Supply: pgLang
What a 12 months we had in rap music!
Profession-altering beefs, debut tasks that gave promising hope for the style’s future and the official rise of sisters doing it for themselves all contributed to this being one of the vital memorable eras in hip-hop historical past.
When it got here to the album releases we noticed this 12 months, it felt like everybody put their greatest foot ahead within the sales space to ship one thing worthy of successful “Finest Rap Album” on the 2025 GRAMMYs. Whereas we expect The Recording Academy acquired it proper for essentially the most half, the nominees at this 12 months’s ceremony solely start to scratch the floor of how nice hip-hop was in 2024.
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Every of the ten albums that full this record have been submitted by employees for a large number of causes. Some targeted on a mission’s influence over its gross sales, whereas others extra understandably went with a industrial juggernaut. You’ll discover each the fellas and the females acquired love, and we additionally did our greatest to maintain regional biases out of the decision-making course of. Nonetheless, we will’t say for certain {that a} tad little bit of favoritism didn’t come into play, so don’t be too salty in case your emcee of the 12 months didn’t make the lower!
Total although, we expect this record correctly represents the heavy hitters that reigned in hip-hop over the previous 12 months. Whether or not you helped to make Kendrick Lamar the style’s official “Massive Me,” cheered Megan Thee Stallion to the highest of the Billboard Scorching 100 in her struggle in opposition to the Barbz, welcomed the collaborative efforts between Widespread and Pete Rock or just noticed GloRilla because the ‘glowing’ star that she is, we expect you’ll discover it simple agreeing with our high 10.
Maintain scrolling to see our employees picks for the Finest Hip-Hop Albums of 2024, and be at liberty to hold forth on who you suppose we acquired proper and/or who you’d’ve selected as an alternative:
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:
KEENAN “HIGz” HIGGINS
J.R. “BANG” DAVIS
NIA NOELLE
PAIGE BOYD
MATTHEW “MATTY WILLZ” WILLIAMSON
KYA KELLY
JAMAAL BACHELOR
1. ‘GNX’ – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s album GNX shortly shot up the charts after its shock drop resulting from an unparalleled mix of lyrical depth, progressive manufacturing and cultural relevance. Kendrick continues to push the boundaries of hip-hop by exploring complicated themes of id, race and social justice, whereas seamlessly weaving collectively various musical influences together with his notorious double entendres. His masterful storytelling and poetic supply elevate the album past conventional rap, difficult listeners to replicate on each private and societal points. The manufacturing, alongside top-tier collaborators, created a dynamic soundscape that ranges from experimental to soulful — samples from Luther Vandross and 2Pac helped to make GNX not simply an album however an immersive expertise as properly. Between the discharge of GNX and his notorious battle with Drake, 2024 has solidified Kendrick Lamar’s place as one of many style’s most influential artists.
2. ‘Wonderful’ – GloRilla
It’s clear as day that GloRilla is 2024’s Rap Rookie Of The 12 months with the arrival of her correct debut LP. In fact, she first caught our consideration with the viral hit, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” launched again in 2022. Whereas she did have some missteps alongside the way in which — as any artist would! — Glo was in a position to be taught from them and, properly, develop. We noticed a glimpse of that development in her Ehhthang Ehhthang mixtape launched on the high of this 12 months, powered by the hits “Yeah Glo!” and Megan Thee Stallion-assisted banger, “Wanna Be.” By the point Wonderful arrived, we noticed her lastly get into her groove as a rapper. The tracks are rigorously crafted and present extra vary than her earlier efforts. From the braggadocious vibes of “Whatchu Kno About Me” and “Let Her Cook dinner” to the extra emotional vibes of “I Luv Her” and “Don’t Deserve,” we get to see a extra full image of the Southern emcee. We even dive into her non secular beliefs with “Rain Down On Me,” a pleasing shock on each the album and Billboard’s “Scorching Gospel Songs” chart. This album exhibits that, whereas she has some methods to go to achieve the higher echelon of feminine emcees, Massive Glo is properly on her means.
3. ‘Chromakopia’ – Tyler, The Creator
If there was ever a rap album made for stadiums, it’s Chromakopia from Tyler, the Creator. It’s about time that we begin to embrace Tyler in these “greatest rappers alive” dialog. If we’re being trustworthy, he’s in all probability the perfect dwell performer in hip-hop in the intervening time and this album does an important job at solidifying that assertion.
4. ‘Alligator Bites By no means Heal’ – Doechii
Phrases dilute the sheer brilliance that’s Doechii’s Alligator Bites By no means Heal. The girlies have been operating rap in 2024, however Doechii got here out the gate swinging in contrast to another! The TDE princess made an album that the majority would describe as nothing in need of ferocious, unapologetic and actual at its core. She mixes razor-sharp bars, buttery vocals, daring manufacturing and moments of rawness collectively in a means that showcase her versatility and fearlessness as an artist. Each observe felt like a press release, and the hooks appear to stay like glue. In the end although, it’s the storytelling and pure vitality that makes this album timeless.
5. ‘All people Can’t Go’ – Benny The Butcher
For followers of the East Coast boom-bap sound, Griselda’s run within the mid-2010s was nothing in need of wonderful. In an period that has pushed the pioneering grittiness of lyrical New York rap to the again of the bus, seeing Conway The Machine, Westside Gunn and Benny The Butcher pressure the business to concentrate by delivering mission after mission of cuts instantly aimed on the rap fan of yesteryear was refreshing to witness. Instances have modified after all, and Griselda as we all know it seems to be lots totally different because the labelmates, for essentially the most half, appear to be individually pursuing the following chapter of their tales as particular person emcees. Enter All people Can’t Go, Benny’s Def Jam debut that dropped earlier this 12 months. The manufacturing, finances and options all sound larger as Benny swings for the fences and makes his bid as one of the vital constant rappers out of The Empire State. Purists will argue that his earlier work has extra of the dirty aesthetic that made The Butcher nice, and thus, may take into account ECG to be a extra “industrial” mission than earlier efforts. Total although, this album is a stable entry into Benny’s catalogue and shows creative development as he steps into the following a part of his profession.
6. ‘Megan’ – Megan Thee Stallion
Single after single, Megan gave the impression to be delivering nothing however High 40 bangers. Nevertheless, it was the viral success of “HISS” that acquired it to the highest of the charts whereas additionally kicking off a 12 months full of viral beefs. Regardless that the album will probably be remembered for far more than Meg’s beef with Nicki Minaj — the Scorching Lady Summer time Tour and TikTok fame of “Mamushi” converse for itself — it doesn’t damage that she got here out on high in a scathing struggle in opposition to the Queen emcee.
7. ‘The Auditorium Vol. 1’ – Widespread & Pete Rock
For followers of ’90s hip-hop, Widespread’s 14th studio album, The Auditorium Vol. 1, is a masterclass in emceeing, beat choice and maturity. Widespread linked with legendary producer Pete Rock to ship a LP that anybody who longs for the Golden Period of hip-hop will love. The tone is ready from the opener “Dreamin’,” the place Widespread skates poetically over a jazzy instrumental. He references when he first touched the microphone and pays homage to legends like J Dilla, Kool G Rap, Prince and extra. Each rhyme is prolific, however his greatest stream could also be on “Now And Then.” The second-to-last document completes the tone of the complete mission, the place he once more effortlessly displays on the previous and current of rap music normally along with his journey all through.
8. ‘Blue Lips’ – ScHoolboy Q
Bringing his five-year hiatus to a highly-anticipated finish, ScHoolboy Q proved on Blue Lips that he hasn’t misplaced an oz. of creativity, charisma or his signature cadence. With manufacturing starting from the likes of The Alchemist and Infantile Main to a main workforce of in-house TDE producers, every observe provides a contact of individuality whereas nonetheless merging collectively to make one cohesive-sounding LP. The handful of options show that he performs properly with others (see: “Pop” with Rico Nasty, “Ohio” that includes Freddie Gibbs, the Ab-Soul-assisted “Foux”), however Q will get the job executed all by himself for essentially the most half.
9. ‘Please Don’t Cry’ – Rapsody
Getting the Phylicia Rashad to do the intro to your album must be a qualification for AOTY by itself, however fortunately Rapsody delivered much more greatness inside Please Don’t Cry to made the complete album a successful effort. The GRAMMY-nominated single “3:AM” with Erykah Badu is a transparent standout, however there’s a large number of flavors to select from as you go from reggae vibes (“By no means Sufficient”) to political statements (“He Shot Me”) and even a number of freaky anthems (“Lonely Girls”) thrown in for good measure. We love a various queen!
10. ‘We Don’t Belief You’ – Future & Metro Boomin
Even when the album was carried primarily by the viral sensation of “Like That” that includes Kendrick Lamar, there’s merely no denying the tradition shift that started with its launch. Outdoors of Okay.Dot’s standout providing, the LP noticed appearances from Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Rick Ross and The Weeknd that every served up vibes on their respective tracks. Total although, we’re simply glad this album was the one which acquired Kendrick again within the sales space!