3 underrated rap albums from the 2010s

Although many burgeoning adults consider the 2010s to be the golden age of hip-hop, it was primarily dominated by the “trap music” scene. The sheer volume of artists caused many noteworthy albums to get lost in the shuffle, which is precisely why I’d like to take an in-depth look at three of the most criminally underrated rap albums of the era.

1. The World Is Yours by Rich The Kid

Even with the two bona fide hit songs, “New Freezer” with Kendrick Lamar (peaked at #41) and “Plug Walk” (peaked at #13), Rich The Kid’s debut album failed to capture much attention. This was perhaps a testament to the consistency of high-quality albums being released at the time, with XXXTentacion’s ?, J. Cole’s KOD, and Post Malone’s Beerbongs and Bentleys all coming out within a month of Rich The Kid’s release date.

The World Is Yours leans into the criticism that Rich is constantly overshadowed by proving he can stand toe to toe with some of the most prominent artists in the industry. He does this without question on the song “No Question” with Future and “Lost It” with both Quavo and Offset. Rich then thrives outside of his comfort zone on “Early Morning Trappin”, “Made It”, and “Too Gone” with Khalid.

I'd also be remiss not to mention the supposed Lil Uzi diss track “Dead Friends" over an unexpectedly fitting Tory-Lanez-style beat. Although the album didn’t have a powerful or unique message, I found myself liking more and more of the tracks until I was forced to accept that I enjoy the entire album.

2. Championships by Meek Mill

After Meek Mill’s “Dreams and Nightmares” became the anthem for the Eagles' 2018 Super Bowl win, fans knew an album from the Philadelphia rapper wouldn’t be far behind. However, plenty of other songs deserved the spotlight more than the obligatory Drake feature on “Going Bad”, which peaked at #6 on the charts. “Uptown Vibes” and “What’s Free” over the beat to Notorious B.I.G.’s “What’s Beef?” are extremely underrated and do a great job of showcasing Meek’s versatility as a rap artist.

He expertly demonstrates his lyrical ability on ”Oodles and Noodles Babies” and “Championships,” arguably featuring two of the best beats he’s ever had access to. On the title track “Championships,” Meek laments all his obstacles, from poverty to racism and gun violence.

According to the song, he knew the people who killed his father when he was just 5 years old, which Mill compares to a test from a higher power that he is now being rewarded for. The entire album is a victory lap where Meek Mill takes a moment to bask in having made it out the other side of his struggles. Go out of your way to give another listen to the aforementioned tracks in particular.

3. The Lost Boy by Cordae

Early on, it was clear that Cordae would be the breakout star of the YBN collective, but not many believed he could craft as fantastic a debut album as The Lost Boy. This album ticks every box a great album should. Story? Check. This album tells fans about Cordae's origins and his values. "Family Matters" shines a light on all the family problems he’s missed out on to chase his music career, leaving his loved ones with the message that they shouldn’t suffer in silence.

"Thousand Words" commentates on people who portray false images of themselves on social media, causing Cordae to vow not to live that way. Catchy hooks? Check. The lead track on the album, "Bad Idea" with Chance the Rapper, showcases his surprisingly strong vocal ability, which was more or less uncharted territory for him at the time.

Range of styles? Check. "Way Back Home" with Ty Dolla $ign and "RNP" with Anderson Paak prove that he's capable of producing old-school R&B tracks, while "Have Mercy" and "Broke as F**k" make for better hype music than anything his former group produced. 

The album also includes skits (interludes) that help accentuate the narrative through lines. The pure artistry showcased throughout is perhaps why Cordae is one of the only rap artists from the 2010s to maintain and grow his fanbase in the following decade.