Following yesterday’s unveiling of our Top 35 Hottest Hip-Hop Songs of 2021, we’re back with the expected companion piece for the Top 30 Hottest Hip-Hop Albums. After pretty much a full year of uncertainty, it seemed rappers were ready to get back into release mode in 2021, and all the trappings that come with it– namely, touring, festivals, merch, and the rest of the bag that was left on the table during the year prior. And, along with this minor resurgence in the artist and the artist’s profitability, we’ve, of course, been bestowed with plenty of new albums (these things go hand-in-hand, after all).
This list, then, culls some of the HNHH mainstays and favorites (think: Mick Jenkins, basically any and all of Griselda), as well as the genre’s most explosive artists of the year (think: Lil Nas X), and of course, some of our newest breakout faves (think: Baby Keem, Pooh Shiesty), and finally, some long-heralded OGs and soon-to-be-OGs-if-not-already (think: Nas, J. Cole, Drake). It’s safe to say the breadth of hip-hop releases allowed a “something for everyone” policy to truly thrive. Nonetheless, we’re sure you have an opinion on our list below, so do your duty as a loyal HNHH reader and comment away.
Stay tuned for our take on the Top 10 Hottest R&B Albums of 2021 to arrive tomorrow, Wednesday, December 15.
– Rose
30. Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
LISTEN: Little Simz “Woman” feat. Cleo Sol
29. Mick Jenkins – Elephant in the Room
LISTEN: Mick Jenkins’ “Scottie Pippen” feat. serpentwithfeet
28. Lil Nas X – MONTERO
LISTEN: Lil Nas X “That’s What I Want”
27. Dave – We’re All Alone in This Together
LISTEN: Dave “Clash” feat. Stormzy
26. Migos – Culture III
LISTEN: Migos “Avalanche”
25. Tee Grizzley – Built for Whatever
LISTEN: Tee Grizzley “Life Insurance” feat. Lil Tjay
24. Boldy James & The Alchemist – Bo Jackson
LISTEN: Boldy James & The Alchemist “Fake Flowers” feat. Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs
23. Yung Nudy – Rich Shooter
LISTEN: Young Nudy “Know How I Rock” feat. PeeWee Longway
22. Pooh Shiesty – Shiesty Season
LISTEN: Pooh Shiesty “Back in Blood” feat. Lil Durk
21. Lil Tjay – Destined 2 Win
LISTEN: Lil Tjay “Run It Up” feat. Offset & Moneybagg Yo
20. Vince Staples – Vince Staples
LISTEN: Vince Staples “Are You With That?”
19. GRIP – I Died for This?!
LISTEN: GRIP “Gutter!” feat. Wara
18. Key Glock & Young Dolph – Dum & Dummer 2
LISTEN: Key Glock and Young Dolph “Case Closed”
17. Young Thug – PUNK
LISTEN: Young Thug “Stressed” feat. J. Cole & T-Shyne
16. Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud – The Plugs I Met 2
LISTEN: Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud “When Tony Met Sosa”
15. Westside Gunn – Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B
LISTEN: Westside Gunn “Free Kutter” feat. Jay Electronica
14. NBA Youngboy – Sincerely Kentrell
LISTEN: NBA Youngboy “No Where”
13. Maxo Kream – Weight of the World
LISTEN: Maxo Kream “Big Persona” feat. Tyler, The Creator
12. Moneybagg Yo – A Gangsta’s Pain
LISTEN: Moneybagg Yo “Time Today”
11. YSL – Slime Language 2
LISTEN: YSL “Solid” feat. Young Thug, Drake & Gunna
10. Conway the Machine – La Maquina
LISTEN: Conway “200 Pies” feat. 2 Chainz
09. Nas – King’s Disease II
LISTEN: Nas “Death Row East”
08. Lloyd Banks – The Course of the Inevitable
LISTEN: Lloyd Banks “Propane”
07. Isaiah Rashad – The House is Burning
LISTEN: Isaiah Rashad “RIP Young”
06. Kanye West – DONDA
LISTEN: Kanye West “Hurricane” feat. The Weeknd & Lil Baby
05. Doja Cat – Planet Her
LISTEN: Doja Cat “Woman”
04. J. Cole – The Off-Season
LISTEN: J. Cole “Applying Pressure”
03. Drake – Certified Lover Boy
LISTEN: Drake “No Friends in the Industry”
02. Baby Keem – The Melodic Blue
LISTEN: Baby Keem “Lost Souls” feat. Brent Faiyaz
01. Tyler, The Creator – Call Me If You Get Lost
LISTEN: Tyler, the Creator “LEMONHEAD” feat. 42 Dugg
