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In Stereogum writer Peter A. Berry’s ranking, billy woods and Kenny Segal’s Maps takes the top spot, followed by records from Veeze, Noname, Armand Hammer and others. It is one critic’s selection, not a definitive verdict: the albums range from reflective jazz-inflected rap to Detroit oddity, New York drill and high-energy club music.
How this list is ranked
The order below follows Peter A. Berry’s Stereogum list, published December 12, 2023. Berry wrote that the list looked back at “the most impressive rap albums of the year.” The ranking reflects his critical judgment; Stereogum did not publish a formal scoring rubric. The descriptions below draw on the qualities Berry emphasized, rather than treating unlike records as if they were measured on a single scale. Read the Stereogum list.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![The Singable Songs Collection[3 CD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xbsy19MgL._SL160_.jpg)
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The Singable Songs Collection[3 CD] | $28.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Hip-Hop: The Collection [3CD] | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Now That's What I Call 2000's Hip-Hop Ultimate Collection[CD] | $16.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Hip Hop-The Collection | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
100 Singalong Songs For Kids | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The 10 best rap albums of 2023, in Stereogum’s order
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billy woods & Kenny Segal — Maps
A travelogue shaped by woods’ post-pandemic touring, Maps pairs weary, ironic writing with Kenny Segal’s hazy, jazz-inflected production. It is the list’s most reflective, writerly starting point.
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Veeze — Ganger
Detroit rapper Veeze makes the off-kilter feel precise: unexpected references and skewed humor ride pixelated beats, while his delivery keeps the album unpredictable.
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Noname — Sundial
Sundial turns inward and outward at once, bringing intimate self-critique together with pointed social observation. Conversational writing moves through touches of gospel and daydreaming jazz.
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Armand Hammer — We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
Elucid and billy woods build an abstract, shadowy world over distorted, collage-like production. The album’s appeal lies in the friction between dense language and unsettled sound.
Rank #2
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Doja Cat — Scarlet
Doja Cat shifts flows and tones across a sardonic, stylistically wide-ranging rap album. Berry hears echoes of performers including Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and Eminem in its changes of pace and character.
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Sexyy Red — Hood Hottest Princess
This is the list’s most direct club record: loud, raunchy and propulsive. Tay Keith’s 808-heavy production gives its call-and-response centerpiece “SkeeYee” a particularly forceful charge.
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Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist — Voir Dire
Earl’s soul-searching and wordplay meet Alchemist’s sleek, emotive production. Stereogum describes the album as 27 minutes, a compact setting for its inward-looking songs.
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Ice Spice — Like..?
Ice Spice gives New York drill a playful, distinctive shape, with RIOTUSA’s production supporting the sharp minimalism of tracks such as “Princess Diana” and “In Ha Mood.”
Rank #4
Hip Hop-The Collection- Brand: Rhino Records
- HipHopthe Collection
- Product type: ABIS_MUSIC
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Young Nudy — Gumbo
Gumbo moves through trippy production and varied cadences. “Peaches & Eggplants,” featuring 21 Savage, is one of the album’s most recognizable turns.
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JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown — Scaring the Hoes
Warped, experimental production sets up a lively contrast between JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown. Their technical precision cuts through the chaos on tracks including “Steppa Pig” and “Jack Harlow Combo Meal.”
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What the ranking says about rap in 2023
The list’s range is its clearest through-line. Maps and Sundial foreground reflection and writing; Ganger turns regional character and oddball humor into a defining sound; Hood Hottest Princess and Like..? draw energy from club rap and drill; and Scaring the Hoes pushes toward abrasive experimentation. Across the ten, the reasons to listen vary as much as the production: lyrical technique, vocal personality, mood, and subgenre identity all matter.
There are meaningful overlaps with Pitchfork rap columnist Alphonse Pierre’s separate year-end favorites: his 25-record list also includes Veeze, Noname, Sexyy Red, MIKE, billy woods and H31r. That comparison suggests some names recurred in critics’ year-end writing, but it is not a combined consensus ranking: Pierre’s list covers albums, mixtapes and EPs, and its scope and selections differ. Read Pitchfork’s rap favorites of 2023.
Berry also named Michael, Burning Desire and Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale among records he wanted to discuss. Their absence is a reminder that even a top ten is a selection, not a complete map of a year’s rap releases.
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