The Best Hip-Hop Albums of the 2010s
Our pick of the essential hip-hop records released in the 2010s, ranked.
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1My Beautiful Dark Twisted FantasyKanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
A maximalist, operatic statement that reassembled Kanye's career after public disgrace, stacking lush production, A-list guests and raw confession. Ambitious to the point of excess and almost flawless. Frequently named the best album of its decade.
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2good kid, m.A.A.d cityKendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city
A self-described 'short film' about growing up in Compton, structured as a cohesive narrative with cinematic detail. Dense, melodic and replayable, it confirmed Kendrick as the leading rapper of his generation. A modern classic.
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3To Pimp a ButterflyKendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly
An ambitious fusion of hip-hop, jazz, funk and spoken word, wrestling with race, fame and self-worth. Challenging on first listen and richer with every return. Widely considered a landmark of the 2010s.
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4YeezusKanye West
Yeezus
A jarring, industrial-leaning art-rap statement of minimalist aggression. Bold and divisive. A creative swerve.
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5DAMN.Kendrick Lamar
DAMN.
A sharp, Pulitzer-winning blockbuster balancing introspection and hits. Bold and acclaimed. A modern landmark.
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6Take CareDrake
Take Care
A moody, introspective record that defined the blend of rap and R&B in the 2010s. Atmospheric and influential. Widely held to be his best.
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72014 Forest Hills DriveJ. Cole
2014 Forest Hills Drive
An introspective, samples-driven record that went platinum with no features, a word-of-mouth phenomenon. Earnest and acclaimed. His defining album.
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8Flower BoyTyler, the Creator
Flower Boy
A lush, melodic turn toward introspection and self-acceptance, beautifully produced. Warm and acclaimed. The album that elevated him.
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9IgorTyler, the Creator
Igor
A bold, genre-blurring break-up record of synths, soul and falsetto, far from his early shock-rap. Inventive and award-winning. His masterpiece.
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10AstroworldTravis Scott
Astroworld
A widescreen, psychedelic rap record of immersive production and big guests, anchored by 'Sicko Mode'. Atmospheric and huge. His defining album.
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114:44Jay-Z
4:44
A mature, confessional late peak of reflection and soul samples. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.
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12The Life of PabloKanye West
The Life of Pablo
A sprawling, gospel-tinged collage of a record. Messy and acclaimed. A divisive peak.
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13Section.80Kendrick Lamar
Section.80
A conceptual early peak of social commentary and craft. Sharp and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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14Run the Jewels 2Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels 2
A ferocious, politically charged peak of the El-P and Killer Mike partnership, hard-hitting and sharp. Urgent and acclaimed. Their best.
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15Atrocity ExhibitionDanny Brown
Atrocity Exhibition
A harrowing, experimental record of addiction and anxiety over abrasive, art-damaged beats. Singular and acclaimed. A bold high point.
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16Some Rap SongsEarl Sweatshirt
Some Rap Songs
A dense, lo-fi art-rap peak of fractured loops. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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17Summertime '06Vince Staples
Summertime '06
A stark, cinematic double-album debut. Sharp and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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18PinataFreddie Gibbs & Madlib
Pinata
A gritty, soulful collaboration of tough rhymes over Madlib's dusty loops. Cohesive and acclaimed. A modern boom-bap gem.
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19BandanaFreddie Gibbs & Madlib
Bandana
A dazzling sequel of intricate flows and beat-switching production. Sharp and acclaimed. A modern classic.
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20DaytonaPusha T
Daytona
A lean, seven-track peak of coke-rap craft and Kanye's beats. Tight and acclaimed. A modern high point.
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21DS2Future
DS2
A bleak, hypnotic trap peak of codeine-soaked atmosphere. Influential and beloved. A genre landmark.
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22CultureMigos
Culture
A blockbuster trap peak, home to 'Bad and Boujee'. Catchy and huge. A commercial landmark.
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23SwimmingMac Miller
Swimming
A warm, jazzy late record of growth and vulnerability. Soulful and poignant. A beloved turning point.
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24Because the InternetChildish Gambino
Because the Internet
An ambitious, conceptual rap record about identity and the online age. Inventive and dense. A turning point in his music.
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25Awaken, My Love!Childish Gambino
Awaken, My Love!
A bold pivot into psychedelic funk and soul, channelling Funkadelic on 'Redbone'. Adventurous and warm. A striking reinvention.
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26Acid RapChance the Rapper
Acid Rap
A joyful, gospel-tinged mixtape that announced a major new voice in independent rap. Warm and inventive. A modern classic.
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27Coloring BookChance the Rapper
Coloring Book
A bright, gospel-soaked record of gratitude and faith, a Grammy-winning streaming landmark. Joyful and assured. A defining 2010s release.
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28Long.Live.A$APA$AP Rocky
Long.Live.A$AP
A hazy, cloud-rap peak of style and texture. Polished and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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29Invasion of PrivacyCardi B
Invasion of Privacy
A sharp, hit-packed debut, home to 'Bodak Yellow'. Confident and huge. A breakthrough.
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30Watch the ThroneJay-Z & Kanye West
Watch the Throne
A lavish, maximalist team-up of two titans, home to 'Niggas in Paris'. Opulent and huge. A blockbuster collaboration.
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31We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your ServiceA Tribe Called Quest
We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service
A poignant, accomplished final album after Phife's death. Warm and acclaimed. A fitting farewell.
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32Nothing Was the SameDrake
Nothing Was the Same
A confident, cohesive peak of melodic rap and brooding production. Polished and assured. A fan favourite.
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33ViewsDrake
Views
A glossy, sprawling blockbuster of mood and hits, home to 'Hotline Bling'. Polished and huge. A commercial peak.
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34Born SinnerJ. Cole
Born Sinner
An introspective, soulful record of ambition and doubt. Earnest and assured. A fan favourite.
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35untitled unmastered.Kendrick Lamar
untitled unmastered.
A loose, jazzy collection of To Pimp a Butterfly offcuts. Sharp and acclaimed. A surprising gem.
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36WolfTyler, the Creator
Wolf
A more melodic, introspective step toward maturity. Bold and acclaimed. A turning point.
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37RodeoTravis Scott
Rodeo
A dark, psychedelic trap debut of immersive production. Atmospheric and beloved. A breakthrough.
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38Run the JewelsRun the Jewels
Run the Jewels
A hard-hitting debut of El-P and Killer Mike's chemistry. Sharp and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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39The Money StoreDeath Grips
The Money Store
A violent, exhilarating collision of punk, noise and rap that influenced a wave of experimental music. Abrasive and thrilling. A cult landmark.
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40FacesMac Miller
Faces
A sprawling, jazzy mixtape of dark introspection. Bold and beloved. A cult favourite.
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41DorisEarl Sweatshirt
Doris
A dense, lyrical debut of dark, intricate rhymes. Sharp and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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42XXXDanny Brown
XXX
A wild, abrasive breakthrough of hedonism and dread. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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43Big Fish TheoryVince Staples
Big Fish Theory
An experimental, electronic-leaning art-rap peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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44Pink FridayNicki Minaj
Pink Friday
A blockbuster debut of pop-rap range and personality. Polished and huge. A breakthrough.
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45R.A.P. MusicKiller Mike
R.A.P. Music
A furious, El-P-produced peak of political fire. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.
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46Care for MeSaba
Care for Me
A hushed, grief-soaked peak of intimate Chicago rap. Tender and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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47TelefoneNoname
Telefone
A warm, jazzy debut mixtape of gentle, literate rap. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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48Room 25Noname
Room 25
A sharp, soulful peak of witty, political rap. Smooth and acclaimed. A creative high.
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49Grey AreaLittle Simz
Grey Area
A sharp, soulful UK-rap breakthrough. Tough and acclaimed. A high point.
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50PsychodramaDave
Psychodrama
A cinematic, deeply personal UK rap debut framed as therapy sessions. Powerful and acclaimed. A landmark British record.
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51Gang Signs & PrayerStormzy
Gang Signs & Prayer
A landmark grime-and-gospel debut that topped the UK charts. Bold and heartfelt. A genre milestone.
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52KonnichiwaSkepta
Konnichiwa
A raw, confident grime peak that defined the genre's resurgence. Sharp and influential. An award-winning landmark.
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53Made in the ManorKano
Made in the Manor
A reflective, accomplished grime peak. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.
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54FM!Vince Staples
FM!
A lean, sun-baked concept peak framed as a radio broadcast. Sharp and acclaimed. A creative high.
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55Whack WorldTierra Whack
Whack World
A dazzling, fifteen-one-minute-songs art-rap debut. Inventive and acclaimed. A singular record.