The Best Albums of 2021
2021 has seen the rap industry take a massive resurgence after a dismal 2020 mostly due in part to Covid-19 taking a massive toll on the global population. With things starting to get back to normal, it was business as usual for our favourite rappers and with it came a lot of great projects. To cap off the year, I’m gonna share with you some of my favourite rap albums/mixtapes that got released this year and why they stuck out to me over the rest of the field. I have a lot of albums that I have enjoyed this year and to put them all into one article is next to impossible, so if you have an album that you enjoyed that didn’t make my cut, don’t take it personally. Without further ado, let's get it!
Call Me If You Get Lost, Tyler The Creator
Tyler the Creator is a veteran of the game at this point in his career. Over a decade of experience and 7 projects in, he came into 2021 with arguably his best body of work. Call Me If You Get Lost is a project for every Tyler fan as every song possesses something for everyone to enjoy. Teaming up with DJ Drama to usher in that early 2000’s mixtape vibe from track to track, Tyler’s presence and charisma on this project is insane. With standout tracks such as “WUSYANAME”, “HOT WIND BLOWS”, “LEMONHEAD”, and “LUMBERJACK”, Tyler makes it known that he is a top-tier artist in the game and his grammy nod for Best Rap Album only adds to his highly coveted resume. Tyler, The Creator is aging like fine wine and he doesn’t appear to be stopping any time soon.
The Off-Season, J Cole
Like they all say, it’s a Cole World. Known for his ability to go platinum on any album without the help of any features, J Cole breaks tradition with his latest project. With collaborations such as 21 Savage, Lil Baby, Bas, Morray, and 6lack, J Cole once again did not disappoint with his latest body of work. Another vet in the rap game, J Cole doesn’t have much to prove and is at the point of his career where he will navigate what he does with his life and personal choices on his own terms. This theme is evident on tracks such as “a p p l y i n g . p r e s s u r e”, and “1 0 0 . m i l’”. He also has certified head bangers and stank-face makers like,
“9 5 . s o u t h”, “m y . l i f e”, “i n t e r l u d e”, and “p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l”. This project encompasses a lot of Cole’s craft in helping him surpass some of rap’s elite mc’s.
Kings Disease II, Nas
After releasing his Grammy award-winning album Kings Disease the year prior, Nas once again teamed up with legendary producer Hit-Boy to create Kings Disease II, and boy, it did not disappoint. The legendary rapper’s lyrical prowess and skill set continue to shine in the brightest of lights on this album. He covers a lot of topics and issues he’s faced over his illustrious career whether it be detailing the East Coast/West Coast beef on “Death Row East”, or opening up about his successful endeavors on “Rare” or taking a dive into the religious side of recent events and paying homage to all the recent passings of rappers on “EPMD 2”. Nas’s status in the rap game is forever cemented and this album only adds to his legendary status.
Hall of Fame, Polo G
When we talk about the phrase “Bet on yourself” two people come to mind: Fred Vanvleet and young Chicago rapper, Polo G. His confidence and belief that he is one of the best is uncanny and it shows on his most recent project. This might rub some old heads the wrong way here but having that kind of mindset will take you a long way in life and eventually set the cornerstones for a successful career. This project landed him a spot on the Billboard 200 with his hit single “RAPSTAR”, not a bad way to make your name in a saturated industry. This album is just so good at encompassing different moods and tones, whether it be making you turn the fuck up on “Party Lyfe”, moving forward with life and escaping the past on “No Return”, or detailing his struggles and come upon “Losses”. He is definitely a multi-dimensional talent in the rap game and is capable of doing big things in his career. There is something for everyone to enjoy on this album and I can’t wait to see where this takes him next.
The House Is Burning, Isaiah Rashad
Isaiah Rashad is an interesting figure in the industry. The Top Dawg affiliate last released a project in 2016 and has kept a very lowkey profile since then. This all changed in 2021, dropping his latest body of work The House Is Burning. Just like the ongoing joke about houses burning because of a project just dropped, this album fits that description. Isaiah Rashad fans will be happy to know that the album was worth the five-year wait. This album serves as a prized possession for overcoming his issues with mental health, addiction, and blowing his money. So think of this album as his road to redemption and with collaborations such as Lil Uzi Vert, Jay Rock, Smino, SZA, and 6lack, the substance on this album doesn’t disappoint. Songs that stood out to me the most include “Darkseid”, “Score”, “Headshots”, and “Hey Mista”. Definitely give this album a listen when you get the chance.
The Melodic Blue, Baby Keem
Being the baby cousin to Kendrick Lamar, one of the greatest MCs of this generation, you’re going to have pretty big shoes to fill. Luckily for Baby Keem, he didn’t fold under the pressure on his latest body of work. The Melodic Blue encapsulates the artist’s contagious energy and mind-boggling abundance of flows and really shows what the 21-year-old is capable of achieving in his young career. Whether it be going bar for bar with Kendrick Lamar on “family ties”, talking about love and affection on “lost souls”, his struggles with his mental health and choices in life on “scars”, or turning the hell up on “trademark USA”, Baby Keem solidifies his versatility and shows that the sky’s the limit with him.
The Voice of the Heroes, Lil Baby and Lil Durk
2021 has been particularly kind to both rappers Lil Baby and Lil Durk. Both artists have been paving the way for a lot of the upcoming talent of this generation of hip hop as well as making a name for themselves across two completely different pathways. Lil Baby has been on a never-ending rise in fame ever since his critically acclaimed single Yes Indeed featuring Drake dropped in 2018 and has released numerous projects and won many awards in the industry since then. Lil Durk has been in the game for a while now and fans seemed to have given the Chicago rapper his flowers that he deserves for his long and productive career. The two collaborated together on this latest project and just like peanut butter and jelly, it just worked. Combining Lil Baby’s hero-esque charisma and machine gun-like delivery with Lil Durk’s influential voice and melody’s gave us one of the year’s most enjoyable projects with exceptional production and deliveries from both artists. This project is full of tracks that will get you hopping out of your seats with all the hype in the world. Some highlights include, “2040”, “Hats Off”, “Still Hood”, and “That’s Facts”. Give this project a listen when you have the time, you will not be disappointed.
Certified Lover Boy, Drake
What is there that needs to be said that hasn’t already been said about the 6ix God. Drake is a legend in the rap game who has been making his mark since the mid-2000’s. With classics such as Take Care, Nothing Was The Same, and If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, the Toronto-born artist can make a case for the G.O.A.T status. His latest project Certified Lover Boy only adds to his already immaculate resume of impressive albums. Drake on this album talks about the traits of toxic masculinity and what he has been experiencing in his life over the past couple of years. He takes a rather melancholic and incisive path this time around with his craft and it shows on his diverse set of tracks. He talks about settling down with his future partner on “Race My Mind”, but then refrains from such a thought on “The Remorse”. He also speaks on his regrets on the song “Fucking Fans” while also delivering a certified club hit on “Way 2 Sexy”. We also get tough Drake on songs like “No Friends in the Industry”, “Knife Talk”, and “You Only Live Twice”. All in all, there is a version of Drake for everyone and all fans of the 6ix God.
These albums listed here are my favorites for the year 2021, obviously in no particular order. But as I said earlier, there were so many projects that were released this year that I could ramble all day. So here are a few honorable mentions:
Expensive Pain, Meek Mill
Donda, Ye
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, Little Simz
Vince Staples, Vince Staples
Folarin II, Wale
Montero, Lil Nas X
SoulFly, Rod Wave
Punk, Young Thug
Exodus, DMX
Culture III, Migos
2021 was a fantastic year for rap music and I absolutely cannot wait for what 2022 has in store for us rap junkies. Hope y’all have a safe and exciting holiday season with your families and friends. Merry Christmas to everyone and a Happy New Year! Stay blessed everyone!
What do you think was the best album of 2021? Do you believe that list is correct or would you have a different list? Is the idea of making end-of-the-year lists redundant in your opinion? Sound off in the comments below, follow on Instagram at @TheRated_RN2 for more unfiltered comments on rap, the community, and music in general.