Even though we’re only halfway through the decade, the 2020s have brought us some of the greatest, most influential albums. From chart topping albums like Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa, sleeper hits like Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess by Chappell Roan, or more niche, internet-based projects such as THE PEAK by smoked*pe2016 and the death and birth of an angel by fallingwithscissors, the 2020s has a myriad of amazing projects both popular and underrated. Here is this list of the best albums of the 2020s:

10. 333– Bladee (2020)

 Genre: Cloud Rap, Art Pop, Trap

333 is the fourth studio album by the Swedish singer and rapper Bladee. Bladee released this as a surprise album following up his previous album Exeter (2020). 333 is a Cloud rap project that deals with themes of introspection and love, as the title itself is a reference to the holy number 3. Sonically, 333 is a cloud rap album that takes elements of ambient pop and art pop. Compared to other Bladee albums, this release is one of the most accessible and popular releases that Bladee has put out.

9. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers– Kendrick Lamar (2022)

 Genre: Conscious Hip-Hop

5 years after Lamar’s fourth studio album D*MN (2017) dropped, Kendrick took a musical hiatus, producing the Black Panther Soundtrack (2018) and being a father of two during this time. Mr Morale is Lamar’s grand return under his new label PGlang, and last under TDE. Mr Morale & The Big Steppers is a concept album that discusses themes of therapy, childhood, and generational trauma. MM&TBS has some of Kendrick’s most personal and eye-opening songs in his discography, and while the reception of the album by fans was divided at first, over time, MM&TBS proved to be one of Kendrick’s best and underappreciated releases compared to his previous works.

8. Imaginal Disk– Magdalena Bay (2024)

 Genre: Psychedelic Pop, Synth Pop

Being one of the highest scored albums of the 2020s on music database sites like AOTY and RYM, Imaginal Disk has already proven to be a modern day classic album from the 2020s. With dreamy, hazy psychedelic production, and whispery, haunting vocals from Mica Tenenbaum, the lead singer of Magdalena Bay, the duo has made a beautiful concept album about consciousness and self-exploration. 

7. SCARING THE H*ES– JPEGMafia and Danny Brown (2024)

 Genre: Experimental Hip-Hop, Glitch Hop

SCARING THE H*ES is the result of bringing together two of the most chaotic, daring, and experimental rappers of the modern day. STH consists of loud, chaotic, and glitchy hiphop, samples from soul and 2000s pop music. Along with hard-hitting eccentric lyrics that even poke fun at how the album is not radio friendly and funny titles to top it off, STH brings together different elements of songs such as jungle, drum and bass and dariacore. 

6. NO TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28,340 DEAD– Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2024)

 Genre: Post Rock, Drone

NTAO, a Post Rock/Drone LP clocking in at 54 minutes, NTAO is an instrumental protest album that says a lot with its instrumentals. The title is a reference to the deaths of Palestinian people on the date of February 13th, 2024. Like other Godspeed albums, this one is depressing, haunting, and beautifully composed, showing the tragedies of the Palestinian people in one album through the apocalyptic instrumentals.   

5. You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To– Knocked Loose (2024)

 Genre: Metalcore, Hardcore Punk, Beatdown Hardcore

You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To are the words that a woman flying on a plane told lead singer Bryan Garris before takeoff. It is an angry record, documenting a collection of personal struggles. Garris sounds angrier than ever, and Guitarist Issac Hale creates some of the band’s best, heaviest riffs. The only two features on this album, Poppy and Chris Motionless of Motionless in White, bring and match the energy of the rest of the band. You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To is the band’s heaviest work yet and one of the best albums of the 2020s (so far). 

4. chronic– twikipedia (2022)

 Genre: Digicore, Trap, Pop Rap

chronic is the self produced debut album from Brazilian experimental artist twikipedia. Throughout the 2020s, twikipedia has proven to be a pioneer and innovator in the hyperpop subgenre of digicore. Collaborating with many popular artists in the digicore/hyperpop scene prior to this release, chronic is a digicore album through and through, but throughout the LP, it takes elements of different genres, like the breakcore on “its not what i have” or the pluggnB on “rude”(that also samples the 2014 hit of the same name). chronic is a fun listen, while also innovating within its niche, to make one of the best and most underrated albums within the digicore genre. 

3. how i’m feeling now– Charli XCX (2020)

 Genre: Hyperpop, Experimental Pop, Electropop

Made during a time where everyone was isolated in 2020, British singer-songwriter Charli XCX made an album in response to the COVID-19 lockdowns. how i’m feeling now is a personal album reflecting Charli’s mind and headspace during quarantine, with this album being the last of Charli’s hyperpop trilogy with Pop 2 (2017) and Charli (2019). how i’m feeling now is an introspective and innovative album with lots of brass experimentations and moments of brooding beyond the loud hyperpop beats. This album was produced by her long-time producer A.G. Cook, along with additional production from Dylan Brady of 100 gecs and BJ Burton. how im feeling now is the thoughtful quarantine release that showcases life in 2020 for the singer-songwriter. 

2. Preacher’s Daughter– Ethel Cain (2022)

 Genre: Slowcore, Americana, Dream-pop, Ambient

Preacher’s Daughter is the debut album of American Singer-Songwriter Hayden Anhedonia, also known by the stage name Ethel Cain. Preacher’s Daughter is a concept album that explores themes such as generational trauma and religion. Story wise, Preacher’s Daughter follows the story of Ethel Cain, who runs away to escape her abusive father and family, and ends up meeting her demise at the end of the album. Preacher’s Daughter is atmospheric and heart shattering, as the production and lyrics guide us through the life of Ethel’s character, blending elements of genres such as Roots-rock, heartland rock and dark wave and building the aesthetic around Southern Gothic. This album was musically inspired by artists like Lana Del Rey and Florence Welch.

1. Nurture– Porter Robinson (2021)

 Genre: Electropop, Synth-pop, Glitch Pop

7 years after releasing his breakthrough album Worlds (2014), and after years of different aliases and writer’s block, Porter Robinson returned with his second album Nurture. Nurture is a stylistic shift from his debut album, Worlds (2014) as this debut was more epic and fantasy-driven with huge EDM drops. This record is more hopeful, personal, and optimistic with its sound and lyrics. The album features more of Porter singing, especially with a more “AutoTuned” style that pitches his voice up higher. Nurture is Porter’s best piece of work yet. The album is a beautiful, nurturing and optimistic album that showcases Porter’s best production and lyrics yet, which is why this record is the best album of the 2020s (so far).

These are some of the best records released so far this decade. While these are albums that are current standouts, it’s important to remember that the 2020s are still going very strong in terms of music. We are currently halfway into the decade, and music still shows to be one of the most powerful and prevalent art forms in the 21st century. We’re excited for what the future holds for music and albums as the 2020s progress. 

Honorable Mentions: 

1. In Waves– Jamie xx (2024)

 Genre: Future Garage, UK Bass, House

2. 10,000 gecs– 100 gecs (2023)

Genre: Hyperpop

3. 2093– Yeat (2024)

 Genre: Rage, Industrial Hip-hop

4. After Hours– The Weeknd (2020)

 Genre: Synth-pop, Alternative R&B

5. DeBi TiRAR MaS FOTos– Bad Bunny (2025)

 Genre: Reggaeton, Latin Pop, Dembow

6. Frailty– Jane Remover (2021)

 Genre: Progressive Pop, Digicore, Glitch-pop, Shoegaze

7. MOTOMAMI– Rosalia (2022)

 Genre: Art-pop, Neoperreo, Reggaeton 

8. softscars– yeule

 Genre: Glitch-pop, Dream pop