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.
The last year of the 2010s saw a lack of high profile releases, relative to what we had seen with earlier blockbuster years. That’s not to say it wasn’t an incredibly dope year for hip hop.
Firstly, we got to see Young Thug become a bonafide superstar with his first number one album So Much Fun . Ever Thugga entered the rap consciousness in 2013, he’s consistently been the most exciting and innovative artist in the game. But he still wasn’t on the same commercial level as his immense talent deserved to be on. That all changed with So Much Fun .
Meanwhile, Kanye fans felt let down (yet again) with his latest release – the rushed and incoherent Jesus Is King . But his protege Tyler, the Creator was there to provide the artistic and creative evolution we were so used to getting from Ye. Igor ended up becoming Tyler’s most acclaimed album to date, and cemented him as one of hip hop’s most talented and well-rounded artists.
We also saw the continued rise of Griselda, who by now, had broken fully into the mainstream with co-signs from Eminem and Jay-Z. Future was doing his thing, pumping out quality releases at an obscene rate – The Wizrd and Save Me rank very highly in the Atlanta rapper’s catalogue.
From Denzel Curry’s Zuu to Rapsody’s Eve and Freddie Gibbs & Madlib’s Bandana , here are the top 25 best hip hop albums of 2019.
25. Young Thug – So Much Fun
Released: August 16, 2019
Label: YSL, 300, Atlantic
Singles: “The London”, “Hot”
Features: Future, Machine Gun Kelly, Gunna, Lil Baby, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Duke, 21 Savage, Doe Boy, Lil Keed, Quavo, Juice Wrld, Nav, J. Cole, and Travis Scott
24. Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial
Released: December 6, 2019
Label: Atlantic, Bird Vision
Singles: “Big Stepper”, “Start wit Me”, “Tip Toe”, “The Box”, “High Fashion”
Features: Gunna, Lil Durk, Meek Mill, Mustard, Ty Dolla Sign, and A Boogie wit da Hoodie
23. DaBaby – Baby on Baby
Released: March 1, 2019
Label: Interscope, South Coast
Singles: “Suge”, “Baby Sitter”
Features: Offset, Rich Homie Quan, Rich the Kid and Stunna 4 Vegas
22. Jim Jones – El Capo
Released: May 31, 2019
Label: Vamp Life, Roc Nation, EMPIRE
Singles: N/A
Features: Marc Scibilia, Cam’ron, Trav, Ball Greezy, Benny the Butcher, Conway the Machine, Curren$y, Dave East, Drama, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Fred the Godson, Guordan Banks, Jadakiss, Juelz Santana, Maino, Philthy Rich, Rain910 and Rick Ross
21. 2 Chainz – Rap or Go to the League
Released: March 1, 2019
Label: Gamebread, T.R.U, Def Jam
Singles: “Girl’s Best Friend”, “Rule the World”
Features: Young Thug, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Ariana Grande, Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, Kodak Black
20. Westside Boogie – Everythings for Sale
Released: January 25, 2019
Label: Shady, Interscope
Singles: “Self Destruction”, “Silent Ride”
Features: 6lack, Christian Scott, Eminem, JID, and Snoh Aalegra
19. Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head
Released: December 13, 2019
Label: Merky, Atlantic Records UK
Singles: “Vossi Bop”, “Crown”, “Wiley Flow”, “Own It”, “Audacity”
Features: Aitch, Burna Boy, Ed Sheeran, Headie One, H.E.R., and Yebba
18. Little Brother – May the Lord Watch
Released: August 20, 2019
Label: Imagine Nation, For Members Only, Empire
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
17. Gang Starr – One of the Best Yet
Released: November 1, 2019
Label: To the Top, Gang Starr Enterprises, INgrooves
Singles: “Family & Loyalty”, “Bad Name”
Features: J. Cole, Royce da 5’9″, Talib Kweli, M.O.P., and Q-Tip
16. Skyzoo & Pete Rock – Retropolitan
Released: September 20, 2019
Label: Mello Music Group
Singles: “It’s All Good”
Features: Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, Styles P, Elzhi, Raheem DeVaughn and Pete Rock
15. Westside Gunn – Flygod is an Awesome God
Released: July 5, 2019
Label: Griselda Records
Singles: N/A
Features: Benny the Butcher, Conway The Machine, Hologram, Meyhem Lauren, Tiona Deniece, Sauce Walka
14. Skepta – Ignorance Is Bliss
Released: May 31, 2019
Label: Boy Better Know
Singles: “Pure Water”, “Bullet from a Gun”, “Greaze Mode”, “Love Me Not”
Features: Nafe Smallz, Key!, J Hus, Cheb Rabi, B Live, Lancey Foux, Lay-Z, Wizkid and Boy Better Know
13. Earl Sweatshirt – Feet of Clay
Released: November 1, 2019
Label: Tan Cressida, Warner
Singles: “East”, “Whole World”
Features: Mavi, Mach-Hommy, Navy Blue, Maxo
12. JPEGMafia – All My Heroes Are Cornballs
Released: September 13, 2019
Label: EQT Recordings
Singles: “Jesus Forgive Me, I Am a Thot”, “Beta Male Strategies”
Features: Abdu Ali, Helena Deland, Buzzy Lee, Refined Sugar, Vegyn and Young Emoji
11. Little Simz – Grey Area
Released: March 1, 2019
Label: Age 101, AWAL
Singles: “Offence”, “Boss”, “101 FM”, “Selfish”
Features: Cleo Sol, Chronixx, Little Dragon, Michael Kiwanuka
10. Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks
Released: July 19, 2019
Label: Big Persona, 88 Classic, RCA
Singles: “Meet Again”, “Still”, “She Live”
Features: Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Schoolboy Q, ASAP Ferg and KCG Josh
9. Future – The Wizrd
Released: January 18, 2019
Label: Freebandz, Epic
Singles: “Crushed Up”, “Jumpin on a Jet”, “First Off”
Features: Young Thug, Gunna, and Travis Scott
8. Dreamville – Revenge of the Dreamers III
Released: July 5, 2019
Label: Dreamville, Interscope
Singles: “Middle Child”, “Down Bad / Got Me”, “LamboTruck / Costa Rica”, “Bussit / Still Up”
Features: DaBaby, T.I, Young Nudy, Buddy, Reason, Maxo Kream, Ski Mask the Slump God, Mez, 6lack, Mereba, Vince Staples, Ty Dolla Sign, Dreezy, Smino, Saba, and Guapdad 4000
7. Dave – Psychodrama
Released: March 8, 2019
Label: Neighbourhood
Singles: “Black”, “Streatham”, “Location”, “Disaster”
Features: J Hus, Burna Boy and Ruelle
6. Future – Save Me
Released: June 7, 2019
Label: Freebandz, Epic
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
5. Danny Brown – U Know What I’m Sayin?
Released: October 4, 2019
Label: Warp
Singles: “Dirty Laundry”, “Best Life”, “3 Tearz”
Features: Run the Jewels, Obongjayar, JPEGMafia and Blood Orange
4. Tyler, the Creator – Igor
Released: May 17, 2019
Label: Columbia
Singles: “Earfquake”
Features: Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Solange, Kanye West, and Jerrod Carmichael
3. Denzel Curry – Zuu
Released: May 31, 2019
Label: PH, Loma Vista
Singles: “Ricky”, “Speedboat”
Features: Kiddo Marv, Rick Ross, Tay Keith, Ice Billion Berg, Sam Sneak, PlayThatBoiZay
2. Rapsody – Eve
Released: August 23, 2019
Label: Jamla, Roc Nation
Singles: N/A
Features: Leikeli47, GZA, D’Angelo, Mere, Elle Varner, Sir, JID, Queen Latifah, J. Cole, PJ Morton
1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
Released: June 28, 2019
Label: ESGN, Keep Cool, Madlib Invazion, RCA
Singles: “Flat Tummy Tea”, “Crime Pays”, “Giannis”
Features: Pusha T, Killer Mike, Anderson .Paak, Yasiin Bey, and Black Thought
