Hip hop has been dominating the music industry for the past, and 2022 proved to be yet another epic year for the culture . With releases from heavyweights like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Future, Pusha T, JID, Jeezy, the Dreamville gang, and plenty more, hip hop fans were spoilt for choice last year.
But the momentum isn’t slowing down in 2023, with plenty of anticipated releases already dropping from some of the biggest names in the game. Trippie Redd’s Mansion Musik , Yeat’s Afterlyfe , Don Toliver’s Love Sick , Lil Yachty’s Let’s Start Here , and YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s I Rest My Case have already made a significant impact on the charts.
As the year progresses, rap fans can look forward to more releases from artists like Black Thought, Chief Keef, Fly Anakin, Rae Sremmurd, Westside Gunn, A$AP Rocky, Cardi B, Lil Durk, J. Cole, Lil Wayne, and Pusha T. These names are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s safe to say that 2023 is shaping up to be another great year for hip hop!
YoungBoy Never Broke Again – I Rest My Case
Released: January 6, 2023
Label: Motown, Never Broke Again
First week album sales: 29,000
Billboard 200 position:
Singles: 9
Features: N/A
As his first project under Motown, I Rest My Case makes it clear that YoungBoy isn’t taking his foot off the accelerator. Following a series of promotional singles, including “Top Girls” and “Black”, the album made a splash on the charts, debuting at number nine on the US Billboard 200. In its first week, I Rest My Case earned a solid 29,000 album-equivalent units, including 1,000 copies in pure album sales, and accumulated over 39 million on-demand streams.
Lil Yachty – Let’s Start Here
Released: January 27, 2023
Label: Motown, Quality Control
First week album sales: 36,000
Billboard 200 position: 9
Singles: N/A
Features: N/A
Departing from his signature trap sound, Lil Yachty’s fifth studio album Let’s Start Here features heavy influences from psychedelic rock, showcasing a new side of the rapper’s musical capabilities. Despite the stark departure from his usual style, Let’s Start Here received positive reviews from music critics and made a strong debut on the charts. In its first week, the album earned an impressive 36,000 album-equivalent units, including 4,000 copies in pure album sales, securing Lil Yachty’s third US top-10 debut on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Don Toliver – Love Sick
Released: February 24, 2023
Label: Cactus Jack, Atlantic
First week album sales: 40,500
Billboard 200 position: 8
Singles: “Do It Right”, “4 Me”, “Leave the Club”, “Private Landing”
Features: James Blake, GloRilla, Kali Uchis, Lil Durk, TisaKorean, Justin Bieber, Future, Wizkid, Charlie Wilson, Brent Faiyaz, and Toro y Moi.
Don Toliver spared no expenses for his latest album, Love Sick , released via Cactus Jack and Atlantic Records. Featuring production from the likes of Boi-1da, James Blake, OZ, and Wheezy, among others, as well as A-lister line-up of guest appearances, including Lil Durk, Justin Bieber, Future, and Travis Scott, Love Sick was always going to be a hit.
Yeat – Afterlyfe
Released: February 24, 2023
Label: Geffen, Field Trip, Twizzy Rich
First week album sales: 55,000
Billboard 200 position: 4
Singles: N/A
Features: YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Released on February 24, 2023, via Geffen Records, Yeat’s Afterlyfe made a strong commercial impression. The album’s impressive first-week sales, with 55,000 units sold, and its debut at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, marks a major milestone for the rising star, securing his first top-five and third top-ten placement on the chart.
Trippie Redd – Mansion Musik
Released: January 20, 2023
Label: 10K Projects, 1400 Entertainment
First week album sales: 56,000
Billboard 200 position: 3
Singles: N/A
Features: Chief Keef, Future, Lil Baby, the late Juice Wrld, Travis Scott, Lil Durk, Nardo Wick, Big30, Lucki, Rich the Kid, Summrs, Fijimacintosh, Rylo Rodriguez, Ski Mask the Slump God, G Herbo, Rob49, DaBaby, Lil B, and Kodak Black.
Executive produced by Chief Keef, Mansion Musik serves as the follow-up to Redd’s previous album, Trip at Knight , and was released through 10K Projects and 1400 Entertainment. The album made a huge impact upon its release, debuting at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart and selling a very strong 56,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
