Top Rap Albums of 2017

By Fernando Vazquez February 1, 2018

 

1. Damn-Kendrick Lamar

Before going by the name Kendrick Lamar he went by K-Dot, and under that stage name he released a mixtape that brought him attention. This led him to be signed with Top Dawg Entertainment and he released many singles and albums before releasing Damn.  Damn was an album that blew up quickly, with Humble being released in March to hype up the album that was released a month later. Humble quickly became popular, reaching number 2 on billboard top 100 chart a week after it was released.  All 14 songs on the album were on the billboard top 100 chart in early may less than a month after the album was released. On May 20 the album was platinum and by early June was multi-platinum.  The album was nominated for a Grammy for album of the year. Humble was nominated for record of the year. At the Grammys Kendrick won best rap performance. Humble won best rap album. Damn won best rap album of the year.

 

2. 4:44-Jay-Z

Jay-Z is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, having sold over 100 million records. 3 of his albums were ranked as part of the best 500 albums of all time. He has released 12 albums before releasing 4:44. 4:44 hit platinum very quickly. It was released June 30, 2017 and then hit platinum on July 5, 2017, and on that same day hit gold a week after it was released.  None of his songs made it on the billboards because TIDAL did not report the streaming numbers.  The album was nominated for a Grammy for the album of the year. The story of O.J. was nominated for record of the year. 4:44 (the song on his album) was also nominated for song of the year. Jay Z’s performance was nominated for best performance. 4:44 was nominated for best rap album.

 

3. All-Amerikkkan Bada$$-Joey Bada$$

All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ had 12 songs on the album. Many were good but did not make it to the top 100 chart as fast as the other albums, however most of his songs are talking about racism that is happening and how even little kids are facing racism in school. This album is unique because nowadays racism is something that is happening more than it should, and in this album he raps about problems that African American people face throughout their everyday life.  He became more popular after creating the hip-hop group pro era.

 

4. More Life-Drake

Drake started his career in the entertainment industry from degrassi: The Next Generation, a tv show.  He later dropped his debut mixtape in 2007.  He collaborated with other rappers, releasing other albums before releasing More life.  More life by drake had many songs on the billboard top 100 chart after its release on March 18, 2017.  It had 8 out of 22 songs on the billboards top 100 chart a month after being released. By the end of April, passion fruit was number 22 on the top 100 chart.  

 

5. Flower boy-Tyler the creator

Tyler the creator started his rap career in the rap group Odd Future, and he has rapped and produced in every song that has been released by them. His other albums were sloppy, however this album showed improvement, for example he didn't mix match songs on the album. Flower boy has 14 songs on the album that was released July 21, 2017 and had a song at the number 2 spot for 27 weeks. This was his fourth album that has been released. His album was nominated for a Grammy for best album of the year. This is a good album to listen to if you just want to jam out when you are bored. Most songs in the album have beats that will make you feel energized.