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People don’t realise the power that an album can have. They can come in such a fun variety of different forms that what was once used to bunch songs together can now be used as a means to give fans different experiences, whether that means reeling out hits, being an example of the best in the genre or mapping out intricate storylines using music. The concept album is a pivotal part of these forms of LPs.

The idea of the concept album first emerged in the late 1960s and described albums that tied together all of their tracks underneath one overriding narrative. There was a great deal of difficulty in defining a concept album, given it was a term invented by music journalists to categorise different albums that had a connection throughout. These days, it generally means an album that pertains to one theme or has a narrative running through it.

Rappers can say a lot in a little amount of time. Not only that, but hip-hop is a genre that can utilise others to a great extent thanks to sampling and chopping. As such, the idea of creating a cinematic atmosphere in hip-hop and providing a narrative throughout the album where that backdrop is created has appealed to a number of different rappers. It means that hip-hop has a lot of concept albums for people to listen to.

These can be made with a narrative in mind, a specific sound uniting them or a general idea at its heart. Regardless, there are plenty to listen to, and this list will discuss some of our favourites.

The best concept albums in hip-hop

Clipping – Splendour and Misery

Criminally underrated, Clipping are the masters of concept albums. Made up of producers Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson and rapper Daveed Diggs, the entire team has experience working in film and theatre, meaning they create emotive soundscapes unlike anything else in hip-hop. While any of their albums could make this list, one of their best outings is Splendour and Misery.

Splendour and Misery tells the story of an intergalactic enslaved person. He is left alone on a cargo ship after managing to escape and develops a relationship with the artificial intelligence interface on board. Diggs’s rapping is laced with complex narrative, while the production makes the listener feel like they are floating in space. It is truly a testament to how stories can be told through rap.

Tyler, The Creator – IGOR

Though Tyler, The Creator had been in the public eye for some time before the release of IGOR, this felt like the album that put him on the map not only as a mainstream artist but also as a festival headliner and a contender for major awards. His first record to win a Grammy, IGOR, was a concept album that described the feeling of falling in and out of love.

The opening track ‘IGORS THEME’ plays as a theme song for the blonde-bobbed hopeless romantic who takes the listener through the process of falling in love, being a part of a toxic relationship and then steadily moving on. From ‘I THINK’, which sings joyously about falling for something, to ‘ARE WE STILL FRIENDS’, which has the jaded lover pine for a continued relationship of any sort with his ex, this album is an excellent example of story-telling through music.

Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city

One of Kendrick’s best performing albums and filled with hits that are still reeled off at his live shows, good kid, m.A.A.d city continues to cement itself as a classic of the genre. Not only that, it’s a beautiful concept album that talks of the difficulties of growing up in an underprivileged area and the constant threat of gang violence, alcoholism and drug abuse that comes with such surroundings.

Taking place in one night, the album follows Kendrick and some of his friends around as they drive and freestyle, drink, talk about women, and eventually try to shoot some members of a rival gang. The shooting ends with Kendrick’s brother getting shot and the rapper trying to find redemption. With songs that call back to others and a narrative that could inspire a Hollywood film, this concept album demands your attention.

Lupe Fiasco – Samurai

A more modern offering, Lupe Fiasco offers one of the most bizarre concept albums in hip-hop. It takes place in an alternate universe where Amy Winehouse is alive and exists as a battle rapper. The album was inspired by a clip of Winehouse speaking to her producer about recording battle raps.

“Hello doll, it’s Amy,” she says, “I keep coming out with all battle raps and… they’re just pouring out of me, like Wu-Tang stuff, like, but really neat, very beautifully alliterated little battle raps… I’m a Samurai.” While the concept is interesting, the album holds its own as Lupe Fiasco pulls out all the stops to deliver one of the best hip-hop records of 2024.

Jay-Z – American Gangster

Interestingly, Jay-Z wrote a soundtrack for a movie that had already been released with this album. What was a return to form for the New York rapper, he admitted that a specific scene inspires every song on American Gangster in Ridley Scott’s movie of the same name. 

No doubt Jay-Z also takes inspiration from his time spent on the streets, as this album feels incredibly grounded, considering a big Hollywood film inspired it. It was welcomed by fans everywhere, who saw it as a glance back to his debut, Reasonable Doubt, as he embraced the East Side hustle that so many connected to.

The Roots – Undun

The Roots are one of the most creative musical outfits in hip-hop. With an army of exceptional musicians at their helm, enough skin in the game to secure exciting features and Black Thought, one of the best MCs in the game on the mic, there is no escaping the plethora of musical accomplishments they have achieved.

That being said, the band was at its most imaginative with its narrative-driven concept album, Undun. This record tells the story of a fictional character, Redford Stevens. It’s set in urban poverty and told in reverse chronological order, depicting the band’s ability to create atmosphere with their sound and Black Thought’s knack for storytelling within lyricism. 

Prince Paul – Prince Among Thieves

One of the first of its kind, this Hip-Hop Opera was a game-changer and an incredibly intricately told and engaging story. It followed a rapper named Tariq, who dreamed of making it big in the music industry. To get financial help to launch his career, he turns to his friend True, who draws him into the criminal underworld.

The album is not only a good story but also a question of morality. Listeners are taken through some of Tariq’s criminal dealings and the ethical dilemmas posed as he breaks the law to fund his dreams. There are an abundance of excellent guest appearances on the album, which is packed with wonderful music and standout lyricism.

Madvillain – Madvillainy

Widely regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums ever made, you won’t find many fans of the genre who haven’t listened to Madvillainy in its entirety on multiple occasions. The concept was dedicated to looking into the future and understanding what would happen to the rapper Madvillain.

Madvillain was a mysterious character played by MF DOOM who completely embodied the spirit of underground hip-hop. By using offbeat samples, strange references, interesting flows and some of the best lyricism out there, DOOM was able to create a look into the future that some might confuse for being fact. The record is one of the most experimental on the list but is well worth a listen.

Jean Grae and Quelle Chris – Everything’s Fine

Jean Grae and Quelle Chris released Everything’s Fine in 2018. The politically charged album satirised the attitude people adopted despite the world crumbling around them. It features interviews with people going through terrible situations but continuously saying, “Everything’s fine.”

“We have a [dickhead] for a president,” said Quelle Chris when talking about the album, “And before our eyes, racial, religious, and sexual identity rights are moving backwards. Money is still a thing (I’m waiting for Star Trek life to start). There’s war, and your kids may be sick, but if someone randomly asks ‘How’s it going?’ most people will say, ‘Fine’.”

Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End Of Day

Kid Cudi is an artist who has dedicated his career to hits and misses. While some of his albums stand out in the genre, others fall flat, but this represents his innovation and creativity. When you are willing to push the boat out, sometimes you’ll push too far and make something people don’t like, but that’s the price to pay for being experimental.

His debut, Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, gave listeners insight into the mind that would dominate a large part of music for the foreseeable future. Cudi spoke about his psyche and explored themes of loneliness and depression, all while making music that pushed the boundaries of sound. He had Common on the album acting as an occasional narrator and divided the record into five acts, each of which represented a different part of the rapper’s spiritual evolution.