Complex's Best Albums of 2023

From smooth R&B projects to hard-hitting rap albums and an unexpected project that made its way to the top—these are Complex’s picks for the best albums of 2023.

Published: December 14, 2023 17:47 Source

# 1
Album • Jun 16 / 2023 Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 2
SOS by SZA
Album • Dec 09 / 2022 Contemporary R&B Pop
# 3
Album • Jul 28 / 2023 Southern Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop Trap
# 4
Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Pop Rap West Coast Hip Hop
# 5
Album • Jun 16 / 2023 Southern Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop
# 6
Album • Aug 25 / 2023 Contemporary R&B
# 7
Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Pop Rap
# 8
Album • Dec 02 / 2022 Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 9
EP • Jan 20 / 2023 Sample Drill East Coast Hip Hop
# 10
Album • Jan 27 / 2023 Neo-Psychedelia Psychedelic Rock
# 11
Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 12
Album • Aug 11 / 2023 Jazz Rap Conscious Hip Hop Political Hip Hop
# 13
Album • Mar 31 / 2023
# 14
Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Reggaetón Latin Pop
# 15
Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 16
Album • Jun 27 / 2023 Detroit Trap
# 17
Album • Mar 17 / 2023 Trap
# 18
Single • Jun 04 / 2023
# 19
Album • Mar 31 / 2023 West Coast Hip Hop Drumless
# 20
Album • Apr 07 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul
# 21
Album • Oct 06 / 2023 Abstract Hip Hop Drumless West Coast Hip Hop
# 22
Album • Oct 06 / 2023
# 23
Album • Jun 09 / 2023 Trap
# 24
Album • Sep 29 / 2023 Contemporary R&B
# 25
Album • Feb 28 / 2023 Trap Southern Hip Hop
# 26
Album • Apr 28 / 2023 Neo-Soul
# 27
Album • Dec 12 / 2022 Conscious Hip Hop UK Hip Hop
# 28
Album • Oct 27 / 2023 Contemporary R&B
# 29
Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Rage Southern Hip Hop
# 30
Album • Sep 15 / 2023 Neo-Soul Smooth Soul
# 31
Album • Oct 13 / 2023 Abstract Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop
# 32
Album • Nov 10 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Alt-Pop Electronic Dance Music
# 33
Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Alternative R&B Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop
# 34
Album • Jun 09 / 2023 Afrobeats Alternative R&B
# 35
Album • Mar 03 / 2023 Neo-Soul Contemporary R&B
# 36
EP • May 19 / 2023 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul
# 37
Album • Mar 03 / 2023 Contemporary R&B
# 38
Album • Feb 24 / 2023 Rage
# 39
Album • Nov 10 / 2023 Trap
# 40
Album • Jul 21 / 2023 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop
# 41
Album • May 19 / 2023 Pop Rap West Coast Hip Hop
# 42
Album • Dec 08 / 2023 Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop
# 43
Album • Feb 10 / 2023 Alternative R&B Electronic
# 44
Album • Nov 17 / 2023 Conscious Hip Hop
# 45
Album • Jul 07 / 2023 Reggaetón
# 46
Album • Nov 17 / 2023 Southern Hip Hop Trap
# 47
Album • Oct 20 / 2023 Alternative R&B
# 48
Album • May 05 / 2023 East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop
# 49
Album • Oct 27 / 2023 Contemporary R&B
# 50
Album • Sep 22 / 2023 Trap Pop Rap