The end of the 20th century gave us some of the most talented rappers and best albums ever. But the 21st century is not far behind, with some revolutionary albums and songs coming our way from artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and others. On the other hand, there are many who broke sales records but offer little substance to their listeners. Nowadays, it is hard to crown Hip Hop King, but hopefully, these top 5 hip hop albums of the 21st century will show you that this genre of music has a lot more to give.
OutKast: Stankonia
This hip hop duo released their fourth studio album titled Stankonia in 2000, and it was a significant success. Incorporating a diverse array of styles, the album touched subjects like sexuality, politics, African-American culture and parenthood. With singles like “B.O.B,” “Ms. Jackson” and “So Fresh, So Clean,” OutKast won a Grammy for Best Rap Album for Stankonia which is now considered one of the greatest albums of the 21st century.
Eminem: The Eminem Show
The Eminem Show was released in 2002 and peaked at number one in 19 countries worldwide. It is one of the best-selling albums in history and one of most celebrated hip hop albums of the 21st century with singles like “Without Me,” “Cleanin’ Out My Closet,” “Superman” and “Sing for the Moment.”
Kanye West: The College Dropout
The debut studio album from Kanye West dropped in 2004, bringing world fame to the young rapper. With singles like “Through the Wire,” “Jesus Walks,” “All Falls Down” and “Slow Jamz,” Kanye displayed all of his lyricism and social awareness, tackling issues like religion, higher education, materialism, and others.
Jay-Z: The Blueprint
Jay-Z is undoubtedly one of the best rappers alive with a career spanning over three decades. His sixth studio album, The Blueprint, is praised by fans and critics alike and is considered one of both Jay-Z’s and hip hop’s brightest moments. Released in 2001, album shifted the sound genre, setting a blueprint for future rappers.
Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp A Butterfly
Our list of top 5 hip hop albums of the 21st century bows out with 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Kendrick Lamar gained worldwide recognition with this album from both the audience and the critics. He called out the hypocrisies in both the black community and outside of it. It is a poetic masterpiece, earning Kendrick three Grammy Awards in categories Best Rap Song for “I,” Best Rap Performance for “Alright” and Album of the Year.
