A Hip Hop Snob's Definitive Guide to the Best Albums of 2017

The amount of quality music that was released in 2017 was simply overwhelming. Below is a list of albums that I bought in 2017 in which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you at least familiarize yourself with (better yet, BUY).  Though I did my best to document all the great music that I bought in 2017, I'm sure there are a few that I missed.  Feel free to add to the list in the comments section.


Beatmakers Reign Supreme
Holy Ghost Spirituals - Tuamie
Pharaoh - Jansport J
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Oh No
Headnod Suite - Karriem Riggins
Return to the 37th Chamber - El Michels Affair
A Monkey's Death - Koreatown Oddity
French Blend - Alchemist
The Good Book 2 - Alchemist & Budgie Beats
Balloons - Wowflower
My Kinda Blues - Ras G
Lewse Joints VI - Ohbliv
Lewse Joints V - Ohbliv
Foreverness - Ohbliv
Baker's Dozen: Budamonk - Budamonk
Blends, Vol. 4 - Swarvy
Attention K-Mart Choppers - Juicy the Emissary
Byrds - Foisy

Just When I Had Given on Rap, 2017 Happened
Hitler Wears Hermes V - Westside Gunn
Reject on Steroids - Conway the Machine
Butcher on Steroids - Benny the Butcher
El Camino - El Camino
Rosebud's Revenge - Roc Marciano
Rap Album Two - Jonwayne
Due Rent - Swarvy & Lojii
HBO - Mach Hommy
Dollar Menu - Mach Hommy
Dollar Menu 2 - Mach Hommy
Dollar Menu 3 - Mach Hommy
The Spook - Mach Hommy & Knxwldge
Dump Gawd: Hommy Edition - Mach Hommy
Dump Meister - Mach Hommy
Fete Des Morts AKA Dia de los Muertos - Mach Hommy
Cocaine - Hus Kingpin & Big Ghost
4:44 - Jay Z
The Dark Shogunn Saga Vol. 2 - The God Fahim
Black Boy Meets World - Danny Watts
Soul Golden - Black Noi$e & Navy Blue
Panama Plus - Fly Anakin, Koncept Jackson, Tuamie
Yes Lawd! Remixes - Nxworries
Rome - Armand Hammer
Past Lives - Jalal Salaam & Ewonee
Dump Gawd: Devino Edition 2 - Al Divino

The Year Rap Finally Grew Up Award?
Rap Album Two - Jonwayne
Due Rent - Swarvy & Lojii
4:44 - Jay Z
Black Boy Meets World - Danny Watts
Soul Golden - Black Noi$e & Navy Blue
Rome - Armand Hammer
Past Lives - Jalal Salaam & Ewonee

A Great Album Requires More Than Dope Beats/Rhymes Award (Sequencing Award)
El Camino - El Camino
Cocaine - Hus Kingpin & Big Ghost
Panama Plus - Fly Anakin, Koncept Jackson, Tuamie
Holy Ghost Spirituals - Tuamie
Pharaoh - Jansport J
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Oh No
Headnod Suite - Karriem Riggins

Good Luck Downloading This Award
HBO - Mach Hommy
Dollar Menu 3 - Mach Hommy
Ultimate Breaks & Beats - Oh No
A Monkey's Death - Koreatown Oddity

Saturday Morning Award (Music Lil Mixes Couldn't Get Enough of)
Headnod Suite - Karriem Riggins
The Good Book 2 - Alchemist & Budgie Beats
Balloons - Wowflower
My Kinda Blues - Ras G
Baker's Dozen: Budamonk - Budamonk
4:44 - Jay Z

Pleasantly Surprised Award (Never heard of these artists before, but so glad I found them)
El Camino - El Camino
Balloons - Wowflower
Byrds - Foisy
Rome - Armand Hammer
Soul Golden - Black Noi$e & Navy Blue
Panama Plus - Fly Anakin, Koncept Jackson, Tuamie

 You Had Me at Hello Award (The Blind Cop Award)
Griselda Records
Street Corner Music
Mach Hommy
Ras G

Narco Rap Award
Hitler Wears Hermes V - Westside Gunn
Reject on Steroids - Conway the Machine
Butcher on Steroids - Benny the Butcher
El Camino - El Camino
Rosebud's Revenge - Roc Marciano
Cocaine - Hus Kingpin & Big Ghost

I Let My Tape Rock Till My Tape Popped Award
The Good Book 2 - Alchemist & Budgie Beats
Dollar Menu 3 - Mach Hommy
Panama Plus - Fly Anakin, Koncept Jackson, Tuamie