Complex's 50 Best Albums of 2012

As the year comes to a close, we look back at the full-length projects that defined it.

Published: December 18, 2012 17:49 Source

# 1

good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 West Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 2

channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean

Album • Jul 10 / 2012 Alternative R&B Contemporary R&B

# 3

Rich Forever - Single (Tribute to Rick Ross & John Legend) by Rich Forever

Single • Apr 04 / 2012

# 4

Born To Die by Lana Del Rey

Album • Jan 30 / 2012 Alt-Pop Chamber Pop

# 5

Habits & Contradictions by ScHoolboy Q

Album • Jan 14 / 2012 West Coast Hip Hop

# 6

The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do by Fiona Apple

Album • Jun 18 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Art Pop

# 7

Grief Pedigree by KA

Album • Feb 11 / 2012 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 8

Taylor Allderdice by Wiz Khalifa

Album • Mar 13 / 2012 Pop Rap

# 9

Pluto by Future

Album • Apr 17 / 2012 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 10

Cancer 4 Cure by EL-P

Album • May 22 / 2012

# 11

Visions by Grimes

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Synthpop

# 12

Life Is Good by Nas

Album • Jul 17 / 2012 East Coast Hip Hop

# 13

Bloom by Beach House

Album • May 15 / 2012 Dream Pop Indie Pop

# 14

Dreamchasers 2 by Meek Mill

Album • May 07 / 2012 Gangsta Rap East Coast Hip Hop

# 15

Beach House by Ty Dolla $ign

EP • Jan 21 / 2014 Pop Rap West Coast Hip Hop

# 16

Unapologetic by Rihanna

Album • Nov 19 / 2012 Contemporary R&B Dance-Pop

# 17

Kaleidoscope Dream by Miguel

Album • Sep 25 / 2012 Alternative R&B

# 19

(III) by Crystal Castles

Album • Nov 07 / 2012 Synthpop Witch House

# 20

Control System by Ab-Soul

Album • May 11 / 2012 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop

# 21

2 by Mac DeMarco

Album • Oct 16 / 2012 Jangle Pop Bedroom Pop

# 22

Master of My Make-Believe by Santigold

Album • Apr 21 / 2012 Indietronica Electropop

# 23

The Haunted Man (Deluxe Version) by Bat for Lashes

Album • Oct 12 / 2012

# 24

Kanye West Presents Good Music Cruel Summer (Edited Version) by Various Artists

Album • Sep 18 / 2012

# 25

TNGHT by TNGHT

EP • Jul 23 / 2012 Trap [EDM] Wonky

# 26

Detroit by Big Sean

Album • Sep 05 / 2012 Hip Hop

# 27

Coexist by The xx

Album • Sep 10 / 2012 Dream Pop Ambient Pop Alt-Pop

# 28

Finally Rich by Chief Keef

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Gangsta Rap

# 29

Shrines by Purity Ring

Album • Jul 20 / 2012 Synthpop

# 31

Celebration Rock by Japandroids

Album • Jun 05 / 2012 Indie Rock

# 32

R.A.P. Music by Killer Mike

Album • May 15 / 2012 Southern Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop Political Hip Hop

# 33

Devotion by Jessie Ware

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Alternative R&B

# 34

Wiki93 by RATKING

EP • Nov 02 / 2012 East Coast Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 35

Attack On Memory by Cloud Nothings

Album • Jan 24 / 2012 Post-Hardcore Indie Rock Emo

# 36

Im Still a Hitta by Lil Durk

Album • Apr 03 / 2012

# 37

Lonerism by Tame Impala

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock

# 38

1999 by Joey Bada$$

Album • Jun 12 / 2012 Boom Bap East Coast Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 39

Local Business by Titus Andronicus

Album • Oct 22 / 2012 Indie Rock Punk Rock

# 40

The Money Store by Death Grips

Album • Apr 23 / 2012 Industrial Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 42

Swing Lo Magellan by Dirty Projectors

Album • Jul 10 / 2012 Art Pop Indie Pop Progressive Pop

# 43

Pineapple Now-Laters by BJ the Chicago Kid

Album • Feb 21 / 2012 Contemporary R&B

# 44

Confess by Twin Shadow

Album • Jul 09 / 2012 Synthpop New Wave

# 45

Jesus Piece by The Game

Album • Jan 01 / 2012 West Coast Hip Hop Pop Rap

# 46

Home Again by Michael Kiwanuka

Album • Mar 12 / 2012 Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 47

Sweet Jamaica by Mr. Vegas

Album • May 29 / 2012 Reggae Dancehall

# 48

Reloaded by Roc Marciano

Album • Dec 25 / 2020 East Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap Drumless

# 49

...Little Broken Hearts by Norah Jones

Album • Apr 25 / 2012 Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop

# 50

Macadelic by Mac Miller

Album • Mar 23 / 2012 Cloud Rap East Coast Hip Hop