10. Iridescence - Brockhampton

The mega-boyband Brockhampton, coming off a year in 2017 with three album releases in their critically-acclaimed "SATURATION" trilogy, poured pure emotion into their September 2018 release, "iridescence". 2018 presented Brockhampton with adversity left and right, including their bandmate and close friend Ameer Vann receiving accusations of sexual misconduct, consequently leading to his departure from the group. After cancelling a world tour and taking time to find inspiration in Hawaii, Brockhampton travelled to the UK and recorded an album in a matter of weeks at Abbey Road. The album is highlighted by raging verses from the always versatile Joba on "J'OUVERT" and "BERLIN", insane wordplay on "NEW ORLEANS" and "DISTRICT" from Dom McClennon, and intimate reflections by frontman Kevin Abstract on tracks like "SOMETHING ABOUT HIM" and "WEIGHT". All in all, this produced an impeccably mixed, interesting, and personal record that departs from the group's former sound in the best way possible.

9. Whack World - Tierra Whack

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Black Nails · Tierra Whack Whack World ℗ 2018 Tierra Whack Released on 2018-05-30 Producer, Studio Personnel, M...

"Whack World" by Tierra Whack is a bite-sized sampler of the talent held by this rapper, singer, and songwriter. Being only 15 minutes long and containing 15 tracks, each track's minute is highlighted by quirky and impactful lyricism and minimal distractions from what Tierra Whack has to get off her chest. This includes songs like "Cable Guy" that scope out her feelings about men and the nature of friendships, and more playful takes like "Silly Sam". Matched with cartoonish production, this album has great replay value and is accompanied by a fantastic visual album.

8. ASTROWORLD - Travis Scott

Possibly the most anticipated album of 2018 by hip-hop fans, Travis Scott's "ASTROWORLD" does not disappoint. Scott received praise for his 2014 release "Rodeo", only to fall short of expectations on his next studio album, 2016's "Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight", mostly coming off as one-note and uninterestingly drab and repetitive with beat selection. "ASTROWORLD" promised a concept very relevant to the Houston rapper's mindset, as the park's closing was a large part of his childhood. The album is full of space and ethereal production, starting on the opener "STARGAZING" and being nearly perfected on "R.I.P. SCREW" and "STOP TRYING TO BE GOD". Unlisted features such as Drake, Frank Ocean, Swae Lee, and Don Toliver make the album a compartmentalized, surprising evolution for Scott's sound. This album is a pioneer for futuristic rap and will be remembered for it's more introspective moments of emotion, something we rarely see from the trap community anymore.

7. Swimming - Mac Miller

"Swimming" by Mac Miller is an instance of immediate reflection in the rap community. Already plagued by the untimely deaths of Lil Peep and XXXTentacion, the world was shocked when Miller's accidental overdose was announced, followed by the grim news of his death. Miller, only months before his death, released his final gift to the world in "Swimming", a dive into his mental state that proved much more positive and optimistic than any of his musical outings in the past. He revokes his demons on songs like "Self Care" and contemplates his purpose in society on "What's The Use". In total, the album is a stunning tribute to the fans, friends, and family he left behind and that makes the record a true semblance of mental health in celebrity lives that should be a classic in Miller's testament for years to come.

6. Room 25 - Noname

Provided to YouTube by Stem Disintermedia Inc. Self · Noname Room 25 ℗ 2018 Noname Released on 2018-09-14 Auto-generated by YouTube.

If you had any doubt that Noname or any female could excel at rapping, "Room 25" should be a wake-up call. Noname dishes very conversational bars over jazzy, engulfing instrumentals to give one of the best-recorded performances of the year, mixing in superior wordplay and energy to any of her past albums. This comes to fruition on "Blaxploitation", a guide to avoiding the wave of racial industry plants and "Ace", which features two amazing features by Saba and Smino. This album is a cornerstone for vocal stability and individual excellence and adds to a huge year for female artists' success.

5. Kids See Ghosts (Self Titled)

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Kids See Ghosts · KIDS SEE GHOSTS · Yasiin Bey KIDS SEE GHOSTS ℗ 2018 Getting Out Our Dreams II, LLC Distributed...

"Kids See Ghosts" is a special album. In April of 2018, Kanye West confirmed that he would be releasing 5 albums under his production label in the summer. This was forefronted by Pusha T's latest solo album, "Daytona", that featured grimy lyricism and great production by Kanye, yet wasn't as resonant as a replayable project in my eyes. Next was "ye", a vulnerable solo album that brought mental health into the limelight, yet also felt one note on many tracks. The very next week, West scored a grand slam with "Kids See Ghosts", a collaborative project with Kid Cudi, representing a rejoining of two powerhouse hip-hop staples. With Kanye having divisive opinions and Cudi releasing many duds since his opus "Man on the Moon", KSG was a triumph. Kanye's productions shines under Cudi's best vocal performance in years, and being only 22 minutes long with 7 tracks, the album does not overstay it's welcome while being adventurous and solid throughout.

4. Isolation - Kali Uchis

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group In My Dreams · Kali Uchis Isolation ℗ A Rinse / Virgin EMI Records recording; ℗ 2018 Universal Music Operations ...

When it comes to freshman releases, many artists fail to express raw talent and longevity in their first projects. Kali Uchis snuck a gem of a work into 2018 with "Isolation". Landing Tyler the Creator on her lead single "After the Storm", there was nothing but promise for the full release. Fitting into a small creative space of treading the line between immature and seasoned, Uchis makes a case for people to pay attention to her efforts in the coming years. With Latin roots swinging through every track, her past experiences give a unique look into love and betrayal that glow over the album's sensual production. Overall, this album carries buttery smooth vibes and is entertaining for the entire run time.

3. Oxnard - Anderson .Paak

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group 6 Summers · Anderson.P aak Oxnard ℗ 2018 Aftermath Entertainment, exclusively distributed by 12 Tone Music, LLC. Al...

It is quite difficult to put Anderson. Paak in a box. Somewhere caught between a rapper, singer, songwriter, dancer, drummer, and crossing the lines between funk, Neo-soul, and rap, .Paak is a cultural force to be reckoned with. Making a statement with his 2016 releases "Malibu" and collaborative project "No Worries", he came soaring into 2018 with anticipation for a new project. "Oxnard" delivers crisply produced songs by Dr. Dre, killer instrumental work by The Free Nationals, and the most versatile .Paak has been in his career. This album feels like a cinematic experience, weaving in elements of skits and act closure from "The Chase" until the album's non-bonus closer in "Cheers", a tribute to Mac Miller and the friends Anderson has lost in the past. Even though the bonus track "Sweet Chick", it feels like the credits are rolling after an amazing movie. "Oxnard" is the ultimate contribution to political rap, modern soul, and versatile artistry alike, and is the best effort yet by Cheeky Andy.

2. Veteran - Jpegmafia

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group 1539 N. Calvert · JPEGMAFIA Veteran ℗ 2018 Peggy Released on 2018-08-22 Producer: Barrington Hendricks Composer...

Jpegmafia, or Peggy for short, is a rare blessing from the Soundcloud rap community. Beginning with ambitious, yet difficult to process projects, Peggy blasted into the rap community with his 2018 project "Veteran". The album's title lends well, as it feels like Peggy has been in the musical game for a long time. He produces the album in full and uses the beats he creates like a weapon, with every sample catching you by surprise, even after multiple listens. He is confident on tracks like "1539 N. Calvert" and shows pure emotion on tracks like "Panic Emoji", which was actually written while he was having a panic attack. What this project lacks in mass appeal, it makes up for with charisma and opinion, and it is a promising musical act at the height of his powers.

1. TA1300 | TABOO - Denzel Curry

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group TABOO | TA13OO · Denzel Curry TA13OO ℗ 2018 PH Recordings, LLC., Under exclusive license to Loma Vista Recording...

"They only know Denzel Curry, but they really don't know Denzel"... until now. The perpetually "underrated" Miami artist Denzel Curry was a pioneer for the Soundcloud rap scene, especially for fellow rappers from his hometown like Ski Mask the Slump God and XXXTentacion. Curry, in the past, has been a dynamic fusion of metal rap and trap that produced multiple viral tracks such as "Ultimate". In 2018, Curry promised he'd deliver an album that would cement his status as one of the greatest, and TA1300 (Taboo) is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is the perfect mixture of escaping method and capitalizing on musical strengths, as Curry shows by exploring dance hall in the first 3 tracks of the "LIGHT" side, and then through his intense energy and intimidating lyricism into "GREY" and "DARK". Curry easily produces many of his best tracks in his career, including "CLOUT COBAIN", an insensitive commentary about how chasing only money and attention is ruining people's lives and careers. The project's ability to mix in very independent and electrifying singles such as "SUMO" and "PERCZ" gives an edge to the album unreplicated by most in the year. To summarize, Denzel Curry gave his fans and those who slept on him before a reason to pay attention, and the combination of unforgiving songwriting, masterful beat selection, sound editing, and a conceptual premise that brings new underlying themes to the surface on every listen makes this album my Top Album of 2018.