Stereogum's 40 Best Rap Albums of 2015

Things got hot in 2015. After 2014, when most of rap’s biggest names took the year off, everyone was suddenly locked into a brutal competition to see who could claim rap’s top spot. Drake released two album-length projects in 2015, insisting that neither one was a proper album even though both of them cost actual […]

Published: December 07, 2015 14:50 Source

# 1

To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

Album • Mar 16 / 2015 Conscious Hip Hop West Coast Hip Hop Jazz Rap

# 2

Summertime '06 by Vince Staples

Album • Jun 30 / 2015 West Coast Hip Hop Hardcore Hip Hop

# 3

Surf by Nico Segal

Album • May 29 / 2015

# 4

DS2 (Deluxe) by Future

Album • Jul 17 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 5

If You're Reading This It's Too Late by Drake

Album • Feb 12 / 2015 Trap Pop Rap

# 6

SremmLife by Rae Sremmurd

Album • Jan 06 / 2015 Trap Pop Rap Southern Hip Hop

# 7

56 Nights by Future

Album • Mar 21 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 8

AT.LONG.LAST.A$AP by A$AP Rocky

Album • May 26 / 2015 East Coast Hip Hop

# 9

Compton by Dr. Dre

Album • Aug 21 / 2015 West Coast Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 10

Beast Mode by Future

Album • Jan 15 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 11

Barter 6 by Young Thug

Album • Apr 16 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 12

I Dont Like Shit, I Dont Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt by Earl Sweatshirt

Album • Mar 23 / 2015

# 13

Da Reality Show by Young Dro

Album • Sep 18 / 2015 Pop Rap Trap

# 15

Eat Pray Thug by Heems

Album • Mar 10 / 2015 East Coast Hip Hop Political Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop

# 16

What A Time To Be Alive by Drake + Future

Album • Sep 25 / 2015 Trap Pop Rap

# 17

Touch Down 2 Cause Hell by Boosie Badazz

Album • May 26 / 2015

# 18

Dreams Worth More Than Money by Meek Mill

Album • Jun 29 / 2015 Trap East Coast Hip Hop

# 19

Days With Dr. Yen Lo by Dr. Yen Lo

Album • May 16 / 2015 East Coast Hip Hop Abstract Hip Hop Drumless Experimental Hip Hop

# 20

The Documentary 2 by The Game

Album • Oct 09 / 2015 Gangsta Rap West Coast Hip Hop

# 21

Da' Nic by T.I.

EP • Sep 11 / 2015 Southern Hip Hop Trap

# 22

I LOVE MAKONNEN 2 by iLoveMakonnen

EP • Nov 20 / 2015 Cloud Rap Alternative R&B

# 24

Mr. Wonderful by Action Bronson

Album • Mar 23 / 2015 East Coast Hip Hop

# 25

Fetty Wap by Fetty Wap

Album • Sep 25 / 2015 Trap Pop Rap East Coast Hip Hop

# 26

Stackin' N Mackin', Vol. 3 by White Gzus

Album • Dec 20 / 2015

# 29

Integrity> by Jme

Album • May 04 / 2015 Grime

# 30

GO:OD AM by Mac Miller

Album • Sep 18 / 2015 Pop Rap Abstract Hip Hop

# 31

Shadow of a Doubt by Freddie Gibbs

Album • Nov 20 / 2015 Trap Gangsta Rap

# 33

MMM by Diddy

Album • Jan 08 / 2016 East Coast Hip Hop Pop Rap

# 34

Yung Rich Nation by Migos

Album • Jul 31 / 2015 Trap Southern Hip Hop

# 35

Deeply Rooted by Scarface

Album • Sep 04 / 2015 Southern Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 36

Riot Boi by Kalifa

Album • Nov 13 / 2015 Experimental Hip Hop East Coast Hip Hop UK Bass

# 37

Dark Sky Paradise by Big Sean

Album • Feb 24 / 2015 Pop Rap

# 38

Poverty and Prosperity by E-40

EP • Nov 20 / 2015 West Coast Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 39

Living Legend by Gunplay

Album • Jul 31 / 2015 Southern Hip Hop Gangsta Rap Trap

# 40

Hamilton: An American Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Lin-Manuel Miranda + Leslie Odom, Jr. + Phillipa Soo + Daveed Diggs + Christopher Jackson

Album • Sep 25 / 2015