1. Stove The God Cooks – Reasonable Drought
With scene stealing appearances this year on two of fellow upstate NY emcee Westside Gunn’s solo projects, the secret is out on one of the game’s brightest talents. Stove is cocky, introspective, and on his dean all in one extended clip of bar(s).
2. Jay Electronica – A Written Testimony
The enigma continues. A first effort collaboration with one of raps God emcees still left fans longing for a true solo effort.
3. Jadakiss – Ignatious
Mature solo effort from the King of 16 bars. The brilliance of The Lox album overshadowed a good effort from Kiss.
4. 21 Savage/Metro Boomin’ – Savage Mode 2
Shades of 3 6 Tear Da Club Up… And we mean that in the nicest, nastiest way possible. Runnin’ is an instant classic.
5. Dave East – Karma 3
Harlem native Dave East comes through with another solid effort. Get The Money is one of the best songs of the year.
6. Jeezy – The Recession 2
A nice (and surprising) return to form for Snow. The beat selection fits the theme through the subject matter down to the cover. One of his most solid efforts in recent memory.
7. Pop Smoke – Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon
An untimely death kept this project from reaching its full potential. A good project amidst unfortunate circumstances.
8. Conway The Machine/Alchemist – LULU
Hip-Hop’s current rap god teams with regular Griselda collaborator The Alchemist. Shoot Sideways featuring Schoolboy Q is a gem of a grimy rap record.
9. Mickey Factz – Warped Collage
Super super high powered lyricism!
10. Boldy James – The Versace Tape
The first release for Boldy under the Griselda umbrella was a dope effort that has further tightened their stronghold in the game.
11. 2 Chainz – So Help Me God
This album slow start kept it out of the top 20. The latter half of this album is some of the best material of the year and Chainz career.
12. Flee Lord – Pray For Evil 2
Another Griselda affiliate with potential. Flee has been busy dropping three projects this year.
13. Money Man – Epidemic
After releasing countless mixtapes through the A the last few years, NY born, Atlanta bred emcee Money Man came with one of the sleeper projects of the year.
14. Yo Gotti – Untrapped
Call it bad timing. The pandemic killed this album’s buzz. Gotti is fire and grown on this effort.
15. Goodie Mob – Survival Kit
It hurts to say this… Production hurt this album and reunion man fans have long waited for.
16. Juicy J – The Hustle Continues
There will be no surprises but it will be a fun night if Juicy J is the pilot of your turn-up ship enterprise,
17. Elzhi – Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up
To quote Nas; “For My Trapped in the 90’s Niggas). Real Hip-Hop Formula type of stuff here. Strictly Beats, Rhymes, and Life.
18. G-Herbo – PTSD
Legal troubles and a pre-pandemic release hurt the potential of this album.
19. R.A. The Rugged Man – All My Heroes Are Dead
The third release from R.A. is chock full of legacy east coast driven hip-hop. Heads will be thrilled to see a tracklist featuring the likes of Kool G Rap and Ghostface.
20. Deante Hitchcock – Better
The Atlanta native came through with one of the surprises of the year and followed up the momentum with a nicely put together deluxe edition.
