The 12 Greatest Albums by Atlanta Rappers

Kicking off our list is Playboi Carti's 2018 sophomore album, Die Lit, which featured the likes of Skepta, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Pi'erre Bourne, Nicki Minaj, Bryson Tiller, Red Coldhearted, Gunna, Chief Keef, and Young Nudy. It's got plenty of classics on there, and is undoubtedly worthy of a spot on our list.

In this slick collaborative album with Pi'erre Bourne, Young Nudy really made an impact. The 12-song project helped to propel him forward, towards where he is now, and create a more widespread familiarity with the Atlanta star amongst a global audience. You just can't properly replicate this sound, even if you tried.

In this remarkable body of work, 21 Savage helped show the world in 2016 what Atlanta really sounded like. Over top-notch production from Metro Boomin, 21 penned unforgettable songs like "X" and "No Heart." This would be the beginning of their collaborative album hot-streak.

Jeezy's follow-up to his debut, Thug Motivation 102: The Inspiration, is a juggernaut in the greatest albums by Atlanta rappers. It's a raw and unfiltered look at Jeezy's life, with a sound that's as grand as the narratives he weaves.

Gucci Mane's The State vs. Radric Davis is a tour-de-force of trap music, with its raw authenticity and Gucci's charismatic flow. It's a pivotal work that has inspired a generation of rappers in Atlanta and beyond.

Migos' Culture is a modern classic that brought the Atlanta trio's infectious triplet flow to the forefront of hip-hop. The album is packed with hits that have dominated the airwaves and contributed to the greatest albums by Atlanta rappers.

In 2016, Young Thug dropped off an album that would become regarded as a classic in the genre of hip-hop, Slime Season 3. This album shows off Thug's incredible ability to make hits, as its jam-packed with them.

Future's DS2 is a moody, atmospheric masterpiece that delves deep into the rapper's psyche. It's a defining album for trap music and a high-water mark for Atlanta's influence on the genre.

OutKast's Stankonia is a groundbreaking album that blended funk, psychedelia, and rap in a way that had never been heard before. It's a cornerstone in the greatest albums by Atlanta rappers, pushing the boundaries of what hip-hop could be.

In 2020, Playboi Carti dropped off his most impactful album to date, Whole Lotta Red. While it was heavily debated initially, it grew to be widely acclaimed shortly thereafter. With songs like "Sky," "Vamp Anthem," and "ILoveUIHateU," it's understandable why the project has seen so much success.

Nestled among the greatest albums by Atlanta rappers is an outlier that bends the definition of rap itself. Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere is a genre-defying album that merges soul, funk, and hip-hop into an eclectic and irresistible mix. The duo, consisting of Atlanta's own CeeLo Green and producer Danger Mouse, created a project that resonates with the emotional depth of soul music and the forward-thinking production of modern hip-hop.

At the pinnacle of the greatest albums by Atlanta rappers stands OutKast's Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. This double album from the dynamic duo of Big Boi and André 3000 is a cultural milestone, a genre-defying opus that won the Grammy for Album of the Year. It's not just the best album by an Atlanta rapper; it's a contender for one of the greatest albums in hip-hop history.