Complex's Best Albums of 2021

Here are Complex's picks for the best albums of 2021, ranging from Hip-Hop and R&B to Pop. Find out which if your favorite project is the top album of the year.

Published: December 01, 2021 18:55 Source

# 1
Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop
# 2
Album • May 14 / 2021 Conscious Hip Hop
# 3
30 by Adele
Album • Nov 19 / 2021 Pop Soul
# 4
Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B
# 5
EP • Jan 08 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul
# 6
Album • Aug 29 / 2021 Christian Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop
# 7
Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Contemporary R&B
# 8
Album • May 21 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop
# 9
Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop Alternative R&B
# 10
Album • Apr 30 / 2021 Neo-Soul
# 11
EP • Mar 19 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap
# 12
Album • Sep 03 / 2021 Pop Rap Trap
# 13
Album • Sep 27 / 2021 Trap West Coast Hip Hop
# 14
Album • Nov 12 / 2021 Smooth Soul
# 15
Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter
# 16
Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Trap Southern Hip Hop Gangsta Rap
# 17
Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop
# 18
Album • Aug 27 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap
# 19
Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap
# 20
Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Pop Contemporary R&B
# 21
Album • Jul 09 / 2021 Neo-Soul Contemporary R&B
# 22
Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Folk Pop Singer-Songwriter
# 23
Album • Oct 18 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop Trap
# 24
Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop
# 25
Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop
# 26
Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap
# 27
Dawn by Yebba
Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Neo-Soul Pop Soul
# 28
Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop
# 29
Album • Apr 16 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap Hardcore Hip Hop
# 30
Album • Jun 02 / 2021 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop Trap
# 31
Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop
# 32
Album • Aug 06 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop
# 33
Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Alternative R&B
# 34
Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic
# 35
Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Pop Rap Pop Trap
# 36
25 by G Herbo
Album • Jul 02 / 2021 Trap Gangsta Rap
# 37
Album • Apr 28 / 2021 Pop Rap Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 38
Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Alt-Pop Contemporary R&B
# 39
Album • Feb 12 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Trap
# 40
Album • Aug 13 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Drumless Abstract Hip Hop
# 41
Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop
# 42
Album • Oct 29 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap
# 43
Album • Jul 16 / 2021 Alternative Rock
# 44
Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Gangsta Rap
# 45
Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap
# 46
Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Atmospheric Drum and Bass Contemporary R&B Alt-Pop Downtempo
# 47
Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Pop Rap West Coast Hip Hop
# 48
Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Trap East Coast Hip Hop
# 49
Album • Sep 10 / 2021 Reggaetón Latin Pop
# 50
Album • Jun 11 / 2021 Trap Southern Hip Hop