You might not want to admit it, but let’s be honest, no album this year touched the impact and perspective that “GNX” delivered. Twenty-two weeks at number one on the Billboard charts, a Super Bowl moment that had the culture locked in, and a rap beef track that shook the entire world. Kendrick earned every bit of the praise and the number one spot on this list.

Nobody had a new Clipse album on their bingo cards, but boy, did they deliver and remind us of what we’ve been missing. After a 15-year hiatus, the duo returned, gave Hip Hop a much-needed reset, and made history in the process. LGSEO earned the #1 independent album and #1 vinyl album, selling 118k in the first week. Legendary.

Starline has been in rotation nonstop since its release in August. It’s easily one of his best bodies of work yet, and in reality, it really deserves more flowers. “Starline” debuted at #22 on the Billboard charts, selling over 22,000 units in the first week.

The Grammys really did it this year, snubbing this project of an Album of the Year nomination. Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist gave us some timeless records that stimulate the mind, but no one seems to care about that anymore.

“Ain’t No Damn Way” is a project for elite production tastemakers. The unique way he seems to combine different genres and styles is unduplicatable and hypnotic, making you dance all night—35 minutes of pure freedom and bliss.

“Everything is a lot” is literally everything real hip hop heads have been missing in this social media era of music. It creates space for vulnerability, emotional maturity, and the growing pains everyone wants to avoid—mind-stimulation at its finest. 

GIVĒON spent the past few years refining his craft, and “BELOVED” reflects that growth through a deep respect for classic R&B filtered through a modern lens. Compared with “Give or Take” in 2022, this album presents an artist who sounds more settled, focused, and confident in his direction.

If you are sleeping on Olivia Dean, it may be time to revisit your playlists. The singer-songwriter earned her first Billboard albums chart appearance with her second studio album, “The Art of Loving.” The project debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 7 on Top Album Sales, and also landed in the top 10 across Indie Store Album Sales, Vinyl Albums, Top Current Album Sales, and Top Streaming Albums.

You can tell that 4Batz’s parents had great taste in music when you listen to “Still Shinin.” It sounds like an ode to ’90s and 2000s R&B with a new-school flavor that is unlike anything you’ve heard before. Definitely one of the most slept on projects of the year.

The album rollout deserves recognition on its own. Just when you think he’s reached his creative peak, he raises the bar again. Short, sweet, and impactful, the project is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album at the Grammys.

Before dropping his fourth album, “Son of Spergy,” Caesar surprised fans with pop-up concerts in different cities, showing up in parks on a few hours’ notice with just an acoustic guitar. Daniel used the project to reconnect with family, past relationships, and his church roots.

“Solace & The Vices” showcased a man who has shed industry pressure and is opening a fresh chapter in his sound. The first half gets personal, with Tiller reflecting on love, fame, and life’s ups and downs. In the second half, he switches gears with more rap-heavy tracks, tapping into a different side of his artistry.

This album put Leon Thomas exactly where he belongs, in the spotlight. “Mutt” gave him his first Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit, launching his career to new heights. His songwriting and multi-instrument skills set him apart in a crowded field.

Now this is how you do a debut album. Coco understood the assignment and delivered a body of work that effectively demonstrated her range, versatility, and commitment to the craft. “Why Not More” is all vibes, no skips!

“A Futuristic Summa” is like taking a time machine back to the early 2000s, when life was simple, and the dance-craze epidemic had everyone in a chokehold. In true Atlanta fashion, he got tagged in some of the people who made that period a time to be alive, like Gucci Mane, Waka Flacka, Young Dro, Travis Porter, Roscoe Dash, and more.

The first chapter of the kayfabe-themed series featured WWE legend Ted DiBiase, and the sequel switches the spotlight to Virgil, whose late-’80s and early-’90s storylines had him running with—or against—the Million Dollar Man. Very original and on brand for Gunn.

Put some respect on KenTheMan’s name. She already set the bar with the original release, and the deluxe takes it even further. This is music that shifts energy, challenges insecure men, and reminds women to stay firm in their power.

For his seventh album, named after the moniker he first made noise under, the 30-year-old rapper takes it back to the beginning. The cover pulls an image from his teenage years, grounding the project in the realities that shaped him early on. The album moves between heavy moments and flashes of celebration, with guest spots from Jeremih, Wyclef Jean, and Anderson .Paak.

Key Glock came up in Memphis with Young Dolph, watching him closely, and that history will always be part of his story. Since 2021, he’s stepped fully into his own lane, making moves on his terms. On “Glockaveli,” he runs through 18 tracks with confidence, energy, and no apologies.

“God Does Like Ugly” takes its name from a phrase his late grandmother used, and the album finds the MC addressing life’s questions on his own terms. He brings through Westside Gunn, Clipse, Vince Staples, Ciara, EARTHGANG, Don Toliver, Ty Dolla $ign, 6LACK, Jessie Reyez, Baby Kia, and more, letting each voice add to the record’s story.

Monaleo is making her mark this year, even though she’s been one to watch for a very long time. What’s notable about “Who Did The Body” is how she chose to address death in all its forms and convey a positive message that will resonate with her audience; not many can pull that off. Mission accomplished!

If you’re looking for real R&B, Khamari’s “To Dry a Tear” is where you need to be. The LA-via-Boston singer turns fear, regret, and trust issues into the soundtrack of his life. On his second album, he’s pursuing love while confronting the inner problems that make it hard to find.

Davido’s “5ive” is a celebration of his journey and contemporary African music. He continues building on the cross-cultural sounds he explored on “Timeless,” bridging the gaps between styles and pushing the sound forward.

Jane Handcock offers a modern-day mix of Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, and Queen Latifah in her approach to music and sound. “It’s Me, Not You” is the epitome of storytelling, letting her voice carry every emotion.

You don’t need to be family with Burna Boy to understand the lifestyle he lives—how he cashes in on his talent, his love for the ganja leaf, or his amusement at making local tabloids. He lays it all out in detail across the songs on this project, showing how he handles it all on “No Sign of Weakness”.