The FADER's 50 Best Albums of 2021

Our list of the albums that defined and transcended 2021, from Tyler, The Creator to Porter Robinson, Jazmine Sullivan to Doja Cat.

Published: December 14, 2021 18:27 Source

# 1

Nurture by Porter Robinson

Album • Apr 23 / 2021 Electropop Synthpop

# 2

CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST by Tyler, The Creator

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop

# 3

Absolutely by Dijon

Album • Nov 05 / 2021 Alternative R&B Neo-Soul

# 4

Heaux Tales by Jazmine Sullivan

EP • Jan 08 / 2021 Contemporary R&B Neo-Soul

# 5

VICE VERSA by Rauw Alejandro

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Latin Pop

# 6

Pray For Haiti by Mach-Hommy

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

# 7

Planet Her by Doja Cat

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Pop Rap Contemporary R&B

# 8

When Smoke Rises by Mustafa

Album • May 28 / 2021 Neo-Soul Singer-Songwriter

# 9

Sounds of My World by Juls

Album • Oct 08 / 2021 Afrobeats Afroswing

# 10

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz

Album • Sep 03 / 2021 UK Hip Hop Conscious Hip Hop

# 11

The Fool by Bladee

Album • May 28 / 2021 Cloud Rap Trap Pop Rap

# 12

Solitario by Blue Rojo

Album • Nov 17 / 2021 Alternative R&B

# 13

Inbred by Ethel Cain

EP • Apr 23 / 2021 Slowcore Dream Pop

# 14

GLOW ON by Turnstile

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Post-Hardcore Alternative Rock

# 15

Haram by Armand Hammer + The Alchemist

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

# 16

Promises by Floating Points + Pharoah Sanders

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Post-Minimalism Third Stream

# 17

Love is War by Prettyboy D-O

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Afrobeats

# 18

MONTERO by Lil Nas X

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Pop Rap Pop Trap

# 19

Chemtrails Over The Country Club by Lana Del Rey

Album • Mar 19 / 2021 Singer-Songwriter

# 20

fragments by Rachika Nayar

EP • Aug 13 / 2021 Ambient Psychedelic Folk

# 21

Vince Staples by Vince Staples

Album • Jul 09 / 2021 West Coast Hip Hop Trap

# 22

Cavalcade by black midi

Album • May 26 / 2021 Avant-Prog

# 23

drive-by lullabies by quinn

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Electronic

# 24

Blue Weekend by Wolf Alice

Album • Jun 04 / 2021 Alternative Rock

# 25

The House Is Burning by Isaiah Rashad

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 Southern Hip Hop

# 26

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power by Halsey

Album • Aug 27 / 2021 Art Pop Alternative Rock Electronic

# 27

Rhinestones by HTRK

Album • Sep 17 / 2021 Ambient Pop Psychedelic Folk

# 28

KG0516 by KAROL G

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Reggaetón Latin Pop

# 29

Bo Jackson by Boldy James + The Alchemist

Album • Aug 13 / 2021 Gangsta Rap

# 30

Setsubun (節分) by Fuubutsushi

Album • Feb 02 / 2021 ECM Style Jazz Ambient Chamber Jazz Modern Creative

# 31

ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH by SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE

Album • Apr 09 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Noise Pop

# 32

Navy's Reprise by Navy Blue

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

# 33

Adolescence by Unknown T

Album • Jul 30 / 2021 UK Drill UK Hip Hop Gangsta Rap

# 34

Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

Album • Jan 29 / 2021 Contemporary Folk

# 35

Menneskekollektivet by Lost Girls + Jenny Hval + Håvard Volden

Album • Mar 26 / 2021 Electronic Art Pop

# 36

Fresh Bread by Sam Gendel

Album • Feb 26 / 2021 Nu Jazz

# 37

SOUR by Olivia Rodrigo

Album • May 21 / 2021 Pop Singer-Songwriter

# 38

At the Moonbase by Slaughter Beach, Dog

Album • Dec 24 / 2020 Indie Pop Indie Folk

# 39

Fatigue by L’Rain

Album • Jun 25 / 2021 Neo-Psychedelia Neo-Soul

# 40

Dariacore by leroy

Album • May 14 / 2021 Electronic Dance Music Mashcore

# 41

We Will Always Love You by The Avalanches

Album • Dec 11 / 2020 Neo-Psychedelia Electronic

# 42

Showtunes by Lambchop

Album • May 21 / 2021 Chamber Pop

# 43

to hell with it by PinkPantheress

Album • Oct 15 / 2021 Atmospheric Drum and Bass Contemporary R&B Alt-Pop Downtempo

# 44

Infinite Granite by Deafheaven

Album • Aug 20 / 2021 Shoegaze

# 45

Whole Lotta Red by Playboi Carti

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

# 46

LV N ATTN by Lojay + Sarz

EP • Jun 04 / 2021 Afrobeats

# 47

Shade by Grouper

Album • Oct 22 / 2021 Contemporary Folk Singer-Songwriter

# 48

Colourgrade by Tirzah

Album • Oct 01 / 2021 Minimal Wave Art Pop

# 49

Lucy & Aaron by Aaron Dilloway + Lucrecia Dalt

Album • Jul 13 / 2021 Tape Music Industrial

# 50

Dope Game Stupid by Bruiser Wolf

Album • Mar 29 / 2021 Gangsta Rap Abstract Hip Hop