***Top 225 Rap Albums of 2021***
The Rap Pundit’s picks for the ”BEST” (a.k.a. My Favorite) Rap Albums of 2021
What more can I say about the year that’s been 2021 that hasn’t already been said? I have plenty of good things to say about the past 12 months, and I have plenty of bad things to say about 2021...but when it comes to the soundtrack, I have nothing but joy and appreciation for rap music in 2021. The talent pool continues to expand at a global scale, and it’s harder than ever to stay on top of all the quality rap releases each week, but at the end of the day, what a lovely problem to have to manage.
I wanted to drop my own list of the best rap albums of 2021 last week- let’s call that Version 1 - but simply too much great music dropped this year, it would be a crime to miss out on acknowledging all of my favorite releases in some capacity. SO BEHOLD, VERSION 2: 225 OF THE YEAR’S BEST DAMN RAP ALBUMS/EPs/MIXTAPES/WHATEVER (I don’t even know how most folks differentiate “a collection of songs” nowadays, my only criteria for inclusion on this list is that the project had to consist of at least 6 songs).
R.I.P. Drakeo the Ruler, Young Dolph, and so many other talented people that we lost this year. You, your families, your fans, your communities and society in general all deserved better...but so many will be forever grateful for the art that you shared during your all-too-brief time with us. 🙏
Now let’s get to it, because we have A LOT to cover..starting with the Top 10:
10. Disco! by MIKE
Very few artists could claim to be as impactful to the modern music landscape as MIKE. The gifted New York MC and producer has been every bit as influential to the suddenly packed lane of experimental underground rap artists as Earl Sweatshirt, and what was once called “lo-fi” or a “sub-genre” by many is now a driving creative force in rap music today, with peers such as Navy Blue, AKAI SOLO, Maassai, Mavi, Maxo and others now seated at the forefront of avant garde rap music.
Every MIKE release sounds like a dreamy, flowing exploration of whatever thoughts were going through his head at the moment his head hit the pillow. Dating back to his last album (2020′s Weight of the World), he has been very open about processing the loss of his mother, and while he continues down that path with Disco!, here we find him on the emotional rebound, heading down an increasingly bright tunnel where the dawn is almost within reach. Disco! is arguably the best sounding album of MIKE’s career, as he seems to be hitting new strides both as a song writer and a producer (a big s/o to MIKE’s equally gifted alter-ego behind the boards, DJ BlackPower).
9. Razor’s Edge by Rome Streetz & Futurewave
Picking the best Rome Streetz moment of 2021 feels a little like picking your favorite day of 2021, since he was feasting on the rap game since the ball dropped back in January. Releasing multiple strong-to-great projects and who-the-hell-knows how many fantastic feature verses (dude is an absolutely workhorse), I’m sure fans all have varying opinions on what his best release was this year, likely listing out project titles in a 1a, 1b, 1c etc. fashion. For me, Razor’s Edge has it all, and as 2021 draws to a close it remains one of my top ten favorite albums of the year.
A lot of fans mention Headcrack as the moment they became a Rome Streetz fan, a 2019 release also fully produced by Toronto’s Futurewave (a force in his own right, well on the way to elite status). That now feels like a stepping stone to Razor’s Edge. Both artists have continued to steadily sharpen their tools since then, which has made Razor a tightly woven, dark collection of cautionary tales and assessments of the booby-trap laced city of New York that Rome Streetz calls home. This album manages to recapture the throwback sentiments of old boom-bap NYC, while also sounding fresh and forward-thinking in every way possible.
8. Call Me If You Get Lost by Tyler, the Creator
Surely a popular choice for rap AOTY, and with good reason. On Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler, the Creator spotlights his skills as a MC and rap artist, but it’s mostly Tyler’s charisma and swagger that makes this album so special. It’s so clear that Tyler has his fanboy hat on as snug as possible over the course of the whole project, because from the DJ Drama inclusion to the sample choices to the loose, free spirit he has throughout Call Me, it seems that the primary creative force behind this album was a renewed love for rapping. It put an extra bounce in his step, and it’s contagious. It’s what makes him such a great figurehead for the mainstream-underground tug of war that’s happening in rap music at the moment. Tyler is a fantastic ambassador of quality music, either as a staunch representative of the underworld sewers where rappers “just spit bars”, or catchier, more radio ready fodder that sounds sunny enough to earn Pharrell’s blessing.
The time when I would not have been surprised to hear Tyler sample a Gravediggaz song has long since passed, so a single like “LUMBERJACK” was a curve ball that manages to dodge feeling like a reach for the underground rap accolades that former Odd Future teammate Earl Sweatshirt has lamped under for some time, but a culmination of Tyler’s journey from The Odd Future Tape up through Flower Boy and Igor, up to the present day. Tyler has always been a studio rat so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he is able to see where rap is trending, or that he is one of the most important voices within it. What does still need some time to get used to is Tyler consistently crushing rap verses the way he has been these past two years. Sure he’s important to the whole music biz, but when it comes to the future of mainstream rap music, right now he may just be the most important piece of the puzzle.
7. Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sides A & B by Westside Gunn
To honor the man himself, I will be viewing Hitler Wears Hermes 8 as a double-album (exactly as the artist intended, in spite of the separation of release dates between Side A and Side B). Viewed separately, HWH8 Side A and HWH8 Side B are strong contributions in their own right, but together they serve as yet another blunt instrument wielded by the Griselda army to pound their competition into submission.
As both the front man and loudest member of the growing Griselda empire, Westside Gunn hyped the release of the eighth (and final??) installment of his controversially titled mixtape series for over a year, and during that time the star power behind Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine and Benny the Butcher has risen sharply...almost as sharply as the industry around them has taken notice. With rap music trending towards more traditionally underground rap aesthetics, and with peers taking notice and wanting to rub elbows with the Buffalo collective more and more often (imagine how absurd a 2 Chainz or Lil Wayne feature on a Griselda project would have seemed back in 2016), it would have been fairly straightforward to allow HWH8 to pass through on cruise control. Fortunately for fans, Westside Gunn has the spirit of a Finn Balor living inside of him: one part earnest worker, one part raging demon.
It’s fair to give a great deal of credit to Gunn for not only crafting and curating the final product, but for being the spark that keeps Griselda sounding as hungry as ever in spite of their underground-turned-sort-of-above-ground celebrity status. It’s fun to discuss preference between Side A and Side B, especially amongst longer standing Griselda stans, but here is how I would break down the differences: Side A feels more like Wu-Tang Forever if it was edited down into a single album, while Side B feels like Wu-Tanger Forever in it’s final two-disc form. To put it another way, I feel that Side A does a stronger job of showcasing the strengths and hunger of the Griselda family, while Side B shows that the hunger still exists within increasing exposure to mainstream shine.
HWH8: Side A & Side B feature Westside Gunn, Conway, and Benny delivering the hard-knuckled bars and hustler tales that they and their old co-signs do best, only now joined by fellow rising stars like Stove God Cook$, Larry June, Jay Worthy, Sauce Walka and recent Griselda signee Rome Streetz. Toss in previously outside-of-reach fully established artists like Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Jay Electronica and Tyler, the Creator, and you have a full project that placates any core listeners that are still uncomfortable with the idea of Griselda revamping their sound, with a healthy overdose of replay value. HWH8 proves that one key trait of all Griselda albums remains intact: featured guests from outside the crew need to meet Griselda on their own turf, it’s not the other way round. So JAY-Z, Kendrick Lamar or Drake rapping alongside Westside Gunn over a Daringer beat? It hasn’t happened yet, but if it did, we wouldn’t be that surprised anymore.
6. Trapdoor by Defcee & Messiah Musik
A fourth quarter dark horse that seemed to come out of nowhere (except for those that have a history of working with both artists and already knew what they’re capable of), Chicago veteran MC Defcee and Baltimore’s Messiah Musik already shared many of the same peers, so it was probably only a matter of time before they dropped a project together....but I wonder if either party expected this?
The result of their union was Trapdoor, an album exploding with talent from top to bottom. From the writing to the rapping to the production (and I cannot express this enough - the writing and the production are both absolutely gripping throughout), Trapdoor has been steadily climbing my list of favorite music for weeks. A thoughtful album filled with life lessons without sounding the least bit preachy (please believe- this is a rare feat!), what Defcee & Messiah have achieved here is a powerful work of audio art that addresses so many of the hopes, fears, struggles, and successes of entering middle age at a time when the world feels like it is up in flames. Trapdoor walks right up to the line of bleak without losing hope, and looking back at these past two years, what can be easier to identify with than the struggles of trying to work, laugh and love our way through an increasingly claustrophobic way of life?
5. Half God by Wiki & Navy Blue
No artist on this list releases work as casually as Wiki, but the former Ratking standout will be hard pressed to keep a low profile after the reception to Half God. Joining forces with fellow underground workhorse Navy Blue (whose name will appear multiple times across many year-end lists, and rightfully so), Half God feels like the pinnacle of Wik’s (shockingly young!?) career thus far. Wiki has always leaned more towards the more experimental side, with a seemingly intentional desire to avoid doing what everyone else is doing, which serves both to strengthen his discography and distance his clout within social media circles; however, here on Half God we find a slightly more mature Wiki, better at drawing together his creative rhyme schemes into more straight forward songs than ever before.
Surely aided by some of the smoothest production he has ever had access to for a full length project, Half God feels like the moment when Wiki officially staked his claim as an official ambassador of New York City hip-hop...which he always has been, but with friends and sparring partners like MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, and Navy Blue, maybe now his artistic achievements will be headlining galleries rather than simply being mentioned amongst them.
4. A Martyr’s Reward by Ka
Like clockwork, any time Ka releases new work it is bound to skyrocket into the conversation of the year’s best. A Martyr’s Reward offers nothing new to longstanding Ka fans except for a more stripped down version of Ka than we have heard in some time. While much of his recent albums have successfully worked around a pinned metaphor (not as a crutch, simply as a touchstone to help keep the momentum going), A Martyr’s Reward feels like Ka speaking as Ka, rather than a vessel used to filter and distribute the memories and life lessons preached by the mighty Brownsville MC.
Here we find Ka speaking some of the most candid thoughts of his career. Alongside ‘Ka: the survivor of Brooklyn streets’, we have ‘Ka: the under-appreciated fire fighter’, or ‘Ka: the abused black man in America’, all angles of he man’s perspective feel painstakingly thought out - with an emphasis on the pain, and the subsequent ability to rise above it. As always, Ka’s pen remains unparalleled, every rhyme wound tight as a ticking clock and every instrumental seemingly crafted to only brace themselves for his chosen words from song to song. So while A Martyr’s Reward certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel for Ka, with selections like the one below from “We Living/Martyr” (featuring the rising legend that is fellow MC/Producer Navy Blue), it is clear that Ka’s poetry on black history does so much more to inform the future, rather than dwell on it’s past.
“This proof I'm not duping, only solutions I ignite in my lab / Dumb nights, some nights won fights for my rights with a jab. If you ain’t got the brass to lock ass, go light smack / Appears somebody polluting my salute, nice to the flag. Till then they just dreaded heathens, can't pledge allegiance / Slave wealth built they grave wealth, there's no better grievance. Now the order's to abort us, instead of feed us / But if they bomb shit watch, in conflict, how quick they need us...”
3. Haram by Armand Hammer & The Alchemist
Not even a full year removed from the release of Haram, the incredible album that resulted from the union of billy woods, E L U C I D, and The Alchemist, it’s hard to imagine that there was a world that existed before all of their orbits became intertwined. While The Alchemist was no stranger to the work of Armand Hammer (he had even been a part of Moor Mother and billy’s impressive BRASS project that dropped in late 2020), many thought that the combination would prove to be solid, but not necessarily yield a final product that elevated the talent involved to new levels. Welp, they were wrong.
Hardcore Armand Hammer fans are devout when it comes to discussing their catalogue, so while I am not qualified to rank the collective or solo works of bill woods and E L U C I D, I can say with confidence that the musical chemistry showcased on Haram made it hard to believe that these three talents had never released a full length project together. The two fierce poets that comprise Armand Hammer sounded well at home sinking their teeth into Alchemist’s woozy loops and sample collages, leading to standout moments that revel in the juxtaposition of styles rather than the seamlessness. Lush backdrops draping cuts like “Falling out the Sky”, “Black Sunlight”, or “Stonefruit” prove not only that Armand Hammer’s machine-gunning streams of dark thoughts and social commentary sound well at home over Alchemist’s wavier production, but also that Al has so much more in his bag than he has shown us.
2. TV62 by Bruiser Brigade
A straight up FLEX tape. No, not the obnoxious out-of-touch DJ, I’m talkin’ a straight up show of power, a flex of talent. Not since Odd Future has there been a collective of under-the-radar, raw talent to put on a showcase like what Bruiser Brigade did in 2021. The truth is if you put any one of their releases from the past 12 months into this slot, I would not argue. But for my money’s worth, if you had only one hour to be convinced that the Brigade is not to be f’d with, I would tell you to listen to TV62.
At opening bell of 2021 you may have considered Bruiser Brigade to be only a vaguely established force consisting of Danny Brown and a line-up of lesser known, local co-signs....but heading into 2022, you better know the names of MCs J.U.S., Fat Ray, Bruiser Wolf, ZelooperZ, and Quentin Ahmad DaGod. Although it doesn’t stop there, because the crew has a huge arsenal of gloriously dusty (sometimes even bouncy - I mean the Detroit influence is pulsing within every Bruiser Brigade project thus far) production, courtesy of sharp talent like Black Noi$e, Skywlkr, Raphy, Playa Haze, HOLLY, Gulley and more. There simply isn’t a better “no skips” project that dropped this year, you really need to let this one play out, and then argue over which tracks are the best (spoiler alert: there is no wrong answer). The raw demo feel seems intentional, especially when you consider the Wu-Tang Clan homages that are present on a good portion of TV62. Danny and the rest of the Brigade would likely call this a collection of loosies rather than an official group album, but nevertheless, TV62 is the official arrival of a fully realized group of must-watch artists. Is it possible that Detroit has become the 37th Chamber?
1. Pray For Haiti by Mach-Hommy
Imagine you never heard of Mach-Hommy before hearing this album. Imagine being completely caught off guard by the flow, the confidence, the unpredictable paths taken mid-verse, the sudden bursting into song or Haitian Creole, while listening to Pray For Haiti for the first time. I imagine you would be blown away. Even being familiar with his catalogue, many were blown away by what was probably the most “accessible” project in Mach’s discography.
The album that officially elevated Mach from mysterious underground shadow figure to slightly more mainstream mysterious underground shadow figure, here on Pray For Haiti we find Mach-Hommy at his most controlled and confident, at times sliding over tracks with a swagger that could only be described as Hov-esque. While comparing Mach to Shawn Carter may sound absurd (or maybe worse yet, double-stanning for both artists!), they each have a knack for saying so much with brevity. Mach doesn’t need to weave a complicated verse about the advice that JAY-Z gave him...his station in life right now is best summed up by simply referencing that he spoke to Hov, but he’s not going to tell us any more about the conversation. Pray For Haiti works so well thanks to Mach-Hommy’s expertise at deciding what cards he shows us, and what additional cards he may have handy...but is probably going to hold onto until we meet again.
The album also works thanks to a number of other factors, such as the star making turns of next generation Griselda allies like Nicholas Craven and Conductor Williams, and of course the reliable guiding hand of Westside Gunn. Mach and Westside reconnecting at the start of 2021 was almost as big of a story as the success of Pray For Haiti, so much so that the threat of future work between Mach-Hommy and the Griselda camp feels as potent as the strongest moments on Haiti. Many fans of the artists involved didn’t actually believe that the album was dropping, right up until the moment that it actually dropped. Once it did, many were surprised at how seamless the pieces fit together...but not Westside and Mach. Both men value art and their contributions to the genre, they take the responsibility of putting music into the world very seriously, and when the type of musical chemistry they have exists, it shouldn’t be such a surprise that they can crank out a great rap album after relatively brief time spent in the studio once again.
To them, not much has changed. But to us? Mach-Hommy was just interviewed in GQ magazine....so yeah, a helluva lot has changed. Lucky us.
Yeah, you made it - 10 down, only 115 more to go! 🙌
***Here Are The Rest of My Top 225***....
11. Don and Von by Tanya Morgan
12. Balens Cho (Hot Candles) by Mach-Hommy
13. WEIGHT OF THE WORLD by MAXO KREAM
14. Affable with Pointed Teeth by YUNGMORPHEUS & Eyedress
15. With The Shifts by Maassai
16. Death and the Magician by DJ Muggs & Rome Streetz
17. Van Goghs Left Ear by ZeLooperZ
18. Free Dem Boyz by 42 Dugg
19. True Sky by AKAI SOLO & Navy Blue
20. Double Down by Nappy Nina & J Words
21. Bo Jackson by Boldy James & The Alchemist
22. All The Brilliant Things by Skyzoo
23. TIME by Your Old Droog
24. Street Dream Team by Good Gas x Fki 1st x BandGang Lonnie Bands
25. Joyland by STIK FIGA & Conductor Williams
26. Splash Bandicoot by Rahiem Supreme x Al.divino
27. Navy’s Reprise by Navy Blue
28. Bigger Than Life Or Death by EST Gee
29. Spacebar by Your Old Droog
30. End of the Earth by Mavi
31. King’s Disease 2 by Nas & Hit-Boy
32. SZNZ by Mother Nature & BoatHouse
33. Unlearning Vol. 1 by Evidence
34. Wicked Man's Reprise by Sideshow
35. HAMMERABI by al.divino x Mr. Rose
36. Voice of the Heroes by Lil Durk & Lil Baby
37. I GOT BANDZ FOR THE MOONLANDIN' by Semiratruth
38. The House Is Burning by Isaiah Rashad
39. Dope Game Stupid by Bruiser Wolf
40. Hindsgiht by Breeze Brewin & Juggaknots
41. UNKind. by Jay NiCE, DooF & Sadhu Gold
42. Imaginary Everything by L’Orange & Namir Blade
43. DONDA by Kanye West
44. GUMBO’! by Pink Siifu
45. DIVINENATION by Sleeper Sinatra
46. Super Tecmo Bo by Boldy James & The Alchemist
47. Real Late by Peter Rosenberg (and Various Artists)
48. Stray From The Pack by J Scienide & Kev Brown
49. Smoke Sessions 3 by Lord Apex
50. the phantom of paradise. by Remy Banks
51. SERENITY by Tokyo Cigar (and Various Artists)
52. Charlie Pope by Dark Lo & V Don
53. GOD GOKU JAY-Z by J.U.S.
54. Little Robert Hutton by Curly Castro
55. telephone booth by NAH & Wiki
56. EGO by Guilty Simpson & Gensu Dean
57. The Part & Parcel by Teller Bank$ & Ed Glorious
58. Michigan Boy Boat by Lil Yachty
59. C O T I (The Course of the Inevitable) by Lloyd Banks
60. KiltValee by Valee & KiltKarter
61. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert by Little Simz
62. ENOUGH TO PLAGUE A SAINT by Body Bag Ben & J Scienide
63. WINNERTIME by Papo2oo4
64. Fiend Lives Matter by Rio Da Yung Og
65. The Fraud Department by Jim Jones & Harry Fraud
66. The Off-Season by J. Cole
67. Bigger Than Life Or Death Part 2 by EST Gee
68. A Stream of Consciousness by Jay NiCE & Machacha
69. Why Look Up, God’s In The Mirror by Lukah
70. Call Me When You're Outside by Steel Tipped Dove
71. The Truth Hurts by Drakeo the Ruler [R.I.P.!]
72. 1997 by Chester Watson
73. Unfuckwitable (Deluxe) by Babyface Ray
74. P.S. by Nolan The Ninja
75. The Prophecy Is My Present by Asun Eastwood & THETWINNING
76. Magneto Was Right: Issue #8 by Raz Fresco
77. For My Mama And Anyone Who Looks Like Her by McKinley Dixon
78. Blood Stained Pages by Pro Zay
79. The Lightwork EP by AKAI SOLO, YL & Roper Williams
80. En Route (Deluxe) by Mfn Melo & squeakPIVOT & Pivot Gang
81. The Pen for Whom The Words Moves by Teller Bank$
82. Motion by G.T.
83. BL2 by Aakeem Eshú
84. Phresh Waves by Rim
85. Like It Or Love It by Papo2oo4
86. Latrinalia by Rob Sonic
87. Genesis 1:27 by Rome Streetz & ANKHLEJOHN
88. East of MacVicar Ave by STIK FIGA & DJ Sean P
89. Can U Get Your Supervisor? by Lil Kydd
90. WINTER 2 by DJ Muggs & Various Artists
91. Do the Math by Medhane
92. Vince Staples by Vince Staples
93. Faygo Baby by Kipp Stone
94. Rule of Thirds by Planet Asia & Evidence
95. A CONSTANT CONDENSATION by amani
96. Fat N*ggas Need Love Too by Bfb Da Packman
97. The Crashing Sound of How It Goes by Cities Aviv
98. Grace Park Legend (Deluxe) by Huey Briss & Nikobeats
99. Infinite Lawn by Mimz the Magnificent & Dunn
100. Stop Calling Art Content by Grafh
101. Built For Whatever by Tee Grizzley
102. Doe or Die 2 by AZ
103. Gooch is God & God is Everything by DrxQuinnx
104. Giovanni’s Way by Payroll Giovanni
105. Black Encyclopedia of the Air by Moor Mother
106. Fell Asleep Praying by Archibald Slim
107. BYAKUGAN! by Estee Nack
108. VIP by Pros Ap & V.I.
109. Vegas Vic by ZILLA ROCCA
110. If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed by Big Ghost Ltd. & Conway
111. $mokebreak EP by Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin
112. Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma by Topaz Jones
113. Forever 21 by EBK Young Joc
114. The Hour of Khrysis by Khrysis
116. No Cosign Just Cocaine 4 by Ty Farris
117. Super What? by CZARFACE & MF DOOM
118. The Color Blu(e) by Blu
119. N.O.A.H. by Quentin Ahmad DaGod
120. PortisHus by Hus Kingpin
121. 100 Miles & Walk-in by Rx Papi
122. Rx by Rasheed Chappell & Xp the Marxman
123. Panagnl4e, Vol. 3 by Los & Nutty
124. Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut by Kenny Mason
125. Elephant In The Room by Mick Jenkins
126. Free Rio by Peezy
127. Slaps & Hugs by Ayun Bassa & Jacob Rochester
128. Fire In Little Africa by Fire In Little Africa
129. Santa Barbara by Fat Ray
130. Hall Of Fame 2.0 by Polo G
131. Blacklight by Apollo Brown & Stalley
132. The Novelty of Standards by Jamal Gasol & Bass Reevez
133. Viktor by Jameel Na'imx & Mephux
134. GoFundMe Corvette by J.U.S
135. Borrowed Time by Dark Lo & Harry Fraud
136. 8WRLD by Sure Shot, of Dunbar
137. Load Bearing Crow’s Feet by Premrock
138. Narcotics Anonymous by WB Nutty
139. Punk by Young Thug
140. Keep Watching the Fly by Willie The Kid
141. The TrAppiEst Disco Music Ever! by Valee & AYOCHILLMANNN
142. Gangster Doodles: Gangster Music Vol. 2 by Various Artists
143. Lake Effect by Sango & Waldo
144. Beautifully Black by Lord Jah-Monte & Navy Blue
145. the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures by R.A.P. Ferreira
146. The Tape Nobody Made by Ambassador Rick of The Opioid Era
147. Christina Shauntay’ by Backwood Sweetie
148. Ree Louis by Henny L.O.
149. Trapped Out, Vol. 1 by Guttafats
150. Book of Changes by Noveliss & Dixon Hill
151. A Train Grows In Brooklyn by Big Ghost Ltd. & Eddie Kaine
152. Krazy Man by Drego
153. DR. EV4L by Young Nudy
154. La Maquina by Conway the Machine
155. Richer Than I Ever Been by Rick Ross
156. Amongst Wolves by Smoovth & Giallo Point
157. Culture over Corporate,Volume 3 by Uptown XO
158. Certified Lover Boy by Drake
159. IT’S REMBLE by Remble
160. Same Energy by Bizzy Banks
161. War Zone by Fmb Dz
162. Untreated Trauma by Mozzy
163. B=MC2 by David Bars & Mono En Stereo
164. WORLD TOUR MAFIA OR DIE by World Tour Mafia
165. All Hail the King by Fashawn & Sir Veterano
166. Tha YOD Fahim by Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim
167. WORD? by Atmosphere
168. War On Drugs by Los
169. Thumbing Thru Foliage by YUNGMORPHEUS & ewonee
170. Purple Dawn 2 by Deziner Drugz
171. Budget Cuts 3: Still Broke by SeKwence & KillerKane
172. I Died For This!? by Grip
173. Ice Daddy by Gucci Mane
174. Slime Language 2 by Young Stoner Life [Various Artists]
175. Hidden Treasure by Knowledge The Pirate
176. Still Gangin by DaBoii & Slimmy B [SOB]
177. Wake Ups by Rigz
178. Legend Laws of Power by Vic Spencer & Supa Sounds
179. Coup De Grace by Rome Streetz & Ransom
180. American Cheese by DJ Muggs & Hologram
181. SODA CLUB by YL
182. No Days Off by Lando Bando & The Hip Hop Lab
183. When The Black Hand Touches You by Lukah
184. In The Beginning The Was Kaos by Kaos the Baker & Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon
185. Call Me G.T. by G.T.
186. Starshooter by Shooter Gang KONY
187. Bad For Press by Van Buren Records
188. Why So Slick 4 by Four50
189. Rockstar Lifestyle by WTM DaeMoney
190. Wikipedia (Deluxe) by Shawny Binladen
191. Bin Reaper 2 by Babytron
192. Still Stoned On Ocean by Curren$y
193. ROGUE RAPS by O Dawg & Wavy Da Ghawd
194. Bushido by Mello Music Group [Various Artists]
195. New Man by Saga Asad & August Fanon
196. The Cook Up by Kmoneybeats
197. Se7en by Ransom
198. 4NEM by Chief Keef
199. Hey Tony by Tony Seltzer
200. Standing On Business by Skilla Baby
201. I Can’t Make This Shit Up by Shaudy Kash
202. Rookie Of The Year by Lil Eazzyy
203. Secret Wars by Raz Fresco & Dibia$e
204. Famili 2 by RU$H & JayNiCE
205. The Quiet Life 2 by Fresh Daily
206. Dum and Dummer 2 by Young Dolph [R.I.P.!] & Key Glock
207. Gold Mouf by Lute
208. Soul Trap by Tree
209. Not Dead yet! by Lou From Paradise
210. Play 2 Win by G Perico
211. Just Because 2 by Damjonboi
212. Good Product by Koncept Jack$on & Bane Capital
214. Wreckage Manner by Styles P & Havoc
215. Welcome To Beecher by YSR Gramz
216. Dirty Designer by dj lucas, subjxct & Papo2oo4
217. Heavy Is The Head by Ransom & Big Ghost Ltd
218. Xenophon by Theravada
219. HOFFA by Dave East & Harry Fraud
220. Heatin’ Up by Li Heat
221. Gzus Haze by Gzus Piece & Jae Haze
222. Pressure by Big Jade
222. My Name is 2 by 2
223. Clan Virus 2 by BlueBucksClan
224. Block Work by Milano Constantine & Dj Swet
225. Like Yay by Big Yavo
***Honorable Mentions (all of these artists released great work in 2021 that deserves more recognition...but I felt that a list of 225 albums was already a bit much) - in no particular order***:
Best rap albums: harvey_dug, Key Glock, Starker & Al.Divino, CRIMEAPPLE, Dt Blanco, Sauce Walka, FLEE, Skunkz, Kareem Idris & Ohbliv, Ralfy The Plug, Baby Keem, UFO Fev, Cise Greeny, YOUNG SLO-BE, DijahSB, Dave, Quadry, tony tone, Elcamino, Papoose, RU$H, Lucki, LPB Poody, Jae Skeese, Cee Gee, Rxk Nephew, Bobby Fishscale, Pharoahe Monch & Th1rt3en, VRN Hayes, Tony Shhnow, LordMobb, Pooh Sheisty, Recognize Ali, Flee Lord, Curren$y (he’s already on the above list but the 40 other dope tapes that he dropped this year also warrant another shout-out), Plex Diamonds, Monday Night & Russo Beats, Big Scarr, Cash Kidd, All-star Jr., Agallah, Larry June, Young Dolph, Sidestreet Capo & Shooterz Musik, Wrecking Crew, EkillaOffDaBlock, Surf Gang, Wavy Da Gawd, Blaq Kush / URBVN ARCHITECTS, Kai Fortyfive, Flee Lord, Planet Asia (he had several dope releases), Big Twins, Styles P, Ponae, Duke Deuce, Solemn Brigham, NA$TY, CRUZIN, Lewis Parker, Marv Won, CEO Trayle, aasir, Zaytoven, Tedy Andreas, Roadrunner Glockboyz, T.F, Xanman, Udababy, Trapland Pat, god’s kitchen 1984, Saga, Don Perrion, Nuk, Marcellus, Young Crazy, Neek The Exotic & Large Professor, NAPPYNAPPA, G Herbo, CHASETHEMONEY, Dat Boi Vic, Teejayx6 & Lex Luger, Lil CJ KASINO, Rollin Ajay, Tafia, Beneficience, K.J., Toney Boi, Baby Money, Bronze Nazareth, 22gz, Migos, Bobby Sessions, D Smoke, BVNGS, YN Jay, Mickey Factz, KrispyLife Kidd, Bub Rock, Daboii, Mirtaw, Moneybagg Yo, doof & NCL-TM, MoneyMonk, D Flowers & Deebaby, Fatboi Sharif, Fatboyshaun & Trox, and many, many more...
If you made it this far you’re a hero and a hip-hop head of fine taste. Thanks & peace to all. 🙏
See also:
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/669580372652310528/the-top-5-rap-verses-of-2021-the-pundits
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/656020494530854912/best-of-the-1st-half-of-2021-song-edition
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/649527317251670016/best-of-the-1st-quarter
https://therappundit.tumblr.com/post/638904640503726080/the-best-rap-songs-of-2020-great-songs-that
