XXL's Album's By Color
Anyone who follows XXL Magazine on Instagram has seen the groupings of nine albums all with similar colored covers they have been posting the last week or so. They always caption it "You can only have one" but instead of picking my favorite I am going to be ranking all of the ones I've heard. Yes, there will likely be one of two albums in each group I haven't heard yet, it's been hard for me to find the time to listen to new music lately and for that I apologize. Each ranking will have a sentence or two explaining why it is below the previous album.
The Orange Albums
N/A:
Stoney - Post Malone
It may be awhile before I hear this. I'm not crazy about Posty and I wouldn't consider him a rapper either.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - Ms. Lauryn Hill
Yes, I know this is pretty much a sin, I have been meaning to listen to it for awhile I just haven't had the time
1. King's Disease II - Nas
This has been one of my favorite records of the year and one of Nas's best in a long time. It has a lot of memorable tracks and elite lyricism.
2. Flower Boy - Tyler the Creator
Definitely unpopular for me to have Flower Boy at two but I haven't started to really love Tyler since CMIYGL and haven't relistened to it in the time since then, although I very much need to.
3. No Pressure - Logic
An amazing album and one of Logic's best for sure. It could be boring at times and just can't compete with the other two juggernauts.
4. The Life of Pablo - Kanye West
Kanye stans are going to crucify me for this but this is on the bottom third of Ye's discography for me as it is consistently a mess with no real direction and loads of filler.
5. Fever - Megan Thee Stallion
Before Megan became a superstar she used to be so hungry and rap really well. This tape is pretty great and comes before she evidently goes mainstream.
6. Lil Boat 2 - Lil Yachty
Another subpar trap album, with a more dark atmosphere. Yachty's rapping is good here but nothing really stands out.
7.Blame It On Baby (Deluxe) - DaBaby
This is literally just a deluxe I don't know why it's here with the regular Blame It On Baby in the blue section, speaking of.
The Blue Albums
N/A:
Wolf - Tyler, the Creator
Like I previously mentioned I didn't fall in love with Tyler until this year and because of that I'm yet to hear Wolf.
10 Day - Chance The Rapper
I don't particularly care for Acid Rap or Coloring Book, or Chance at all to be honest, like he's cool but nothing I'd go out of my way to listen to. With that being said I have no reason to dive deeper into his catalog.
Hoodie SZN - A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
A Boogie is another artist I don't particularly care for, but I would like to listen to this album at some point considering the insane numbers it did.
1. The Blueprint - JAY-Z
This album is an all time classic, I reviewed it on here so if you would like to know my thoughts check it out.
2. ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ - Joey Bada$$
This is one of the greatest albums about systemic racism in America of all time. Joey has a lot to say and he does it in such an eloquent way.
3. "Awaken, My Love!" - Childish Gambino
Another amazing album, with some quality R&B and Neo-Soul from Gambino. The only thing that holds it back is replayability.
4. Nothing Was The Same - Drake
Drake's second best LP in my opinion. A great album it just can't compete with the lyrical and artistic prowess of the prior three.
5. Ye - Kanye West
An underrated Ye album that does a great job exploring his psyche and demonstrating his struggles in such a short run time.
6. Blame It On Baby - DaBaby
It's better than the deluxe, but is leagues away from the other five albums.
The Purple Albums
N/A:
Purple Haze - Cam'Ron
Another album I've been meaning to listen to but haven't had time to. I am a bigger fan of 90's and 2010's rap than the 2000's as well.
1. Man On The Moon 3 - Kid Cudi
This record shows that Cudi is extremely adaptable. He is able to bring trap into his unique world while being innovative in a space new to him.
2. DS2 - Future
One of the best trap albums of all time. This album is toxic and innovative creating a sound of its own.
3. KOD - J. Cole
A great Cole record with an amazing coherent topic, it's just not executed that great. This has some of Cole's best work but also some of his worst.
4. Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World - Lil Uzi Vert
Uzi's best album to date in my opinion. It's concise with a zany and vibrant sound and he is very innovative here. The tape just lacks substance.
5. Graduation - Kanye West
Another placement I'll get hate for but I think this is also in the bottom third of Ye's discography. This album has a couple amazing songs but everything else is bad or has aged poorly.
6. Acid Rap - Chance The Rapper
This album is forgettable. Chance brings a personality like no other to all his music and creates good music but manages to be very forgettable.
7. WUNNA - Gunna
Gunna is great on features but solo he gets boring and repetitive. The production is great but there is nothing really bringing me back to it.
8. Harvard Dropout - Lil Pump
One of the worst albums I've ever heard. Do I have to say anything else?
The Green Albums
N/A:
Drip Season 3 - Gunna
Like I previously mentioned, I'm not crazy about Gunna's solo music.
The End - The Black Eyed Peas
It's so random that they have this album here. It obviously has classic songs but I've never listened to the whole thing.
Championships - Meek Mill
I know the song with Drake obviously, but Meek as an artist bores me.
Last Train To Paris - Diddy
I've never listened to a Diddy album in my life, I don't know when I will.
I can't say I know or was able to find out the ninth album on here so it won't be included either.
1. So Much Fun - Young Thug
This album is amazing. The other three that I have heard are leagues below this.
2. Rolling Papers - Wiz Khalifa
A pretty good album, it didn't age too great though.
3. Bawskee 2 - Comethazine
This album is pretty bad, it's energetic and outlandish though.
4. Beware The Book Of Eli - Ski Mask The Slump God
I love Ski but this album is an absolute mess, like it's really bad unfortunately.
The Red Albums
N/A:
Dying To Live - Kodak Black
Not very crazy about Kodak, and did not want to listen to it when it dropped and I don't know if I ever will.
It's Dark And Hell Is Hot - DMX
I've been meaning to get into X for a long while but again I've not had much time recently. It's definitely on my to do list though.
The Eminem Show - Eminem
I've heard and like more than half the songs on here, just haven't listened to the full album.
Kingdom Come - JAY-Z
I love Jay, but I'm not that deep into his discography yet.
1. Get Rich Or Die Tryin' - 50 Cent
This whole album is a burst of dangerous energy. There is not one miss and the production is incredible.
2. Watching Movies With The Sound Off - Mac Miller
This album has some phenomenal songs and is consistently great, it just could feel a bit bloated at times.
3. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
No I don't hate Kanye, I actually love him, I just think he's overrated by a lot. This album is amazing and has a few of the best Hip-Hop songs of all time and is influential and unique. But there are several tracks that are just okay and have no replay value.
4. SAVAGE MODE II - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
This is one of my favorite trap albums. Metro's score on here is one of the best and sets the stage perfectly for a scary performance from 21. It just lacks any form of substance when compared to the prior albums.
5. Culture II - Migos
This album is pretty garbage and is leagues below the other four albums.
The Greyscale Albums
N/A:
None
1. To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar
This is pretty easily a top ten album of all time, there are very few, if any albums that could come above it.
2. Reasonable Doubt - JAY-Z
This is another classic album with some amazing songs that have aged like fine wine, it's no TPAB though.
3. Madvillainy - Madvillain
MF DOOM & Madlib add another classic to the list. Amazing pen game and pretty great production, the short track lengths holds this back from being a masterpiece.
4. LONG.LIVE.A$AP - A$AP Rocky
Rocky's debut album is nothing short of a versatile, fun, spaced out rollercoaster. Rocky captures so many emotions and sounds on what record, with a lack of cohesion and a bit of filler being what brings it down.
5. The Marshall Mathers LP - Eminem
Another amazing album with great lyrical content and storytelling. It just has just not aged well over the last couple years.
6. I Am > I Was - 21 Savage
A huge step in 21's maturity as an artist and another great album. There are some great songs but not everything is memorable.
7. Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial - Roddy Ricch
Another great trap album to release over the last couple of years. There are some flashes of greatness here but little to no depth at all.
8. Die Lit - Playboi Carti
From PEMFBA to here it's a pretty big drop off. The production is pretty good but Carti is repetitive and annoying with a couple of standout tracks, that are helped greatly by features
9. Top - YoungBoy Never Broke Again
This album is offensive to music as a whole.