Earlier in August, I penned an article detailing seven rap albums that were surprisingly bad. While composing that article, I came to realize the sheer number of instances in which this phenomenon has occurred.
As it turns out, there has been no shortage of hip-hop projects that have left fans wondering what exactly went wrong. It only felt right, then, to build upon that initial list with a second edition.
So, without further ado, here are another seven hip-hop albums that fans eagerly awaited, only to be seriously let down once the final product arrived. Sorry in advance to those who will have to relive any of the dissatisfaction these records brought.
7 more rap flops that didn't meet the moment
Eminem - Revival (2017)
Following years of personal struggles, it seemed like Eminem was finally getting back to creative formidability with 2013's The Marshall Mathers LP2. His next album, Revival, made that prospect seem further than ever. This project was notoriously bad with awful hooks, awful production, and some of the worst, most eye-rolling bars that Em had ever written.
Roddy Ricch - LIVE LIFE FAST (2021)
Expectations were high for Roddy Ricch after his breakout in 2019, where he most notably delivered the megahit "The Box". LIVE LIFE FAST did not meet those expectations. There wasn't anything nearly as memorable as "The Box" and aside from some cool instrumental window dressing, the content was decidedly mid.
A$AP Ferg - ALWAYS STRIVE AND PROSPER (2016)
This album is far from Ferg's 2013 album Trap Lord, which offered its fair share of iconic bangers. Despite similar runtimes, ALWAYS STRIVE AND PROSPER delivered a lot less bang for your buck. Ferg sounded out of his element with a super commercial instrumental palette, and his typically animated performances were way more goofy than punchy in this setting.
Goodie Mob - World Party (1999)
Atlanta's Goodie Mob set a high bar for themselves with their first two records, but they came nowhere near it for their third release. The soulful instrumentation and conscious wordplay they were known for was largely absent from World Party, and the music suffered as a result. It's no surprise that CeeLo Green left the group in this album's midst.
Jadakiss - The Last Kiss (2009)
In the decade before this project, Jadakiss was an artist worth paying attention to both for his work as a solo artist and as a member of The LOX. However, The Last Kiss didn't live up to any of his prior output. The trendy late-2000s production was ill-suited for Jada, and even a healthy number of collabs with familiar faces couldn't recapture the magic.
YG - STAY DANGEROUS (2018)
YG had been on an upward trajectory for a while, and it really felt like he'd found something special with the colorful west-coast production and captivating songs ideas on Still Brazy in 2016. But two years later, STAY DANGEROUS showed YG clearly regressing creatively. He settled for a far more mainstream, unadventurous trap sound that failed to impress.
Young Thug - Punk (2021)
Considering its star-studded feature list, combined with the run that Young Thug had been on prior to it's release, it's wild that Punk ended up being so forgettable. But when you actually listen to its contents, it doesn't seem nearly as crazy. This album lacked a lasting hit and was padded out by plenty of mediocre tracks and undercooked ideas.