With the decade’s halfway mark upon us, I figured now’s the perfect time to share my personal favorite albums of the 2020s so far. My only rule was to include just one album per artist (Carti snuck in twice because I forgot to take Music off my original list, lol). Hopefully, you’ll find at least one album here that clicks with you.

1. Whole Lotta Red by Playboi Carti

Genres : Rage, Trap, Cloud Rap

What’s left to say that hasn’t already been said? The most influential rap album in recent years.

2. Cold Visions by Bladee

Genres: Rage, Trap, Cloud Rap

The absolute best Bladee has to offer. A love letter to the fans. A fun listen from front to finish.

3. Erotic Probiotic 2 by Nourished by Time

Genres: Alternative R&B, Bedroom Pop, Hypnagogic Pop

If I still smoked weed, this would be the first album on my list to listen to.

4. Up 2 Më by Yeat

Genres: Rage, Trap, Plugg

Dark and dirty, just how we like it. The album that propelled Yeat out of the underground.

5. Saaheem by SahBabii

Genres: Trap, Southern Hip Hop

SahBabii returns to form with a refreshing album full of personality.

6. Black British Music (2025) by Jim Legxacy

Genres: Alt-pop, Alternative R&B, Afrobeats, UK Hip Hop

Probably the most recent album on my list, the fact that it's already this high tells you everything you need to know.

7. Zach Bryan by Zach Bryan

Genres: Americana, Country, Singer-Songwriter

Whether you're a country fan or not, this is the perfect album to close out the summer.

8. April Mixtape 2 by Snow Strippers

Genres: Electroclash, Witch House, Hardstyle

This witch house revival band perfectly fulfills its vision with a mixtape packed full of energy.

9. Brat by charli xcx

Genres: Electropop, Electronic Dance Music, Bubblegum bass

The Queen of Hyperpop delivers an album that knows exactly how to please a crowd.

10. We're Not Here to Be Loved by Fleshwater

Genres: Alt-metal, Shoegaze, Post-Hardcore

One of my personal favorite discoveries of this decade. I can’t wait for the band’s next project.

11. After Hours by The Weeknd

12. Songs of a Lost World by The Cure

13. The Peak by smokedope2016

14. Foreign Exchange by Rx Papi & Gud

15. Chain Gang Halo World by Sickboyrari aka Black Kray

16. After the Magic by 파란노을 Parannoul

17. A Great Chaos by Ken Carson

18. MUSIC by Playboi Carti

19. Unmusique by Lucy Bedroque

20. Heaven to a Tortured Mind by Yves Tumor

21. Banshee by abriction

22. KiCk i by Arca

23. Frailty by Jane Remover

24. FOR NOTHING by Nine Vicious

25. Permanently Scarred by ATL Smook

26. LL by The Hellp

27. No Hands by Joey Valence & Brae

28. Heaven Knows by PinkPantheress

29. NO STYLIST by Destroy Lonely

30. Sayso Says by che

31. Shore by Fleet Floxes

32. Ugly by slowthai

33. Destiny by DJ Sabrina the Teenage DJ

34. Van Gogh's Left Ear by ZelooperZ

35. Giving the World Away by Hatchie

36. Vultures by Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign

37. Life in Hell by Lancey Foux

38. Chromatica by Lady Gaga

39. Tidal Memory Exo by Iglooghost

40. Vices by Weiland

41. Flex Musix by Osamason

42. 4NEM by Chief Keef

43. Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown

44. Tracey Denim by bar italia

45. Starz by Yung Lean

46. Burning Desire by MIKE

47. Re:Wired by Kuru

48. Quaranta by Danny Brown

49. I Let It In and It Took Everything by Loathe

50. Basspunk 2 by Bassvictim

49 sneaks

nah but real for bar italia

was honestly surprised by some of these albums even being from this decade, kick i and chromatica feel like they dropped ages ago

What a list

had no hesitation throwing in some controversial picks

No eternal atake

would make my top 200 for sure

no renaissance, motomami, sos, eusexua…

List gets better after the top 5

You really put a week old album on here?
I like the album btw

Shout out to Zelooperz

top 10 is so f***ing bad but your whole list kinda eats, order all f***ed up fs tho

seeing saaheem, tracey denim, ILIIAITE and no stylist on this list got me feeling like you might be my soulmate