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. Skyzoo & 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
