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1. Frank Ocean: “Blonde” (2016)
Recommended tracks: “Pink + White”, “Nights”, “White Ferrari”
Blond Frank Ocean’s sophomore album, released on August 20, 2016. It cemented his spot as one of the top music artists of this generation. The album was heavily anticipated after Ocean’s Grammy awarded album, Channel Orange, in 2012. The album combines the genres of psychedelic pop with R&B and avant-garde soul to create a unique melancholic sound. The album is rated the best album of the decade by Pitchfork.
2. Kanye West: “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” (2010)
Recommended tracks: “Runaway”, “Monster”, “POWER”
This album was Kanye West’s first album after his 2009 VMA incident which resulted in President Obama calling him a “jackass”. The album was inspired by West’s crumbling relationship with his girlfriend Amber Rose and explores the dark unseen sides of fame and love in the lives of celebrities. The album includes superstar filled features, including Rick Ross, Jay Z, Kid Cudi, and John Legend. The album went on to win the best rap album in the 54th annual Grammy and was rated the best album of the decade by Rolling stone and the 2nd best album of the decade by Pitchfork.
3. Kendrick Lamar: “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” (2013)
Recommended tracks: “m.A.A.d city”, “Swimming pools”, “Money trees”
This was Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore album, which was released on October 22, 2012, launching him into the mainstream and earning 5 nominations from the 56th Grammy Awards. This album is Lamar’s major debut and is produced by hip-hop legends Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams.
4. Travis Scott: “Rodeo” (2015)
Recommended tracks: “90210”, “Antidote”, “3500”
This album was Houston rapper Travis Scott’s debut album released on September 4, 2015. The album includes a star-studded list of features from The Weekend, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Swae Lee, and more. This album became platinum by RIAA and put Scott on the mainstream. It would also lead to his highly acclaimed 2018 album Astroworld which garnered him a large group of new fans. However, most of his older fans still think “Rodeo” is his best album.
5. Drake: “Take Care” (2011)
Recommended tracks: “Headlines”, “The Motto”, “Marvin’s Room”
Take care is the sophomore album by Canadian rapper Drake, which was released on November 15th, 2011. This album incorporates genres such as hip-hop, R&B, pop, and electronica styles, which have helped make this album Drake’s best-seller. It has more than 2 million sales in the United states along and becoming rated 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
6. Tyler the Creator: “Igor” (2019)
Recommended tracks: “EARFQUAKE”, “NEW MAGIC WAND”, “I THINK”
Igor was rapper Tyler the Creator’s sixth studio album released on May 17, 2019. Rolling stone described the album to be a “rich and messy mélange of R&B, funk, and rap.” The album became Tyler’s first number one album on the billboard 200 charts and won the award for the best rap album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
7. The Weekend: “House of Balloons” (2011)
Recommended tracks: “Wicked Games”, “The morning”, “The Party & The After Party”
This was Canadian singer The Weekend’s debut mixtape released on March 21, 2011, under his newly founded XO records. This was when no one even knew what the singer looked like. This mixtape breaks the boundaries of R&B and also incorporates indie rock and dream pop sounds. The dark production, melodic vocals, and mysterious persona of The Weekend helped him gain attention and would lead to him becoming the R&B superstar he is today.
8. J. Cole: 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
Recommended tracks: “No Role Modelz”, “Apparently”, “G.O.M.D”
This album was the third studio album released by American rapper J. Cole on December 9, 2014. According to Genius, “this album became the first hip-hop album in 25 years to be certified platinum without any features.” It was also nominated at the 58th annual Grammy awards for the best rap album.
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