What a year for hip-hop. This was a year filled with exceptional releases that far outweighed any release that was poor or underwhelming. We had seminal releases from the likes of Skyzoo, Nas, and Little Simz to albums that should've gotten way more notice such as Navy Blue, Evidence, and Rita J. Once again, Griselda pretty much dominated the year with tremendous release after tremendous release, and we saw the triumphant return after six years of TDE's Isaiah Rashad. Not to mention, producers such as Alchemist, Hit-Boy, and Muggs were quite prolific this year and delivered some of the year's best offerings. This was a fun year sonically and lyrically. Definitely among the best on recent record. With that being said, let's get into the thirty best albums of the year. Be forewarned: this will cause controversy as there are MANY albums that could've made this list. If your favorite isn't on the list, be sure to check for them on the Honorable Mentions section. Now that that's out the way, let the discussion begin!
30. Navy Blue
Navy's Reprise
Production: artist, Evidence, Stoney Ellis, others
Guests: Demajhiae
Fresh from Cali comes Navy Blue, an emcee that's been making more and more noise over the past few years, especially with his collaborations with Earl Sweatshirt. With his steadily growing fan following, he dropped out of the...ahem...blue, Navy's Reprise, the follow up to 2020's Song Of Sage: Post Panic! This album definitely picks up where Song Of Sage left off, only with more eclectic yet soulful sounds on this release. Standouts such as "Peach Cobbler", "Shine" and especially the rather dope "Ritual" all exemplify Navy's penmanship and his ability to draw you into his world of introspection and endurance with great results.
29. Rita J
The High Priestess
Production: Neak, Rashid Hadee
Guests: Neak, Rashis Hadee, Slot-A, Cher Jay, others
Chicago emcee, Rita J is no rookie to this rap thing. She has put out efforts before with her last one being 2020's Black Koala with Raashan Ahmad and it was met with lots of critical acclaim. Now in 2021, she returned with her solo effort, The High Priestess, an album filled with celebrated highs and depressing lows, and we as the listener are with her through every stage of it all. Taking time off between her multiple efforts to put her all into every project, this album gets intensely personal at times, but we also pay attention to her healing process as well. Cuts like the important "Real Men Cry Too", "Mad As Hell", and "Reality" are all cuts that we see her inner most thoughts and feelings and this is definitely a project that needs to peeped a lot more.
28. Evidence
The Unlearning Vol. 1
Production: artist, The Alchemist, Nottz, Khrysis, Sebb, Daringer, Mr. Green, Animoss, others
Guests: Boldy James, Conway The Machine, Navy Blue, others
Longtime west coast emcee/producer Evidence has been a fixture in the west coast underground since the early start of the century with his Dilated Peoples groupmates. From his debut album, the simply excellent Weatherman LP, we knew Evidence had the talent and lyrical ability to hang and bang with anyone within the west coast upper echelon to go beyond the underground. Albums later such as Cats & Dogs and Weather Or Not continued to show his ability to put out very dope material enough to keep him in the talk of best artist from Cali. In 2021, his offering is The Unlearning Vol. 1, which in terms of theme-wise, is showing his honesty and sincerity much like his aforementioned efforts. Among the standouts are the Alchemist-blessed "Better You", "All Of That Said", and "Talking To The Audience", all of which show how true to this game Evidence, but even more so, how true to himself he is. Evidence has delivered another great addition to his already impressive discography with The Unlearning Vol. 1 and one can only hope he continues this roll he's on.
27. Magna Carta
To The Good People
Production: Dougie Do
Guests: Cara Bishop, Juju Bae, others
Austin, TX duo Meggz Kelli and DJ/producer Dougie Do combine to be Magna Carda, a neo-soul-esque hip-hop duo that just makes feel good, yet honest, hip-hop. Their latest album, To The Good People, is almost a throwback of sorts to excellent live instrumentation-old-school spirited hip-hop albums like Do You Want More?!?!?!, Like Water For Chocolate, or Black On Both Sides. Kelli is no slouch on the mic whatsoever and her lyrical abilities are impressive on this effort, and along with Dougie Do's nice arrangements sonically, show the chemistry these two possess to pull off quite the intriguing album. For longtime local fans of theirs, this is a step up from releases of theirs such as Coffee Table Talk and its sequel. For those of us just now getting their ears glued to these two, this album is quite the introduction.
26. Dark Lo & Havoc
Extreme Measures
Production: Havoc
Guests: Styles P, Vado
Dark Lo is an emcee from the mean streets of Philly. The same Philly that houses legends such as Beanie Sigel, Black Thought, Will Smith (do NOT front like Fresh Prince still can't work), Bahamadia, and Eve. His brand of grit and grime has been felt in Philly's underground for some time but now he's gotten up with the legendary Havoc of Mobb Deep to deliver Extreme Measures. After the last few years of obscurity, in part due to the death of his longtime rhyme partner Prodigy, Hav reemerged from the shadows first on Conway's cut "Juvenile Hell" from From King To A God. Since then, he's doing here and there stuff, including with protege, Nyce for his EP. However, Dark Lo over some of Hav's signature dark, atmospheric boon-bap makes for a hand in glove pairing. Giving old Mobb images, Lo and Havoc presented quite the banger for an album and I'm sure we will hear more from these two together one way or another.
25. Mach-Hommy
Balens Cho
Production: Conductor Williams, Nicholas Craven, Messiah Muzik, others
What a year for Mach-Hommy. Aside from reuniting with Westside Gunn and Griselda earlier this year, and dropping quite the stellar effort in Pray For Haiti, he also delivered his own independent effort near year's end with Balens Cho, which is Kreyol for 'Hot Candles'. With longtime associate, Nicholas Craven, doing the majority of the boards, this album feels and sounds like the appropriate follow-up to Pray For Haiti. The sounds provided by Craven, Messiah Muzik, and especially by Conductor Williams on the eargasmic self care cut, "Self Luh" makes this album sound like PFH2 almost. Hommy goes different routes, in terms of subject matter. As was jus mentioned, he goes the route of explaining the dangers of taking care of yourself on "Self Luh", while also exploring the space programs from Africa on "Magnum Bands Remix" and the struggles his father had to endure to make money on "Wooden Nickels". Whether concentrating on self care, history, mythology, or just being introspective, Hommy is that ever intriguing emcee that people can't enough of. Even Hov has him on his radar.
24. Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg Presents Algorithm
Production: Nottz, Battlecat, Rick Rock, Hi-Tek, Soopafly, others
Guests: Benny The Butcher, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Usher, Method Man, Redman, Eric Bellinger, Mount Westmore, Mary J. Blige, Larry June, Ty Dolla $ign, Fabolous, Dave East, others
Ever the renaissance man, the legendary Snoop D-O-double G returns once again. It was announced earlier this year that he had accepted a position within the iconic Def Jam Records family as an executive. With that, one of the first orders of business was to bring forth a compilation album that contained his vision of artists entitled Algorithm. One of his first signed artists was none other than Griselda pillar, Benny The Butcher (be on the lookout in 2022 for his highly anticipated Tana Talk 4 under BSF/Griselda/Def Jam Records), who shows up on the thumping collab with Jadakiss and Busta Rhymes on "Murder Music". However, this is one compilation that has a variety of sounds and genres. Funk, soul, R&B, and hip-hop all get greatly represented on this album, and with excellent production contributions from the likes of Rick Rock, Soopafly, Nottz, and Battlecat among others, this is one of the better Snoop, or Snoop-associated, albums we've heard in a while. Although his previous 2021 effort, From The Streets To The Suites was fun enough to enjoy, the assembly of artists on Algorithm make this a good gumbo that thoroughly digest all the great nutrition this album has to offer
23. Benny The Butcher
The Plugs I Met 2
Production: Harry Fraud
Guests: Fat Joe, French Montana, Jim Jones, others
After dropping one of the finest offerings of 2020 with his collaborative album with Hit-Boy, Burden Of Proof, he came in 2021 with his offering with hitmaker Harry Fraud on The Plugs I Met 2, the sequel to his 2019 monster EP, The Plugs I Met. Giving off what appears to be almost like an old gangster-movie feel on wax, Benny delivered the goods on this piece that is not quite as radio production friendly as Burden Of Proof was (no disrespect intended to Hit-Boy, as that album went hard in the paint production-wise). Fraud, who also delivered quite the dope albums with Dave East and Curren$y in 2021, handed Benny a soundtrack that was very easy for his persona to lace over, and he did just that. Considered the star of the Griselda crew, this cat is quickly becoming among the single most elite emcees in hip-hop, and if TT4 is as hard as we think it will be, best in the game will be his next accolade.
22. Planet Asia & Evidence
Rule Of Thirds
Production: Evidence
Guests: Evidence, Rome Stereetz, Domo Genesis
Longtime west coast underground heavyweight Planet Asia has quite the prolific catalogue under him. Albums such as Black Belt Theater, Mansa Musa, Anchovies with Apollo Brown, Jewelry Box Sessions, and many, many other releases have all demonstrated his penchant for being a dumb dope emcee and one that should be considered an elder statesman in the game. In 2021, he reunited with Evidence to deliver Rule Of Thirds. They collaborated before on one of PA's best moments, The Medicine, but this album may just eclipse that effort, as dope as that was. Ev has definitely evolved musically and PA has evolved with his pen as well, and it shows all over this hot as fish grease album. Standouts like "Live From The Kremlin", "Take It Lightly" and the first single "1984" all demonstrate their chemistry as PA eats over those tremendous Evidence sounds and the results put this album among the top of his most recent efforts
21. Apollo Brown & Stalley
Blacklight
Production: Apollo Brown
Guests: Skyzoo, Joell Ortiz
It wouldn't be 2021 without an Apollo Brown offering, and this year he assisted Ohio-native and former Maybach Music emcee, Stalley. Apollo has this way with his production of bringing some of the best out of an emcee and handing them some of their best work. Artists he's collaborate with for whole projects such as Joell Ortiz, Locksmith, Guilty Simpson, Hasaan Mackey, Che Noir, and especially Skyzoo have all greatly benefited from his assistance. In the case of Stalley, he's another notch on an extensive belt. With their debut collaborative project, Blacklight, Stalley delivers quite possibly the best music of his career, and a confidence we've wanted to hear from him since his release from Rick Ross' house. Honest and personal, Stalley brings us into his world with guts and not much to lose. With Blacklight, we definitely applaud him for doing so and for Detroit's monstrous producer to assist in the sonic handywork to allow him to spit his heart out over some of the most soulful sounds you'll hear all year.
20. Lloyd Banks
The Course Of The Inevitable
Production: Cartune Beatz, Mr. Authentic, Illatrackz, The Olympickz others
Guests: Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Benny The Butcher, Ransom, Vado, Sy Ari Da Kid, Styles P
Once seen as "The Boy Wonder" of G-Unit, Queens rhyme animal, Lloyd Banks reemerged on the scene like new strands of COVID with his first full-length album since 2010 when he dropped The Hunger For More 2 while still a part of G-Unit. Folks, eleven whole years! That's not to say he's been quiet or anything as he's been dropping several mixtapes such as his All Or Nothing series and his Halloween Havoc series. This year, he dropped The Course Of The Inevitable, and one would think he would pull out the production stops and get contributions from the likes of Alchemist, Preemo, Statik Selektah, Daringer, and who knows who else. Nope. Instead production work was done by relatively unknown beatmakers such as The Olympickz, Cartune Beatz, Illatrackz, and Mr. Authentic. For what it's worth, they handled theirs on the production tip. Lyrically, the "punchline king" sounds as hungry as ever before, with a definite chip on his shoulder. He brings his A-game on cuts like on the Benny-assisted "Formaldehyde", "Pain Pressure Paranoia", and "Death By Design", and guests like the aforementioned Benny The Butcher, Styles, and Freddie Gibbs help him on this journey. This is easily as great as his debut album, The Hunger For More, and shows he's just as potent without G-Unit as he was with them.
19. Ransom & Rome Streetz
Coup de Grace
Production: V-DON, Nicholas Craven, Animoss, others, others
Two guys that have had quite the discography this year have been Jersey's Ransom and Brooklyn's Rome Streetz. Ransom has put out a few efforts this year such as his excellent Se7en EP and his collab with enigmatic producer Big Ghost LTD, Heavy Is The Head, and his collab with Nicholas Craven, Crime Scenes along with guesting on albums from the likes of Lloyd Banks, 38 Spesh, and several others. Streetz, on the other hand, got picked up by Griselda, but along the way, he delivered his tremendous collab with DJ Muggs, Death & The Magician, his album with fellow underground heavyweight, AHNKLEJOHN, Genesis 1:20, and up-and-coming producer Futurewave, Razor's Edge. It was only right for these two dope emcees to get together, and boy ndid they ever. Their debut collab effort, Coup de Grace, is as hard as nails as you would imagine it to be. While getting gritty and ugly with cuts like "Rooftop Sermons" and "Silent Murderers" to vivid storytelling cuts like the cinematic "Claudine" with Che Noir, this album is a knockout and definitely reflects both emcees styles of murda music. Here's hoping for more from these two together sooner than later.
18. J. Cole
The Off-Season
Production: artist, Timbaland, Boi-1nda, T-Minus, Frank Dukes, Tae Beast, Jake One, others
Guests: Lil Baby, 6LACK, Bas, 21 Savage, Morray
Fayetteville Grammy Award winner Jermaine Cole is looked upon as one of the most influential emcees of his generation and for great reason. Since his debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, Cole has been among the forefront of emcees looking to raise the bar for the game, along with putting Fayette-nam on the map. Every single album of his has gone platinum plus and he continues to deepen his legacy with his latest offering, The Off-Season. J. Cole has swam in the waters of conscious rap mixed with backpack rap in the past, especially with 4 Your Eyez Only. However, he went the trap route for the highly conceptual, K.O.D. With The Off-Season, the chip on his shoulder has reappeared and he's rhyming with a velocity to remind people of his presence in the rap game. This is evident on the first cut, "Amari". This is also apparent in the backhand slap, "Applying Pressure", where he kindly reminds up literally of his impact in the game and addresses his haters quite passionately. While we can appreciate conscious Cole, we occasionally need shit-talking Cole, and throughout this album and along with great production choices, The Off-Season ranks among his best achievements to date.
17. Your Old Droog
TIME
Production: Budgie, Edan, Quelle Chris, 88-Keyz, others
Guests: MF DOOM, Aesop Rock, Blu, Elzhi, Mick Jenkins, Wiki
Brooklyn's Your Old Droog has racked up quite the prolific discography of his own. Since his dope debut in 2014, he has developed a steady fan base and he ends up dropping a project that gets regularly bumped. This one-time vocal comparison to Nas has shown he's a certifiable emcee in his own right. Just in 2021, he has dropped four projects and all have been hot. Perhaps the best of all of his efforts this year has been TIME, an album that partially explores days of his youth as well as his time coming up in hip-hop, but it also turns out some of these cuts are four or five years old. The subject of 'time' is varied here. From the musically captivating "The Magic Watch" that is a time travel-esque cut depicting him in three different events in his life to "Please Listen To My Jew Tape" that explores his not-so-easy journey into just getting respect in hip-hop, much less trying to make it in general, this album shows how precious 'time' is. Lyrically, YOD is as on point as he's ever been. He displays his penmanship in excellent detail over every track on this effort. With TIME, YOD drops another entire slapper on us, and it's only further blessed by having an appearance by the late, great MF DOOM phones in to co-sing the talents of this young emcee.
16. Mumu Fresh
Vintage Babies II: Queen Of Culture
Production: artist, DJ Dummy
The Baltimore-born, Philly-bred wonder woman known as Mumu Fresh dropped one of the most Blackity-Black efforts one could ask for earlier this year with Vintage Babies II: Queen Of Culture. This album is filled with soul mixed with social and political commentary that, although at times, is uncomfortable, is delivered from a place of tough love and wanting to see us better and higher. Resembling a Mother Earth figure of sorts, Mumu's transcendent wisdom is splattered all over this album. Not to mention her incredible talent of her pen game, her lyricism, and her singing vocals. The Grammy-nominated artist has delivered an album very much needed in today's society for us Black people. Very comparative to the likes of Georgia Anne Maldrow's A Thoughtiverse Unmarred or even Lauryn Hill's timeless Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, Vintage Babies II is healthy and nourishing food for the soul.
15. Khrysis
The Hour Of Khrysis
Production: artist
Guests: Mumu Fresh, Evidence, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, Away Team, Problem, Sa-Roc, Rapsody, others
Among the most acclaimed, yet underrated producers out there is Durham, NC-bred, 9th Wonder protege, Khrysis. Responsible for work with the likes of Masta Ace, Little Brother, Elzhi, Rapsody, Sean Price, Heltah Skeltah, Jean Grae, and Conway The Machine, Khrysis finally delivered his own full-length effort, The Hour Of Khrysis, to get his own spotlight on him. We are very familiar with his beyond dope boardwork, but it's not often we get in tuned with mic abilities, but he shows he's not afraid to go for his as well, and has been off and on for years. Joining on this voyage are the likes of Mumu Fresh, Pharoahe Monch, Evidence, Rapsody, Sa-Roc, and undisputed legends such as Busta Rhymes and De La Soul and all glide nicely over Khrysis' thumping production. There's even an Away Team reunion with partner in crime, Sean Boog on the standout "The Return". Sonically, this is defintely among the most boom-bap worthy albums you'll hear this year, and with these acts and more assisting him in establishing his legacy, Khrysis has been patient for too long, now the title of best overall producer within the past fifteen years must one way or another include him somewhere in the conversation.
14. Boldy James & The Alchemist
Super Techmo Bo
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: ICECOLDBISHOP
Yet another great year for Detroit's own Boldy James. In 2020, he dropped his prized album album with The Alchemist, The Price Of Tea In China, but also his acclaimed efforts, Manger On McNichols, Real Bad Boldy, and The Versace Tape were met with tremendous praise as well. In 2021, he dropped two excellent projects, both of which came once again with The Alchemist. The first one was BO JACKSON, which was outstanding in itself (see later), but then they hit us once again near the end of the year with Super Techmo Bo, an equally crazy EP that sounds like an extended version of BO JACKSON. The sinister yet golden sounds of "Uncle Al" once again highly compliments the monotone, yet deliberate, style of Boldy. Gritty and street as always, Boldy and Al deliver another killer effort and based just upon how 2021 was for them together, 2022 could just as crazy and maybe even more so.
13. DJ Muggs & Flee Lord
Ramellzee
Production: DJ Muggs
Guests: Ghostface Killah, Roc Marciano, Crimeapple, Meyhem Lauren, others
Over the past four or so years, Far Rckaway, Queens native Flee Lord has been putting out heat after heat. The former Prodigy student is known for grimy delivery and his Lord Mobb crew. Getting co-signs from the likes of Griselda, Roc Marciano, 38 Spesh and others, he has delivered efforts alongside the likes of the aforementioned 38 Spesh, Pete Rock, Eto, and last year's excellent effort with Havoc, In The Name Of Prodigy. This year, he gets assistance from legendary producer DJ Muggs for Ramellzee. It can be argued that this may be the most complete Flee effort to date. The instrumentals Muggs provides for him one hundred percent match the grimy style of Flee, in all its atmospheric and dark melodies. Cuts like "Eatin' Never Stressin'", "Driver's Seat", and "45 In My Pocket" are as great and fitting for the album as you can want from Flee. This is yet another benchmark in the already hall of fame worthy career of Muggs and another example of why Flee was Prodigy's protege.
12. Westside Gunn
Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf- Side A
Production: Camouflage Monk, Denny LeFlare, Conductor Williams
Guests: Stove God Cook$, Mach-Hommy, Jadakiss, Lil Wayne, Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, others
This was yet another Griselda year. The Griselda crew started off with the dope Conflicted soundtrack at the beginning of the year, along with Conway's La Maquina and Benny's aforementioned Plugs I Met 2. After long last, head honcho Westside Gunn dropped his greatly anticipated, Hitler Wears Hermes 8 effort. Built as the final installment of his Hitler Wears Hermes series, he wanted to go all out, making it a double release. The first release, billed as Side A, is quite the knockout all on its own. With soundscapes from Camouflage Monk, Conductor Williams, and Denny LeFlare (whom he refers to as The Heartbreakers), Gunn brings his usual high-pitched, grimy lyrical style with him and provides the grittiness we've come to fully expect from him. Although the majority of this album is very feature heavy, especially from upstart Stove God Cook$ being on numerous cuts, this is definitely a WSG effort. If you were highly impressed with Side A, stay tuned...
11. Little Simz
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
Production: Miles James, Inflo, Jakwob
Guests: Cleo Sol
British rapper, Little Simz, has been quite the critical darling over the last few years with highly acclaimed albums such as Stillness In Wonderland and especially her exceptional Grey Area album of 2019. She delivered perhaps her best achievement thus far in Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, an even more honest and personal look into the world of Little Simz, and her vulnerabilities. Musically, this is a step up for her even more so then Grey Area. Showing her ability to be personal, yet showing her ability to also overcome her odds, both personally and professionally over mostly highly layered and cinematic-style live instrumentation, Simz hits on every single cylinder. A career best for her, Simz is another step closer to being a star not just in the UK, but across the pond here in America as well.
10. Boldy James & The Alchemist
BO JACKSON
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: Curren$y, Earl Sweatshirt, Roc Marciano, Benny The Butcher, Freddie Gibbs, Stove God Cook$
Earlier we reviewed and gave props to the second collaboration of 2021 between Boldy James and The Alchemist for their blistering EP, Super Techmo Bo. The project, however, somewhat serves as an extension of their previous 2021 project, the stunning BO JACKSON. Capitalizing off their...ahem...chemistry from previous efforts like My 1st Chemistry Set, BOLDFACE, and The Price Of Tea In China, BO JACKSON may be even a little more gritty than the aforementioned efforts. Boldy's highly street-laced narratives over Alchemist's unbelievable boardwork makes these two one of the best emcee/producer marriages in hip-hop currently going.
9. Tyler The Creator
Call Me If You Get Lost
Production: artist, Jay Versace, Jamie XX
Guests: Lil Wayne, Pharrell, Lil Uzi Vert, Jay Versace, 42 Dugg, Youngboy NBA, others
Grammy Award winner, Tyler The Creator is an interesting artist. The former Odd Future lead guy has become quite the intriguing emcee whom we have seen grow from deliberate shock emcee to artistic juggernaut. His Grammy nominated, Flower Boy, was one of hip-hop's most fascinating albums of 2017, stripping down his public shock and awe-type persona and displaying an introspective vulnerability that we hadn't seen before and was refreshingly welcomed. The 2019 follow-up, IGOR, won a Grammy for Best Rap Album and many feel rightfully so. The album was a risk-taking conceptual album that continued his need to get deeper into his personal side through synths, elements of funk to go alongside the R&B/Neo-Soul vibes from Flower Boy, and him singing virtually throughout the entire project. In 2021, he delivered what many consider to be his absolute best hip-hop centered effort with Call Me If You Get Lost. This is almost like a good gumbo of Flower Boy, IGOR, previous stuff like GOBLIN and Cherry Bomb, and some whole new elements that put Tyler under a microscope again to be an outside the box artist. Balancing between vulnerability, romance, shit-talking, and braggadocio, Tyler knocks it out the park with yet another highly ambitious release and solidifies Tyler as among the best artists, regardless of genre, of his generation. Bar none.
8. Isaiah Rashad
The House Is Burning
Production: Hollywood Cole, Kar Bannx, Kenny Beats, Beat Butcha, others
Guests: Jay Worthy, Lil Uzi Vert, Duke Deuce, SZA, 6LACK, Smino, others
One of the most exciting moments of 2021 was the return to the game of TDE's southern representative, Isaiah Rashad. After a six year hiatus due to personal issues such as addiction, Zay did enough teasing with new music and finally dropped his LONG awaited follow-up to his dynamite full-length debut The Sun's Tirade, The House Is Burning. This album finds Zay fresh and renewed with a vigor we truthfully hadn't really heard before. When the first single, "Lay Wit Ya", dropped, we knew this was a fired up Zay, and we were very glad of it. As the album proceeds, he gets personal, honest, and overall in a newfound space in his life. Musically this album is more lush and diverse than the overall dark and dense nature of Sun's Tirade or even his debut effort for TDE, Cilvia Demo. Rashad is walking in the potential we saw him in with Cilvia and Tirade, and with albums like this, more greatness is in store for him.
7. Nas
Magic
Production: Hit-Boy
Guests: A$AP Rocky, DJ Premier
What a past few years for Nasir Olu Bin Dara Jones. The "God's Son" emcee has delivered some of his most fantastic music we've heard from him in years thanks to his newfound musical relationship with highly talented west coast producer, Hit-Boy. In 2020, they dropped King's Disease, which was met with a lot of critical acclaim and was considered one of Nas' best recent efforts. It even gave him his first ever Grammy win for Best Rap Album. He followed that up with the EXCELLENT King's Disease 2 and one would wonder, "How the hell do you follow that up?" The answer came out of the blue in the form of a Christmas present called Magic. This EP knocks in the same fashion their prior collaborations do. Although a tad more stripped down and more raw-sounding than KD2 and the original, Magic is another tremendous exhibition of one of the greatest emcees of all-time over production that fits him hand-in-glove. While KD2 is easily an easy candidate for Album Of The Year, Magic simply continued where KD2 left off, and while we look forward to KD3, this is a damn solid teaser to it.
6. Curren$y & Harry Fraud
Regatta
Production: Harry Fraud
Guests: Jay Worthy, 2 Chainz, Styles P
New Orleans rapper Curren$y is quite the prolific and busy emcee. Known for his multiple projects per year, Spitta has been among the most underappreciated emcees around. In mid 2021, he promised several different collaborative albums with distinctive producers. One of them being one of the year's most in-demand producers, Harry Fraud, Regatta. Already known for his work throughout the year with the likes of Benny The Butcher and Dave East, Fraud presented Curren$y with some of his best cooked-up beats of the year. Curren$y also serves up great lyrical treats with this EP. Guests such as Styles P, 2 Chainz and Jay Worthy assist the former Cash Money artist along this mission. With other efforts with Ski Beatz and The Alchemist forthcoming, this was a great chapter in the already dope discography of Spitta. Easily one of his best efforts.
5. Mach-Hommy
Pray For Haiti
Production: Conductor Williams, Camouflage, Tha God Fahim, Nicholas Craven, Denny LeFlare, Green Lantern, Sahdu Gold, others
Guests: Westside Gunn, Tha God Fahim, Keisha Plum
Haitian-born, New York-bred emcee Mach-Hommy is one of hip-hop's most mysterious emcees. With a mask over his face way before it became the unfortunate norm to do in our society today, he also isn't a huge fan of interviews as well. Known in the underground for his classic, H.B.O. under the Griselda flag, he's another artist that has an enormous discography filled with mixtapes and EPs. Early in the year, the streets were buzzing about the issues being squashed between Mach Hommy, Tha God Fahim, and Westside Gunn. Very quickly we were anticipating music between them, and wishes were quickly filled and realized with news of Hommy delivering his first album under Griselda since the aforementioned H.B.O., Pray For Haiti. Simply put, this is a new benchmark for Hommy. This is an album for newfound fans of his. For those that have heard of Hommy but wanted to know what the hype was all about. Cuts like "Murder CZN", "The Stellar Ray Theory", and "Marie" are next level Hommy, lyrically and musically. Going back and forth between English and his native tongue of Creole, his talent and penmanship is quite intriguing. This may easily be Hommy's best effort ever, which is saying something considering how impressive his discography already is.
4. Westside Gunn
Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf-Side B
Production: The Alchemist, Camouflage Monk, Conductor Williams, JR Swiftz, Denny LeFlare, Daringer, Sahdu Gold, Jay Versace, Green Lantern, others
Guests: AZ, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, ROme Streetz, Armani Ceaser, Boldy James, Larry June, Jay Worthy, Tyler The Creator, 2 Chainz, Stove God Cook$, Mach-Hommy, Flee Lord, others
Earlier, we gave props and kudos to Side-A of Westside Gunn's Hitler Wears Hermes album. As dope as Side-A was, however, it's Side-B that's the story. This is perhaps the most knocking Gunn album to date. His knack for fashion and style mixed with coke and guns with his high-pitched, nasal flow makes the Griselda head honcho stand out among most of his peers. From top to bottom, this album knocks and then knocks some more. Tracks like the Tyler The Creator-assisted, "The Fly That Doesn't Fly Straight", "Eddie Kingston" with Rome Streetz and the BSF/Flee Lord-assisted "Celine Dion" are all classic Gunn and will not disappoint fans whatsoever. While FLYGOD, Supreme Blientele, Who Made The Sunshine, and his FLYGOD Is An Awesome God mixtape series (his HWH series more or less put Griselda on the map) have built his fanbase up to this point, this is the type of album that will expand his fanbase even more and make even more eyes get set upon Griselda. Gunn is a star, and one should expect Griselda to become not just the most dominant label in the streets, but the most in-demand label in all of hip-hop.
3. Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
HARAM
Production: The Alchemist
Guests: Earl Sweatshirt, Quelle Chris
One of the underground's most interesting duos is Armand Hammer. Underground critical darlings, Elucid and billy woods are strong enough on their own (check woods' stellar discography), but then once they came together for Armand Hammer, jeez Louise! Their brand of socio-political commentary and armageddon-esque themes have garnered them a cult following. However, they reached next level when it got revealed front-runner for Producer Of The Year, Alchemist, was working with them, the anticipation was high for their debut collaborative album, and did it deliver! Their debut collab effort, HARAM, may truthfully be Alchemist's best boardwork all year, and that's saying a mouthful considering how crazy he's been this year. If you're familiar with their prior outings of ROME, Race Muzik, Shrines, and Paraffin, picture these incredible efforts with an Alchemist touch. That's what you get with HARAM. The subject matter doesn't really stray too far from what they know best, but these themes over Al's production is borderline perfect. It's not wrong to label this album one of Alchemist's most prized efforts, but it's also not wrong to call HARAM Hammer's best effort to date. Let's just hope there will be a HARAM 2, because albums like this need to be updated every single year.
2. Nas
King's Disease 2
Production: Hit-Boy
Guests: Ms. Lauryn Hill, YG, A-Boogie Wit A Hoodie, Charlie Wilson, BLXST, Hit-Boy
Following up King's Disease was a hard task. Nas and Hit-Boy delivered one of Nas' best albums since Life Is Good and showed how cohesive they could be together. Not to repeat, this album gave Nas and Hit-Boy their first Grammies. When it was announced a sequel was coming, immediately fans were wondering if they could repeat their...ahem...magic. The answer was a profound yes, and then some. With King's Disease 2, he continues his theme of empowering Black men and showing them as kings that are worth more than what society makes them to be, but also expand into how to come up in the game. Tackling issues such as investing, overcoming odds and upbringings, but also showing humility and gratitude. This is even more of a grown man's album than the first one. An album filled with jewels, introspection, and honesty, Nas and Hit-Boy presented an album for today's young Black man to eat and digest properly. Perhaps the album's most newsworthy moment is the appearance of the legendary Ms. Lauryn Hill, as they reunite for the first time since '96's "If I Rule The world" from Nas' outstanding, It Was Written. Simply put, Ms. Hill still got it on that microphone and with her pen game on "Nobody". It's been argued by some people that this is his best album since Stillmatic. That's not a reaching statement or argument. This is a new benchmark for Nas and his career. As for Hit-Boy, Nas has brought him more notoriety than ever and in turn has supplied him with some of the ebst production of his career. By the way, will Nas and Hit-Boy repeat with another Grammy? Will KD3 set an even higher bar? 2022 will supply the answers.
1. Skyzoo
All The Brilliant Things
Production: STLNDrums, Marc Infinit, Thelonious Martin, JR Swiftz, Kenny Keys, J57, others
Guests: BJ The Chicago Kid, Raheem Devaughn, Blakk Soul, others
Brooklyn's own Skyzoo has among the most stellar discographies in all of hip-hop. Every single album, EP, mixtape of his is highly acclaimed. Since his '09 full-length debut, The Salvation, Skyzoo has shown himself to be an emcee's emcee, quite possibly on your favorite emcee's favorite emcee list. Highly intelligent and a clear lover of Jazz music, Skyzoo mixes his love of jazz with classic NYC boom-bap and displays his gift with the pen with relative ease. Following up his unbelievable 2019 offering, In Celebration Of Us, he delivers All The Brilliant Things, an album that focuses on issues in the hood such as integration, hustling, and gentrification. Cuts like "Bed-Stuy Is Burning" and the knocking "Free Jewelry" show his awareness and insight to the ills of the hood beyond just a drugs and murder level. He also professes showing love to people while they're still here with "Bodega Flowers" and other cuts like "Plugs & Connections", "I Was Supposed To Be A Trap Rapper", and "St. James Liquor" demonstrate Sky's fantastic lyrical abilities and knack for dropping introspection and dimes for the listener to take with them throughout that particular album. Sky may not be the most known emcee on a mainstream level, but he can outshine your average mainstream emcee with ease, and with albums like In Celebration Of Us, Skyzoo has constructed quite possibly the album of his career and among the most intelligent albums of the entire year. The album title is appropriate considering its author is as brilliant as the 'things' he mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Kanye West- Donda
Conway The Machine- La Maquina
Conway The Machine & Big Ghost LTD- If It Breathes, It Bleeds
Benny The Butcher & 38 Spesh- Trust The Sopranos
Smoovth & Giallo Point- Amongst Wolves
Dave- We're Alone In This Together
Various Artists- Griselda Presents Conflicted OST
Flee Lord & Roc Marciano- Delgado
Big Boi & Sleepy Brown- The Big Sleepover
The Alchemist- This Thing Of Ours
The Alchemist- This Thing Of Ours 2
Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim- Tha YOD Fahim
Hus Kingpin- The Firm
Hus Kingpin- Portishus
Beneficience & Confidence- Stellar Mind
Awon & Phoniks- Nothing Less
Czarface & MF DOOM- Super What?
L'Orange & Nahmir Blade- Invisible Everything
DJ Muggs & Hologram- The American Dream
DJ Muggs & Crimeapple- Cartagena
DJ Muggs- Winter 2: Nightmare Before Christmas
DJ Muggs & Rome Streetz- Death & The Magician
Apathy- Where The River Meets The Sea
Ransom- Se7en EP
Dave East & Harry Fraud- Hoffa
Blu & Surplus- Starcastle EP
Ransom & big Ghost LTD- Heavy Is The Head
RJ Payne- Leatherface 3: There Will Be Blood
1982- The Summer EP
Vince Staples- Vince Staples
Injury Reserve- By The Time I Get To Phoenix
AZ- Doe Or Die 2
Dr. Dre- GTA: The Contract EP
Ka- A Martyr's Reward
Bobby Sessions- Manifest
Lewis Parker- Frequency Of Perception
Common- A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2
GRIP- I Died For This?!
Damu The Fudgemunk- Conversation Peace
Blu- The Color Blu(e)
IAMGAWD- Hell's Angels & Heaven's Demons
Benji- Smile, You're Alive
Joell Ortiz- Autograph
Styles P & Havoc- Wreckage Manner
Styles P- Ghosting
Gowe- Jazznight
Knowledge The Pirate- Hidden Treasures
Remedy- Remedy Meets Wu-Tang
Talib Kweli & Diamond- Gotham
Eternia & Rel McCoy- FREE
Ty Farris- No Cosign, Just Cocaine 4
Your Old Droog- Space Bar
Rick Ross- Richer Than I Ever Been
Russ- Chomp 2
Arrested Development- For The FKN Love
D Smoke- War & Wonders
Abstract Mindstate- Dreams Still Inspire
The Musalini- No Squares In My Circle
Vinnie Paz- Burn Everything That Bears Your Name
Rome Streetz & AHNKLEJOHN- Genesis 1:27
Rome Streetz & Furutewave- Razor's Edge
Asun Eastwood & Finn- The S.O.U.L.
M.A.V. & Hobgoblin- Angels & Demonz 3
Wiki- Half God
JPEGMAFIA- LP!
OC From NC- The Black Phillip Tape
Lute- Gold Mouf
Da Butcher- Underground Crown
Pink Siifu- GUMBO
Dark Time Sunshine- LORE
McKinley Dixon- For My Mama & Anyone That Looks Like Her
Atmosphere- WORD?
Mick Jenkins- Elephant In The Room
Gift Of Gab- Finding Inspiration Somehow
Without question, this was a great year of hip-hop and one that should remembered among the very good years within this century. Will 2022 repeat this same year's same success? Only time will tell. With releases from the Griselda camp (most notably Conway's God Don't Make Mistakes and Benny's Tana Talk 4), Nas & hit-Boy's King's Disease 3, Redman, Earthgang, J.I.D., Saba, Megan, Method Man, Czarface, The Game, Flee Lord, Roc Marciano, Rapsody, the very highly anticipated return of Kendrick Lamar, and possibly a whole new Dr. Dre album, 2022 may easily have a crazy year within hip-hop just like we just saw in 2021. Let us be confident that new career benchmarks will get reach, new standard bearers will be heard, and new artists will showcase their potential to be stars. Will see you next year all!
