Best Rap Albums Of 2024... So Far

Dropping singles and releasing a full-length album are two entirely different ballgames. With so many options endlessly piling up in the music domain, rappers who manage to hold listeners’ attention stand out now more than ever before.

Skipping past content that doesn’t immediately appeal to the senses is a common practice today because there’s always an alternative within arm’s reach, and HipHopDX has singled out the packages that extinguish this restlessness.

Our picks for best rap albums of 2024 consider the different elements of packaging a captivating bundle of songs — length, arrangement, restraint and, of course, the overall quality of the product.

ScHoolboy Q – Blue Lips

An orderly union of sunshine, overcast, rain and starry skies, Blue Lips switches from bouncy to sedated to lit to pensive with a consistency that prompts an involuntary submission to its charmingly erratic rhythm. Whereas a lot of listeners might be tempted to ask themselves if ScHoolboy Q‘s latest offering was worth the wait, his remarkable growth also suggests that years of experience is perhaps what births the richest music, especially in a word-heavy genre like rap.

Tierra Whack – WORLD WIDE WHACK

During a time of algorithm-induced sameness, Tierra Whack pushes herself and her collaborators to find fresh concepts, flows and sounds. She reflects the human experience in tidy, Technicolor parcels with allusions to her mental health struggles. Yet, it never feels overbearing, owing to her ability to balance darkness with her trademark wit and playfulness. Whether staring down a neverending well of despair or overconfidently singing in the shower, WORLD WIDE WHACK shines brightest when the Philadelphia native brings her otherworldly talent to relatable everyday struggles.

CJ Fly – baited

The kids from Pro Era all ended up taking separate paths over the past decade, but one aspect of their music remained intact: it’s undeniably New York. CJ Fly is arguably the best example of this, and baited demonstrates exactly why. The beats MCs choose to lay their bars over speaks to their artistry just as much as their pen game, and he passes that test with flying colors.

MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinballl

In the era of bar-heavy slacker rap, MIKE shines brighter than the majority of his peers. After all, he’s played a massive role in bringing that specific brand of Hip Hop to the people’s attention, sealing the deal with his latest offering in collaboration with beat wizard Tony Seltzer. For those doubting this LP based on face value, the Earl Sweatshirt cameo co-sign will perhaps help clear any remaining doubts.

Jae Skeese & Superior – Testament of the Times

Jay Skeese has been on quite a run recently — after dropping a knockout joint project with Conway The Machine last year, he’s now back with a new partner to prop up his immaculate lyricism and delivery. Over the 12 tracks that make up Testament of the Times, Superior pads his collaborator’s vocals with a collection of instrumentals so stylistically fitting that it’s already in the conversation for best rap albums of 2024.

Hit-Boy & The Alchemist – THEODORE & ANDRE

The duo of super producers surprise-dropped three tracks packaged as THEODORE & ANDRE on the first day of February, clocking in at just a little under 10 minutes. Though Hit-Boy and Alchemist have worked on a lot of the same projects before and even released a song together, this marks their first joint bundle. Additionally, drummer Jonathan Hulett assisted on the project, which features beats and bars by both California natives.

Erick The Architect – I’ve Never Been Here Before

Released via his own Architect Recording Company, I’ve Never Been Here Before reveals in fullness an inward-looking side of Erick The Architect that fans have only caught glimpses of in his past work with Flatbush Zombies. On the other hand, the tracklist offers almost just as many cuts on the same wavelength as the material that put him and his group on the map in the first place. With features from Joey Bada$$, George Clinton and more, there’s a calmness and solitude to the record that remains even when the pace keeps changing.

Conway The Machine & Big Ghost Ltd – Speshal Machinery: The Ghronic Edition

An alternative to Conway The Machine and 38 Spesh’s 2023 album Speshal Machinery, producer Big Ghost Ltd fully takes over the beats on The Ghronic Edition. Originally produced by 38 Spesh and Jimmy Dukes in its entirety, the record’s latest version carries the same bars with heavier and more menacing beats as opposed to the mafioso-styled instrumentation from last year’s release. Despite being a remix package, the nine-cut project is among the best rap albums of 2024.

Heems & Lapgan – LAFANDER

For LAFANDAR (Hindi/Urdu: someone who is mischievous, unpredictable and foolhardy), Heems teamed up with producer Lapgan to concoct what is arguably his most unclouded body of work to date. A few feet removed from the punky fuzziness of his previous solo records — the last of which was released almost a decade ago — it seems like the 38-year-old MC has found his match in a fellow Indian-American beatmaker who perfectly understands the objective.

Big Hit & The Game
– Paisley Dreams

Recorded over just one extended studio session, The Game and Big Hit’s joint album was produced entirely by Hit-Boy and released immediately on New Year’s Day. The nine-cut package encapsulates the spirit of Los Angeles, channeled through the vigor of the OG Blood Brothers.

Benny The Butcher – Everybody Can’t Go

Produced entirely by Hit-Boy and The Alchemist (excluding one track which sees Hit-Boy share production credits with Corbett), Everybody Can’t Go traces the Griselda MC’s resilience from crippling artistic independence to signing with Def Jam Recordings and building on the label’s legacy of all-time greats like DMX, LL COOL J, Beastie Boys and Warren G, among countless others. As evident from the title, not everyone’s built to see a race through to the end — participants and spectators — but those who stick around, at least for Benny’s run, are promised a reward.

Kota The Friend
– Lyrics to GO Vol. 5

Kota The Friend has been serving up bars for nearly a decade, having covered more ground in that much time than the average MC. In the most recent installment of his Lyrics to GO series, the East Coast native meets the same towering expectations he set when he dropped the first edition back in 2020. In other words, the tracklist doesn’t lose steam at any point over its 27-minute runtime.

Hus Kingpin & 9th Wonder
– The Supergoat

9th Wonder‘s brilliance is no secret, though he deserves even more credit for using it to elevate wordsmiths who don’t receive the shine they deserve. Make no mistake, Hus Kingpin is no stranger to Hip Hop heads, but his new collaboration with the former Little Brother beatmaker has brought him even closer to the recognition he is worthy of.

Revival Season
– Propaganda

The rapper–producer duo’s latest offering is made up of only four tracks, yet it accomplishes in its brief run what most artists aspire to through full-length projects. A fusion of Brandon “BEZ” Evans and Jonah Swilley’s abstract genius, the package is proof that high energy can adjust to any pace and rhythm.

HipHopDX’s search for the best rap albums of 2024 involves recurring alterations and upgrades. Join us in curating this living, breathing shortlist and hop in the comments section to let us know if we missed anything.

Be sure to also check out our other shortlists for updates at the end of start month:

The Best Rap Songs of 2024
The Best R&B Songs of 2024
The Best R&B Albums of 2024