By Andrew Buckner

*The inclusion of the albums/ EPs on this list are done so based on the criteria of an original release date of 2023. *

35. Faith is a Rock

by MIKE, Wiki, The Alchemist

34. Tortures of the Damned

by Mr. Hyde

33. The Aux

by Blockhead

32. Integrated Tech Solutions

by Aesop Rock

31. Some Like it Hot (EP)

by Wynne

30. JFKLAX (EP)

by Kxng Crooked, Joell Ortiz

29. Blood on Da X

by Onyx

28. Tech N9ne Presents: NNUTTHOWZE – Signaling the Siqly (EP)

by Tech N9ne, Zkeircrow, and Phlaque

27. Michael

by Killer Mike

26. To What End

by Oddisee

25. MellowLOvation Music

by Rittz

24. College Park

by Logic

23. The Patience

by Mick Jenkins 

22. Dear California (EP)

by Crooked I

21. HGG2

by Bizarre, Foul Mouth

20. Won’t He Do It!

by Conway the Machine

19. And Then You Pray for Me

by Westside Gunn

18. So Many Realities Exist Simultaneously

by Atmosphere

17. Bliss

by Tech N9ne

16. Magic 2

by Nas

15. To See a Sunset

by Kotah the Friend, Statik Selektah 

14. In the Beginning (Vol. 3)

by Madlib, Declaime 

13. Anthology II (Movie Themes 1976-1988)

by John Carpenter

12. Round Trip

by Statik Selektah

11. Sardines

by Apollo Brown, Planet Asia

10. Period.

by Paradime

9. The Mind of a Saint

by Skyzoo

8. Maps

by Billy Woods, Kenny Segal 

7. Goon Mode

by Snowgoons, Lingo, Ayok

6. God’s Carpenter

by Chino XL, Stu Bangas

5. Liberation 2

by Talib Kweli, Madlib

4. Vedic Vape Room

by Killah Priest

3. Glorious Game

by Black Thought, El Michels Affair

2. Magic 3

by Nas

1. New Blue Sun

by Andre 3000

Runners-up:

Blockbusta

by Busta Rhymes

The Curse of the Inevitable III: Pieces of My Pain

by Lloyd Banks

Flying High, Pt. 2

by The Alchemist

A Gradual Decline in Morality

by Kim Dracula

Halloween Havoc IV: The 72nd Hr

by Lloyd Banks

Illdren

by King Iso

18159 Stout

by Bizarre

The Spoken Word

by Jason Henderson

Voir Dire

by Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist

World Take Over

by Onyx