We’re SudetyRaport, your favorite rap plug, and we welcome you to our massive list of the TOP 100 best rap albums of 2024. You may be wondering why we’re releasing the list a little late. The answer is simple: we didn’t want to rush anything. We heard over a thousand albums that came out last year (yes, really over a thousand), from which we carefully selected the top 100. We always try to delve into the depths of the genre and explore all the nooks and crannies of rap. All year long we give a chance to underground artists, rap stars who rule the charts, and complete newcomers. All of the albums that have dazzled us the most this year have been given a fair re-listen before we compile the list. We listened to both the most well-known albums and the albums you sent us in DMs. It was really challenging to pick only 100 albums. We could have expanded the ranking to two hundred projects on the spot, and it would still have been absolutely top-notch albums. You’ll find both LPs and shorter projects in the rankings. We only had one rule when compiling: each rapper can only have one record on the list, unless it’s a collaboration with another rapper. Producers are not subject to the restriction. It’s just not possible to fit all the amazing artists who regularly release great records and push the genre forward into one chart. That’s why every Monday we publish our Rap Weekly, where we write about the best of the rap scene. If your album didn’t make the list, don’t worry; we appreciate every artist, and it’s quite possible that we’ve given you a spot in Rap Weekly. Take the rankings with a grain of salt; every single artist on our list deserves a huge amount of respect. We’re also putting together a playlist of the best tracks of the year, featuring some of the purest gems from records that may not have made the list. Let’s not linger anymore, and let’s dive into the depths of the best rap. Peace.
PROLOG
“You named them hustlers, killers, fiends, ex-cons
I called them cousins, aunts, pops, moms
To you? Hoodlums, crackheads, gunmens
To me? Just neighbors, classmates, young friends”
From To Hull and Back by Dr. Yen Lo
WISEMAN (Chapter One)
“I was here before Columbus & I’ll be here long after he’s forgotten”
From FLDSZN by Obijuan
100. Leoh My God & Retrospec – Arrivo In Metro
This record is like a nighttime subway ride, with the flashing lights of street life reflected in the beats. Leoh My God and Retrospec rely on raw storytelling with an abstract flow that draws you into a world of nostalgia, challenges, and street wisdom. Mentions of sneaker culture legends Peter Moore and Tinker Hatfield show that both have an eye for detail and authenticity. Feats from JMD, Dusty Renoylds, and Blackchai add additional layers of emotion and vibes that make this album one of the hidden gems of the past year.
99. Chyna Streetz & 183rd – From Hell to Chanel
Chyna Streetz has been releasing singles and EPs for more than five years, but she waited until last year to release her debut album. Streetz took her artistic name from Rome Streetz himself, and the album From Hell to Chanel will tell you why. Her storytelling, rap cadence, and flows have a similarly gritty fervor that instantly engulfs you. If you didn’t know the rapper before, don’t worry; From Hell to Chanel will tell you everything you need to know about her. 183rd took care of the complete production, giving the rapper exactly the canvas she needed. The album also features the banger Matrimony with a guest appearance by Rome Streetz. A hit with an artistic chemistry that you just don’t see in the rap game that often.
98. Dead Players – Faster Than the Speed of Death
Jam Baxter, Dabbla, and GhostTown returned to the scene as Dead Players last year with Faster than The Speed of Death to complete their trilogy and stir the waters of British underground rap once again. This album is like an unbridled scream from the depths of Holloway, full of energy, rebellion, and unbridled creativity. After a decade of musical experimentation, the trio has come up with a project that is raw, uncompromising, and definitely unforgettable. Jam Baxter and Dabbla wield the mic on this record like two tireless gladiators in the ring. Each of their verses is filled with sharp metaphors, surreal imagery, and raw emotion. Tracks like Welcome Back Oh Cruel Cruel Behemoth showcase their ability to intertwine abstract ideas with sharp critiques of society. When Baxter raps, you feel the weight of his words and the metaphor of a return from hell, whether it’s a personal struggle, wrestling with inner demons, or a rebellion against the system. The entire record is imbued with an atmosphere of uncertainty, defiance, and a yearning for personal freedom. The sense of being trapped in a world that seems superficial and unforgiving is present in the lyrics, while at the same time there is a striving for liberation, both in personal life and in the creative process. The production side of the album, handled by GhostTown, is like a dark, pulsating artery that feeds each track. His beats are heavy, dirty, and hypnotic. Every beat and every bassline creates a restless but precisely controlled landscape in which Baxter and Dabbla can experiment with flow and lyrics without limit. GhostTown creates a soundtrack to rebellion, a soundtrack to a world that is falling apart, while Dead Players dance on its ruins. The songs are full of dark tension and constant forward motion. It’s a ride in a car with no brakes, where the hazy light of street lamps bounces off the hood as chaos rages all around. GhostTown perfectly embodies that feeling of the world hurtling into the unknown, but instead of fearing the unknown, Dead Players properly enjoy the ride.
97. Clbrks & NickyDiesel – CLBELLIC
The album CLBELLIC by London underground rap sensation CLBRKS and Finnish producer Nicky Diesel delivers an uncompromising and wild experience that celebrates the fourth installment of the iconic Grand Theft Auto video game franchise. With an unusual mix of gritty street rap and rich, experimental beats, the pair take us on a journey that sounds as chaotic and unbridled as the world it depicts. Nicky Diesel once again proves himself on this record as a beatmaker who can evoke a dark atmosphere while maintaining momentum that draws the listener back in. His production features deep bass, unsettling synths, and heavy, slow drums, creating a soundscape that fits right in with CLBRKS’ straightforward and uncompromising rap. Known for his rawness and humor, CLBRKS comes up with lyrics that are full of pop culture references, strange metaphors, and raw imagery, as shown in the track BRUCIE KIBBUTZ. His words are like gunshots, irregular and unexpected, giving the impression of a free flow of ideas. While some parts of his lyrics may come across as chaotic, it is the chaos that reflects CLBRKS’ intention, which is to bring tension to the listening experience similar to what gamers experience in the world of GTA. The aforementioned track, BRUCIE KIBBUTZ, is a perfect example of CLBRKS’ ability to not take himself too seriously but at the same time provide a deeper social commentary. CLBRKS creates stories full of bizarre characters and absurdities and doesn’t hesitate to veer off into absurd innuendos that are both comical and profound. The ease with which he balances between brutality and humor is evident and original.
96. Fat Tony & Fatboi Sharif & steel tipped dove – Brain Candy
This isn’t just an album, but a soundtrack to an internal struggle, with steel tipped dove beats rumbling like the wind in a concrete jungle. Fat Tony and Fatboi Sharif break down the darkness into its component parts, analyzing their own demons and serving up raw reality with poetic precision. Therapy, regret, loss, but also a resilience that keeps you going. Brain Candy is a deep séance that will guide you through the darkness and let you find the light if you’re not afraid to listen.
95. Myquale – Above All
Myquale hit the scene last year with his debut album Above All, and believe us when we say that this record is no ordinary collection of tracks but a raw statement of artistic soul. Myquale guides us through his own world full of introspection, hope, and defiance, where deep gratitude to his ancestors and a powerful message are not lacking. Whether it’s the track & Then There Were Two, which tells the story of a hero full of euphoria and downfalls, or a track on which Myquale reflects his inner fire and references the past, every word the rapper speaks comes across as a carefully considered image. With Above All, Myquale gives you a glimpse into a world you can explore if you stop and really listen. The whole album is built on commitment, authenticity, and simplicity. Myquale weaves his story with history, reflecting beauty and pain, and every single word carries weight. Above All is a work of art worth listening to from the first to the last second.
94. UFO Fev & Spanish Ran – Painting Houses 2
UFO Fev and Spanish Ran returned last year with the follow-up to Painting Houses, which we ranked as one of the Top 100 Best Rap Albums of 2023. The second part didn’t disappoint us in the least and that’s why it also made it into the selection of the best records. The sequel is a project that reminds you right from the start that the streets are hard. With Fev on the mic and Ran on the beats, we get a sound as raw as life itself. Fev sounds like Nicky Santoro with a mic; he has a sharp energy to him, and every line is like a punch. The track Talking Dirty with guests TEK (Smiff-N-Wessun) and Tree Mason is a highlight. This banger is grimy and real, showing the daily struggle to survive in the streets. Fev raps about how he struggles with not being able to give his daughter everything he wants while drowning in a world where drugs and crime are the only ways to stay afloat. His bars are raw, honest, and full of frustration. Every bar reeks of reality. Spanish Ran delivers dark, gritty beats that fit like a glove with Fev’s flow. No unnecessary elements, just clean, minimalistic production that creates a dense atmosphere as if you’re walking alone in the dim corners of the city. And when you hear Bun B and the rest of the guests, like Madhattan, Shayk Hanif, and others, you know that a top street mandem has gathered here. The whole record is like a story from the underworld. Spanish Ran gives you a dark backdrop, and Fev and the others bring you a bar full of reality where violence, crime, and trying to take care of your people blend.
93. BA PACE – BIG BROTHERS HOUSE
BA PACE is one of the most unique rappers of today. Once you immerse yourself in his work, there is no turning back. The founder of the PUBLICHOUSING NYC label released several projects last year, this one resonated with us the most. BIG BROTHERS HOUSE is a fascinating mystery that you’ll be compelled to unravel. The album surrounds you like a warm community you belong to, yet it sounds like an otherworldly creation. BIG BROTHERS HOUSE offers an immersive experience that sounds like the long-lost summer days of youth and, at the same time, like the inhospitable future of a Tetsuo: The Iron Man movie. These seemingly opposite feelings can only be evoked by BA PACE.
92. Ransom, Conway the Machine & V Don – Chaos Is My Ladder 2
On 2022’s Chaos Is My Ladder, rapper Ransom and producer V Don proved that together they are a duo to be reckoned with in the rap game. The combination of Ransom’s elaborate tales from the streets and the drug scene, which he uses to reflect on his journey to the top and the uncompromising world around us, with V Don’s hard-hitting dirty beats, just doesn’t get old. Last year, the duo released the sequel and pulled a literal ace out of their sleeve. They brought in Conway The Machine from Griselda Records. Those who know his music know that when it comes to uncompromising rap and hard beats, Conway is the man to beat. Chaos Is My Ladder 2 showcases the precise chemistry of three talented artists.
91. Gabe ‘Nandez & Thomas Maggart – False Profit
This record is like a chess game with reality; Gabe ‘Nandez moves between a transcendent search for truth and a raw critique of the digital matrix. Thomas Maggart throws down razor-sharp production, and ‘Nandez spits rhymes that cut to the bone. Algorithms, fake gurus, and the warped morality of social media? False Profit shows how easy it is to deify nonsense and how hard it is to sell the truth without discounting it. With each track, Gabe ‘Nandez serves up an insightful analysis of the system while remaining an authentic player who doesn’t play by the rules of the corporatocracy.
