Top 5 Greatest Rap Albums of the 21st Century
Sometime in the early 1970s, the world witnessed the birth of one of the most controversial, confrontational, and artistic embodiments of music: rap. Widely said to be devised by the genre’s pioneering emcee, DJ Kool Herc, rap music has served as the bridge between poetry and instrumentation. Stemming from a genre that was once considered a bound failure, rap music has matured into the most popular musical style of our time. With ever changing eras of influence and creativity, a select few albums have managed to influence rap’s framework and stay relevant. Through decades which have reoriented the purpose of hip-hop, this is the collection of the five greatest rap albums of the 21st century for those looking to explore the art of rap, or those wanting to enliven their repertoire.
5. J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
Undeniably one of the most skilled lyricists and storytellers in music history, J. Cole has solidified his spot in rap’s hall of fame with the production of his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Each of Cole’s projects are infused with versatile flows and unique sounds, but the penny dropped in his greatest album. In the hour long project from J. Cole, the themes of growth and maturity are fully showcased through the development we see in his storytelling (mizmediablog.com, 2020). The immaculate production on the album is composed of piano and soul-heavy samples with orchestral and jazz nuances, and was handled primarily by Cole himself. In 2014, when the project was released, few rappers were able to create rap hits off of jazz-sampled beats. Best selling tracks such as “No Role Modelz” and “Apparently” have matured into wildly adored rap anthems for their exceptional replay value and their illustrious hooks. What takes 2014 Forest Hills Drive to the next level is the quality of the storytelling throughout the album which remains unrivaled. Tracks like “Wet Dreamz” and “03’ Adolescence” never fail to reel in its audience with their reminiscent and overwhelmingly honest narratives (pitchfork.com, 2014). The concise lyrics which are delivered in a poetic and witty fashion complete the project without being too obscure like other conscious rappers. That’s why J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hills Drive remains a narrative masterpiece and a must-listen album for any rap wanderer.
4. Drake - Nothing Was the Same (2013)
Actor, singer, and songwriter Aubrey “Drake” Graham has gone from an underground emcee to accepted rapper to arguably the biggest artist of all time in the span of a single decade. Drake’s third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, features all the characteristics of his largely R&B debut studio album, Take Care, but with a deeper rap relationship. Drake’s savant producer took the wheel on the production for this album, layering its tracks with melancholic backdrops setting the tone for the Toronto-native’s melodic and discreetly aggressive raps (udiscovermusic.com, 2021). In Nothing Was the Same, Drake has managed to strike the perfect balance between catchy beats and contemplative lyrics with hit tracks like “Hold On, We’re Going Home” and “Started From the Bottom,” to more lyrically involved songs such as “Tuscan Leather” and “Pound Cake”. A certain level of bravado and machismo is apparent through some of his songs where he lauds his recognizable rise to success and his unexpected yet undeniable presence in the industry. The ability of Drake to take an iconic, gritty New York classic track like Wu Tang's “It’s Yourz” and flipping it into a softer, more subtle record in “Wu-Tang Forever,” all while dropping first-rate verses is indicative of his creativity in the genre (rollingstone.com, 2013). Nothing Was the Same demonstrates the new and experimental approach to a mellowed-out style of rap while still being one of the most expressive projects to dawn the genre.
3. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter 3 (2008)
Lil Wayne, aka “The Best Rapper Alive”, a Louisiana-born rapper who many regard as the greatest influence to modern rap. His unprecedented rise to fame with ringtone anthems and masterful hooks guided the rap world into its most distinctive era yet. With Tha Carter III, Lil Wayne summed up the hip-hop genre with his iconic free-flow, a myriad of metaphors, and convulsive verses. Wayne’s work ethic leading up to the production of Tha Carter III was that of an inexhaustible fire refusing to die-down. Dropping countless albums, mixtapes, features, and freestyles, his rhythm at the time was incessant and his reign over the industry was excruciatingly prominent. Selling 1 million copies in the first week, C3 became the highest selling rap album of all time during a period where rap and commercial music were on a significant sales downswing (complex.com, 2018). Wayne’s influence with “Lollipop” was, and still is, immeasurable with its wildly auto tuned and crooning vocals. “A Milli” has cemented a spot in the annals of hip hop as one of the greatest rap songs of all time, and one which any true rap fan knows by heart. More conceptual and experimental tracks such as “Dr. Carter” and “Phone Home” feature idiosyncratic storylines and overwhelming instrumentals which have stretched the conventional definition of rap music and have encouraged other artists to produce unrestrained projects. His impact with Tha Carter III played a huge role in setting the platform for notable artists like Kendrick Lamar and Drake to bring their atypical sonic talents to the industry (xxlmag.com, 2019). Some of the biggest current hip-hop artists largely attribute their success to Wayne’s Tha Carter III and that’s why it deserves its spot alongside other great projects.
2. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
When hip-hop heads bring up Kendrick Lamar, the hushed propositions that he could be the greatest rapper of all time are heard. Given that he’s only been in the industry for a little over a decade, his projects - when they’re finally released - are nothing short of extraordinary. His second studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, was instantly considered a “classic”, a “perfect album”, and modern rap’s holy grail. With Kendrick’s first major label release, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, people expressed their admiration of his autobiographical masterpiece in which he vocalized the struggles of growing up as a black man in America. Its succeeding album, To Pimp a Butterfly, took on a new concept, much more reflective and socially conscious than its preceding project. It was far from the conventional 808-laden, two-hits-and-a-love-song hip-hop album which other rappers at the time were trying to produce. It was a genre-bending amalgamation of jazz, soul, funk, rap, and spoken word with nods to the pioneers of Black Music (medium.com, 2018). Unafraid of speaking out on social issues and defying rap standards, Kendrick dissected the socioeconomic conflicts that plague the Black community, starting with the 2014 Ferguson protests, then touching on the widening economic disparity, before speaking on other pressing matters. The flawless production and attention to detail taken in making the album are reflected on hit tracks – like “King Kunta” and “Alright” – produced by the wildly innovative Pharrell Williams and rap music spearhead Dr. Dre (happymag.tv, 2022). On tracks like “For Free,” Kendrick employs spoken word with triple entendres and live instrumental acoustics in the most cohesive fashion since Jay-Z’s debut. The song's forever debatable meaning, coupled with its transcendence into other genres, and the varying flows make the track a perfect summary for the unrestrained album. Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly will forever remain a classic with its colossal influence on conscious rap and the great level of artistry taken to create rap’s most thematic project.
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)
Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is rap music’s magnum opus, to put it simply. It’s the product of years worth of creativity and orchestration. At a time when rap music was swerving into a slum of autotune and meaningless lyrics, Kanye West took to the mic to rewrite the rulebook. He abandoned the traits that had made him a household name over the past nine years. Getting rid of the cleanly chopped soul loops, grandiose compositions, and ornate textures, he took a stab at making a wholly original project and a new version of himself. Following the infamous drunken Taylor Swift stage bomb, Kanye was essentially ousted by music fans. To make matters worse, he had lost his mother, Donda West, a year earlier. Born out of the harshest lows, Kanye reflected himself fully in his most meticulous and thorough project. West tapped into his deepest, darkest, and most twisted thoughts when he spent a year self-exiled in Hawaii devoted to the production of ...Twisted Fantasy (neiuindependent.org, 2020). Avered critic, Noah Callahan-Bever, wrote that Kanye’s goal was to produce “an undeniable piece of art, so compelling it would eclipse all his perceived missteps and reassert his prominence” (complex.com, 2021). Being holed out in Hawaii, he flew out rap’s cavalry in an attempt to create a towering piece of work. Artists like Jay-Z, RZA, Pusha-T, Nicki Minaj and Raekwon found themselves doing just that. ...Twisted Fantasy’s overly triumphant lead single “Power” illustrated West’s prodigious talent and egoistic views over intergenerational production that took 5000 hours and hundreds of renditions to perfect (billboard.com, 2019). He dives into his feelings of alienation and abandonment from the world on tracks like “Gorgeous” and “Lost In the World,” where he reflects on the climate of the society that cast him out. The savvy production and lyricism on “Runaway” showcases Ye’s ability to deconstruct and re-engineer the genre, all while he rousingly highlights his insolence to the public. Otherworldly production, eccentric samples, and oddly incredible lyricism make My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy a vivid portrait of the ideal hip-hop album while exhibiting the sheer talent of music’s most imaginative and polarizing force.
With countless viable options that could take the same title, these five projects have proven time and time again to be the greatest rap albums of the 21st century. The influence and advancements these albums have had on the genre are substantial and many will look to these projects as the ultimate embodiment of rap. Many critics believe that other artists merit a spot on the top five list and their rather convincing opinions are worth checking out.
Suggestions for further reading :
#JCole #2014FHD #Drake #NWTS #LilWayne #TC3 #KendrickLamar #TPAB #KanyeWest #MBDTF