My top 15 albums of the decade a thread I probably missed some but let me know your thoughts
Some Honorable mentions:

1999
Veteran
Taboo
Without Warning
The Never Story
Bandana
Tha Carter 4
Blank Face LP
Igor
Drogas Wave
Civilian Demo
Acid Rap

15. Swimming-Mac Miller
On Swimming Mac Miler shows one of the greatest transformations of sound’s in modern hip hop. With a softer more melodic delivery over jazzy and Classical style Mac attempts to heal while exploring deeper into his emotions and grow from this experience.

Swimming takes you on a journey not only sonically with some of the most beautiful production I’ve ever heard, but takes you through a journey and puts you inside the experiences and life of Mac Miller.

This is an album that makes me feel a way only The songs themselves could explain and it shows how versatile and talented Mac was as an artist. A truly brilliant testimony to Mac’s legacy.
Best songs: 2009, Jet Fuel

14. Some rap songs-Earl sweatshirt
Some rap songs is one of the darkest yet most brilliant look inside earls life. From the opening track shattered dreams where Earl gives insight to his loss and emptiness.

To the outro instrumental Riot which without using any words shows of somone finding some small triumph in endless pain. With earl rapping extremely well over more classical jazz style beats Earl delivers brilliantly on this project.

Earl throws in some brilliant yet chilling lines throughout every track which give a deep insight into his painful demise with some instrumentals and light beats which suit earls darker rapping style perfectly.

This album sums up not just earl’s ability as a rapper but his ability to hold a project together so well and tell his story.

Best song: The Mint, Cold Summers

13.4eva Is A Mighty Long Time - Big K.R.I.T.’
On 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time Big K.R.I.T.’ delivers an album with brilliant lyricism some great hooks and some very solid instrumentals and production

The production is so well done and so crisp it keeps the listener wanting more despite it being 60 minutes in length with a nearly gospel type of vibe.

While the first half of the album has some bangers and very enjoyable songs from K.R.I.T.’ the longer the album goes on the more conscious and deep His lyrics get.

From the song Aux cord where he pays credit to everyone who inspired his music. To the song Price of Fame where he questions what actually matters and if all the fame helps him or makes him worse off.

Lastly the outro Track Bury me in gold reflects on how you can’t take anything when you die while talking about consumerism.

Throughout this Album we see unmatched Lyrical ability and flow combined with soulful production which keeps listeners interested. This is solidified with well delivered messages showing his ability as not just a talented rapper but a storyteller.

Best songs Price of Fame,Bury me in gold

12.good Kid m.A.A.d city-Kendrick Lamar
On Kendrick Lamar’s 2nd studio album he tells a narrative of his life without losing sight of his personality and who he is . Kendrick includes catchy and enjoyable hooks which compliment his rapping style very well.

On this album He covers so many different topics in such detail as he analyses every stage of his life from receiving fame and attention to realising he still hasn’t made it out yet and the struggles are far from gone.

Every track tells a different story and while just storytelling may not be appealing to many casual music listeners. Kendrick has some great Hooks and production which not only complements But enhances His ability to get a message across.

This album has aged brilliantly and still manages to be in the billboard top 200 holding relevenace in any era or period of time.

Best songs: m.A.A.d city/ Sing about me I’m dying of thirst

11.All Amerikkkan Bada$$-Joey bada$$
By the time of this album we already knew just how talented Joey bada$$ was with 2 great projects and one of the best mixtapes of all time at just 22 it was interesting to see where he would take this project.

This project was a brilliant reflection of the everyday struggle of a black man in America.
Joey uses metaphor’s brilliantly and including some more catchy songs then some of his other projects giving this album a bigger viewers pool.

Joey again shows how much he has matured from being a fantastic rapper to a rapper who can paint a picture and make the listener experience what’s going on.

From the song Amerikkkan idol where he explains exactly how the system oppresses black people by default and is set up in a way which makes it impossible for black people to fight for their rights.

In Other tracks like Land of the free Where he speaks to speaks to all people that’vebeen oppressed and how America as a nation can change for the better. With lines like:
“We can’t change the world if we can’t change ourself die from the sicknesses if we don’t seek the health”.

Overall this project shows how Joey has matured from a talented rapper to an all round brilliant artist as he tackles the lies and injustices of the system we live in today.
Best track’s Amerikkkan idol, Babylon

10.Rodeo-Travis Scott
On Rodeo Travis Scott Revolutionised the way we listen to music in a project like no other we had seen before. The feeling I got when first listening to Rodeo was unique to anything I’ve felt while listening to music.

Rodeo is an example of everything that made the new wave of trap music so exciting. This album tells the story of the come up of Travis Scott over a style production which was unheard of at the time.

His production focused heavy and aggressive instrumentals combined with beat switches which would turn any track on its head in an instant and teleport you to somewhere you’ve never been. Travis Scott also shows himself to be more then just an entertainer.

He has an extremely strong flow on nearly every track playing in perfectly to the production. Kacy Hill’s Vocals on 90210 sound angelic and when the beat switches from the bouncy yet soft vocals to the second half Travis absolutely snaps and pulls off one of his best verses.

This album is by any means one of the best representation’s of modern trap music we will see in a long time and has nearly everything I look for in modern music.

Best tracks 90210,Maria I’m Drunk

9.We got it from here thank you for your service - A Tribe Called Quest on this album A Tribe Called Quest solidify themselves as one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.

In their first album in nearly two decades in Tribe’s farewell album they pick up like they never left. Of course many people were worried when this album was first announced if they would be able to recapture the classic sound which made them so popular.

Another issue was the change of production style from the 90’s modern era and how they would adapt.
In this album they combine a many very strong evocative tracks with some more melodic and aesthetically pleasing tracks all coming together brilliantly.

This album shows one of the best hip hop groups proving how their sound remains relevant in any era.Tribe manage out on and extremely high note while praising and showing faith in the next generation of rap while reminiscing on all the memories they’ve made in their career.

lost somebody which pays tribute To Phife Dawg a member of Tribe who tragically died And is a sad yet beautiful song which reflects on not only how devastated they are but the memories they made with him.
Best song:Movin Backwards, Lost Somebody

8. Live Love A$ap- A$ap Rocky
In Rocky’s debut mixtape he combines his infectious and never ending flow with fresh and exotic instrumentals out of this world slowed vocals and some heavy beats. It all comes together very nicely in a project filled with style

Track after Track The loud beats mixed perfectly with shiny and light instrumentals Provide A$ap Rocky with everything he needs to perform at his best. With songs like Peso where rocky uses one of the most aesthetically pleasing samples I’ve ever heard.

to the song Brand New Guy where him and Schoolboy Q Both deliver with high energy verses over some faded background vocals.

Rocky has a one of a kind sound which leaves the listener wanting more and more and proves himself to be a rapper with so much promise so early in his career.
Best tracks Peso,Purple Swag

7. Kids See Ghosts
In Kids See Ghosts Kanye And Kid Cudi both bring their A game in one of the most sonically pleasing albums of the decade. It has so much to offer With Cudi’s energetic hooks infectious humming and strong delivery.

This is all topped off with Some fantastic production and instrumentals which compliment Kanye perfectly. You can tell just off one listen how pristine and well done every track is and how much though and detail has gone into the execution of every track.

Creatively Ye and Cudi shine despite the short length of this project make the most of ever track.
One of the highlights on this album has to be kid cudi’s hooks as they just add so much to nearly every track and make you want to keep listening again and again.

On the album Kanye adapts a new sound which isn’t like anything we’ve heard before from Ye. On tracks like Freeee Kanye and Cudi switch their flow completely as Ye raps energetically over a rock influenced beat and cudi’s Vocals go Brilliantly with this unusual instrumental.

Feel the Love is another great track with a big opening from kid Cudi and a very solid pusha T verse. Also Cudi montage has Ye telling the story of how murder and crime destroys families over a very soothing guitar instrumental and a spacey beats providing a perfect outro.

In Kids see ghosts Kanye and Cudi both push eachother to bring out the best in themselves and succeed in one of the best produced albums I’ve ever listened to.
Best songs Cudi Montage,Reborn

6.4:44
On 4:44 Jay Z raps in a way we’ve never seen him rap before. As a huge fan of his music I’ve been so used to seeing the confident self made and high energy rapping that Jay Z has brought to many of albums in the past.

However what made 4:44 such a brilliant album was how open and vulnerable Jay made himself and instead of trying to prove himself. On 4:44 He gives an honest outlook and reflects on his mistakes,his life his future and how to heal the mistakes he has made

On this album He has nothing to prove and raps as if we are going through his head and listening to the exact thoughts that go through it. From the track 4:44 where he acknowledges the pain he has caused and tries to find ways to heal this pain.

Where he gives a chilling reflection on how his infidelity has affected not just his relationship but how he see’s himself and how his children will eventually see him.

Also with tracks like The Story Of Oj where he tells everyone that no matter what you do how famous you get the colour of your skin will always define you to some extent.

Jay z preaches to every black man especially those in a position of power and how they should really be using their influence. This album was the perfect way too end the career of one of the best rappers ever to touch a mic adding so much to Jay z’s legacy.
Best songs 4:44

5.Daytona
On Daytona Pusha T shook the rap industry and solidified himself as not just a legendary rapper but showed nobody else could match what he could do. Daytona is another album which provides us with so much quality over so few tracks.

This album not only shows pusha’s ability but Kanye’s incredible ability as a producer yet again with some aggressive beats infused with triumphant instrumentals on tracks like the games we play and Infrared.

To Kanye switching it up with some more soulful beats where he incorporates some old school samples on Come back baby and Hard piano. Throughout this album Push has some incredible lines and a flow which can’t be matched by even Kanye himself.

He destroys many rappers such as drake himself on the track Infrared and raps with so much hunger and intent. His ability is complimented perfectly by the production and he pushes himself to reach levels he hasn’t reached before.

My favourite track has to be Santeria as Pusha raps brilliantly over a eerie beat with some Spanish background vocals. In Pusha’s strongest and most complete project yet he raps with so much confidence and hunger with so much to say in so few tracks.

Best songs: Santeria

4. My Beautiful Dark twisted Fantasy-Kanye West
In this album Kanye reinvents himself yet again to much avail and shows how he really is a an artist comparable to no other. On this album Kanye Portrays a vision which can only be understood by Kanye himself.

Kanye tells tales of his ideal life throughout the album With some of the most cinematic production and this album resulted in most important moments in hip hop history.

Kanye changed music forever and brought together a range of people over 11 different tracks. From the track power Where he lets everyone know he’s on top of the world. Followed by the track runaway where Kanye celebrates the act of hiding from his problems rather then facing them

Lastly on the track gorgeous where Kanye raps more focused and motivated then he ever has before this album has so much going on in every direction. Despite some of the incredible high points in this album it is not without some flaws.

The song hell of a life has a catchy hook but Kanye’s slightly more auto-tuned delivery and sub par lyrics bring this track down slightly Ye it still compliments the theme of the album nicely.

The same thing could go with the track all of the lights where the hook from Rihanna is extravagant however Kanye talking about the fall out of an abusive relationship is by no means bad but doesn’t do the track justice.

Despite this this album had such brilliant production so many great rapping performances and represents Everything so unique and brilliant about Kanye. Therefore it would be a crime not to include it.
Favourite songs Gorgeous,Runaway,Power

3.Piñata
Piñata combines a rapper who hadn’t been heard of much at the time with a producer who brings out the best of any great Artist with his Classic and simple yet brilliant production.

The instrumentals and beats that Madlib uses throughout the album compliment Freddie Gibbs so well as he takes a more conscious approach to his usual gangster rap style which result in some of his best verses and performances to date.

Freddie’s delivery can not be praised more as he attacks each track with such a strong and confident style however what makes this delivery so good is the eerie and soulful instrumentals which provide a light touch to Freddie’s style.

The feature list is perfect and Danny Brown Raekwon and many more all give brilliant verses alongside Gibbs and this album has highlights from start to finish. This album brings together a sound and rapping style which almost makes the listener nostalgic of old school hip hop.

All solidified with a sound that shines through with unmatched attention to detail brining out the very best of Freddie Gibbs.
Best songs Thuggin, High

2.Atrocity exhibition
This may be one of the most insane albums I have ever heard with crazy instrumentals and some of the most unusual beats. Atrocity Exhibition takes you on an experience which is nearly impossible to explain.

On his previous albums Danny had rapped about topics such as partying and getting high and while being a strong lyricist had only scratched the surface on his issues in his music.

What makes this album so special though is rather then talking about the high Danny talks about the hangover and the fall out after the small satisfaction of drug abuse.

This is one of the most raw and dark albums I have ever heard as he tackles the fall out from addiction. From the intro Downward spiral Danny introduces us to the situation he finds himself in and the beginning of his downfall in a more alternate rock style.

Also with tracks like ain’t it funny show Danny trying to talk about his issues and everyone undermining them and thinking he’s joking which then leads him down a further path of addiction.

The album get darker track after track Danny opens himself up to the world yet fails to find any closure. By the last track hell for it it almost seems like Danny is begging for forgivness or just looking anywhere for some form of help.

Throughout this album Danny Manages to not just tell a painful yet incredible story but show his experiences exactly through the dark neo soul instrumentals and eerie beats which build a hectic unique yet dark theme around the album.

With instrumentals beats and sounds unlike anything we’ve seen before which transport you to another planet This album is a once in a lifetime experience.

Best songs: Lost,Hell for it

1. To Pimp A Butterfly
To Pimp a butterfly not only changed the way we see music today but put a spin on the media and public perception of the black man

This album told the story of a man torn between being a rapper and just rapping But at the same time not being able to forget that he is a black man in a position of power and how he chooses to use his power could change the way the entire world perceive’s people of his colour.

From start to finish this entire album gives a message that will never fade away. From the intro track Wesleys theory where Kendrick introduces a more classical sound as he opens up his audience to the theme of how the industry pimps black men in positions of power.

So throughout this album Kendrick tells the story of trying to avoid being pimped by the industry and using his influence for better. With the track I Kendrick promotes self love in one of the most upbeat tracks on the album.

However his temporary self love is brought crashing down in the track U where Kendrick remains stuck inside his head overturned with guilt as he bleeds out his insecurities drop by drop.

The Blacker The Berry is such a brilliant representation of how America sees the black man and Kendrick lashes out in anger at how the system perceives people in such a powerful track.

And finally the outro track Mortal Man where in the first half he addresses his fans seeking immortality with the urge to be remembered as somone who made a difference. Then the track stops and where the album would usually conclude Kendrick makes it as if he was talking to Tupac

He does this by chopping up old recordings of his voice seeks advice and guidance from one of the greats who came before him with Tupac’s voice finally fading.

To Pimp A Butterfly is so much more then just an album. For me it is not just a story but a representation of another black man trying to find himself in a society made to oppress and stereotype everyone his kind.

Once receiving the fame he realise that there is more to his life then just being a black man but however he must realise that with all this power he can not fall victim to the industry and needs to use his influence in a way which shines a light on the black man in America.

With some classic yet jaw dropping jazz style production and a narrative matched by no other album To Pimp A Butterfly is a modern classic opening up Kendrick’s life to the world empowering every American who has been oppressed

Best songs U,The Blacker The Berry