10 Rap Albums & Mixtapes That Turn 10 In 2023
2013 was a good year for hip-hop. Most of the major players in rap came out with an album including Jay-Z, Kanye, and Drake, among many others. Fast forward to…
INDIO, CA – APRIL 22: Recording artist ASAP Rocky performs onstage during day 1 of the 2016 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival Weekend 2 at the Empire Polo Club on April 22, 2016 in Indio, California.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)2013 was a good year for hip-hop. Most of the major players in rap came out with an album including Jay-Z, Kanye, and Drake, among many others.
Fast forward to 2023, many of these albums solidified rapper's careers, specifically Drake. Prior to the release of Nothing Was The Same, he was solidifying his name in the industry with his sophomore album Take Care. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It featured the Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. Songs such as "Marvin's Room," "Make Me Proud," "Headlines," "The Motto," served as the singles for the project.
His 2013 release was Nothing Was the Same which had songs such as "Hold On, We're Going Home," "Started From the Bottom," "From Time," "Worst Behavior." The album featured guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Majid Jordan, Jay-Z, Jhené Aiko and Sampha. Nothing Was the Same is now 4x platinum by the RIAA.
Drake was not the only one who made a noteworthy album in their discography in 2013. J. Cole released his second studio album, Born Sinner. The album has guest appearances from Miguel, Amber Coffman, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, Bas, TLC, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent. While J. Cole is mainly known as a rapper, he also produced this album primarily solo but got some help from producers Elite, Syience, and Jake One.
The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and after two weeks in the runner-up spot, it climbed to No. 1. Born Sinner was promoted by the single "Miss America," but the song does not appear on the album. Instead, "Power Trip," "Crooked Smile," "Forbidden Fruit," and "She Knows" served as the four singles that were from the project. The album has been certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.
Take a look back at ten albums and mixtapes that will be celebrating their 10th anniversary in 2023:
'Nothing Was The Same' - Drake (September 24, 2013
OVO Sound/Young Money Entertainment/Cash Money Records/Republic Records- Drake's 'Nothing Was The Same' is arguably one of his best albums. 'NWTS' was released on September 24, 2013 and is the Toronto rapper's third studio album. It features guest appearances from 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Majid Jordan, Jay-Z, Jhené Aiko and Sampha. "Wu-Tang Forever" was the album's promotional single which was followed by seven other singles: "Started from the Bottom", "Hold On, We're Going Home," "All Me," "Pound Cake," "The Language," "Too Much" and "Worst Behavior." 'NWTS' was nominated for Grammys for "Best Rap Album," "Best Rap Performance" and "Best Rap Song" for "Started From The Bottom."
'Born Sinner' - J. Cole (June 18, 2013)
ByStorm/Columbia/Dreamville/Roc Nation'Born Sinner' is rapper J. Cole's sophomore album which dropped on June 18, 2013. 'Born Sinner' was lead by promotional single "Miss America" which was followed by "Power Trip," "Crooked Smile," "Forbidden Fruit," and "She Knows." The LP featured guest appearances by Miguel, Amber Coffman, Jhené Aiko, James Fauntleroy, Bas, TLC, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 following Kanye West's 'Yeezus' which was released the same day.
'Yeezus' - Kanye (June 18, 2013)
Def Jam Recordings/Roc-A-Fella Records'Yeezus' is Kanye West's sixth studio album and was released on June 18, 2013. 'Yeezus' debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming West's sixth chart-topping studio album. West enlists guest vocals from Justin Vernon, Chief Keef, Kid Cudi, Assassin, King L, Charlie Wilson, and Frank Ocean. However, on the official track listing the only featured guest is "God." Songs "New Slaves" and "Blood on the Leaves" are two of his best on the album and are tracks four and seven respectively. "New Slaves" was nominated for "Best Rap Song" and 'Yeezus' was nominated for "Best Rap Album" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
'Magna Carta...Holy Grail' - Jay-Z (July 4, 2013)
Roc-A-Fella/Roc Nation/UMD/Def Jam Music Group- Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta...Holy Grail' is the iconic rapper's twelfth studio album. The album was first released on July 4, 2013, to Samsung consumers. After that, it was available for retail sale on July 8, 2013. Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Nas, Rick Ross, and Frank Ocean appeared as guest features on the project. For the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, the album was nominated "Best Rap Album," "Best Rap Performance" ("Tom Ford"), "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" ("Part II (On The Run)"). "Holy Grail" was nominated for both "Best Rap Song" and "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" and won the latter which was the only song that took home a Grammy.
'Acid Rap' - Chance The Rapper (April 30, 2013)
Chance The Rapper'Acid Rap' is a mixtape by Chance The Rapper that dropped on April 30, 2013. The Chicago emcee released the project as a free digital download debuted at number 63 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart after being sold by unauthorized retailers, per Genius. The 12-track EP featured guest appearances from Action Bronson, Ab-Soul, Donald Glover, Noname, among others. 'Acid Rap' catipulted Chance to mainstream success and is one of his best projects behind his 2016 LP 'The Coloring Book.'
'Watching Movies With The Sound Off' - Mac Miller (June 18, 2013)
Rostrum Records'Watching Movies With The Sound Off' is Mac Miller's second studio album. It features Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, Earl Sweatshirt, Jay Electronica, Loaded Lux, Niki Randa, ScHoolboy Q, Tyler, The Creator and, Vinny Radio. The project was supported by three singles "S.D.S.," "Watching Movies," and "Goosebumpz." 'Watching Movies With The Sound Off' debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 behind J. Cole's 'Born Sinner' leading with Kanye's 'Yeezus' which all were released on June 18, 2013.
'Wolf' - Tyler, The Creator (April 2, 2013)
Odd Future Records/Sony'Wolf' is Tyler, The Creator's sophomore album which was released on April 2, 2013. The album featured guest appearances from Pharrell, Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean, among others. The LP debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200. The album was lead by its solo single "Domo 23."
'Long.Live.ASAP' - A$AP Rocky (January 15, 2013)
ASAP Worldwide/Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records- 'Long.Live.ASAP' is the debut album by rapper A$AP Rocky. The album was released on January 15, 2013. The Harlem-bred rapper enlisted Drake, 2 Chainz, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Skrillex, Danny Brown, Santigold, Birdy Nam Nam, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Yelawolf, Big K.R.I.T., and Overdoz for his 12-track LP. 'Long.Live.ASAP.' had four singles -- "Goldie", "F----in' Problems", "Wild for the Night", and "Fashion Killa" and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. "F----in' Problems" was nominated for "Best Rap Song" at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.
'My Name Is My Name' - Pusha T (October 8, 2013)
G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings'My Name Is My Name' is Pusha T's debut studio album which was released on October 8, 2013.The album is a follow up to his January 2013 mixtape 'Wraith of Cocaine'. 'My Name Is My Name' featured guest appearances from Rick Ross, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Future, Pharrell Williams, Chris Brown, Kendrick Lamar, Kelly Rowland, Ab-Liva, The-Dream, and Kevin Cossom. The album was lead by promotional single "Who I Am" as "Pain," "Numbers on the Boards," "Sweet Serenade," "Let Me Love You," and "Nosetalgia" followed. The LP debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200.
'The Marshall Mathers LP 2' - Eminem (November 5, 2013)
Aftermath Entertainment/Shady Records/Interscope RecordsEminem rounded out the end of major albums in 2013 with the release of 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2' on November 5. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and is the Detroit native's eigth studio album. It contains guest appearances from Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Skylar Grey, and Nate Ruess, among others. The lead single for 'The Marshall Mathers LP 2' was "Berzerk" followed by "Survival" and "Rap God." "The Monster," featuring Rihanna. "Headlights," featuring Ruess, was released the following year. Eminem took home "Best Rap Album" and "Best Rap/Sung Collaboration" for the Rihanna-assisted "The Monster" at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. "Rap God" also got a nomination for "Best Rap Performance." "Bezerk" was nominated previously at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards for "Best Rap Performance."
