2021 Weighs A Ton: Top Rap Albums

 

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1- Namir Blade & L’Orange – Imaginary Everything

Nashville’s Namir Blade teams up with producer L’Orange on a masterful album, a subtle boom bap offering with southern undertones.  The head nodder “Nihilism” starts the listener on a enticing listen.

 

2 - Westside Gunn – HWH8 Side B

Griselda’s front man gives us the last of the HWH series with the part 8 b-side and it might be the coup de grace of the lot.  The lead off track Hell On Earth Pt. 2 with Benny and Conway sets off the album.

 

3 - Armand Hammer – Haram

Song of the year is “Stonefruit”, where Alchemist laces a harmonious track while Elucid takes to singing “I don’t want to lost control…”  billy woods completes the trifecta with precise bars about love and expression.

 

4 - Mach Hommy – Pray For Haiti

Unlike his last album this one dropped without a huge price tag, but still with the requisite hard beats and Haitian heritage woven in.  Curated by Westside Gunn, who appears on three tracks.

 

5 - Evidence – Unlearning Volume One

A skillful producer on his own, Ev linked up on this album with the likes of Alchemist, Nottz, Mr. Green, Khrysis, Daringer and others.  The result is one of Ev’s most complete and introspective albums to date.

 

6 -King Micah The Infamous and MIGHTYHEALTHY – KingMighty2

Detroit meets Miami in perhaps the grimiest, frown on ya face release of the year.  After an ill intro the album starts inferno-like on “Indigenous Gems”.  Guilty Simpson blesses the track “Hot Out Here”.

 

7 - Homeboy Sandman – Angelitu

The always contemplative Homeboy Sandman said half this album is a reflection of his energy headed in the wrong way.  The result is a solid inward facing album but yet it includes bangers like “Go Hard”.

 

8 - Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim – Tha YOD Fahim

The frequent collaborators link up on a full album ripe with basketball references throughout.  Pharoah Monch drops by on “Slam Dunk Contest” while “Reign Man” goes hard with a piercing bassline.

 

9 - Pseudo Intellectuals – Only Built For Food And Drink

This trio from Buffalo gave us just a fun, make you laugh album, full of fun boom bap beats, samples and cuts.  Tracks like “Reclining Pleather Seats” give way later in the album to tracks like “White Ppl”.

 

10 - Aesop Rock & Blockhead – Garbology

Garbology sees the collaborators join for surprisingly the first Aes album completely produced by Blockhead.  Trademark complex lyrics throughout the album, the standout track “Jazz Hands” included.

 

11 - Dark Time Sunshine – Lore

Their first album in nine years, Onry Ozzbourne and Zavala bring a melodic offering with a variety of guests like Hail Mary Mallon, RAP Ferriera and Homeboy Sandman on the standout “The Rite Kids”.

 

12 - Nems – Congo

Yes he has us in stiches with his “don’t you ever disrespect me” all over the internets, but Nems follows up the incredible Gorilla Monsoon with this solid offering.  NYC Coney Island Boom Bap, bing bong.

Others receiving votes:

Atmosphere - WORD?

Boldy James & The Alchemist - Bo Jackson

Czarface & MF Doom - Super What?

Melly Mel - New People

On Tilt - The 5th Album

Planet Asia - Rule Of Thirds

Shamon Cassette & Jaz Infinite - Blades of Steel

Solemn Brigham - Southside Sinner

Wiki - Half God

Your Old Droog - Space Bar

Zilla Rocca - Vegas Vic