Hip-hop has always been constantly evolving, with new artists and sounds emerging. The past year has seen some groundbreaking releases pushing the boundaries of what we know and love about hip-hop. From thought-provoking lyrics to innovative production, these albums represent the best of the genre. 

From obscure names that few mainstream hip-hop listeners have heard about to the genre's biggest stars, we’ve looked far and wide to compile this list!

So without further ado, here are our picks for the five best hip hop albums of the year.

5. Mr. Morale & the big steppers by Kendrick Lamar

This new Kendrick Lamar project came after a long gap in his career, and many were expecting something big, something from the bird’s eye view. But instead, we got the most personal Kendrick project ever, and we’re not complaining. Kendrick talks about his trauma, how his surroundings shaped him, and how he deals with his pain and grief while telling people that he isn’t the ‘prophet’ they see him as!

4. God Don't make mistakes by Conway the machine 

Conway came through with this new album this year. He managed to outdo himself since his last project, a feat that only a few thought would be possible, judging by its quality. But it is safe to say that God Don’t Make Mistakes is his best work to date; with lush, high-quality production, hard-hitting bars, and massive features from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and others, Conway has leveled up!

3. Melt my eyes see your future by Denzel Curry 

Denzel Curry’s new project is a trip through his artistic thoughts; he derives inspiration from the most obscure anime like Cowboy Bebop to the point that his music videos look like the live-action versions of the anime. Denzel’s flows, cadence, and beat choices combine to give us this potent mix of songs!

2. It's almost Dry by Pusha T 

Pusha T is still here, and it doesn’t seem like he is going anywhere anytime soon. The album features, just as always, excellent lyrical capabilities from the coke king himself and lush, rich production from one of the greatest ever to do it, Kanye West. You just can’t go wrong when the two hop on a record!

1. The forever story by J.I.D.

There's a reason why the Forever Story is in the top spot, which is that it's AOTY, hands down. It’s not even a close match at this point; the growth JID has shown on this project is insane. His flow switches are so seamless at this point that you don't even notice them until you notice them, and you go, ‘wow, that just happened.’

If you want to leave in awe on every track, then the Forever story can do that for you. It features banger after banger and never loses on the lyrical meat JID brings to the table. The album is dense, filled with references to his childhood, his come-up, and his life now. Every song is masterfully crafted, and that’s something that we expect from a producer of the caliber of Cristo!

Also read - Russ says Forever Story is AOTY!