Check out the Best Hip Hop Albums of 2020 So Far feat Eminem, NAS, Royce, Pop Smoke & Others.
2020 has been tumultuous, unpredictable, and quite off but the only escape we have had are the amazing albums released this year. It has been difficult to figure out the top hip hop albums because there has been a fight of new singers and albums coming up.
The music industry this year was aware of the pandemic COVID-19. Many artists were worried about releasing new music at the beginning of spring because of the great uncertainty. How can they handle it? Do people want to look after it?
These issues were long-lasting, but the momentum of rap did not stop. Although the dust still has to be resolved, many hip-hop stars turned the script and released feverishly albums to satisfy the fans. Hip-hop was capable of driving through the bumpy 2020 road from posthumous releases (Mac Miller, Juice WRLD, and Pop Smoke) to the ongoing rush of female rappers (Megan Thee Stallion, Chika, and Flo-Milli).
Get your headphones on and get ready to explore varied genres and singers. So, here we present our picks for the top 15 Hip Hop Albums of the year (In No Specific Order).
Lil Baby: ‘My Turn’
Let’s begin with Lil Baby who dropped not one but two versions of his “My Turn” album with some of the best and hit tracks. Released on February 28, 2020, Lil Baby has definitely tried to make his mark with his album My Turn. This album is all about what happens on the streets, the kind of life, and finally, the hardships that go behind pursuing the dream of becoming a rapper. Lil Baby also talks about how he is not going back to his old life and how people used to relate him to the thugs. This album proves to be one of the top albums that would definitely take Lil Baby to the next level. His song such as ‘Commercial’, ‘Same Thing’, ‘Gang Signs’ tells a lot about how far he has come and what all struggles he had to face. This album feels like documentation of life and journey in words and turned into raps. The raw factor of this album makes it deserving to be in the top 10 hip hop albums released in 2020.
Lil Uzi Vert: ‘Eternal Atake’
After the release of this album on March 6, some claimed that Uzi made a comeback while others claimed that this is one of his greatest albums to date. Well, in both cases Lil Uzi received immense praise and recognition for ‘Eternal Atake’. This album witnesses an amalgamation of rapping beats melodic crooning and obviously Uzi’s lyrics. One thing Uzi has definitely done this year is blessed with his music. In the album, Uzi has given details about what has been going on not just in his life but in his mind as well. Talking about the money he has, his fashion sense, and about all the girls in his life, Lil Uzi gave a sneak peek of the inside. His hunger to stand out and not follow what’s mainstream surely makes this album one of the top hip hop albums of 2020.
21 Savage & Metro Boomin: ‘Savage Mode II’
When the news broke about Savage Mode II, people were skeptical if it would be the exact sequel of 2016’s Savage Mode, but 21 Savage and Metro Boomin decided to surprise audiences with their extravagant songs and collaboration with renowned artists on October 2. In 2016, there was one feature but 2020 really had something huge in-store. They decided to go extra with Morgan Freeman’s narration, and the best part when he asks “Are things better or worse the second time around? Can we really do anything more than once?” Well, these two artists definitely proved that things are way better in the second round. What’s more pleasing? Drake’s and Young Thug’s contribution. This album would is one of the biggest collaborations that has happened in 2020, and with Savage’s raps and Metro’s beats, this has become one of the top hip hop albums this year.
Run The Jewels: ‘Run The Jewels 4’
The fourth studio album by the supergroup duo consisting of Brooklyn-based rapper/producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike is one of the best Hip-Hop projects this year which helped them earn their first Top 10 debut on the Billboard 200. The “Run The Jewels 4” album which released during the US Protests demanding justice for the death of George Floyd has Kille Mike raps about Racist cops, corporate media, systemic poverty, and other eternal enemies. Jack Bray of The Line of Best Fit wrote, “RTJ4 is Killer Mike & El-P’s masterstroke. This is musical evolution for moral, social and political revolution, the group now creating anthems in the pursuit of tolerance, respect, and unity.” Back in May, Mike told Billboard that RTJ4 would “march through the motherf**king world like a beast,” and it looks like it certainly did.
Pop Smoke: ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’
Released on July 3, Pop Smoke could not complete his album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon before his tragic death. But he had recorded enough to let the world know his talent for one last time. 50 cent in remembrance played the role of co-executive producer of the project. Ironically, the two of them had always been compared and Pop finally proved why he was in competition. He touched on topics about women in his tracks like Mood Swings or The Woo. Stating that Pop Smoke made sure he also showed his other side to the audiences. Even before making his way to heaven, Smoke gave us an album by which he will be remembered forever.
Eminem: ‘Music to be Murdered By’
Sold over 1 million albums in the US, Eminem released Music to be Murdered By album, which is probably one of his greatest works in this past decade. This album was a surprise and people definitely didn’t expect it from Detroit Rapper. The songs were a mix and match about various topics including mass violence and his personal life. Artists like Young M.A. and Anderson .Paak also made an appearance. With 20 songs in this album, Eminem proved that he is still present in the scene. Well, no matter how this year was but the start was amazing with Eminem’s album being one of the top hip hop albums this year.
Music to Be Murdered By debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, selling 279,000 album-equivalent units in its first week (including 117,000 conventional album sales). This was Eminem’s ninth number-one album in the United States, making him one of just six musicians to have done so. The album’s tracks have also received a total of 217.6 million on-demand streams. Music to Be Murdered By had sold over 1,053,000 equivalent units as of December 2020, with 249,000 pure sales.
D Smoke: ‘Black Habits’
Black Habits is an album by D smoke that has songs that would suit each and every type of listener. From talking about serious topics to love stories, D Smoke made sure that he covered it all. In Top of the Morning, he puts emphasis on the importance of being grateful for life, which we all learned this year. Smoke also pays tribute to his father in the song Like My Daddy, where he gives the audience values and different things that his father taught him. There’s no doubt about how talented D smoke and this album definitely is one of the top hip-hop albums released this year.
Benny The Butcher – ‘Burden of Proof’
The second studio album “Burden of Proof” by the Griselda rapper Benny The Butcher was the Biggest album by him to date. The smooth flow of the beloved underground rapper worked perfectly on the beats from Hitmaker Hit-Boy. The 12 track project only sold 19k in the first on Billboard 200, but it had Benny spitting bars after bars which makes it an exhilarating listen front to back. The project pushes Benny The Butcher further in the spotlight as he raps with more credence than ever before. “I’ma be a legend soon, shit, I’m a legend now,” he says in the closing track of the project.
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist: ‘Alfredo’
This album released in collaboration by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist puts light on a different but visible factor in the industry, the role of Mafioso. In the album Alfredo, the duo reflects on how gangsters have played a part and the commonness of selling drugs as well. They even talk about rappers who are out there rapping about selling drugs and its effect on the community, especially the black community. Gibbs also talks about his own struggles living in such a neighborhood and how he came out of it with ambition. This insightful and meaningful album definitely is one of the top hip hop albums that were released this year.
Jay Electronica: ‘A Written Testimony’
The much-hyped and talked about album by Jay Electronica finally released this year and also to state that he met the audiences’ expectations as Electronica made it all about good vibes, prayers, and community. He talks about the supreme power, pays his respect to Allah, and how everything seems better when you believe in God. With A Written Testimony, Electronica tries to instill things about faith and believing in things without self-doubt. Indeed portraying all this through raps and under 40 minutes is difficult but not impossible. This surely makes the album one of the top hip hop albums we have had this year.
Royce 5’9”: ‘The Allegory’
Nominated for The Best Rap Album at the GRAMMYs, Royce 5’9” never fails to surprise everyone with each variation that he brings in his projects. Fun fact: Royce has produced every bit of music in his “The Allegory” album. He has made the complex rhymes seem easy and this how Royce proves that he is still going strong and evolving. This Detroit rapper impresses the audiences when he lightens up in his songs even in serious times and this is what makes this album one of the top hip hop albums released in 2020.
Juice WRLD – ‘Legends Never Die’
The posthumous and the third studio by the late rapper Juice WRLD was a success commercially and critically. The “Legends Never Die” album is the best Hip-Hop album in terms of sales as it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with 497k album-equivalent units in the first week. The long list of producers did well with Juice WRLD’s flow where he confronts his demons and talks about the drug habits, and where it will take him. The rapper died due to an accidental overdose last December and the album was something to cherish for the fans who were in shock after the death of the Chicago Rapper. “That kid was so talented, To be so young, he mastered that so quickly. His potential was so off the charts,” said Eminem while talking about Juice WRLD.
Westside Gunn – ‘Pray For Paris’
The third studio album by the Griselda rapper Westside Gunn was definitely the best of his career, which had production from the likes of The Alchemist, DJ Premier, and the star-studded guest appearances from his fellow Griselda artists Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine along with Freddie Gibbs, Wale, Tyler, The Creator and more. Westside Gunn vintage’s sound on “Pray For Paris” was a treat for old school Hip-Hop Fans. The album might not be a success on the charts as it debuted at number 67 on the Billboard 200, but it certainly made a mark of Gunn’s lyrical abilities. The Shady Records artist recently left the Eminem helmed label duo to the lack of support during the promo run of the albums from their artist.
Mac Miller – ‘Circles’
The sixth and final studio album the late Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller who died a couple of years ago from an accidental drug overdose. The album which released posthumously earlier this year felt more like a singer-songwriter album than a Hip-Hop project, but it received widespread critical acclaim and also did well commercially, debuting at number three on US Billboard 200. The project had a fascinating rhythm which made it a graceful and elegant piece of art. The project was a privilege for the fans to hear their beloved rapper share his innermost thoughts, and reflects on his struggles and challenges.
Nas: ‘King’s Disease’
Well, can we consider this album as NASIR’s grand comeback? King’s Disease has hit heights after struggles faced by Nas when he started with his arrhythmic vocals and the flow was not up to the mark. But with this album, Nas proved that he is still having the head in the game. Not just this, Nas even made a comeback in the Grammy’s for being nominated Best Rap Album. Moreover, Nas showcased his talent and his spirit of he has still got it to the audiences with this album. In this album, Nas also tried to instill Marcus Garvey’s liberation theory. He is even complaining to God about he took his mom away. This personal and soulful album is what we needed this year and indeed is one of the best hip hop albums released in 2020.
To sum up, this year has given us something to remember and these hip hop albums had definitely made the whole pandemic and lockdown situation easier to survive. These were our picks for the top hip hop albums released in 2020, which one did you like?
Written by Chayanika.
