As 2023 comes to its close, it is time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year’s best albums. For 2023, we present a tight list of 10—celebrating the best of the best in the Rap genre. This list of 10 spans the entire year and includes some pivotal works in veteran careers, benchmark additions to respected discographies, emerging new voices, and some incredibly inventive concepts.

Ambrosia For Heads‘ Best Rap & Hip-Hop Albums Of 2023 (listed alphabetically by artist):

Charlie Smarts & DJ Ill Digitz – Charlietape

Released: April 28, 2023
Label: M.E.C.C.A Records/Fat Beats
Guests: KLIM, NOLAN, Tab-One, Von Pea, Skyzoo, and J Scienide
Producers: self, 9th Wonder, Jansport J, and Eric G

Danny Brown – Quaranta

Released: November 17, 2023
Label: Warp Records
Guests: MIKE, Bruiser Wolf, and Kassa Overall
Producers: Alchemist, Quelle Chris, Chris Keys, Skywlkr, Kaelin Ellis, Holly, Sven Wunder, Kassa Overall, and Paul White

El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game

Released: April 14, 2023
Label: Big Crown Records
Guests: KIRBY, Son Little, Brainstory
Producers: self

IDK – F65

Released: May 5, 2023
Label: Clue No Clue, LLC/Warner Bros. Records
Guests: Snoop Dogg, Benny The Butcher, NLE Choppa, Musiq Soulchild, Rich The Kid, Tay Iwar, Jucee Froot, Saucy Santana, and Fat Trel
Producers: self, Acyde, Angelo Arce, Beat Butcha, BLWYRMND, Caleb Buchanan, CashMoneyAP, Daoud, Dario Bizio, Efosa Beloved, Ethan Worland, Fabian Chavez, Jim Lang, Kel-P, Kofo, LastHaze, LNKmusic, Mia Wallis, Obi Nwadije, Rascal, Rodaidh McDonald, SB Paolo, and Stonegroov & Wallis Lane

Killer Mike – MICHAEL

Released: June 16, 2023
Label: VLNS, LLC/Loma Vista Recordings/Concord
Guests: André 3000, El-P, CeeLo Green, Curren$y, 2 Chainz, Mozzy, Future, Young Thug, Jagged Edge, Fabo, Ty Dolla Sign, thankugoodsir, Eryn Allen Kane, Kaash Page, Blxst, Lena Byrd-Miles, and 6LACK
Producers: No I.D., Cory Mo, Cool & Dre, DJ Paul, El-P, Little Shalimar, Don Cannon, Honorable C.N.O.T.E., Tec Beatz, Beat Butcha, Willy Will Yanez, James Blake, Cal A, Twhy Xclusive, and André 3000

Larry June & The Alchemist – The Great Escape

Released: March 31, 2023
Label: The Freeminded Records/ALC/EMPIRE
Guests: Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Curren$y, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, Slum Village, Ty Dolla Sign, Boldy James, Evidence, and Jay Worthy
Producers: self

Mick Jenkins – The Patience

Released: August 18, 2023 Label: Mick Jenkins, Inc./RBC Records/BMG
Guests: Freddie Gibbs, Benny The Butcher, JID, and Vic Mensa
Producers: Beat Butcha, 99TheProducer, Anthoine Walters, Berg, Dilip, FNZ, Hollywood Cole, Jai Nitai Lotus, JEAN BLEU, Kulture, Otxhello, Stoic, Tee-WaTT, TYRON, Venna, and VNSN & YAMA//SATO

Nick Grant – SUNDAY DINNER

Released: September 22, 2023
Label: Infinity & Records, LLC/Virgin Music Group
Guests: Ransom, Uncle Chucc, and Tweet
Producers: TaeBeast, Soopafly, 8een, agajon, Amarah, Bandit Luce, Bassman, Ben Nartey, Diplomat, Karriem, Lucas Quinn, Mark A Smid, Matthew Moleta, Super Miles, Sypooda, and xynothing

Skyzoo & The Other Guys – The Mind Of A Saint

Released: January 13, 2023
Label: First Generation Rich/HipNOTT
Producers: self

Statik Selektah – Round Trip

Released: June 9, 2023
Label: Mass Appeal
Guests: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Posdnuos, AZ, Joey Bada$$, Logic, Termanology, Cormega, M.O.P., Reks, JFK, Ransom, Benny The Butcher, Stove God Cooks, Symba, Conway The Machine, NEMS, Bun B, Ab-Soul, Boldy James, Elzhi, Millyz, Tha God Fahim, MARCO PLUS, Russ, Kota The Friend, Russ, Reuben Vincent, Rome Streetz, Redveil, Luka, G-Eazy, IDK, Ea$y Money, Nina Sky, and Harley Harl
Producers: self

#BonusBeat: Stay up with the best of current Hip-Hop by following the always-updated AFH playlist: