As with yearly, 2023 noticed the music business modify to the wave of recent developments that so usually dominate the popular culture dialog.
The preliminary buzz caused by TikTok artists within the 2020s started to normalize, with main label-backed stars now mainstays on the video-sharing platform; stadium excursions and music festivals appeared to multiply like gremlins after a swim, popping up of their droves in each main markets and native communities; and Hip Hop music as an entire misplaced some floor to nation, afrobeats, reggaeton and different genres, but it nonetheless stayed primary because of collaborations with among the world’s greatest worldwide stars.
However that doesn’t imply there was a scarcity of top of the range Hip Hop albums launched this 12 months. Whether or not it was the return of Travis Scott after the Astroworld tragedy, Killer Mike dropping his first solo album in over a decade, Nas teaming up with Hit-Boy as soon as once more, Danny Brown exhibiting what a distinction sobriety makes to his musical output, or stellar initiatives from cult figures corresponding to Larry June, Veeze and NoName, it was fairly the 12 months for rap followers.
Nonetheless, solely 5 might be thought-about for HipHopDX’s Finest Hip Hop Album of 2023. Lauded for a wide range of causes, whether or not that’s top-notch manufacturing, pristine lyricism, detailed storytelling, unimpeachable charisma or seamless cadence and circulation, every LP caught the eye of followers and critics alike, standing head and shoulders above every thing else launched over the previous 12 months.
So, with out additional ado, you may take a look at the nominees for HipHopDX’s Finest Hip Hop Album of 2023 under. You too can assessment all of our different Hip Hop Award classes and nominees.
Editor’s Be aware: Alternatives had been restricted to between December 1st, 2022 to December 1st, 2023. Nominees and honorable mentions are listed in alphabetical order.
BEST HIP HOP ALBUM OF 2023 NOMINATIONS
Danny Brown – Quaranta
When his final solo album uknowhatimsayin¿ dropped in 2019, Danny Brown appeared extra strong and amiable than ever earlier than within the public eye, however was secretly wallowing in a pit of despair. In a much-welcomed reversal of those belying aesthetics, his newest physique of labor, Quaranta, gives an enlightened perspective from that very same place of wrestle he’s clawed his means out of.
The 11-track challenge is basically a “better of” taken from 30 to 40 songs recorded throughout the pandemic, Danny Brown lately advised Apple Music 1. Despite the fact that his triumphant stint in rehab has afforded him one other lifeline, Brown’s solely been sober for six months, whereas the idea in query was conceived when he was nonetheless making an attempt to chop a take care of his demons. But, it appears like he had already switched gears and was deeply considering a sustainable life-style lengthy earlier than he acted on it, nearly as if his music was forward of his day-to-day prognostics.
Far past the surplus of Outdated and someplace between the curse of XXX and Atrocity Exhibition resides Quaranta — drained and resigned however, above all, buoyant. The LP is characterised by a mindfulness that Brown often channels by means of humor on his podcast and sporadic makes an attempt at stand-up comedy, however his now-somber tone deters from the fun of probing dying whereas concurrently making an attempt to bypass it. Phrases: Karan Singh
Killer Mike – MICHAEL
The moniker Killer Mike conjures a prolonged checklist of descriptors: searing truth-teller, 2nd Modification advocate, activist, MC. His new LP, MICHAEL, executive-produced by No ID, is an eclectic, heartfelt swirl of majestic soul and songwriting that’s as piercing as it’s intimate. Mike explores tragedy and love with a mixture of bare sincerity and the sorts of element that often must be extracted from reminiscence.
As he’s defined in a number of interviews, this isn’t Killer Mike, it’s Michael Render, a human being that’s greater than the sum of whichever labels we attempt to prescribe him. At about 54 minutes, MICHAEL is a dense, however environment friendly physique of ideas and sounds, one embedded with instrumentation and gospel choirs you’d discover in Black church buildings throughout the South.
After all, soundbeds like these are pure for Atlanta rappers of a sure age, however on this case, the dosage is extra sizable — Mike’s deliberate transfer to include the music of his childhood whereas paying homage to the tradition that raised him leads to a definitive physique of labor. Phrases: Peter Barry
Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
Metro Boomin’s universe seems like a Marvel movie in that it’s explosive with the most important names coming collectively for one thing that feels huge in scope. That’s the attract of Metro’s initiatives — the radiant sense of group between the gods of music that binds the collaborations collectively.
Following 2018’s NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES, Metro calls his famous person pals again as soon as once more for Heroes & Villains. The star-studded challenge flaunts the most important names in rap and R&B: Future, 21 Savage, Younger Thug, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Younger Nudy, A$AP Rocky and extra. Coping with big names and excessive expectations can generally crater a challenge, however Metro’s booming manufacturing, and familiarity with these artists turns the album right into a odyssean epic. All through its 48-minute run time, it proves to be a cinematic expertise that enchants and mesmerizes. Phrases: Anthony Malone
Nas – King’s Illness III
Nas followers like to debate which producer works greatest with him. He’s collaborated with a few of Hip Hop’s best beatsmiths throughout his illustrious 25-year profession that spans 15 solo albums. However within the 2020s, perhaps Hit-Boy is his greatest match for maintaining him related in an ever-changing rap panorama. Whereas the Grammy-winning tremendous producer has synced up with artists earlier than, there’s one thing particular about Hit-Boy modernizing Nas’ sound, heightening his tales with refined, elegant beats.
Persevering with the place its Grammy-nominated predecessor left off, King’s Illness III exhibits Nas has extra to say about profession longevity, authorized hustling, the Queens borough that raised him, and the wealth he’s amassed as a rap mogul. The music concepts and themes are coherent, exhibiting Nas’ development in his fifth decade on Earth.
The album proves the Queensbridge rapper’s voice continues to be impactful regardless of some saying he might grasp his mic up if he wished. It’s additionally a lesson in purposeful storytelling and tips on how to age with grace. Phrases: Eric Diep
Travis Scott – UTOPIA
Following the monumental success of his 2018 album ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott’s UTOPIA was undoubtedly one of the vital anticipated initiatives of the final 5 years. He first teased the album in 2020 and since then loads has occurred in his world — together with the tragic occasions of his 2021 Astroworld competition. With anticipation repeatedly constructing and rumors of the album’s sonic panorama swirling across the web, it appeared nearly inconceivable for the Houston native’s new music to dwell as much as the hype. However Travis Scott has by no means been one to easily keep on with what appears attainable. Persevering with his streak of high-quality initiatives, it’s protected to say he delivered with UTOPIA.
The album incorporates a sonic vibrancy that blends a few of Travis’ greatest influences — particularly Kanye West — and his signature autotuned sound to create what can solely be described as futuristic magnificence. With mentorship from Mike Dean and Rick Rubin on the challenge, it’s no shock that the album options a few of La Flame’s most polished manufacturing but. From Playboi Carti’s high-pitched vocals on “FEIN” to Justin Vernon’s haunting harmonies on “MY EYES,” each function provides one thing distinctive to the album.
Whereas each challenge goes to have its fair proportion of critiques, Travis Scott followers throughout the board appeared to be in agreeance that even with expectations at an all-time excessive, their man didn’t disappoint. Phrases: Jeremy Hecht
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Black Thought & El Michels Affair – GLORIOUS GAME
Coming off the critically acclaimed Cheat Codes — a runner-up for HipHopDX’s Finest Hip Hop Album of 2022 award — Tariq Trotter, higher generally known as Black Thought, as soon as once more asserts his Zeus-level pen with Wonderful Recreation, a collaborative LP with El Michels Affair (headed by one in all his favourite producers, Leon Michels). Enjoying out as a stage-worthy one-person present, Thought stays endearingly private all through the tightly curated 31-minute challenge, strolling listeners by means of the sights, sounds, smells and sensibilities instilled arising within the Level Breeze neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Phrases: Riley Wallace
Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – Voir Dire
In 2019, The Alchemist hinted at a secret collaboration with Earl Sweatshirt uploaded below a distinct alias on YouTube. Followers scoured the web on the lookout for fragments of the legendary challenge to no avail. It was a scavenger hunt with none marquee-leading clues. Voir Dire, which surprise-dropped in August, is the long-awaited full-length providing from Earl and Alc. There’s moments of brilliance throughout the 11 tracks; Earl’s pen is elegant and complicated, Al’s manufacturing delicate and meticulous. A lot totally different in sound and scope to Earl’s earlier brooding works, paired with The Alchemist the previous Odd Future rapper expands his narrative constructing and vivid imagery, leading to an immersive one-way journey into the duo’s world. Phrases: Anthony Malone
Larry June & The Alchemist – The Nice Escape
Larry June’s music paints the image of a person whose lavish life-style and composed angle take precedence over meaningless feuds and stresses. His songs actively marketing campaign for his followers to get richer nevertheless they will. Whether or not that be by means of sensible investments or beginning a enterprise, Larry June merely needs you to develop.
Rapping about development and riches isn’t unique to The Nice Escape, the primary full-length collaboration between June and The Alchemist. The previous had all the time advocated for self-improvement by means of exhausting work and clever asset administration, however his producers of the previous relied on typical West Coast tropes. June’s beat choice by no means held him again, nevertheless it by no means fairly amplified his nonchalant voice the way in which Alc’s beats do on their collaborative album.
Typically gradual, however by no means uninteresting, the legendary producer’s instrumentals draw themselves out throughout the album’s 15 tracks, leaving June and his visitors with a wide-open stage to precise their ambitions, failures, and classes. Phrases: Louis Pavlakos
NoName – Sundial
NoName blends Chicago’s deep-rooted historical past of poetry and soul-embalmed rap with the polyrhythms of historically African instrumentation on her sensible album Sundial. The catalyst to the challenge’s themes comes by means of Saba, Ben Nartey and AJ Halls’ collaborative manufacturing, bouncing rimshots on each off-beat, maintaining tempo with NoName’s slick boom-bap.
The skit “poisonous” showcases a feminine-masculine mismatch within the understanding of affection. The speaker emphasizes that love is dedication, and NoName expresses that very same frustration with “poisonous” love from folks whose firm she wouldn’t even favor to her personal. The craving is paradoxical and so are NoName’s lovers, having infants with different ladies despite the fact that they’d by no means proven maturity because the starting.
On Sundial, NoName flaunts a lyrical and religious masterclass, whereas additionally embracing her vulnerability and silencing anybody who doubted her. Phrases: Nina Hernandez
Veeze – Ganger
Although it ought to be thought-about a musical combination of Detroit’s rap scene, the blending on Ganger is way forward of its time throughout the realm of Hip Hop. The place extra experimental, electronic-leaning acts change the blending of vocals and devices to distort their sound to turn out to be hardly recognizable, Veeze and his staff of producers, together with Ddot, Pooh Beats, and Bass Child, toy with the concept of a slight change.
The album’s mixes periodically enhance Veeze’s voice to be just some decibels too excessive or too low, leaving his mumbles both subdued by the instrumental or overpowered by it. The result’s a sound collage, the place every factor in every music feels repurposed below the path of Veeze. On songs like, “WHOda1” and “Weekend,” the augmented quantity of Veeze’s voice displays a heat amity, whether or not it’s whispering roasts into your ear or shedding his vulnerabilities a bit too near the mic. Phrases: Yousef Srour
Return to our Hip Hop Awards nomination web page for extra classes or take a look at the nominees for rookie of the 12 months, greatest producer & greatest comeback of 2023.
Take a look at our earlier Hip Hop Album of the 12 months award winners.
Paintings and Graphic Design by JR Martinez.
