Who Had The Album of the Year?

2021 was a huge year for hip hop. Kanye West, Drake, J. Cole, Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Nas and a host of familiar favorites dropped albums this year, along with some fresh faces. Naturally, the question is who came out on top? Critics at Billboard gave the nod to Tyler, The Creator. Playboi Carti was given the crown by critics at Rolling Stone and Time ranked Vince Staples’ album above all others in 2021. The best sound, flow and production is a matter of eternal debate but what we can all agree on is that we love this music. 

Moneybagg Yo made a big statement in 2021 with his album ‘A Gangsta’s Pain.’ DMX lived on with ‘Exodus,’ an album released posthumously. ‘Richer Than I Ever Been’ reminded everyone that Rick Ross is a legend and here to stay. Nas’ ‘King’s Disease II’ raised questions as to how a man, decades into his career, can still be so relevant. Ye gave notice that he’s still a creative force with ‘Donda’ and with 'The Voice of the Heroes' Lil Baby & Lil Durk gave the industry much to think about. If you love hip hop, 2021 gave you a lot to celebrate. 

In 2022 the stakes are elevated. The culture expects more genius in the musical arena but also greater creativity in how that translates to the community. This is the time to cooperate, collaborate and take greater ownership of our art, businesses and neighborhoods. We can debate who had the best album of 2021 but in 2022, the conversation will be on who created the most jobs and invested in the most businesses in the community.