Honorable Mentions:
Only Built For Infinity Links - Quavo, Takeoff
God Don’t Make Mistakes - Conway the Machine
Ramona Park Broke My Heart - Vince Staples
Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry
$oul $old $eperatel - Freddie Gibbs
15. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers - Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick gets extremely personal on this record and has many moments where it feels like he is talking with his therapist. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers are not as sonically appealing as his other works and comes off almost as an essay, which is why it is lower on the list.
14. DS4Ever - Gunna
DS4Ever is the exact opposite of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, as Gunna delivers melodic vibes that have little in the way of substance. This is probably Gunna’s best project and is easy to throw on at any occasion.
13. learn 2 swim - redveil
Redveil delivers a very impressive album, especially for such a young artist. The production on learn 2 swim is super rich and soulful that works well with redveil’s energetic delivery. Pg baby is a great example of this and was one of the best songs this year. This project leaves you wondering what he will deliver next.
12. Her Loss - Drake, 21 Savage
This album feels more like a Drake album featuring 21 savage and delivers some strange moments like BackOutsideBoyz. Despite this, there are some real highs on this project where the duo comes together to create great tracks. Overall, it is a great listen and one of the best drops this year.
11. TW20 50 - KayCyy
TW20 50 is a short and sweet EP that is a real treat to listen to. The production from Gesaffelstein is incredible and lets KayCyy shine with melodic earworms. The vibe of this project is incredible and would be higher on this list if it was a full-length project.
10. LOUIE - Kenny Beats
I am not one who usually likes beat tapes, but Kenny delivered an incredible one. It just has you wishing there were artists over the tracks, though the songs don’t need them. Kenny manages to make the project come across as very personal and it will have your head bopping the whole listen.
9. MORE BLACK SUPERHEROES - WESTSIDE BOOGIE
Boogie comes with a very solid project to follow up Everything’s for Sale. His songwriting feels very honest, you get a real sense of who he is on these tracks. The production is solid, but could have used a little more variety and energy.
8. 2000 - Joey Bada$$
After a long five-year wait Joey brings a follow-up to 1999, his break-out project. While not quite at the same level as 1999, 2000 does not disappoint. Joey has solid wordplay and punchlines while reflecting on his come-up and the life lessons he learned along the way
7. It’s Almost Dry - Pusha T
It’s Almost Dry is a fantastic follow-up to DAYTONA that shows he is still the king of coke rap. Pusha T’s witty bars and pen game are as present as ever, but this time they come with a more playful atmosphere.
6. Few Good Things - Saba
Few Good Things has a sense of peace and positive energy. Saba’s thoughtful lyrics and well-crafted flows pair great with his storytelling and self-reflection. He leaves a lot of space for the lowkey and soulful production to shine, which adds to the ambiance.
5. I NEVER LIKED YOU - Future
One of the trap GOATs delivers another incredible project of doing what he does best. Like most of his projects, Future paints himself as a villain and lets you into his toxic lifestyle. The production plays into this with its dark and menacing that lets Future deliver some of his best rap performances to date.
4. The Forever Story - JID
JID continues to prove himself to be one of the best rappers of the new generation with The Forever Story. He has the ability to deliver fast and impressive flows almost effortlessly, while not coming across as corny. JID also gets in his singing bag on songs like Kody Blu 31. Lastly, you can tell JID puts his all into his tracks, which connects you to the music.
3. No Recognition - Aaron May
Aaron comes into his own sound on this EP, which is very reminiscent of early J. Cole. His melodic style floats over the smooth and mostly mellow production, though there are some high-energy moments. Aaron May tackles his personal struggles and voices them over the record without getting overly deep.
2. HEROES & VILLAINS - Metro Boomin
The producer behind countless hits from the 2010s, accompanied by his usual collaborators, creates one of the best projects this year. While Metro does not step out of his comfort zone, he delivers the same energy he is known and loved for. The features all deliver great performances and there is not a dull moment on this project.
1. Luv 4 Rent - Smino
Smino made his best project to date with Luv 4 Rent. The album is incredibly fun and Smino shows his versatility with a variety of vibes. He delivers infectious hooks accompanied by fluttering flows and fantastic production. The features on this album are well-placed and only add to their respective songs.