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.
2015 was an incredible year for hip hop with a number of game-changing releases. 2016 was equally eventful with lots of dope releases. But those years couldn’t top 2017, arguably the best year of the 2010s.
Whether it was Kendrick and 2 Chainz dropping their best albums to date, Future dropping two classics back to back, Drake releasing a “playlist” that has aged incredibly well, or Hov with 4:44, 2017 had something for everyone.
Tyler, the Creator continued to showcase his evolution with his most daring project to date, Flower Boy, Rapsody proved she was the best female rapper alive with Laila’s Wisdom and Joey Bada$$ dropped the highly-anticipated All-Amerikkkan Badass. Gucci Mane released his tightest album yet with the Metro Boomin-helmed Droptopwop and Young Thug dropped a goddamn country rap album.
From Vince Staples’s Big Fish Theory to Future’s Hndrxx and Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN., here are the top 25 best hip hop albums of 2017.
25. Logic – Everybody
Released: May 5, 2017
Label: Visionary, Def Jam
Singles: “Everybody”, “Black Spiderman”, “1-800-273-8255”
Features: Killer Mike, Damian Lemar Hudson, J. Cole, No I.D., and Neil deGrasse Tyson
24. Big Sean – I Decided
Released: February 3, 2017
Label: GOOD Music, Def Jam
Singles: “Bounce Back”, “Moves”, “Jump Out the Window”
Features: Jeremih, Eminem, Jhené Aiko, The-Dream, Migos, and Starrah
23. Roc Marciano – Rosebudd’s Revenge
Released: February 21, 2017
Label: Marci Enterprises
Singles: N/A
Features: Ka and Knowledge the Pirate
22. Gucci Mane – Droptopwop
Released: May 26, 2017
Label: GUWOP, RBC, Atlantic
Singles: N/A
Features: Offset, 2 Chainz, Young Dolph, and Rick Ross
21. Rick Ross – Rather You Than Me
Released: March 17, 2017
Label: MMG, Epic
Singles: “I Think She Like Me”, “Trap Trap Trap”
Features: Raphael Saadiq, Chris Rock, Young Thug, Wale, Future, Jeezy, Yo Gotti, Gucci Mane, Ty Dolla Sign, Nas, Meek Mill, Anthony Hamilton, Scrilla, and Dej Loaf
20. Cyhi the Prynce – No Dope on Sundays
Released: November 17, 2017
Label: Sony
Singles: “Movin’ Around”, “Dat Side”
Features: Kanye West, Pusha T, Schoolboy Q, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Jagged Edge, BJ the Chicago Kid, Estelle, and Ernestine Johnson
19. Future – Future
Released: February 17, 2017
Label: A1, Freebandz, Epic
Singles: “Draco”, “Mask Off”, “Extra Luv”
Features: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, YG
18. Oddisee – The Iceberg
Released: February 24, 2017
Label: Mello Music Group
Singles: N/A
Features: Toine, Olivier St. Louis
17. JID – The Never Story
Released: March 10, 2017
Label: Dreamville, Interscope, Spillage Village
Singles: “Never”, “D/vision”, “Hereditary”, “EdEddnEddy”
Features: EarthGang, Mereba, 6LACK
16. 21 Savage – Issa Album
Released: July 7, 2017
Label: Slaughter Gang, Epic
Singles: “Bank Account”
Features: Young Thug
15. Freddie Gibbs – You Only Live 2wice
Released: March 31, 2017
Label: ESGN, Empire
Singles: “Crushed Glass”
Features: N/A
14. 21 Savage, Offset & Metro Boomin – Without Warning
Released: October 31, 2017
Label: Slaughter Gang, Epic, Capitol, Motown, Quality Control, Boominati, Republic
Singles: “Ric Flair Drip”
Features: Travis Scott and Quavo
13. Drake – More Life
Released: March 18, 2017
Label: Republic, Cash Money, Young Money
Singles: “Fake Love”, “Passionfruit”, “Free Smoke”, “Portland”, “Glow”
Features: Kanye West, Young Thug, Giggs, Skepta, Quavo, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Jorja Smith, Sampha, and PartyNextDoor
12. 2 Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
Released: June 16, 2017
Label: Def Jam
Singles: “Good Drank”, “It’s a Vibe”, “4 AM”
Features: Gucci Mane, Quavo, Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Swae Lee, Drake, Ty Dolla Sign, Trey Songz, Jhené Aiko, Pharrell, and Monica
11. Young Thug – Beautiful Thugger Girls
Released: June 16, 2017
Label: 300, Atlantic
Singles: N/A
Features: Millie Go Lightly, Gunna, Future, Quavo, Snoop Dogg, Lil Durk, and Jacquees
10. Migos – Culture
Released: January 27, 2017
Label: Quality Control, YRN, 300
Singles: “Bad and Boujee”, “T-Shirt”, “Slippery”
Features: DJ Khaled, Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and Travis Scott
9. Big K.R.I.T. – 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time
Released: October 27, 2017
Label: Multi Alumni, BMG
Singles: “Confetti”, “Keep the Devil Off”, “Aux Cord”, “1999”
Features: T.I., Lloyd, Bun B, Pimp C, CeeLo Green, Sleepy Brown, Joi, Jill Scott, Keyon Harrold, Bilal, Robert Glasper, Kenneth Whalum and Burniss Earl Travis II
8. Lil Uzi Vert – Luv Is Rage 2
Released: August 25, 2017
Label: Generation Now, Atlantic
Singles: “XO Tour Llif3”, “The Way Life Goes”, “Sauce It Up”
Features: The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams
7. Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory
Released: June 23, 2017
Label: Blacksmith, Def Jam
Singles: “BagBak”, “Big Fish”, “Rain Come Down”
Features: Kilo Kish, Kendrick Lamar, Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, Damon Albarn, Ray J, ASAP Rocky and Kučka
6. Joey Bada$$ – All-Amerikkkan Badass
Released: April 7, 2017
Label: Pro Era, Cinematic
Singles: “Devastated”, “Land of the Free”, “Temptation”
Features: Schoolboy Q, J. Cole, Kirk Knight, Meechy Darko, Styles P, and Chronixx
5. Future – Hndrxx
Released: February 24, 2017
Label: A1, Freebandz, Epic
Singles: “Selfish”, “Pie”, “Incredible”, “You da Baddest”
Features: Rihanna, The Weeknd, Chris Brown, and Nicki Minaj
4. Tyler, the Creator – Flower Boy
Released: July 21, 2017
Label: Columbia
Singles: “Who Dat Boy” / “911”, “Boredom”, “I Ain’t Got Time!”, “See You Again”
Features: rank Ocean, ASAP Rocky, Anna of the North, Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Steve Lacy, Estelle, Jaden Smith and Rex Orange County
3. Rapsody – Laila’s Wisdom
Released: September 22, 2017
Label: Jamla, Roc Nation
Singles: N/A
Features: Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Busta Rhymes, Lance Skiiiwalker, Black Thought, BJ the Chicago Kid, and Musiq Soulchild
2. Jay-Z – 4:44
Released: June 30, 2017
Label: Roc Nation
Singles: “4:44”, “Bam”, “Family Feud”
Features: Frank Ocean, Damian Marley, Beyoncé and Gloria Carter
1. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
Released: April 14, 2017
Label: TDE, Aftermath, Interscope
Singles: “Humble”, “Loyalty”, “Love”
Features: Rihanna, Zacari, U2
