By Ry Dozier
As were now more than halfway through the decade, I think it would be a fair time to rank the best hip hop and R’n’B albums. This list will be based off popularity, influence, creativity, originality, and most importantly the overall enjoyability of the album.
This list will not only display my pick for the No.1 album of each year but also its ranking amongst the other years’ top picks from the decade. Not only that but I’ll give some recommendations of songs that stood out off the albums.
Please note: Some language may offend.
No.7: Don’t Tap The Glass by Tyler, the Creator (2025)
It felt like 2025 lacked a lot of standout sounds and albums, but I will say Tyler, the Creator is always a safe pick when it comes to producing something unique and that’s exactly what he delivered with this album. It’s unlike his other albums with these punchy percussion and brass heavy beats. My picks for standout songs off this album have to go to: Sugar On My Tongue and I’ll Take Care Of You.
No.6: Octane by Don Toliver (2026)
Some good album have dropped so far in 2026, so it was tough to pick between Drake and Don Toliver. However, I will say that Octane by Toliver has the slight edge over Drake’s three albums (Iceman, Maid of Honour, and Habibti) due to the production value and features on this piece. You get the classic taste of Don’s unique vocals with some fresh sounds that you haven’t heard come out of any of his previous works. It’s hard to only pick a couple standout songs off this album but I’ll have to give it to: Tiramisu and ATM.
No.5: We Don’t Trust You by Metro Boomin & Future (2024)
This is possibly one of the most influential albums of the decade so far due to the beef it sparked between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, hence why it deserves a spot on this list. Metro Boomin has been a consistent producer since the late 2010s and Future is an essential name in any rap conversation so it’s safe to say this album was going to have guaranteed hits. If there was one song that defined this album it would have to be Like That, especially with that iconic Kendrick Lamar feature dissing Drake and that electric production on the beat.
No.4: SOS by SZA (2022)
Want an album that’s there for you right after a break-up or just chill background beats with exquisite vocals? Well SZA has cooked the perfect album for you. I just don’t think I can put into writing how impressive her voice is and when you pair that with an album built around that and her emotions you get an R’n’B masterpiece. It’s hard to pick a few tracks as the standout because there are just too many good songs however I will say you have to pick Kill Bill because it’s iconic to this album. I’ll also throw in Ghost in the Machine as a sleeper pick.
No.3: Certified Lover Boy by Drake (2021)
A lot of people might disagree with this being so highly ranked on any list. However, this album truly deserves its flowers. I wholeheartedly believe this is Drake’s best album and I think people tend to disagree due to the album cover art and the title which is unfortunate because if you can look past that you’ll find Drake’s best “bangers-per-capita” track list. He has so many versatile sounding songs on this album with arguably his best lyrical performances from the 2020s. Not to mention some legendary features for big names like Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and so many more. The standouts on this album must go to Way 2 Sexy and Knife Talk.
No.2: Utopia by Travis Scott (2023)
Travis Scott’s discography has a lot to offer but critics, fans, and myself alike truly believe this is his magnum opus. What he brought to this album was insane. The pacing, production, features, lyrics, energy, creativity — it was all there. This year had some serious competition for this spot on this list however none of the other albums could’ve even come close to what Utopia accomplished. The standouts I’ll hand out for this album have to go to Meltdown and FE!N. I also can’t go without saying the opening track to this album is so electric that it caused his fans to generate a 1.3 magnitude earthquake in Rome when he was holding his opening night for his tour. If that doesn’t speak on behalf of the album, I don’t know what will.
No.1: After Hours by The Weeknd (2020)
This album is so deserving of this No.1 spot. It defined the turn of the decade and changed the direction of hip hop and R’n’B for the upcoming decade. The synths carried this album and gave it a retro feel combined with The Weeknd’s high-pitched voice; almost reminiscent of a modern-day Michael Jackson. This album contained zero features, which I think is very fitting due to the story behind the album. The Weeknd is dealing with a break-up and losing his sense of self, and I feel like that can be very relatable to many listeners. Fun fact, this album has the most-listened-to song in human history on it – Blinding Lights! The standouts on this album need to go to Heartless and After Hours because of their otherworldly vocals and synthesizer heavy beats.
That wraps up the list for the best hip hop and R’n’B albums from the 2020s. There were a lot of hard choices I had to make when deciding the best albums from each year and unfortunately some albums just missed the final cut.
However, I would still like to give a shoutout to a few that I think were in contention for a spot on this list. Here are the honourable mentions: Heros and Villains by Metro Boomin (2022(, For All The Dogs by Drake (2023), Chromakopia by Tyler, the Creator (2024), and Iceman by Drake (2026).
Featured image: The Weeknd, SZA, and Drake make our 2020s Top 7. Photos: Music Drenalin/Ralph_PH/Chester Cttrll
