This year marked a half-a-century since DJ Kool Herc laid down the foundations for hip-hop in an apartment building in the Bronx, New York City, with his pioneering approach to break-beat turntablism. Fittingly, this landmark anniversary year has been defined by a similarly innovative, boundary-pushing spirit – with heavy-hitters and underground stars alike releasing albums that offer up thrilling new definitions of what hip-hop can be in 2023.

Hennessy saluted hip-hop’s odds-defying, 50-year journey from local block parties to blockbuster success, with a busy 12 months, from their collaboration with one of the all-time greats, Nas, on a limited-edition bottle of Hennessy V.S., to their action-packed programme at this year’s Hennessy’s Hip Hop House at Body & Soul.

Throughout the decades, Hennessy has become deeply intertwined into the very fabric of hip-hop. Icons from every corner of rap’s history have name-checked the iconic cognac on their tracks, including the likes of 2Pac, Nas, Mobb Deep, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Jean Grae.

And just like Hennessy, both legacy and revolution remain at the heart of hip-hop in 2023. In Ireland, a new wave of young artists are flying the flag for their country on the world stage like never before. In 2023 alone, Kojaque and Jeorge II served up two of the most compelling and sophisticated Irish hip-hop albums to date, while the likes of Nealo and Rebel Phoenix delved into crucial issues – both personal and political – on their own deeply vulnerable projects. There were captivating contributions from the idiosyncratic rappers at the forefront of the Limerick scene too, including Citrus Fresh and Hazey Haze.

Kojaque. Credit: Finnegan Travers

Hennessy has provided a vital platform for many of the artists on this year’s finest hip-hop projects – with Nealo performing at Body & Soul’s Hennessy Hip Hop House, and Kojaque performing as part of the same festival’s Hennessy Music Trail line-up. Hennessy also presented TraviS x Elzzz’s major ‘Out Of The Circle Into The Doghouse’ Tour this year, featuring headline shows in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Carlow.

Around the world, it was a year for thinking outside the box. While the recent nominations for Best Rap Album at the upcoming Grammys put a strong emphasis on big, well-established names, it was the artists at the fringes of the rap world that put out the most impactful projects this year. From the unapologetically revolutionary stance of Noname, to the brilliantly experimental efforts of Armand Hammer, JPEGMAFIA, Danny Brown, and Earl Sweatshirt, fearlessness has been the central theme embraced by rappers in 2023.

Noname. Credit: Mahaneela

It was also a big year for the forging of alliances – with collaboration another recurring theme acoss 2023’s best hip-hop albums and mixtapes. Armand Hammer – made up of billy woods and Elucid – proved once again why they’re an eccentric duo not to be trifled with, while other special connections were sparked on collaborative projects from Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA; Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist; Che Noir & Big Ghost Ltd; Real Bad Man & Blu; and El Michels Affair & Black Thought; to name a few.

Armand Hammer. Credit: Alexander Richter

Stayed tuned to hotpress.com for our upcoming selection of the Best Irish Hip-Hop Tracks of 2023 – where we’ll further unpack another phenomenal year for the culture on these shores…

Until then, here’s our round-up of the 30 best hip-hop albums of the year:

1. Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips

2. Noname - Sundial

3. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes

4. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist - Voir Dire

5. Kojaque - Phantom of the Afters

6. Jeorge II - Phoenix Park Prophet

7. Open Mike Eagle - Another Triumph of Ghetto Engineering

8. Mick Jenkins - The Patience

9. Che Noir & Big Ghost Ltd - Noir or Never

10. Real Bad Man & Blu - Bad News

11. El Michels Affair & Black Thought - Glorious G
12. J Hus - Beautiful And Brutal Yard
13. billy woods & Kenny Segal - Maps
14. Citrus Fresh - Good Grief
15. McKinley Dixon - Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?

16. Oddisee - To What End
17. Navy Blue - Ways of Knowing
18. Stik Figa & The Expert - Ritual
19. Hazey Haze - Milk & Honey
20. TraviS & Elzzz - Full Circle

21. Danny Brown - Quaranta
22. Nas - Magic 3
23. Offica - Hokage: Pt. 1
24. Nealo - November Medicine
25. grouptherapy. - I Was Mature For My Age, But I Was Still A Child

26. Rebel Phoenix. - Museum
27. Doja Cat - Scarlet
28. Vel Nine & NugLife - Nina
29. Monaleo - Where The Flowers Don’t Die
30. Killer Mike - Michael