The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2023 – VIBE.com

‘NO THANK YOU’ – Little Simz

For five superior albums, London’s “Top Girl” (pun intended), Little Simz, has proven herself to be one of the more monumental rappers from the UK since Slick Rick. On NO THANK YOU—her 49-minute, emotionally thrilling musical rollercoaster, she’s done proving herself and aims to snatch everything from the hearts to the scalps of the music business.

Simz lures listeners in with deceptive ease thanks to Inflo’s soft, healing production on “Angel” and jabs her corporate capitalist foes with sharp-knuckled precision. “Never cared ’bout bein’ immortalized/ How can I stand with the opps and not with the tribe?” she raps. “They sell you a dream and then want you to glorify.” The album’s most rewarding moment comes from its soulful apex, “Broken.”

Considering the Black collective’s anguish and pain around today’s global and economic issues, Little Simz’s message is relatable with urgent words for listeners. — Mark Braboy

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | TIDAL

‘The Patience’ – Mick Jenkins

Mick Jenkins’ thoughtful lyricism puts him in full control of his creative agency on The Patience. Mick understands this period in his career but can’t help to vent his frustrations with patience. Songs like “Michelin Star” and “Pasta” employ themes of finely crafted food to illustrate the difference between him and his microwaved competition. Meanwhile, his visceral delivery amplifies his desire to hit that next level on “Farm To Table.”  

Rapping on terse production, Mick aims for rap excellence on his own accord. Jenkins makes his intentions clear throughout the LP with a true sense of self-validation at the core of his work. Regardless of an end-of-the-year list, Mick Jenkins feels now is his time. And he’s lyrically equipped to ascend. “I came from behind/Ni**a, I made up my mind,” he asserts on “Show & Tell.” “Can’t give a f**k ’bout a list/Which end we are burning it at?” – Marc Antonio “Spidey” Griffin

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Business is Business – Young Thug

Like Gunna’s Gift & A Curse, Young Thug’s Business is Business was a highly anticipated album from the incarcerated rapper, as many fans waited to step inside Jeffrey’s mind and hear if he’d address snitching rumors about his YSL RICO case. A line from the opener, “Parade On Cleveland,” may have been a play on Gunna’s “Pushin’ P,’” but you can be the judge of that. “Just pushin’ more Peter, more sweeter, more completer than any Peter pusher around,” he raps after Drake asks how he’s doing.

The LP, which follows his 2021 project Punk, isn’t lyrically one of Thugga’s strongest (possibly due to his incarceration and having less autonomy over track selection). However, musical assistance from 21 Savage, Drake, Future, Travis $cott, on standout tracks like “Money On The Dresser,” “Hoodie,” and “Oh You Went,” help carry the album. Business is Business debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned 90,000 equivalent album units. –Amber Corrine

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘Noise Kandy 5’ – Rome Streetz

With the kind of punishing lyrical style that epitomizes the hard, cold, concrete of Brooklyn, New York, Griselda Records’s own Rome Streetz continues to feed the streets with the fifth installment of his critically lauded Noise Kandy series, Noise Kandy 5.

Across layers of winding, smoked-out, and trippy sounds from well-fitting producers like Evidence, Piff James, and Conductor Williams to name a few, Rome lays down some of his finest bars of unflinchingly honest and explosive storytelling and some of the most agile flowing in rap.

Case in point, “Shake & Bake” is him flowing and rhyming as smoothly as Kyrie Irving’s handles. And the menacing mega duet, “Fire At Ya Idle Mind” with fellow Brookynite Joey Bada$$, proved to have been one of the most dangerous pairings as the two trade some of the album’s most ferocious bars with divine chemistry. Noise Kandy 5 is a solid example of why real rap ain’t dead. — Mark Braboy

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‘Sunday Dinner’ – Nick Grant

It’s not everyday that a skilled rap artist consciously chooses not to rest on their laurels. It’s not everyday that a Black man opts for biting vulnerability. It’s not everyday that a bonafide star takes the (longer, tougher) road less traveled. With Sunday Dinner, Nick Grant proved himself a rarity—crafting a classic from sheer wisdom and wit. 

Steeped in his journey from strife to self-actualization, the album completes a years-long mission for the rapper: sharing the crux of his life story. Never one to skimp on lyrical exercise, Grant manages to weave his prowess for wordplay into spirited anthems (“KNOW YOUR WORTH,” “COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS”), potent narratives (“WORRYIN’ BOUT A CLASSIC,” “SINCE ELEMENTARY”), and all-out exhibition (“BRAVO,” “DOPE FIEND’S THEME”). As the year winds down, Sunday Dinner remains incomparable—in flows, delivery, musicality, cohesion and versatility. The real is indeed back. — Iyana Robertson

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‘Gumbo’ – Young Nudy

Young Nudy cooked up a pot of Gumbo and, in December 2022, served up a balanced portion of hypnotizing beats and threatening yet humorous lyrics. The 13-track project features Key Glock and 21 Savage with production from frequent collaborators Coupe and Pi’erre Bourne. While the Atlanta rapper has not achieved mainstream success on the same level as his peers, Gumbo proves that the 30-year-old is only getting better. 

Like the spicy creole dish, Gumbo is flavorful. Young Nudy has one of the strongest ears for beats in Hip-Hop, and on this album, each instrumental holds its own. With song titles like “Brussel Sprout,” “Okra,” “McChicken,” and “Fish & Chips,” each track is perfectly sequenced to welcome the next course. 

Young Nudy raps with the mindset of being invincible, and if you listen closely, it’s believable. Braggadocious flexes, murderous storytelling, and late-night escapades are all detailed on Gumbo with the rapper’s distinct southern charm. Standout tracks include the viral “Peaches and Eggplants,” “Portobella,” Pancake,” and “Pot Roast.” — DeMicia Inman

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‘The Great Escape’ – Larry June, The Alchemist

Larry June and The Alchemist‘s The Great Escape is the perfect marriage between underground cool and mainstream appeal. Alchemist creates a cinematic soundscape perfect for June’s business-pointed prose. June coasts through the low key and soulful beats with themes tackling self-care, bossing up, authenticity, and entrepreneurial acumen.  

Listeners are transported to the passenger seat of a foreign luxury car on tracks “Turkish Cotton” and “Porsches in Spanish.” Alc and Larry make pit stops in Detroit, where they link with Big Sean to formulate foundational life skills (“Solid Plan”). Boldy James catches them before they depart on “Art Talk,” where they masterfully discuss “millionaire tendencies” (aye, aye, aye, aye).  

Alchemist brings the hustle’s grittier elements to the project—blood, sweat, and sacrifice. At the same time, Larry June’s orange juice-like disposition symbolizes the fruits of that labor. The album is a sonic interpretation of the grind and how to escape it in pleasure.  

The LP peaked at No. 12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and no. 32 on the Billboard 200. The Great Escape peaked at 9 on the Top Rap Albums chart and 4 on the Independent Albums chart. – Marc Antonio “Spidey” Griffin

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‘And Then You Pray For Me’- Westside Gunn

According to Westside Gunn, he isn’t trying to be the best rapper. No. He wants to be the “illest curator of all time.” So, it makes sense that his album, And Then You Pray For Me, is the boldest departure from the Griselda sound yet. The Buffalo-born tastemaker sent out a bat signal for some of the dopest artists in the culture. JID, Conway the Machine, Stove God, Boldy James, Ty Dolla $ign, Denzel Curry, and more arrive for a sonic painting.  

Gunn deploys strokes of Griselda boom bap on “Mama’s PrimeTime,” with JID’s frenetic verse stealing the show. “Kostas,” named after the locally famed Greek Buffalo, N.Y. restaurant (IYKYK), finds Benny and Con’ joining their brother in bars for a stellar posse cut. But make no mistake, Gunn’s signature catchphrases and eclectic persona work to fit each diverse track into a unified project.   

It’s no secret Westside Gunn’s bars take a backseat here more than his previous efforts. However, Gunn’s Thelma Golden-like curatorial practice sees a positive payoff for art’s sake. So, if you like gritty beats and your raps draped in Balmain, this blissful curation is almost worth praying for.   – Marc Antonio “Spidey” Griffin

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Rocket Power – Quavo

Quavo’s Rocket Power was highly anticipated as everyone waited for his sentiments after the loss of his nephew and brethren in music, Takeoff. After the Migos rapper released a tribute video for his one-off single, “Without You,” he  dropped Rocket Power: an open diary of Quavo’s innermost thoughts about loss, spirituality, family, and his mental state. To him, his second studio album is a perfect example of “gangsta gospel.” “It’s for the ones who sometimes may let a cuss word slip out in church, but still say, ‘Sorry, Lord,’ he explained to VIBE.

The album’s title track and songs like “Hold Me” hear the 32-year-old grieving the loss of Takeoff. Others tracks like “Greatness,” “Where Can I Start,” and “Not Done Yet” mark the end of Migos as a group, but the official beginning of a new chapter in Quavo’s solo career. The LP, which peaked at No. 18 on the Hot 100 chart, is both spiritual and exciting. You get a mix of these qualities with “Who Wit Me,” Wall to Wall,” “11:11,” and the charting single “Turn Yo Clicc Up” featuring Future. –Amber Corrine

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘Hood Hottest Princess’ – Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red emerged as one of music’s most interesting acts in 2023. With glasses on and stacks of money in hand, the St. Louis native went from TikTok trending sounds to Billboard charts with Drake for the undeniable catchiness of her raunchy rhymes. On Hood Hottest Princess, Sexyy Red stands on business as a party starter; she’s not here to provide introspective bars on motherhood and her personal plight. The project provides the soundtrack for a good (and likely ghetto) time—an aspect of rap music that should not be looked down on or ignored. 

Without flowery metaphors and tricky one-liners, Sexyy Red’s project delivered club anthems, with production from Tay Keith, DJ Paul, TrueBeatzz, and others. Her blatantly brazen bars—like the infamous “my coochie pink, my booty hole brown” on her breakout record “Pound Town”—are part of her signature approach to music. What sets her apart from her peers is not only her determination to remain true to herself but also her “Female Gucci Mane” energy. 

A mixture of Mane’s East Atlanta Santa with a dash of Trina’s explicit edge, Sexyy Red proves she is here to stay and dominate a lane she’s paved with determination. Hood Hottest Princess features Nicki Minaj, Juicy J., Sukihana, and more across 11 tracks. Standouts include “SkeeYee” and “Lookin For The Ho*s (It Ain’t My Fault).” — DeMicia Inman

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘For All The Dogs’ – Drake

Drake finds himself at an interesting place on For All The Dogs, his eighth solo studio album. The Toronto superstar who fans grew to love due to his relatable heartbreak anthems and paranoia takes on a new, adversarial stance on women. Coincidentally, while he seems to have the most to say, he “traditionally” raps the least he ever has on an album. Replacing his pensive, no-hook fan favorite bar fests are more of his melodic, rap-R&B hybrid records. “7969 Santa” and “Drew A Picasso” are mid-tempo mullings over women whom he has lost and are loaded with shameless, hateful jabs at the men they are currently with.

“First Person Shooter” finds him and J. Cole celebrating their spots at the top of the rap game, and The 6 God seemingly distracting himself from his despair by acknowledging his success. The truth of this LP, and why many people seem to dislike it, is that Drake feels entitled to a love that should come easily to him. That unfortunately isn’t the case and he is exhausted with being the good guy with several No. 1 albums—this one included—who constantly finishes last in the race for an everlasting union. – Armon Sadler

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal 

‘Magic 3’ – Nas

Nas has defied the hands of time and is on an unprecedented run for an artist of his age, stature and caliber. The Queensbridge griot brought in his 50th birthday with the release of Magic 3, the sixth and final album in he and producer Hit-Boy’s dual collaborative series.

Celebratory vibes are present on “Fever,” with Nas basking in the glory of reaching the half-century mark while navigating a bruising soundscape. “TSK” evokes his “Nasty” alter-ego, while “Never Die” boasts a lyrical duel with Lil Wayne, accounting for Magic 3‘s lone feature. Various nods to past material are scattered throughout Magic 3. He revisits the Magic standout “Speechless,” deploying a stream of consciousness that teeters between braggadocios and reflective.

While “Pretty Young Girl” and “Blue Bentley” present a mixed-bag of musical moments that are somewhat jarring, joints like “Japanese Soul Bar” and “1-800-Nas&Hit” smooth out those rough patches, making Magic 3 an album strong enough to move a number of fans to put their all-time rankings into question. – Preezy Brown

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‘Glorious Game’ – El Michels Affair & Black Thought

Black Thought has spent the past five years molding his musical identity outside of The Roots. After shedding his cloak of anonymity and putting his name on the marquee, the esteemed veteran continued his succession of releases with Glorious Game, his collaborative project with El Michels Affair. A time capsule to the treacherous South Philadelphia streets of yesteryear, Glorious Game finds Black Thought layering descriptive recollections of his youth atop soulful backdrops.

On “Grateful,” he laments the “pursuit of the American Dream” and accompanying rules of engagement. On the KIRBY-assisted titular track, the 50-year-old kicks liberation and progress. “Protocol” is peppered with impassioned vocals courtesy of Son Little, accounting for one of Glorious Game‘s more sonically digestible offerings.

Nostalgic vibes are present on “The Weather” and “Miracle,” whereas harsh realities gleaned from the concrete are spewed across brooding standouts like “Hollow Way” and “I Would Never.” Rounded out by the contemplative closing cut “Alter Ego,” Glorious Game marks yet another artistic achievement for Black Thought and adds further padding to his distinguished resume. – Preezy Brown

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘Set It Off’ – Offset

This current chapter of Offset’s career consists of strenuous ends and valuable new beginnings. While processing the loss of his beloved collaborator Takeoff, coming to terms with the official conclusion of the Migos, and balancing marriage to a superstar and family life, the 31-year-old rapper needed to reinvent himself in 2023 for a pivotal era in his solo career. While in this transition, Set It Off did just that.

Serving as his second solo project, the 21-track offering showed off his impressive and diverse range and lyrical improvement. The LP’s intro lures listeners in with a sample of KIRBY’s “Black Leaves,” signaling we may be seeing a different side of the Atlanta rapper this time. 

As a longtime trap rap mainstay, seldom has the father of four bared his soul on wax in this new way. However, on Set It Off, he almost immediately gets vulnerable, rapping on “Say My Grace”: “Ask God, why I didn’t get a answer? Why I lose my brother to bullets?/ Why I lose my grandma to cancer? Why me, God? I need answers.” On “Red Room,” he criticizes cops and misses his family. His single “Jealousy” sees him going toe-to-toe with his wife Cardi B about relationship dynamics. Offset is working out his balance of keeping the signature fun in his music while getting more personal than ever before.

A factor about the LP that cannot be ignored is its memorable press run. Weeks before Set It Off’s release date, Set joined massively popular streamer Kai Cenat for a live-streamed sleepover. The two created countless viral moments that helped Offset win people over thanks to his hilarious personality, providing the perfect runway for the album’s reveal. He also made headlines by reuniting with Quavo at the 2023 BET Awards to honor Takeoff with a tribute. 

Set It Off was a polished album that showed Offset is serious about his craft and marked the start of a promising new adventure for the seasoned rhymer. — Regina Cho

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‘SAMSON: THE ALBUM’ – CHIKA

CHIKA’s debut studio album, SAMSON: THE ALBUM, is “the most iconic, innovative, HARD, solid debut hip-hop album since Lauryn Hill’s Miseducation,” according to the musician herself. Sure, it’s a bold claim, but the Alabama native is a bold woman, unafraid – or, perhaps, fighting through her fear – to share the truth as she sees it with the masses. This has often resulted in potential listeners turning away from the wordsmith, proving that fatphobia and colorism still play a part in how artists are perceived. Because who is dismissing Cardi B’s music – or any number of outspoken artists – for venting their frustrations on social media?  

Regardless of how some view the MC, CHIKA’s music screams with confidence, as it should. SAMSON’s theatrical feel (thanks in part to contributions from Lin-Manuel Miranda and Derek Dixie), diversity of sound (“Night 4,” “Delilah,” “Awards”) and intricate bars (every damn song) make it a stand-out of its era, a true gem during a year that has not been kind to Hip-Hop with something to say. Don’t get it twisted, though. Sis is far from preachy, sharing her deepest vulnerabilities while tackling her own battles with mental health and life in general. 

Drawing comparisons to the aforementioned Hill record, as well as Janelle Monáe’s The ArchAndriod, CHIKA now stands beside these like-minded artists in an uncompromised pursuit of artistic excellence that simply ain’t for everybody. But here is the thing though…it can be. There is something for everyone from the trap fans to the pop girlies here, and it all feels authentically CHIKA, served with skill and intention. All you have to do is press play.  – Jessica “Compton” Bennett

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal  

‘Sundial’ – Noname

Since the release of her acclaimed debut Room 25, a series of occurrences have transpired in the life of Noname. Polarizing political declarations, verbal jousts with rap peers, and creative disenchantment all amounted to an increase in headlines and notoriety for the 32-year-old. The events placed the Chicagoan under the microscope, but she shifted the uptick in attention to Sundial, her long-awaited sophomore album that outpaces its predecessor.

The “socialism sister” lulls listeners in with sublime grooves courtesy of the Daoud-produced “Black Mirror,” a breezy introductory salvo that belies the more heavy-handed material throughout the project’s 11 selections. Former U.S. President Barack Obama is taken to task on “Hold Me Down” and cultural voyeurism is examined on “Balloons,” a terse composition bolstered by an appearance from Jay Electronica.

In a blunt and transparent fashion, Noname’s Sundial tackles all the elephants in the room by hijacking Kendrick Lamar’s flow on “potentially the interlude,” addressing European beauty standards on “Beauty Supply,” and touching on the complexities of situationships on “Toxic.” – Preezy Brown

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‘Heroes & Villains’ – Metro Boomin

Metro Boomin casted the perfect ensemble of Heroes & Villains for his late 2022 release. The 14-track album (including a bonus track) features John Legend, Future, Chris Brown, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, Young Nudy, Young Thug, the Weeknd, Mustafa, ASAP Rocky, the late Takeoff, and Gunna, with narration by A$AP Rocky and Morgan Freeman. 

Serving as the follow-up to Metro’s 2018 debut project, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Heroes & Villains debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. The album includes some of the St. Louis native’s signature trap beats and explores R&B and alternative sounds with co-production from the likes of TM88, DJ Moon, Peter Lee Johnson, Johan Lenox, Allen Ritter, and Honorable C.N.O.T.E. The superproducer stepped up to the challenge of creating intentional collaborations with some of Hip-Hop and pop music’s biggest names. 

The album’s strength lies in the sequencing and artist pairings. Each track is a new scene in the Metro Boomin sonic universe where he perfectly weaves a plot of menacing madness and triumphant boasts. Standout tracks on Heroes & Villains include “Creepin;” “Umbrella,” “Metro Spider,” and “Feel The Fiyaaaah.” Heroes & Villains exemplifies why Metro Boomin is one of the industry’s premiere musical architects. — DeMicia Inman

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Scarlet – Doja Cat

“No more pop… I also agree with everyone who said the majority of my rap verses are mid and corny,” Doja Cat tweeted in April. “I know they are. I wasn’t trying to prove anything I just enjoy making music but I’m getting tired of hearing yall say that I can’t so I will.” 

To show how lyrical she could get and more, Doja released her rap album, Scarlet. The eccentric artist had something to prove and spent the early quarters of the year defending her new appearance, explaining her sound, and trolling fans about her new LP. Scarlet has become Doja’s new gory alter-ego after personally claiming her two first albums, Hot Pink and Planet Her, were “mediocre pop” and “cash grabs.” A no-holds-barred Doja addressed a few topics throughout the 17-tracked album including going toe to toe with other women rappers, being labeled “satanic,” her love life, leaving being pop music, and more. 

With her record breaking No. 1 hit “Paint the Town Red” opening the alternative rap/R&B album, Doja set the tone for the rest of the project and declared she’s standing on business when it comes to being her authentic self. She trolls a bit on the track “Demon,” before truly expressing how she feels about being compared to other rap girls on “F**k The Girls (FTG).” “Ouchies,” “97,” and “Balut” are just a few titles that highlight Doja’s lyrical ability. On the other hand, she shows off her vocals on softer tracks like “Agora Hills,” “Can’t Wait,” and “Often.” –Amber Corrine

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘A Gift & A Curse’ – Gunna

Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse is a bittersweet offering. The Atlanta rapper displays his resilience, taking on the album’s 15 records all on his own. Though he excels at capturing the listeners with his nimble flows, spirited croons, and luxurious flexes over a diverse array of uptempo and somber beats, he simultaneously creates an air of sympathy by reflecting on his seven-month stint in jail and the abandonment of his former friends after taking the Alford Plea amid the ongoing YSL RICO case.

There are triumphant moments like the enduring hit “Fukumean,” which serves as the perfect alley-oop for “Rodeo Dr” right afterward. There is the album closer “Alright,” where the Atlanta rapper sounds exhausted and defeated but resolves to continue pushing onward. The pensive “Idk Nomore” has him questioning everything, even himself. Needless to say, Gunna’s title selection for this LP is spot-on; he shows the gift of betting on himself, but the curse that comes with unavoidable emotions due to his endured losses.

A Gift went on to peak at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, breaking his two-album streak of No. 1’s. However, he gained something much better than a third No. 1: the reminder that people will enjoy his music and support this new journey that he is on. — Armon Sadler

Listen: Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal

‘Michael’ – Killer Mike

Killer Mike takes on criticisms levied his way on his latest effort Michael. On the surface, listeners enjoy records where he matches up against André 3000, Future, Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and more, and notably holds his own in the arena of competitive rap. On a deeper level, it is a reminder that humans and their beliefs are imperfect as he contradicts himself a bit throughout the project. The Run The Jewels rapper has embraced his revolutionary side over the years and sought to take down the system. Yet, on this album, there are moments where he blames the people, not the system, for their misfortunes. Rap is often contradictory, so this cannot be limited to just Killer Mike, but it is noteworthy. 

Still, Michael is a deeply personal look into the man behind the raps and an impressive display of lyricism and songmaking. While listeners may not agree with his conflict concepts of “fighting against the man” while also looking down on their misfortunes created by man-made infrastructure, the quality of the music is undeniable. Aside from the bars, there are also some soulful vocal offerings from 6LACK, Eryn Allen Kane, Blxst, Jagged Edge, Kaash Paige, and more. Killer Mike provided a diverse tracklist of talents new and old, creating a project that was the topic of discussion for rap fans of all ages.  — Armon Sadler

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