Wow, this thread totally made my head hurt.
the first 2 pages of suggestions were utter trash. a few people posted decent stuff like ATCQ and De La, which are definitely good places to ease yourself into hip hop.
what i would recommend totally depends on your preferences to music in general. do you like soul and funk music? is your focus primarily on the production or on what is being rhymed by the emcee.
without further adieu, albums i would recommend to a newcomer to ease them into hip hop would be (watch out for your backpacks kids)
Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are: Blackstar.
after a cooling off period, conscious rap was brought back by these two Brooklyn natives. an excellent album for the backpacker elite
Respiration is a highlight
Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek - Reflection Eternal
another great backpack album. the beats on this are great. if "Move Something" or "Down For The Count" doesn't get your head nodding, i don't know what will.
Nas - Illmatic. the greatest hip hop album of all time. written by a 20yo Queensbridge projects native with gritty street observations at a time where overdone gangsta rap was pillaging the airwaves. a breath of fresh air.
Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt. the cocaine dreamer and tales of hustling and slinging that white. Great beats. Dead Presidents II is one of the highlights.
Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The 36 Chambers.
just fucking phenomenal.
i would post at least 100 albums dude could listen to but i can't be bothered. start there.