK. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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19. Ludacris, Back for the First Time - Luda repurposed his indie album Incognegro for his 2000 major-label debut, featuring loudmouth raps over bow-throwing beats on hits like "What's Your Fantasy" and "Southern Hospitality." (Photo: Def Jam Records)

Photo By Photo: Island Def Jam

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18. Young Buck, Straight Outta Cashville - Buck's platinum-selling 2004 bow expanded the G Unit juggernaut to the South. With the Nashville, Tennessee, rapper's riled-up relatability and unexpectedly soulful beats from Nottz and others, it's arguably the Unit's best album that doesn't say 50 at the top. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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17. dead prez, Let's Get Free - Dead Prez weren't just the most political-minded hip hop group to emerge since Public Enemy; they were also raucous, razor-tongued rappers with a taste for beautifully eerie beats ("They Schools") and undeniable hooks ("It's Bigger Than Hip Hop").  (Photo: Columbia Records)

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16. Big Sean, Finally Famous - Helmed by beatmasters Kanye West and No I.D., Big Sean's 2011 debut is clever, catchy and well-rounded, with songs that can capture the charts ("Marvin & Chardonnay") and strip clubs ("Dance [A$]") equally well. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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15. The Diplomats, Diplomatic Immunity - Cam'ron formally introduced his crew on this brash 2003 album filled with Dirty South-meets-Harlem bangers like "Dipset Anthem" and "I Really Mean It." (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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14. Blu & Exile, Below the Heavens - This 2007 underground favorite landed Blu a deal with Warner Bros., thanks to his writerly wordplay and Nas-esque introspection effortlessly riding Exile's throwback sample collages.(Photo: Sound in Color Records)

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13. Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday - Though her pop-rap diversions often went too far left for fans from her mixtape days, Nicki's 2010 debut birthed a new pop superstar, one equally at home trading barbs with Eminem or having a fashion weird-off with Lady Gaga — and blazing trails for a litter of new female rappers in the process. (Photo: Cash Money Records)

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12. Nelly, Country Grammar - Love him or hate him, Nelly's 2000 debut was unstoppable — to the tune of nine-times platinum. It was also hugely influential: Hits like "Country Grammar" and "E.I.," with their infectious hooks and producer Jay-E's bouncy beats, proved that regional Dirty South and Midwestern rap styles could ascend to the pop charts in a major way.     (Photo: Bad Boy Records)

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11. Slum Village, Fantastic Vol. 2 - A cleaned-up update of their unreleased debut album, Slum's first official release in 2000 is the perfect primer on your favorite producer's favorite rapper-producer, the late J. Dilla, and the Detroit sound in general. Clever hooks and routines from him, Baatin and T3 were the ideal chaser for his beats' ethereal, off-kilter knock.  (Photo: Good Vibe Records)

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10. J. Cole, Cole World: Sideline Story - After years of false starts amid his building buzz, J. Cole finally dropped his mostly self-produced, major-label bow last year, exceeding expectations both commercially (topping Billboard) and creatively, by artfully toeing the line between rap braggadocio ("Rise and Shine"), tasteful radio hits ("Can't Get Enough") and emo introspection ("Lost Ones").    (Photo: Sony Music)

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9. Beanie Sigel, The Truth - Jay-Z and Damon Dash unleashed a beast with Beans' 2000 debut. Equally adept at trap anthems ("Mac Man"), battle-ready bars ("Raw & Uncut") and deep, dark tales of ghetto angst ("What Ya Life Like"), Beanie finally proved that Roc-A-Fella was more than just Jay (sorry, Bleek).  (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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8. Young Jeezy, Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101 - Graced by kinetic pre–Lex Luger production and epic ad libs, the Snowman's 2005 major-label entree is trap music's defining document, bringing Southern rap back to a darker, starker place after the crunk takeover began to wane. (Photo: Def Jam Records)

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7. Little Brother, The Listening - An indie-rap classic, this Carolina trio's 2003 introduction is highlighted by 9th Wonder's gorgeously chopped soul samples, blending the warmth of Dilla with the knock of DJ Premier.  (Photo: ABB Records)

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6. Reflection Eternal, Train of Thought - Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek's 2000 debut was a no-doubt benchmark of the Rawkus era. Kweli is at his most nimble on the mic, and he has spot-on chemistry with his Cincinnatti production partner; "The Blast" and "Move Something" are probably his best work outside of his Kanye West collabos years later. (Photo: UMVD Records)

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5. Game, The Documentary - Sure, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent and the all-star production team (Just Blaze, Kanye West, Timbaland) certainly deserve a lot of credit here, but Game's excellent 2005 debut also rests on his gravelly gravitas, forceful even when he's name-dropping a little too much. (Photo: Interscope Records)

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4. Drake, Thank Me Later - Drake lived up to his mixtape-fueled, superstar-level hype on his hugely influential 2009 major-label bow, jumping between agile rapping and computer-love crooning over ambient, after-hours beats.  (Photo: Chash Money Records)

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3. Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor - Lupe's beautiful 2006 debut featured the Windy City MC already in confident peak form, spitting deep thoughts, political treatises and rewind-worthy double entendres in dizzyingly intricate patterns. The lush, sample-based beats on "Kick, Push" and elsewhere, provided mostly by hometown newcomers Soundtrakk and Prolyffic, are the best of Lupe's career.(Photo: Atlantic Records)

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2. Kanye West, The College Dropout - Kanye's essential 2004 debut introduces the contradictory personalities and sensibilities that have continued to fuel his music today: both underdog and bully, both self-effacing and egotistical, righteous and raunchy, bling-bling and backpacker. Backed by his own incredible beats — some of the lushest and biggest hip hop had ever heard — Kanye carved a whole new lane for new-millennium rap with songs like "Through the Wire," "Jesus Walks" and "Never Let Me Down."(Photo: Def Jam Records)

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1. 50 Cent, Get Rich or Die Tryin' - A landmark 2003 classic that defined gangsta rap for the new millennium. Boosted by thunderous beats from Dr. Dre, Eminem and others, 50's snarling performance on "Many Men" and "Patiently Waiting" elevated his bloody backstory and Southside mystique to the stuff of which street legends are made.  (Photo: Interscope Records)