Alright, y’all. Here it is. Before I get into this list, I just wanna remind y’all that this is totally subjective, and these are by no means the only good albums that are worth listening to from this past year. This isn’t a list of every album I love from 2024. I narrowed it down to these selections because I don’t wanna be here all day, and realistically people aren’t gonna read through 50 blurbs of albums with which they’re unfamiliar. It’s also not ranked in any particular order, aside from the bottom two being my album of the year and runner-up. This isn’t gonna be anywhere near as comprehensive as previous years’ lists because I had a heavy 2024, and I couldn’t really focus on music the way I usually like to. There’s a lot of dope stuff I didn’t get a chance to hear, so be sure to let me know what your favorites are in the comment section. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my list of my favorite extended plays from 2024, which should have been posted yesterday if everything went according to plan. Alright, here we go…
Samurai by Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco is my favorite rapper of all time, so it would’ve been weird for this to not land somewhere on the list. I don’t see how any true Lupe fanatic could be underwhelmed by this project. This is not only one of the best projects of the year, but arguably one of the best things he’s released period. I also feel like it’s maybe the most accessible full-length project Lupe has put out in years. It’s certainly not as dense as Tetsuo & Youth or DROGAS WAVE, but that’s not to say that he’s punching under his weight. I just feel like this one’s relatively straightforward and digestible, while still rewarding repeat listens. There is one song on here that I don’t personally like that much, but overall it’s an amazing release. If you somehow haven’t heard it yet, you’re messing up. Check it out.
James & Nikki: A Conversation by Rhymefest
There’s been this narrative about how 2024 was run by older, more legendary rappers such as LL Cool J & Common. I don’t necessarily know why Rhymefest isn’t being more included in that conversation because I think he had the best album out of all of them. Not only was Rhymefest’s writing on this album brilliant, but he was able to introduce me to a plethora of artists with whom I was previously unfamiliar. My favorite discovery from this project is Helixx C. Armageddon, who is a member of the ANOMOLiES. You may have heard of them because of Invincible’s involvement in the group. I went back and checked out Helixx’s album from a couple years ago, and I loved it. Anyway, the entire concept about this project being built around the iconic SOUL! conversation by James Baldwin & Nikki Giovanni was super well executed. I think it’s one of the most cohesive concept albums of the year, hence why it made it onto this list. The project’s amazing, and easily one of the most overlooked of 2024 in my opinion. Quit sleepin’ on it.
Memory(ummm…) by Sleep Sinatra & bloomcycle
This is one of two Sleep Sinatra albums that you’ll find on this list. After hearing this project, I decided that Sleep is my favorite rapper right now. He is not only an MC that has me hooked on every word, but he just has the type of voice that sounds good over all the best beats. I personally loved hearing him over these wonky, bizarre instrumentals from bloomcycle, better known as Big Flowers. The trippy instrumentals aren’t particularly accessible, so people who are more into traditional sounds that aren’t as challenging may struggle with it. Sleep ostensibly rocked these beats effortlessly though. There are a couple tracks that have more conventional-sounding beats too, such as Lucy. It’s funny because it comes right after what may be the most wild and challenging beat I’ve heard all year with Cut Weight. I love both. One last track I wanna highlight real quick is Origins. That might actually be the best collaboration I’ve heard in 2024. The instrumental is beautiful, and every verse over it is excellent. Especially PremRock’s verse. His writing on that song is absolutely incredible. I love it. The album’s amazing.
Dark Times by Vince Staples
Some of you may be surprised to see this album on this list. I didn’t love Ramona Park Broke My Heart nearly as much as most fans of Vince Staples, although I did think it was very solid. I haven’t really loved a Vince project since 2015 when he dropped his debut album. My favorite release from him has always been Stolen Youth, but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if this one here grew to become my number one favorite project by him in the future. I think it’s easily one of the best mainstream Hip Hop albums of 2024, and it probably deserves a grammy in all honesty. It’s definitely one of the best produced albums I’ve heard in 2024, and I feel like the laidback, kind of lackadaisical vocal delivery Vince has been utilizing for the past three albums sounds better than ever. I didn’t write a review for this one because I got to it pretty late, but I was actually surprised by how much I ended up enjoying it. I wasn’t really into the single when I first heard it, but I loved it within the context of the full album. I think this one’s fire. Check it out if you haven’t given it a chance yet.
EMBLEMS by Lt. Headtrip & Bloodmoney Perez
I hopped onto the Lt. Headtrip train in 2020 after I heard an album called Dreamery, and I’ve been fascinated by the way he raps ever since. I don’t use this word often, but I would describe Headtrip as a “wordsmith.” As he references in the opening track, he doesn’t make the kinda music that you can just listen to once and then move on from. The more you play this, the more lines you’ll catch. There was one occasion where my friends and I were stoned talking about our favorite lyrics, so I whipped out Headtrip’s “The folds in my brain matter display patterns that take after arcane sacraments when traced backwards,” which had the homies goin’ crazy. That’s definitely one of the most memorable lines of the year for me. The production from him and Bloodmoney here sound like they used an alien spaceship as their primary instrument, and I mean that in the coolest way possible. This is the best album I’ve heard from Headtrip so far, and I can’t wait to hear what comes next from both of these dudes. This one’s fire.
RESIN by The Fortunate Ones
Nobody who follows this blog closely should be surprised to see this album on the list. I did a full hour-long interview with Anwar HighSign about this record, and I personally think it’s the best interview I’ve done yet. This album hit at a really important time for me this year. It felt like it reflected my mindset while I was advancing through my partial hospitalization program in November & early December. I was actually an inpatient in a psych ward when it officially dropped, so I was just dealing with a lot of stress at the time. This album pretty much helped me see that I’m not the only one suffering, ya know? It helped me feel like I wasn’t alone, and that’s about as much as I can wish for from any piece of art honestly. There’s a line where Anwar says “I exist in a state of stress,” and that line really stuck with me. I was thinking a lot about Siddhartha Gautama while digesting this record, so I think the parallel between that line and the whole concept of “life is suffering” in Buddhism really resonated with me. The album also just sounds really awesome. Dr. Quandary’s production sounds really refined without being too clean or polished. It sounds gritty, yet clear. I think Elder Orange’s stellar mixing definitely helped elevate it in that regard too. The whole project is fire. Don’t sleep on this one. It’s amazing.
shadowbox by Mavi
This album is really incredible. I sadly didn’t get time to write a full review for it, but Patreon supporters got my thoughts in episode 016 of my old Listening Log series. Basically, this is one of the most beautiful albums of the year. It’s just gorgeous. The writing, production, sequencing, etc… It’s all just so well done. I need to get this one on wax or cassette as soon as I can. I attended the Charlotte performance for the shadowbox Tour this past November, and it had a really fun, celebratory, and cathartic vibe. My brother got me VIP tickets for my birthday, so being able to sit down during the show was pretty clutch. Part of me wanted to go to the afterparty, but I was waaay too tired for that. I’d also be lying if I said my social anxiety didn’t discourage me, but I have no regrets from that night. I had a wonderful time. The most memorable part for me personally was when Mavi asked the crowd to make some noise if we’ve ever had our heart broken. Then he was like, “On the count of three, we’re all gonna yell the name of the person who broke our hearts.” That was heavy for me. I really feel like I should’ve just yelled my own name. I’ll do that next time someone asks me to scream the name of the person who hurt me. Anyway, if you haven’t heard this album yet, change that. Especially if you’re from NC. Mavi is one of the best artists we have. Protect that dude at all costs. He hasn’t missed, and I think this is his best project so far. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Psychological Cheat Sheet 5 by Vic Spencer & August Fanon
Much like the last album I just discussed, I didn’t get time to write a review for this one. However, Patreon supporters did get my thoughts on it in episode 019 of my exclusive Listening Log series. This PCS series that Vic has with August Fanon is really special, and it’s filled with nothing but greatness. However, this latest entry in the series is definitely my favorite one yet. I feel like these are some of the best beats I’ve heard from August in a while, and the storytelling from Vic throughout the record is super well done. The lyrical content regarding Vic’s stay in a group home was really poignant, especially for me since I had just gotten out of a behavioral health facility for the fourth time in my life right before I heard it. I just feel like this is the most well-sequenced and cohesive project I’ve ever heard from Vic. This one has me sittin’ here wondering how he’ll be able to surpass it with future entries in the series because this is an amazing project.
Lived and Born by Sunmundi & klwn cat
The review I wrote for this album was exclusive to issue #4 of DEF Magazine, so be sure to check that out if you can. Anyway, this one probably would’ve been number one in any other year, but 2024 was especially fruitful when it comes to goaty music. Sunmundi is probably my favorite rapper I’ve discovered in the past few years, and a lot of it is because of this album in particular. This dude’s writing is awesome, and his flow and vocal delivery just sound… awesome. klwn cat’s production on this record is beautiful too. These are easily the best beats I’ve heard from them, and Sunmundi fits over them perfectly. The closing track to this album is a top 3 song of the year. And it ain’t #3! Realistically, I think its only competition for me is meet the grahams. I’d have to give it more thought, but those are the two songs that come to mind immediately. On Instagram, I named Rhymefest’s album as my pick for the best album of February 2024, but the truth is I never honestly made up my mind between that one and this. I think I would lean more towards this one these days though. It’s incredible. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Idle Hands by Imp
Much like the previous album, my review for this one was exclusive to DEF Magazine, so it might not be clear to all of my followers just how much I loved it. As far as albums that hit me on an emotional level, I’m not sure if anything cuts deeper than this one in 2024. This album was created in the aftermath of the sudden passing of Imp’s close collaborator and best friend, Fendi Pendergrass. The project came from a very dark place and tragic circumstances, so one may say it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s incredible though. The production is absolutely stunning, and Imp really put their entire soul into this record. I’ve always enjoyed their music, but this project in particular really resonated with me on a deep level. It’s a heartbreaking listen. It’s real as hell though. Imp doesn’t beat around the bush at all. Personally, I love any project that makes me feel half as much as this one did, so I was incredibly moved by this piece of work. The production is incredible by the way. I love it. The whole record is boiling hot fire. Check it out.
The Hottest Year on Record by Sasco
This is a must-listen release for fans of experimental, avant-garde Hip Hop in 2024. In general, I feel like producer albums such as these leave a lot to be desired both from a production standpoint as well as the quality of the features, but neither of those issues are present here. The instrumentals on this record are super creative, dynamic, and at times abrasive, and this project contains some of the best features of the year from artists such as Hester Valentine, SKECH185, and RAMA. There’s a very tense atmosphere to a lot of the music here, which reflects the theme and title really well. This felt like a really important project for the specific corner of the underground scene I’ve tapped into lately. It’s fire. Check it out.
Sidewalk Chalk, Parade Day Rain by Pastense
As far as “abstract” or “avant-garde” Hip Hop goes, this is my favorite record of 2024. Pastense’s gravely voice is just outstanding for rapping, and the trippy, almost mechanical-sounding beats are the perfect backdrop for him. My favorite track, Beautiful, is one of the most important songs of the year personally. Ever since I first started listening to Pastense in 2023, I’ve been fascinated by his production choices, writing, and vocals. This project here is basically the exact album I was hoping to receive. Uncommon Nasa’s unorthodox production is awesome, and all of the features from guys like junclassic & Guilty Simpson were really great too. The whole project is boiling hot fire. Check it out.
Different Type Time by Cavalier
I was pretty late to the party with this album. I was aware of its existence before it even dropped, but I just didn’t get around to playing it until a few months ago. It’s one of those situations where I knew I was going to love the album before I even heard it, so much so that I bought the cassette prior to listening. This album got a lot of attention this year, and for very good reason. Make no mistake, Cavalier is absolutely one of the best rappers alive. Despite the relatively sizable length of this record, it never really slips up at any point. Cav is on fire throughout the entire runtime of the project. I think the staying power of the record throughout the year definitely has something to do with the amount of material he gave us to chew on. It’s not an album you can fully appreciate after listening once. It’s an album that makes you wanna just listen over and over and over again. The production is fire, and Cav murdered it. It’s critically acclaimed for a reason. Check it out if you haven’t yet.
The Spirit of Baldwin Ave (Deluxe) by Sleep Sinatra
2024 was stacked with amazing releases, and this is definitely one of my most played, if not my number one most played. This one really blew me away. It’s basically my favorite type of album. I love when rappers dig deep and put their entire soul in the music, and I feel like this particular release really encapsulates the essence of Sleep Sinatra, not only lyrically, but sonically as well since it is fully self-produced. The standard edition of the album was already fantastic, but then we ended up getting a deluxe version with two brand new songs that fit in with the rest of the project perfectly. One of them is a collaboration with Blu, who’s another one of my favorite rappers of all time. I love SINAI.’s production here, and y’all already know how much of a fan I am of Sleep as an MC. This is boiling hot fire. Check it out if you haven’t yet. It’s incredible.
And now, my 2024 album of the year…
The Pride & Glory by Teller Bank$ & Ed Glorious
Part of me didn’t want my album of the year to come from someone who already had it earlier this decade, but I would be lying to myself if I didn’t give it to these guys. Teller Bank$ & Ed Glorious had my album of the year in 2022 with The I & I, and I really wasn’t sure if they’d be able to surpass it at any point. However, this album right here is basically perfect to me. The production from Ed Glorious is… GLORIOUS! These are some of the best beats I’ve ever heard in my life, and Ed Glorious has become one of my favorite producers ever. I have similar sentiments about Teller. His writing and flow are absolutely phenomenal here. Just listen to the rhyme scheme on Pots & Kettles. It’s crazy. He went bonkers all over this project. It’s so good that I don’t even know if my favorite track is my favorite track anymore. It changes almost every time I listen to the project. The two features on this one are spectacular as well. The Pride & Glory is a perfect title for this release too. Teller sounds mad triumphant throughout this whole record, like he just made it back from Hell and is relishing in his own survival. There’s this sublime atmosphere that permeates tracks like Shoulda Been Signed Twice & Not a Backpacker. I feel like this album just transports me to a different plane as a listener. This is not only my favorite project of the year, but arguably my favorite album of the 2020s so far. It’s amazing. Do not sleep on it.
Hell yeah. There it is. Success. We made it through 2024, and we’re still here. Thank you to all the artists who gave me fire music to write about, and thank you to all my subscribers and readers. To those of you who would like to show additional support, the best way to do so is by signing up for my Patreon page. It’s cheaper if you do it through a non-IOS device, so just keep that in mind. Anyway, I am planning on hopefully staying on top of music releases more this year, so hopefully I don’t fall as far behind as I did in 2024. We’ll see what happens. Peace!
Focus Hip Hop 
What do you think?