We can all agree that 2020 has been something else. But we can also agree music has been a godsend—especially Hip-Hop music. It has been a pivotal year for Ambrosia For Heads, after a decade of dedication to the culture. However—as we like to do about this time, AFH offers our annual list of Best Rap Albums. For 2020, we saw it fitting to spotlight the 20 best releases—according to us. As we now connect with our supporters through our podcast, What’s The Headline (each episode available for audio stream on various platforms and video on YouTube and Facebook), we wanted to discuss this list—for all to see and hear.

A lot of thought goes into determining these lists, and there have always been some healthy (and even sometimes heated) debates internally. While our founder and editor-in-chief agreed on 14 of the 20 albums from 2020, we were forced to debate the remaining six—determining the final placements live. In total, we praise over 25 dope releases from 2020 before finalizing our 20, which you can see below. In the podcast, we open up about what makes each release remarkable—discussing guests, producers, and the quality of longevity. We also explain why, in an age of year-end list over-saturation, why AFH keeps delivering ours.

This year’s final list, which we determined during the podcast, includes diversity in age, region, style, and more. It was an especially crucial year for albums with single producers. We are proud to be part of Hip-Hop in 2020 and want to hand out some praise to some deserving talent. We hope you agree, and we know we can count on you to tell us where you don’t. Salute, and enjoy.

Celebrate another great year for Hip-Hop with Ambrosia For Heads‘ Best Rap Albums of 2020 (listed alphabetically by artist):

2 Chainz – So Help Me God

Released: November 13, 2020
Label: 2020 Gamebread / Def Jam Records
Guests: Kanye West, Brent Faiyaz, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Wayne, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Duval, Mulatto, Kevin Gates, Lil Uzi Vert, Chief Keef, Rick Ross, Skolly
Producers: self, Mike Dean, David Banner, Mike WiLL Made It, Chief Keef, Cubeatz, Streetrunner, LilJuMadeDaBeat, Jay The Great, 30 Roc, P-Nasty, Playa Pizzle, Beatsbyjblack, Sean Solymar, Yung Lan, Hendrix Smoke, Mondo, RafMadeIt, TM88, Cool & Dre, Joshua Ard, Big Papito, Swiff D, Dem Jointz

Benny The Butcher – Burden of Proof

Released: October 16, 2020
Label: Griselda Records / EMPIRE
Guests: Rick Ross, Big Sean, Lil Wayne, Freddie Gibbs, Dom Kennedy, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Queen Naija
Producers: Hit-Boy

Black Thought – Streams of Thought: Cane & Able

Released: October 16, 2020
Label: Passyunk Productions, LLC / Republic Records
Guests: Pusha-T, Killer Mike, Swizz Beatz, ScHoolboy Q, C.S. Armstrong, Portugal. The Man, The Last Artful, Dodgr, OSHUN
Producers: Sean C., L.V., Marvino Beats, Sal Dali

Boldy James & Alchemist – The Price of Tea in China

Released: February 7, 2020
Label: ALC / Boldy James
Guests: Evidence, Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, Benny The Butcher
Producers: Alchemist

Busta Rhymes – Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God

Released: October 30, 2020
Label: Conglomerate / EMPIRE
Guests: Rakim, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Chris Rock, M.O.P., Minister Louis Farrakhan, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Rick Ross, Vybz Kartel, Rapsody, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Nikki Grier
Producers: self, J Dilla, Rockwilder, Nottz, Swizz Beatz, Avenue, Pete Rock, Dready, Focus…, DJ Scratch, DJ Premier, Hi-Tek, Terrace Martin, Schife, 9th Wonder, Navi Beats

Che Noir & Apollo Brown – As God Intended

Released: July 10, 2020
Label: Mello Music Group
Guests: Black Thought, Planet Asia, Skyzoo, Ty Farris
Producers: Apollo Brown

Deanté Hitchcock – BETTER

Released: May 13, 2020
Label: ByStorm Entertainment/RCA Records
Guests: JID, 6LACK, Miguel, St. Beauty, Young Nudy
Producers: Brandon Phillips-Taylor

Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist – Alfredo

Released: May 29, 2020
Label: ESGN / ALC / EMPIRE
Guests: Tyler, The Creator, Rick Ross, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine
Producers: Alchemist

Jay Electronica – A Written Testimony

Released: March 13, 2020
Label: Roc Nation, LLC
Guests: JAY-Z, The-Dream, Travis Scott
Producers: self, Alchemist, Swizz Beatz, Hit-Boy, No I.D., Khruangbin

Lyric Jones – Closer Than They Appear

Released: October 27, 2020
Label: EMPIRE
Guests: Little Brother, Vic Mensa, Sy Smith, Phil Beaudreau
Producers: Nottz, Focus…, Phil Beaudreau, CARRTOONS, HOwdy, Blaaq Gold, Nameless

Nana – Save Yourself

Released: November 6, 2020
Label: self-released
Guests: REASON, Blakk Soul
Producer: Audio Anthem, BREGMA, Kal Banx, DK The Punisher

Nas – King’s Disease

Released: August 21, 2020
Label: Mass Appeal Records
Guests: The Firm (AZ, Foxy Brown, Cormega), Dr. Dre, Anderson .Paak, Lil Durk, Hit-Boy, Brucie B., Charlie Wilson, Don Toliver, Big Sean, A$AP Ferg, Fivio Foreign
Producer: Hit-Boy

Problem – Coffee & Kush, Vol. 2

Released: September 18, 2020
Label: Diamond Lane Music Group / Rostrum Records
Guests: Jay Rock, Snoop Dogg, Jack Harlow, Freddie Gibbs, Daphne, Terrace Martin, Tyrese, Spoon
Producer: Terrace Martin, Jason Martin, Miles Rose, DJ Kai, DJ Malski, K Boy, Nick Clark, Spoon, Sean Momberger, Don Cannon, L. Leduff, K. Boyd, Vangogh, Trevor Lawrence, Mike & Keys, 2FO, Beat Butcha

REASON – New Beginnings

Released: October 9, 2020
Label: Top Dawg Entertainment
Guests: Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q, Rapsody, Vince Staples, Isaiah Rashad, Mereba, JID, Alemeda
Producers: S1, Tae Beast, Kal Banx, !llmind, AC The Producer, WU10, Nabeyin, Newz, James Delgado, The 90’s, Mario Luciano, SmokeyGotBeatz, Arte Mitchell, Nostxlgic, Nils, Bizness Boi, Devin Williams, Fortune, Tariq Beats, My Guy Mars, Mike & Keys

Royce 5’9 – The Allegory

Released: February 21, 2020
Label: Heaven Studios / Entertainment One
Guests: Vince Staples, Kxng Crooked, Grafh, Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, Kid Vishis, Oswin Benjamin, Ashley Sorrell, White Gold, T.I., CyHI The Prynce, Sy Ari Da Kid, DJ Premier, Emanny, Cedric The Entertainer
Producers: self

Run The Jewels – RTJ4

Released: June 3, 2020
Label: Jewel Runners LLC/BMG
Guests: 2 Chainz, Greg Nice, DJ Premier, Zack de la Rocha, Pharrell, Mavis Staples, Gangsta Boo, Cutty Ranks, David Ferguson, Z-Kicks, Theron Thomas, Kaushlesh Purohit, Stuart Bogie, Cutmaster Swift, Nicholas Ryan Gant, Mr. MFE, Josh Homme, Matt Sweeny, A$AP Ferg, Jeremy Wilms, Dana Lyn, Danton Boller, Cochemea Gastelum
Producers: El-P, Josh Homme,

Skyzoo & Dumbo Station – The Bluest Note

Released: April 24, 2020
Label: First Generation Rich/Tuff Kong Records
Producers: Skyzoo, Jessé Germano, Benjamin Ventura

Statik Selektah – The Balancing Act

Released: November 27, 2020
Label: Mass Appeal Records
Guests: Black Thought, Nas, Joey Bada$$, Gary Clark Jr., Conway The Machine, Killer Mike, 2 Chainz, Allan Kingdom, Dave East, Method Man, Jack Harlow, Termanology, Jadakiss, Styles P, Brady Watt, Paul Wall, Benny The Butcher, Rome Streetz, Fly Anakin, Haile Supreme, Kota The Friend, Marlon Craft, Evidence, Blu, Lil Fame, Smoke DZA, Rim Da Villin, Thirstin Howl The 3rd, Sean Price, Nick Grant, CJ Fly, JFK, Bun B, Havoc, Bobby Sessions, Harly Harl
Producers: self

Westside Gunn – Pray For Paris

Released: April 17, 2020
Label: Griselda Records
Guests: Tyler, The Creator, Freddie Gibbs, Wale, Joey Bada$$, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, Billie Essco, Joyce Wrice, Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Cartier William, Keisha Plum
Producers: Tyler, The Creator, DJ Premier, Alchemist, Beat Butcha, Daringer, Camouflauge Monk, DJ Muggs, Bohemia Lynch, Jay Versace, Conductor Williams

Your Old Droog – Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition

Released: December 4, 2020
Label: Mongoloid Banks
Guests: Phonte, El-P, Black Thought, Mach-Hommy, Tha God Fahim, billy woods, Tvoy
Producers: Tha God Fahim, Argov, Roper Williams, Messiah Musik, Ewonee SC, Preservation

Ambrosia For Heads‘ Top Albums of 2019, AFH‘s Top Albums of 2018. AFH‘s Top Albums Of 2017.

#BonusBeat: Ambrosia For Heads’ official playlist, featuring new music from Statik Selektah, AZ, Tobe Nwigwe, Royce 5’9, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Ill Bill, Nana, Cordae, Lyric Jones, Nas, Oddisee, Boldy James, Benny The Butcher, 2 Chainz, REASON, Jack Harlow, MC Eiht, The LOX, and many others.