Year in review: The best hip-hop albums of 2021

Artists typically release self-titled albums as their first project, so when they decide to release it later in their career, questions emerge of how personal the art will be. Three years after his third album “Big Fish Theory,” Vince Staples returns with his eponymous album. He worked with producer Kenny Beats on the album’s entirety, lacing the project with more laidback beats, which sonically is quite the contrast from his previous albums. However, Kenny’s more minimalist production with lo-fi sounds is perfect for Staples’ storytelling, particularly on songs like “LAW OF AVERAGES” and “TAKE ME HOME.” Clocking in at 22 minutes, the self-titled album is short and sweet, proof that quality beats quantity every time. 

Hip-Hop wouldn’t be the same without female MCs. Little Simz is back with her fourth studio album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert,” in which the rapper is trying to find a balance between her public image and private self. From the album’s opening track “Introvert,” Simz gives fans a cinematic classical production to enhance how she’s trying to stay grounded while dealing with the world’s chaos. On “Two Worlds Apart,” she takes the sample of Smokey Robinson’s “The Agony and The Ecstasy,” as she floats effortlessly about setting her standards. Whether she’s hyping women up on the boastful Cleo Sol-assisted single “Woman,” or storytelling about young people trying to navigate life on “Little Q Pt. 2,” Simz brings introspection, self-reflection, and vulnerability to the forefront. The orchestral arrangements marry Simz's narratives perfectly, bringing a music theater presence to a hip-hop masterpiece.

Tyler, The Creator has been in the music industry for a decade now. Although his true day one fans have been following his journey since the beginning, it finally seems like the rest of the world is catching up, especially after he won a Grammy for Best Rap Album for 2019’s “Igor.” The anticipation for his next album continued when he announced “Call Me If You Get Lost.” Tyler enlisted DJ Drama as the album’s host as an ode to the mixtape era, a time when the DJ's “Gangsta Grillz” series was a highly coveted listen on Datpiff. Back in 2010, Tyler tweeted that he wanted to create his own “Gangsta Grillz” project, and with his latest album, he tweeted that dream into existence. Tyler’s essence is how unpredictable he is on each album, fans can never be too sure about his artistic direction. Whether it’s his charisma and wit on “WUSYANAME” or the braggadocious flow on “HOT WIND BLOWS,” or his confidence on “RISE!,” Tyler continues to get better with time. For artists that need some direction, they might need to call Tyler if they're lost. 

When fans think of rappers of the blog era, Wale is a name that comes to mind. The blog era is when sites like Nahright, DJBooth, OnSmash, 2DopeBoyz, and The Smoking Section would highlight some of hip-hop’s rising stars. Wale’s latest album “Folarin II” is a sequel to his 2012 mixtape “Folarin” and showcases his growth over the last decade. Wale is holding roses on the album cover, with a reminder of how sometimes people should give themselves flowers as a form of praise. His confidence is endearing on “New Balances,” before he reflects on his journey on “Name Bell Ring.” In true Wale form, his poetic flow shines on tracks like “Caramel” and “Fluctuate,” and shows love to the DC go-go music scene on “Jump In.” Wale is well aware of his greatness and how much he should be in the conversation among his rap peers, if nobody else gives him praise, he’ll give it to himself—and rightfully so.

Dave is coming off the heels of his critically-acclaimed 2019 album “Psychodrama.” He returns with his latest “We’re All Alone In This Together” as he raps on his upbringing, mental health, and dealing with whatever the world throws at him. One of the album’s standouts is “Fire” featuring an all-star cast of Fredo, Ghetts, Giggs, and Meekz Manny, as they trade bars about life trials. He then teams up with James Blake and Kyle Evans on “Three Rivers,” as Dave educates fans on the relationship between Great Britain and immigrants. The piano-driven track sounds like it could easily be part of a score in a play about Great Britain’s history. In contrast to the gloomier tracks, Dave brings party bangers as well such as the Stormzy-assisted track “Clash” and flexing about his lifestyle alongside Wizkid on “System.” "We’re All Alone In This Together" combines everything from grime, to drill, to trap, to Afrobeats—showcasing Dave’s influences, but also respecting his roots. When the bar is set so high after a successful debut album, some artists may have a hard time following up, but “We All Alone In This Together” proves that Dave is just getting started.

Throughout most of his career, J. Cole is known for going platinum without any features. On his latest album “The Off-Season,” he goes against the grain and collaborates with artists like 21 Savage, Morray, Bas, Lil Baby, and 6LACK. What else does Cole have left to prove? He releases albums every couple of years, promotes them, and then he’s nonexistent on social media until the next album rollout. Cole is at a point in which he navigates his career and personal life on his own terms, that’s evident on his tracks “a p p l y i n g p r e s s u r e” and “1 0 0 . m i l.’” Another album standout is the Bas-assisted track, “l e t . g o . m y . h a n d” in which Cole finds himself facing growing pains as a parent. The title of this album fits into Cole’s mindset of consistently sharpening his craft to reach or surpass the heights of hip-hop’s elite.

When Nas won his first Grammy for his 2020 album “King’s Disease,” it was evident that his work relationship with producer Hit-Boy is the perfect formula. Nas returned this year with the album’s sequel “King’s Disease II,” and his lyrical prowess continues to shine through. Whether he’s detailing the East Coast/West Coast beef on “Death Row East,” highlighting his success on “Rare,” or hoping for peace in solitude on “Nobody,” there’s no doubt why Nas is often named one of the best lyricists in the game. It’s hard to believe that Nas has been in the industry for nearly 30 years, but with the assistance of Hit-Boy’s production here, he not only shows his veteran status but also how he can run with the younger generation. 

Moneybagg Yo has been in the industry for about a decade and it seems like he’s finally hitting his stride with his latest album “A Gangsta’s Pain.” The project went to number one on the Billboard 200 and the rapper earned a top 20 single with “Wockesha.” As Moneybagg gives fans some insight into his life, “A Gangsta’s Pain” shines with different styles of production. It’s evident across the tracklist, like the Ginuwine sample on “Hard For The Next,” the rework of a classic Luther Ingram hit on “If Pain Was A Person,” and a signature bounce from The Neptunes on “Projects.” Throughout the album, Moneybagg raps on themes about his upbringing, relationships, and success, before wrapping up his journey on the title track.

Fans have seen this type of formula before, a rapper and producer team up for a collaborative project. But this producer is Statik Selektah, who’s contributed to songs for The Lox, Snoop Dogg, Freddie Gibbs, Eminem, and Nas to name a few. This time around, Statik teams up with Kota The Friend on their joint project “To Kill A Sunrise.” Statik’s production of nostalgic hip hop mixed with jazz and classical elements is perfect for Kota’s smooth and poetic flow. With Statik being known as a producer from the golden era of hip-hop, the beats can seamlessly draw a fan in, making the project an easy listen. Whether Kota is rapping about people being there for him even at his lowest point on “The Love” or living the life he deserves on “Day Glow,” “To Kill A Sunrise” is a soulful rap project that beams with vulnerability and positivity.

If it's one thing that stands out about Polo G, the Chicago rapper thinks highly of himself, and it's evident with every album title. His first two albums were "Die a Legend" and "The Goat," and now the rapper returns with "Hall of Fame." His latest album earned him a number one spot on the Billboard 200 in addition to his top-charting hit "RAPSTAR." The variation of production showcases how "Hall of Fame" has songs for different moods. Whether Polo is ready to turn up on "Party Lyfe," wants to highlight his struggles alongside Young Thug on "Losses," or paints his celebrity lifestyle on "Fame & Riches," the album is filled with tracks to cater to anyone. Although the album is 20 tracks, "Hall of Fame" is solid a work of art that seemingly doesn't have filler songs to take up space. 

After releasing his hit song “Old Town Road” back in 2018, some people claimed that Lil Nas X would be just a one-hit-wonder and questioned whether he could consistently deliver. Well “Old Town Road” became the longest-running top song in Billboard Hot 100 history, and Lil Nas X hasn’t slowed down since. While his debut album “Montero” isn’t a traditional rap album at its core, Lil Nas X represents this new generation of pop-rap stars, as he fuses the two genres together. His single “Call Me By Your Name” caused quite a stir as the video showcased him giving Satan a lap dance. He then teamed up with Jack Harlow on their single “Industry Baby,” which plays on the theme of being an “industry plant,” and yet he continues to break records. Other standouts include “Dead Right Now” and the Doja Cat-assisted “Scoop.” Whether he’s trolling fans on the internet or planning a baby shower for the birth of his album, Lil Nas X embodies the type of artist with engaging album rollouts and interesting visuals, but he knows how to create moments that people will talk about.

Boldy James put the hip-hop world on notice in 2020 when he released his third album “The Versace Tape” to rave reviews. He returned this year and teamed back up with longtime collaborator The Alchemist on their joint project “Bo Jackson.” James has worked with a number of producers throughout his career, but his work with The Alchemist always seems to be a perfect rapper-producer match. The Alchemist is clearly a crate digger that experiments with vintage soul and jazz samples, and the nostalgic sound is perfect for James’ storytelling acrobatics. They both shine on tracks such as “Turpentine,” “Photographic Memories,” and “3^rd Person.”

Over the past several years, J. Cole’s Dreamville imprint has housed a roster of rising MCs and singers that obviously shine on collaborations, but showcase their star power in their own right. It’s been four years since rapper Lute released his last project “West 1996 Pt. 2,” before then contributing to the “Revenge of the Dreamers” compilation. Lute is living life on his own terms as he returns with his debut album “Gold Mouf.” On the album’s opening track “100,” Lute realizes that at times he can get in his own way, but still has dreams of accomplishing anything he wants. The rapper shines on the comforting essence on “Be Okay” and beams with confidence on “Flossin.” The 13-track album is sequencing perfection and proves that Lute is one to watch on the Dreamville label.

After D Smoke won the 2019 Netflix competition, “Rhythm + Flow,” he was put on the radar as a promising star from Inglewood. He released his debut album “Black Habits” to rave reviews in 2020, earning his first Grammy nomination. His latest album “War & Wonders” feeds off his predecessor, in which he raps about his upbringing in the city, overcoming struggles, and pushing for a better world. His conscious rap style, sprinkled with some Spanish bars, and a smooth cadence over soulful production is where D Smoke shines. Whether he’s giving people cloth talk on “Shame On You” or living life to the fullest despite what the world throws on “Stay True,” D Smoke wants listeners to realize the battles, but reiterate how one can move past them.

In a streaming world in which some rappers start to sound the same, JPEGMAFIA has always been an anomaly with his distinct sound. One minute, it sounds like he’s making tracks to fit a video game, the next minute, it sounds like he’s ready to perform in front of a hype crowd at Outside Lands. His latest album “LP!” exudes this exact type of energy. None of the beats on “LP!” sound the same, making it an album that can draw in any type of listener. Whether he’s showing love for ‘90s beatboxing on a track like “OG!” or flipping an R&B tune on “WHAT KIND OF RAPPIN’ IS THIS?,” JPEGMAFIA has no problem being the unorthodox rapper that could appeal to anyone.

In pure Griselda crew form, Mach-Hommy’s album “Pray For Haiti” fuses soul, jazz, and lo-fi sounds to match the rapper’s effortless flow. After having a falling out with his Griselda crewmate Westside Gunn, it’s nice to see the two reunite on this project. In addition to being the album’s executive producer, Gunn lends some bars on the smooth “Folie Á Deux.” Mach-Hommy shines the best with his fluid cadence and vivid imagery on songs like “The Stellar Ray Theory” “Marie,” and “Au Revoir.” His gritty essence paired with the soulful production lends for a smooth listen.

Artists on the Top Dawg Entertainment roster move to the beat of their own drum, and Isaiah Rashad is the peak embodiment of that. His previous album “The Sun’s Tirade” dropped in 2016 and he kept quite a low profile after that. Since that release, Rashad took five years to gift the world with his latest album “The House Is Burning.” Well, it was worth the wait. The album is Rashad’s victory lap in overcoming his issues with mental health, addiction, and blowing his money. Joining Rashad on his road of redemption are artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Smino, Jay Rock, SZA, and 6LACK. Some of the album standouts include "Headshots," "Score," and "Chad." Fans can only hope that he doesn’t wait another five years for his next album, but if he continues to use the time to be in a better space and mindset, music lovers will always appreciate that. 

Over the last several years, music fans have seen a lot more singing rappers make a splash in the industry. Rod Wave represents the new generation of sing-rappers adding new meaning to melodic hip-hop. It’s evident on his latest project “SoulFly,” his first album to top the Billboard 200 chart. Throughout the album, he talks about dealing with haters, his upbringing, the ups and downs of relationships, and his hustler spirit—as he croons across trap beats. Whether he’s boastful about the best is yet to come on “Shock da World” or the legacy he wants to leave behind on the gospel-centric “Tombstone,” Rod is fearless putting his emotions on display.

Topaz Jones had a big hit in 2016 with his single “Tropicana” and besides lending a couple of feature verses, fans didn’t hear a lot of music from him since then. That was until this year when the MC decided to drop his visual album “Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Mama.” The visual earned the rapper the Short Film Jury Award for Non-Fiction at the Sundance Film Festival, along with SXSW’s Special Jury Recognition for Visionary Storytelling. Jones’ love for soul and funk production is evident throughout the album on tracks like “Mirror” and “Baba 70s.” The rapper highlights themes of family ties, relationships, his upbringing, and injustices with a flow that fits perfectly across the nostalgic beats. Some of the other album standouts include the whimsical “Rich,” a song that everyone should play on payday, as well as “D.I.A.L.,” a track that is perfect to drive to. “Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma” is an essential album for listeners that appreciate hip-hop with a vintage sound.

IDK simply wants to do things his own way. After releasing his critically-acclaimed debut “Is He Real?” in 2019, IDK returns with his sophomore album “USEE4YOURSELF.” As the production spans through different tempos, the album has songs for anyone’s mood. “Santa Monica Blvd” and “Shoot My Shot” are perfect for a weekend party, whereas “Puerto Rico” and “Cry in Church” would fit a listener looking for a chill vibe. IDK ensures that he brings a few stars with him as he collaborates with artists like Young Thug, Offset, T-Pain, The Neptunes, Slick Rick, and the late MF DOOM. With all-star features, catchy hooks, impeccable flow switches, and fluid sonic layering—“USEE4YOURSELF” has everything fans could want from one of hip-hop’s rising stars.

When it comes to the Griselda roster, the labelmates typically feature one another on their projects. However, Benny The Butcher took a different route on his latest EP “The Plugs I Met 2.” This time around, Benny teams up with producer Harry Fraud in the album’s entirety. For fans who enjoy hearing street rap, Benny has plenty of gritty tales. The MC is solid in his delivery as he raps about drug dealers, plug investments, and a hustler’s mindset. While tracks like “Plug Talk” and “Live By It” find Benny in his usual music territory, other tracks like “Survivor’s Remorse” give introspection on his feelings of guilt with his success. Fraud’s production alongside Benny’s penmanship is perfect for drawing listeners into the rapper’s experiences and influences.

By looking at the album title “Weight of the World,” it gives fans the idea that Maxo Kream may show a bit more openness and vulnerability. The 16-track album is filled with themes of the rapper’s upbringing, growing pains, and self-realization. On “They Say,” it’s all about people critiquing his lifestyle, music, and success, and realizing that people probably won’t appreciate him until he’s no longer around. He also has no problem displaying a boastful, yet ambitious spirit on songs like “Big Persona,” before teaching listeners to watch out for fake and envious people on “FRFR.” He also details how much his life has changed on “Local Joker” and paints the tragic death of his brother on “Trips.” The world is constantly throwing battles at people, and Maxo is simply trying to make sure he can deal with all of life’s highs and lows.