From Illmatic to Madvillainy , To Pimp a Butterfly to Aquemini , Tha Carter II to De La Soul Is Dead , we look at the best hip hop albums of all time , year by year.
2010 was a monumental year for hip hop, and one that would influence the rest of the decade to come. With high profile releases from Drake and Nicki Minaj – two artists who would go on to dominate the 2010s – it was also a sign of things to come for the legendary Cash Money/Young Money run.
Meanwhile, Rick Ross would drop his best album to date with Telfon Don , as would Kanye West with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy , and The Roots would continue their incredible Def Jam run with How I Got Over . After years of delays and anticipation, OutKast member Big Boi would finally get the chance to release his solo debut Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty .
From Drake’s Thank Me Later to Waka Flocka Flame’s Flockaveli and Roc Marciano’s Marcberg , here are the top 25 best hip hop albums of 2010.
25. Drake – Thank Me Later
Released: June 15, 2010
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Singles: “Over”, “Find Your Love”, “Miss Me”, “Fancy”
Features: Alicia Keys, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, The-Dream, and Kanye West
24. Beanie Sigel & Freeway – The Roc Boys
Released: March 9, 2010
Label: Siccness.net, eOne
Singles: N/A
Features: Young Chris, Young Gunz, State Property, Jakk Frost, Wale and Tyeena
23. Pimp C – The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones
Released: October 5, 2010
Label: Rap-A-Lot 4 Life, Universal Motown
Singles: N/A
Features: Bun B, Da Underdawgz, BankRoll Jonez, Bub, Chamillionaire, Cory Mo, Drake, E-40, Hezeleo, Ivory P., Jazze Pha, J-Dawg, Lil’ Boosie, Rick Ross, Slim Thug, The Gator Mane, Too $hort, Webbie and Young Jeezy
22. Gucci Mane – The Appeal: Georgia’s Most Wanted
Released: September 28, 2010
Label: 1017 Brick Squad, Asylum, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Gucci Time”
Features: Pharrell, Nicki Minaj, Bun B, Swizz Beatz, Juicy J, Ray J, Wyclef, Estelle
21. Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday
Released: November 22, 2010
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Singles: “Your Love”, “Check It Out”, “Right Thru Me”, “Moment 4 Life”, “Super Bass”, “Did It On’em”, “Girls Fall Like Dominoes”, “Fly”
Features: Eminem, Rihanna, Drake, will.i.am, Kanye West and Natasha Bedingfield
20. Lil Wayne – I Am Not a Human Being
Released: September 27, 2010
Label: Young Money, Cash Money, Universal Motown
Singles: “I’m Single”, “Right Above It”
Features: Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, Tyga, Drake, T-Streets, Nicki Minaj, Lil Twist, Jay Sean
19. Rhymefest – El Che
Released: June 8, 2010
Label: dNBe Entertainment, EMI
Singles: N/A
Features: Little Brother, Darien Brockington, Phonte, Twone Gabz, Glenn Lewis, Saigon, Slique
18. Capone-N-Noreaga – The War Report 2: Report the War
Released: July 13, 2010
Label: Ice H2O, EMI Records
Singles: “Hood Pride”
Features: Imam T.H.U.G., Musaliny, The LOX, Raekwon, Faith Evans, Nas, Busta Rhymes
17. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Released: November 9, 2010
Label: Dream On, GOOD, Universal Motown
Singles: “Erase Me”, “Mr. Rager”
Features: CeeLo Green, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Cage, St. Vincent, GLC, Chip tha Ripper, and Nicole Wray
16. Redman – Reggie
Released: December 7, 2010
Label: Gilla House Records, Def Jam Recordings
Singles: “Def Jammable”, “Rocking With The Best”
Features: Method Man, Bun B, DJ Kool, Ready Roc, Runt Dawg, Saukrates, Faith Evans, Kool Moe Dee, Poo Bear
15. Ghostface Killah – Apollo Kids
Released: December 21, 2010
Label: Def Jam
Singles: “2getha Baby”
Features: Redman, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, The Game, Killah Priest, GZA, Cappadonna, Jim Jones, Sheek Louch, Sun God, Raekwon, U-God, Redman, Method Man
14. Black Milk – Album of the Year
Released: September 14, 2010
Label: Fat Beats
Singles: “Welcome (Gotta Go)”, “Deadly Medley”
Features: Royce da 5’9″, Elzhi, AB, Melanie Rutherford, Monica Blaire, Danny Brown, Mr. Porter
13. Skyzo o & Illmind – Live from the Tape Deck
Released: October 5, 2010
Label: Duck Down
Singles: “Frisbees”, “Speakers On Blast”
Features: Styles P, Buckshot, Trae, Rhymefest, Heltah Skeltah
12. Freeway & Jake One – The Stimulus Package
Released: February 16, 2010
Label: Rhymesayers
Singles: “She Makes Me Feel Alright”, “Know What I Mean”
Features: LaToiya Williams, Beanie Sigel, Raekwon, Young Chris, Birdman, Bun B, Mr. Porter
11. Rah Digga – Classic
Released: September 14, 2010
Label: Raw Koncept RED
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
10. Waka Flocka Flame – Flockaveli
Released: October 5, 2010
Label: 1017 Brick Squad, Asylum, Warner Bros.
Singles: “O Let’s Do It”, “Hard in da Paint”, “No Hands”, “Grove St. Party”
Features: French Montana, YG Hootie, Joe Moses, Suge Gotti, Baby Bomb, Slim Dunkin, Roscoe Dash, Wale, Gudda Gudda, Pastor Troy, Kebo Gotti, Uncle Murda
9. Roc Marciano – Marcberg
Released: May 4, 2010
Label: Fat Beats Records
Singles: N/A
Features: Sean Price
8. Eminem – Recovery
Released: June 18, 2010
Label: Shady, Aftermath, Interscope
Singles: “Not Afraid”, “Love the Way You Lie”, “No Love”, “Space Bound”
Features: Pink, Lil Wayne, Slaughterhouse and Rihanna
7. Currensy – Pilot Talk
Released: July 13, 2010
Label: DD172
Singles: “King Kong”, “Roasted”
Features: Trademark da Skydiver, Young Roddy, Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Snoop Dogg, Sir Michael Rocks, Jay Electronica, Mos Def, Devin the Dude, Stalley
6. Reflection Eternal – Revolutions per Minute
Released: May 18, 2010
Label: Blacksmith, Rawkus, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Back Again”, “Just Begun”, “In This World”, “Strangers (Paranoid)”, “Midnight Hour”
Features: Jay Electronica, J. Cole, Mos Def, Bun B, Res, Estelle, Chester French, Bilal
5. Nas & Damian Marley – Distant Relatives
Released: May 18, 2010
Label: Universal Republic, Def Jam
Singles: “As We Enter”, “Strong Will Continue”, “My Generation”
Features: K’naan, Stephen Marley, Dennis Brown, Junior Reid, Joss Stone and Lil Wayne
4. Rick Ross – Teflon Don
Released: July 20, 2010
Label: Maybach Music Group, Slip-n-Slide, Def Jam
Singles: “Super High”, “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)”, “Aston Martin Music”
Features: Drake, Chrisette Michele, Jay-Z, T.I., Jadakiss, Erykah Badu, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Diddy, Gucci Mane, Styles P
3. The Roots – How I Got Over
Released: June 22, 2010
Label: Def Jam
Singles: “How I Got Over”, “Dear God 2.0”, “The Fire”
Features: Amber Coffman, Angel Deradoorian, Haley Dekle, Truck North, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw, Monsters of Folk, Blu, Phonte, Joanna Newsom, John Legend, Peedi Peedi
2. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
Released: July 5, 2010
Label: Purple Ribbon, Def Jam South
Singles: “Shutterbugg”, “Follow Us”
Features: George Clinton, Too Short, Sam Chris, Sleepy Brown, JOi, Cute, T.I., Khujo Goodie, Yelawolf, Jamie Foxx, Janelle Monae, Gucci Mane
1. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Released: November 22, 2010
Label: Def Jam, Roc-A-Fella
Singles: “Power”, “Runaway”, “Monster”, “All of the Lights”
Features: Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Bon Iver, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Elton John, and Raekwon
