25 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of The Last Decade
Which of these amazing rap records will earn the title of the best of the last 10 years?
Hip-hop has evolved significantly over the last 10 years, with the genre in a completely different place than it was when the decade began. New, young stars have emerged and given their own unique takes on the music, forcing more established acts to evolve or fall by the wayside.
The harsh reality that the cream will rise to the top has been great for fans, as it means that rappers have upped their game and given us some incredible albums.
As we're at the back end of an extremely fruitful decade for hip-hop artists, it's only right that we take a look at the best records that came out during the 2010s. That's why we've gone through some of the most loved hip-hop albums of the decade and ranked them to find out which one stands out the most amongst everything else that's been released.
From hall-of-fame worthy rappers who have managed to withstand the test of time by continuing to create new projects better than their previously celebrated efforts, to the new breed putting together albums that are considered modern-day classics, it's a true battle to see who comes out on top...
25. Run The Jewels - RTJ 3
Who would've believed that bringing two underground rap legends together to form a supergroup would yield such modern mainstream success? It's not like others haven't tried before, but none of them have been quite as brilliant as Killer Mike and El-P, otherwise known as Run The Jewels.
After two magnificent albums that proved that this one-two punch combination were a fantastic duo, they released their third record, Run The Jewels 3, surpassing any previous expectations. Despite making music for over two decades, we were listening to the pair of talented MC's at their very best on this album.
So what separates RTJ3 from its two predecessors? Their ability to rap - and El-P's production skills - have never been in question. However, their growth as an act really shows on this specific album. They can be their confident best on a song like "Panther (Like A Panther)", but can be super introspective on a track like "Down."
It's two mature, yet hilarious rappers, who have as much fun as the younger generation before them, but also have enough substance in their lyrics that listeners can come away with something more from the record than just a funny Instagram caption.