Common "Resurrection" (1994)

This is worth your time if only for "I used to love H.E.R." -- a post-golden age song lamenting the state of hiphop (in 1994!!).  If there were any doubt about hiphop being a mature art form, the fact that by the early 90s artists were reflective enough to record "it ain't like it used to be" tracks should remove that doubt.

Common "Like Water for Chocolate" (2000)

OK kids, before Common was an actor, he was a rapper!  Back in the 90s he was one of the guys who provided an alternative to the much higher profile gangsters dominating the music.

Like Water for Chocolate holds up pretty well, but perhaps that should be expected given that its sound was at least somewhat consciously retro at the time of its release.  In combination with the rest of his catalog, Common can make a case that he is the best of the rappers turned actors.