We covered the best 30 rap albums of the past decade last month on our Instagram; now it’s time to cover the rappers who defined the 2010s, enjoy!
30. JPEGMAFIA
Sub-Genre: Experimental/Abstract Hip Hop
Key Factor: Creativity
Essential Projects: Veteran (2018), All My Heroes Are Cornballs (2019)
29. Aesop Rock
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Abstract/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: World building
Essential Projects: The Impossible Kid (2016), Skelethon (2012)
28. Billy Woods
Sub-Genre: Abstract/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: Atmosphere
Essential Projects: History Will Absolve Me (2012), Dour Candy (2013), Hiding Places (2019)
27. A$AP Rocky
Sub-Genre: Cloud/Trap/Evolutionary/Mainstream Hip Hop
Key Factor: Creativity
Essential Projects: LONG.LAST.A$AP (2015) , LONG.LIVE.A$AP (2013), TESTING (2018)
26. Ghostface Killah
Sub-Genre: Classic/Evolutionary Hip Hop
Key Factor: Artistic Development
Essential Projects: Sour Soul (2015), Twelve Reasons to Die (2013), 36 Seasons (2014), Apollo Kids (2010)
25. Joey Bada$$
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Classic/Hip Hop
Key Factor: Lyricism
Essential Projects: 1999 (2012), B4.DA.$$ (2015), ALL-AMERiKKKAN BADA$$ (2017)
24. Drake
Sub-Genre: Pop/Mainstream Hip Hop
Key Factor: Versatility
Essential Projects: If You’re Reading This It’s To Late (2015), Nothing Was The Same (2013), Take Care (2011)
23. Roc Marciano
Sub-Genre: Glamor/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: Consistency
Essential Projects: Marcberg (2010), The Pimpire Strikes Back (2013), Behold a Dark Horse (2018), Reloaded (2012)
22. Vince Staples
Sub-Genre: Gangsta/Evolutionary Hip Hop
Key Factor: Artistic Reinvention
Essential Projects: Summertime 06′ (2015), Big Fish Theory (2017), Hell Can Wait (2013)
21. Travis Scott
Sub-Genre: Trap
Key Factor: Psychedelic Sound
Essential Projects: Rodeo (2015), Astroworld (2018), Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (2016), Days Before Rodeo (2014)
20. Lil Ugly Mane
Sub-Genre: Experimental/Trap/Cloud Rap
Key Factor: Forward Thinking
Essential Projects: Mista Thug Isolation (2012), Three Side of Tape (2015), Oblivion Access (2015)
19. Benny The Butcher
Sub-Genre: Gangsta/Coke Rap
Key Factor: Consistency
Essential Projects: Tana Talk 3 (2018), The Plugs I Met (2019)
18. Young Thug
Sub-Genre: Trap
Key Factor: Creativity
Essential Projects: JEFFERY (2016), Barter 6 (2015), Slime Season 3 (2016), BEAUTIFUL THUGGER GIRLS (2017)
17. Future
Sub-Genre: Trap
Key Factor: Consistency
Essential Projects: Monster (2014), DS2 (2015), Save Me (2019), Purple Reign (2016)
16. Jay-Z
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Glamor/Mainstream Hip Hop
Key Factor: Personal Growth
Essential Projects: 4:44 (2017), Watch the Throne (2011)
15. Killer Mike (of Run The Jewels)
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Abstract/Experimental Hip Hop
Key Factor: Socially Aware Lyricism
Essential Projects: Run the Jewels 2 (2014), R.A.P. Music (2012), Run the Jewels 3 (2016), Run The Jewels (2013)
14. Denzel Curry
Sub-Genre: Evolutionary/Trap/Abstract Hip Hop
Key Factor: Artistic Evolution
Essential Projects: Ta13OO (2018), Imperial (2016)
13. Westside Gunn
Sub-Genre: Gangsta/Coke/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: Consistency
Essential Projects: Supreme Blientele (2018), Flygod (2016), HWH2 (2012), HWH6 (2018)
12. Big K.R.I.T.
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Mainstream/Southern Hip Hop
Key Factor: Consistency
Essential Projects: 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time (2017), K.R.I.T. Wuz Here (2010), Cadillactica (2014)
11. Pusha T
Sub-Genre: Coke/Gangsta Rap
Key Factor: Lyricism
Essential Projects: Daytona (2018), King Push (2015), My Name is My Name (2013)
10. Mac Miller
Sub-Genre: Mainstream/Evolutionary Hip Hop
Key Factor: Artistic Progression
Essential Projects: Faces (2014), Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013), The Divine Feminine (2016), K.I.D.S. (2010), Swimming (2018)
9. Tyler The Creator
Sub-Genre: Mainstream/Evolutionary Hip Hop
Key Factor: Artistic Progression
Essential Projects: IGOR (2019), Flowerboy (2017), Wolf (2013)
8. Black Thought (of The Roots)
Sub-Genre: Conscious Hip Hop
Key Factor: Storytelling
Essential Projects: Undun (2011), Streams of Thought Vol. 1 (2018)
7. MC Ride (of Death Grips)
Sub-Genre: Experimental/Industrial Hip Hop
Key Factor: Delivery
Essential Projects: The Powers That B (2015), The Money Store (2012), Year of the Snitch (2018), NO LOVE DEEP WEB (2012), Exmillitary (2011)
6. El-P (of Run The Jewels)
Sub-Genre: Experimental/Abstract Hip Hop
Key Factor: Forward Thinking
Essential Projects: Run The Jewels 2 (2014), Run The Jewels 3 (2016), Cancer 4 Cure (2012), Run The Jewels (2013)
5. Freddie Gibbs
Sub-Genre: Gangsta/Coke Rap
Key Factor: Bravado
Essential Projects: Piñata (2014), Bandana (2019), You Only Live 2wice (2017)
4. Danny Brown
Sub-Genre: Abstract/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: Creativity
Essential Projects: Atrocity Exhibition (2016), XXX (2011), Old (2013)
3. Earl Sweatshirt
Sub-Genre: Lo-Fi/Underground Hip Hop
Key Factor: Emotional Depth
Essential Projects: Some Rap Songs (2018), I Don’t Like Shit I Don’t Go Outside (2015), Doris (2013)
2. Kanye West
Sub-Genre: Mainstream/Conscious/Experimental/Gospel/Evolutionary Hip Hop
Key Factor: Creativity
Essential Projects: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), The Life Of Pablo (2016), Yeezus (2013), KIDS SEE GHOSTS (2018), ye (2018)
1. Kendrick Lamar
Sub-Genre: Conscious/Mainstream Hip Hop
Key Factor: Conceptual Depth
Essential Projects: To Pimp A Butterfly (2015), good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), DAMN. (2017), untitled unmastered. (2016), Section.80 (2011)
