As the year 2019 comes to a close, it’s fitting to take a retro rewind trip down memory lane to spotlight the best Hip Hop albums of the decade. Some were close, and others might be unsung; nevertheless, there can only be one supreme that stands above the rest.
2010
Strong 2nd:
Nicki Minaj — Pink Friday
A couple of years prior, with the help of untouchable DVD freestyles, critically praised mixtapes and guest appearances that outshined the host, Nicki Minaj’s masterful debut set up a throne that the Queen MC sat on for years to come.
Holy Contenders:
Waka Flocka — Fockavelli
Drake — Thank Me Later
Raekwon — Only Built For Cuban Linx 2
Quiet Storm Pic:
Kid Cudi — Man On The Moon 2
№1
Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
All Of The Lights, Runaway, and Blame Game are just a few tracks that still make the head twist with a joyful ugly face till this day!!!.
2011
Strong 2nd
Tyler The Creator — Goblin
This album leads a rebirth of the DGAF says anything type music.
Holy Contenders:
Jay Z & Kanye West — Watch The Throne
Kendrick Lamar — Section 80
Wale — Ambition
Quiet Storm Pick:
Childish Gambino — CAMP
№1
Drake — Take Care
This album not gave birth to acronym rap(HYFR and YOLO) but displayed Drizzy’s versatile sing rap style that became the blueprint for a tomorrow generation rappers whose name begins with Lil.
2012
Strong 2nd
Nas — Life Is Good
Unfortunately, Hip Hop heartache never sounded so good.
Holy Contenders
Killer Mike — R.A.P. Music
Rick Ross — God Forgives, I Don’t
2 Chainz — Based On A True Story
Quiet Storm Pick:
Joey Badass — 1999
№1:
Kendrick Lamar — Good Kid Mad City
GKMC took us through a verbal-visual day in Compton that grab the attention wave fans and the respect of purists that all choose KDot to be their leader.
2013
Strong 2nd
Pusha T — My Name Is My Name
Holy Contenders:
Mack Miller — Watching Movies w/ The Sound Off
Wale — The Gifted
Drake — Nothing Was The Same
Quiet Storm Pick:
Curren$y — New Jet City
№1
J.Cole — Born Sinner
On the surface, J.Cole challenge Kanye West by dropping his album on the same day, but underneath one can see the challenge was to himself as he diversity his style on New York Times and carried a legacy with Let Nas Down.
2014
Strong 2nd
YG — My Krazy Life
Storytelling disrespectful gangsta music that one could boogie to in their Chucks at a pool party off Crenshaw.
Holy Contenders
SchoolBoy Q — OxyMoron
Logic — Under Pressure
Nicki Minaj — The Pink Print
Quiet Storm Pick:
Rapsody — Beauty And The Beast
№1
J.Cole — 2014 Forrest Hill Drive
The metamorphosis of Jermaine Cole from a rapper who is nice on the mic to an iconic artist.
2015
Strong 2nd
Wale — The Album About Nothing
This album shows that when Wale raps on beat and doesn’t stray away off-topic between verses, he is in the top 5 categories.
Holy Contenders:
Future — DS2
Vince Staples — Summertime 06
Drake — If You’re Reading This
Quiet Storm Pick:
Jay Rock — 90059
№1
Kendrick Lamar — To Pimp A Butterfly
The greatest most far-left sophomore album in the history of Hip Hop.
2016
Strong 2nd
Bas — Too High To Riot
A pioneer album that describes in gritty melodic fashion the emotional roller-coaster aftereffects of depression caused by drug abuse.
Holy Contenders:
Run The Jewels — Run The Jewels 3
Childish Gambino — Awaken My Love
Isaiah Rashad — The Sun’s Tirade
Quiet Storm:
3D Na Tee — The Regine
№1
A Tribe Called Quest — We Got It From Here Now, Thank You For Your Service
An excellent finale from a legendary group.
2017
Strong 2nd
Rapsody — Laila’s Wisdom
The North Carolina MC debut quickly moved her into the Top 5 Alive all gender aside.
Holy Contenders:
Big KRIT — 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time
Jay Z — 4:44
Migos — Culture
Quiet Storm Pick:
Cardi B — Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 2
№1
Kendrick Lamar — DAMN.
DAMN. is a forward-reverse lyrical tale matched by upscale production that cemented Kendrick Lamar as this generation’s GOAT.
2018
Strong 2nd
J.Cole — KOD
Kevin’s Hart, 1985, everything in between are repeat status tracks that showcase J.Cole’s characteristics of vulnerability and beast mode.
Holy Contenders:
Royce Da 5’9 — Book Of Ryan
Cardi B — Invasion Of Privacy
XXXTentacion — ?
Quiet Storm Pick:
Westside Gunn — Supreme Bilentele
№1
Nipsey Hussle — Victory Lap
The official debut album that displayed Nipsey Hussle’s blue-collar grind with gritty descriptive rhyme flows added with a west coast sound that crowned him as Cali’s King.
2019
Strong 2nd
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — Bandana
Sharp rhymes and authentic beats that pay great tribute to the MC and DJ golden era days.
Holy Contenders:
Lizzo — Cuz I Love You
DaBaby — Kirk
Tyler The Creator — IGOR
Quiet Storm Pick:
Dreamville — Revenge Of The Dreamers 2
№1
Rapsody — EVE
Like the title, EVE made Rapsody the mother of all in 2019
Best Album Of The Decade
Kanye West — My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Few artists are fortunate to create at minimum one classic, while Kanye West elevated to more elite status by creating a second. MBDTF is a collection of all things Kanye, the artist: rapper, producer, and arranger merged with the complexity of his public persona. From Lost In The World, delicate beginnings of a chorus whisper to its passionate drums of sentimental thunder. Power plays as an alarm clock for a purposeful life while Monster presents him as an equal with his idol Jay-Z. MBDTF is a classic Hip Hop creation that not only outshines any other album of the decade but will forever sit in the heavens of musical godhood.
