Rap Albums of the Year

Rap: Albums of the Year

This page consolidates the Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year awards as given by the American Music Awards (1989-1992, 2002-present), Billboard magazine (2006, 2011-present), the Grammys (1996-present), and Soul Train (1989-1996). Also included is the album each year from 1984 to present which rates highest in Dave’s Music Database. Check out other album of the year awards here.

2024: Billboard: Drake For All the Dogs DMDB: Kendrick Lamar GNX Grammy: Doechii Alligator Bites Never Heal 2023: Billboard: Drake and 21 Savage Her Loss DMDB: Travis Scott Utopia Grammy: Killer Mike Michael 2022: AMA: Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Billboard: Drake Certified Lover Boy DMDB: Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Grammy: Tyler, the Creator Call Me if You Get Lost 2021: AMA: Megan Thee Stallion Good News Billboard: Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon DMDB: Lil Nas X Montero Grammy: Nas King’s Disease 2020: AMA: Roddy Ricch Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial Billboard: Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding DMDB: Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon Grammy: Tyler, the Creator Igor 2019: AMA: Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding Billboard: Drake Scorpion DMDB: Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding Grammy: Cardi B Invasion of Privacy 2018: AMA: Post Malone Beerbongs & Bentleys Billboard: Kendrick Lamar Damn. DMDB: Drake Scorpion Grammy: Kendrick Lamar Damn. 2017: AMA: Kendrick Lamar Damn. Billboard: Drake Views DMDB: Kendrick Lamar Damn. Grammy: Chance the Rapper Coloring Book 2016: AMA: Drake Views Billboard: Meek Mill Dreams Worth More Than Money DMDB: Drake Views Grammy: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly 2015: AMA: Nicki Minaj The Pinkprint Billboard: J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive DMDB: Kendrick Lamar To Pimp a Butterfly Grammy: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2014: AMA: Iggy Azalea The New Classic Billboard: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 DMDB: Run the Jewels Run the Jewels 2 (aka “RTJ2”) Grammy: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist 2013: AMA: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist Billboard: Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded DMDB: Kanye West Yeezus Grammy: Drake Take Care 2012: AMA: Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Billboard: Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV DMDB: Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Good Kid m.A.A.d. City Grammy: Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2011: AMA: Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Billboard: Eminem Recovery DMDB: Drake Take Care Grammy: Eminem Recovery 2010: AMA: Eminem Recovery DMDB: Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Grammy: Eminem Relapse 2009: AMA: Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 DMDB: Relapse Grammy: Lil Wayne Tha Carter III 2008: AMA: Kanye West Graduation DMDB: Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Grammy: Kanye West Graduation 2007: AMA: T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. DMDB: Kanye West Graduation Grammy: Ludacris Release Therapy 2006: AMA: Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business Billboard: T.I. King DMDB: J. Dilla Donuts Grammy: Kanye West Late Registration 2005: AMA: 50 Cent The Massacre DMDB: Kanye West Late Registration Grammy: Kanye West The College Dropout 2004: AMA: OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below DMDB: Kanye West The College Dropout Grammy: OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 2003: AMA: 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin’ DMDB: OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Grammy: Eminem The Eminem Show 2002: AMA: Eminem The Eminem Show DMDB: Eminem The Eminem Show Grammy: Stankonia 2001: DMDB: Jay-Z The Blueprint Grammy: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2000: DMDB: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP Grammy: Eminem The Slim Shady LP 1999: DMDB: Eminem The Slim Shady LP Grammy: Jay-Z Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life 1998: DMDB: Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Grammy: Puff Daddy & the Family No Way Out 1997: DMDB: The Notorious B.I.G. Life after Death Grammy: Fugees The Score 1996: DMDB: Fugees The Score Grammy: Naughty by Nature Poverty’s Paradise Soul Train: Tupac (2pac) Shakur Me Against the World 1995: DMDB: Tupac (2pac) Shakur Me Against the World Soul Train: Snoop Dogg Doggystyle 1994: DMDB: Nas Illmatic Soul Train: Onyx Bacdafucup 1993: DMDB: Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang Clan (36 Chambers) Soul Train: Arrested Development 3 Years, 5 Months, & 2 Days in the Life of… 1992: AMA: DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince Homebase DMDB: Dr. Dre The Chronic Soul Train: Public Enemy Apocalypse ’91…The Empire Strikes Black 1991: AMA: MC Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em DMDB: A Tribe Called Quest The Low End Theory Soul Train: MC Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em 1990: AMA: MC Hammer Let’s Get It Started DMDB: MC Hammer Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em Soul Train: Heavy D & the Boyz Big Tyme 1989: AMA: DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper DMDB: N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton Soul Train: DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper 1988: DMDB: Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back 1987: DMDB: Eric B. & Rakim Paid in Full 1986: DMDB: Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill 1985: DMDB: LL Cool J Radio 1984: DMDB: Run-D.M.C. Run-D.M.C. Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “The Top 100 Rap Albums of All Time” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Year-End Album Awards” American Music Awards (official site) American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Album Billboard: Rap Album of the Year Grammys (official site) Grammy Award for Best Rap Album Soul Train Awards (official site @ BET.com) Soul Train Award for Best Rap Album First posted 4/18/2022; last updated 2/2/2025.