The Best Albums of 2017

From Kendrick to Lil Pump, or Jay-Z to Lorde, these are Complex's picks for the 50 best albums of the year.

Best Albums of 2017
Complex Original

Best Albums of 2017

Best Albums of 2017

Every year, it feels like music accelerates. 2016 saw major releases from nearly every marquee artist under the sun, signaling that 2017 might be something of an off-year. A year for discovery, maybe, instead of established statements from major artists. Somehow, it was both. 2017 saw full-length releases from rappers we know to be at the peak of their powers—Future (twice), Kendrick, and Drake all made a run at an album of the year—and proof from veterans, Jay-Z in particular, that he's still at the height of his. And, as always, a new crop of artists arrived on the scene. 2017 heralded the major label debuts from a new class of SoundCloud rappers like Lil Yachty, Lil Pump, and Lil Uzi Vert—to varying degrees of success. 

There were far, far more than 50 great albums this year. Here is Complex's picks for the best Albums of 2017

50. Lil B, 'Black Ken'

lil b black ken

49. Lil Pump, 'Lil Pump'

lil pump

48. Haim, 'Something to Tell You'

Haim

47. Khalid, 'American Teen'

Khalid   American Teen

46. Lana Del Rey, 'Lust for Life'

Lana Del Rey

45. Cyhi The Prynce, 'No Dope On Sundays'

CyHi the Prynce 'No Dope on Sundays'

44. Lorde, 'Melodrama'

Lorde

43. J.I.D, 'The Never Story'

jid

42. Miguel, 'War And Leisure'

miguel war leisure

41. Smino, 'blkswn'

smino blkswn

40. 21 Savage, Offset, and Metro Boomin, 'Without Warning'

21 Savage x Offset x Metro Boomin 'Without Warning'

39. Young Dolph, 'Thinking Out Loud'

Dolph Out Loud

38. John Mayer, 'The Search for Everything'

john mayer search for everything

37. 21 Savage, 'Issa Album'

Instagram

36. Aminé, 'Good for You'

amine good for you artwork

35. Dua Lipa, 'Dua Lipa'

Dua Lipa Miguel

34. Meek Mill, 'Wins & Losses'

Meek Mill Wins & Losses

33. Harry Styles, 'Harry Styles'

harry styles album

32. ASAP Twelvyy, '12'

asap twelvyy 12

31. Sonder, 'Into'

Sonder Into

30. Thundercat, 'Drunk'

Thundercat Drunk

29. Roc Marciano, 'Rosebudd's Revenge'

Roc Marciano, 'Rosebudd's Revenge'

28. GoldLink, 'At What Cost'

goldlink at what cost

27. G Perico, 'All Blue'

g perico all blue album

26. Taylor Swift, 'Reputation'

Taylor cover

25. 2 Chainz, 'Pretty Girls Like Trap Music'

2 chainz

24. Gucci Mane and Metro Boomin, 'Droptopwop'

gucci mane droptopwop

23. Freddie Gibbs, 'You Only Live 2wice'

freddie gibbs

22. Kodak Black, 'Painting Pictures'

kodak black

21. Kesha, 'Rainbow'

kesha rainbow cover

20. Rick Ross, 'Rather You Than Me'

rick ross album cover

19. Calvin Harris, 'Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1'

Calvin Harris

18. Joey Bada$$, 'All-Amerikkkan Bada$$'

joey badass album cover

17. Kelela, 'Take Me Apart'

Kelela take me apart

16. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, 'The Bigger Artist'

boogie with da hoodie album

15. Future, 'FUTURE'

future album cover

14. Vince Staples, 'The Big Fish Theory'

Vince Staples

13. Rapsody, 'Laila’s Wisdom'

rapsody lailas wisdom

12. Charli XCX, 'Number One Angel'

charli xcx album

11. Syd, 'Fin'

syd fin album

10. Drake, 'More Life'

Drake 'More Life'

9. Daniel Caesar, 'Freudian'

Daniel Caesar

8. Lil Uzi Vert, 'Luv Is Rage 2'

The cover for Lil Uzi Vert's 'Luv Is Rage 2'

7. Migos, 'Culture'

migos

6. Tyler, the Creator, 'Flower Boy'

tyler

5. Sampha, 'Process'

sampha process

4. Future, 'HNDRXX'

Future

3. SZA, 'Ctrl'

sza ctrl

2. Jay Z, '4:44'

Jay Z '4:44' album cover

1. Kendrick Lamar, 'Damn'

Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' cover art.

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