Top 50 Rap Albums of the 2010s

The 2010's was an exciting era for rap. In 2017, Forbes magazine reported that hip-hop had surpassed rock to become the most consumed musical genre in America. Thus, becoming the most popular music genre in the country for the first time since its nascence. Legends such as Kanye West, Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, The Roots, and A$AP Rocky set the the tone for the decade, and introduced a whole new generation to the genre. As a result, subgenres such as trap and experimental bursted their way into the scene. These would later inspire a new wave of mumble, indie, punk, and a variety of other rap subgenres that would come to define the decade for hip-hop. This was made possible thanks to the rise in streaming services, such as Soundcloud and Spotify, that made rap more accessible to artists and consumers, alike. The seemingly overnight popularity of artists like Juice WRLD, Playboi Carti, Post Malone, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Pump, and Travis Scott are prime examples of how the internet revolutionized the rap game.

Experiencing the evolution of hip-hop and its influence on American culture throughout the decade has been a fascinating trip. As we prepare to enter a new decade, let's reminisce in this ode to 2010's rap. Whether for its influence on the genre or its overall quality, here are my top 50 rap albums that deserve to be highlighted.

Honorable Mentions

Album: Live.Love.A$AP

Artist: A$AP Rocky

Year: 2011

Album: May God Bless Your Hustle

Artist: MIKE

Year: 2017

Album: Exmilitary

Artist: Death Grips

Year: 2011

Album: ASTROWORLD

Artist: Travis Scott

Year: 2018

Album: Barter 6

Artist: Young Thug

Year: 2015

Album: Still Brazy

Artist: YG

Year: 2016

Album: Playboi Carti

Artist: DIE LIT

Year: 2018

Album: God Level

Artist: 03 Greedo

Year: 2018

Album: Flatbush Zombies

Artist: betterOffDead

Year: 2013

Album: Mista Thug Isolation

Artist: Lil Ugly Mane

Year: 2012

Album: Earl Sweatshirt

Artist: Doris

Year: 2013

Album: Cuz I Love You

Artist: Lizzo

Year: 2019

Album: Westside Gunn

Artist: Flygod

Year: 2018

Top 50

50.

Album: Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2

Artist: Vince Staples

Year: 2014

Before the ambitious, experimental sounds of Big Fish Theory, Prima Donna, and FM! there was the raw, unfiltered 10-track project that is Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2. As one could probably tell by the bandana noose cover art, Vince is emotionally charged and does not hold anything back on this album. He embraces an unapologetic attitude right from the start. In the opening track, “Progressive 3”, he makes one of the most brash proclamations of the EP calling Barack Obama a “house n****”, in reference to black slaves who used to serve their white owners from the comforts of the estate as opposed to working out in the field. The track then comes to an end following Vince’s bars, “When your life is on the line fuck what's right and what's not / You got a right to the dream, whether it's triple beam or Martin Luther's / My chain heavy, is you ready for that revolution?” As the listener feels the weight of each word, these three lines set the tone for the rest of the project. With such a strong opener it’s commendable that every track thereafter is able to hold its own. From the ironically boastful song “Humble” to the captivating story-telling nature of “Nate”, Vince Staples rides each one of No I.D.’s beats with the confidence only he knows. This project runs a little under half an hour, but in those 30 minutes we get the first real inside look into Vince’s experiences growing up in a marginalized community where it feels like everyday is a constant struggle to survive.

49.

Album: Oxymoron

Artist: Schoolboy Q

Year: 2014

48.

Album: TA13OO

Artist: Denzel Curry

Year: 2018

47.

Album: Take Care

Artist: Drake

Year: 2011

46.

Album: The Life of Pablo

Artist: Kanye West

Year: 2016

45.

Album: 1999

Artist: Joey Bada$$

Year: 2012

When it comes to keeping boom-bap rap alive, there is one man who is at the forefront of this “Golden Era” renaissance and his name is Joey Bada$$. Co-founder of the rap collective Pro Era (#LongLiveSteelo), Joey Badmon represents a time in hip-hop when beats were dominated by melodic samples, crate-digging drum kit sounds, and poetic lyricism. It should then come as no surprise as to why1999 became an instant underground gem. If your debut mixtape can catch the attention of Jay-Z, you know you’re doing something right. Track after track, Joey Bada$$ lyrically dances over classic lo-fi jazzy, hip-hop beats, giving us a chill, sit-back-and-listen mixtape beginning to end. What makes this album even more impressive is that Joey was only seventeen when he released this project. An old soul with a youthful approach to wordplay, Joey’s performance on1999 demonstrates why this should be regarded as one of the best mixtapes of the decade.

44.

Album: Watch the Throne

Artist: Kanye West and Jay-Z

Year: 2011

43.

Album: Sun’s Tirade

Artist: Isaiah Rashad

Year: 2016

42.

Album: Flockaveli

Artist: Wacka Flocka

Year: 2010

As a roaring “SQUUUUAAAD” reverberates through the homes of Southern black and suburban white kids alike, old-heads and tannie-haircut moms shake their head in disappointment as they mutter, “This ain’t real music.” Perhaps one of the more controversial picks on this list, Wacka Flocka’s debut mixtape is not the most lyrical but is undoubtedly one of the most influential projects of the decade. Trap would not be what it is today if it were not for Flockaveli. For 17 tracks straight, Wacka Flocka violently barks out gangsta bars over Lex Luger’s booming, crunk-inspired beats. Wacka Flocka not only revolutionized ad-libs but he also inspired a generation, albeit unintentionally. He showed us that rap isn’t exclusive to the Black Thought’s, Talib Kwali’s, and Nas’s. Rap should be an open-ended genre, and that sometimes you just wanna go apeshit.

41.

Album: All My Heroes are Cornballs

Artist: JPEGMAFIA

Year: 2019

40.

Album: Rodeo

Artist: Travis Scott

Year: 2015

39.

Album: Nothing Was the Same

Artist: Drake

Year: 2013

38.

Album: Telefone

Artist: Noname

Year: 2016

37.

Album: XXX

Artist: Danny Brown

Year: 2011

36.

Album: Care for Me

Artist: Saba

Year: 2018

35

Album: I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside

Artist: Earl Sweatshirt

Year: 2015

34.

Album: Saturation Trilogy

Artist: BROCKHAMPTON

Year: 2017

DISCLAIMER: I decided to clump all three of these albums together because thematically and sonically they’re all relatively similar, and deciding which is best comes down to personal preference (although, if I had to pick one, it would be Saturation).

America’s favorite boyband made the best of their 2017. Dropping three albums over the span of six months, BROCKHAMPTON set out to create a space for angsty teens who felt unheard. The plan was simple, saturate the rap game and make it impossible to ignore their presence. The rise of BROCKHAMPTON and the indie-hip-hop scene became an immediate sensation. Kevin Abstract’s transparency with his sexuality on songs like “JUNKY” challenged hip-hop’s homophobic history. Ameer Vann’s struggle with mental health and broken relationships on “FACE” brings vulnerability to a genre where this is often looked down upon. Dom’s playful flow, Merlin’s screechy vocals, Matt’s dependable consistency, Joba and Bearface’s soothing melodies, and Romil, Jabari, and Kiko’s experimental production all came together to produce three of the most interesting and accessible albums of the year.

33.

Album: Run the Jewels 3

Artist: Run the Jewels

Year: 2016

32.

Album: 4:44

Artist: Jay-Z

Year: 2017

31.

Album: Control System

Artist: Ab-Soul

Year: 2014

30.

Album: Grey Area

Artist: Little Simz

Year: 2019

29.

Album: DAMN.

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Year: 2017

28.

Album: Laila’s Wisdom

Artist: Rapsody

Year: 2017

27.

Album: R.A.P. Music

Artist: Killer Mike

Year: 2012

26.

Album: Black Up

Artist: Shabazz Palaces

Year: 2011

25.

Album: Whack World

Artist: Tierra Whack

Year: 2018

Tierra Whack released her first official singles in 2017, but it wasn’t until 2018 with the release of Whack World that she really burst onto the scene. This short and sweet album (emphasis on the short; it runs for only 15 minutes), embodies everything that all aspiring artists should aim to display on their debut album. Tierra Whack showcases her sonic creativity, diverse artistry, youthful lyricism, and disregard for tired industry norms. This album is all over the place but somehow still manages to flow so eloquently. Even at her most playful, like in “Pet Cemetery”, Tierra manages to express deep, emotional topics such as the mourning of a friend. She closes the album with the song “Waze” where she describes how she is still trying to find herself, but if this is her at her most lost then I can’t wait to see her at her most collected. On ”4 Wings”, Tierra raps “I ain’t perfect but I improvise.” This sentiment perfectly sums up Whack World, and that’s what makes this album an impressive work of art.

24.

Album: Coloring Book

Artist: Chance the Rapper

Year: 2016

23.

Album: Eve

Artist: Rapsody

Year: 2019

22.

Album: Darkest Before the Dawn: The Prelude

Artist: Pusha T

Year: 2015

21.

Album: Sir Lucious Left Foot

Artist: Big Boi

Year: 2010

20.

Album: How I Got Over

Artist: The Roots

Year: 2010

19.

Album: IGOR

Artist: Tyler, the Creator

Year: 2019

18.

Album: Flower Boy

Artist: Tyler, the Creator

Year: 2017

17.

Album: Kids See Ghosts

Artist: Kids See Ghosts

Year: 2018

16.

Album: Summertime ‘06

Artist: Vince Staples

Year: 2015

15.

Album: Atrocity Exhibition

Artist: Danny Brown

Year: 2016

14.

Album: Room 25

Artist: Noname

Year: 2018

13.

Album: The Money Store

Artist: Death Grips

Year: 2012

12.

Album: Bandana

Artist: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Year: 2019

11.

Album: Acid Rap

Artist: Chance the Rapper

Year: 2013

10.

Album: Piñata

Artist: Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Year: 2014

What happens when one of hip-hop’s most soulful, psychedelic, crate-digging, and prolific producer partners up with an unfiltered, grimy, hard-hitting, and renowned lyricist? You get one of the most unexpectedly harmonious albums of the decade. The connection between Freddie Gibbs and Madlib can be felt all throughout the album. Madlib understands who he is producing for, but also manages to stay true to the sounds that made him an underground icon. Although Freddie Gibbs has occasionally suffered from uninspired and lackluster verses in the past, he made sure to bring his A-game on this album. Gibbs really plays to his strengths on this album. Ranging from an ode to Los Angeles to topics about slangin’ cocaine and reminiscing about his favorite fried chicken place, Freddie Gibbs consistently delivers solid, and at times, introspective bars. Together, Madlib and Gibbs, demonstrate how different styles can work together to form something sensational.

9.

Album: DAYTONA

Artist: Pusha T

Year: 2018

Following 2018’s biggest Hip-Hop beef (which Push most definitely won), G.O.O.D. Music’s newly-appointed president, Pusha T, dropped his 7-track album completely produced by Kanye West. The release of DAYTONA alone was enough to forgive Kanye for his other disappointing rollouts. However, we’re not here to talk about Kanye West or how he robbed Teyanna Taylor of having one of the best albums of the year. We are here to praise “The Grammy Nominated” Pusha T, and his flawless execution of gangsta lyricism and grandiose persona. Everything we love about Pusha T was showcased on this album. He didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t nor did he try to reinvent the wheel on this album. But who’s complaining? Kingpin’s prideful, egotistical, dope-dealing bars are something we have all come to love, but on DAYTONA, Push takes it up another notch. He does not shy away from declaring himself as a top 5 rapper or from going after one of the most recognized figures in rap. Sometimes rap is less about being able to relate, and more about simply appreciating greatness as a passive listener.

8.

Album: YEEZUS

Artist: Kanye West

Year: 2013

It is now the end of the decade, and we’ve had six years to argue about Kanye’s most antagonistic albums, YEEZUS. Even still, there is a great divide between rap fans and even Kanye stans about the status of YEEZUS. Love it or hate it, it’s impact is undeniable. The album is jarring and cacophonous at its most challenging, like on the opening track “On Sight”, yet soulful and nostalgic at its most forgiving, like in “Bound 2”. Needless to say, this album is a rollercoaster ride of experimental sounds led by classic egocentric Kanye verses. However, regardless of how blasphemous and self-absorbed the album may be, it also shows Kanye at his most radical. Album-defining tracks like “Blood on the Leaves” absorb the listener both lyrically and sonically. Great art takes risks and pushes boundaries. And that’s exactly what YEEZUS does.

7.

Album: Some Rap Songs

Artist: Earl Sweatshirt

Year: 2018

Earl Sweatshirt provides some of his most mature, heart-wrenching, and introspective bars of his entire career on Some Rap Songs. Three years after the release of I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go outside and Solace, Earl is still struggling with his demons, but it seems he is becoming more resilient. More importantly, Some Rap Songs is a story of coming-out. As represented by the title, Earl is as transparentnt as ever and lays it all out for the public to hear. He leaves it to us to decide if we really want to listen. As with any Earl album, one can expect to hear masterful wordplay. However, on this album, his sound is more refined. There’s purpose and meaning behind every word. Although he is not always on beat, there’s something about the rough, lo-fi aesthetic that makes the album more personal. On “Peanut”, Earl raps about losing his father and the feeling of never being able to receive closure. As with most tracks on this album, he doesn’t seem to give resolution to this predicament. He leaves the listener with more questions than answers. More than likely, it’s because he himself doesn’t have the answers, either. He’s lost. But he’s trying. We should just be thankful to be a part of his journey.

6.

Album: undun

Artist: The Roots

Year: 2011

undun follows the story of a black man dying but in reverse chronological order. It speaks on the black struggle in America, and how easy it is to become a victim in a system that doesn’t care for your existence. With the help of Black Thought, one of the greatest lyricists of our time, and Questlove, the ambitious and soulful producer behind The Roots, undun is a vivid and surreal experience of Hip-Hop as an expression of art. The track “One Time” is a deeply emotional track in which Redford, the protagonist of this story, reflects on his spiritual emptiness growing up in the streets. He is at a mental battle with himself in which he laments his past serving crack on the streets instead of pursuing a more respectable career. Then on the tenth track “Tip the Scale,'' we become immersed in Redford’s dilemma of choosing to take another man’s life or take his own. Towards the end of the song Dice Raw raps, “Only two ways out, digging tunnels or digging graves out.” In a year where Take Care, Section .80, Watch the Throne, Black Up, XXX, Live.Love.A$AP, Cole World, and Goblin all came out, it took a special kind of album to separate itself from such a respectable pool. undun did exactly that, and looking back I think it’s safe to say that they released one of the most important hip-hop albums of the decade.

5.

Album: A Tribe Called Quest

Artist: Thank You for Your Service, We Got it from Here

Year: 2016

After a long 18 years, and after much skepticism, A Tribe Called Quest released their sixth and final album to the public. In We Got it from Here, the 80’s Hip-Hop act managed to do something that few veterans are able to pull-off. That is, release a successful and enjoyable album that doesn’t sound outdated nor pretentious. A Tribe Called Quest, in a testament to the sound they’ve developed over the span of their legacy, remain in a lane of their own. Jarobi and Phife (R.I.P. Phife Dawg) are smooth and witt, while still making culturally aware commentary about blackness and corruption in America. Q-Tip and Ali’s production is as sharp as ever. Production that harks back to the 90s, but doesn’t feel old-school. It’s sonically refreshing, but not experimental or boundary-pushing by any means. We Got it From Here simply sounds like A Tribe Called Quest album, and there’s nothing more we could ask for.

4.

Album: Run the Jewels 2

Artist: Run the Jewels

Year: 2014

When it comes to alternative and experimental Hip-Hop, Run the Jewels is the face of the movement. The rap duo is made up of El-P, a New York producer/rapper, and Killer Mike, a Southern wordsmith. The album is maximalist, abrasive, and at times, overwhelming. One thing it's not, is boring. Tracks are composed of dynamic percussions, eccentric samples, and gritty lyrics. El-P and Killer Mike take turns exchanging blows over endless quotable verses. On “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” Killer Mike gives the prison riot anthem of the decade saying that they’re going to take over a jail and begin “killin' them [correctional officers] for freedom 'cause they tortured us for boredom / And even if some good ones die, fuck it, the Lord'll sort 'em.” Then El-P starts his verse, assumingly in the aftermath of the riot, saying “We’re out of order, your honor, you’re out of order.” They feed off each other’s energy, and in the process push the boundaries of what we consider hip-hop.

3.

Album: good kid, m.A.A.d. city

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Year: 2012

After creating plenty of buzz in the hip-hop community, and being deemed as the next big thing to come out of West Coast rap, all eyes were on Kendrick Lamar as he dropped his first major label album. As the album opens up to a tape recording on “Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter” we are greeted with men repenting for their sins. Then over the course of the next 3 minutes Kendrick demonstrates the art of vivid storytelling. From this point forward we knew that this was going to be an album that we would be talking about for a long time. Songs like “Bitch, Don’t Kill my Vibe” and “m.A.A.d city” turned this from just another well-crafted conceptual rap album to a mainstream album with commercial success. Then on tracks like "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst", Kendrick alludes to his previous work that put him in the spotlight, and his newfound spirituality. Of course, a feature from Drake on “Poetic Justice” didn’t hurt either. Kendrick Lamar managed to bridge the gap between purist hiphop fans to the casual listener. The tales of sinful temptations and glittery aspirations turned Kendrick Lamar into an overnight success story.

2.

Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Artist: Kanye West

Year: 2010

What can be said about My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy that hasn’t been said already? This album is Kanye West’s rap thesis. His rock-star manifesto. Kanye drew inspiration from his previous four bodies of work, and culminated everything that made those albums great into a 13-track masterpiece of grandeur and glamor. He does not hold back on any track. Throughout the project, we are treated to angelic harmonies, glamorous orchestra, psychedelic guitars, dazzling pianos, and maximalist production. If the guitar solo on “Devil in a New Dress” doesn’t send chills down your spine, then I don’t know what will. Every featured artist on this album helped elevate every track. Who could forget Nicki Minaj’s immaculate verse on “Monster” or Kid Cudi’s moving vocals on “Gorgeous”. In terms of lyricism, Kanye completely embraces the persona that the public had given him. He is braggadocious, egotistical, and mentally aware. On “Runaway”, when he says “Let’s have a toast for the jerk-offs that’ll never take work off,” he is very clearly talking about himself. Six months locked-in and tirelessly working on this apology album (following the recent Taylor Swift incident at the VMAs and still struggling with his mother’s death 3 years prior) had paid off. Kanye West had given the public exactly what they wanted to hear and then some. If he had not already cemented himself as one of the most iconic Hip-Hop artists to ever live, then this album put an end to any confusion.

1.

Album: To Pimp A Butterfly

Artist: Kendrick Lamar

Year: 2015

Following the immense success of Los Angeles native Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, expectations were set high for Kendrick’s next album. The people were expecting the same captivating story-telling and ingenious lyricism that had separated Kendrick from other rappers at the time. On March 15, 2015, eight days ahead of its original release date, Kung-Fu Kenny proved to the world that he’s not just raising the bar high, as spoken on his now-infamous “Control” verse, he is the bar. The genre-defying To Pimp a Butterfly highlights the versatility of Kendrick as more than just a rapper, but as a complete artist. Infusing elements of jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word TPAB proved to be a diverse and interesting listening experience. It was something that the general public had not been accustomed to hearing in hip-hop since the days of A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde. Of course, this album would not have been what it was without the help of esteemed guests George Clinton, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, and many more. This album was especially impactful because of its timeliness. During a year of social outcry against police brutality and the government’s indifference, TPAB represented a growing feeling of dissent towards American institutions that would come to define the latter half of the 2010s. As mentioned, Kendrick Lamar touches on themes of Black Power and oppression but he also speaks on more internal issues such as struggling with fame, questioning his faith, and self-improvement all while providing a quality listening experience. This helps the audience create a deeper connection with Kendrick and his music. To Pimp a Butterfly is not the best album of the decade because it captures the turmoils of a single person, but because it represents something larger than itself. Kendrick uses the never-before-seen popularity of hip-hop in America to inspire, educate, and revolutionize a culture all while providing one of the most beautifully composed conceptual albums of our generation.