Lamonts Lists: The Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of 2024

For hip hop, 2024 represented a triumphant bounce back after slow sales in 2023 led to much hand wringing about the decline in the genre's popularity. Of course, momentum was helped in no small part by the biggest rap beef of all time between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, which dominated the cultural conversation for several months. Kendrick's decisive victory, and extended victory lap, was fun for all of us to watch (that is, unless you were a Drake fan). 

But there was plenty more to keep us dancing, singing and rapping along in 2024. From the continued rise of women in hip hop - led by contributions from talented artists such as Doechii, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, Rapsody, GloRilla, and more - to the resurgence of legacy artists like LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Common and Pete Rock, Rakim, and even Masta Ace, there was something for every type of fan to consume with guaranteed satisfaction. Hip hop even continued to make inroads into country music, thanks to boundary-pushing hits that featured artists like Beyoncé, Shaboozey, and BigXthaPlug. With so many styles, voices, and sonic flavors on display in 2024, it's easy to see why hip hop was able to reaffirm its status as the world’s most culturally impactful music format.

Below is a list of my 10 favorite albums of the year, to compliment my "2024 Favorite Singles" list. Take a read and then take a listen. As always, I appreciate your feedback (good or bad) and reminders of what I slept on. Enjoy and Happy New Year.

Lamont

The Top 10

10. The Crossroads - Cordae - Cordae delivers a strong showing on The Crossroads where he sounds a lot like the promising young emcee who arrived with much fanfare in 2018, offering up a ton of confidence and the markings of a bright future. A little older and wiser, Cordae seems more comfortable with what he's trying to accomplish as an artist on this album. These mid-tempo, boom bap infused tracks are easy on the ears. And the more laidback, introspective storytelling fits better with his style and persona. Let's hope he stays in this lane going forward because with The Crossroads, Cordae has found himself a nice groove.

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9. Might Delete Later - J. Cole - Let’s face it: being team Cole in 2024 wasn’t easy. The much-discussed apology incident (which months later proved to be a shrewd move) eroded his already marginal street cred and overshadowed the release of what I thought was a solid album in Might Delete Later. For those of us who are unwavering Cole die hards, the album gave us just enough juice to remind naysayers of the simple fact that his bars are undeniable.

Cole's pen game is as sharp as ever on this album. You can practically feel him laboring over every verse, punchline, and entendre, pushing himself to make each line land with precision. On “Pi,” he challenges himself to keep up with excellent verses from Ab-Soul and Daylyt, holding his own with remarkable agility. “Trae The Truth In Ibiza” is navel gazing and self-critical, as Cole grapples with the idea of staying out of his own way - a question that feels as personal as it does universal. And then there’s “Stickz N Stonez,” where Cole dives into a brooding Alchemist beat with an intensity that is raw and unfiltered.

Despite the PR missteps, it's clear that Cole’s mic skills remain elite. His features run in 2024 - on tracks like Tee Grizzley’s “Blow For Blow,” Nicki Minaj’s “Let Me Calm Down,” and Tems’s “Free Fall” - all represented nice additions to his resume. Might Delete Later is yet another testament to his unyielding work ethic and commitment to his craft. It should should be enough to keep his loyal fanbase happy as we look forward to a big year from him in 2025.

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8. Perfect Fantasy - Earthgang & Spillage Village - With tracks that range from funky to soulful to rock-infused, Atlanta duo Earthgang make the most of their third and most futuristic sounding album yet. Supposedly, it's themed around "the effects of AI and advanced technologies on society," which I have to admit, I didn't fully pick up on my own. But either way, the tracks on Perfect Fantasy are colorful, adventurous and consistently entertaining.  And the wide range of collaborators, including Snoop, Pharrell, T-Pain and Damon Albarn all add their own unique flavors into what proves to be an intoxicating stew.

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7. The Drive Home - Samara Cyn - On The Drive Home, Samara Cyn looks and sounds every bit like the budding superstar that she is. Offering up a hypnotic blend of hip hop and neo-soul, Cyn channels her heroes, including Lauryn Hill and Eryka Badu, into a sultry sound that's all her own. There are no skips here, all 10 tracks are warm and immersive, but my favorites include "Sinner", "Rolling Stone" and "Chrome" where she deftly balances heartfelt vulnerability and battle rap braggadocio in equal measures. "I'm not insecure...I'm the biggest in the world" she croons on "Rolling Stone" and it's clear that she's reminding herself of this affirmation as much as she is her listeners.

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6. The Force - LL Cool J - After celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop in 2023, there were many legacy rap acts who reasserted themselves in 2024, but none did it better than the legend in leather himself, LL Cool J. Ok, fine, if you must...call it a comeback.

Produced entirely by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Q-Tip, LL's The Force is a sonic masterpiece that crackles with energy. Tip, a musical savant, crafts a sumptuous, multifaceted, soundscape that provides the perfect canvas for a reinvigorated LL to shine. At 56, the NCIS veteran, who coined the phrase "The G.O.A.T.", sounds like a forever-young uncle who can still out hoop his sh*t talking nephews in a driveway 3 on 3. Surprisingly spry and still fully in command of his "Rock The Bells" era swagger, LL reminds us why he awarded himself that title decades ago.

What's beautiful about The Force is how it nicely it balances nostalgia with contemporary flair. The album is designed to be "Post Modern" but LL is not afraid to lean into his legacy - reflecting on his roots with tracks like "30 Decembers" and "Runnit Back," - where he raps, "I was 15 in the basement with a vision". He even conjures up his iconic Ladies Love persona while teaming up with Saweetie on "Proclivities," evoking the fervor of classics like "Backseat Of My Jeep" and "Doin' It." Overall, The Force is a masterclass given by two giants on how to bridge eras with skill and finesse. It’s a reminder that true talent and timeless work ethic never go out of style. 

 

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5. BRAVADO + INTiMO - IDK - A study in duality, Bravado + Intimo is a conceptual album that presents two contrasting yet interconnected sides of IDK’s artistry. The "Bravado" tracks (marked with a “B”) reflect his braggadocious, trap-heavy persona, while the "Intimo" tracks (marked with an “I”) dive into introspection, weaving jazzy loops with soulful melodies. Together, they paint a picture of an artist unafraid to explore the complexities of identity and vulnerability while blending genres and styles seamlessly.

For me, the "Bravado" side hits hardest. I like the unapologetic trap of "Tiffany (B)", bolstered by an assist from Gunna, and "Check (B)" which captures the essence of a lunchroom freestyle. But the true stunner is "DeNiM (B)," where IDK partners with Joey Bada$$ on one of my favorite songs of the year. Here, he lifts the veil on the deeper theme of the album, that for most rappers, the braggadocio is really just a mirage. After opening with the line..."Sittin' on cloud nine but it's really my couch," he unleashes a string of clever but cliched boasts about his cars, women, money and clothes. It’s a keeping it real moment that pulls back the curtain on the persona he’s crafted, forcing listeners to question the line between confidence and façade. Bravado + Intimo isn’t just an album—it’s a thoughtful exploration of self, wrapped in beats and bars that demand attention.

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4. CHROMAKOPIA - Tyler, The Creator - Truth be told, this is not my favorite Tyler record. I preferred 2017's "Flower Boy" and 2021's "Call Me If You Get Lost". Both were equally as experimental but delivered more head nods from a production standpoint. But I have to give Tyler credit for continuing to stretch his imagination. This album shows that his creativity and fearlessness are boundless and come with no limitations. Over a lush, expansive production he raps with depth and honesty about the trials of adulthood, fame, relationships, fear, regret and all the conflicting emotions that come with those things. Here is a mature artist who understands that he has a massive platform and that he should use it to share his many gifts. On CHROMAKOPIA, he makes it clear that he doesn't want to waste one note of his formidable talent on songs that conform to any BS genre expectations. 

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3. Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii - In 2024 Doechii burst onto the scene like she was shot out of a cannon... dripping with charisma, verve and stage presence while radiating the unmistakable aura of a rockstar. On the dazzling Alligator Bites Never Heal, an eclectic collection of wide-ranging tracks, she showed that there is plenty of substance behind the style. Songs like "Nissan Altima" and "Catfish" highlight her impressive lyrical prowess, while "Denial Is a River" brims with theatrical flair. Elsewhere, "Hide & Seek" and "Wait" demonstrate her penchant for neo-soul while showcasing her range and emotional depth. In a year where several fresh-voiced female rappers made inroads, Doechii managed to carve out a space that felt distinct, bold, and unforgettable. If this is what she delivers on a so-called mixtape, I can't wait to see what she gives us when she releases a proper album.

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2. Dark Times - Vince Staples - Dark Times is an album that encapsulates everything I love about Vince Staples. His dark humor, deadpan delivery, and keen observations on everything from the oddities fame, to the fallacies of relationships to the pangs of survivor's guilt, are all on display. Over sparse, dimly lit and bluesy production that's tailor-made for his unique perspective, Vince offers up thoughtful explorations on life from a man who has made it to the top of the mountain, only to stand at the peak, shrug and wonder, "is this all that's here?" The result is an album that is as guarded as it is optimistic, filled with moments of reflection that linger long after the music stops.

My favorite tracks capture these dichotomies beautifully. On "Black and Blue," there are echoes of heartbreak and quarterlife crisis, as evidenced by the line "Money I’m getting it. Heaven I live in it. I look in the mirror and see something missing, I know that it’s you. On "Etouffee" he pays homage to his New Orleans roots and the role his granny played in helping him navigate a path from The Magnolia projects to Hollywood. Then there’s "Little Homies," a bustling track packed with sage advice for those who might be inspired to follow in his footsteps, where he puts it bluntly..."Life hard but I go harder."

Dark Times is an incredibly compelling listen, blending melancholy reflections and moody baselines with Vince’s trademark wit. On it, Vince once again reminds us that he possesses one of the most provocative and intelligent voices working in hip hop today.

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1. GNX - Kendrick Lamar - What a year for Kendrick Lamar. From "strangling a GOAT" while winning the most talked-about rap beef in history to delivering the song of the year with "Not Like Us" and giving us the Juneteenth spectacle of The Pop Out concert, Kendrick dominated 2024 like few rappers have ever done in a single year. And just when we thought he couldn’t top himself, he dropped GNX and took his victory lap to even further heights.

As with any Kendrick project, we expected GNX to be profound, thought provoking and rich with layers of meaning that would send many of us deep into its various rabbit holes. But what we didn't expect, after the soul searching of "Mr. Morale" and the mean-spirited Drake records, was how much fun this album would be to listen to. I for one was certainly not prepared for the viral TikTok dances, living room C-Walking, and spontaneous shouts of "MUSTAAAARDDD!" it would inspire. Somehow on GNX, Kendrick managed to combine his thematic complexities with catchy hooks, outlandish beats, perfect ad-libs and a sneaky sense of humor.

The album is so stacked with highlights that there's not enough room to gush about them all. There's the anthemic "TV Off", the head-nodding "Luther", the playful "Hey Now" and the subtle "Peekaboo". But my favorite is "Squabble Up", with its irresistible hook and crowd-pleasing "When I hear music" sample that compels repeated spins. 

GNX is a statement album that celebrates Kendrick’s versatility as an artist and further separates him from his contemporaries. Looking ahead to 2025, his trajectory seems limitless. With the Super Bowl halftime show on the horizon, more new music on deck, and the Grand National Tour dates already set (yes, I've already secured my tickets for the stop at MetLife Stadium), it’s clear that Kendrick’s incredible run will not slow down any time soon. At this point, the only thing we should expect is to be amazed.

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Honorable Mentions

#RICHXXHAITIAN - Mach-Hommy

Samurai - Lupe Fiasco

Soul Burger - Ab-Soul

Blue Lips - ScHoolboy Q

King Of The Mischievous South - Denzel Curry

Time Is Currency - Termanology x NasteeLuvzYou

9 - Kenny Mason

We Don't Trust You - Future & Metro Boomin 

The Death Of Slim Shady - Eminem

The Auditorium, Vol. 1 - Common and Pete Rock

Glorious - GloRilla

Please Don't Cry - Rapsody

Everybody Can’t Go - Benny The Butcher

I've Never Been Here Before - Erik the Architect

Golden Era 2 - Awon & Phoniks

The Thief Next To Jesus - Ka

You Only Die 1nce - Freddie Gibbs

Take Care - BigXthaPlug

The Lotus Child - Che Noir

Keep Me Company - Skyzoo

Better Me Than You - Big Sean

The Confidence Of Knowing - Talib Kweli & J. Rawls

Marciology - Roc Marciano

Out Of time - Ol’ Burger Beats 

Sugar Honey Iced Tea - Latto

Elite Vessel - Lexa Gates

Bando Stone and The New World - Childish Gambino

Nothing Is My Favorite Thing - Nappy Nina  

Not Now I'm Busy - Joyner Lucas

Still Praying - Westside Gunn