It’s been almost 10 years since Kanye West’s “Runaway” was in the Billboard Top 40. While it’s difficult for music fans to reconcile who Kanye is today with the Hennessy-sippin’, mic-snatching person he was in 2010, his mark on Hip Hop and music is undeniable.
On Tuesday (November 19), Billboard published their staff picks for the 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s and Ye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was declared Best Album of the Decade.
Since MBDTF dropped on November 22, 2010, it’s been hailed as a masterpiece and received nearly perfect reviews. The album, Kanye’s fifth studio release, gave fans a more developed exploration of the experimental sound introduced on his 2008 release 808’s and Heartbreaks.
MBDTF beat out several notable projects released since 2010. Billboard listed the album ahead of Beyonce’s Lemonade which came in at No. 2 and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, which came in at No. 5 .
Other albums on the list include Chance The Rapper’s Acid Rap, Anti by Rihanna and DS2 by Future. Other Hip Hop acts such as Drake, Solange and Frank Ocean also made the cut.
Yeezy reupholstered my puzzy
To pimp a butterfly is album of the decade. Bar none.
I prefer many over it, but to me, it’s somewhat like the Illmatic of the 2000s. I know they aren’t similar, but the type of quality is comparable in different ways.
Illmatic of 2000’s???? the guy can’t rap to save his life and he’s a B level hip hop producer at best (only considered A grade in the context of Pop).
Replied too early…just realized you were talking about To pimp a butterfly…thought you were talking about kanye’s album
To pimp a butterfly put me to sleep
To Pimp A Butterfly should have won for obvious reasons. Not saying that My Beautiful Dark is wack because it certainly isn’t; it’s Kanye’s magnum opus in my opinion but, To Pimp is the highest rated and reviewed Hip Hop album on Metacritic and it is Kendrick’s magnum opus. I’ll take To Pimp over this shit ANY DAY. Dot made and put out a VERY Black Hip Hop album at a very volatile and pivotal time period in AmeriKKKan history. Billboard didn’t wanna give Dot that honor and distinction because Kendrick put out a BLACK album. Just go listen to To Pimp (I have it downloaded on Tidal; bout to go listen to that classic now). That album is basically an homage and ode to Black music and everything Black but, of course anytime a Black person in this country tries to push something Black to the forefront, White AmeriKKKa has to try to rebuff those efforts because these White folk are terrified at the idea of Black unity. African-Americans coming together and using their intelligence instead of their fists and guns to hurt, shoot, kill, and maim each other is Whitey’s greatest fear. A White man already deeply fears and is supremely insecure when it comes to the BLACK MAN and an educated and conscious, strong, masculine Black man is this world’s GREATEST FEAR. The cover of To Pimp tells you that “this will be an unapologetic BLACK album”. Kendrick dropped the greatest Hip Hop album in the 2010’s and it’s not even up for debate with me. And he delivered (in my opinion) the GREATEST punch line/metaphor/simile in HIP HOP HISTORY with this whopper of a line on “Blacker The Berry”- “I’m Black as the heart of a fucking Aryan”. I’m sorry but, mic drop. Kendrick, this is YOUR VICTORY LAP BROTHER (RIP to Nip tho). To me, Dot owned the 2010’s artistically while Drake owned this decade mainstream and sales wise. Dot also won a fucking Pulitzer bro. Like, we know deep down inside who is the current GOAT of this Rap shit man.
I disagree, while TPAB is hands down a great piece of work, I don’t think for ME it’s the best. Art is truly subjective, but hands down, these albums both deserve to be considered some of the best of the past decade. Tpab doesn’t get playback from me, but neither does most of Kendrick… I was a gigantic Kendrick diehard fan, but Damn. Didn’t do it for me, and I personally think his features and such now sound like annoying pop rap. But again, Tpab is a great album, very creative as well as introspective and packed full of talent. I actually do prefer to listen to Section. 80 though, and I truly prefer Kendrick from 2009 to 2014. After that, he kind of went pop to me, same with Jay Rock, Q, and waiting on a new Soul album… Control system honestly needs to be in top 10 hiphop albums of the decade too, right?! That album was amazing, and actually educates you! Never knew about Bohimien Grove until that album, and it lead me to research it… Guess what? The United Nations and the Atom Bomb are two ideas conceived at Bohimien Grove… Very twisted, insane shit goes on there!
You need to listen to Immortal Tech and Ras Kass, if you like that conspiracy theory rap. I’m personally over that shit, focused solely on my immediate surroundings… But when I was in college, I was heavy on that.
I don’t Ike Immortal Techniques soujd/flow, and don’t get me wrong, I love conspiracy theories, but I feel like Immortal spews words and topics without actually getting deep into the topics. Ras Kass? Definitely interested. I’ll check it out.
Soul on Ice. Institutionalized vol 1.
To pimp a butterfly was whack
That album was only elevated because people like Chris Rock went around telling everyone it was the best album ever. Personally I would take Janelle Monae’s first album over MBDTF.
Well deserved.
This is a fact
By White People
Well, it was a real fantastic album. I’m black, and I think it’s a classic. Some will argue albums like GKMC are better, and I’d definitely disagree. Gkmc deserves honorable mention, but Kanyes album definitely takes it for me. I’m trying to think of some other honorable mentions… That’s 2009 til now…. Idk honestly. 2009 is after the 50, eminem, game hype, after the lil Wayne heights (I wasn’t a fan of his), 2009 was more Kanye, Kendrick/Cole come up, Drake…
I mean, yeah. If it were black people they would have given it to Rick Ross or Young Thug or some stupid shit.
This was peak ye! Production was on another level
To Pimp A Butterfly is album of the decade for me and GKMC is at no. 2
DAMN and section 80 were undeniably better than both of those. In my eyes he has still never topped section 80. You probably have never heard it.
Section 80 is better than GKMC but definitely not better than TPAB
DAMN’s way better than TPAB, it’s gonna be his “It was written”. Years from now people will give it the respect it deserves…
It is a fantastic album. Definitely one of Kanyes best. If I had to choose some albums that I would say are best since 2009, I’d say that, GKMC, TPAB, Control System, maybe throw in Blank face… Oxymoron is great, but blank face really grows on ya… Tde at one point was pumping out amazing work, but the last few albums haven’t done it for me at all… I really like Grieves album and Profs “pookie baby”. Both are underrated artists I’d say, and if you haven’t listened to Grieves or Prof, check them out. Prof is comedic party music, and Grives is relatable life music, with groovy synths and nice hiphop vibes. Anyone care to add on to my list of great albums for past decade? I know I’m missing a lot…
I wouldn’t even say it’s his best album but having said that, I can’t think of anything released this past decade that really made my jaw drop. There’s plenty of good albums I can name and many that I would say we’re even great. But I can’t think of any that I was able to listen to on repeat without skipping tracks. The 90s on the other hand…
I agree 90ies was da real shit!!
Is this one of those “back in my day” arguments?
No, this is one of those “my opinion” arguments. Don’t be so sensitive, it’s what comments sections are for.
GKMC fam
RECOVERY
Yes you need to return to it
Definitely his peak. Everything since has really been lacking and subpar.
Watch The Throne was good
I agree. The album took about 3 months to grow on me.
My least favorite Kanye album coincidentally
Scarface Deeply Rooted Eight Ball MJG Ten Toes Down Daz and WC West Coast Gangsta Shit and Nas Life Is Good these are all 50x better. GTFO saying Kayne has the best of anything S M H.
Sorry folks but what a lousy decade of music!
you must be a corny ass old head or an idiot if you think it was lousy lol
dude is right. 2010s compared to 2000s and 1990s was fuckin azz. kai got his brain fried with autotune i think
1- To pimp a butterfly
2- mbdtf
3- gkmc
4-ta1300
5- flowerboy
6- noname- telephone
7- jay z 444
8-pusha t- daytona
9- JID- the never story
10- All-Amerikkkan Badass
This list is suspect? The last TEN years?
When I say I miss the old Kanye I really just mean this. He put so much thought and effort into this album, and it’s legit my favorite album of all time. But, we never saw that level of focus or effort put in afterwards. Yeezus was somewhat disjointed, but still playable. TLOP had some great sounding songs, but it’s generous to call it unfocused. Ye and Jesus is King both felt like he was phoning it in. The ideas on both albums were half baked and despite claiming to have a consistent theme they still felt really scattered in a way that wasn’t intentional. The production errors on JIK were so bad I couldn’t belive he released it like that.
these lists are about as corny as a grammy nod list.
This album would’ve hit harder if he didn’t release the songs early. Graduation still my personal favorite of his, but I ain’t mad at nobody feeling MBDTF to this level…
I can’t say I necessarily disagree…I think it’s his best album and would consider it a masterpiece.
Makes sense given this decade has been unbelievably bad for music. Think about it, who are the dominant personalities, Kanye, Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift. Not one of them are actually talented as artists, more so as performers and controversy generators. So yes, let’s crown Kanye king, Beyonce queen and call mumbling off beat an art form.
You’re the true definition of a hater
Giving your opinion does not make you a hater. What you want is for people to become drones and worship the same idols as you do so that you can feel less insecure about the mindless things you choose. Sorry, not going to happen.
That’s not hate, why does he have to agree
I don’t like Kanye but I have to admit that album deserves to be called like that. But also sadly, it was his last best album. Yeezus was good but that’s just it. MBDTF was a masterpiece and it gave me feelings like I was walking on clouds where angels sing and everybody’s clapping. This gave me chill.
Those clouds were drug induced.
I agree. Album was dope. Good Friday’s dropped some great tracks aswell
Jesus is king!! God is good. Keep
Spreading the message YE! The devil will never win.
Pusha T – daytona
Best album of the decade!
MBDTF DEFINITELY TRANSCENDED. I CAN SEE ITS IMPORTANCE HOWEVER I NEVER REALLY CARED MUCH ABOUT THIS ALBUM.IF WE’RE TALKING QUALITY, I FEEL ATCQ FINAL ALBUM AND EVEN TPAB WAS BETTER.
I don’t know. I’ve always found Kanye to be overrated. He can make some beats, I’ll give him that. But he’s a horrible rapper, an even worse singer, and he always seems to reach for something that ain’t there. I never quite understood his appeal beyond the production that he did on his earlier albums.
You crazy, right? You claim ‘Ye is “overrated” when he makes beats AND he raps. There are a lot of rappers who only rap but, can’t make beats. ‘Ye definitely could never be overrated even if other people help him to write rhymes because even if you’re getting handed rhymes to spit, you still have to RAP those rhymes written by other people and if you’re doing that AND making beats- how are you overrated? Shit, making beats AND writing rhymes doubles your workload.
I understand that feeling. It’s called jealousy. Am not fan of anything Kanye does from shoes to Gospel. But no album has come close to his ever since it was released. Rihanna’s anti maybe. But that’s it
He has point kayne didn’t write his 1st 3
Whole niggas campaigning for a Rihanna album SMH
As for MBDTF….it’s a Hip Hop album…wouldn’t give him that distinction, raps weren’t written by him. I’ll take DAMN, How I Got Over, Tetsuo and Youth and Life Is Good over MBDTF, but it’s Billboard.
This is a good conversation. With the way music has been released in the last 5-6 years it’s hard to remember a lot of great releases being drowned out by the mass influx of music.
MBDTF is 100% album of the decade material. Whether it is or not i’ll leave to the people but it definitely deserves consideration. Very few artists since have put in that kind of work to an album.
Other albums I believe should be in that category: Good Kid Mad City, To Pimp a Butterfly.
I think it’s important to distinguish great albums from culture shifting projects. Because there were a lot of great albums that came out in my opinion but there were only a few that were watershed moments.
Some great albums for me: Victory Lap, Teflon Don, Take Care, Ego Death (The Internet) Life is Good, Daytona, I had 4:44 in here but it hasn’t aged very well for me.
His last good album
How I Got Over had raps written by the rappers who spit them and fire production, but sold triple tobacco so guess that’s not getting a look….DAMN was that work too. TPAB was overdone and sometimes less is more. Take Alright off of it and I bet I wouldn’t have gotten a look.