In an especially strong category, two albums stand apart
This year’s Best Rap Album race should come down to lyrical titans Kendrick Lamar and Clipse, even if the other three nominees are all worthy in their own right.
The Nominees
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
GloRilla – Glorious
J.I.D – God Does Like Ugly
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Tyler, the Creator – Chromakopia
The Lowdown
According to Genius VP of Music and Content Rob Markman, the past 12 months in rap have been “the year of intention,” with artists who “had some pain that they wanted to give, some hope that they wanted to give.”
That’s the case with albums from Lamar and Clipse, as well as J.I.D’s God Does Like Ugly. (J.I.D has long been a respected lyricist too.) Markman is also impressed with the growth that Tyler, the Creator has shown on Chromakopia, which once again reflects the best of his lush, layered production chops.
Whoever wins or doesn’t, Markman is adamant that trophies don’t define us: “Phife Dawg said, ‘I never let a statue tell me how nice I am.’”
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Who Should Win
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
After a 15-year absence, the Virginia duo delivered a master class buoyed by Pharrell Williams’ production that embodied their classic sound for a new era. It’s also testament to aging and growth in rap. “They tell us hip-hop is a young man’s game,” Markman says. “It’s a dope story for hip-hop, and it lets others who are coming behind Clipse [know], ‘Oh, I can grow in this.’”
Who Will Win
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
How long does the aftermath of a tidal wave last? We’ll find out with Lamar’s GNX. The LP came as somewhat of a surprise after an already banner 2025 for the Compton rhymer, vanquishing Drake with the addictive diss track “Not Like Us.” But with GNX, Lamar delved deeper into who “us” is.
