2021 has been an interesting year for hip-hop, with new albums dropping faster than we could've imagined. To keep track of the best hip-hop albums, we put together a list for all the dedicated fans. But, this isn't the final call. We have a feeling we'll be updating this regularly, so make sure to check back soon.
Baby Keem
Metacritic Score: 73
Baby Keem dropped his debut album, 'The Melodic Blue,' on Sept. 10th, sparking buzz in hip-hop circles thanks to his enthusiastic delivery, brash yet heartfelt lyrics, and top-tier features, like Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott and Don Toliver.
Coming out of Las Vegas, Baby Keem sharpened his chops as a producer. In fact, he's credited as a producer on 14/16 songs across 'The Melodic Blue.' His signature touch involves transitioning from one beat to another in the middle of a track, i.e., "Family Ties."
'The Melodic Blue' is not only Keem's official debut but his first project under Kendrick Lamar's rising creative imprint called pgLang. Kendrick is Keem's cousin, and he seems to be playing a significant role in the 20-year-old's development. There's no arguing the fun they have experimenting with unfamiliar flows and pronunciations. Play "Range Brothers" for K. Dot's "Top of the morning!" refrain and Keem's "Rollie gang!" flex.
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Little Simz
'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert'
Metacritic Score: 88
Little Simz is a British rapper breaking down barriers with her new album, 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.' The 27-year-old shook the international scene in 2019 thanks to her distinct voice and potent, self-aware raps reflected on 'Grey Area' and its catchy single, "Selfish." Here are 3 reasons you should listen to Little Simz.
Though Simz is often celebrated as an artist, she's an actress as well. She plays a single mom named Shelley in Netflix's 'Top Boy' series, executive produced by Drake. Simz is bringing her love for TV and cinema to her songs, crafting elegant interludes like "Gems" where fellow UK actress Emma Corrin encourages us to be ourselves.
In an age when artists don't have to limit themselves to one kind of genre, Simz shines bright. Looking for a tune to make your friends dance? Play "Point and Kill." For a dose of trap, head to "Rollin Stone." Maybe you're feeling a bit down and need a lo-fi sound to rest your ears on. "I See You" and "Miss Understood" should help.
Simz traces her evolution across 'SIMBI' and offers a relatable perspective on the idea that even though life will never be perfect, you can still manifest your dreams. "Little Q, Pt. 2" finds Simz coming to terms with the PTSD she holds from growing up around "the roads" without a father. But "How Did You Get Here" represents a special moment of success and self-realization.
Kanye West
'Donda'
Metacritic Score: 53
Right as fans had settled on the theory that Kanye West was going to deliver his 10th album, 'Donda,' on Friday, Sept. 3rd, to rival Drake and 'Certified Lover Boy,' Ye came through with 27 tracks on the morning of Sunday, Aug. 29th, instead. Here are a few highlights that sparked discussions online.
Yeezy first teased psychedelic cover art for 'Donda' back in July 2020, but the lead image bouncing around during the weeks leading up to its release was an adaption of a red drawing by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. Ye finally decided on a simple black square, matching the aesthetic of his viral listening parties.
Last year, Kanye revealed to GQ that the original inspiration behind 'Donda' was "to have the best of the best working together." Introducing: Jay-Z, The Weeknd, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, Young Thug, The Lox, Pop Smoke, Roddy Ricch, Lil Durk, Playboi Carti, Ty Dolla $ign, Kid Cudi, Lil Yachty, DaBaby, Fivio Foreign and more.
Plus, at 27 tracks and a nearly 2-hour runtime, 'Donda' is the longest album in Kanye's catalog. ('The College Dropout,' his 2004 debut, is the second-longest.) Kanye contested that Universal Music Group uploaded the first edition without his permission. He's only made a few edits in the months since.
Drake
Metacritic Score: 60
'CLB' finally arrived on streaming services at around 1 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 3rd. The album was technically 9 months late, a delay Drake nodded to with the album cover that features emojis of pregnant women, but he made sure there's a little intrigue for everyone across 21 songs.
An early refrain that made fans smirk was, "Yeah, say that you a lesbian, girl me too," which Drake suggests on "Girls Want Girls" featuring Lil Baby. Given the juvenile title of 'Certified Lover Boy,' many people expected Drizzy to dip into his bag of corny one-liners, and he never fails to make them sound good.
'Take Care' introduced Drizzy as a genre-bending artist with an affinity for R&B. Six albums and more than a decade experience later, the 34-year-old is leaning back into sad boy croons. His latest portraits mix "toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth which is inevitably heartbreaking."
Drake is also still paying homage to Houston's style of woozily confident hip-hop, bringing past collabs with Bun-B and the late Pimp C full-circle. He spliced the classic "Get Throwed" across "N 2 Deep" with Future.
Lastly, despite Drake's feud with Kanye being the lead storyline heading into the release of 'CLB,' many of rap's biggest artists have seemingly avoided choosing sides. Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Ty Dolla $ign and Jay-Z are featured on both 'CLB' and 'Donda.' Maybe everyone will be cool one day!
Young Thug
'Punk'
Metacritic Score: 82
Speaking with Complex ahead of the release of 'Punk,' only his second official solo album, Young Thug said, "'Punk' is just real-life stories. The whole album is purified. It's just real."
Listeners are presented with one of these stories on the emotional opening track "Die Slow," where Thug recalls two traumatic events from his youth, both involving police. Each story ends with one of Thug's parents going to the hospital. (His dad gets shot and his mom gets hit by a reckless driver.) But these events along with an impoverished childhood motivated Thug to stay focused and create a better life for himself and his family, as he later croons, "If you want it, you gon' get up earlier than anyone."
The 20th and final track featuring the late Mac Miller, "Day Before," was also shaped by a harrowing real-life experience. Thug revealed during an interview with The Breakfast Club that they recorded that song the day before Mac passed in Sept. 2018. "He came to the studio, did the song. The next day he died. And the song that we did at the studio, the name of the song is 'Day Before.' But the song is just about women. It was like, flamboyant."
J. Cole
Metacritic Score: 76
J. Cole's sixth consecutive number 1 album, The Off Season, has been ranked one of the best hip hop albums of 2021. Its stellar lyrics and featured artists such as 21 Savage, Cam'Ron, Lil Baby certainly don't disappoint. Each track in the list brings listeners through reflections of J.Cole's life from childhood to becoming a father himself, as well as the tragic pain of losing family members and friends. Nevertheless, Cole dominated the microphone and reminded music lovers why he consistently ranks at the top. This is yet another release from the artist that's expected to go platinum.
DMX
'Exodus'
Metacritic Score: 71
Unfortunately, the world lost a musical legend way too soon when DMX suddenly passed earlier this year from complications related to an accidental substance intake. However, after several successful decades in the industry, the rapper managed to leave the world with the gift of Exodus. Released posthumously, the album includes widely impressive featured artists such as Alicia Keys, Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and more. Many believe only the late artist could land such an impressive roster of features. For this reason among others, this final release from DMX has become rated as one of the best hip-hop albums of 2021 so far.
MF DOOM & Czarface
Metacritic Score: 74
Czarface (Wu-Tang members Inspectah Deck, Esoteric, and 7L) linked up with the late MF DOOM before his passing to create Super What? the duo's second collaboration together. All of the heat is packed into the bars of these tracks. In no way does this sound like an album created as a farewell. Instead, the lyrics are loaded with heat and encourage imagery to form in the listener's mind. How they managed to accomplish this is beyond us; however, despite losing yet another legend years before anyone was ready, we strongly believe DOOM's memory will live on through his music, namely this incredible collab.
YG & Mozzy
Metacritic Score: 75
The next best thing to killer lyrics is stellar chemistry between artists. And that's exactly what California music moguls YG & Mozzy brought to the table yet again in their new 2021 album, Kommunity Service. This album not only reminds music lovers why Mozzy basically slayed the industry in 2014 but proved that all these years later, he's still got it. But, that being said, this album doesn't come with any limitations for who can and should listen to it. From the first track to the final fade-out, this is yet another one of the best new hip-hop albums of the year.
Mach-Hommy
Metacritic Score: 87
NYC-Haitian rapper Mach-Hommy teamed up with Westside Gunn, who hails from Griselda, for Pray For Haiti, their first collaboration since the duo's 2010 split. The incident had been chalked up to creative differences, but clearly, things have since mended. Gunn not only sang in 4 songs but also produced the 2021 release. But, Mach-Hommy is definitely the star of the show, with varied flows throughout the tracks and taking the entire ensemble to the next level. This album can be viewed among many in the music community as an expression of self-confidence from the artist. Originality and personality seem to seep through each word and echo through each silence.
Madlib
Metacritic Score: 87
It's not often that the well-known producer, Madlib, releases new music. But, man, when we say Sound Ancestors could be one of the top 10 hip-hop albums of the year, it's no joke! He's been in the industry for over 20 years and has already released hit tracks and classics that still bop to this day. But now, this collection of new tracks might one-up his previous work. The details of this album are immaculate, down to the stellar guitar-plucking on the track "Latino Megro." If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Madlib never disappoints, and this is proof!
Ghetts
Metacritic Score: 95
With the highest Metacritic score on our list, take a look at the British artist Ghetts' new release, Conflict Of Interest. The collection comes as the music mogul's third full-length studio portfolio, complete with 16 hot tracks that make up perhaps the best rap album on our list. Ghetts' voice alone will tickle your eardrums. Still, with such raw and honest lyrics, coupled with featured artists such as BackRoad Gee, Moonchild Sanelly, Ed Sheeran, Skepta, and several others, the critics nearly guarantee an enjoyable experience throughout. The lyrical talent spewing from each second of his album might just remain unmatched until he releases a fourth album!
Genesis Owusu
Metacritic Score: 86
Smiling With No Teeth is a debut studio album put out by Genesis Owusu that features a mix of funk, folk, R&B, pop, and rap. It has it all, including beats that might even make you crack a smile while listening. This eclectic musical offering has wowed fans since its early-March release. In years past, Owusu has released several singles and an EP - but this tops the cake as the one to steal the show! There's no denying the bar has now been set here, and while we listen on repeat, we can't help but get excited thinking about what else Genesis Owusu will bring to the table.
Loraine James
Metacritic Score: 88
Many believe that Loraine James' Reflection is one of the many new rap albums to flourish right out of the gate in 2021. And as of this writing, it hasn't even been out for a month yet! In her collection, the artist intertwines smooth yet electric beats with clear notions of romance and leveling up in the industry. James has certainly found her knack with this second full-length album, and many music lovers have reported not being able to get enough of this vibe. And the kicker? James made sure to include some stellar features, including Baths, Iceboy Violet, Nova, Xzavier Stone, and others.
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
'HARAM'
Metacritic Score: 82
HARAM is an album by Armand Hammer. The masterminds behind it are duo Billy Woods and ELUCID, and the DJ, record producer, rapper, songwriter, and living legend, The Alchemist. With immaculate storytelling and talent from all sides, this collection of music is destined to become one of the best hip-hop albums of 2021. The only possible thing that could've made this collection any more fire is the featured artists list, and wow, we are not disappointed. From KAYANA and Earl Sweatshirt to Curly Castro and Quelle Chris; many in the industry have praised Woods, ELUCID, and The Alchemist on a job well done.
Tony Allen
Metacritic Score: 79
With a now, even more meaningful title, the album, There Is No End was posthumously released in early May. Created and recorded by the late Tony Allen, this collection of music was completed by co-producers Vincent Taeger and Vincent Taurellewill. And, it will live on as Allen's legacy and possibly one of the top hip-hop albums to be released so far this year. Several talented vocalists were added to the songs to complete the collection, including Nate Bone, Nah Eeto, Sampa The Great, and Zelooperz. This album is a top hit whether listeners are captivated by the incredible drumming talent or constantly changing beats.
Migos
Metacritic Score: 75
Migos' latest album, CULTURE III, is chock-full of songs that will have you up off the couch and dancing your way back to festivals and backyard parties in no time. No, this is not just a collection to play in your bedroom or car; this is straight fire ready to be unleashed into the night! After a year of staying indoors in 2020, this new release is set to be one of the top hip-hop albums as concert season begins to return to the world. It might just even knock their previous release, CULTURE II, straight out of the playing field!
YSL & Young Thug
Metacritic Score: 74
This release by YSL and Young Thug was teased for a long time before it blessed our earbuds and speakers. But, once the album was finally out, Slime Language 2 blew music lovers away. This could be due to the lyrics and meaning behind the words or the A-list legends featured on several of the tracks. This album is full of amazing voices and vocals from Drake and Travis Scott to Gunna, Lil Uzi, and Kid Cudi. With Young Thug not dropping music as often as we wish, this project is seen by many as an exciting peek into what Thugger's been up to lately.
AJ Tracey
'FLU GAME'
Metacritic Score: 84
AJ Tracey has officially released his second full-length studio album called FLU GAME. And, according to listener comments, there's a good chance this production will go down as one of the best albums of 2021. With each song, Tracey proves more and more that he's not just a bench warmer but actually the star of the game. With supporting vocals by Kehlani, NAV, MoStack, and more, the music is dynamic and satisfying to listen to. There's no denying, by listening to this collection of songs, fans are beginning to see the mark AJ Tracey is making in the music industry.
Ashnikko
Metacritic Score: 74
Ashnikko wowed her fans to the max with the release of her debut album, DEMIDEVIL. The London-based rapper hails from North Carolina but has strayed away from any southern charm in her songs. Instead, each track is packed with a punch and is full of clear signs of an evolving artist. With an obvious development in her sound, fans continue to fall in love with the energy the artist brings to the table. Within this album, Ashnikko fans see that there's emotional depth behind the hardshell persona she puts out. Will this be the beginning of a deeper dive into her life? We'll have to listen to find out.
BROCKHAMPTON
'ROADRUNNER NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE'
Metacritic Score: 79
After some ups and downs in their music careers throughout the past 5 years, the group of friends behind BROCKHAMPTON released ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE. In it, they prove their knack for blending hip-hop and rap, all while keeping the iconic style of the group intact. Their sound might feel different to the ear this time around, possibly because some layers of doubt or insecurity seem to have melted away. Whatever changed, our ears are certainly happy, and we can assure yours will be too. The confidence that exudes from these tracks is not to be messed with, only to be enjoyed.
