Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2021

Billboard's editorial staff picks their 50 favorite albums of 2021.

Published: December 06, 2021 18:14 Source

# 1

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 2

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 3

MONTERO by Lil Nas X

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Pop Rap Pop Trap

# 4

30 by Adele

Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul

# 5

Planet Her by Doja Cat

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 6

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic

# 7

An Evening With Silk Sonic by Bruno Mars + Anderson .Paak + Silk Sonic

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul

# 8

Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alt-Pop Contemporary R&B

# 9

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

EP • Jan 08 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 10

El Madrileño by C. Tangana

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Latin Pop Alternative R&B Flamenco Pop

# 11

The Melodic Blue by Baby Keem

Album • Sep 27 / 2021 Trap West Coast Hip Hop

# 12

INSIDE by Bo Burnham

Album • Jun 10 / 2021

# 13

star-crossed by Kacey Musgraves

Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Folk Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 14

to hell with it by PinkPantheress

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Atmospheric Drum and Bass Contemporary R&B Alt-Pop Downtempo

# 15

Collapsed In Sunbeams by Arlo Parks

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Bedroom Pop Neo-Soul

# 16

Jubilee by Japanese Breakfast

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Indie Pop Chamber Pop

# 17

Still Over It by Summer Walker

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 18

Certified Lover Boy by Drake

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Pop Rap Trap

# 19

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 20

Valentine by Snail Mail

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Indie Rock Indie Pop

# 21

The House Is Burning by Isaiah Rashad

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop

# 22

When It's All Said And Done... Take Time by GIVĒON

Album • Mar 12 / 2021 Contemporary R&B

# 23

In These Silent Days by Brandi Carlile

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Americana

# 24

KG0516 by KAROL G

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Reggaetón Latin Pop

# 25

Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift

Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Pop Rock Singer-Songwriter

# 26

if i could make it go quiet by girl in red

Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Indie Pop Alt-Pop

# 27

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 28

Table For Two by Lucky Daye

EP • Feb 12 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Alternative R&B

# 29

The Lockdown Sessions by Elton John

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Pop

# 30

Nurture by Porter Robinson

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Electropop Synthpop

# 31

Inédito by Carin Leon

Album • May 07 / 2021

# 32

The Off-Season by J. Cole

Album • May 14 / 2021 Conscious Hip Hop

# 33

SEIS by Mon Laferte

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Ranchera

# 34

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 35

29: Written In Stone by Carly Pearce

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Contemporary Country

# 36

Justice by Justin Bieber

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Pop Contemporary R&B

# 37

VICE VERSA by Rauw Alejandro

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Latin Pop

# 38

in defense of my own happiness by Joy Oladokun

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk

# 39

Donda by Kanye West

Album • Aug 29 / 2021 Christian Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 40

I Don’t Live Here Anymore by The War on Drugs

Album • Oct 29 / 2021 Heartland Rock

# 41

lately I feel EVERYTHING by WILLOW

Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 42

If Orange Was A Place by Tems

EP • Sep 14 / 2021 Neo-Soul Afrobeats Alternative R&B

# 43

Life Of A Don by Don Toliver

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop Alternative R&B

# 44

Actual Life (April 14 - December 17 2020) by Fred again..

Album • Apr 15 / 2021 Future Garage Deep House

# 45

LYKE MIKE by Myke Towers

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Trap

# 46

Little Oblivions by Julien Baker

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Indie Rock

# 47

times by SG Lewis

Album • Feb 19 / 2021 Nu-Disco

# 48

Dum and Dummer 2 by Young Dolph + Key Glock

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Trap Southern Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 49

The Marfa Tapes by Jack Ingram + Miranda Lambert + Jon Randall

Album • May 07 / 2021 Country Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 50

Sling by Clairo

Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter Contemporary Folk