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list Jan 5 2024 Written by

The Best Hip Hop Albums Ever

the best hip hop albums ever

At HHGA, we have an inherent love for lists, and our “The Best Hip Hop Albums Ever” compilation stands as the ultimate testament to that passion. While many lists on our site factor in elements such as popularity, sales figures, historical significance, and cultural impact, we only consider them to a certain extent. We firmly believe that best-selling doesn’t always equate to the best. Our lists primarily reflect personal preferences and, of course, our expert opinions on what defines quality Hip Hop;). Given that any list not entirely rooted in objectively measurable facts and figures is inherently subjective, the ones you find on our site are designed to spark debate – and that’s precisely the intention. What better way to keep the music we all love alive than engaging in passionate discussions?

This article serves as a comprehensive reference for those seeking an in-depth overview of the best Hip Hop albums ever. It also serves as a gateway into the deeper realms of the HHGA site. Each list includes a link to a top 40 page for each year, featuring concise album reviews and numerous honorable mentions. Delve into these lists, and undoubtedly, you’ll unearth a plethora of excellent Hip Hop albums you may have never experienced before. If you stumble upon new favorites, don’t hesitate to share them with us in the comments! So, without further ado, explore this curated list featuring the best Hip Hop albums ever released.

Top 15 Hip Hop Albums 1980 - 1985

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. LL Cool J – Radio (1985)
  2. Run DMC – Run DMC (1984)
  3. Mantronix – The Album (1985)
  4. Run DMC – King Of Rock (1985)
  5. Whodini – Escape (1984)
  6. Wild Style Soundtrack (1983)
  7. Treacherous Three – Treacherous Three (1983)
  8. Fat Boys – Fat Boys (1984)
  9. UTFO – UTFO (1985)
  10. Kurtis Blow – Kurtis Blow (1980)
  11. Fat Boys – The Fat Boys Are Back (1985)
  12. Whodini – Whodini (1983)
  13. West Coast Crew – In The Mix (1985)
  14. Kurtis Blow – Ego Trip (1984)
  15. The Sequence – Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence (1980)

Top 15 Hip Hop Albums 1986

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. Run DMC – Raising Hell
  2. Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill
  3. Stetsasonic – On Fire
  4. Schoolly D – Schoolly D
  5. Just Ice – Back To The Old School
  6. Salt N Pepa – Cool & Vicious
  7. Doug E Fresh – Oh My God
  8. Skinny Boys – Weightless
  9. Mantronix – Music Madness
  10. 2 Live Crew – 2 Live Is What We Are
  11. Afrika Bambaataa – Planet Rock The Album
  12. Steady B – Bring The Beat Back
  13. Kool Moe Dee – Kool Moe Dee
  14. Whodini – Back In Black
  15. Fat Boys – Big & Beautiful

Check here for 1986’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 20 Hip Hop Albums 1987

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. Eric B & Rakim – Paid In Full
  2. Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded
  3. Public Enemy – Yo! Bum Rush The Show
  4. LL Cool J – Bigger And Deffer
  5. Ice T – Rhyme Pays
  6. Schoolly D – Saturday Night The Album
  7. Dana Dane – Dana Dane With The Fame
  8. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Rock The House
  9. Too Short – Born To Mack
  10. MC Shan – Down By Law
  11. Just Ice – Kool And Deadly
  12. Kool Moe Dee – How Ya Like Me Now
  13. T La Rock – Lyrical King
  14. Skinny Boys – Skinny & Proud
  15. N.W.A. & The Posse – N.W.A. & The Posse
  16. UTFO – Lethal
  17. Kaos – Court’s In Session
  18. Heavy D & The Boyz – Livin’ Large
  19. Steady B – What’s My Name?
  20. Fat Boys – Crushin’

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1987’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1988

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. Public Enemy – It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
  2. Ultramagnetic MCs – Critical Beatdown
  3. Slick Rick – The Great Adventures Of…
  4. N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton
  5. Eric B & Rakim – Follow The Leader
  6. Big Daddy Kane – Long Live The Kane
  7. Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary
  8. EPMD – Strictly Business
  9. Ice T – Power
  10. Jungle Brothers – Straight Out The Jungle
  11. MC Lyte – Lyte As A Rock
  12. Eazy E – Eazy Duz It
  13. Marley Marl – In The Control Vol 1
  14. Biz Markie – Goin’ Off
  15. Too Short – Life Is…
  16. Run DMC – Tougher Than Leather
  17. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper
  18. Superlover Cee & Casanova Rud – Girls I Got Em Locked
  19. Stetsasonic – In Full Gear
  20. King Tee – Act A Fool
  21. MC Shan – Born To Be Wild
  22. Lakim Shabazz – Pure Righteousness
  23. DJ Cash Money & Marvelous – Where’s The Party At?
  24. The 7A3 – Coolin In Cali
  25. Rhyme Syndicate – Comin’ Through
  26. Tuff Crew – Danger Zone
  27. JVC Force – Doin’ Damage
  28. Def IV – Nice & Hard
  29. Schoolly D – Smoke Some Kill
  30. Audio Two – What More Can I Say?
  31. Kid N Play – 2 Hype
  32. Masters Of Ceremony – Dynamite
  33. Mantronix – In Full Effect
  34. Doug E Fresh – The World’s Greatest Entertainer
  35. Salt N Pepa – A Salt With A Deadly Pepa
  36. Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock – It Takes Two
  37. 2 Live Crew – Move Somethin’
  38. Skinny Boys – They Can’t Get Enough
  39. Steady B – Let The Hustlers Play
  40. Cold Crush Brothers – Troopers

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1988’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1989

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. De La Soul – 3 Feet High & Rising
  2. Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
  3. The D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better
  4. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road To The Riches
  5. EPMD – Unfinished Business
  6. Boogie Down Productions – Ghetto Music: The Blueprint Of Hip Hop
  7. Geto Boys – Grip It! On That Other Level
  8. Ice T – The Iceberg
  9. Big Daddy Kane – It’s A Big Daddy Thing
  10. Jungle Brothers – Done By The Forces Of Nature
  11. LL Cool J – Walking With A Panther
  12. 3rd Bass – The Cactus Album
  13. Gang Starr – No More Mr Nice Guy
  14. MC Lyte – Eyes On This
  15. Low Profile – We’re In This Together
  16. Nice & Smooth – Nice & Smooth
  17. Biz Markie – The Biz Never Sleeps
  18. Chill Rob G – Ride The Rhythm
  19. Young MC – Stone Cold Rhyming
  20. Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five – Piano
  21. Schoolly D – Am I Black Enough For You?
  22. Queen Latifah – All Hail The Queen
  23. Special Ed – Youngest In Charge
  24. Tuff Crew – Back To Wreck Shop
  25. Awesome Dre – You Can’t Hold Me Back
  26. Kwame The Boy Genius – Featuring A New Beginning
  27. Three Times Dope – Original Stylin’
  28. Just Ice – The Desolate One
  29. Donald D – Notorious
  30. Willie D – Controversy
  31. Stezo – Crazy Noise
  32. The Jaz – Word To The Jazz
  33. Tone Loc – Loc-ed After Dark
  34. Cool C – I Gotta Habit
  35. Def Jef – Just A Poet With A Soul
  36. Vicious Beat Posse – Legalized Dope
  37. Black Rock & Ron – Stop The World
  38. Kool Moe Dee – Knowledge Is King
  39. The New Style – Independent Leaders
  40. King Sun – XL

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1989’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 30 Hip Hop Albums 1990

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
  2. Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
  3. Paris – The Devil Made Me Do It
  4. A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels And The Paths Of Rhythm
  5. LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
  6. Eric B & Rakim – Let The Rhythm Hit Em
  7. Lord Finesse – Funky Technician
  8. Brand Nubian – All For One
  9. Above The Law – Livin’ Like Hustlers
  10. Kool G Rap – Wanted Dead Or Alive
  11. Boogie Down Productions – Edutainment
  12. EPMD – Business As Usual
  13. Master Ace – Take A Look Around
  14. Poor Righteous Teachers – Holy Intellect
  15. Digital Underground – Sex Packets
  16. Too Short – Short Dog’s In The House
  17. Intelligent Hoodlum – Intelligent Hoodlum
  18. D-Nice – Call Me D-Nice
  19. K-Solo – Tell The World My Name
  20. X-Clan – To The East, Blackwards
  21. Compton’s Most Wanted – It’s A Compton Thang
  22. Grand Daddy I.U. – Smooth Assassin
  23. Big Daddy Kane – Taste of Chocolate
  24. The Jaz – To Your Soul
  25. Shazzy – Attitude: A Hip Hop Rapsody
  26. Special Ed – Legal
  27. King Tee – At Your Own Risk
  28. CPO – To Hell And Black
  29. King Sun – Righteous But Ruthless
  30. Boo Yaa Tribe – New Funky Nation

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1990’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1991

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
  2. De La Soul – De La Soul Is Dead
  3. Ice T – Original Gangster
  4. Gang Starr – Step In The Arena
  5. Ice Cube – Death Certificate
  6. Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill
  7. Main Source – Breaking Atoms
  8. Black Sheep – A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
  9. Public Enemy – Apocalypse 91… The Enemy Strikes Black
  10. Naughty By Nature – Naughty By Nature
  11. Organized Konfusion – Organized Konfusion
  12. Scarface – Mr Scarface Is Back
  13. Geto Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped
  14. DJ Quik – Quik Is The Name
  15. Del The Funky Homosapien – I Wish My Brother George Was Here
  16. NWA – Efil4zaggin
  17. Leaders Of The New School – A Future Without A Past
  18. 2Pac – 2Pacalypse Now
  19. Ed OG & Da Bulldoggs – Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto
  20. Freestyle Fellowship – To Whom It May Concern
  21. Compton’s Most Wanted – Straight Checkn’ Em
  22. Chubb Rock – The One
  23. Godfather Don – Hazardous
  24. WC And The MAAD Circle – Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed
  25. KMD – Mr Hood
  26. UMC’s – Fruits Of Nature
  27. 3rd Bass – Derelicts Of Dialect
  28. Digital Underground – Sons Of The P
  29. J- Rock – Streetwize
  30. Nice & Smooth – Ain’t A Damn Thing Changed
  31. MC Lyte – Act Like You Know
  32. Tim Dog – Penicillin On Wax
  33. Slick Rick – The Ruler’s Back
  34. Poor Righteous Teachers – Pure Poverty
  35. OG Style – I Know How To Play Em
  36. Downtown Science – Downtown Science
  37. Schoolly D – How A Black Man Feels
  38. Terminator X – Terminator X & The Valley Of Jeep Beets
  39. Stetsasonic – Blood, Sweat & No Tears
  40. D-Nice – To Tha Rescue

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1991’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1992

the best hip hop albums ever

  1. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Mecca & The Soul Brother
  2. Dr Dre – The Chronic
  3. The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II…
  4. Showbiz $ AG – Runaway Slave
  5. Diamond D & The Psychotic Neurotics – Stunts, Blunts & Hip Hop
  6. Compton’s Most Wanted – Music To Driveby
  7. Gang Starr – Daily Operation
  8. Redman – Whut? Thee Album
  9. Eric B & Rakim – Don’t Sweat The Technique
  10. Arrested Development – 3 Years. 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of…
  11. Hard Knocks – School Of Hard Knocks
  12. Boogie Down Productions – Sex And Violence
  13. Ice Cube – The Predator
  14. Beastie Boys – Check Your Head
  15. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Live And Let Die
  16. Paris – Sleeping With The Enemy
  17. Lord Finesse – Return Of The Funky Man
  18. EPMD – Business, Never Personal
  19. Das EFX- Dead Serious
  20. Positive K – The Skills Dat Pay Da Bills
  21. Ultramagnetic MCs – Funk Your Head Up
  22. Too Short – Shorty The Pimp
  23. Common – Can I Borrow A Dollar?
  24. The Goats – Tricks Of The Shade
  25. UGK – Too Hard To Swallow
  26. Spice 1 – Spice 1
  27. X-Clan – Xodus
  28. Da Lench Mob – Guerillas In The Mist
  29. Grand Puba – Reel To Reel
  30. DJ Quik – Way 2 Fonkay
  31. House Of Pain – House Of Pain
  32. Grandmaster Caz – The Grandest Of Them All
  33. Willie D – I’m Going Out Lika Soldier
  34. Fu-Schnickens – F.U. Don’t Take it Personal
  35. K-Solo – Time’s Up
  36. Rough House Survivors – Straight From The Soul
  37. The Future Sound – The Whole Shabang, Vol. 1
  38. MC Serch – Return Of The Product
  39. Roxanne Shante – The B**** Is Back
  40. The Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy – Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1992’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1993

  1. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
  2. A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
  3. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Doggy Style
  4. De La Soul – Buhloone Mind State
  5. KRS One – Return Of The Boom Bap
  6. Black Moon – Enta Da Stage
  7. Freestyle Fellowship – Innercity Griots
  8. Souls Of Mischief – 93 Til Infinity
  9. Ultramagnetic MCs – The Four Horsemen
  10. Digable Planets – Reachin’
  11. 2Pac – Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.
  12. Lords Of The Underground – Here Come The Lords
  13. Queen Latifah – Black Reign
  14. Fat Joe – Represent
  15. Del – No Need For Alarm
  16. Ice Cube – Lethal Injection
  17. The Roots – Organix
  18. Masta Ace Inc. – Slaughtahouse
  19. Too Short – Get In Where You Fit In
  20. Geto Boys – Till Death Do Us Part
  21. Ice T – Home Invasion
  22. Mac Mall – Illegal Business?
  23. Scarface – The World Is Yours
  24. The Coup – Kill My Landlord
  25. Leaders Of The New School – T.I.M.E.
  26. Tha Alkoholiks – 21 & Over
  27. King Tee- Tha Triflin Album
  28. Intelligent Hoodlum – Tragedy: Saga Of A Hoodlum
  29. Cypress Hill – Black Sunday
  30. Naughty By Nature – 19 Naughty III
  31. Onyx – Bacdafucup
  32. Eightball & MJG – Comin’ Out Hard
  33. MC Ren – Shock Of The Hour
  34. K-Rino – Stories From The Black Book
  35. Big Daddy Kane – Looks Like A Job For…
  36. E-40 – Federal
  37. MC Lyte – Ain’t No Other
  38. LL Cool J – 14 Shots To The Dome
  39. Poor Righteous Teachers – Black Business
  40. Above The Law – Black Mafia Life

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1993’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1994

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1994

  1. Nas – Illmatic
  2. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die
  3. Organized Konfusion – Stress: The Extinction Agenda
  4. OutKast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
  5. O.C. – Word… Life
  6. Jeru The Damaja – The Sun Rises In The East
  7. Common – Resurrection
  8. Gang Starr – Hard To Earn
  9. Scarface – The Diary
  10. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – The Main Ingredient
  11. Gravediggaz – 6 Feet Deep
  12. Dred Scott – Breakin’ Combs
  13. Digable Planets – Blowout Comb
  14. UGK – Super Tight
  15. The Beatnuts – Street Level
  16. Method Man – Tical
  17. The Coup – Genocide & Juice
  18. Warren G – Regulate… G Funk Era
  19. Redman – Dare Iz A Darkside
  20. Beastie Boys – Ill Communication
  21. KMD – Black Bastards
  22. Thug Life – Vol. 1
  23. Boogie Monsters – Riders Of The Storm: The Underwater Album
  24. Public Enemy – Muse Sick-N-Hour Mess Age
  25. Coolio – It Takes A Thief
  26. Artifacts – Between A Rock And A Hard Place
  27. Keith Murray – The Most Beautifullest Thing In The World
  28. Down South – Lost In Brooklyn
  29. Kokane – Funk Upon A Rhyme
  30. Above The Law – Uncle Sam’s Curse
  31. Fugees – Blunted On Reality
  32. M.O.P. – To The Death
  33. Big Mike – Somethin’ Serious
  34. Slick Rick – Behind Bars
  35. Black Sheep – Non-Fiction
  36. Da Brat – Funkdafied
  37. Eightball & MJG – On The Outside Looking In
  38. Casual – Fear Itself
  39. Esham – Closed Casket
  40. Odd Squad – Fadanuf Fa Erybody

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1994’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1995

  1. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
  2. GZA – Liquid Swords
  3. The Pharcyde – Lacabincalifornia
  4. Mobb Deep – The Infamous
  5. 2Pac – Me Against The World
  6. Goodie Mob – Soul Food
  7. Big L – Lifestyles Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
  8. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Return To The 36 Chambers
  9. Bone Thugs N Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
  10. Smif N Wessun – Dah Shinin
  11. KRS One – KRS One
  12. DJ Quik – Safe + Sound
  13. Aceyalone – All Balls Don’t Bounce
  14. AZ – Doe Or Die
  15. Tha Dogg Pound – Dogg Food
  16. The Roots – Do You Want More?!!!??!
  17. Show & AG – Goodfellas
  18. E-40 – In A Major Way
  19. Eightball & MJG – On Top Of The World
  20. WC & The MAAD Circle – Curb Servin
  21. Kool G Rap – 4,5,6
  22. LL Cool J – Mr Smith
  23. Cypress Hill – III
  24. Tha Alkoholiks – Coast II Coast
  25. Brotha Lynch Hung – Season Of Da Siccness
  26. Masta Ace – Sittin’ On Chrome
  27. King Tee – IV Life
  28. Three-6 Mafia – Mystic Stylez
  29. K-Rino – Danger Zone
  30. Group Home – Livin’ Proof
  31. Mic Geronimo – The Natural
  32. Count Bass-D – Pre-Life Crisis
  33. Too short – Cocktails
  34. Fat Joe – Jealous One’s Envy
  35. Erick Sermon – Double Or Nothing
  36. The Nonce – World Ultimate
  37. Onyx – All We Got Iz Us
  38. Nine – Nine Livez
  39. Channel Live – Station Identification
  40. Souls Of Mischief – No Man’s Land

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1995’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1996

  1. OutKast – ATLiens
  2. The Roots – Illadelph Halflife
  3. De La Soul – Stakes Is Higher
  4. Dr Octagon – Dr Octagonecologyst
  5. The Fugees – The Score
  6. Nas- It Was Written
  7. Ghostface Killah – Ironman
  8. Jay Z – Reasonable Doubt
  9. 2Pac – All Eyez On Me
  10. Redman – Muddy Waters
  11. UGK – Ridin’ Dirty
  12. Jeru The Damaja – Wrath Of The Math
  13. DJ Shadow – Entroducing
  14. Makaveli – The Don Killuminati The Seven Day Theory
  15. Ras Kass – Soul On Ice
  16. A Tribe Called Quest – Beats, Rhymes & Life
  17. Mobb Deep – Hell On Earth
  18. Heltah Skeltah – Nocturnal
  19. Busta Rhymes – The Coming
  20. Keith Murray – Enigma
  21. Poor Righteous Teachers – The New World Order
  22. Real Live – The Turnaround: A Long-Awaited Drama
  23. Chino XL – Here To Save You All
  24. Sadat X – Wild Cowboys
  25. M.O.P. – Firing Squad
  26. Lost Boyz – Legal Drug Money
  27. Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life
  28. Lord Finesse – The Awaking
  29. Bahamadia – Kollage
  30. OGC – Da Storm
  31. E-40 – Tha Hall Of Fame
  32. Geto Boys – The Ressurection
  33. Westside Connection – Bow Down
  34. Ultra – Big Time
  35. Delinquent Habits – Delinquent Habits
  36. Master P – Ice Cream Man
  37. Chuck D – Autobiography Of Mistachuck
  38. Eminem – Infinite
  39. Lil Kim – Hardcore
  40. Too Short – Gettin’ It

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions, and here for 1996’s Top 40 Hip Hop Songs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1997

  1. Company Flow – Funcrusher Plus
  2. Camp Lo – Uptown Saturday Night
  3. Wu-Tang Clan – Wu-Tang Forever
  4. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
  5. Mood – Doom
  6. O.C. – Jewelz
  7. Common – One Day It’ll All Make Sense
  8. Cru – Da Dirty 30
  9. Capone-N-Noreaga – The War Report
  10. Jedi Mind Tricks – The Psycho-Social […]
  11. Three 6 Mafia – Chapter. 2: World Domination
  12. Scarface – The Untouchable
  13. Kool Keith – Sex Style
  14. Master P – Ghetto D
  15. Jay Z – In My Lifetime Vol. 1
  16. Frankie Cutlass – Politics & Bullsh**
  17. Slum Village – Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1
  18. Busta Rymes – When Disaster Strikes
  19. Organized Konfusion – Equinox
  20. Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly
  21. Rakim – The 18th Letter
  22. KRS One – I Got Next
  23. Suga Free – Street Gospel
  24. Psycho Realm – The Psycho Realm
  25. The Beatnuts – Stone Crazy
  26. Atmosphere – Overcast!
  27. Del The Funky Homosapien – Future Development
  28. Boogie Monsters – God Sound
  29. Jungle Brothers – Raw Deluxe
  30. EPMD – Back In Business
  31. Tha Alkaholiks – Likwidation
  32. Diamond – Hatred, Passions & Infidelity
  33. Latryx – The Album
  34. Mystikal – Unpredictable
  35. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – The Art Of War
  36. Artifacts – That’s Them
  37. Royal Flush – Ghetto Millionaire
  38. Killarmy – Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars
  39. The Firm – The Album
  40. LL Cool J – Phenomenon

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1998

  1. Black Star – Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
  2. OutKast – Aquemini
  3. Gang Starr – Moment Of Truth
  4. Big Pun – Capital Punishment
  5. All Natural – No Additives, No Preservatives
  6. Styles Of Beyond – 2000 Fold
  7. Aceyalone – A Book Of Human Language
  8. People Under The Stairs – The Next Step
  9. DMX – It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot
  10. Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty
  11. Hieroglyphics – 3rd Eye Vision
  12. Jurassic 5 – Jurassic 5
  13. Goodie Mob – Still Standing
  14. Xzibit – 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
  15. The Coup – Steal This Album
  16. The Dynospectrum – The Dynospectrum
  17. Pete Rock – Soul Survivor
  18. Killah Priest – Heavy Mental
  19. Jay Z- Vol 2… Hard Knock Life
  20. Rasco – Time Waits For No Man
  21. A Tribe Called Quest – The Love Movement
  22. Kool G Rap – Roots Of Evil
  23. Daz Dillinger – Retaliation, Revenge And Get Back
  24. Sunz Of Man – The Last Shall Be First
  25. RZA – Bobby Digital
  26. AZ – Pieces If A Man
  27. M.O.P. – First Family 4 Life
  28. DJ Quik – Rhythm-al-ism
  29. Fat Joe – Don Cartagena
  30. Z-Ro – Look What You Did To Me
  31. Canibus – Can-I-Bus
  32. Ice Cube – War & Peace, Vol 1 (The War Disc)
  33. DMX – Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood
  34. Cappadonna – The Pillage
  35. Busta Rhymes – E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front
  36. Eightball – Lost
  37. Juvenile – 400 Degreez
  38. Big Daddy Kane – Veteranz Day
  39. Redman – Doc’s Da Name 2000
  40. Method Man – Tical 2000: Judgement Day

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 1999

  1. Mos Def – Black On Both Sides
  2. The Roots – Things Fall Apart
  3. MF DOOM – Operation Doomsday
  4. Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
  5. Pharoahe Monch – Internal Affairs
  6. Dr Dre – 2001
  7. Dr. Dooom – First Come, First Served
  8. Blackalicious – Nia
  9. Prince Paul – A Prince Among Thieves
  10. Lootpack – Soundpieces: Da Antidote
  11. Method Man & Redman – Blackout!
  12. Handsome B-boy Modelling School – So How’s Your Girl
  13. Jeru The Damaja – Heroz4Hire
  14. Rubberoom – Architechnology
  15. Inspectah Deck – Uncontrolled Substance
  16. Kurupt – Tha Streetz Iz A Mutha
  17. Missy Elliott – Da Real World
  18. Nas – I Am…
  19. Q-Tip – Amplified
  20. Slick Rick – The Art Of Storytelling
  21. Deep Puddle Dynamics – The Taste of Rain…Why Kneel
  22. DMX – …And Then There Was X
  23. Ice T – 7th Deadly Sin
  24. The High & The Mighty – Home Field Advantage
  25. Peanut Butter Wolf – My Vinyl Weighs A Ton
  26. Public Enemy – There’s A Poison Goin’ On
  27. Rakim – The Master
  28. Mobb Deep – Murda Muzik
  29. Jay Z – Vol 3… Life & Times Of S. Carter
  30. Kool Keith – Black Elvis / Lost In Space
  31. GZA – Beneath The Surface
  32. Eightball & M.J.G. – In Our Lifetime
  33. Tech N9ne – The Calm Before The Storm
  34. EPMD – Out Of Business
  35. The Beatnuts – A Musical Massacre
  36. Atmosphere – Headshotz Se7en
  37. K-Rino – No Mercy
  38. Scaramanga – Seven Eyes, Seven Horns
  39. Black Moon – War Zone
  40. Hot Boys – Guerilla Warfare

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2000

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2000

  1. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
  2. Deltron 3030 – Deltron 3030
  3. Ghostface Killah – Supreme Clientele
  4. Common – Like Water For Chocolate
  5. OutKast – Stankonia
  6. Reflection Eternal – Train Of Thought
  7. Jurassic 5 – Quality Control
  8. dead prez – Let’s Get Free
  9. Slum Village – Fantastic, Vol. 2
  10. Binary Star – Masters Of The Universe
  11. Zion I – Mind Over Matter
  12. Jedi Mind Tricks – Violent By Design
  13. Quasimoto – The Unseen
  14. Del The Funky Homosapien – Both Sides Of The Brain
  15. Masters Of Illusion – Masters Of Illusion
  16. Bumpy Knuckles – Industry Shakedown
  17. Wu-Tang Clan – The W
  18. Aesop Rock – Float
  19. Big L – The Big Picture
  20. Dilated Peoples – The Platform
  21. People Under The Stairs – Question In The Form Of An Answer
  22. Foreign Legion – Kidnapper Van: Beats To Rock While Bike-Stealin’
  23. De La Soul – Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump
  24. Beanie Sigel – The Truth
  25. Rah Digga – Dirty Harriet
  26. M.O.P. – Warriorz
  27. Cali Agents – How The West Was One
  28. Scarface – The Last Of A Dying Breed
  29. D.I.T.C. – D.I.T.C.
  30. Antipop Consortium – Tragic Epilogue
  31. Snoop Dogg – Tha Last Meal
  32. Big Pun – Yeeeah Baby
  33. DJ Quik – Balance & Options
  34. Jay-Z – The Dynasty
  35. Murs – Murs Rules The World
  36. The Pharcyde – Plain Rap
  37. Analog Brothers – Pimp To Eat
  38. Ice Cube – War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)
  39. Bone Thugs N Harmony – BTNHResurrection
  40. Prodigy – H.N.I.C.

Check here for the full list + honorable mentions.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2001

  1. J-Live – The Best Part
  2. Jay-Z – The Blueprint
  3. Cannibal Ox – The Cold Vein
  4. Masta Ace – Disposable Arts
  5. Nas – Stillmatic
  6. Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 1
  7. Aesop Rock – Labor Days
  8. Ugly Duckling – Journey To Anywhere
  9. CunninLynguists – Will Rap For Food
  10. Asheru & Blue Black – Soon Come
  11. Atmosphere – Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EP’s
  12. Techno Animal – The Brotherhood Of The Bomb
  13. Tech N9ne – Anghellic
  14. Killah Priest – Priesthood
  15. 7L & Esoteric – The Soul Purpose
  16. J. Rawls – The Essence Of J. Rawls
  17. Jay Dee aka J Dilla – Welcome 2 Detroit
  18. Substantial – To This Union A Sun Was Born
  19. Cormega – The Realness
  20. Abstract Rude + Tribe Unique – P.A.I.N.T.
  21. Sticky Fingaz – [Blacktrash] The Autobiography of Kirk Jones
  22. The Lost Children Of Babylon – Where Light Was Created: The Equidivium
  23. Ludacris – Word of Mouf
  24. All Natural – Second Nature
  25. RZA – Digital Bullet
  26. Declaime – Andsoitisaid
  27. Ghostface Killah – Bulletproof Wallets
  28. Lone Catalysts – Hip Hop
  29. Eyedea & Abilities – First Born
  30. Beanie Sigel – The Reason
  31. De La Soul – AOI: Bionix
  32. Wu-Tang Clan – Iron Flag
  33. KRS-One – The Sneak Attack
  34. Dilated Peoples – Expansion Team
  35. Typical Cats – Typical Cats
  36. Sm*t Peddlers – Porn Again
  37. Aceyalone – Accepted Eclectic
  38. Cypress Hill – Stoned Raiders
  39. D12 – Devil’s Night
  40. Mr. Len – Pity The Fool

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2002

  1. J-Live – All Of The Above
  2. Mr. Lif – I Phantom
  3. El-P – Fantastic Damage
  4. Nas – The Lost Tapes
  5. Eminem – The Eminem Show
  6. Scarface – The Fix
  7. Jurassic 5 – Power In Numbers
  8. Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow
  9. Nas – God’s Son
  10. Non Phixion – The Future Is Now
  11. Sage Francis – Personal Journals
  12. Busdriver – Temporary Forever
  13. Talib Kweli – Quality
  14. Atmosphere – God Loves Ugly
  15. The Roots – Phrenology
  16. People Under The Stairs – O.S.T.
  17. Dälek – From Filthy Tongue Of Gods And Griots
  18. Cormega – The True Meaning
  19. Large Professor – 1st Class
  20. Missy Elliott – Under Construction
  21. GZA – Legend Of The Liquid Sword
  22. Deepspace5 – The Night We Called It A Day
  23. Insight – Updated Software V. 2,5
  24. Edan – Primitive Plus
  25. Canibus – Mic Club: The Curriculum
  26. MF Grimm – The Downfall Of Ibliys: A Ghetto Opera
  27. 7L & Esoteric – Dangerous Connection
  28. Alias – The Other Side Of The Looking Glass
  29. Clipse – Lord Willin’
  30. Musab – Respect The Life
  31. DJ Quik – Under Tha Influence
  32. Nappy Roots – Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz
  33. Jean Grae – Attack Of The Attacking Things…
  34. Cage – Movies For The Blind
  35. Motion Man ft. KutMasta Kurt – Clearing The Field
  36. Royce Da 5’9″ – Rock City
  37. DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Magnificent
  38. Kool G Rap – The Giancana Story
  39. Busta Rhymes – It Ain’t Safe No More…
  40. Jay-Z – The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2003

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2003

  1. Brother Ali – Shadows On The Sun
  2. Little Brother – The Listening
  3. Viktor Vaughn – Vaudeville Villain
  4. Canibus – Rip The Jacker
  5. Jay Z – The Black Album
  6. Immortal Technique – Revolutionary Vol. 2
  7. Non Prophets – Hope
  8. 50 Cent – Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
  9. CunninLynguists – Southernunderground
  10. Dizzee Rascal – Boy In Da Corner
  11. The Last Emperor – Music, Magic, Myth
  12. Aesop Rock – Bazooka Tooth
  13. Gang Starr – The Ownerz
  14. Louis Logic – Sin-A-Matic
  15. King Geedorah – Take Me To Your Leader
  16. OutKast – Speakerboxxx / The Love Below
  17. Murs – The End Of The Beginning
  18. Jaylib – Champion Sound
  19. KRS-One – Kristyles
  20. Danger Mouse & Jemini – Ghetto Pop Life
  21. Soul Position – 8 Million Stories
  22. Jedi Mind Tricks – Visions Of Gandhi
  23. Monsta Island Czars – Escape from Monsta Island!
  24. Paris – Sonic Jihad
  25. The Lost Children Of Babylon – Words From The Duat: The Book of Anubis
  26. DMX – Grand Champ
  27. Ugly Duckling – Taste The Secret
  28. T.I. – Trap Muzik
  29. Lightheaded – Pure Thoughts
  30. Killer Mike – Monster
  31. Killah Priest – Black August
  32. Lil’ Kim – La Bella Mafia
  33. Vakill – The Darkest Cloud
  34. Insight – The Maysun Project
  35. Soul Supreme – The Saturday Nite Agenda
  36. Atmosphere – Seven’s Travels
  37. Semi.Official – The Anti-Album
  38. billy woods – Camouflage
  39. Missy Elliott – This Is Not A Test!
  40. Nappy Roots – Wooden Leather

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2004

  1. Madvillain – Madvillainy
  2. Masta Ace – A Long Hot Summer
  3. De La Soul – The Grind Date
  4. Kanye West – The College Dropout
  5. Eyedea & Abilities – E&A
  6. P.O.S – Ipecac Neat
  7. Murs & 9th Wonder – Murs 3:16: The 9th Edition
  8. MF DOOM – Mm.. Food
  9. Foreign Exchange – Connected
  10. Jean Grae – This Week
  11. The U.N. – UN Or U Out
  12. The Roots – The Tipping Point
  13. R.A. the Rugged Man – Die, Rugged Man, Die
  14. Cryptic One – The Anti-Mobius Strip Theory
  15. Illogic – Celestial Clockwork
  16. Royce Da 5’9″ – Death Is Certain
  17. Ghostface Killah – The Pretty Tony Album
  18. Edo. G feat. Pete Rock – My Own Worst Enemy
  19. Saul Williams – Saul Williams
  20. Gift Of Gab – 4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
  21. Nas – Street’s Disciple
  22. Beastie Boys – To The 5 Boroughs
  23. Haiku D’Etat – Coup De Theatre
  24. Time Machine – Slow Your Roll
  25. Shock G – Fear Of A Mixed Planet
  26. Masta Killa – No Said Date
  27. Jedi Mind Tricks – Legacy Of Blood
  28. Ill Bill – What’s Wrong With Bill?
  29. Leak Bros. – Waterworld
  30. Rob Sonic – Telicatessen
  31. Braille – Shades Of Grey
  32. Blue Scholars – Blue Scholars
  33. Insight – The Blast Radius
  34. Dizzee Rascal – Showtime
  35. Typical Cats – Civil Service
  36. billy woods – The Chalice
  37. 7L & Esoteric – DC2: Bars of Death
  38. Non Phixion – The Green CD
  39. Dilated Peoples – Neighborhood Watch
  40. Micranots – The Emperor & The Assassin

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2005

  1. Common – Be
  2. Little Brother – The Minstrel Show
  3. Kanye West – Late Registration
  4. Atmosphere – You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having
  5. Zion I – True & Livin’
  6. Beanie Sigel – The B. Coming
  7. Ohmega Watts – The Find
  8. Danger Doom – The Mouse And The Mask
  9. The Game – The Documentary
  10. Dälek – Absence
  11. Jazz Addixx – Oxygen
  12. One Be Lo – S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
  13. Sean Price – Monkey Barz
  14. Bun B – Trill
  15. Quasimoto – The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
  16. Blueprint – 1988
  17. Felt – Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet
  18. Cage – Hell’s Winter
  19. Sage Francis – A Healthy Distrust
  20. Nujabes – Modal Soul
  21. Edan – Beauty & The Beat
  22. Fort Minor – The Rising Tied
  23. Pumpkinhead – Orange Moon Over Brooklyn
  24. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter II
  25. The Crest – Skeptik
  26. Blackalicious – The Craft
  27. Qwel & Jackson Jones – Dark Day
  28. Cyne – Evolution Fight
  29. K’naan – The Dusty Foot Philosopher
  30. Lone Catalysts – Good Music
  31. Busdriver – Fear Of A Black Tangent
  32. Sims – Lights Out Paris
  33. Geto Boys – The Foundation
  34. Reef The Lost Cauze – Feast Or Famine
  35. J-Live – The Hear After
  36. Young Jeezy – Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101
  37. The Circle Of Tyrants – The Circle Of Tyrants
  38. Cool Calm Pete – Lost
  39. Tonedeff – Archetype
  40. Three 6 Mafia – Most Known Unknown

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2006

top 2006 hip hop albums

  1. The Roots – Game Theory
  2. Jedi Mind Tricks – Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
  3. Lupe Fiasco – Food & Liquor
  4. J Dilla – Donuts
  5. CunninLynguists – A Piece Of Strange
  6. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
  7. People Under The Stairs – Stepfather
  8. Nas – Hip Hop Is Dead
  9. Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
  10. Ugly Duckling – Bang For The Buck
  11. MF Grimm – American Hunger
  12. Apathy – Eastern Philosophy
  13. Project Polaroid – Project Polaroid
  14. Murs & 9th Wonder – Murray’s Revenge
  15. Army Of The Pharaohs – The Torture Papers
  16. J Dilla – The Shining
  17. Blue Sky Black Death – Blue Sky Black Death Presents The Holocaust
  18. P.O.S – Audition
  19. 7L & Esoteric – A New Dope
  20. Tech N9ne – Everready (The Religion)
  21. T.I. – King
  22. Mekalek – Live & Learn
  23. Kool Keith – Nogatco Rd.
  24. Ghostface Killah – More Fish
  25. Panacea – Ink Is My Drink
  26. OuterSpace – Blood Brothers
  27. Tanya Morgan – Moonlighting
  28. The Lost Children Of Babylon – The 911 Report: The Ultimate Conspiracy
  29. Dilated Peoples – 20/20
  30. Mr. Lif – Mo Mega
  31. Surreal & The Sound Providers – True Indeed
  32. KRS One – Life
  33. Rhymefest – Blue Collar
  34. Method Man – 4:21… The Day After
  35. The Game – Doctor’s Advocate
  36. Strange Fruit Project – The Healing
  37. J-Zone & Celph Titled Are The Boss Hog Barbarians ‎- Every Hog Has Its Day
  38. Jurassic 5 – Feedback
  39. Psalm One – The Death Of Frequent Flyer
  40. OutKast – Idlewild

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2007

  1. Brother Ali – The Undisputed Truth
  2. Blu & Exile – Below The Heavens
  3. Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
  4. Percee P – Perseverance
  5. Pharoahe Monch – Desire
  6. Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
  7. Kanye West – Graduation
  8. Cunninlynguists – Dirty Acres
  9. Talib Kweli – Eardrum
  10. Senim Silla – The Name The Motto The Outcome
  11. Y Society – Travel At Your Own Pace
  12. El-P – I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
  13. Common – Finding Forever
  14. Evidence – The Weatherman LP
  15. UGK – Underground Kingz
  16. Jay-Z – American Gangster
  17. Sage Francis – Human The Death Dance
  18. Polyrhythm Addicts – Break Glass
  19. Blue Sky Black Death & Hell Razah – Razah’s Ladder
  20. Ghostface Killah – The Big Doe Rehab
  21. Blue Scholars – Bayani
  22. Shad – The Old Prince
  23. Killah Priest – The Offering
  24. Black Milk – Popular Demand
  25. Little Brother – Getback
  26. Wisemen – Wisemen Approaching
  27. Ohmega Watts – Watts Happening
  28. Sean Price – Jesus Price Supastar
  29. Army Of The Pharaohs – Ritual Of Battle
  30. Panacea – The Scenic Route
  31. One Be Lo – The R.E.B.I.R.T.H.
  32. Phat Kat – Carte Blanche
  33. Scarface – M.A.D.E.
  34. Public Enemy – How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul???
  35. Redman – Red Gone Wild
  36. DJ Jazzy Jeff – The Return Of The Magnificent
  37. Super Chron Flight Brothers – Emergency Powers
  38. Jeru The Damaja – Still Rising
  39. KRS-One & Marley Marl – Hip Hop Lives
  40. Wu-Tang Clan – 8 Diagrams

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2008

  1. Q-Tip – The Renaissance
  2. Grip Grand – Brokelore
  3. Prolyphic & Reanimator – The Ugly Truth
  4. Elzhi – The Preface
  5. The Roots – Rising Down
  6. Doomtree – Doomtree
  7. Immortal Technique – 3rd World
  8. J-Live – Then What Happened?
  9. eMC – The Show
  10. Nas – Untitled
  11. Jake One – White Van Music
  12. Johnson & Jonson – Johnson & Jonson
  13. Dela – Changes Of Atmosphere
  14. Invincible – Shapeshifters
  15. NYOIL – Hood Treason
  16. Guilty Simpson – Ode To The Ghetto
  17. Ill Bill – The Hour Of Reprisal
  18. Vordul Mega – Megagraphitti
  19. Black Milk – Tronic
  20. Cyne – Pretty Dark Things
  21. Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak – Hand Over Fist
  22. Atmosphere – When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh** Gold
  23. GZA/Genius – Pro Tools
  24. Dagha – The Divorce
  25. East Coast Avengers – Prison Planet
  26. Vast Aire – Dueces Wild
  27. People Under the Stairs – Fun DMC
  28. Killer Mike – I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II
  29. Sonic Sum – Films
  30. Thirsty Fish – Testing The Waters
  31. Bun B – II Trill
  32. Kool Keith – Dr. Dooom 2
  33. Jedi Mind Tricks – A History Of Violence
  34. Awon – Beautiful Loser
  35. Murs – Murs For President
  36. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
  37. Del The Funky Homosapien – Eleventh Hour
  38. Snowgoons – Black Snow
  39. T.I. – Paper Trail
  40. KRS-One – Maximum Strength

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2009

  1. Mos Def – The Ecstatic
  2. Diamond District – In The Ruff
  3. P.O.S – Never Better
  4. Felt – Felt 3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez
  5. Fashawn – Boy Meets World
  6. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt II
  7. Skyzoo – The Salvation
  8. J Dilla – Jay Stay Paid
  9. Brother Ali – Us
  10. Marco Polo & Torae – Double Barrel
  11. Finale – A Pipe Dream And A Promise
  12. Killah Priest – Elizabeth (Introduction To The Psychic)
  13. People Under The Stairs – Carried Away
  14. Tech N9ne – K.O.D.
  15. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End Of Day
  16. Oddisee – Mental Liberation
  17. The Large Professor – The LP
  18. Qwel & Maker – So Be It
  19. O.C. & A.G. – Oasis
  20. Souls Of Mischief – Montezuma’s Revenge
  21. Paten Locke – Super Ramen Rocketship
  22. Eminem – Relapse
  23. Toki Wright – A Different Mirror
  24. DOOM – Born Like This
  25. Mr. Lif – I Heard It Today
  26. Tanya Morgan – Brooklynati
  27. Superstar Quamallah – Invisible Man
  28. Antipop Consortium – Fluorescent Black
  29. Slaughterhouse – Slaughterhouse
  30. Illogic – Diabolical Fun
  31. Ace & Edo – Arts & Entertainment
  32. Ugly Duckling – Audacity
  33. La Coka Nostra – A Brand You Can Trust
  34. KRS-One & Buckshot – Survival Skills
  35. Five O’Clock Shadowboxers – The Slow Twilight
  36. Black Noise – The Black Noise LP
  37. Curren$y – This Aint No Mixtape
  38. Jay Z – The Blueprint 3
  39. Blaq Poet – Tha Blaqprint
  40. Apathy – Wanna Snuggle?

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2010

  1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
  2. Kno – Death Is Silent
  3. Nas & Damien Marley – Distant Relatives
  4. Boog Brown & Apollo Brown – Brown Study
  5. Celph Titled & Buckwild – Nineteen Ninety-Now
  6. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
  7. Roc Marciano – Marcberg
  8. The Roots – How I Got Over
  9. The Left – Gas Mask
  10. Skyzoo & !llmind – Live From The Tape Deck
  11. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager
  12. Black Milk – Album Of The Year
  13. Strong Arm Steady – In Search Of Stoney Jackson
  14. Qwel & Maker – Owl
  15. Killah Priest – The 3 Day Theory
  16. Canibus – Melatonin Magik
  17. Dark Time Sunshine – Vessel
  18. Curren$y – Pilot Talk
  19. Incise – Daily Methods
  20. Freeway & Jake One – The Stimulus Package
  21. yU – Before Taxes
  22. Ghostface Killah – Apollo Kids
  23. Curren$y – Pilot Talk II
  24. Shad – TSOL
  25. Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
  26. Blacastan – Blac Sabbath
  27. Rakaa Iriscience – Crown Of Thorns
  28. Guilty Simpson & Madlib – OJ Simpson
  29. 7L & Esoteric – 1212
  30. Vinnie Paz – Season Of The Assassin
  31. Super Chron Flight Brothers – Cape Verde
  32. H.I.S.D. – The Weakend
  33. Bop Alloy – Substantial & Marcus D Are Bop Alloy
  34. Homeboy Sandman – The Good Sun
  35. A.G. – Everythings Berrii
  36. B. Dolan – Fallen House, Sunken City
  37. Waka Flocka Flame – Flockavelli
  38. Panacea – 12 Step Program
  39. Danny Brown – The Hybrid
  40. Brotha Lynch Hung – Dinner & A Movie

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2011

  1. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
  2. CunninLynguists – Oneirology
  3. Rashad & Confidence – The Element Of Surprise
  4. The Roots – Undun
  5. Danny Brown – X X X
  6. Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
  7. Doomtree – No Kings
  8. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
  9. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
  10. Common – The Dreamer / The Believer
  11. Evidence – Cats & Dogs
  12. Murs – Love & Rockets Vol. 1: The Transformation
  13. Thurz – L.A. Riots
  14. Rasheed Chappell – Future Before Nostalgia
  15. J-Live – S.P.T.A. (Said Person Of That Ability)
  16. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
  17. Superstar Quamallah & DeQawn – Talkin’ All That Jazz
  18. People Under The Stairs – Highlighter
  19. Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Gonna Eat That?
  20. Ugly Duckling – Moving At Breakneck Speed
  21. Canibus – Lyrical Law
  22. Tech N9ne – All 6’s And 7’s
  23. Akua Naru – The Journey Aflame
  24. DJ Quik – The Book Of David
  25. Rebels To The Grain – Harvest Season
  26. Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown – Daily Bread
  27. Apathy – Honkey Kong!
  28. Random Axe – Random Axe
  29. Has-Lo – In Case I Don’t Make It
  30. R.E.K.S. – Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme
  31. MarQ Spekt & Kno – Machete Vision
  32. Killer Mike  – PL3DGE
  33. Action Bronson – Dr. Lecter
  34. Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch The Throne
  35. Royce Da 5’9″ – Success Is Certain
  36. The Doppelgangaz – Lone Sharks
  37. 9th Wonder – The Wonder Years
  38. Outerspace – My Brother’s Keeper
  39. Atmosphere – The Family Sign
  40. Thirsty Fish – Watergate

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2012

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2012

  1. Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City
  2. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
  3. Ab-Soul – Control System
  4. O.C. & Apollo Brown – Trophies
  5. billy woods – History Will Absolve Me
  6. El-P – Cancer 4 Cure
  7. Nas – Life Is Good
  8. Roc Marciano – Reloaded
  9. Rapsody – The Idea Of Beautiful
  10. Sean Price – Mic Tyson
  11. Aesop Rock – Skelethon
  12. Death Grips – The Money Store
  13. Brother Ali – Mourning In America And Dreaming In Color
  14. Big K.R.I.T. – Live From The Underground
  15. Oddisee – People Hear What They Wanna Hear
  16. Lil Ugly Mane – Mista Thug Isolation
  17. Purpose & Confidence – Purpose Of Confidence
  18. ScHoolboy Q – Habits & Contradictions
  19. Skyzoo – A Dream Deferred
  20. Apollo Brown & Guilty Simpson – Dice Game
  21. Pacewon & Mr. Green – The Only Number That Matters Is Won
  22. Oh No – Ohnomite
  23. Dark Time Sunshine – ANX
  24. Reks – Straight, No Chaser
  25. Large Professor – Professor @ Large
  26. Constant Deviants – Diamond
  27. Evitan – Speed Of Life
  28. Murs & 9th Wonder – The Final Adventure
  29. Gensu Dean – Lo​-​Fi Fingahz
  30. Vinnie Paz – God Of The Serengeti
  31. Homeboy Sandman – First Of A Living Breed
  32. Styles Of Beyond – Reseda Beach
  33. DJ Premier & Bumpy Knuckles – KoleXXXion
  34. Substantial – Home Is Where the Art Is
  35. Gangrene – Vodka & Ayahuasca
  36. Masta Ace & MF DOOM – MA_DOOM: Son of Yvonne
  37. Ka – Grief Pedigree
  38. Public Enemy – Most Of My Heroes Still Don’t Appear On No Stamp
  39. Chino XL – Ricanstruction: The Black Rosary
  40. KRS One – The BDP Album

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2013

  1. Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels
  2. Oddisee – Tangible Dream
  3. Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons To Die
  4. Awon & Phoniks – Return To The Golden Era
  5. Earl Sweatshirt – Doris
  6. R.A. The Rugged Man – Legends Never Die
  7. Qwel & Maker – Beautiful Raw
  8. Demigodz – KILLmatic
  9. Armand Hammer – Race Music
  10. Yugen Blakrok – Return Of The Astro​-​Goth
  11. Killah Priest – The Psychic World Of Walter Reed
  12. Danny Brown – Old
  13. Ugly Heroes – Ugly Heroes
  14. Ka – The Night’s Gambit
  15. J-Zone – Peter Pan Syndrome
  16. A$ap Rocky – LONG LIVE A$AP
  17. Black Milk – No Poison No Paradise
  18. Natti – Still Motion
  19. Boog Brown – The Late Bloom
  20. billy woods – Dour Candy
  21. Clear Soul Forces – Gold PP7s
  22. Czarface – Czarface
  23. Cubbiebear – Force Back To Sleep
  24. Deltron 3030 – Event 2
  25. Lewis Parker – The Puzzle: Episode Two: The Glass Ceiling
  26. Shad – Flying Colours
  27. DJ Format & Phill Most Chill – The Foremost
  28. L’Orange & Stik Figa – The City Under The City
  29. Prodigy & The Alchemist – Albert Einstein
  30. Roc Marciano – Marci Beaucoup
  31. Blame One & J57 – Walk In The Sun
  32. Epidemic – Somethin’ For Tha Listeners
  33. Tech N9ne – Something Else
  34. Greenhouse – Bend But Don’t Break
  35. Curly Castro – FIDEL
  36. Boldy James – My 1st Chemistry Set
  37. Hieroglyphics – The Kitchen
  38. Freddie Gibbs – ESGN
  39. Talib Kweli- Gravitas
  40. Eminem – Marshall Mathers LP 2

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2014

  1. Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2
  2. Freddie Gibs & Madlib – Pinata
  3. PRhyme -PRhyme
  4. Open Mike Eagle – Dark Comedy
  5. Damani Nkosi – Thoughtful King
  6. Hail Mary Mallon – Bestiary
  7. Dilated Peoples – Directors Of Photography
  8. Pharoahe Monch – PTSD
  9. Diamond District – March On Washington
  10. Sage Francis – Copper Gone
  11. Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron
  12. People Under The Stairs – 12 Step Program
  13. Big K.R.I.T. – Cadillactica
  14. Skyzoo & Torae – Barrel Brothers
  15. Dag Savage – E&J
  16. J Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
  17. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass – Blasphemy
  18. Awon & Dephlow – Dephacation
  19. Sa-Roc – Nebuchadnezzar
  20. clipping. – CLPPNG
  21. The 1978ers – People Of Today
  22. Shabazz Palaces – Lese Majesty
  23. Army Of The Pharaohs – In Death Reborn
  24. Busdriver – Perfect Hair
  25. Diabolic – Fighting Words
  26. Step Brothers – Lord Steppington
  27. YG – My Krazy Life
  28. Ghostface Killah – 36 Seasons
  29. Anti-Lilly & Phoniks – Stories From The Brass Section
  30. Black Milk- If There’s A Hell Below
  31. Common – Nobody’s Smiling
  32. Army Of The Pharaohs – Heavy Lies The Crown
  33. Diamond D – The Diam Piece
  34. Cormega – Mega Philosophy
  35. Atmosphere – Southsiders
  36. Souls Of Mischief – There Is Only Now
  37. Ces Cru – Codename: Ego Stripper
  38. uMaNg – The Black Rose Certificate
  39. Jazz Spastiks – The Product
  40. Tiff The Gift – Better To Give

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2015

  1. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
  2. Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth
  3. Add-2 – Prey For The Poor
  4. Oddisee – The Good Fight
  5. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
  6. Awon & Phoniks – Knowledge Of Self
  7. Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
  8. Scarface – Deeply Rooted
  9. Czarface – Every Hero Needs A Villain
  10. Pusha T – King Push — Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude
  11. Joey Bada$$ – B4.DA.$$
  12. A$AP Rocky – At.Long.Last.A$AP
  13. Apollo Brown – Grandeur
  14. Skyzoo – Music For My Friends
  15. billy woods – Today I Wrote Nothing
  16. The Game – The Documentary 2/2.5
  17. Semi Hendrix – Breakfast At Banksy’s
  18. Asphate – Closed Doors To An Open Mind
  19. Dr. Yen Lo – Days With Dr. Yen Lo
  20. Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD – Sour Soul
  21. Junk Science – And The Hundred Dollar Sandwich
  22. L’Orange & Jeremiah Jae – The Night Took Us In Like Family
  23. Killah Priest – Planet Of The Gods
  24. Jay Rock – 90059
  25. Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – Twelve Reasons To Die II
  26. Jazz Spastiks & Rebels To The Grain – Unkut Fresh
  27. Gangrene – You Disgust Me
  28. Rapper Big Pooh & Nottz – Home Sweet Home
  29. First Division – Overworked & Underpaid
  30. Fashawn – The Ecology
  31. Dephlow – Deph Threats
  32. Guilty Simpson – Detroit’s Son
  33. B. Dolan – Kill The Wolf
  34. The Four Owls – Natural Order
  35. Jedi Mind Tricks – The Thief And The Fallen
  36. Travis Scott – Rodeo
  37. Triple Darkness – Darker Than Black
  38. Freddie Gibbs – Shadow Of A Doubt
  39. Grand Daddy I.U. – P.I.M.P. (Paper Is My Priority)
  40. MED, Blu & Madlib – Bad Neighbor

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2016

  1. Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 3
  2. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
  3. Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
  4. A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service
  5. Common – Black America Again
  6. Westside Gunn – FLYGOD
  7. Ryu – Tanks For The Memories
  8. Ab-Soul – Do What Thou Wilt
  9. Apollo Brown & Skyzoo – The Easy Truth
  10. Ka – Honor Killed The Samurai
  11. Royce 5’9″ – Layers
  12. Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade
  13. ScHoolboy Q – The Blank Face LP
  14. Elzhi – Lead Poison
  15. De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody
  16. Kool Keith – Feature Magnetic
  17. J-Zone – Fish-n-Grits
  18. Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo
  19. Mikey D – Day Of D’struction
  20. Ugly Heroes – Everything In Between
  21. UG – Portals
  22. The Game – 1992
  23. Apathy – Handshakes With Snakes
  24. Tiff The Gift – It Gets Greater Later
  25. Czarface – A Fistful Of Peril
  26. The Hue – Aurora
  27. Wise Intelligent – Stevie Bonneville Wallace
  28. Reks – The Greatest X
  29. Saba – Bucket List Project
  30. ELUCID – Save Yourself
  31. Open Mike Eagle & Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival
  32. Havoc & The Alchemist – The Silent Partner
  33. Vinnie Paz – The Cornerstone Of The Corner Store
  34. Masta Ace – The Falling Season
  35. Willie Green – Doc Savage
  36. Sick Jacken – Psychodelic
  37. Code Nine & Purpose – Below Sumerian Skies
  38. Smoke DZA & Pete Rock – Don’t Smoke Rock
  39. Craig G – I Rap And Go Home
  40. Atmosphere – Fishing Blues

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2017

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2017

  1. Rapsody – Laila’s Wisdom
  2. billy woods – Known Unknowns
  3. Big K.R.I.T. – 4Eva Is A Mighty Long Time
  4. CunninLynguists – Rose Azura Njano
  5. Brother Ali – All The Beauty In This Life
  6. Open Mike Eagle – Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
  7. Armand Hammer – Rome
  8. Quelle Chris – Being You Is Great… I Wish I Could Be You More Often
  9. O.C. – Same Moon Same Sun
  10. Oddisee – The Iceberg
  11. Sean Price – Imperius Rex
  12. Jay-Z – 4:44
  13. Jonwayne – Rap Album Two
  14. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN
  15. Hex One Words – Worth A Thousand Pictures
  16. P.O.S – Chill, Dummy
  17. Joey Bada$$ – All AmeriKKKan Bada$$
  18. Blacastan & Stu Bangas – The Uncanny Adventures Of Watson & Holmes
  19. Dope KNife – NineteenEightyFour
  20. Apathy & O.C. – Perestroika
  21. Roc Marciano – Rosebudd’s Revenge
  22. Anti-Lilly & Phoniks – It’s Nice Outside
  23. MC Eiht – Which Way Iz West
  24. Milo – Who Told You to Think​?
  25. Your Old Droog – Packs
  26. DJ Format & Abdominal – Still Hungry
  27. J.I.D – The Never Story
  28. Recognize Ali – Allah’s Favorite
  29. Dephlow – Most Dephinite
  30. lojii & Swarvy – DUE RENT
  31. Tyler The Creator – Flower Boy
  32. GQ – E14th
  33. M-Dot – egO anD The eneMy
  34. Ces Cru – Catastrophic Event Specialists
  35. Public Enemy – Nothing Is Quick In The Desert
  36. King Magnetic – Everything Happens 4 A Reason
  37. Kool G Rap – Return Of The Don
  38. Pawz One – Pick Your Poison
  39. Raekwon – The Wild
  40. Snoop Dogg – Neva Left

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2018

  1. Saba – Care For Me
  2. Noname – Room 25
  3. ANKHLEJOHN & Big Ghost Ltd – Van Ghost
  4. Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS Wave
  5. Armand Hammer – Paraffin
  6. B.E.N.N.Y. – Tana Talk 3
  7. Royce 5’9″ – The Book Of Ryan
  8. Awon & Phoniks – The Actual Proof
  9. Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story
  10. Evidence – Weather Or Not
  11. O.C. – A New Dawn
  12. August Greene – August Greene
  13. Phonte – No News Is Good News
  14. Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – Everything’s Fine
  15. Marlowe – Marlowe
  16. Avantdale Bowling Club – Avantdale Bowling Club
  17. Skyzoo – In Celebration Of Us
  18. Hermit & The Recluse: Orpheus vs. The Sirens
  19. CRIMEAPPLE & Big Ghost Ltd. – Aguardiente
  20. The Diceman – The Power Of Now
  21. Czarface & MF DOOM – Czarface Meets Metal Face
  22. Intellect – Out Of Left Field
  23. Chuck Strangers – Consumers Park
  24. Blueprint – Two-Headed Monster
  25. Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz – Mona Lisa
  26. Apathy – The Widow’s Son
  27. Elzhi & Khrysis are Jericho Jackson – Jericho Jackson
  28. Dr. Octagon – Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation
  29. Lee Reed – Before & Aftermath
  30. Jedi Mind Tricks The Bridge & The Abyss
  31. Denzel Curry – TA13OO
  32. Showbiz – A-Room Therapy
  33. Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
  34. Philmore Greene – Chicago: A Third World City
  35. Mick Jenkins – Pieces Of A Man
  36. Planet Asia – Mansa Musa
  37. Vinnie Paz – The Pain Collector
  38. PRhyme – PRhyme 2
  39. Roc Marciano – RR2: The Bitter Dose
  40. Kool G Rap & 38 Spesh – Son Of G Rap

* Excluded are mixtapes, EP’s (like Black Thought’s excellent Stream Of Thought EP’s), and releases billed as albums that are actually EP’s (like Nas’ Nasir, Pusha T’s Daytona, Vince Staples’ FM! and Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist’ Fetti).

Check here for the full list, including honorable mentions

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2019

best rap 2019

  1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
  2. Rapsody – Eve
  3. Apollo Brown – Sincerely, Detroit
  4. Little Brother – May The Lord Watch
  5. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Hiding Place
  6. Skyzoo & Pete Rock – Retropolitan
  7. Add-2 – Jim Crow: The Musical
  8. Gang Starr – One Of The Best Yet
  9. Bobby J From Rockaway – Summer Classics
  10. Epic Beard Men – This Was Supposed To Be Fun
  11. Little Simz – Grey Area
  12. Tone Spliff – Ardore Melodico
  13. Quelle Chris – Guns
  14. L’Orange & Jeremiah Jae – Complicate Your Life With Violence
  15. billy woods – Terror Management
  16. clipping. – There Existed An Addiction To Blood
  17. Griselda – WWCD
  18. Black Moon – Rise Of Da Moon
  19. Brother Ali – Secrets & Escapes
  20. Yugen Blakrok – Anima Mysterium
  21. Blu & Oh No – A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night
  22. Anti-Lilly & Phoniks – That’s The World
  23. Neak – Kwesbaar
  24. A.J. Munson – Cigarettes & Coffee
  25. Czarface & Ghostface Killah – Czarface Meets Ghostface Killah
  26. People Under The Stairs – Sincerely, The P
  27. NEMS – Gorilla Monsoon
  28. Uncommon Nasa – City As School
  29. Calig Kontra – Simian Automatic
  30. Danny Brown – uknowhatimsayin¿
  31. Diamond D – The Diam Piece 2
  32. Smif-N-Wessun – The All
  33. Common – Let Love
  34. The Good People – Good for Nuthin’
  35. Murs & 9th Wonder – The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over
  36. XP The Marxman & IceRocks – Nomads
  37. SOL Development – The SOL Of Black Folk
  38. Bronx Slang – Bronx Slang
  39. HARRIETT – Damani Nkosi & ill Camille are HARRIETT
  40. Learic & Es-K – Thought Instruments

Check The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2019 for the full list + honorable mentions + list with 2019’s best EP’s.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums 2020

The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2020

  1. Run The Jewels – RTJ4
  2. Aesop Rock – Spirit World Field Guide
  3. Marlowe – Marlowe 2
  4. Apollo Brown & Che Noir – As God Intended
  5. Ka – Descendants Of Cain
  6. Sa-Roc- The Sharecropper’s Daughter
  7. Blu & Exile – Miles
  8. Elzhi – Seven Times Down Eight Times Up
  9. Jorun Bombay & Phil Most Chill – Jorun PMC
  10. Moor Mother & billy woods – BRASS
  11. R.A. The Rugged Man – All My Heroes Are Dead
  12. Boldy James & Sterling Toles – Manger On McNichols
  13. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist – Alfredo
  14. Arrested Development – Don’t Fight Your Demons
  15. Armand Hammer – Shrines
  16. Killah Priest – Rocket To Nebula
  17. Roc Marciano – Mt. Marci
  18. Boldy James & The Alchemist – The Price Of Tea In China
  19. Killah Priest & Jordan River Banks – The Third Eye In Technicolor
  20. clipping. – Visions Of Bodies Being Burned
  21. Quelle Chris & Chris Keys – Innocent Country 2
  22. One Be Lo – BABY
  23. Third Root – Passion Of The Poets
  24. Conway The Machine – From King To A GOD
  25. Cambatta – LSD: Lunar Solar Duality
  26. Royce Da 5’9″ – The Allegory
  27. Jamo Gang – Walking With Lions
  28. KRS One – Between Da Protests
  29. Serengeti – With Greg From Deerhoof
  30. Homeboy Sandman – Don’t Feed The Monster
  31. Spillage Village – Spilligion
  32. ShrapKnel – ShrapKnel
  33. Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God
  34. Public Enemy – What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?
  35. Cut Beetlez – What Beetlez?
  36. Preservation – Eastern Medicine, Western Illness
  37. Recognize Ali – Recognition
  38. R.A.P. Ferreira – Purple Moonlight Pages
  39. Felt – Felt 4 U
  40. ANKHLEJOHN – The Face Of Jason

Check The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2020 for the full top 60 list + honorable mentions + list with 2020s best EP’s.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums Of 2021

The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2021

  1. Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
  2. Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Haram
  3. Ka – A Martyr’s Reward
  4. Boldy James & The Alchemist – Bo Jackson
  5. McKinley Dixon – For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her
  6. Skyzoo – All The Brilliant Things
  7. Lewis Parker – Frequency Of Perception
  8. JPEGMAFIA – LP!
  9. Mach-Hommy – Pray For Haiti
  10. Arrested Development – For The FKN Love
  11. Solemn Brigham – South Sinner Street
  12. Aesop Rock & Blockhead – Garbology
  13. Canibus – Kaiju
  14. Injury Reserve – By The Time I Get To Phoenix
  15. Guilty Simpson & Gensu Dean – EGO
  16. Evidence – Unlearning, Vol. 1
  17. Awon & Phoniks – Nothing Less
  18. Nas – King’s Disease II
  19. Wiki – Half God
  20. Tyler, The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
  21. Curse Ov Dialect – Dark Days Bright Nights
  22. Dave – We’re All Alone In This Together
  23. Killah Priest – Lord Sun Heavy Mental 1.1
  24. HRSMN – The Last Ride
  25. Magna Carda – To The Good People
  26. Curly Castro – Little Robert Hutton
  27. Propo’88 & Wildelux – Certified Craftsmen
  28. Necessary People – These Are The Necessary People
  29. DJ Muggs & Rome Streetz – Death & The Magician
  30. Hus Kingpin – Portishus
  31. Krum – Dart
  32. Jazz Spastiks – Camera Of Sound
  33. Ja’king The Divine – DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
  34. Killah Priest & S.H.R.O.O.M – The Mantra
  35. Atmosphere – WORD?
  36. Career Crooks – Never At Peace
  37. Beneficence & Confidence – Stellar Mind
  38. Moor Mother – Black Encyclopedia Of The Air
  39. Apathy – Where The River Meets The Sea
  40. Vinnie Paz – Burn Everything That Bears Your Name

Check The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2021 for the full top 60 list + honorable mentions + list with 2021’s best EPs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums Of 2022

  1. Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes
  2. billy woods – Aethiopes
  3. Marlowe – Marlowe 3
  4. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist – The Elephant Man’s Bones
  5. Nas – King’s Disease III
  6. Apollo Brown & Philmore Greene – Cost Of Living
  7. JID – The Forever Story
  8. Ka – Languish Arts / Woeful Studies
  9. billy woods – Church
  10. Little Simz – NO THANK YOU
  11. Benny The Butcher – Tana Talk 4
  12. Logic – Vinyl Days
  13. ShrapKnel – Metal Lung
  14. Avantdale Bowling Club – TREES
  15. Sadistik & Kno – Bring Me Back When The World Is Cured
  16. Nerves Baddington – Micro/Macro
  17. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
  18. Nord1kone & DJ MROK – Tower Of Babylon
  19. Open Mike Eagle – Component System With The Auto Reverse
  20. Conway The Machine – God Don’t Make Mistakes
  21. Napoleon Da Legend & Clypto – Maison De Medici
  22. ELUCID – I Told Bessie
  23. Ardamus – Psychedelic City Cowboy $h!t
  24. Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals – King Cobra
  25. AKAI SOLO – Spirit Roaming
  26. Dälek – Precipice
  27. Jesse The Tree – Pigeon Man
  28. Lupe Fiasco – Drill Music In Zion
  29. Ja’king The Divine – 手​术​: BLACK SUN TZU
  30. Bloodmoney Perez & Messiah Musik – Second Hand Accounts
  31. Awon & SOUL.DOPE.95- Infinite Wisdom
  32. Mopes – Unwound
  33. AJ Suede & Televangel – Metatron’s Cube
  34. Quelle Chris – DEATHFAME
  35. Rome Streetz – Kiss The Ring
  36. Boldy James & Real Bad Man – Killing Nothing
  37. Ab-Soul – Herbert
  38. KRS-One – I M A M C R U 1 2
  39. Black Star & Madlib – No Fear Of Time
  40. Ghais Guevara -There Will Be No Super-Slave

Check The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2022 for the full top 60 list + honorable mentions + list with 2022’s best EPs.

Top 40 Hip Hop Albums Of 2023

  1. Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
  2. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – SCARING THE HOES
  3. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
  4. Aesop Rock – Integrated Tech Solutions
  5. Blockhead – The Aux
  6. Apollo Brown & Planet Asia – Sardines
  7. Larry June & The Alchemist – The Great Escape
  8. Danny Brown – Quaranta
  9. Kool Keith & Real Bad Man – Serpent
  10. Beneficence & Jazz Spastiks – Summer Night Sessions
  11. Rome Streetz & Big Ghost Ltd – Wasn’t Built In A Day
  12. Oddisee – To What End
  13. El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game
  14. AJ Suede & Televangel – Parthian Shots
  15. Stik Figa & The Expert – Ritual
  16. CZARFACE – Czartificial Intelligence
  17. Fatboi Sharif & Steel Tipped Dove – Decay
  18. Skyzoo & The Other Guys – The Mind Of A Saint
  19. Elzhi & Oh No – Heavy Vibrato
  20. Neak – Die Wurzel
  21. JustVibez & Negro Justice – Art Of The Craft
  22. Four Elements & Beyond – Clock The Chemistry
  23. Recognize Ali – Back To Mecca II
  24. Navy Blue & Budgie – Ways Of Knowing
  25. SKECH185 & Jeff Markey – He Left Nothing For The Swim Back
  26. MIKE – Burning Desire
  27. Danger Mouse & Jemini – Born Again
  28. Nas – Magic 3
  29. Killer Mike – MICHAEL
  30. Chino XL & Stu Bangas – God’s Carpenter
  31. Day Tripper – What A Time To Be DEAD
  32. Madlib, Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs – Champagne For Breakfast
  33. Jay Royale – Criminal Discourse
  34. Boldy James & RichGains – Indiana Jones
  35. Talib Kweli & Madlib – Liberation 2
  36. Spectacular Diagnostics – RAW LESSONS
  37. ICECOLDBISHOP – GENERATIONAL CURSE
  38. Vinnie Paz – All Are Guests In The House Of God
  39. King Kashmere & Alecs Delarge – The Album To End All Alien Abductions
  40. Logic – College Park

Check The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2023 for the full top 60 list + honorable mentions + list with 2023’s best EPs.

Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2024

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27 responses to “The Best Hip Hop Albums Ever”

  1. Justin says:

    #8 from 88 should be strictly business. Cause I read these amazingly informative list too much! Trying to collect them all!

  2. Justin D says:

    The Brothers Under Madness are way overlooked in 95’. Buck 65’s Man Overboard from 2001 is a classic in my opinion. Way cool list! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at it and bought records because of it! Much love!

  3. Justin D says:

    Not everyone was an anticon fan but 1999 should of included their finest release Deep Puddle Dynamics for sure.

  4. Darren Kerry says:

    Love the lists and reminding me of some awesome albums.

    Be interested in seeing a list of the worst albums from each decade I remember owning some shocking stuff DerekB on top!!!!

  5. Daniel says:

    Great lists year for year, although some incredible albums are missing, Jam baxter – So We Ate Them Whole, Edward Scissortounge – BETTER.LUCK.NEXT.LIFE, Mr Key & Greenwood Sharps – Yesterday’s Futures, CashUs King – Lost In The Wilderness and the crazy underground rare project of last year from The Skull Eclipses, a shame so many peeps sleep on it. Peace.

  6. Alonzo says:

    Ill Bill and Stu Bangas album is definitely one of the best of 2019. The Opioid Era and Diabolic and Vanderslice as well.
    And Nems album

  7. KevG says:

    Scandalous not to include most of K-Rino’s post 2013 albums like The Blood Doctrine. Annihilation of the Evil Machine, etc. Fait Accomoli by Canibus should have got a mention too.

    Apart from that . Great lists btw 👍

  8. JERMAINE says:

    THIS IS SOME STRAIGHT HIPPITY HOPPITY BIAS BS. LMAO HOW THE HELL IN KRS ONE IN HERE EVERY YEAR FOR BEST ALBUM.. HILARIOUS AND HOW THERE IS NOT ONE TI OR LIL WAYNE ALBUM IN THERE.. OR JEEZY THUG MOTIVATION. COME ON NOW. YOUNG BUCK WELCOME TO CASHVILLE IN 94. WHERE IS DAVE EAST CARI CHANEL IN 16? I CAN GO ON AND ON.

  9. K Douglas says:

    First off great website. Love the lists and they seem well thought out.

    Second some corrections:
    1988 EPMD album title should read Strictly Business not Unfinished Business
    1992 Eric B & Rakim album title should read Don’t Sweat The Technique not Don’t Check The Technique.

  10. K Douglas says:

    Hmm, no love for Jazzmatazz Vol 1 by Guru? That easily makes my top 10 of ’93.

  11. Big Stacks says:

    Hey Hiphopgoldenage,

    I thank you for naming my album “Never Favored” to your 2018 top-60 albums list. I am honored by the mention and surprised that you were even aware of the album (I’d love know how you heard of it). As an indie artist, part of the challenge is getting my music heard. So, I truly appreciate you shedding some needed light upon my art.

    Peace,

    Big Stacks

  12. Big Stacks says:

    Thanks, Cis!!! I appreciate the compliment and support.

  13. Mini says:

    This is literally the most dogshit list I’ve ever seen. Thank god nobody looks at this website or the entire world would just have an aneurysm looking at this lit. This dude posting about hip hop is like an elementary schooler posting about quantum physics LMAO

  14. Extra says:

    i just wanted to see “Inner-city Griots” from the Freestyle Fellowship. An underrated, unappreciated classic album.

  15. Henry Marriott says:

    Fantastic article. I go back to this whenever I don’t know what to listen to, which in todays world of music streaming happens a lot, over satuation. Theres too much music out there its hard to keep track.

    I know you guys are more tradionalists when it comes to hip-hop, but I’d like to see more Death Grips here. Money Store got a mention, but not the others? Exmilitary (2011) and Bottomless Pit (2016) are fantastic, can see why others aren’t liked

  16. Oscar says:

    That’s a really great list of best hip hop albums of each year. It really helped to know where to start from.

    But I’m wondering if you’re gonna continue making “top 40 rap songs of (insert year)” cause you only made until 1996 and I would love to see more years too.

    Very good list nonetheless

  17. Ron says:

    I want to thank you for opening my ears to some great music I have never heard, And would not know about if I didn’t find this site! THANK YOU!

  18. Sam RZA says:

    InI: Center of Attention, and Deda: The Original Baby Pa. These are two of the greatest albums of all time.

  19. Wolf says:

    2 points
    Mic Geronimo’s The Natural is easily a top 5 album of 95
    Brizz Rawsteen’s Fish and Shrimp was one of the best albums of 2019

    Otherwise, an excellent list
    Big Up

  20. scooby says:

    Hey! Thanks for the super comprehensive list! I can’t wait to dig into the history of hip hop with this list. I have been listening to a new album every day with the 1001 albums generator (https://1001albumsgenerator.com/) for the last 1.5 years and there is a lack of hip hop representation. It’s got some good hits like Fugees, Cypress Hill, (kan)Ye.

    I was thinking about doing one for hip hop, would y’all be alright if I used this list? I’ve got almost no time on my hands and it’s just the start of an idea but looking through other lists online this seems to be the most comprehensive. Let me know! My email should be attached to this account.

  21. Night Grinder says:

    The excessive Run The Jewels love had me side-eye this list pretty hard….

  22. Jackson Gilmore says:

    @JERMAINE KRS-One is on those lists because he had better rapping on his albums than Wayne, Young Buck, and Jeezy.

  23. Hip Hop Is Salvation says:

    In first place, I wanna thank you for your hard work. So many thousands of albums (counting also honorable mentions)! You guys are continuing to do a masterful work with this site! Respect for the Hip Hop culture!
    Only one observation: you have to do more difference from Real hip hop albums, particularly about 90’s, to last 15/20 years rap albums, because the quality is really dropping down!

  24. Tim Lee says:

    Where the hell is az? This guy has gotta e the most slept on rapper of all time.

    Seemed the lists got worse the more recent they were.

  25. P says:

    Big time error overlooking mac dre – young black brotha !

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