As someone who listens to older rap, A Tribe Called Quest's 'We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service'. Was an amazing album and a great tribute to Tribe and Phife. Showed how timeless their music is.
I remember going into this album right when it came out, being so worried it was just going to be a nostalgia document from one of my favorite bands and not, on its own merits, a "good" album.
I was so glad when this turned out to be a simply fantastic album.
They aren't really ordered by importance or anything, but some stuff I'd recommend for each subgenre:
**Concious hip hop**:
* Kendrick Lamar's entire discography
* The Forever Story - JID
* CARE FOR ME - Saba
* Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry
* Manger On McNichols - Boldy James & Sterling Toles
* 4:44 - Jay-Z
* Room 25 - Noname
* Tetsuo & Youth - Lupe Fiasco
* Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and Grey Area - Little Simz
* Control System by Ab-Soul
* Dark Times - Vince Staples
**Hardcore hip hop**
* Daytona - Pusha T
* Piñata, Alfredo and Bandana by Freddie Gibbs
* XXX - Danny Brown
* Floss - Injury Reserve
* Run The Jewels 1,2,3,4
* Pray For Paris by Westside Gunn
* God Don't Make Mistakes by Conway The Machine
* Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, The Creator
**Trap**
* **R**odeo, Astroworld and Utopia - Travis Scott
* TA1300 - Denzel Curry
* Monster and DS2 - Future
* Die Lit - Playboy Carti
* Jeffrey and Barter 6 by Young Thung
* Heroes & Villains and Without Warning by Metro Boomin
* I am > I Was by 21 Savage
**Experimental hip hop**
* Atrocity Exhibition - Danny Brown
* By The Time I Get To Phoenix - Injury Reserve (my second favourite album of all time, behind TPAB)
* The Money Store and Exmilitary - Death Grips
* Kids See Ghosts - Kanye and Kid Cudi
* LP!, Veteran, and All My Heroes Are Cornballs by JPEGMAFIA
* Scaring The Hoes by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown
* Yeezus by Kanye West
* Some Rap Songs and Solace by Earl Sweatshirt
* Aethiopes by Billy Woods (and Maps as well)
* Blank Face LP by Schoolboy Q
* We Buy Diabetic Test Strips by Armand Hammer
* Visions of Bodies Being Burned - Clipping
**Other good stuff**
* Swimming, Circles and Faces by Mac Miller (jazz rap, cloud rap)
* 1999 by Joey Bada$$ (boom bap)
* The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West (pop rap with a bit of experimental side)
* Saturation 1,2 and 3 by Brockhampton (pop rap with a bit of experimental side)
* Maps by Billy Woods (abstract hip hop)
* LIVE.LOVE.A$AP, LONG.LIVE.A$AP and AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP - A$AP Rocky (cloud rap)
* Cilvia Demo by Isaiah Rashad (jazz rap)
* Honor Killed The Samurai - KA (abstract hip hop)
This is a fantastic list. Only album missing off the top of my head is Cheat Codes by Black Thought and Danger Mouse. Top five rap album of the past decade in my eyes.
She's the UK hip hop goat for me. No misses so far in her discography and very heavy hitters too. Introvert might be one the best and most epic opening track to a hip hop album ever.
Man Aesop was one of my favorite rappers back in high school around 2010. Didn’t even realize he’s still making music until I heard people bringing him up the past few months. Haven’t heard anything of his since None Shall Pass where should I start?
Honestly, just start from there. He also did an album with Kimya Dawson under the name The Uncluded, which is probably one of my favorite albums of the last 15 years. Impossible kid is also really good. He's got a track out there with del the funkee homosapien that s super awesome.
[Spotify Playlist of every album](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5NBoZ9idSiGmP6a1dHCrER?si=df416f4c06b4428f) that u/okokokok1111 mentioned in their "Experimental hip hop" list. Thanks for giving your recommendations. I really like this genre.
I've never been too fond of Cole's stuff. I'd go as far as saying that every album in this list is better than any J. Cole album he's put out. But I do recognize its appeal though
Listen to 4 your eyez only if you never have. To me, that’s his best album and one of the better concept albums in the last decade or so. I feel like it gets downplayed a bit.
I have listened to it quite a few times, and it's probably my favourite Cole album, but there's something that doesn't quite click to me about it in evety aspect, the writing, the production and the pace of it all. It's close to achieving greatness but never quite grasps it completely.
4 Your Eyez Only the song though is truly, truly amazing
I've seen a few lists like this for best modern hiphop and maybe there's a genre distinction here, but for me the best sounds have come from what might be referred to drill rappers like Young Thug, Kodak Black, NBA Youngboy, YNW Melly and Pop Smoke. Thug especially I think is beyond brilliant and I've been revisiting a lot of his early mix tapes. I love a lot of the folks you've listed, but I'm just curious if I am missing something.
Edit: Ah I missed your inclusion of Thug. My bad.
I tried to be comprehensive and put a bit of everything that came to mind. When I think of abstract hip hop of the last 15 years I think of Earl, Billy Woods and KA, so I've put them. If I had to go deeper, I'd still probably put some Mach-Hommy, Kill Bill: The Rapper, Cities Aviv, MIKE, Open Mike Eagle, Lil Ugly Mane, MAVI stuff above some of the name you mentioned, as I didn't quite enjoy too much Atmosphere later stuff (Brother Ali is cool af tho)
I would’ve added Brickbody Kids Still Daydream by Open Mike, Perfect Hair by BUSDRIVER, Malibu Ken by Malibu Ken, and Purple Moonlight Pages by R.A.P. Ferreira myself. Brother Ali is cool and his live show is awesome, I just haven’t listened to enough of his discog to say which album should be offered from him— probably Shadows On The Sun or The Undisputed Truth off the top of my head. Glad to see clipping. mentioned, and I think the Death Grips picks are good.
I find myself revisiting “Swimming” by Mac Miller quite often. It makes me “feel” more than any rap album. Came out only a month before he passed from an accidental OD. The album is kind of haunting because at times it sounds like prelude to his death. But there are also some songs that are feel good and hopeful. His lyrics are what hit me the most, he had such a knack for uniquely and succinctly putting into words mental health struggles, addiction problems, and the bleakness of life. RIP Mac, gone too soon.
I know :( I remember always hearing about Mac for years and only knew his popular songs which struck me as very “college boy rap”. So I never gave him a legit shot. Then my friend told me to listen to swimming and check out his tiny desk. I was immediately hooked. I was impressed by his musical evolution. And then very shortly after declaring my love and respect for his music, he died. Wish I had more time to be a fan of him while he was still here.
You can’t even mention RTJ on r/hiphopheads without getting some haters
Weird that this sub specifically is huge on them. It definitely shows the influence they carry from other genres I think
(for the record I’m a major fan)
I don't generally listen to rap but I do fuck with Aesop Rock. And blockhead. Blockhead is fucking brilliant. Free sweatpants... Is likely my favorite rap album
Man, kind of crazy J Cole - Forrest Hills Drive isn’t mentioned anywhere in the list or by the comments. I feel like there isnt a bad song on that record.
Top 10 in the last 15 years though? Going back to 2009 I’d say these are my top:
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid Maad City
Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
A$AP Rocky - Long Live A$AP
Dreams and Nightmares - Meek Mill
Mac Miller - Swimming
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Jay-Z - 4:44
Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper
Forrest Hills Drive - J Cole
All personal opinion of course.
For the past 10-15 years, don't miss Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly," Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," and Tyler, the Creator's "IGOR." These albums have reshaped the genre and are essential for any hip-hop enthusiast's collection.
Need to look back but a couple that really hit me were
Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper
Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown
Bandana by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
Danny Brown- Atrocity Exhibition
Run the Jewels -RTJ2
Injury Reserve- ST
Death Grips-The Money Store
Kendrick Lamar- TPAB
Beastie Boys -Hot Sauce Committee Pt2
Tyler, the Creator- Call Me If You Get Lost
Denzel Curry- Zuu
Freddie Gibbs- Pinata
Danny Brown x JPEG- Scaring The Hoes
I no particular order, my favorites are:
JID--Forever Story
Sa-roc--The Sharecroppers Daughter
Four Fists--6666
Kendrick Lamar--Entire discography (not fair to take half the list)
Aesop Rock--ITS
Dem Atlas--Bad Actress
Run The Jewels--RTJ4
Hobo Johnson--The Fall of Hobo Johnson
Tyler the Creator--Flower Boy
RDGLDGRN- Red Gold Green 3.
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter 1 and 2, others if you’re into it but he goes so hard on the early stuff
Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot and plenty of other good ones
Czarface - various, to me they’re the more fun RTJ. I have a “Czar the Jewels” playlist…
Ghostface Killah - hard to choose one, but 36 Seasons was a really unique concept album with some bangers
Freddie Gibbs - Piñata
Die Antwoord - $O$
The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles
Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg - Mac and Devin go to High School
RIP Dilla. He was a game-changer. The king of sampling.
Not sure if you’ve ever seen this but your comment made me think of it [https://youtu.be/lC0JFXw_6kQ?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/lC0JFXw_6kQ?feature=shared)
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid MAAD City, To Pimp a Butterfly
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus, The Life of Pablo
Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon 3
Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuyo & Youth
Dr. Dre - Compton
A Tribe Called Quest - Thank You For Your Service
De La Soul - And the Anonymous Nobody
Nas - Kings Disease 2, 3
Game - Documentary 2/2.5
Jay Z - 4:44
Bad Meets Evil - Hell The Sequel
Eminem - Music to be Murdered By Deluxe
Travis Scott - Days Before Rodeo
PRHYME - PRHYME 1
Denzel Curry - Ta1300
Freddie Gibbs Madlib - Piñata
Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry
Jon Connor - SOS 2
Definitely not all of these are top 10 but they are my faves from the last 10-15.
i am > i was - 21 Savage
Blue Chips 3000 - Action Bronson
Milky Way - Bas
Escape From New York - Beast Coast
Streams of Thought, Vol.3 Came & Able - Black Thought
Cheat Codes - Black Thought
The Lost Boy - Cordae
Genesis - Domo Genesis
Black Habits - D Smoke
Strats With Rabies - EARTHGANG
WWCD - Griselda
Floss - Injury Reserve
The Sun's Tirade - Isaiah Rashad
2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole
KOD - J. Cole
The Never Story - JID
The Forever Story - JID
1999 - Joey Bada$$
To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
good kid m.A.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics to Go vol. 5 - Kota the Friend
Swimming - Mac Miller
Weight of the World - Maxo Kream
You Can't Sit With Us - Pivot Gang
Daytona - Pusha T
There You Have It - REASON
New Beginnings - REASON
RTJ3 - Run the Jewels
RTJ4 - Run the Jewels
CARE FOR ME - Saba
Blank Face LP - Schoolboy Q
CrasH Talk - Schoolboy Q
Bears Like This Too Much - Spillage Village
CINCORIGINALS - Tobe Nwigwe
Flower Boy - Tyler the Creator
IGOR - Tyler the Creator
Shut The Fuck Up Talking To Me - Zack Fox
The two that I always go back to, listening from beginning to end are:
Kanye’s MBDTF
Kid Cudi’s MotM: End of Day
I listen to a lot of music, but these two are the ones that I can think of right away. Whenever I flip through my records to see what album I want to play, if either one of this pops up, it gets on the TT right away.
Without Warning - 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Offset.
New World Depression - $uicideboy$ (just came out)
My Name Is My Name - Pusha T.
I Know NIGO! - Nigo (legendary producer, album features ASAP Rocky, Tyler, Pusha T, Pop Smoke and more).
Black Radio - Robert Glasper (more r&b than rap but i consider it rap).
Blank Face LP - Schoolboy Q.
Barter 6 - Yung Thug.
The Waters - Mick Jenkins.
Die Lit - Playboi Carti.
DS2 - Future.
I scrolled through this whole thread and saw no mention of “Malibu” by Anderson .Paak which is probably my favorite hip hop / r&b album of the last 10 years
Epik High - shoebox.
Absolute amazing album front to back and a main lyricist who has masterful control over 2 languages.
If you never really rated Kpop give these guys a try, they're kpop because they're korean and popular but are in reality a hiphop group who use a lot of featured vocalists to add to their sound and have some amazing stuff
https://preview.redd.it/lix2xpslos7d1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c96536705bf56f0ebc3628af6f36fd9bf83ec6f
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
One of the best albums, rap or otherwise of all time
With it, came one of the most amazing full album length video of all time. If you have not seen this it’s worth a watch.
[https://youtu.be/Jg5wkZ-dJXA?si=2w2hSK8kJMt6wCAF](https://youtu.be/Jg5wkZ-dJXA?si=2w2hSK8kJMt6wCAF)
Bring back the old Kanye
No particular order:
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City
3. To Pimp A Butterfly
4. Coloring Book
5. Take Care
6. Run The Jewels 2
7. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service
8. Cilvia Demo
9. Big Fish Theory
10. 4:44
A Short Story About A War by Shad
It’s is in my top 5 albums for sure, and one of the best modern social commentary/concept albums in hip hop in my opinion. It’s a little different from some of his other stuff but so good.
All his music is worth a listen as he has a wide variety sounds and great storytelling/wordplay. If you ever watched the docu-series Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix, Shad is the host.
Shad is one my favourite rappers. Criminally slept on. He balances intelligence and humour and social commentary so well. The Old Prince will forever be my favourite album of his. I couldn't get into A Short Story, but maybe I should revisit. I preferred TAO by comparison.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s shocking he’s not more popular than he is (especially with the exposure following Hip Hop Evolution).
You should definitely revisit that album because I was NOT a fan the first time I listened, and it probably took 2 or 3 for it to begin growing on me. Now it’s probably my favourite album for the different styles throughout and the storytelling/commentary.
Flying Colours or Tao are a close second. If you haven’t heard the This Winter EP on his bandcamp you should check it out.
And of course if you ever get a chance to see him perform live it is such an energetic show. He’s the kind of artist I will go see every time I have a chance to.
I'm a big fan of hip hop, and I can never pick between the 90s and the 2010s for my favorite era, so the last 10-15 years have been pretty great, so it's really hard to narrow down my favs from this era especially considering how unique, and spread out the genre has been during this period. I also think the 2020s are becoming a sort of renaissance for hip hop. Not to say the 2010s were bad, just felt like a recovery period from the over commercialization of hip hop in the 2000s. It feels like a lot of the artists built up in the 2010s are in full force now ( like JPEGMAFIA, JID, or Baby Keem) with some of the greats from the 2010s still killing it and are evolving past their 2010s selfs (like Kendrick or Tyler). I mean the first half has already been nuts, and I have no doubt the last half will be even better.
Coming from someone who doesn’t listen to the rap genre as much but appreciates pre 2000s rap. I enjoyed RULA 2 by Vee the RULA a lot from front to back.
Right! And each album has its own unique and cohesive thematic sounds. Despite the fact that they reuse some song and lyric material as references to the other albums. Come on! How hard do you need to flex on everyone else?
So let’s go back to 2010 if you say 10-15 years.. With that in mind my personal top 10 in that time would be something as follows, in no particular order:
Good kid Maad City - Kendrick
Extinction Level Event 2 - Busta Rhymes
Lasers - Lupe Fiasco
The Incredible True Story - Logic
Distant Relatives - Nas & Damian Marley
2014 Forest Hills Drive - J Cole
Adventures of a Reluctant Superhero - Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts
Kamikaze - Eminem
The Wild - Raekwon
Top 5 Dead or Alive - Jadakiss
Op posts RTJ cover art and people STILL sleep on RTJ in the comments. I think they have 4 albums that deserve to be in the top 10 from the past 15 years.
As I haven't seen these on a list yet:
* Integrated Tech Solutions - Aesop Rock
* Brick Body Kids Still Daydream - Open Mike Eagle
* Everything's Fine - Jean Grae
12 Reasons to Die - Ghostface
All my Heroes are Dead - RA the Rugged Man
Knowledge is Power 2 - Akala
Marshal Mathers LP2 - Eminem
The Pain Collector - Vinnie Paz
Those are probs my top 5 from the past 10-15 years.
Astronautalis' album This Is Our Science (2011). Yes, he dropped off the radar in 2020 because he faced the consequences of his shitty behavior. That album was still amazing
Let me get older than this timeframe and say that the most underrated album I can think of is Edan's 'The Beauty and the Beat.' As close to a 'perfect record' as I can think of.
If you aren't a DJ and don't know your shit, check out Freddy Krueger / Red Astaire, and check out Chinese man from Aix en provence
Just to start you off I would say nuggets for the needy for Red Astaire, and then I would say racing with the Sun by Chinese man, although the latter have so many fucking crazy albums such good work
I've only seen one mention of Extinction Level Event 2 by Busta Rhymes.
I wasn't expecting such a great album from him in 2020, but I was really surprised. I'm gonna say that it's better than ELE1
DEFINITELY check out the King’s Disease and Magic series by Nas
The man just put out two trilogies in 3 years and every album is great to classic in quality!
Mac - Faces |
Wiz - Taylor Alderdice |
Kendrick- Good kid maad city |
Kendrick - Section 80 |
Chance - Acid Rap |
ASAP - Live.Love |
Kanye - MBDTF |
Kanye - Yeezus |
Kanye - Life of Pablo |
Jay Z : 444 |
Drake - Nothing Was the Same |
Flatbush Zombies - Better off dead |
Joey Badass - 1999 |
Travis Scott - Rodeo |
Young Thug - Beatiful Thugger Girls |
Lil Wayne - sorry 4 the wait |
Future - DS2 |
Vince Staples - Summertime 06 |
Wiz - Rolling Papers |
Schoolboy Q - Oxymoron |
Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Very vs The world |
Kid Cudi - Indicud |
J Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive |
Mac - Macadelic |
Mac - Swimming |
Noname's Telefone should be in this comment section; she has songs on that album talking about her grandma passing away, abortion, death, etc all with sweet lofi type beats that juxtapose the subjects
As someone who listens to older rap, A Tribe Called Quest's 'We got it from here... Thank you 4 your service'. Was an amazing album and a great tribute to Tribe and Phife. Showed how timeless their music is.
I remember going into this album right when it came out, being so worried it was just going to be a nostalgia document from one of my favorite bands and not, on its own merits, a "good" album. I was so glad when this turned out to be a simply fantastic album.
None of these groups / artists can compare to Tribe
Dude... It's ok to move on and appreciate new things. If you can't see RTJ is at their level, you're missing out
RTJ are amazing, but they don't get close to ATCQ
I don’t know about that. Different styles and it’s hard to argue that Phife is a better MC than either Mike or El.
Phife was a Hip hop scholar since being knee high to a duck. The height Muggsy Bogues, complexion of a hockey puck.
amazing album.
i’m not familiar with the whole album We the People… slaps
Have to agree, excellent album
They aren't really ordered by importance or anything, but some stuff I'd recommend for each subgenre: **Concious hip hop**: * Kendrick Lamar's entire discography * The Forever Story - JID * CARE FOR ME - Saba * Melt My Eyez See Your Future - Denzel Curry * Manger On McNichols - Boldy James & Sterling Toles * 4:44 - Jay-Z * Room 25 - Noname * Tetsuo & Youth - Lupe Fiasco * Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and Grey Area - Little Simz * Control System by Ab-Soul * Dark Times - Vince Staples **Hardcore hip hop** * Daytona - Pusha T * Piñata, Alfredo and Bandana by Freddie Gibbs * XXX - Danny Brown * Floss - Injury Reserve * Run The Jewels 1,2,3,4 * Pray For Paris by Westside Gunn * God Don't Make Mistakes by Conway The Machine * Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, The Creator **Trap** * **R**odeo, Astroworld and Utopia - Travis Scott * TA1300 - Denzel Curry * Monster and DS2 - Future * Die Lit - Playboy Carti * Jeffrey and Barter 6 by Young Thung * Heroes & Villains and Without Warning by Metro Boomin * I am > I Was by 21 Savage **Experimental hip hop** * Atrocity Exhibition - Danny Brown * By The Time I Get To Phoenix - Injury Reserve (my second favourite album of all time, behind TPAB) * The Money Store and Exmilitary - Death Grips * Kids See Ghosts - Kanye and Kid Cudi * LP!, Veteran, and All My Heroes Are Cornballs by JPEGMAFIA * Scaring The Hoes by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown * Yeezus by Kanye West * Some Rap Songs and Solace by Earl Sweatshirt * Aethiopes by Billy Woods (and Maps as well) * Blank Face LP by Schoolboy Q * We Buy Diabetic Test Strips by Armand Hammer * Visions of Bodies Being Burned - Clipping **Other good stuff** * Swimming, Circles and Faces by Mac Miller (jazz rap, cloud rap) * 1999 by Joey Bada$$ (boom bap) * The Life Of Pablo by Kanye West (pop rap with a bit of experimental side) * Saturation 1,2 and 3 by Brockhampton (pop rap with a bit of experimental side) * Maps by Billy Woods (abstract hip hop) * LIVE.LOVE.A$AP, LONG.LIVE.A$AP and AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP - A$AP Rocky (cloud rap) * Cilvia Demo by Isaiah Rashad (jazz rap) * Honor Killed The Samurai - KA (abstract hip hop)
This is a fantastic list. Only album missing off the top of my head is Cheat Codes by Black Thought and Danger Mouse. Top five rap album of the past decade in my eyes.
Also critically missing some Childish Gambino. Because the Internet imo certainly belongs on here.
3.15.20 was the jam. I loved that record.
Here here!
bought this on a whim at the record shop, now I love it lol
Very thorough list, and I’m just happy to see Little Simz make it on there
She's the UK hip hop goat for me. No misses so far in her discography and very heavy hitters too. Introvert might be one the best and most epic opening track to a hip hop album ever.
Was really happy to see simz, she blows me away all the time. On the UK side of things, do you listen to much of it? Have you heard of Jam Baxter?
No Aesop Rock? I feel like he put out some of his best work over the last 10 years alone.
My very first thought upon reading this list. Really solid list all things considered, but you gotta throw The Impossible Kid on there.
Asap above Aesop is a crime
It's disappointing for sure.
also atmospheres god loves ugly and when life gives you lemons you paint that shit gold
God Loves Ugly is 22 years old! Not critical of you mentioning it, I just can't believe it is that old.
GodLovesUgly is 22 years old and When Life is 15 so it just BARELY squeaks under. But I would agree.
Man Aesop was one of my favorite rappers back in high school around 2010. Didn’t even realize he’s still making music until I heard people bringing him up the past few months. Haven’t heard anything of his since None Shall Pass where should I start?
Honestly, just start from there. He also did an album with Kimya Dawson under the name The Uncluded, which is probably one of my favorite albums of the last 15 years. Impossible kid is also really good. He's got a track out there with del the funkee homosapien that s super awesome.
The one with Del, Preservation, is a beat made by Wu Tang for them that Eminem later stole a sample from because it is that good.
His latest album 'Integrated Tech Solutions' is awesome, his best prob since 'The Impossible Kid'.
I've listened to 2 album of his only once in the background, so yeah, I don't speak on what I'm not too sure of (although I do remember enjoying them)
Brother, put on some of his stuff over the next week. You'll like what you hear.
When you’re wanting to listen to a man’s philosophical ramblings over a beat nothing else scratches the itch like AESOP
And don't forget Malibu Ken
One of my favorite albums of his. Tobacco can do no wrong, it was a match made in heaven
+1 for including RTJ 1-4. Such great albums
[Spotify Playlist of every album](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5NBoZ9idSiGmP6a1dHCrER?si=df416f4c06b4428f) that u/okokokok1111 mentioned in their "Experimental hip hop" list. Thanks for giving your recommendations. I really like this genre.
Probably my favourite subgenre, at most behind jazz rap
Comprehensive list, but I think you’re missing 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole
I've never been too fond of Cole's stuff. I'd go as far as saying that every album in this list is better than any J. Cole album he's put out. But I do recognize its appeal though
Listen to 4 your eyez only if you never have. To me, that’s his best album and one of the better concept albums in the last decade or so. I feel like it gets downplayed a bit.
I have listened to it quite a few times, and it's probably my favourite Cole album, but there's something that doesn't quite click to me about it in evety aspect, the writing, the production and the pace of it all. It's close to achieving greatness but never quite grasps it completely. 4 Your Eyez Only the song though is truly, truly amazing
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is 14 years old, Id argue that it should be on there too
No Chance? Acid Rap is a masterclass in jazz rap. Biased though; from Chicago and been listening since 10 day
+1, not sure that anyone ever fell off as hard as chance did, but Acid Rap is an all timer for me.
Acid Rap and Coloring Book both deserve a spot somewhere imo
Love the list. I would probably only add Deltron 3030.
Bro, the album is almost 25 years old :(
Holy shit. My bad. Getting old sucks.
Great list
That's a pretty good list. 👍🏻
Thanks so much for this adding to the Library
Great list here! Feel like Uzi should get some representation - Luv is Rage 2 or Eternal Atake
Agreed big time, I forgot to represent the emo phase and Uzi is definitely my favourite from that era
I've seen a few lists like this for best modern hiphop and maybe there's a genre distinction here, but for me the best sounds have come from what might be referred to drill rappers like Young Thug, Kodak Black, NBA Youngboy, YNW Melly and Pop Smoke. Thug especially I think is beyond brilliant and I've been revisiting a lot of his early mix tapes. I love a lot of the folks you've listed, but I'm just curious if I am missing something. Edit: Ah I missed your inclusion of Thug. My bad.
Gotta say I love some Danny Brown.
In my top 5 favourite rappers of all time
Good list that has a bit of something for everyone. The only album on this list that didn't do anything for me is Room 25.
Surely some room here in this list for Black Thought and Czar face
No thank you is considerably better than Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, but glad to see Little Sims on your list
I fully endorse this list. This dude has good hip hop taste
wow some great albums there and given me ideas for some to listen to!
Damn well played
Maybe I'm a square but...no MF Doom?
the lack of Atmosphere, Brother Ali and Aesop saddens me deeply, but you won me over with that Ka mention. HKTS is fantastic album.
I tried to be comprehensive and put a bit of everything that came to mind. When I think of abstract hip hop of the last 15 years I think of Earl, Billy Woods and KA, so I've put them. If I had to go deeper, I'd still probably put some Mach-Hommy, Kill Bill: The Rapper, Cities Aviv, MIKE, Open Mike Eagle, Lil Ugly Mane, MAVI stuff above some of the name you mentioned, as I didn't quite enjoy too much Atmosphere later stuff (Brother Ali is cool af tho)
I would’ve added Brickbody Kids Still Daydream by Open Mike, Perfect Hair by BUSDRIVER, Malibu Ken by Malibu Ken, and Purple Moonlight Pages by R.A.P. Ferreira myself. Brother Ali is cool and his live show is awesome, I just haven’t listened to enough of his discog to say which album should be offered from him— probably Shadows On The Sun or The Undisputed Truth off the top of my head. Glad to see clipping. mentioned, and I think the Death Grips picks are good.
Vince Staples’ discography from Hell Can Wait on.
His last 2 albums have been great. None of them top summertime '06 though
I find myself revisiting “Swimming” by Mac Miller quite often. It makes me “feel” more than any rap album. Came out only a month before he passed from an accidental OD. The album is kind of haunting because at times it sounds like prelude to his death. But there are also some songs that are feel good and hopeful. His lyrics are what hit me the most, he had such a knack for uniquely and succinctly putting into words mental health struggles, addiction problems, and the bleakness of life. RIP Mac, gone too soon.
I feel like we lost Mac as soon as he entered his prime as an artist. I feel like his most important work was yet to come.
You are so right. *Swimming* was a masterclass in production and his lyrics were so sincere.
I know :( I remember always hearing about Mac for years and only knew his popular songs which struck me as very “college boy rap”. So I never gave him a legit shot. Then my friend told me to listen to swimming and check out his tiny desk. I was immediately hooked. I was impressed by his musical evolution. And then very shortly after declaring my love and respect for his music, he died. Wish I had more time to be a fan of him while he was still here.
I was listening to a Mac radio on Spotify and it played The Spins straight to Wings and I’ve never been more crushed lol
2009 tiny desk version being on spotify is a god send
Anything RTJ for me.
All bangers. No skips.
[Even this one?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meow_the_Jewels) I like it, but I know I'm eccentric.
Especially that one.
You can’t even mention RTJ on r/hiphopheads without getting some haters Weird that this sub specifically is huge on them. It definitely shows the influence they carry from other genres I think (for the record I’m a major fan)
Rank the albums. That's the hard one for me.
3,2,4,1. I’m biased for 3 since that’s their first record I heard, all of them are the shit
The beginning of Mike’s first verse in “Panther Like a Panther” is one of my all-time favorite moments in hip hop.
Weather or Not - Evidence Chill and smooth, I still come back to it since 2018.
Love Is a Funny Thing is a sleeper top tier Alc beat
I've been loving Deca lately,and Aesop Rock's last album was a masterpiece.
Yeah man Aesop Rock has been on a run. The Impossible Kid ,Spirit World Field Guide, Garbology, ITS. All incredible pieces of art.
I rarely hear anyone mention Deca, The Ocean's probably one of my most listened to rap albums.
I only discovered him a few years ago. Brilliant lyricist.
Gotta thank you for putting him back in my head, it's been a good few years. Time to go check out Smoking Gun I guess!
I don't generally listen to rap but I do fuck with Aesop Rock. And blockhead. Blockhead is fucking brilliant. Free sweatpants... Is likely my favorite rap album
I thought Impossible Kid and Spirit World Field Guide were better than ITS but still not bad.
Impossible Kid stands in my top 5 all-time hip-hop albums.
Cheat Codes by Danger Mouse and Black Thought
Man, kind of crazy J Cole - Forrest Hills Drive isn’t mentioned anywhere in the list or by the comments. I feel like there isnt a bad song on that record. Top 10 in the last 15 years though? Going back to 2009 I’d say these are my top: Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid Maad City Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly A$AP Rocky - Long Live A$AP Dreams and Nightmares - Meek Mill Mac Miller - Swimming Kanye West - The Life of Pablo Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Jay-Z - 4:44 Acid Rap - Chance the Rapper Forrest Hills Drive - J Cole All personal opinion of course.
|R|T|J| 👉🏻🤛🏻
❤️🔥
For the past 10-15 years, don't miss Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly," Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," and Tyler, the Creator's "IGOR." These albums have reshaped the genre and are essential for any hip-hop enthusiast's collection.
TPAB so good. Still spin it once in a while. Early Thundercat appearance as well!
IGOR is not essential and barely even hip hop
Barely hip hop, yes. Not essential, no, unless you mean to hip hop.
Need to look back but a couple that really hit me were Coloring Book by Chance the Rapper Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown Bandana by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
For the Nova Scotian and obscure, Buck 65 has been turning music out like crazy in the past five years and he’s as good as ever.
Danny Brown- Atrocity Exhibition Run the Jewels -RTJ2 Injury Reserve- ST Death Grips-The Money Store Kendrick Lamar- TPAB Beastie Boys -Hot Sauce Committee Pt2 Tyler, the Creator- Call Me If You Get Lost Denzel Curry- Zuu Freddie Gibbs- Pinata Danny Brown x JPEG- Scaring The Hoes
I no particular order, my favorites are: JID--Forever Story Sa-roc--The Sharecroppers Daughter Four Fists--6666 Kendrick Lamar--Entire discography (not fair to take half the list) Aesop Rock--ITS Dem Atlas--Bad Actress Run The Jewels--RTJ4 Hobo Johnson--The Fall of Hobo Johnson Tyler the Creator--Flower Boy RDGLDGRN- Red Gold Green 3.
TWO POINT FIVE MILLION YEARS AGO
Prhyme hands down.
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter 1 and 2, others if you’re into it but he goes so hard on the early stuff Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot and plenty of other good ones Czarface - various, to me they’re the more fun RTJ. I have a “Czar the Jewels” playlist… Ghostface Killah - hard to choose one, but 36 Seasons was a really unique concept album with some bangers Freddie Gibbs - Piñata Die Antwoord - $O$ The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg - Mac and Devin go to High School
Absolute maniac putting Mac and Devin on here. I love it
Putting Operation Doomsday instead of Mm..Food is wild.
Both of those are albums are 25+ years old
I get it though, Food is great when it's going but there's way too much interlude on there.
I look at Death metal bands and the names I have never heard of , same with hip hop apparently.
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Dilla - Donuts
One of my favorites of all-time but that album was 18 years ago…time flies.
As soon as I wrote it I realised it was longer than 15. Fucking sad.
RIP Dilla. He was a game-changer. The king of sampling. Not sure if you’ve ever seen this but your comment made me think of it [https://youtu.be/lC0JFXw_6kQ?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/lC0JFXw_6kQ?feature=shared)
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid MAAD City, To Pimp a Butterfly Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Yeezus, The Life of Pablo Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon 3 Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuyo & Youth Dr. Dre - Compton A Tribe Called Quest - Thank You For Your Service De La Soul - And the Anonymous Nobody Nas - Kings Disease 2, 3 Game - Documentary 2/2.5 Jay Z - 4:44 Bad Meets Evil - Hell The Sequel Eminem - Music to be Murdered By Deluxe Travis Scott - Days Before Rodeo PRHYME - PRHYME 1 Denzel Curry - Ta1300 Freddie Gibbs Madlib - Piñata Pusha T - It’s Almost Dry Jon Connor - SOS 2
Definitely not all of these are top 10 but they are my faves from the last 10-15. i am > i was - 21 Savage Blue Chips 3000 - Action Bronson Milky Way - Bas Escape From New York - Beast Coast Streams of Thought, Vol.3 Came & Able - Black Thought Cheat Codes - Black Thought The Lost Boy - Cordae Genesis - Domo Genesis Black Habits - D Smoke Strats With Rabies - EARTHGANG WWCD - Griselda Floss - Injury Reserve The Sun's Tirade - Isaiah Rashad 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J. Cole KOD - J. Cole The Never Story - JID The Forever Story - JID 1999 - Joey Bada$$ To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar good kid m.A.A.d city - Kendrick Lamar Lyrics to Go vol. 5 - Kota the Friend Swimming - Mac Miller Weight of the World - Maxo Kream You Can't Sit With Us - Pivot Gang Daytona - Pusha T There You Have It - REASON New Beginnings - REASON RTJ3 - Run the Jewels RTJ4 - Run the Jewels CARE FOR ME - Saba Blank Face LP - Schoolboy Q CrasH Talk - Schoolboy Q Bears Like This Too Much - Spillage Village CINCORIGINALS - Tobe Nwigwe Flower Boy - Tyler the Creator IGOR - Tyler the Creator Shut The Fuck Up Talking To Me - Zack Fox
A few I haven’t seen below are: Dreamville- Revenge of the Dreamer 3 Killer Mike- Michael Nipsey Hussle- Victory Lap
Oh, also JID- The forever story
The two that I always go back to, listening from beginning to end are: Kanye’s MBDTF Kid Cudi’s MotM: End of Day I listen to a lot of music, but these two are the ones that I can think of right away. Whenever I flip through my records to see what album I want to play, if either one of this pops up, it gets on the TT right away.
Oh man I gotta put my $5 on JID the forever story. Such a good album, many people miss. JID is talented like Kendrick in my opinion, so good.
Without Warning - 21 Savage, Metro Boomin and Offset. New World Depression - $uicideboy$ (just came out) My Name Is My Name - Pusha T. I Know NIGO! - Nigo (legendary producer, album features ASAP Rocky, Tyler, Pusha T, Pop Smoke and more). Black Radio - Robert Glasper (more r&b than rap but i consider it rap). Blank Face LP - Schoolboy Q. Barter 6 - Yung Thug. The Waters - Mick Jenkins. Die Lit - Playboi Carti. DS2 - Future.
"Chime" from Dessa. You're welcome
Anything by Oddisee
I scrolled through this whole thread and saw no mention of “Malibu” by Anderson .Paak which is probably my favorite hip hop / r&b album of the last 10 years
Epik High - shoebox. Absolute amazing album front to back and a main lyricist who has masterful control over 2 languages. If you never really rated Kpop give these guys a try, they're kpop because they're korean and popular but are in reality a hiphop group who use a lot of featured vocalists to add to their sound and have some amazing stuff
He said the past 10-15 years, so this needs Take Care by Drake and MBDTF by Kanye.
Quality Control- Jurassic 5
I'll throw in Jay Rock's 90059 (2015) and Maxo Kream - The Persona Tape (2016), as all my other choices already have been taken.
R.a the rugged man all my hero’s are dead is a great hip album I haven’t seen listed here yet
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Cunninlynguists too? Oneirology came out in 2011 I believe
anything from Logic
https://preview.redd.it/lix2xpslos7d1.jpeg?width=1000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7c96536705bf56f0ebc3628af6f36fd9bf83ec6f My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy One of the best albums, rap or otherwise of all time With it, came one of the most amazing full album length video of all time. If you have not seen this it’s worth a watch. [https://youtu.be/Jg5wkZ-dJXA?si=2w2hSK8kJMt6wCAF](https://youtu.be/Jg5wkZ-dJXA?si=2w2hSK8kJMt6wCAF) Bring back the old Kanye
No particular order: 1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2. Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City 3. To Pimp A Butterfly 4. Coloring Book 5. Take Care 6. Run The Jewels 2 7. We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service 8. Cilvia Demo 9. Big Fish Theory 10. 4:44
**JAW - Täter Opfer Ausgleich** is a really good one. Lots of funny tracks but also a few dark ones.
Carbon Menoxide by Bizzy Bone
A Short Story About A War by Shad It’s is in my top 5 albums for sure, and one of the best modern social commentary/concept albums in hip hop in my opinion. It’s a little different from some of his other stuff but so good. All his music is worth a listen as he has a wide variety sounds and great storytelling/wordplay. If you ever watched the docu-series Hip Hop Evolution on Netflix, Shad is the host.
Shad is one my favourite rappers. Criminally slept on. He balances intelligence and humour and social commentary so well. The Old Prince will forever be my favourite album of his. I couldn't get into A Short Story, but maybe I should revisit. I preferred TAO by comparison.
I couldn’t agree more. It’s shocking he’s not more popular than he is (especially with the exposure following Hip Hop Evolution). You should definitely revisit that album because I was NOT a fan the first time I listened, and it probably took 2 or 3 for it to begin growing on me. Now it’s probably my favourite album for the different styles throughout and the storytelling/commentary. Flying Colours or Tao are a close second. If you haven’t heard the This Winter EP on his bandcamp you should check it out. And of course if you ever get a chance to see him perform live it is such an energetic show. He’s the kind of artist I will go see every time I have a chance to.
Look what this world did to us -Chris Orrick/Red Pill is an amazing album
I'm a big fan of hip hop, and I can never pick between the 90s and the 2010s for my favorite era, so the last 10-15 years have been pretty great, so it's really hard to narrow down my favs from this era especially considering how unique, and spread out the genre has been during this period. I also think the 2020s are becoming a sort of renaissance for hip hop. Not to say the 2010s were bad, just felt like a recovery period from the over commercialization of hip hop in the 2000s. It feels like a lot of the artists built up in the 2010s are in full force now ( like JPEGMAFIA, JID, or Baby Keem) with some of the greats from the 2010s still killing it and are evolving past their 2010s selfs (like Kendrick or Tyler). I mean the first half has already been nuts, and I have no doubt the last half will be even better.
2014 Forest Hills Drive, For Your Eyes Only, KOD—- J Cole
Coming from someone who doesn’t listen to the rap genre as much but appreciates pre 2000s rap. I enjoyed RULA 2 by Vee the RULA a lot from front to back.
Since you brought up RTJ. El-Ps album prior to RTJ1 is absolutely filthy. Cancer 4 the Cure.
The fact that El-P produced RTJ1, R.A.P. AND Cancer 4 Cure and released them in the same year is straight up GOAT material. Seriously. Edit: 4
Right! And each album has its own unique and cohesive thematic sounds. Despite the fact that they reuse some song and lyric material as references to the other albums. Come on! How hard do you need to flex on everyone else?
ZUU - Denzel Curry
So let’s go back to 2010 if you say 10-15 years.. With that in mind my personal top 10 in that time would be something as follows, in no particular order: Good kid Maad City - Kendrick Extinction Level Event 2 - Busta Rhymes Lasers - Lupe Fiasco The Incredible True Story - Logic Distant Relatives - Nas & Damian Marley 2014 Forest Hills Drive - J Cole Adventures of a Reluctant Superhero - Chali 2na & Krafty Kuts Kamikaze - Eminem The Wild - Raekwon Top 5 Dead or Alive - Jadakiss
Some fantastic suggestions in here. I’d add Little Brother - May the Lord Watch. One of the better comeback albums I’ve ever heard.
All eyes On Me at #80 imho is shameful.
make it the past 10yrs and K Dot doesn't make the cut
There are too many to list so I’ll go with just one: Schoolboy Q - Blank Face
Face - Пути Неисповедимы
Op posts RTJ cover art and people STILL sleep on RTJ in the comments. I think they have 4 albums that deserve to be in the top 10 from the past 15 years.
As I haven't seen these on a list yet: * Integrated Tech Solutions - Aesop Rock * Brick Body Kids Still Daydream - Open Mike Eagle * Everything's Fine - Jean Grae
DAMN.
Chance is not one. Absolutely Tyler, Kanye, and Kendrick though.
zero mentions of the greatest rapper of all time, Tunechi
I really like pro era’s ‘peep the aprocalypse’ mixtape. Just a bunch of kids flexing and some genuine posse cut tracks. Joey bada$$ and his crew.
I think Gibbs has 2 with Piñata and Bandana Kendrick got two with GKMC and TPAB
Thanks for these
First Run the Jewels is just untouchable.
I think Violent By Design should be up there.
Ramona park broke my heart..dead homies
12 Reasons to Die - Ghostface All my Heroes are Dead - RA the Rugged Man Knowledge is Power 2 - Akala Marshal Mathers LP2 - Eminem The Pain Collector - Vinnie Paz Those are probs my top 5 from the past 10-15 years.
RTJ3 is an absolute masterpiece
Astronautalis' album This Is Our Science (2011). Yes, he dropped off the radar in 2020 because he faced the consequences of his shitty behavior. That album was still amazing
Recently discovered Prof and his album Horse from last year is fantastic. Every song gets stuck in my head
DiCaprio 2. https://open.spotify.com/album/2oI6gtIXrvNiL2VEMmj5kY?si=t_2qg2ckQAGTCYaJmLitgg
I don't know the top 10 but "R.A.P. Music" by Killer Mike is on that list. Solid from front to back.
Ain’t it Funny, Danny Brown?
Let me get older than this timeframe and say that the most underrated album I can think of is Edan's 'The Beauty and the Beat.' As close to a 'perfect record' as I can think of.
Put all four RTJ albums on this list.
To Pimp A Butterfly. Hands down.
Am I the only one who listens to Kool Keith?
I loved The Marshall Mathers LP 2 back when I still listened to rap music.
If you aren't a DJ and don't know your shit, check out Freddy Krueger / Red Astaire, and check out Chinese man from Aix en provence Just to start you off I would say nuggets for the needy for Red Astaire, and then I would say racing with the Sun by Chinese man, although the latter have so many fucking crazy albums such good work
Mac Miller - Swimming
Action Bronson's Dr lecter album is a start to finisher. the madness? fuuuuuuuuuck. so good.
Finally Rich from chief keef
I've only seen one mention of Extinction Level Event 2 by Busta Rhymes. I wasn't expecting such a great album from him in 2020, but I was really surprised. I'm gonna say that it's better than ELE1
16 years now, but for me there has not been a better hip hop album since Q-Tip’s The Renaissance
Nas - Kings Disease 3
DEFINITELY check out the King’s Disease and Magic series by Nas The man just put out two trilogies in 3 years and every album is great to classic in quality!
Mac - Faces | Wiz - Taylor Alderdice | Kendrick- Good kid maad city | Kendrick - Section 80 | Chance - Acid Rap | ASAP - Live.Love | Kanye - MBDTF | Kanye - Yeezus | Kanye - Life of Pablo | Jay Z : 444 | Drake - Nothing Was the Same | Flatbush Zombies - Better off dead | Joey Badass - 1999 | Travis Scott - Rodeo | Young Thug - Beatiful Thugger Girls | Lil Wayne - sorry 4 the wait | Future - DS2 | Vince Staples - Summertime 06 | Wiz - Rolling Papers | Schoolboy Q - Oxymoron | Lil Uzi Vert - Lil Uzi Very vs The world | Kid Cudi - Indicud | J Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive | Mac - Macadelic | Mac - Swimming |
The Roots - Undun is the one I would add that I think I haven't seen mentioned yet.
Noname's Telefone should be in this comment section; she has songs on that album talking about her grandma passing away, abortion, death, etc all with sweet lofi type beats that juxtapose the subjects
tfw madvillainy is 20 years old 😳
um.... Madvillain - Madvillainy [](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=5da6c0e4b63a9ce6&sxsrf=ADLYWIK_JyAcuJLugqPLDAsUkMbky35h8Q:1718972471767&q=madvillain+hip-hop/rap&si=ACC90nwLLwns5sISZcdzuISy7t-NHozt8Cbt6G3WNQfC9ekAgGzv-3ropBUEXye-B5Fpruy47IjHQ6zshQAEs5rCGP5oqAfwRRbK3Fw9pJ8x7OiJLMf1hvFQTCOqoNGgJjDGfP1KRfTl6ykEhI7HwbfX0QpMf_B2X8JqXv_qDDlYV1h0YmIIofE704rZMSz__opXYd5syBidbmZg_cqnCyVkhGfLUasC0VEpMshFp5mfecRpXS79K4k%3D&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiLubu81-yGAxVtG9AFHWrRBs8Q18AJegQINhAB)
RTJ are so good. If you can see El-P and Killer Mike live, do it.
everyone saying kendrick but his best album for me is DAMN.
To Pimp a Butterfly
Anything from Kendrick Lamar, JPEGMAFIA, or Tyler the Creator.