The 10 BEST & 5 WORST Albums of 2023

As the year comes to a close, it's time to look at the best and worst albums that were released in the hip-hop world during 2023. From long-awaited albums from the likes of Travis Scott and Drake to underrated masterpieces, find out the albums that defined 2023 for better or for worse...

[@k2a2l2]

TOM MACDONALD NEVER FAILS TO BE THE WORST RAPPER EVER 🙏🔥🔥

[@pollengoth]

Tom Macdonald gets so much meat riding from YT shorts kids it's insane

[@FatNigga01]

ALWAYS ON TOP ⛰️ ‼️ ALWAYS NUMBER #️⃣1️⃣#️⃣‼️‼️

[@wolverine9049]

Utopia and CMIYGL estate sale gives me hope that mainstream hip hop can still deliver and honestly cut k pop and Utopia would be a perfect album

[@fantastichiphop]

K-Pop grew on me tbh. It’s not great but its a nice vibe

[@wolverine9049]

@@fantastichiphop yeah I see that also what did u think of sheck wes's Fein verse getting removed

[@user-ep2vu2wh3s]

fr, i thought i twas trash at first, but the bad bunny verse grew on me@@fantastichiphop

[@DaDa-ei1zz]

Nobody needs trash mainstream hip hop in 2023. You can hear hundreds of good underground hip hop albums thanks to the internet.

[@wolverine9049]

@@DaDa-ei1zz I still like cmiygl and utopia tho

[@JIsChosen]

Scaring The Hoes is definitely my aoty. The sampling on that is so unique and Peggy and Danny just have a chemistry that just clash so well.

[@brody_____________________1_]

its horrible for my ears. Its one of the worst.

[@JIsChosen]

@brodyremington With the name Brody I imagine you're not listening to anything interesting. Your opinion sucks fart from an unwashed ass bud.

[@tariq6319]

​@@brody_____________________1_hoe

[@kronikz_2210]

@@brody_____________________1_ maybe upgrade to the ears pro?

[@someones_here]

It’s just too avant garde for me to give it AOTY.

[@k2a2l2]

a great chaos was definitely one of my favs this year

[@SuperWeatherShield6623]

that shit was mid

[@jakehudson7118]

UTOPIA is no.1 for me, I wasn't even really into Travis as I only got into Hip Hop these year but I gave the album a go when it came out and just loved it, incredible dark, experimental and psychedelic production with tons of variety Edit: by the way I fucking love rodeo and astroworld has some amazing songs

[@okaydmuzikkk6771]

Utopia is littery kanye west tbh. It's a Great Album especially in the Whip! But it sounds to close to Yeezus and sumtimes 808s n heartbreak and MBDTF

[@turboshazed7370]

​@@okaydmuzikkk6771Travis better

[@typ3998]

Check out his older work then🔥

[@Tezzomoney]

@@okaydmuzikkk6771 Cuz Kanye gifted Travis like 6 tracks off the album.

[@user-shai7da21y]

@@okaydmuzikkk6771 nah you’re geeking stop watching yt shorts, this record is far from yeezus and 808s…VERY FAR, tf you mean it’s Kanye when Travis had a hand in producing some of he used that were Ye Demos

[@Lilmagician]

UTOPIA DIDNT JUST LIVE UP TO THE HYPE IT IS THE HYPE QUALITY ALBUM❤️

[@WeizeBaby]

There were a lot of dead albums this year in the mainstream. But in the underground scene it has been a thriving year.

[@ungratefulninja4535]

What you said! My list is: AktheSavior - Tracing Patterns Mick Jenkins - The Patience Kenny Mason - 6 Marco Plus - Joints Aura da prophet- Oneness vol.2 Chester Watson - Fish don't climb trees Wakai - Some people scream, some people talk Da$h - Skrewface 2 Bones - The witch & the wizard Caskey - Cadillac Music Bishop Nehru - Mysteries of Initation Lord Apex - The Good Fight What's your list?

[@sense6552]

After going to his show in Philly and being in the pits, I have a brand new appreciation for the album. I had the same experience during the Astroworld tour. Incredible body of work. People will look back on this album and this era in his career very well

[@travissswessst]

W i was there too

[@samuelmartinez3201]

Album is 🗑 🚮 🗑

[@_LUMBAGO_]

@@samuelmartinez3201we aren’t talking about drakes album bro

[@mikevilla8230]

My favorites of the year 1. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips by Armand Hammer 2. Utopia 3. Maps by Billy Woods & Kenny Segal 4. Scaring the Hoes by JPEGmafia & Danny Brown 5. Quaranta by Danny Brown 6. Glorious Game by Black Thought

[@TheBigMenace]

From this list I'll have to really go listen that BT album

[@idklucam4040]

@@TheBigMenaceyeah same I loved cheat codes

[@tyrone819]

lil tjay 222 better than utopia

[@mikevilla8230]

@@tyrone819 to you

[@MEMEVALLEY]

Lil Yachty being the poster child for everything wrong with hip hop has gotta be one of the worst takes ever, even before LSH, like sure no one was gonna claim he was the best, but damn the disrespect is real

[@stuntman10s]

My top 5 Lahai- Sampha Driving with no destination -GVLD Surf or drown - HiT BoY Never enough - Danial Cesar Utopia - Travis Scott

[@someones_here]

Sampha has to be the most underrated artist I’ve seen. I guess it’s because he’s always under the radar

[@Leffblicc]

We appreciate the work you put in

[@dremmz]

Hey man. I'm sure you've never heard of me before but I'm an experimental hip hop artist and I prioritize full album experiences over everything else. I feel like my album "3004: The New Prophecy" would resonate with you since you seem to dive into albums way more than the casual listener.

[@user-pd5yg3yh6z]

Cry about it is so good props to you your gonna make it some day

[@jacob._.penyow792]

Utopia was honestly a great album and most ppl expected astroworld 2 and hated Utopia but Travis is probably gonna get robbed for AOTY again

[@catsAM107]

...

[@someones_here]

🫠

[@maxlee449]

utopia was good, no where near album of the year tho

[@zandy7425]

I agree with Utopia being #1. I actually came across it not knowing of it's release and was pleasantly surprised.

[@danteroots-hf7tz]

Scary Hours 3 is underground backpack Drake from 2006-2007 era before he ever met Wayne was doing songs with Little Brother and Elzhi instead.

[@halfghaniteevee3559]

The Shoe Fits Is A Fucking Gem, Listen If You Wanna Here The Old Drake 💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

[@CocoaLuv22]

Maybe you should do two lists - underground and mainstream … I haven’t listened to Earl Sweatshirt & Alchemist or the other Alchemist album but def want to hear those … I wasn’t feeling the Danny Boy collab “scaring the hoes” & I didn’t even know he had his own album … on the mainstream side of things 2chainz and lil Wayne’s album is good … and surprisingly, Nicky Minaj’s album is good … Jeezy’s album is good as well … I liked how you explained Drake and Tyler’s album extensions

[@ungratefulninja4535]

This was the year for independent & underground artist! AktheSavior - Tracing Patterns Mick Jenkins - The Patience Kenny Mason - 6 Marco Plus - Joints Aura da prophet- Oneness vol.2 Chester Watson - Fish don't climb trees Wakai - Some people scream, some people talk Da$h - Skrewface 2 Bones - The witch & the wizard Caskey - Cadillac Music Bishop Nehru - Mysteries of Initation Lord Apex - The Good Fight

[@Foo805]

Collegrove 2 needs to be on this shit 🔥

[@blackbrainz]

Ovrkast's contributions to SH3 were remarkable and so glad to see an underground producer have that opportunity.

[@kyranhagens2603]

Low key amazing year for hip hop if you look hard enough. My top ten are: 1. Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown 2. Utopia by Travis Scott 3. Maps by billy woods and Kenny Segal 4. Burning Desire by MIKE 5. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips by Armand Hammer 6. The Great Escape by Larry June and the Alchemist 7. Quaranta by Danny Brown 8. Voir Dire by Earl Sweatshirt and the Alchemist 9. The Patience by Mick Jenkins 10. Glorious Game by Black Thought and El Michels Affair Didn’t include Scary Hours 3 and The Estate Sale as they’re deluxe albums and Let’s Start Here isn’t a hip hop albums

[@ungratefulninja4535]

Nice list! Mine is: AktheSavior - Tracing Patterns Mick Jenkins - The Patience Kenny Mason - 6 Marco Plus - Joints Aura da prophet- Oneness vol.2 Chester Watson - Fish don't climb trees Wakai - Some people scream, some people talk Da$h - Skrewface 2 Bones - The witch & the wizard Caskey - Cadillac Music Bishop Nehru - Mysteries of Initation Lord Apex - The Good Fight

[@kyranhagens2603]

@@ungratefulninja4535 Kenny Mason and Mick Jenkins are the only artists there that I'm familiar with. I'll have to give the others a listen!

[@ungratefulninja4535]

@@kyranhagens2603 Please do!

[@Chris_Shoaf]

Nas and Killer Mike saved 2023

[@giovannidouyon1309]

I agree with Utopia at No. 1. I hope it wins a Grammy.

[@mydogsnameislucy768]

Probably won’t get mentioned but Aesop Rock got album of the year. ITS is amazing.

[@gbear73727]

Bro is a professional glazer but still makes great content

[@dzlrpacks]

Sad to not see A Great Chaos on here considering how consistent it was but this was a solid list. I especially agree with what you said about NLE Choppa as I actually like his music but if he was attempting to make this album blow up, it did not work as I have never even heard of it.

[@adboogs964]

I wasn’t into a lot of rap albums this year, but utopia was great. My aoty thought would probs be quarantina by Danny brown. I loved that album and have been listening to it heaps lately

[@ungratefulninja4535]

This was the year for independent & underground artist like: AktheSavior - Tracing Patterns Mick Jenkins - The Patience Kenny Mason - 6 Marco Plus - Joints Aura da prophet- Oneness vol.2 Chester Watson - Fish don't climb trees Wakai - Some people scream, some people talk Da$h - Skrewface 2 Bones - The witch & the wizard Caskey - Cadillac Music Bishop Nehru - Mysteries of Initation Lord Apex - The Good Fight

[@victorfinne1493]

I'm so happy we got the JPEG and Danny album

[@user-dk6wr2ee7n]

Bro I just watched the top 5 worst and best now this comes out. Lucky me!

[@GriffithsBankai]

Cmiygl: TES being a deluxe album with only 8 songs and still cracking top 10 on most ppls list is generational man.

[@SM_MEX]

shouldnt be up there tho. Even tho its a good deluxe

[@GriffithsBankai]

@@SM_MEX why? Is it bcuz its a deluxe and not a regular LP?

[@SM_MEX]

Yes exactly, and that it litterally has demo songs there. Its not MEANT to be a complete album and it shouldnt be here@@GriffithsBankai

[@ericpowell1878]

Shoutout Lonestar Luchador by that Mexican OT. Other than killer Mike it's by favorite

[@danteroots-hf7tz]

Drake called it Scary Hours 3: Mental Warfare EP. Lady Gaga did the same thing with attaching EP to her album.

[@joebrrszn727]

Decided 2 is not the third worst album to come out this year

[@JayPro4620]

Good job Fantastic Hip Hop 🍊

[@rexfury6231]

A GREAT CHAOS by ken carson was my fav. im also a huge travis fan but agc did it to me this year

[@_createusernamelater_6041]

30:53 This is highly offensive to all the bears that have tried their best at playing the piano

[@puuko9874]

agc #1

[@lucavogel7550]

My Top 10 Albums of the year 10.Magic 2 by Nas 9.Lovesick by Don Toliver 8.Almost Healed by Lil Durk 7.Scaring the Hoes by Jpegmafia 6.222 by Lil Tjay 5.Welcome 2 Collegrove by Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz 4.Lets Start here by Lil Yachty 3.Magic 3 by Nas 2.A Gift and a Curse by Gunna 1.Set it off by Offset

[@anza2]

some of these are so goated❤

[@ks_drillz]

King Von's 'Grandson' has left the chat. Can you comment your opinion on that album please 🙏🏾

[@What-ux9vc]

I swear a Gift n a Curse is so fuckin underrated, aside from the hit song that got overplayed is full of outstanding tracks. production goes crazy and gunna be the only artist with enough balls to realese a full solo project ( he a snitch tho ). bread & butter, I was just thinking, rodeo dr, back to the moon, bottom, idk nomore

[@cwega2463]

you don’t listen to enough music if you think only Gunna is releasing solo projects. also Gift n a Curse is one of the laziest and sleepiest albums ever. it’s only liked by people who mindlessly listen to music that sounds “hard”.

[@What-ux9vc]

@@cwega2463 nigga assuming im dumb cuz i dont like music he likes 😂. also tell me how many rappers this year released solo projects n maybe youll realize that in fact it has become pretty rare in the industry. but I guess you listen to "real" introspective rap and that makes you hella better

[@turboshazed7370]

Best album for me is 100 Gecs- 10,000 Gecs. Worst is Fake Type- Fake Swing 2.

[@Tre4rmCLTproductions]

Gecs goes hard

[@y3drummaboyz]

I’m sorry to all the Utopia fans in here, and even as a Travis Scott fan back to Owl Pharaoh… BUT, Michael is the best album of 2023. I knew it the second I heard it all the way through. The immaculate production with southern gospel influence harmonized with REAL raps?? Im sorry… there isn’t a truer Hip Hop record out there in 2023 imo. Michael runs away with it for sure

[@OfficialBetoxeditz]

Nah

[@Li99i]

Shoutout to The Great Escape! A staple this year

[@lolno6975]

Tbh this year was really good, but this the first year since 2015 Drake where i can say a single artist definitively carried a whole year. For me that was Yachty. Genuinely this 2023 Yachty run needs to be looked at properly, he had the midas touch this year. And funnily enough, this extended to his production aswell. He physically couldnt miss. I had Yachty 1st by a mile and a half but ill take 5th from a guy who probably wiuld sacrifice the entire Opium lable just to hear Kendrick fart

[@Dashiellwyndham]

not enough love for the goat Nas in these comments

[@josedabigbrain3667]

Why did he sound like tech support when he said "Voire Dire" 💀💀💀

[@MetalSonic420]

UTOPIA is my AOTY.

[@Nick-er8wx]

Nas magic 2 and 3 should be top 5

[@Bbcrick445]

Decided 2 was great only the second day sales not first week sales made it seem like it was a flop and it was a handful of songs that were great only trolls and the media had bad things to say about the album

[@epicjake354]

Honestly Tom McDonald is just an easy target

[@minustempo6004]

ladies and gentlemen, we can say that he is the RAP FAN

[@DaDa-ei1zz]

With a non Rap Album on number one? 😅

[@minustempo6004]

@@DaDa-ei1zz bro,utopia is rap

[@DaDa-ei1zz]

@@minustempo6004 I didn‘t hear Travis Scott rapping, only yelling with the help of autotune. This is a shame for every mc. There are 100 better real rap albums than utopia.

[@minustempo6004]

@@DaDa-ei1zz then get your ear checked man

[@DaDa-ei1zz]

@@minustempo6004 Go listen to some real rap! I‘m into Rap since 25 years… Go to HipHopGoldenAge and check out some Rap Music

[@letaiser1733]

No Heroes & Villains?

[@wedonttrustyou678]

That’s 2022

[@superfloss16s29]

No Billy woods or Armand Hammer is CRAZY

[@Tbatbatba88]

Wait... Macklemore dropped 🤔

[@Jahby]

No ganger is crazy

[@simonherman3582]

Where is Lahai bro?

[@qwertnnr]

drake would be better if his albums were shorter and actually had meaning

[@LeoMes01]

Swap Travis and mike it works

[@hugogallegos4444]

Best video of all time

[@fantastichiphop]

Thanks 🐐🐐

[@RB-ig4go]

Was waiting for sexyy red to be in the worst list

[@TwistSakee]

Hood’s hottest princess is so bad that I really don’t like the artist

[@CrdiMod22]

21:18 never would’ve thought I’d hear the “2 goats Kanye and Nav”

[@armedjaquar]

Meanwhile Metro boomin and Kanye west waiting to release at the end of this year.

[@Darkboi389]

Say man 🤣 “as much musical talent as a Big Mac”!

[@austinwood2470]

Ngl I was really hoping to see pink tape and funeral here

[@DaveJohnkins]

Great list except for the fact your missing 2 top 10s for sure in set it off and welcome 2 collegrove

[@dunkeldoomer3204]

no AGC L list

[@kayjaytt5963]

glaze

[@floppies]

The Lil Yacht album had no rap on it but was still an amazing musical experience, I listened to it on high on LSD it's even better. Tom Mcdonald is irrelevant and shouldn't be in the conversation, another white guy who never explored hip-hop music beyond Eminem, because you can't stand black people.

[@pxnklean8637]

This was the kinda list you expect to see from a Reddit thread or what Tyler the creator was talking about when he said people never have their own favorite albums it’s just what the collective thinks. Some of those “worst” were decent and same for the “best”

[@MistaClip]

I feel people are glazing Utopia and TEC, they're pretty good respectfully but Idk if they're genius or aoty

[@SM_MEX]

yeah like magic 3 didnt deserve to be up there and although its a good deluxe the estate sale shouldnt have been up there. Also, scary hours 3 was def not top 10 even though it was great, it was just another deluxe(kinda)

[@drewwisemanmusic424]

A lot of these lists didn’t surprise me at all. Personally, big blockbuster albums are hit or miss for me. They can either be really good or really boring. I also liked one of the worst albums.

[@Tezzomoney]

@@SM_MEXI agree with that scary hour 3. It’s just a deluxe, dude just want to put Drake in there 🤦‍♂️

[@GrandEWN]

Crazy how people say others don’t have real opinions then say their opinion doesnt count lmfao

[@lorddpablo9651]

That not nas a lil Wayne first collab

[@reedbeavers6223]

Hate the drake talk and that he’s at ten, but thankful I don’t have to watch the rest lol.

[@daylinfromda414]

youngboys decided 2 doesn’t deserve to be that low especially worse than nle choppas sped up álbum the album is really good and in my opinion every song has its own feel or vibe especially guitar hero, i’m a demon, and my body

[@georgejean8376]

Killer Mike’s album 🔥🔥🔥

[@daveeaster1061]

Whoever this guy is is definitely more of lyrical type of fan. His worst album picks where solid but cmon where’s Don Toliver and quavo they snapped

[@SnowsHusband]

Utopia>>

[@joebrrszn727]

Your telling me coi Leray album is better than decided 2? Ur trippin buddy

[@orendjohnsonjr]

Michael was my number 1

[@ihatelaylo_music]

i was hoping for utopia to b astroworld two

[@IsmailAhmed879]

why would he spend 5 years making another astro world

[@esavbby4553]

yachty better than all

[@micsmith672]

K-Rino... those who know know

[@ungratefulninja4535]

K-Rino's Digital Hypnosis was on repeat for me!

[@richieave55]

i'm so tired of yt people trying to tell us that Lil Yachty album is a good hip hop album ... first of all ... that album is NOT hip hop so please fkn stop it!! the only people praising that album is yt people ... FOH

[@trashgameryt6525]

Hip Hop AOTY Contender for sure so stop coping lol

[@arhaxgd]

it is hip hop sorry bro

[@richieave55]

@@arhaxgd but it's not "bro" 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@jy1178]

Nobody listens to yatchy or danny brown but yt people.

[@waltersalgado8824]

Westside Gunn?

[@SkullfaceTyler]

Damn ice spice and sexy red didn't make the worst list. There just that bad

[@user-iz6oi3hz4d]

Pink Tape not mentioned???

[@arhaxgd]

it's mid

[@miniman9198]

People are being a lil too harsh on Tom and Adam I think I see this at the bottom of a lot of lists this year… and it is definitely their weakest record either has put out… but maybe 3rd worst this year. It’s not worse than Lil Pump 2 I’m sorry 😂😂

[@miniman9198]

Also I don’t get the Dax hate… never have

[@ashpain666]

The Drake hate is crazy

[@alijahcooks1762]

No Agc is outrageous

[@Prodrockyforever]

Legit tom mcdonald has to be one of the worst rappers Ive ever heard his choruses sound ai generated

[@HempBraum]

no timestamps no watch. 35 minutes come on man smh

[@user-shai7da21y]

but that yatchy album is not a hiphop album though

[@revolutionkze]

he probably just added him because yachty makes mostly hip-hop music

[@SM_MEX]

technically the tite doesnt say top RAP albums so

[@user-shai7da21y]

@@SM_MEX then why aren’t there any other artists beside hiphop artists on the list? There were way better albums from different genres that were released Plus THIS IS A HIPHOP CHANNEL🤦🏾‍♂️

[@SM_MEX]

Yeah I know just sayin tho.@@user-shai7da21y

[@SM_MEX]

I know just sayin, just sayin. Also I love your videos@@AmiriHipHop

[@louieelder9477]

I have a legitimate question: how does Utopia “sound like something we’ve never heard before” but we’ve all heard Yeezus?

[@extraterrestrial8888]

Because it doesn't sound like Yeezus. Hyaena has that kinda vibe, I guess, but Modern Jam is the only track that's very reminiscent of Yeezus.

[@cwega2463]

@@extraterrestrial8888it’s more than modern jam. i think three or four of the songs on Utopia are Yeezus demos. and then two other songs are literally some of Kanye’s most popular leaks ever. so again, it’s not really anything we haven’t heard before. also modern jam isn’t just reminiscent of Yeezus, it’s literally the OG I Am a God beat.

[@randomyoutuber2633]

​@@extraterrestrial8888 Circus Maximum literally has the same drums, topic, and feel as Black Skinhead. Nothing else is similar to Yeezus though.

[@tondaedits]

Tell me you've never heard whole Yeezus without telling me that you've never heard it

[@GrandEWN]

Lmao people who say it sound like Yeezus are actually brain dead.

[@petscopstan]

WAIT TOM MACDONALD WAS THE WORST?!? Thats so shocking, ive been waiting forever for this guy to talk about how bad macdonald is

[@aydenmendez3186]

YOOOO pink tape dropped this year

[@reactsleythompson]

Utopia is defo not no,1 worthly have you heard the production on LETS START HERE? that is a masterpiece... SMH

[@Funkgafr]

Love sick ?

[@kev1619]

that shit in the trash

[@torianjewell1073]

I would ask y’all to listen to my music but since I don’t have a major machine behind me or much money…yea😅

[@kulturechanger70]

TEC should be on the best list 100%

[@rottrs]

sleepin on tecca when he made a top 3 2023 album

[@stan.truetopsoul]

Can't believe And Then You Prey For Me isn't on the list :(