Hip-hop had a surge of popularity during the SoundCloud period, characterised by gritty lo-fi production and dark lyricism. It gave young people the confidence to record music in their beds and release it online. Before the greatest artists on SoundCloud passed away, the platform fostered the next wave of rappers ready to upend modern music.
Hip-hop’s current raw, passionate approach and experimental sounds were first popularised during the Soundcloud period and we’ll be reviewing some of the greatest albums that were released throughout the Soundcloud era for this list.
Life of a Dark Rose (2017) – Lil Skies
Rap fans considered Lil Skies to be a must-see because of his engaging wordplay and constant lyricism, making him one of the most intriguing artists to follow at the time. On January 10, 2018, his much awaited album “Life of a Dark Rose” was released to great acclaim. Numerous fan favourites, like “Lust”, “Red Roses” and “Nowadays,” helped the album become a huge hit.
In addition to debuting at number 13 on the US Top Rap Albums list and number 16 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, “Life of a Dark Rose” also opened at number 23 on the US Billboard 200. Featuring Landon Cube, “Nowadays” peaked at number 85 on the US Billboard Hot 100 list of singles on January 17, 2018. In the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list, it peaked at number 33 as well. By January 17, 2018, “Red Roses” had also reached number 36 on that chart.
Lil Uzi Vert Vs The World (2016) – Lil Uzi Vert
‘Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World’ was the album that really made the artist famous, even if ‘Luv Is Rage 2’ was one of his greatest releases. Large hits like “Ps & Qs” and “Money Longer” and, finally, “You Was Right” made the album a tremendous hit when it was released on April 15, 2016.
“Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World” remained on the US Billboard 200 chart for a total of 55 weeks, peaking at number 37. Additionally, on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it reached at number 18. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) eventually certified the album platinum for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over one million units in the US.
Die Lit (2018) – Playboi Carti
Despite his reputation as a mystery rapper in the industry, Playboi Carti is still at the top of the charts today. Even though Carti revolutionised the rap world in 2020 by making rage beats famous with his album “Whole Lotta Red,” we have to go back to when his album “Die Lit” turned a lot of heads in 2018.
Playboi Carti’s debut studio album, “Die Lit,” was released on May 11, 2018, and it was well-received by reviewers and fans alike. Among the timeless tracks on the album are “R.I.P.” and “Flatbad Freestyle,” among many more.
In its first week of release, Die Lit earned 61,000 album-equivalent units (including 5,000 copies as pure album sales) and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album gold on July 31, 2019, for combined sales and streaming exceeding 500,000 copies in the US.
Life’s a Trip (2018) – Trippie Redd
Trippie Redd was considered a pioneer in the dark, melancholic soundcloud rap period from the start, possessing a melodious singing voice, an endless supply of creative lyrics and beats, and enough melodies to rival a full choir. Trippie’s warm lyrics about the weight on his heart resemble forceful gospel verses that have the capacity to uplift and give people a sense of being heard.
The first studio album for Trippie Redd, “Life’s a Trip,” was released on August 10, 2018, and he didn’t let fans down. Critics gave Life’s a Trip a positive review, calling it refined, well-produced, and intensely personal while also praising the singer’s flawless vocal balancing act between subdued and ostentatious delivery.
With 72,000 album-equivalent units, including 15,000 pure album sales in its first week, “Life’s a Trip” debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum.
17 (2017) – XXXTENTACION
Renowned for his music about despair and isolation, XXXTENTACION is a legend of the SoundCloud age and one of the greatest musicians to have ever lived. Despite being a controversial figure because of his well-publicized legal issues, XXXTENTACION developed a cult following among his youthful followers during his brief career.
With a musical career spanning emo, trap, trap metal, nu metal, indie rock, lo-fi, hip hop, R&B, and punk rock, critics and fans frequently commend him for his diversity. He was regarded as a key player in the development of the SoundCloud rap and emo rap subgenres, which attracted widespread notice in the middle to late 2010s.
’17’, XXXTENTACION’s first studio album, was well received by critics and sold well despite receiving little radio play or press attention. With 87,000 album-equivalent units, it debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has certified it double platinum. It also performed well on charts throughout several European nations, ranking first in Norway and in the top five in Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, and Sweden. Additionally, Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand have awarded platinum certifications to the album. The record has three platinum certifications.
Goodbye & Good Riddance (2018) – Juice WRLD
During the mid-to-late 2010s, Juice WRLD achieved widespread recognition as a pioneer of the emo rap and SoundCloud rap movements. Juice WRLD gained notoriety in the late 2010s as one of the best contemporary hip-hop freestylers and hitmakers. His emo rap style was dark and melodious, unlike anything else heard, and his admirers were enthralled with it.
Goodbye & Good Riddance, the first studio album, was released on May 23, 2018. Deemed as an adolescent breakup record that is equal parts endearing and grating, critics praised the album’s sound, describing it as “his heart-on-his-sleeve coping sounds both ingratiating and grating.” Fans were obsessed with this album, as they thought Juice WRLD did a remarkable job of capturing the melancholy of youth.
Along with the singles “All Girls Are the Same,” “Lean wit Me,” “Wasted,” and “Armed and Dangerous,” which all charted on the Hot 100, his five-time platinum debut album Goodbye & Good Riddance (2018) featured the diamond-certified single “Lucid Dreams,” which peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
