So Sick Edits

Complex UK’s Best Albums Of 2024

By Joseph ‘JP’ Patterson, James Keith, Cee Valentina

There was a lot going on this year, particularly on the album front. If there was an overriding theme, it was that this year was dominated by legends releasing some of their most accomplished works yet.

Of course, the biggest story in 2024 was the release of Nines’ Quit While You’re Ahead. Taken separately, the tracks contained within weren’t necessarily the best of Nines’ career (although lead single “Going Crazy” and the conclusion of the “Tony Soprano” trilogy are certainly up there) but QWYA tied a bow on the career of one of British rap’s most cherished heroes. As bittersweet as Nines’ final album was, there was plenty to get excited about.

Manga Saint Hilare and MoreNight’s Everything Is Under Control, Ghetts’ On Purpose, With Purpose and namesbliss’ Lively Experience gave us three of grime’s most progressive and creative albums in recent memory; Nia Archives canonised her soulful jungle sound with her debut album, Silence Is Loud; and West Africa had one of its best years ever, with blockbuster drops from Tems, Asake, Ayra Starr and Wizkid.

So what will 2025 bring? This year’s crop of top albums points to variety and eclecticism.

The shine of Nia Archives’ melodic jungle along with Brazilian drill (Blanco), lo-fi grime (namesbliss) and bedroom R&B (Shae Universe), set against a backdrop of pop and dance music’s indomitable rule (Charli XCX), suggests that, actually, the days of one genre reigning supreme over all others may be over—for better or worse.

Check out the albums we were loving the most in 2024 below, and to read and hear more, just click through the links.

25. SJ — The Biggest What If?
24. Manga Saint Hilare & MoreNight — Everything Is Under Control
23. Kruz Leone — Big Slide Tackle: 2 Footed
22. Duppy — Now You See Me 2
21. Blanco — Gilberto’s Son
20. Nines — Quit While You’re Ahead
19. Ceebo — LAMBETHNOTLA
18. namesbliss — Lively Experience
17. Bawo — It Means More From Where I’m From
16. Charli XCX — Brat
15. Nia Archives — Silence Is Loud
14. Nemzzz — Do Not Disturb (Deluxe)
13. Ghetts — On Purpose, With Purpose
12. Ragz Originale — Bare Sugar: Sweet Nothings
11. Potter Payper — Thanks For Hating
10. Shae Universe — Love’s Letter (Deluxe)
9. Wizkid — Morayo
8. Pa Salieu – Afrikan Alien
7. FLO — AAA
6. Ayra Starr — The Year I Turned 21
5. Tyla — TYLA
4. Lancey Foux, Len & Fimiguerrero — Conglomerate
3. Asake — Lungu Boy
2. Tems — Born In The Wild
1. Bashy — Being Poor Is Expensive