The 25 best hip-hop albums of 2023

Although Killer Mike is one-half of the duo Run the Jewels, it had been more than a decade since the rapper released his last solo album. With production from heavy-hitters like No I.D., Cool & Dre, André 3000, DJ Paul, and more, Mike returns with his sixth album properly titled MICHAEL. The album allows Mike to give fans an introspective into his life as he blends his hip-hop roots with sounds of '70s soul and gospel. Featured artists on the album included Cee-Lo Green, 6LACK, Eryn Allen Kane, Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz, and more. MICHAEL allows the rapper to reflect on his life and spirituality as he also deals with shortfalls and triumphs. Some of the album's standouts are "SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS" in which he teams up with other Atlanta rappers André 3000 and Future, as well as "MOTHERLESS" in which Mike details dealing with the deaths of his mother and grandmother. The soulful production is a perfect match for Mike to give fans a look into his mind and soul. 

Producer Kaytranada and rapper Aminé are no strangers to working with each other. Kaytranada previously produced a few songs on Aminé's 2015 mixtape Calling Brio. This time around, they decided to work together on a self-titled full-length album as they formally introduced themselves as the duo Kaytraminé. In pure Kaytranada form, the producer knows how to craft beats that are sure to keep people dancing, and it's evident from the leading track "Who He Iz," a boastful song that finds Aminé confidently letting people know about himself. The 11-track album features a star-studded roster of collaborators, including Snoop Dogg, Freddie Gibbs, Pharrell, Big Sean, and Amaarae. From hit songs like "4EVA" to "Master P" to "Sossaup," it's clear that Kaytraminé is an equally yolked duo that knows how to make essential party anthems. 

After a five-year hiatus since her debut album Room 25, Noname returns with her latest album Sundial. One of the cool things about Noname's talent is how she poetically floats across any production with a smooth cadence. While intro track "black mirror" has production influenced by the jazz era, the follow-up track "hold me down" has more gospel elements. From themes of independence on tracks like "namesake," to dealing with a lover that no longer serves her on "toxic," to questioning religious ideals on "gospel?," Noname shines as being unapologetically herself. 

Just two years after releasing his third album Elephant in the Room, Mick Jenkins returns with his fourth album The Patience, and based on the album title, he's waited long enough to earn his respect among rap's elite. It's evident from the album opener "Michelin Star," in which Jenkins stresses how he's always given fans high-quality music and more people need to take notice. Throughout the album, he teams up with fellow rappers such as JID, Vic Mensa, Freddie Gibbs, and Benny The Butcher, showing that he can shine alongside some of the genre's finest MCs. The lush production, with elements of blues and jazz, is perfect as Jenkins highlights different themes like escapism on "Smoke Break-Dance," staying down with his day-one friends on "2004," dealing with posers on "Pasta," and coming into his artistry on "Mop." Jenkins seems comfortable with life and his craft, and it's only up from here.

When people think of music that drops during the summertime, fans typically want the type of music that they can party to, it's safe to say Kota the Friend released the perfect album for that season. Kota's latest album Protea is quite the contrast from the music he typically makes, but it shows that he can approach hip-hop with different sounds that people still love. Joining Kota for his breezy sound are artists like Wolftyla, Allen Stone, Samm Henshaw, Aloe Blacc, and more. With pop, jazz, and electronic elements fused into his hip-hop sound, the album beams with dance-heavy tunes like "Nola II," "Forget About It," and "Autumn in Paris." Protea is filled with playful and vibrant tunes that are sure to keep people moving on the dance floor all year long. 

Just two years after her pop-infused LP Planet Her, Doja Cat returns with her fourth album Scarlet. This time around, Doja is ready to prove her prowess as not only a pop star, but a rapper as well. She shows more of her rebellious side with the lead single "Paint the Town Red," which became a huge hit thanks to a smooth sample of Dionne Warwick's 1964 classic "Walk on By." Across the album, she highlights different themes like dealing with another side of her on "Demons," calling out her haters on "FTG," dismissing her critics on "Ouchies," and thoughts on a desiring love on "Can't Wait." Scarlet helps fans see Doja as a prominent star who can take up space in the hip-hop realm. 

Nick Grant keeps his fans fed with his latest album Sunday Dinner. Throughout the album, Grant gives listeners an inside look into his life as he highlights his upbringing on the opening track "WORRYIN' BOUT A CLASSIC," encourages confidence and affirmation on "KNOW YOUR WORTH/GRANDMA SAID," gratefulness on "COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS," and dismisses his haters on "HEARD ABOUT US." R&B fans will also appreciate hearing Tweet's soft and soprano vocals on "HEAVEN." The hearty and soulful production perfectly matches Grant with his stellar lyricism, effortless cadence, and vibrant storytelling. It's time for more music fans to gather around the table as Sunday Dinner is sure to feed a hip-hop head's appetite. 

With Larry June's laidback rap flow, it was perfect for the Bay Area native to team up with veteran producer The Alchemist. Their joint album The Great Escape makes the first collaborative album between the two. The Alchemist is a master at blending mellow melodies with soulful samples that can help put a listener's mind at ease. June highlights different themes like betting on himself on "Palisades, CA," his wealth and status on "Art Talk," and searching for love on "Ocean Sounds." June and The Alchemist is a seamless collaboration and The Great Escape is the perfect title for fans who simply want the music to take their minds to another realm. 

2024 will officially mark 30 years of Nas being in the music game (after dropping the legendary Illmatic in 1994), and thanks to recent collaborations alongside producer Hit-Boy, he's showing no signs of slowing down. Magic 2 marks the fifth collaborative album between Nas and Hit-Boy, and they continue to bat 1.000 whenever they step to the plate. The pairing between the rapper and producer continues to work perfectly because Nas isn't chasing trendy sounds and Hit-Boy is making sure the lush production fits Nas' style at best. Nas calls out his haters on songs like "Abracadabra," talks about his status and business sense on "Earvin Magic Johnson," and raps about his competitors on "Slow It Down." Magic 2 proves that Nas is still one of the best MCs in the game, even after three decades in the industry. A couple of months later, Nas and Hit-Boy released Magic 3, which also could've easily made this list as part of the year's best albums. 

Just a year after his previous solo album God Don't Make Mistakes, Conway The Machine returns with Won't He Do It. At the end of the lead track "Quarters," there's audio of someone talking about Conway's talent. One of the standout elements of Conway's music is how much his producers sample soul and classical music of past eras. That type of sound is evident on songs like "Monogram" which samples Creation's "I'm So Lonely" and Orchester Charlie Steinmann's "Above & Below" on the track "The Chosen." Conway is a master with a braggadocio flow and it's the perfect synergy with the lush production. 

JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown have always been the type of rappers who never conform to traditional or the most popular hip-hop sound, which makes their latest album Scaring The Hoes such a clever title. The beautiful yet chaotic production will either turn people away or make fans turn up, and for JPEGMAFIA and Brown fans, it's always the latter, while appreciating how eccentric and unique the sound can be. They use different samples across the album like Kelis' "Milkshake," and NSYNC's "Gone," but the rappers do it in a way in which the production sounds animated and eclectic. Some of the standout tracks include "Burfict!," "Lean Beef Patty," and "Kingdom Hearts Key." 

Everyone's favorite soul-trap rapper Rod Wave is back with his fifth album Nostalgia. Throughout the album, Rod highlights different themes such as persevering in life on "Long Journey," love and heartbreak on "Come See Me," and reflections on "Back Lit." Rod makes sure to give fans an introspective look into his personal life, love, and career. Nostalgia debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in its first week of release, making it his third album to top the charts. 

Just three years after releasing his critically acclaimed studio debut Better, Deante' Hitchcock is back with his sophomore album Once Upon A Time. Hitchcock focuses on a number of themes like his player ways on "Woah!," gets into his astrology bag on "Zodiac," and his admiration for his partner on "Thinking 'Bout You." Hitchcock also shows his admiration for music of the past, as he samples songs by artists like Jodeci, Hi-Five, and Dru Hill. From songs about love to partying it up, Once Upon A Time has tunes suited for everyone. 

As a follow-up to IDK's 2022 album Simple, the rapper returns with his fourth album F65. Based on the album cover, IDK uses a theme of Formula 1 racing, and he's ready to win his race on "Pit Stop," and shows his admiration for cars on tracks like "Champs-Elysees" in which he talks about "speeding to jazz music." IDK makes sure to blend several genres including jazz on "Mr. Police" and "Télé Couleur," Baltimore club on "Radioactive," and Afrobeats on the Tay Iwar-assisted track "Elmina." The rapper also makes sure to add a star-studded line-up of featured artists like NLE Choppa, Saucy Santana, Musiq Soulchild, Rich The Kid, and Snoop Dogg. F65 is a smooth listen that takes fans on a journey of IDK's race in life and his career. 

Ausar may not be a household name just yet, but the Chicago native has been making waves around his hometown for a few years now. He's already collaborated with legends like Wyclef Jean, auditioned for Netflix's Rhythm + Flow, and has received co-signs from the likes of Lupe Fiasco and Rakim. Ausar is ready for his moment on his debut album I Now Know., which also features fellow rising stars like Dende, Chris Patrick, and Deante' Hitchcock. One of the album's standout tracks is "poster CHILD" in which Ausar beams with a storytelling prowess about waiting on his time to shine. On "WIN," he stresses his desire to be the greatest in the rap game, even when he's had moments of doubt in his journey. The mellow and laidback production is perfect for Ausar to give listeners an introspective look into his life. 

It was back in 2007 when 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne first teamed up on the song "Duffle Bag Boy." Over the years, they've continued collaborating and are back with their second joint album Welcome 2 Collegrove. The two rappers teamed up with a number of producers including Mannie Fresh, DJ Toomp, Juicy J, and Mike Dean, to name a few. The album is divided by scene skits, which are narrated by fellow veteran rapper 50 Cent. Chainz and Wayne trade bars on the album's finest moments like the braggadocio flow on "Presha," rapping about their talent on "Bars," and trying to keep open communication high on the Usher-assisted single "Transparency." Chainz and Wayne know how to feed off each other's flows for the perfect chemistry. It's no wonder they continue to be well-respected vets in the game. 

Sonny Digital has typically crafted hits behind-the-scenes as a producer for some of today's biggest artists, including Travis Scott, 2 Chainz, Jack Harlow, Don Toliver, Future, and more. This time around, he's center stage for his debut album Dolores Son as a producer and artist. Obviously the production is on point, especially with Sonny's use of samples, like "Can't Blame You" sampling the O'Jays' "Look Over Your Shoulder." Throughout the album, he highlights different themes such as his upbringing ("Can't Blame You"), smoke sessions ("Wakenbake"), and his wealth and status ("Like This"). The 11-track album gives fans a brief insight into how Sonny can shine as a headliner, just as much as he does behind the boards. 

Jeezy has boasted a nearly two-decade career at this point, and although he doesn't release music as frequently as he once did, his fans always anticipate his motivational messages. His latest double album I Might Forgive... But I Don't Forget is 29 tracks long, which to some listeners can be quite the overload. However, there are moments in which Jeezy shines the best. On the opening track "I Might Forgive," Jeezy makes sure to call out the critics who counted him out, which is the perfect introduction to the album. He highlights other themes like counting his wins on "Couldn't Lose If I Tried," staying faithful to his partner on "Don't Cheat," and dealing with people who love and then hate him on "Claim to Fame." I Might Forgive... But I Don't Forget is filled with plenty of reflections on Jeezy's life.

Superproducer Hit-Boy teams up with his father Big Hit on their collaborative album Surf or Drown, Vol. 2. Although it's a 20-track project, 10 of those tracks are the instrumentals on the back half. On the first half, the duo enlist a few features from Dom Kennedy, Garren, and Big Sean. The collaboration between father and son is a long time coming, as it was released after Big Hit spent nine years in prison. Once he got out, he went straight to the studio with his son and created some of the album's standout tracks like "Grindin' My Whole Life, Pt. 2, "Monte Carlo," and "Reckless & Ratchet." 

Just two years after releasing his sophomore album Life of a Don, rapper Don Toliver returns with his third album Love Sick. He teams up with a number of producers, including Hit-Boy, James Blake, Kaytranada, and Boi-1da to name a few. As the album's title suggests, the melodic rap star leans into themes of love, trust, and betrayal, and brings along a number of artists with him such as Kali Uchis, Wizkid, Justin Bieber, Charlie Wilson, Brent Faiyaz, and more. Some of the album standouts include "4 Me," "Do It Right," the Kaytranada-produced track "Honeymoon," and the GloRilla-assisted track "Leave the Club." 

In 2022, Lola Brooke gained a lot of traction after her song "Don't Play With It" became quite popular on TikTok. This year, she finally released her debut album Dennis Daughter and it's evident how this New York native has a rap flow reminiscent of her legendary predecessors like Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown. She uses the track "I Am Lola" as an introduction for listeners to get to know her and what she's about. Lola then brings her boastful and confident flow to songs like "Best Side," shows more of her sensual side alongside Bryson Tiller on "You," and prays that artists are protected on "God Bless All The Rappers." 

Just three years since his sophomore album Elements Vol. 1, TOBi returns with his third album PANIC. TOBi is a fan of jazz, R&B, and soul music, and he applies elements of those genres to the production which works perfectly with his poetic flow. The rapper touches on a number of themes throughout the 12 tracks, such as betting on himself on "Hoodwinked," getting lost with a lover on "Keep From Falling," and uplifting others on the Topaz Jones-assisted single "All Night Long." Whether he's showcasing his poetic cadence or his smooth vocals, TOBI knows how to shine on both spectrums.  

With the success of her hit singles "Pound Town 2" and "SkeeYee," St. Louis native Sexyy Red has become one of rap's rising stars of 2023. In early June, Red released her sophomore mixtape Hood Hottest Princess to rave reviews. Not only does Red know how to keep things raunchy in her music, but she also knows how to make club anthems that fans will go up for at any party. Red truly shines on tracks like "I'm the S**t" and "Sexyy Walk" in which she confidently boasts about herself, the type of mantra that everyone should have. 

Just four years after he released his solo debut album Father of 4, Offset returns with his sophomore album SET IT OFF. With producers such as Boi-1da, Tay Keith, and Metro Boomin, Offset knows exactly who to bring in to give fans the sound they love. He also enlists several artists to join him this time around, including Don Toliver, Future, Travis Scott, Latto, Chloe, and his wife Cardi B. Some of the album's standout tracks including the Three 6 Mafia-sampled single "Jealousy," stresses how he can show his partner the good life on "Worth It," and appreciates his partner on the R&B-inspired "Dissolve." Since its release, SET IT OFF peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200.

Soul group El Michels Affair is no stranger to collaborating with some of hip-hop's elite. In addition to their solo work, they're privy to releasing projects alongside the likes of Raekwon, Freddie Gibbs, and Madlib. This time around, the group teamed up with The Roots frontman Black Thought on their joint album Glorious Game. Pairing the sounds between Michels and Thought is the perfect synergy of how hip-hop has often implemented the sounds of funk, jazz, and soul. Some of the album's standout tracks include "I'm Still Somehow," "Alone," and the album title track, which features soulful songstress KIRBY. Glorious Game is the type of album for fans who not only appreciate Thought's storytelling prowess, but also celebrate how different eras of music can blend so well together.