BEST RAP RELEASES 2021
Another year, another list, another overwhelming amount of releases from all corners of the culture. I could easily split this out into Grime, UK rap, US mainstream & underground, but that would do a disservice to how varied the music below is. This list, if anything, is a testament to how good we have it in 2021.
If anyone tells you ‘rap isn’t what it used to be’, here’s literally over 200 hundred hours’ worth of rap and rap-adjacent material all from one single year that will make them look silly.
I will say that very few albums blew me away in 2021, but the below list is a comprehensive display of just how much decent to good to great music is coming out week upon week. Don’t get lost in nostalgia, those 90s tapes will always be on your shelves. Dive into something new and enjoy.
As always, once you get past the first 50–60 or so albums on here the order starts to become a lot more blurred (it always strikes me as a mild form of insanity to be handwringing over whether an album should be my 76th or 87th favourite of the year, when ultimately it’s a list whose order will be immediately out-of-date the moment I publish it) and as such from that point on I’ve grouped albums together to avoid being so absolute on where I place any real priority. Some artists have given us an outrageous volume of content, and in some of those cases I’ve tried to group them together as one for ease.
This was 2021 in rap. I’ve linked to each album on Spotify for the majority of the ones higher up the list and at some point in the future may do so for everything listed. I hope you find a bunch of new shit in here you love that is new to your ears. Have a great 2022!
- McKinley Dixon – For My Mama & Anyone Who Look Like Her
- Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
- Ghetts – Conflict of Interest
- Your Old Droog – TIME / Space Bar
- Nas – King’s Disease II / Magic
- Young Thug – Punk
- Isaiah Rashad – The House Is Burning
- Manga Saint Hilaire – Future Deluxe / Manga Saint Hilaire & Lewi B – Glow In The Dark.
- Maxo Kream – Weight of the World
- Mach-Hommy – Balens Cho (Hot Candles) / Pray For Haiti
- Jevon – Fell In Love In Brasil
- Skyzoo – All The Brilliant Things
- R.A.P. Ferreira – Bob’s Son / the Light Emitting Diamond Cutter Scriptures
- Lloyd Banks – The Course of the Inevitable
- Evidence – Unlearning Vol. 1
- Jam Baxter & Sumgii – Obscure Liquers
- Curren$y – Collection Agency / Curren$y & Trauma Tone – Highest In Charge / Curren$y & Kino Beats – Matching Rolexes / Curren$y – Pilot Talk IV / Curren$y & Harry Fraud – Regatta
- Playboi Carti – Whole Lotta Red
- Westside Gunn – Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf (Side A) / HWH8: Sincerely Adolf (Side B)
- ELUCID & Von Pea – Dirtee Deacon (In T.S.O. Pea)
- Mez – One Uncle
- Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Haram
- Dave – We’re All Alone In This Together
- Boldy James & The Alchemist – Bo Jackson / Super Tecmo Bo
- Mayhem NOBD, Jammz, Blay Vision & Bugzy – The Avengers LP
- Blu – The Color Blu(e) / MED, Blu & Madlib – Bad Neighbor / Blu & Sirplus – For Sale EP
- Slowthai – TYRON
- Snowy – Sirius
- DRS – Light Language
- Owlybeats – Nocturnal
- Swindle – The New World
- Tyler The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST
- Rome Streetz & Futurewave – Razor’s Edge / Rome Streetz & DJ Muggs – Death & The Magician / Rome Streetz & Ransom – Coup de Grace / Rome Streetz & Ankhlejohn – Genesis 1:27
- Pharoahe Monch & Th1rt3en – A Magnificent Day For an Exorcism
- Norf Face – (JME, Capo Lee, Frisco & Shorty) – Norf Face
- Lute – Gold Mouf
- Wiki – Half God
- L’Orange & Namir Blade – Imaginary Everything
- K.A.A.N – KAIZEN / Sunset Crest Dr.
- P Money & Silencer – Untraditional
- NOLAN – P.S.
- Guilty Simpson & Gensu Dean – EGO
- Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud – The Plugs I Met 2 / Benny The Butcher – Pyrex Picasso
- Drake – Certified Lover Boy
- PinkSiifu – GUMBO’!
- Tall Black Guy & Ozay Moore – Of Process & Progression
- Potter Payper – Thanks For Waiting
- Barney Artist & Mr Jukes – The Locket
- Ka – A Martyr’s Reward
- SonnyJim & Kev Brown – A Joint Venture / SonnyJim & Buckwild – Coke Le Roc
- Big Zuu – Navigate
- BERWYN – Tape2/Fomalhaut
- Trippie Redd – Trip At Knight
- Awon & Phoniks – Nothing Less
- Juga-Naut & Giallo Point – Smoke Filled Room
- Mick Jenkins – Elephant In The Room
- Apollo Brown & Stalley – Blacklight
- Jelani Blackman – Unlimited
- Verb T & Illinformed – Stranded in Foggy Times
- Patrick Paige II – If I Fail Are We Still Cool
**61–110**
Conway The Machine & Big Ghost Ltd – If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed / La Maquina
Lojii – taurus_EP
J Cole – The Off-Season
Ransom – Se7en / Ransom & Big Ghost Ltd – Heavy Lies The Head
Pierre Bourne – The Life of Pierre 5
Unfoonk – My Struggle
Kojaque – Town’s Dead
CRIMEAPPLE – YDFWC? (1 & 2) / DJ Muggs & CRIMEAPPLE – Cartagena / Sancocho
EST Gee – Bigger Than Life or Death (parts 1&2)
Da$h, Look Damien! & Ankhlejohn – Honey Sweeter Than Blood
YUNGMORPHEUS & Ewonee – Thumbing Thru Foliage
Chavo & Pi’erre Bourne – Chavo’s World 2
AZ – Doe or Die II
Common – A Beautiful Revolution Pt.2
Quadry – They Think We Ghetto
D Smoke – War & Wonders
JPEGMAFIA – LP!
Aesop Rock & Blockhead – Garbology
Styles P & Havoc – Wreckage Manner
Big Boi & Sleepy Brown – Big Sleepover
Chip – Snakes & Ladders
Pitch 92 – Intervals
Lee Scott & Hyroglifics – [gate clicks shut]
Cult of the Damned – The Church of
Tha God Fahim & Your Old Droog – Tha YOD Fahim / Tha God Fahim & Nicholas Craven – Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King Pt 2
Snoop Dogg – From Tha Suites 2 Tha Streets
Rod Wave – Soulfly
DMX – Exodus
Young Nudy – Dr Ev4l / Rich Shooter
Apathy – Where The River Meets The Sea
Fat Ray – Santa Barbara
MIKE – Disco!
Remble – IT’S REMBLE
King Ralph – From Good Stock
Homeboy Sandman – Anjelitu
YNW Melly – Just A Matter of Slime
Belly – See You Next Wednesday
NappieHigh – Yellow / Villains
D2x – The Color Blue
The Gift of Gab – Finding Inspiration Somehow
Asun Eastwood – The S.O.U.L / Prophecy Is My Present
Paul Wall – Hall of Fame Hustler
Bronze Nazareth & Roc Marciano – Ekphrasis
Khrysis – The Hour of Khrysis
Ocean Wisdom – Stay Sane
Datkid & Illinformed – Wakmo
Headie One – Too Loyal for my Own Good
Quentin Ahmad DaGod – N.O.A.H.
Vince Staples – Vince Staples
**111–230(ish)**
Planet Asia – Block Shaman / Rule of Thirds
Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin – $mokebreak
The Alchemist – This Thing of Ours Pts 1 & 2
Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon – Too Little Too Late
Bodega Bamz – El Camino
Migos – Culture III
Theravada. – Xenophon
Big Twins – Still Here
Kanye West – DONDA
Ralphiie Reese – Bladesylvania: Book II
Dom Kennedy – From The Westside With Love Three
Wale – Folarin II
Berner – Gotti
Fredo – Money Can’t Buy Happiness / Independence Day
AJ Tracey – Flu Game
Blanco – City of God
Wiley – Anti-Systemic
Bruza – Deal Wiv It
Hus Kingpin – PORTISHUS
Payroll Giovanni & Cardo – Another Day Another Dollar
Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats – Unlocked 1.5
Mello Music Group – Bushido (Compilation)
Smoke DZA – The Hustler’s Catalog 2
Lil Baby & Lil Durk – Voice of the Heroes
Polo G – Hall of Fame
J.U.S. – GOD GOKU JAY-Z / GoFundMe Corvette
Gucci Mane – Ice Daddy
Styles P – Ghosting
Tha God Fahim & M Stacks – Live & Let Dump
Flee Lord & Roc Marciano – Delgado
Ea$y Money & Fabeyon – Beyond Ea$y
Rick Hyde – Plates II
Strick – Strickland
Mostack – High Street Kid 2
Grim Sickers – Sickers The Great
Shay D – Speaking In Tongues
ZeLooperz- Van Gogh’s Left Ear
Smoovth & Giallo Point – Amongst Wolves
Young Stoner Life Records – Slime Language 2 (Compilation)
CZARFACE & MF DOOM – Super What?
Goldlink – HARAM!
HRSMN – The Last Ride
Drakeo The Ruler – Ain’t That The Truth
Mickey Factz, Blu & Nottz – The Narrative
J.Arrr – Broken Easel
Youngboy Never Broke Again – Sincerely, Kentrell
Megan Thee Stallion – Something For Thee Hotties
DJ Format – Devil’s Workshop
Datkid & Skinzmann – Sleepless in Pinhoe
Bugzy Malone – The Resurrection
Wretch 32 – Little BIG Man
Kurupt FM – Greatest Hits (Part One)
Breeze Brewin of Juggaknots – Hindsight
Dark Time Sunshine – Lore
Chester Watson – 1997
Elcamino & TrickyTrippz – On The 3rd Day / Elcamino – Block Work / If You Know You Know
King Ralph – C’Mon King
Bronze Nazareth & Recognize Ali – Season of the Seven
Yelawolf & DJ Muggs – Mile Zero
Vinnie Paz – Burn Everything That Bears Your Name
AKAI SOLO – True Sky
Declaime & Madlib – In The Beginning Vol. 1
AJ Suede & Camoflauge Monk – A Dream Within A Dream
Dark Lo & V Don – Charlie Pope
Neek The Exotic & Large Professor – Xtraexotic
The Grouch & Eligh – What Would Love Do
Joell Ortiz – Autograph
The M.I.C. (Master of Inane Conversation) – You Can Achieve Anything
Kota The Friend – Lyrics to GO, Vol. 2
DJ Muggs & Al Divino – Kilogram
Chris Crack – Might Delete Later
Rapper Big Pooh & Young RJ – What We Lost Vol. 1
Rx Papi – 100 Miles & Walkin’
Jim Jones & Harry Fraud – The Fraud Department
Van Buren Records – Bad For Press (Compilation)
DijahSB – Head Above The Waters
UnoTheActivist – Unoverse/Unoverse 2
Bruiser Wolf – Dope Game Stupid
Mykki Blanco – Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep
Larry June – Orange Print
Starker – Stark-Teryx
Raheim Supreme – SPLASH BANDICOOT
Pop Smoke – Faith
Neza Alexander – Chrysanthemum
Abstract Mindstate – Dreams Still Inspire
$uicideboy$ – Long Term Effects of SUFFERING
Milano Constantine & Showbiz – Eating But Still Hungry
Reallyhiim – The Crux
Cousin Feo – Patat
Remy Banks – The Phantom of Paradise
The Musalini- No Squares In My Circle / More Plays
Killah Priest – Summer End Cafe
Ru$h & Jay Nice – Famili 2
Termanology & Amadeus – 360
Ice Rocks – Crossing The Rubicon
Injury Reserve – By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Mozzy – Untreated Trauma
Moor Mother – Black Encyclopaedia of the Air
Rittz- S.O.S
Dark Lo & Havoc – Extreme Measures
El Da Sensei & Jake Palumbo – Solving Cases
Defari – Los Amsterdam
Lil Wayne & Rich The Kid – Trust Fund Babies
Payroll Giovanni – Giovanni’s Way
Cesar Comanche & Poe Mack – A Promise Not To Sting
J-Live – At The Date of this Writing Vol. 1
Amine – TWOPOINTFIVE
Fashawn – All Hail The King
Jedi Mind Tricks – The Funeral & The Raven
Stack Scrilla – Cuz I Can
Rick Ross – Richer Than I Ever Been
GRIP – I Died For This?!
Rejjie Snow – Baw Baw Black Sheep
Skepta – All In EP
Unknown T – Adolescence
Izzie Gibbs – I’m Here
Flowdan & Snowman Baby – Black Rain
Eyez – Eye For An Eye
Jon E Clayface, Ten Dixon & Rhimez – Hold This
PK – Street Symptoms
Jada – Folder 1 / Folder 2
