The Top 10 Rap Projects of 2024!

A few days late, I know! But it’s always great to look back on a year once having entered a new one to delve into the music that it had to offer and compile a list of your personal favourites! This article will take a look back solely on the rap projects of 2024, as I rank what I feel were the 10 best rap projects of the past year. Some may surprise you, some may not, but let’s see who and what projects made the 99Piece list!

10. Luciano - Seductive (Germany)

At No.10 we have German-based rapper Luciano with his extremely impressive project ‘Seductive’. I was first introduced to Luciano via Headie One’s European compilation project ‘No Borders’, in which he was featured on the song ‘Cloud’. The first thing that stood out to me when hearing Luciano is that he rapped in both German and English, often switching between the two, which meant even in instances where I couldn’t all the way understand what he was rapping about, it was easy to follow. It provided a level of intrigue that made me take a look at his catalogue. This was all in 2022, we now fast forward to 2024 and Luciano is most definitely the European artist outside of the U.K. who I listen to most frequently. Seductive is a perfect blend of high-level European Rap & R&B. The project features verses from Omah Lay, Nemzzz & BIA. Although a prominent European artist with 6.9 million monthly listeners, I believe Luciano has a global sound and understands different markets and how to use them to his benefit through the artists that he works with. Stand-out songs from the project include ‘Another Vibe’ featuring Omah Lay, ‘Mami’ featuring BIA and ‘Bracelet Van Cleef’ - which samples Bobby Valentino’s old-school classic ‘Slow Down’ - Seductive is an album worth listening to, especially if you are looking to expand your European rap palette.

9. Berna - East2Essex (England)

At No.9 we have BERNA! With East2Essex his first project in four years since releasing Poor Little Rich Kid. One thing that was undeniable when first taking in this project was how much Berna’s sound has elevated and matured over the last few years. The East London artist has always been known for his slick use of punchlines and range of flows. With this project I think he got everything right, from the number of tracks, to beat selection, as well as only having one feature on ‘Different’ which features Glizz, which is my personal favourite from the tape. I strongly believe Berna is one hit song away from being at the forefront of the U.K. Rap scene. His music has a lot of substance to it and Berna knows how to tell a story in a way that depicts a clear picture - which is what this story is all about, as he navigates growing up in East London and eventually moving to Essex - a combination and reflection on both places making him the artist he is today. Stand-out tracks from the project include ‘Different’ and ‘Mood’.

8. Ghetts - On Purpose, With Purpose (England)

At No.8, we have a project which many of you who are reading this probably would have expected to see at some point… and if you weren’t, I would be pleasantly surprised! On Purpose, With Purpose, U.K. Grime Legend Ghetts fourth studio album, a project that did not disappoint! Ghetts has never shied away from dropping deep and meaningful projects that boast relatable subject matters and evoke a sense of emotion. This project has all of that and more! I would say this is easily Ghetts most experimental album as he taps into different sounds and genres with features from the likes of Lancey Foux, Moonchild Sanelly, Shakka & Dexta Daps - a project that covers all bases. As a self-proclaimed music man when taking in this project from top to bottom, you can tell that Ghetts has a real ear for music. He starts the album with a ridiculous (in a good way) trio record that features Kano & Wretch 32, perfectly titled ‘Mount Rushmore’, whilst other stand-out records include ‘Double Standards’ which features our national treasure Sampha and ‘Twin Sisters’ featuring Skrapz - a track that I would argue is one of the best, if not the best cross-genre collaboration to come out of the U.K., with both artists bodying their verses. On Purpose, with Purpose makes it four for four and with the trajectory that Ghetts career is currently undertaking, some would say a second resurgence, it’s looking like the East London Legend will likely go five for five with his next body of work.

7. SJ - The Biggest What If (England)

At No.7 we have ‘The Biggest What If’ from the currently incarcerated SJ. The project’s title is so fitting, as this mixtape makes you ponder on what could have been for SJ if he never got locked up so early into his career. His talent has always been there to see with many arguing out of the young OFB trio, he had the highest ceiling. This is SJ’s first solo project and first things first, a massive salute to the sound engineer! Listening to this project without prior knowledge of SJ’s situation, you never would have thought the tape was recorded from inside the jailhouse. SJ gets a lot off of his chest on this project and delivers strongly on each track. It’s a massive statement but I would say by quite a margin this is the best project to come from an incarcerated artist in the U.K. Both the anticipation and reception to this project also proved that the streets will always have SJ and SJ will always have the streets. Stand-out tracks include ‘Killer Man’ featuring Eight Zero, ‘Bully’ featuring Headie One and ‘Woiyoi’.

6. Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal (USA)

TDE’s Doechii, what a year she has had! Alligator Bites Never Heal is a phenomenal project and will be one that is remembered as synonymous with 2024 when looking back at albums in decades to come. TDE has done an amazing job in managing Doechii and taking her to the heights that she is currently at. I believe she is one of the best-packaged artists from image to talent and creativity which is exemplified in her visuals. 2024 was most definitely her year and even when trying to compile stand-out tracks from the album, there were so many! DENIAL IS A RIVER, CATFISH, HIDE N SEEK, BLOOM, BOOM BAP, the list can honestly go on and on, but this project is probably my favourite to come from a female artist in a long time - Doechii boasts a lot of influence from the likes of Missy Elliot from cadence to style and it will be very exciting seeing what she has to come over the next few years. Not only would I recommend listening to this project, but I would also recommend watching her Camp Flog Gnaw Set and her Tiny Desk Concert, both just exude greatness and even demonstrate how she’s not only a great artist, but an outstanding performer too!

5. Kendrick Lamar - GNX (USA)

King Kenny! What a year 2024 was for the West Coast living legend. Kendrick surprised us with the release of his sixth studio album GNX, a powerful statement project cementing him as the artist of 2024 and maybe even the decade so far if we put Mr Morale & The Big Steppers in the equation. This album is the ultimate ode to the West Coast, with the project only featuring West Coast artists - a message of unity and representing his roots. ‘Wacced Out Murals’ is a powerful intro with Kendrick detailing the last few months and how his legacy and hard work over the years were almost threatened and questioned by some of his peers and legends from his coast. GNX was a strong end to what was an eventful year in hip hop, with the project having a perfect chronology, a feature that Kendrick always seems to get right! 

4. M1llionz - Ghetto Life (England)

At No.4 we have Birmingham’s M1llionz, with his mixtape 'Ghetto Life'. This marks the rapper’s second tape, following up on his 2021 project Provisional Licence. Ghetto Life blows his previous project out of the water, with M1llionz showing more depth and range with this offering. The Birmingham rapper has a real process to making his projects, making it a thing to properly connect with artists that he collaborates with from flying to LA to connect with Mozzy to taking a trip down to South London to shoot a video for ‘7.62’ in Brixton Hill which features 67’s LD. There is a bit of everything on this tape, real rap, songs for the ladies, cross country collabs, drill and more. On the first listen I instantly connected with the project and continue to find new favourites upon each listen!

3. Future & Metro Boomin - We Don’t Trust You (USA)

At No.3 we have Future & Metro Boomin’s ‘We Don’t Trust You’! Besides the rap beef that was ultimately ignited through this project, it is undeniably a solid body of work that will stand the test of time. There are plenty of hits on the project with features from Playboi Carti, the Weeknd & Travis Scott to name a few, this album brings forth the importance of how rappers having great relationships with producers and vice versa can serve to produce phenomenal music projects. One thing about this project is that it sounds fresh on every listen, a testament to how well Metro’s production compliments Future. 

2. Bashy - Being Poor Is Expensive (England)

Wow, what a project, 15 years in the making and how the wait was truly worth it! Bashy’s Being Poor Is Expensive, although not placing as No.1, which I would only say is down to the project placed at No.1 subjectively for me having more replay value, this Bashy album I can comfortably say is one of my favourite albums in the last 5 years. Listening to this album gave me the same feeling I had when I first listened to Kano’s ‘Hoodies All Summer’ in 2019. As a young black man growing up in London, this album truly speaks to your soul and is one of those few projects where a lot of the subject matters on the project are deeper than rap. Bashy takes you on a journey through his upbringing in North West London, with some of the storytelling being second to none! As mentioned earlier with Kendrick’s GNX, this project is a thorough and beautiful ode to North West London, representing the realities of the area. So many lyrics from the album stuck with me “Keeping it real I spent most of my teens shook”, and “At that point anger, looking back at it banter”, both lyrics from the track ‘On The Rise’. This is a grown and mature project and one that could only be made on reflection and in hindsight looking back on one's life. It’s an album that is extremely important for the younger generation as through 37 minutes of tracks, so many gems are dropped. On ‘How Black Men Lose Their Smile’ Bashy mentions “Didn’t share features with my teachers, that has effects on your sense of self”, a common experience for many Black British youth growing up. Bashy outdid himself with this body of work, there are no skips on it whatsoever and it’s an album that would be a true experience to see performed live, no surprise that when he announced his headline show it sold out instantly. With this project being 15 years in the making, since Bashy last released a project in 2009, with how incredible this project is, Ashley Thomas has to understand we’re going to need another project sooner rather than later!

1. D Block-Europe - Rolling Stone (England)

At the top of the podium, we have none other than D Block-Europe with their Rolling Stone project! The pair’s 9th project in 6 years! The work doesn’t stop for DBE and over the years they’ve continued to elevate and get better with time, mastering their sound, catering to their audience and fans and delivering back-to-back quality projects, something that not many artists can do. Consistency is key with DBE and they never fail on it. To put things into perspective the album went no.1 in the U.K. on its release week with the duo then following this up by selling out 4 O2 arena dates in February, not 1, not 2 or 3, but 4 dates! Doing this as independent artists is enough to solidify this U.K. rap duo as legends in the game. Every time I listen to the project my favourite song always changes, there’s so many stand-out songs from ‘Go Go Gang’ to ‘Eagle’, the project is far from short of bangers! A key feature for DBE is their use of catchy hooks and unique phonetics coupled with their use of autotune, carving out their own sound and making them pioneers of what many would label ‘wave rap’. Knowing DBE, we can probably expect another solid project in 2025 that many will be anticipating as it will mark their 10th project!

Written by Toren (Founder of 99Piece)