Calling all hip hop heads! We're ranking the best rap albums of 2024, based on lyrical prowess, creativity, production quality, originality, memorable instrumentals, and cultural impact. Instead of relying on so-called critics and music charts, these hip hop album rankings are created entirely by the fans.
The variety of 2024's new rap albums reflects the vast scope of the genre, showcasing unique approaches to storytelling and rhythm. Schoolboy Q's Blue Lips embraces a blend of comfort and anguish, presenting the rawest music of his career. Another standout is Future and Metro Boomin's We Don't Trust You, which offers a cinematic experience, featuring Prodigy as the unflappable narrator. The collaboration album from Kanye West AKA Ye and Ty Dolla Sign, Vultures 1, is provocative and technically proficient, sparking discussions with its edgy lyrics. 21 Savage's American Dream sheds light on real-life stories and events executed through his witty wordplay and impeccable beat selection.
Now, it's your turn to shape this list. Which album made you lose yourself in its rhythms, nod your head to its punchy lyrics, or pull you into its musical narrative? Your votes tell us who truly owned the rap scene in 2024. Check out the list, cast your votes, and let’s spotlight 2024's hip hop gems together.
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- Tyler, The Creator
- Columbia Records
1Chromakopia
Released: October 28, 2024
Artist: Tyler, The Creator
Best Tracks:
“St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Caesar)”
“Noid”
“Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red, & Lil Wayne)”
Tyler, The Creator's latest 14-track album, Chromakopia, examines celebrity, fandom, and creativity. The artist confronts the changes that come with his 30s and wrestles with his personal growth. His album features various guest artists including Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne, ScHoolboy Q, Santigold, and more.
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- Kendrick Lamar
- pgLang / Interscope Records
2GNX
Released: November 22, 2024
Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Best Tracks:
“tv off (feat. Lefty Gunplay)”
“squabble up”
Kendrick Lamar's surprise album, GNX, features 12 tracks of various disses directed at famous colleagues and his own family members. The rapper pulls from various music sources including soul music, mariachi, and jazz while inviting guest artists including SZA, Lefty Gunplay, Roddy Ricch, and more.
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- Future and Metro Boomin
- Boominati Worldwide/Republic Records
3We Don't Trust You
Released: March 22, 2024
Artist: Future and Metro Boomin
Best Tracks:
"Type Sh*t"
“Like That”
"Cinderella” (with Travis Scott)"Atlanta artists Future and Metro Boomin reunite for their second musical collaboration, We Don't Trust You. Their highly anticipated release evokes imagery with each track. “This entire project feels like a movie in audio form. Every beat is cinematic, and the late, great Prodigy serves as its unflappable narrator, steady reminding us what this rap thing is really about: competition.”
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- Vince Staples
- Def Jam Recordings
4Dark Times
Released: May 24, 2024
Artist: Vince Staples
Best Tracks:
“Shame On The Devil”
“Black&Blue”
“Étouffée”In his sixth studio album, Dark Times, Vince Staples processes his past with present humor and sensitivity. The West Coast hip-hop artist of Long Beach shares biographical details through his lyrics and layers them with varying tones within his bars, lyrically and vocally. The 13 tracks examine Staples' neighborhood, family, and relationships in all of their personally nuanced complexity.
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- ScHoolboy Q
- TDE/Interscope
5Blue Lips
Released: March 1, 2024
Artist: ScHoolboy Q
Best Tracks:
“Pop (feat. Rico Nasty)”
“Blueslides”
“oHio (feat. Freddie Gibbs)”ScHoolboy Q's Blue Lips is the product of 15 years of dedication to the craft of rap. The six-time Grammy-nominated artist's latest album is "...a daring feat that finds the sweet spot between comfort and anguish. It’s the rawest and most adventurous music of his career.”
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- Denzel Curry
- Concord Music Group
6King Of The Mischievous South, Vol. 2
Released: July 19, 2024
Artist: Denzel Curry
Best Tracks:
“HOT ONE (with TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)”
“BLACK FLAG FREESTYLE (with That Mexican OT)”
“HOODLUMZ (with PlayThatBoiZay and A$AP Rocky)”Denzel Curry's King Of The Mischievous South, Vol. 2 is a 15 track album released 12 years after his last studio venture. The Floridian rapper's album pays tribute to the rap culture and music of the South through notable artists including That Mexican OT, 2 Chainz, TiaCorine, and more.
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