Dubbed the “Year of the Bars,” 2024 has seen rappers delivering memorable verses, intricate wordplay, and infectious beats that brought the debate of the best album of 2024.
From introspective lyricism to hard-hitting bars, these albums captivated audiences and garnered critical acclaim, earning them a spot among the best hip-hop releases of the year.
Explore our selection of top hip-hop albums in 2024 with the best bars, curated based on chart rankings and sales, listed in no particular order.
Ranking the Best Hip-Hop Albums in 2024
- WE DON’T TRUST YOU
ARTIST: Future & Metro Boomin
RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2024
We Don’t Trust You marks the debut collaborative studio album between American rapper Future and renowned record producer Metro Boomin.
It was released through a partnership between Freebandz (operated under the business name Wilburn Holding Co.), Epic Records, Boominati Worldwide, and Republic Records.
The album contains 17 songs and features a number of artists including, from the Weeknd, Travis Scott, Playboi Carti, Kendrick Lamar, and Rick Ross.
The album received praise from critics and enjoyed commercial success, entering the US Billboard 200 at number one with the second-largest opening week of 2024, only trailing behind Béyonce’s Cowboy Carter.
2. AMERICAN DREAM
ARTIST: 21 Savage
RELEASE DATE: January 12, 2024
American Dream is the third studio album by the British rapper 21 Savage and It was released via Epic Records and Slaughter Gang Entertainment.
The album features guest appearances from Doja Cat, Young Thug, Metro Boomin, Lil Durk, Travis Scott, Summer Walker, Brent Faiyaz, Burna Boy, Tommy Newport, Mikky Ekko, and Mariah the Scientist. Production was overseen by Metro Boomin, London on da Track, Scribz Riley, Allen Ritter, OG Parker, Cardo, FnZ, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., and various other talents.
American Dream debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 133,000 album-equivalent units, including 4,500 pure album sales.
The album is 21 Savage’s fourth consecutive number-one album in the US.
3. MIGHT DELETE LATER
ARTIST: J. Cole
RELEASE DATE: April 5, 2024
Might Delete Later serves as the fourth mixtape by American rapper J. Cole. Released as a surprise on April 5, 2024, by Dreamville and Interscope Records, this marks Cole’s first project not to be released under Roc Nation.
The 12-song album features guest appearances from Young Dro, Gucci Mane, Ari Lennox, Cam’ron, Central Cee, Bas, Daylyt, and Ab-Soul.
Hits reports that the mixtape is expected to sell around 138,000 units during its initial week. This achievement would secure J. Cole his eighth number-one album on the US Billboard 200 chart.
4. NOT NOW, I’M BUSY
ARTIST: Joyner Lucas
RELEASE DATE: March 22, 2024
Not Now I’m Busy marks the second studio album from American rapper Joyner Lucas. Released on March 22, 2024, under his self-owned label, Twenty Nine Music Group.
The album boasts guest appearances by by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Conway the Machine, Jelly Roll, Symba, the late DMX, Logic, Twista and Nefertitti Avani.
The album was made available for pre-sale on Apple Music, unveiling that both “Devil’s Work 2” and “Blackout” were excluded from the album, despite initial intentions for their inclusion.
5. VULTURES 1
ARTIST: KANYE WEST & TY DOLLA SIGN
RELEASE DATE: February 10, 2024
Vultures 1 marks the inaugural studio album by American hip-hop supergroup ¥$, consisting of rapper Kanye West and singer Ty Dolla Sign.
Independently released by West’s YZY brand, the album commemorates the 20th anniversary of West’s debut studio album, The College Dropout.
The album comprises 15 tracks, and the Guest appearances include India Love, North West, Freddie Gibbs, Mike Tyson, YG, Nipsey Hussle, Quavo, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Bump J, Lil Durk, Rich the Kid, and Chris Brown.
Vultures 1 debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 after a five-day tracking period, scoring West’s second-lowest first week sales with 148,000 album-equivalent units.
The album became West’s 11th consecutive number-one album on the chart, making him the artist with the second-most consecutive number-one debuts.
6. COMING HOME
ARTIST: USHER
RELEASE DATE: February 9, 2024
Coming Home stands as the ninth studio album by American singer Usher.
Released on February 9, 2024, through Gamma, the album coincided with his Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance.
This marks Usher’s first solo album since Hard II Love (2016) and comes after his collaborative album with record producer Zaytoven.
Coming Home includes collaborations with Burna Boy, Summer Walker, 21 Savage, Latto, The-Dream, H.E.R., Pheelz, and Jungkook.
Coming Home reached the second position on the US Billboard 200 and garnered generally favorable reviews from critics. Additionally, the lead single “Good Good” achieved a placement in the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Coming Home marks Usher’s ninth top 10-charting album on the Billboard 200.
7. 2093
ARTIST: YEAT
RELEASE DATE: February 16, 2024
2093 is the fourth studio album by American rapper Yeat, which dropped on February 16, 2024, via Capitol Records, Field Trip Recordings, and Lyfestyle Corporation.
The Album contains 22 tracks, and features guest features guest appearances from Lil Wayne and Future.
Debuting at the second spot on the US Billboard 200 chart, “2093” amassed 70,000 album-equivalent units, with 12,000 pure sales. This fell approximately 5,000 units short of the week’s top album, Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign’s “Vultures 1.”
The album also accumulated a total of 79.15 million on-demand streams of the album’s songs.
8. INSANO (METRO MEGA)
ARTIST: KID CUDI
RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2024
Insano (Nitro Mega) is the tenth studio album by American musician Kid Cudi, released on February 23, 2024, via Wicked Awesome and Republic Records. Serving as a sequel to his ninth studio album, “Insano,” which was released the previous month.
The album features guest appearances from Wiz Khalifa, Chip tha Ripper, Pusha T, Steve Aoki, Lil Yachty, Layzie Bone, and Krayzie Bone. He made an appearance at Coachella on Sunday tracks from his album.
Let us know if there is any album that should be in our top Hip-Hop Albums in 2024 in the comments
IMAGE CREDITS: J. Cole Josh Brasted / Contributor | Getty Images
Kid Cudi Michael Rowe / Contributor | Getty Images
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