5. “Artist 2.0” – A Boogie wit da Hoodie

On Valentine’s Day rapper and auto-tune aficionado A Boogie released his most mature, well-rounded project to date. The Bronx crooner gave fans plenty of cuts to satisfy their cravings for his hypnotic melodies – “Me and My Guitar,” “Blood On My Denim,” and “R.O.D.” On each song mentioned, Boogie transitions from rapping to singing so flawlessly, it’s hard to tell what exactly he’s doing – but it sounds beautiful. More braggadocios tracks such as “Mood Swings,” “Numbers,” and “Luv Is Art” have an aggressive tone, but Boogie is somehow able to keep his usual bounce. Consistently making good music while continuing to grow as an artist earns A Boogie a spot at number five on the list.

4. “A Written Testimony” – Jay Electronica

Now that everyone knows who the ever-elusive Jay Electronica is (cough, cough), it’s time to pay his debut album its dues. Clocking in at just 10 tracks – one being a skit – Jay Elec leaves little room for failure. Aside from some loaded religious rhymes and sub-par production, namely on “Ezekiel’s Wheel,” the songs that were good were really good. Oh yeah, Jay Electronica also tapped Jay-Z features for eight of the album’s 10 tracks, basically making it a collab between Jay-E and Jay-Z. “The Blinding,” “Universal Soldier,” and “A.P.I.D.T.A.” are standout cuts on the album, and those three songs alone make up for an otherwise lackluster project. Yes – the album made number four on my list. But, for such a highly anticipated debut, it could have been a lot better.

3. “Shake the Snow Globe” – Russ

As you know, I’ve already given Russ’ album its fair share of praise, but I couldn’t leave it off a best-of list. With a little something for everyone, Russ did a great job of crafting a sonically appealing, diverse body of music – that actually has replay value. Songs such as “Momma,” “Shots,” and “I Thought You Got Me” don’t get repetitive and they all sound different. “Best On Earth” and “Guess What” are upbeat bangers that sound best at full volume. With new releases being so frequent, it’s tough to make music that stays in your playlist longer than a few weeks. But, Russ achieves just that on “Shake the Snow Globe.”

2. “Music To Be Murdered By” – Eminem

When rap legend Eminem dropped his 11^th studio album in January without any warning, fans were more than surprised. The 20-track offering finds the 47-year-old sounding sharp as ever alongside some of his younger peers. With appearances from Young M.A, Don Toliver, Anderson .Paak, and the late Juice WRLD, Eminem seems to aim for a more contemporary sound, while maintaining the lyricism he’s known for. The songs “Lock It Up,” “No Regrets,” and “You Gon’ Learn” are both catchy and lyrical – a balance Eminem has struggled to keep as of recent. Production is handled by Em himself and frequent collaborators Dr. Dre, Royce da 5’9”, and Luis Resto among others. Although the album has some less than stellar songs, it’s impressing and refreshing to hear Eminem rap at such a high caliber after 20+ years in the music industry.

1. “The Allegory” – Royce da 5’9”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that “The Allegory” found itself at number one on this list. The album is perfect (if not, close to it) and serves as a testament to why Royce is one of the most talented rappers in the game. Aside from the incredible wordplay displayed on the project, Royce produced every single song after only a few months making beats. Songs like “Upside Down,” “Thou Shall,” and “Overcomer” all seem as if they were handled by veteran producers, as they’re unique and crisp sounding. On all the aforementioned tracks, Royce showcases his advanced lyricism, often causing me to rewind a verse three or four times before being able to process it. “The Allegory” is Royce’s magnum opus and proof he really doesn’t miss a beat – no pun intended.