Stereogum's 10 Best Rap Albums of 2021

In 2021, the grand and majestic rap stars all let us down. Drake made another commercial megalith, an album that dominated charts to an absurd degree, and it was just OK. Kanye West made a vast weeks-long spectacle of his album release, and the album itself was just OK. J. Cole made a pretty good J. Cole album, which isn’t letting us down per se, but it’s not lighting anyone’s world on fire, either. Kendrick Lamar, once again, did not release an album.

Published: December 15, 2021 15:51 Source

# 1

Hall of Fame by Polo G

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Trap Pop Rap

# 2

A Martyr's Reward by KA

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop Drumless Abstract Hip Hop

# 3

Bo Jackson by Boldy James + The Alchemist

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Gangsta Rap

# 4

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Abstract Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 5

Whole Lotta Red by Playboi Carti

Album • Dec 25 / 2020 Trap Rage Southern Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop

# 6

Pray For Haiti by Mach-Hommy

Album • May 21 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 7

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 8

I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES by Backxwash

Album • Jun 20 / 2021 Industrial Hip Hop Horrorcore

# 9

Half God by Wiki

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 East Coast Hip Hop Drumless

# 10

Bigger Than Life Or Death by EST Gee

Album • Jul 21 / 2021 Gangsta Rap Trap Southern Hip Hop