Hip Hop HopscotchTop 50 Albums of 2020 (2020 Rankings)
Updated: May 22, 2021
The other 2020 list I'm doing is my best 50 projects of 2020 - despite the title saying albums (for click-bait effect), I'll include mixtape as well but not EP's - as long as it's been released in the year of 2020. If an album you like isn't here, it's either not good enough in my opinion or I haven't heard it - but everything on this list at the very minute is decent and enjoyable.
Honourable Mentions
Ariana Grande - positions
KYLE - See You When I am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!!
Polo G - THE GOAT
KSI - Dissimulation
2 Chainz - So Help Me God!
50. SL - Different Dude
49. Jessie Reyez - BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US
48. Lil Wayne - Funeral
47. Boldy James - Real Bad Boldy
46. Megan Thee Stallion - Good News
45. Westside Gunn - Pray for Paris
44. Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - UNLOCKED
43. Don Toliver - Heaven Or Hell
42. Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony
41. Tory Lanez - DAYSTAR
40. Flatbush Zombies - now, more than ever
39. REASON - New Beginnings
38. Royce da 5'9" - The Allegory
37. Black Thought - Streams of Thought, Vol 3: Cane and Able
36. Abra Cadabra - Product of My Environment
35. Boldy James - The Price of Tea in China
34. Lil Baby - My Turn
33. Taylor Swift - evermore
32. Young T & Bugsey - Plead The 5th
31. Benny The Butcher - Burden of Proof
30. J Hus - Big Conspiracy
29. Juice WRLD - Legends Never Die
28. Drake - Dark Lane Demo Tapes
27. Unknown T - Rise Above Hate
26. Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake
25. Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
24. Dutchavelli - Dutch from the 5th
23. Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon III: The Chosen
22. Lupe Fiasco & Kaelin Ellis - HOUSE
21. Headie One - EDNA
20. Jay Electronica - Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn)
19. Spillage Village - Spilligion
18. clipping. - Visions of Bodies Being Burned
17. Joji - Nectar
16. Conway the Machine - From King to a GOD
15. Aminé - Limbo
14. Pop Smoke - Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon
13. Rina Sawayama - SAWAYAMA
12. Taylor Swift - folklore
11. Eminem - Music to Be Murdered By: Side B
10. Logic - No Pressure
Logic bowed out the game in style. His previous efforts haven't hit, and when he announced his retirement we all knew he really needed this to be a great album. The production is immaculate, Logic's not corny here and his fast flows and bars just stick with you, it's full of some of the highest highs of the year and a great album.
9. Charli XCX - how i'm feeling now
Charli's 'how i'm feeling now' is proof she's found her sound. I liked 'Pop 2' & 'Number 1 Angel', but I never thought they were great or represented her potential, until she dropped 'Charli', which was the project we'd been waiting for from her. While this one isn't as good, it's still a great album and definitely one of the sharpest pop albums of the last decade. It's more ambitious than ever with the glitchy production that shares elements of heavy trap and even early 2000's UK rave music in songs like 'visions' or 'i finally understand'. Again, I've always said her lyrics are decent but not special, which is still the case despite some improvement but again her melodies steel the show being bolder and more energetic than ever as she sings about familiar topics of love and heartbreak, before giving us the ultimate lockdown anthem appropriately titled 'anthems' which is an amazing song. Even the worse songs on here are still good like 'i finally understand' and 'party 4 u', which while catchy lack the energy the other songs have. There's some incredible highs here which are some of Charli's best songs, and this album is the most experimental she's ever been while remaining accessible in the process - it's truly a great album and one of the best of 2020.
8. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - Alfredo
The Alchemist is one of the best producers of all time, and Freddie is one of the best albums of all time, so of course this was great. The soul studded production with Freddie's butter like flow melting over them is gorgeous, and the bars on display are so gritty it contrasts perfectly. I wouldn't be mad at someone having this album at number 1.
7. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
The best pop album of 2020 comes from the UK's very own Dua Lipa. The choruses on here are to die for, the verses keep you engaged and its another 80's, retro style album perfected by someone who knows how to make a hit - and make a full album of them. The vocals, structure, lyrics and even the themes of this album make it a modern day classic.
6. Eminem - Music to Be Murdered By
Like Side B, the first part of this album is proof Em can fit in with the new generation. The trap beats on here are of a high quality, as is Em's lyricism and even the content at times. There's glimpses of the old Em here, and even if it's not like his first few albums it's still extremely enjoyable with some of his best songs ever.
5. Nas - King's Disease
Just like Eminem, another rap legend is back on form with this album here. Nas links up with Hit-Boy here and the production is therefore immaculate as he's had a great year. Nas' rapping is as slick as ever and yeah, he's just found a way to hit that modern sound perfectly and he fits into the new landscape.
4. Run The Jewels - RTJ4
This was on track to be my album of the year, the duo have made what could possibly be there best album yet. El-P is great, Killer Mike is even better as both talk on socially conscious topics from police brutality to America's justice system makes this a powerful album, the rapping is so good and the production is unique but amazing - a fantastic album.
3. Mac Miller - Circles
My second favourite album of the year comes from the late, great Mac Miller. Mac's gentle vocals over this stripped back, naked production is fantastic, and there isn't a bad song on here - and the highs on here are exceptional. It's such an easy listen, it takes you on a roller-coaster of emotions from sad to joyful to even in your thoughts. Mac bowed out exceptionally well.
2. 21 Savage & Metro Boomin - SAVAGE MODE II
It may be a surprise to see this album so high up, but to me it's near perfect. There isn't a single bad song, even the worst on here is great. Metro's production is flawless, 21 doesn't waste a single second on any of these luxurious, dark trap beats, and it even has Morgan Freeman narrating it for God's sake. I'm re-listening to every album I've ever heard (alphabetically so this is near the top), so this may not last here, but it's a 9.5 to me and probably the most an album's ever grew on me from a re-listen.
1. The Weeknd - After Hours
The Weeknd dropped arguably his best album this year, with the best song of the year and multiple highs to match. The retro, 80's style production is perfect for The Weeknd's melodies and vocals, and the synths are gorgeous. What stops this finishing as a 10/10 is a minor drop off at the end, but even so there's not a bad song on here - after a relisten, it's my favourite album of 2020.