The Top 50 Albums of the Decade

There are an infinite amount of ways to go about approaching a ranking-specific-things list. Whether you’re determining what’s the most valuable, influential, most meaningful, or just the best in general; it doesn’t really make too much of a difference.

We at Burbs recognize that, and decided that we would go about creating our Top 50 Albums of the Decade list in a completely subjective manner by discussing it as a group (Carter Ferryman, Evan Linden, Howie Butler, Marty Gross, and Ralphy Compiano) in order to provide a variety of opinions from people who have had different experiences over the last 10 years.

Trigger Warning: Don't be upset if your favorite album or artist didn't make our list. It's okay. You are more than welcome to make your own list, but this is ours, and it is the only one that matters. We hope that we can provide you with some music that is both enlightening and inspiring if you haven't heard it before, while also reminding you of how overwhelmingly amazing this decade of music was.

Last, but certainly not least: Thank you for reading, and enjoy.

50. Rolling Papers by Wiz Khalifa

Release Date: March 28, 2011

Coming in at the 50 spot on our list, we have the absolute stoner anthem of the decade. Wiz Khalifa was known as an easy-bake mixtape rapper before this album with the drops of Kush & OJ and Cabin Fever but after Rolling Papers dropped, Wiz was getting close to the marijuana pantheon level of Snoop Dogg. Classics like “Black and Yellow”, "Roll Up", and “On My Level” propelled this album to be a chart topper and put Wiz towards the top of the rap game at the time. There are only three features (Chevy Woods, Too $hort, and Curren$y), but all compliment Wiz in great fashion. There are songs that you can just smoke a joint on the beach to like “Star of the Show” or go smash through a table at a party like “No Sleep”. There is something for every type of stoner and will probably go down as one of the greatest smoking albums of all time.

- Written by Marty Gross

49. Culture by Migos

Release Date: January 27, 2017

Released at a pivotal time in trap music, Culture made worldwide waves all throughout 2017 and helped Migos blow up for the second time. You can say what you want about Culture, but you can’t deny that you bopped your head to “T-Shirt”, “Slippery”, and “Bad and Boujee” while they dominated the airwaves.

Migos used Culture to prove themselves as a formidable force in the rap game. While they had gained traction with early mixtapes and their debut album Yung Rich Nation, they weren’t taken seriously until Culture’s release. Culture transformed them into an international phenomenon.

At an ideal 13 tracks and 58 minutes playing time, Culture is essentially a flawless catalog of catchy, re-inventive bangers. Culture redefined what a trap album could be; Culture was one of the first trap albums to be embraced on all levels of pop culture.

- Written by Evan Linden

48. Norman F*****g Rockwell! by Lana Del Rey

Release Date: August 30, 2019

I understand the arguments for Born to Die and Ultraviolence above NFR, but I'm often a victim of recency bias, and this project has been a refreshing reminder that Lana is still the Queen of the Alternative genre. The project is full of the archetypal Lana that we're accustomed to as listeners: sounding like she's singing under the influence of Klonopin, unique ad-libbing along with echoes, and references to Venice beaches.

- Written by Ralph James

47. Veteran by JPEG Mafia

Release Date: January 19, 2018

Veteran might not be Top 10 on this list in terms of commercial success or impact, but this album is easily the craziest on this list. Nothing even comes close either. The album has no features and is mixed, mastered, and written entirely by Jpegmafia. From front to back, Jpeg comes with the most deranged set of instrumentals and samples that I don’t think the music world has seen since Death Grips. This mix of death metal, rap, and pop music is a mix that Jpeg created as his own unique style and will have an impact on the next generation of music.  Jpeg opens Veteran with one of the best opening songs to an album I have ever listened to with “1539 N. Calvert” and goes on to have malicious song after malicious song. Jpeg adds a collection of auto tuned singing, actual singing  and rapping so fluidly that it’s hard to even label a genre on the record. It is beautifully distorted and amazing overall from the beginning to end.

- Written by Marty Gross

46. When I Get Home by Solange

Release Date: March 1, 2019

When I Get Home is one of the few 2019 albums that is on this list but is well deserving to say the least. Solange brings artists ranging from Gucci Mane and Playboi Carti to Sampha and Blood Orange. If you were to give 99.5% of artists on this planet all of these features and tell them to make a cohesive album, they wouldn't be able to do that. But somehow Solange did it. She somehow still catered these artists to her style and didn’t shy away to accomplishing her goal. This album has a groovy and enchanting feel. Solange's voice is easily a top tier voice in the music game right now and puts it on display on this album. If you go deeper into the album, you see that Earl Sweatshirt, Tyler, the Creator, and Steve Lacy have production credits which show that this album has a variety of expertise put into it.

- Written by Marty Gross

45. Malibu by Anderson .Paak

Release Date: January 15, 2016

Oxnard native, Anderson Paak. has always been known for his versatility; as his musical talents span over many genres. Since releasing Venice, helping out on Dr. Dre’s Compton, and being named a XXL Freshman in 2016; Andy has kept us satisfied year-to-year continuously dropping new music. Venice, Oxnard, and Ventura are all awesome; but Malibu is where we see .Paak at his most personal. Malibu does a lot with just an hour runtime. Even though it is mostly a rap/R&B project, .Paak shows inspiration that he’s drawn from pop, jazz, funk, and even some rock. Anderson’s vocals are excellent, they set the overall feeling of the entire project. The first half of the project is wonderful, as it opens with "The Bird", "Heart Don’t Stand a Chance", "The Waters", and "The Seasons/Carry Me". ScHoolboy Q, The Game, and Rapsody deliver stellar featured verses. “Come Down”, the albums 13th track, is an absolute banger even though it oddly samples the Israeli national anthem. Anderson has been one of the decades best in fusing hip-hop and R&B, and his Malibu-inspired project was a cut above the rest in terms of quality and consistency.

- Written by Howie Butler

44. Summertime '06 by Vince Staples

Release Date: June 30, 2015

Vince Staples has always been the realest realist in the rap game. He sees nothing special about who he is and the work he does. His debut double album, Summertime '06, was locked in and inventive. The production of No ID, DJ Dahi, and Clams Casino feels futuristic; but when paired with the rapping of Staples, it feels like it’s been fully realized and appreciated for years. Vince gives his perspective and insight on the vices in his life growing up in north (norf) side of Long Beach. Vince explores the vice of Love in tracks like "Loca", and "Lemme Know"; talking about how even though he’s wrapped up in the streets, women are still driving him crazy in his city. "Surf" discusses the cycle of poverty in his home and compares it to the tide of the ocean. Violence and Drugs are the subject of tracks like "Dopeman", "Get Paid", and "Street Punks". With Summertime' 06, Vince blew away expectations and gave us his spin on the classic tale of a good kid growing up in a mad city.

- Written by Howie Butler

43. Whack World by Tierra Whack

Release Date: May 30, 2018

Tierra Whack isn’t your average female MC. She doesn’t do things the traditional way, and the release of her debut studio album Whack World is a testament to her unorthodox behavior. The project consists of fifteen minute-long tracks that take us into dreamy and spontaneous soundscape created by executive producers Kenete Simms and Nick Verruto. Partially inspired by racially-fueled bullying that Whack faced in school, not all of these dreams are pleasant ones, tracks like “Bugs Life,” “Sore Loser,” and “4 Wings” are especially grim. Tierra is a bonafide lyricist who made an essential album of the 2010s, number forty-three specifically. Whack World is a trip to say the least, one that’s made possible by the originality of one of rap’s most exciting young creatives. I wish I had more to say, but honestly you need to go experience it for yourself.

This is the whole album, seriously.

- Written by Howie Butler

42. Oxymoron by ScHoolboy Q

Release Date: February 25, 2014

ScHoolboy Q is one of the standout gangsta rappers of the 2010s, and his third studio album Oxymoron shows us exactly why. Oxymoron was one of the few rap albums of the decade that appealed commercially and critically while remaining completely and utterly gangster. Q was his most vicious and straight-forward on this album. Q gets introspective on tracks like “Prescription/Oxymoron” and “Blind Threats,” talking about his struggles with substance addiction and gang violence. ScHoolboy, in the past, has spoken on his influences and how he tries to sound different with every song he raps on. “Break the Bank” is one of the most apparent examples of this, as he rhymes,

“Fuck rap, I've been rich, crack by my stick shift Oxy like concerts, always my bread first GetMine my nickname, O-X and cocaine Nina my new thing, blew up before fame.”

If you can’t hear him rapping that as you read it in your head, go listen again. That opening flow is GOATed, easily one of my all-time favorites.

What separates Oxymoron from Q’s other albums was the number of outright bangers there were on this project; “Collard Greens,” “Hell of a Night,” “Man of the Year,” and “Studio” all found success with mainstream audiences and helped solidify this project as a west coast classic of the 2010s.

- Written by Howie Butler

41. The Ooz by King Krule

Release Date: October 13, 2017

Fun fact: Tyler, the Creator had this album as his favorite album of the decade and it achieved that accomplishment for good reason. King Krule comes back four years after his debut album 6 Feet Beneath The Moon with an absolutely absurd arrangement of instrumentals. Guitars, bass guitars, pianos, trumpets, Saxophones, etc. are all present on this sophomore album. Krule displays these instruments in a variety of different ranges. In the song “Biscuit Town”  he uses a slow, drawn out, mellow guitar chords but in the song “Vidual” he uses a quick, upbeat guitar in a way that you wouldn’t expect. He is one of the resourceful artists of this decade and put it on the spotlight on this album. Krule’s voice fantastically blends with the instruments he uses and his ability of storytelling is phenomenal and unmatched.  The versatility and beauty easily lands this album in the Top 50.

- Written by Marty Gross

40. Beauty Behind the Madness by The Weeknd

Release Date: August 28, 2015

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is yet to drop a critically acclaimed album, but there’s no question that Beauty Behind the Madness is one of the most successful commercial albums of both this decade and this century. The project is filled to the brim with hits on hits on hits. There’s a song for your sexually deprived parents who have to go to the movie theater in order to feel something for one another ("Earned It"). There’s a song for the night crawlers who are up until 4 A.M. itching for a climax ("The Hills" and "Often"). There’s even a song for the person on MDMA who wants to dance until the soles of their feet start bleeding ("Can't Feel My Face").

There’s a little bit of everything on this album, and that’s unfortunately what kept it from scaling higher on our list. Although it succeeds in the department of good music by a great artist, it lacks the cohesion and purpose that a great album necessitates, and that’s all too apparent when listening to the album for the umpteenth time. Either way, it’s always and forever XO till we overdose.

- Written by Ralph James

39. 2014 Forest Hills Drive by J. Cole

Release Date: December 9, 2014

What is undeniably J. Cole's best project (in my eyes) is also his most versatile and inspiring. Cole may not have the best singing voice in the world, but you can't knock the patented lyricist for trying ("Intro" and "Love Yourz"). Between the opener and closer that features Cole nakedly singing are a plethora of flows and mind-sparking bars. Cole asks philosophical questions about what it's like to be: a black man in America in 2014 ("03' Adolescence"), a celebrity with people who depend on him, a self-proclaimed God ("January 28th"), someone who came from the gutter to the top of his industry, a son, brother, and friend.

- Written by Ralph James

38. At Long Last A$AP by A$AP Rocky

Release Date: May 26, 2015

The Burbs Boys had many heated debates when preparing this list. Is Culture II not a top five album of all time, let alone the decade? Is Nav’s Bad Habits or Reckless more suited for this list? All jokes aside, getting everyone to agree on which A$AP Rocky album would make the cut was difficult. In the end, we decided on At.Long.Last.A$AP, the first album released by Rocky after the death of A$AP Mob leader, Steven “Yams” Rodriguez. Following a near two-and-a-half year hiatus, Rocky returned to the rap game with what we think is his essential album of the 2010s (you’ll never sway me on Testing though).

At Long Last is Rocky’s magnum opus of cloud rap. A.L.L.A is by far his most psychedelic project to date, with tracks like "L$D", "Jukebox Joints", and "Pharsyde" being some of his trippiest tracks to date. Features on this project are hit or miss; ScHoolboy Q, Kanye West, Bones, and UGK kill their guest appearances, while Future, M.I.A, and Mos Def end up with super underwhelming contributions. Weak features are made up for by listening to Rocky at his most conceptually focused. There aren’t many songs that make people want to incite riots more than the legendary "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye 2 (LPF2)".

Rest In Paradise Yams.

- Written by Howie Butler

37. GO:OD A.M. by Mac Miller

Release Date: September 18, 2015

From fraternity hip-hop to sad, melodic rap music and then back to a nuanced, intense Hip-Hop.  This is the evolution of Mac Miller’s music career up to the point of GO:OD AM. This album is the definition of a great hype-up album with an array of different unique instruments and a blend of amazing voices. Features like Ab-Soul, Miguel, and Chief Keef make this album flawlessly versatile and an overall fun listen.  There is a multitude of remarkable choruses and amazing wordplay that only geniuses could think of. A classic rap album that brings back a lot of Mac’s youth.

- Written by Marty Gross

36. Kids See Ghosts by Kanye West & Kid Cudi

Release Date: June 8, 2018

Kids See Ghosts was the experimental and psychedelic collaborative project of two of the most influential figures in rap music: Kanye West and Kid Cudi.

This album was justice for Cudi fans, as his past attempts at blending rock and rap music have been extremely disappointing. Kanye stans were extremely pleased with this album as well because Kanye remained at his vulnerable Ye stage talking about his shortcomings in life, but with occasional moments of the vintage Kanye. West got back to rare form as the musical maestro we’ve known him to be, on the mic and on the production behind the songs. Production on "4th Dimension" and the title track "Kids See Ghosts" is tightly packed and incredibly smooth. His verses were some of the best in recent years on songs like "Reborn" and "Cudi Montage", where his wordplay is impeccable. The title song has Kanye West rapping off beat (a la Blueface) and it’s brilliant since the whole album deals with his past issues with mental health and expecting too much of himself. With his verse on the track being delivered lazily, he’s basically telling us to go fuck ourselves.

He is great. He knows he’s great. He doesn’t need to perfect it just so when we hear it we can validate him as great. He knows he’s great.

Feel The Love, the introductory track features a cold-blooded Pusha T verse and the best performance Kanye has had with just ad-libs ("Lift Yourself" went pretty hard though, not gonna lie). "Cudi Montage" is another excellent track about spirituality and violence. Accompanied by gradually building synths and guitar twangs, West spits a genius 16 bars about the cycle of gun violence, smartly recycling the words peace and piece.

“Everybody want world peace

'Til your niece get shot in the dome-piece

Then you go and buy your own piece

Hopin' it'll help you find your own peace”

- Written by Howie Butler

35. Saturation I, II, & III by Brockhampton

Release Date: June 9, 2017 + August 25, 2017 + December 15, 2017

As supergroup Brockhampton released all three Saturation albums in 2017, we felt that it was fitting to include the whole trilogy as one. In fact, they put out all three albums in a span of six months and originally intended for it to be just one release.

Saturation, released in June 2017, served as Brockhampton’s introduction to the world. As their debut studio album, Saturation was a canvas for each group member to prove themselves as unique and integral to the group. Of the trilogy, the first Saturation was definitely their most “hardcore” release as it frequently incorporated grunge elements.

In August 2017, Saturation II arrived. This time around, the BH boys worked towards a lighter sound carried by pop and indie influence. They continued and enhanced this trend on December 2017’s Saturation III, fully embracing their position as “America’s Favorite Boy Band”.

The Saturation trilogy changed rap music forever. It totally reinvented the album release structure and pushed the stylistic boundaries of rap music further than ever before.

- Written by Evan Linden

34. Doris by Earl Sweatshirt

Release Date: August 20, 2013

Earl Sweatshirt was 19 years of age when he made the brilliant debut album Doris. Earl came back into the music game after a three year absence with intelligent and unique lyrics with distinct instrumentals. Many of the features on this project are from Odd Future (Tyler, the Creator, Vince Staples, Domo Genesis, and the common OF frequenter Casey Veggies) but are still distinct to Earl. There is a mix of hype-up songs and sadness that adds to the versatility of the album. Chart toppers like “Chum”, “Whoa”, and “Sasquatch” really gave Earl some well deserved spotlight and this album opened the eyes to many listeners around the LA area. This album really showed how members from Odd Future aren't just kids trying to get attention but are intelligent and creative artists.

- Written by Marty Gross

33. Salad Days by Mac Demarco

Release Date: April 1, 2014

I've been seeing a whole lot of hate on Twitter directed towards Mac Demarco. People are saying he "ruined Indie," which is one (really stupid and hollow) way to look at his discography. If you are one of these people, let me offer you another possibility!

Mac Demarco is a vanguard in Indie music - sure, he hasn’t transcended the genre's sound in any profound way, but he most certainly helped push the genre straight into the mainstream, and Salad Days is undeniably the project that caused the initial bump.

My favorite song on this gem is "Freaking Out the Neighborhood," but honestly, you can't go wrong with any track from front to back. So, next time you want to say Mac Demarco is ruining indie music - just remember, if it wasn't for the gap-toothed weirdo from Canada, you'd probably still be listening to Imagine Dragons at age 20 (no offense to you if you're into that sort of thing). 

- Written by Carter Ferryman

32. A.M. by Arctic Monkeys

Release Date: September 9, 2013

There's always been a polarizing element to the "UK Rock Band." In the case of the Arctic Monkeys, Manchester's premier superstar collective, their mysterious stigma was ever-so prevalent on A.M., a project jam-packed with a plethora of sing-alongs, riff-heavy anthems and odes to a longing for a significant other, whomever that may be.

While songs like "Arabella," "No. 1 Party Anthem," and "R U Mine?" are all standout tracks on the album, "Do I Wanna Know" is the Arctic Monkey's undeniable smash hit, racking up hundreds of millions of worthy streams and listens - and leaving each and every listener crawling back for more.

This album is addicting, plain and simple.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

31. Die Lit by Playboi Carti

Release Date: May 11, 2018

Die Lit is something else man, it’s an experience or feeling just as much as it is an album. The Soundcloud/Mumble Culture that dominated the back half of the decade was building up for this moment. Along with the outstanding production of Pi’erre Bourne and Don Cannon, Carti assembles an outstanding cast of features. Atlanta mainstays (Young Thug, Young Nudy, and Gunna) and hip-hop trailblazers (Skepta, Chief Keef) appear alongside some of the hottest artists in current hip-hop (Lil Uzi Vert, Travis Scott). "Shoota", the collaborative effort between Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert was Carti’s best charting song since his breakout hit "Magnolia". Carti’s rapping ability doesn’t improve with this project, but that isn’t why we tune in. Die Lit exemplifies punk in the current state of hip-hop, as it takes every characteristic that would garner hate from “old-heads” and delivers them at their absolute finest.

In conclusion, if you don’t understand the enigmatic genius of Playboi Carti, especially Die Lit…

I’m very truly sorry Boomer.

- Written by Howie Butler

I don't approve of this meme or this joke, but I do very much approve of this album.

- Ralph James

30. Watch the Throne by Jay-Z & Kanye West

Release Date: August 8, 2011

In what was indisputably the best collab project of the decade, Ye and Hov put their collaborative talents on full display. The two hip-hop heavyweights brought their hardest bars, coldest beats, and most talented contributors to make a statement that would go down in music history.

Watch the Throne boasted impressive range, providing a little something for every listener. WTT featured club-friendly bangers (“N***** in Paris”, “Who Gon Stop Me”), beautiful infusions of R&B/pop and alternative (“No Church in the Wild”, “Why I Love You”), anthems of opulence (“Otis”, “Gotta Have It”), and hard-hitting socio-economic statements (“Murder to Excellence”, “Made in America”).

- Written by Evan Linden

29. The Sun's Tirade by Isaiah Rashad

Release Date: September 2, 2016

This project is one Top Dawg Entertainment’s most underrated albums since their formation in 2004. There is a reason why Isaiah is signed to one of the most critically acclaimed record labels in the world and it showed on this album. Isaiah’s flow on this album is very complex and distinct in relation to any other rapper in the game. This album is a mix of jazz, soul, rap, and rock in a very depressing fashion. He talks about alcohol and Xanax addiction, family values, and even streys towards a political realm. Most of the features are from TDE members, but are very fitting for each track. Kendrick Lamar has one of the most underrated features of the decade on the track “Wat’s Wrong” and the blend of Kendrick and Zacari, with Rashad makes it one of the best tracks of the decade. The instrumentals are very simplistic throughout the album but the messages and wordplays are so much more complex than what is heard on a surface level. A listen that will sink you into your seat and is truly unforgettable.

- Written by Marty Gross

28. Bandana by Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Release Date: June 28, 2019

MadGibbs, the dynamic duo of Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs and legendary producer/DJ Madlib had a lot to live up to with the sequel of their highly-praised Piñata. In a lot of ways, Bandana lived up to the original and sometimes exceeded its predecessor. Madlib is considered by many to be a top-tier producer, and he showed out as usual on their most recent project. The instrumentals on this album are pure perfection, the beat switches keep listeners engaged and on the edge of their seats as there is always an unsuspecting twist or turn sneaking up on you. Listen to “Cataracts” and “Half Manne Half Cocaine” and in the spirit of Christmas, I triple dog dare you to try not to lose your mind when the beat switch kicks in. Bandana feels like the unorthodox, less traditional follow-up for a pair of unique talents that dominate their own subculture of hip-hop.

Freddie is in his bag once again with this project, as his raps feel more cerebral and calculated than on Piñata. He doesn’t just flow with the beat, he attacks it. Features on this project are exceptional. Prominent lyricists such as Pusha T, Mos Def, and Black Thought all take turns laying down verses; while Killer Mike and Anderson .Paak deliver wonderful hooks. While we await Montana, the third and final album in the MadGibbs trilogy, can we just take a moment to realize that they are 2/2 on “classic” albums. How can you not love these guys?

- Written by Howie Butler

27. A Seat at the Table by Solange

Release Date: September 30, 2016

Believe it or not, Solange Knowles has been releasing music for well over a decade - flying under the radar in the shadow of her mega-ultra-superstar sister. 

That was, of course, until A Seat at the Table arrived.

Solange is a trendsetter in R&B. Songs like “Cranes in the Sky” and “Mad” are beautiful testaments to the cumulative product of semi-abstract production and vivid songwriting.

From start to finish, ASATT is a fluid compilation of introspective, soft melodies - and Solange barely missteps, using symbolic figures in many a song to represent real world issues, and it works.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

If you ever find yourself to be "irrationally" mad, don't trip, Solange and Lil Wayne will always be there to remind you that you have the right to feel that way."Mad" is one of my favorite songs of the decade for two reasons: Solange layers her voice so beautifully that it sounds like a choir of angels comforting you during your most unsure state of mind, and Lil Wayne reciprocates her honesty and connectivity by laying down one of his most depressingly aware verses where he dives into his suicidal episode and substance addiction among other personal issues.

- Written by Ralph James

26. 4:44 by Jay-Z

Release Date: June 30, 2017

If you 'e an old-head and you only like the “old Jay-z” or think 4:44 is a bad album because its not “gangster” enough,  get the hell outta here. The use of beautiful, raw samples, creative instrumentals, and crafty flows that Jay possesses on this album is impeccable and worth the four year wait after Jay’s 12th studio album, Magna Carter… Holy Grail. If this is Jay’s last album I think it would be one of the greatest “The Ends” for an esteemed hip-hop legend. Throughout this album you can see how much Jay-Z has grown as a father, husband, and overall person. He doesn’t care about flexing, throwing away all his money at the club, getting women, etc. but now has grown as a person to care about investing, saving money, being a great father, and staying faithful.  This album is wise and just overall shows the great evolution of not only an artist but a person. It contains old Jay-Z instrumentals but a nuanced mindset. And if you don’t like it, you can at least get a great message out of it.

- Written by Marty Gross

25. In Colour by Jamie xx

Release Date: May 29, 2015

James Smith didn't need to create a solo album.

Nearly every musical edition The xx had released as band up to In Colour was universally acclaimed, but Jamie xx longed for more - a dense, rich, compact electro sound that spanned across multiple sub-genres of the electronic sound verse.

He nailed it… like nailed nailed it.

Tracks like "Gosh," "Loud Places," and the unforgettable "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" a Young Thug x Popcaan collaboration that leaves you nodding your head so hard your knees hit your forehead. Jamie xx took a risk - a risk that could've resulted in In Colour burying itself among the cringingly bloated EDM realm.

The reward paid off however: an album that'll sit among the all time greats in a genre with very few masterpieces.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

24. Finally Rich by Chief Keef

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Pretentious listeners and critics may not see Finally Rich as fit for a top 50 end-of-decade list. True rap intellectuals, however, understand exactly why Finally Rich is on this list.

Without Finally Rich, the vast majority of rappers who popped up this decade would have never made it. Finally Rich blazed the trail for genre-redefining projects such as Future’s DS2 and Young Thug’s Barter 6.

Not to mention, Finally Rich re-established Chicago as a hip-hop powerhouse after the glory days of early-Kanye, Lupe Fiasco, and Twista had washed away and cities such as Atlanta, LA, and NYC had a lock on the game. This new era brought us the drill scene, which substantially shaped current-day trap music and gave us talents such as Lil Durk, G Herbo, Fredo Santana, and King Louie. Increased attention on Chicago also gave artists such as Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Saba, Noname, Lucki, and Mick Jenkins the opportunity to shine.

Finally Rich saw the dynamic duo of Chief Keef and Young Chop come to life. Chop served as an executive producer, heavily curating the sounds of Finally Rich. Their tracks such as “Love Sosa”, “I Don’t Like” (ft. Lil Reese), and “Hate Bein’ Sober” (ft. 50 Cent & Wiz Khalifa) changed rap music forever.

- Written by Evan Linden

23. Astroworld by Travis Scott

Release Date: August 3, 2018

For his third studio album, La Flame utilized collaboration and visuals to deliver one of the most unique rap albums of the decade. Centered around Travis’ reimagination of Houston’s defunct Six Flags Astroworld, the H-Town mad genius created his own world and filled it with A-list collaborators driven to churn out experimental trap anthems. Contributions from artists such as Tame Impala, Drake, Frank Ocean, James Blake, Kid Cudi, Swae Lee, The Weeknd, and Juice WRLD helped to make Astroworld one of the most successful albums of 2018.

- Written by Evan Linden

22. ANTI by Rihanna

Release Date: January 27, 2016

Are you ready for the most subjective piece of music journalism in the history of music journalism? Dope, let's ride. ANTI is my favorite pop album of all-time. ANTI is my favorite album by a female artist of all-time. And for both of those distinctions, it's not particularly close (sorry, not sorry to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill). This may be because Rihanna is my dream woman and I would drop everyone and everything in an instant just to get within ten feet of her, but I am also positive that this album has a lot to do with that pipe dream.

ANTI takes the term "pop music" and crafts it into a perfectly rolled joint mixed with various strands such as R&B, Alternative, Reggae, Hip-Hop, and Soul. RiRi really goes for it on this album by experimenting in a variety of ways sonically: reaching into the most glorious depths of her vocal repertoire ("Love on the Brain"), intentionally underdelivering vocally on the album's most seductive track ("Yeah, I Said It"), and even doing the unthinkable by improving a Tame Impala song ("Same Ol' Mistakes").

- Written by Ralph James

21. The Life of Pablo by Kanye West

Release Date: February 14, 2016

Nearly three years after dropping his boldest and most experimental project to-date, Kanye returned with another beautifully complex masterpiece. TLOP built off of the experimental successes of Yeezus while reincorporating the sounds of “old Kanye”, particularly the soul and gospel elements that once played a pivotal role in his music.

Tracks such as “Ultralight Beam” (ft. Chance the Rapper), “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” (ft. Kid Cudi), and “Waves” (ft. Chris Brown and Kid Cudi) channel gospel influence, while other tracks such as “FML” (ft. The Weeknd), “Wolves” (ft. Sia and Vic Mensa), “Feedback”, and “Saint Pablo” build off of the dark, minimalistic, and often brash style that Yeezus established. In return to his roots, he rapped his ass off on tracks such as “No More Parties in LA” (ft. Kendrick Lamar), “Real Friends” (ft. Ty Dolla Sign), and “30 Hours”. In experimentation, Kanye dabbled with Chicago house music on “Fade” (ft. Ty Dolla Sign and Post Malone) and dancehall on “Famous” (ft. Rihanna).

Shoutout to Kanye West for creating the most vulgar and versatile gospel album of all time.

- Written by Evan Linden

20. Daytona by Pusha T

Release Date: May 25, 2018

Pusha T called an audible when he changed the name of his long-awaited album King Push to Daytona. He explained by saying that, “Daytona represents the fact that I have the luxury of time. That luxury only comes when you have a skill set that you're confident in.” Clocking out just seconds after the 21 minute mark, Daytona is a coke rap classic, regardless of the decade.

It claims the twentieth spot on our list because of the effortless chemistry the G.O.O.D Music presidents provide. King Push’s brutal lyrical precision placed over the top notch, minimalist production from the infinitely-talented Kanye West give us a 1-2 punch rivaling that of MadGibbs... yeah I said it! I don’t even have to tell you that Pusha T went in on his verses, so I’ll just summarize the lyrical content with this bar from What Would Meek Do.

"Feds takin' pictures like it's GQ This Avianne collarbone is see-through Angel on my shoulder, 'What should we do?' Devil on the other, 'What would Meek do?' Pop a wheelie, tell the judge to Akinyele Middle fingers out the Ghost, screamin' 'Makaveli' Hail Mary, the scale fairy Two sides to every coin so we bail ready (bail ready)"

The production featured a blend of the skeletal, percussion-heavy sounds of Yeezus mixed with the old school, soul-sampling Ye that we can all agree upon adoring. The album was so rare among all of this pink hair, giving us a truly refreshing musical experience. In terms of impact, Daytona was the crowned jewel of Kanye West’s Wyoming Sessions and also simultaneously humanized Drake while exposing his child, Adonis.

God I miss Surgical Summer.

- Written by Howie Butler

19. Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown

Release Date: September 27, 2016

Danny Brown's opening four lines on "Downward Spiral" go as follows:

I'm sweating like I'm in a rave… been in this room for three days… think im hearing voices… Paranoid and think I'm seeing ghost-es, oh shit.

If this, combined with the songs title is any indication of the monstrous, visceral album - it's that Danny Brown's universally acclaimed Atrocity Exhibition is Requiem for a Dream manifested in musical form.

I find myself skipping and hesitating on my description of this masterpiece for a few reasons - but the biggest is this; it's a compilation of experimental rap compositions from a mind battling grueling addiction and depression… that's why it's hard to put into words just how terrifyingly wonderful this project is.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

18. Take Care by Drake

Release Date: November 15, 2011

Although Drake was a nearly giant player in the hip-hop industry prior to the release of Take Care, it was this album that cemented him as one of the most important artists in the game. Drake utilized every weapon in his arsenal in order to deliver a timeless classic. He proved to the world and the music industry that he had something up his sleeve for every subgenre of hip-hop; some of which he helped create. You want a song chalk-full of legacy defining, self-boasting bars? Fine, he's got you ("Over My Dead Body"). You need a song to play when your once-upon-a-time-girl won't call you back? Don't trip, Drake's been there too ("Marvin's Room"), and he's got one that'll make you realize it's all good and that you're the shit ("Shot For Me"). Oh, you're all the way cheered up now and you want a few songs that'll get you and your homies hyped up? BET ("Headlines," "HYFR," and "The Motto").

Take Care will always be the first album that die-hard Drizzy fans'll think of when they're asked to name a classic album of his, not because it's the best, but because it was the initial experience that provided the realization of both what he could do for the game and who he could be for them as people.

- Written by Ralph James

17. Swimming by Mac Miller

Release Date: August 3, 2018

"And I got neighbors, they're more like strangers

We could be friends

I just need a way out of my head

I'll do anything for a way out

Of my head”

Swimming was the culmination of personal and artistic growth that we’ve seen Mac Miller go through in the 2010s. Rather than the bar-heavy trip-hop we had come to expect from the young jewish-american rapper, Swimming felt like a spiritual continuation of The Divine Feminine. The Divine Feminine was the previous album where we saw Miller explore the emotion of love, using his relationship with Ariana Grande as inspiration. Swimming is where we saw Mac come back down and become reflective on how fame and his past experiences have affected his life.

“I was drowning, but now I’m swimming”

The title itself serves as a metaphor of how one tries to deal with staying on top of life and the negatives that it will throw at you. Come Back To Earth, the album’s intro track, is honest with Mac showing his beautiful vocals off singing about dealing with self-acceptance and isolation. On the contrary, Jet Fuel shows Mac’s underutilized rapping talent and talks about his substance abuse. He compares drugs an alcohol to Jet Fuel and how it allows him to lift off. He says he never needs to come back down to earth because of his abundance of Jet Fuel, something he was wishing he could do on the title track. We saw Mac come full circle on his final album with the track 2009, he talks about wisdom he’s gained through his time as a rapper. Artistically, we went from seeing Mac as a frat boy rapper to creating thought-provoking rap over beautiful jazz arrangements.

Mac, you were very important to many this decade and will be remembered as a legend forever. In this life or the next life, I’ma see ya.

- Written by Howie Butler

16. Lemonade by Beyoncé

Release Date: April 23, 2016

30 seconds into Lemonade's opener, you know somethings wrong. That gut-wrenching feeling twists and turns before finally saying "letting loose" on Beyoncé Knowles masterful, earth-shaking concept album.

The sonic experimentation on songs like "DON’T HURT YOURSELF" and "DADDY LESSONS" is exquisite - R&B's undisputed Queen shifts musical gears without breaking stride multiple times. In 49 minutes, Beyoncé comes to terms with, breaks, reflects, and finally mends a relationship - letting her image rise and fall over, and over, and over.

When life gives you lemons, go watch the movie she made for this album - it's incredible.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

15. IGOR by Tyler the Creator

Release Date: May 17, 2019

Over the past decade, very few artists have evolved as much as Tyler, the Creator. In fact, his evolution is nearly unparalleled.

In what was widely considered to be one of the best albums of 2019, Tyler beautifully opened up a personal chapter of his life for the whole world to experience. IGOR essentially follows the story of Tyler being stuck in a love triangle; he is seeing a guy who is simultaneously seeing his ex-girlfriend. As the story progresses, Tyler’s love interest is pulled further away from him and he evolves into the “Igor” character - a “darker, aromantic” side of Tyler than he depicted in the beginning. The production, lyrics, features, and song titles all correspond with the storyline in flawless fashion.

For a deeper dive into IGOR, read our very own digest.

- Written by Evan Linden

14. Piñata by Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Release Date: March 18, 2014

Freddie Gibbs & Otis Jackson is a duo contrived meticulously by the immortal beings that dwell among us. On paper, they're unstoppable. In real-time, they're unstoppable.

A quick revisit to Gibbs & Madlib's 2014 opus swiftly reminds you how beautiful gritty storytelling and heavy sampling go together - "Deeper" tells the story of a half-decade long relationship at odds (with a twist!), "Shame" is the meta-rap equivalent of Semi-Sonic's "Closing Time," and Thuggin' is probably the best modern drug-rap song ever made.

Like the zebra stripes that garner the album's cover, two artists with distinctive styles clash wonderfully on Piñata, linking to form a wild, majestic steed that bridges rap's past and present in brilliant fashion.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

13. 22, A Million by Bon Iver

Release Date: September 30, 2016

2008's For Emma, Forever Ago and 2011's Bon Iver solidified Justin Vernon's vocal and thematic talents from the jump. Cryptic stories pertaining to love and loss intertwined themselves into each record, painting vivid pictures of the cold world that surrounded Vernon during his recordings for each.

Nothing could have prepared us, however, for 22, A Million: Vernon's beautifully mysterious third commercial release - a pantheon in minimalist, abstract production and heavy, layered vocals. Songs like "29 #Strafford APTS," "22 (OVER SOON)" and "8 (circle)" cover nearly every base in the musical unknown, yet Vernon's voice makes each feel familiar and welcoming.

No wonder, Kanye West named Justin Vernon his favorite living artist… the proof is in the pudding.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

12. Flower Boy by Tyler the Creator

Release Date: July 21, 2017

If you like music, you like Flower Boy. It has a little something for every listener and Tyler blends genres together in fantastic fashion. Tyler said he got inspiration to create Flower Boy after most critics tore his last album Cherry Bomb to shreds. Tyler then retaliated and crafted one of the most beautiful visions that Hip-Hop has ever seen.  Throughout the album he handpicked astonishing features like Frank Ocean, Lil Wayne, Kali Uchis, Rex Orange County, Jaden and A$AP Rocky that correlate perfectly with every instrumental that Tyler created. The instrumentals are glossy and beguiling, the mixing and length of the album are steller and the lyrics are powerful. Tyler talks about his sexuality, the troubles of being forgotten by both his friends and the music industry, and so many powerful topics that Tyler rarely taps into. This album is calculated, versatile, and really opened the eyes to many listeners of Tyler’s extreme intellect. Front to back, this is an enchanting listening experience and will be played throughout history.

- Written by Marty Gross

11. Nothing Was the Same by Drake

Release Date: September 24, 2013

Nothing Was the Same captures Drake at the inception of his pinnacle. He’d cemented himself as a legendary, living, and breathing statue with his championship ring album in Take Care, but NWTS demonstrated that he wasn’t happy with just one title. One ring wasn’t enough; he wanted, or rather craved the Greatest Hip-Hop Artist Alive Belt. Barber shop arguments will last forever and ever about whether or not he’s ever achieved that title, and if he did, then they'll argue about when it occurred and how long it (has) lasted for, but I firmly believe that he’s held it since the release of NWTS.

Versatility has always been an incredibly important element to Drizzy's legend, and this album in particular showcases it better perhaps than any other project of his. Like all Drake albums, this album achieved a lot commercially (“Started from the Bottom,” “Pound Cake,” “All Me,” and “Just Hold On We’re Going Home”), but that weren’t recognized as commercial hits are the ones that will make this album stand the test of time (“Furthest Thing,” “Come Thru,” and “Wu-Tang Forever”).

- Written by Ralph James

10. Rodeo by Travis Scott

Release Date: September 4, 2015

The rap music pioneer T.I. said it best on the album’s opening introduction, “We find ourselves consumed and utterly mesmerized with the story of a young rebel against the system, refusing to conform or comply to the ways of authority, he chose the mood of ‘Fuck this shit.’” Travis was obliged to his cult following-turned mainstream fan base to deliver an album that was just as tantalizing and awe-inspiring as the critically acclaimed mixtape, Days Before Rodeo, and it’s safe to say that he delivered on that promise with his best album to date: Rodeo.

Scott turns the volume on the amplifier to beyond the maximum quantity, and overwhelms that same bass-boosted speaker with diversity and quality. Much like the human experience, Scott’s music is defined by an alteration in moods, temperaments, and attitudes. Rodeo is the best example of this analogy and feels like a project that will go down as one of the greatest intersections of multiple genres throughout this century.

- Written by Ralph James

9. Channel Orange by Frank Ocean

Release Date: July 10, 2012

Channel Orange is a bold album that deserves a bold take: Frank Ocean's first studio album is the peak of R&B/Pop music. While Blonde demonstrates Frank’s fascination with experimental yet unbelievably beautiful noise, Channel Orange showcases Ocean's unparalleled gifts through the crafting of an album that produces confusing tears, profuse chills, and plays like an aphrodisiac with a Master’s degree in English and Philosophy. Ever since the album’s release, every artist in the industry has attempted to come off as cool and in control as Frank (very, very few have succeeded).

This album altered practically every genre of music and how a project should be constructed for the better. It appealed to both commercial-mainstream audiences ("Thinking' About You" and "Pyramids"), and Frank’s cult following that he’d built since the release of Nostalgia Ultra ("Crack Rock," "Bad Religion," and the skits/interludes). There wasn’t anyone who could evoke the same amount of different emotions that Frank did with his listeners back then, and there damn sure isn’t anybody now that can either. Aside from Frank, of course.

- Written by Ralph James

8. Some Rap Songs by Earl Sweatshirt

Release Date: November 30, 2018

A polarizing album, to say the least. Three years after his last studio album I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside, Earl comes on the scene with this concise 15 song, 24 minute eerie record. This album is easily Earl’s most cohesive and thematic project. It explores themes like rekindling the rocky relationship with his parents (mostly his father), drug abuse, freedom, and of course, anxiety and depression.  The instrumentals are dreary and raw, Earl’s lyrics are precise, and Earl’s voice is monotone yet filled with emotion. This album feels like Earl is finally creating the music that he wants to create with no outside influence. No Odd Future. No label executives. No one. This album drenched in sorrow and is just Earl.

- Written by Marty Gross

7. DS2 by Future

Release Date: July 17, 2015

“I just took a piss and…” thought about how Future completely adjusted contemporary rap, for better or worse, and how there isn’t a single trap rapper out there who will ever create a project that’s even near being equivalent to DS2. “They don’t like it when you tell them the truth…” but this album will undeniably go down as one of the most important works in the history of the music industry, whether you like it or not.

Future gave fans a magnifying class into his life so he could showcase how he can be both demonic and dazzling on one track (“Thought it was a Drought,” “Stick Talk,” “Rotation,” and “The Percocet & Stripper Joint”), and deserving of your empathy on another (“Kno the Meaning”). DS2 feels like an album that exhibited patience and kept its ears to the streets because it heard all of Future’s critics say that he was a one-lane artist, and then it takes all of those criticisms and pours them into a styrofoam cup infused with codeine-promethazine. Super Fire Fire Marshall Future Hendrix The Wizard captivates the listener from the first track to the last without ever taking his foot off the gas pedal, the only thing that's adjusted is what gear the shift stick happens to be in.

- Written by Ralph James

6. Yeezus by Kanye West

Release Date: June 18, 2013

Yeezus is like one of those postmodern paintings that looks like a 5-year-old could’ve made, but ends up selling for millions of dollars. I say that with the utmost praise for both the album and for Kanye.

The genius behind Yeezus runs deeper than the casual listener can discern. Its distorted sounds, unorthodox samples, surprising features, genre-less approach, and in-your-face yet minimalistic delivery come together to create a bold album that most listeners either love or hate. The erratic final product, to some, is similar to that painting that looks like a 5-year-old made. Yet, someone out there handed over M’s for that painting. With any art, the value is all inherent. It’s exactly why many fans and critics alike consider Yeezus, Kanye’s most off-kilter release, to be up there with his best work.

While it has aged properly, it's important to remember how bold and experimental this album was in 2013. With that in mind, I'd consider Yeezus the ballsiest album of the decade.

- Written by Evan Linden

5. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

Release Date: March 15, 2015

In between nearly every track on Kendrick Lamar's dense, complex opus, he recites a poem - adding a new line to the spoken word as the album progresses.

The lengthy poem, while cryptic and not overtly clear, tucks itself brilliantly between the lines of records pertaining to Compton, the people Kendrick calls "family," social and mental issues and so much more.

When the album reaches it's finale, "Mortal Man," it is revealed that the poem is actually a letter to Tupac Shakur - Kendrick's attempt at justifying/giving reason to his newfound "prophet" status in South-Central Los Angeles to the fallen King of the West Coast.

To Pimp a Butterfly is really difficult to contextualize in a paragraph, so let me try my best to summarize what I believe makes TPAB so special: Kendrick continually questions his worthiness as Compton's "prophet" throughout an album that cements him as one of the greatest rappers to ever walk the face of the planet. If that doesn't scream "HUMBLE KING," then I don’t know what does. I digress.

This album is wonderful beyond description.

- Written by Carter Ferryman

4. Currents by Tame Impala

Release Date: July 17, 2015

When you think of 2010s Alternative, one of the first artists to come to mind is Tame Impala. While many tend to regard Tame Impala as a band, it is often forgotten that Tame Impala is really just one Australian dude named Kevin. Tame Impala does perform live as a band, but their three studio albums are all written, recorded, and produced by multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker. With that in mind, it’s fucking impressive when you listen to the masterpiece that is Currents.

Currents, more so than his previous works, serves as a beautiful testament to contemporary music. Currents manages to stick to the psychedelic rock roots of Innerspeaker and Lonerism while branching out into pop, electronic, disco, and R&B. The infusion of pop, electronic, and disco is seen prevalently on tracks such as “Eventually”, “The Moment”, and “The Less I Know The Better”; the infusion of R&B carries tracks such as “Yes I’m Changing”, “New Person, Same Old Mistakes”, and “Love/Paranoia”. Currents is interpreted as a breakup album by many, as Kevin Parker created the album following a breakup and many of the tracks pertain to his thought process during that time of emotional turmoil. According to Kevin Parker, Currents’ lyrics are all biographical; he made his vocals clearer than ever before due to his pride in them. He describes Currents as following “the progression of someone feeling like they are becoming something else. They're becoming the kind of person they thought they'd never become."

Currents is the best alternative album of the decade.

- Written by Evan Linden

3. Blonde by Frank Ocean

Release Date: August 20, 2016

Blond is an effervescent privilege that we don’t deserve. Frank Ocean fans all over the world and internet ached and begged for Frank’s second studio album after years of waiting following the legendary release of Channel Orange, and a lot of those same people didn’t think that he’d be able to surpass the seemingly unapproachable benchmark that the debut album set for himself. That being said, it’s both a privilege and a blessing that we can reflect on Channel Orange and Blonde in unison, and argue for the latter as the superior artistic project.

Throughout ten years of music, this masterpiece proves to be the most enigmatic album from the world’s most unique and secluded artist. Ocean's second studio album takes the same genre blending ideology that was so prevalent and necessary to the success of Channel Orange, and multiplies it through the tone and frequency adjustment of Frank's own voice. Blonde proved that we as fans should give Frank all the time he desires and needs to release to his next project. No rush on this end, Mr. Ocean. Do what you will, King, I’ll be here waiting to bask in your innovative and jaw-dropping glory.

- Written by Ralph James

2. Good Kid M.A.A.D. City by Kendrick Lamar

Release Date: October 22, 2012

Kendrick Lamar’s GKMC is widely regarded as one of the greatest musical narratives of our time. To myself and many others, GKMC is much more than just an album. Described as a “short film by Kendrick Lamar” on its iconic minivan cover, GKMC embodies what it means to be a true concept album. In just over an hour, the Compton born-and-raised lyricist takes the listener on a thematic ride through his upbringing in one of America’s most infamous cities. Kendrick paints a picture of the evils that surrounded him and the pressures and temptations that he faced throughout his adolescence, poetically illustrating the crime, addictions, and injustices that plague his hometown. He frequently touches on the human condition, especially for a black male in America. In juxtaposition to those themes, he places importance on family, love, morality, growth, and loyalty.

One of GKMC’s most impressive qualities is that while it’s a concept album through and through, he managed to turn many of the tracks into mainstream hits that fit the album’s narrative while simultaneously being complete, stand-alone tracks. Songs such as “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, “Poetic Justice” (ft. Drake), “Backseat Freestyle”, “M.A.A.D City” (ft. MC Eiht), “Money Trees” (ft. Jay Rock), and “Swimming Pools” served as integral pieces of the story, but also became some of the biggest hits of 2012-13. However, less-mainstream tracks such as “The Art of Peer Pressure”, “Real” (ft. Anna Wise), and “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” served as the artful pieces that truly drive the story home. The latter song is arguably one of the most powerful pieces of storytelling in hip-hop history.

While many critics place his 2015 masterpiece To Pimp a Butterfly above GKMC, we believe that GKMC had the most profound impact on the everyday listener. When the decade is long gone, GKMC is one of the albums that will survive the test of time.

- Written by Evan Linden

1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West

Release Date: November 22, 2010

Alright, I'll tell the story one last time.

Following a series of media run-ins and critiques from the public eye, Kanye West sent himself on a self-imposed exile to the Hawaiian island of Oahu. In the year-and-a-half time spent there, rap music's mad genius called upon the likes of artists spanning every conceivable genre under the sun and moon.

What manifested itself from this excursion is modern music's maximalist masterpiece; a 13-track goliath of pop-culture that ascends far above every other musical creation in the past decade.

Simply put, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the greatest album from the great artist of our generation. Kanye answers the opening question "can we get much higher?" so effortlessly it feels rhetorical, and I'm here to tell you it probably was.

He knows it's perfect.

We know it's perfect.

Siri, play "Runaway".

- Written by Carter Ferryman

"Gorgeous" is (in my opinon) Kanye's best verse-for-verse track. "So Appalled" is an absolute clinic of upper echelon lyricism that should be taught and studied as a Gen Ed. requirement. Last, but certainly not least, when has a single piano key ever been that iconic? "Runaway" will be a cultural staple until the end of time.

- Written by Howie Butler

The purpose of consuming art is to-- for a lack of a better couplet, I don't think there is a better phrase actually, even though it sounds cheesy and cliche and all of that typical over used bullshit-- feel something. And I think that I speak for all of us here at Burbs and every Kanye stan across the globe, but I haven't felt as many conflicting yet simultaneously enlightening emotions during my experience with any album since this one. MBDTF has held the spot of my favorite album ever since it rose to the surface and altered the course of music forever, for better.

- Written by Ralph James

Before I wrap this thing up, I'd like to say one final thing: Thank you to our contributors for putting this together, and above all else, thank you for reading this. It means the world to us and we wish for nothing more than to enjoy the next decade's worth of music with you.

Edited by Ralph James

Written by Carter Ferryman, Evan Linden, Howie Butler,

Marty Gross, and Ralph James

Overseen by Hunter McNeeley