Phase, this is a subject I can relate to. Some of the work by the artists I have listed below fall into hard bop category. ALL of these artists have important things to say, but then again, I am a Jazz fan.
Cannonball Adderley
Art Blakey
Clifford Brown
Donald Byrd
John Coltrane
Miles Davis
Lou Donaldson
Bill Evans
Grant Green
Herbie Hancock
Joe Henderson
Freddie Hubbard
Jackie McLean
Hank Mobley
Thelonious Monk
Wes Montgomery
Lee Morgan
Sonny Rollins
Wayne Shorter
Horace Silver
Top Albums, (in my opinion)
A Blowin' Session, Johnny Griffin
Afro-Cuban, Kenny Dorham
Blue Train, John Coltrane
Blues Walk, Lou Donaldson
Brilliant Corners, Thelonious Monk
Byrd in Flight, Donald Byrd
Cookin, Miles Davis
East Broadway Rundown, Sonny Rollins
Much of this is re released on LP (if you like vinyl) if your a CD guy, I'll bet you can find most at Borders.