Best Non-Rap Albums by Rappers
By: James Kelly
Personally speaking, one of my favorite qualities an artist can have is the ability to totally switch up their style, and to me, it’s even better when rappers do it. It’s really intriguing to see artists go from having a more traditional hip-hop sound to evolving to be more soul or alternative-like. Here are some of my favorite examples of rap artists making non-rap albums.
IGOR - Tyler, the Creator
While IGOR may have won “Best Rap Album” at the 2020 Grammy Awards, it is everything but that. The album has pieces of Neo-Soul, Funk, and R&B infused throughout. Songs like “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS” and “EARFQUAKE” show off Tyler’s singing abilities, while tracks like “IGOR’S THEME” and “I THINK” have more of a funk-like vibe to them, with latter even featuring Solange.
Circles - Mac Miller
This posthumous album by Mac Miller diverts from the more jazzy style of rap that The Divine Feminine and Swimming brought us, and goes into the direction of a true singer-songwriter record. The more somber side of Mac gives us songs like “Everybody” and “That’s on Me.” This transformation was assisted by Jon Brion, who respectfully and beautifully completed the production of the album after Miller passed in 2018.
Honestly, Nevermind - Drake
Drake is already known for having many songs that are genres other than rap, but Honestly, Nevermind was the first and only example of a full project dedicated to non-rap, being mainly built on dance and house music. “Massive” and “Currents” show off this influence, while “Sticky” has a mix of house and hip-hop. Drizzy’s most recent solo-work did have mixed reviews upon it’s surprise release last summer, but he himself said it was a tribute to the late fashion designer and DJ, Virgil Abloh, who mainly played house music at his sets.
Awaken, My Love! - Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino going from the alternative-rap masterpiece Because the Internet to Awaken, My Love! is a sound diversion that will be remembered forever. The multi-talented actor and musician Donald Glover harnessed a R&B sound on “Awaken, My Love!,” and nailed it in a way only he could. His voice jumps to a whole new level on songs like “Redbone” and “Me and Your Mama,” which compliments Glover’s soulful production. Famed composer Ludwig Göransson also aids the sound of the album to bring the most out of Glover’s groovy vision.
Let’s Start Here. - Lil Yatchy
Lil Yachty’s magnum opus is something no one expected from the “Broccoli” rapper. This psychedelic rock, soul, and funk inspired album has you wondering what happened to the Lil Yatchy that blew up as a SoundCloud rapper. Every song on the LP is its own little journey, with songs like “the BLACK seminole,” “pRETTy,” and “drive ME crazy!” being clear standouts. This album takes ideas and themes from a range of artists like Tame Impala to Pink Floyd, all the way to the Silk Sonic collab record. Hopefully, Lil Yatchy stays with this new type of music, and keeps progressing as an artist.