The American Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Album (formerly Favorite Album – Rap/Hip Hop 1989-2025) has been awarded since 1989. Years reflect in the year in which the awards were presented, for works released in the previous year (until 2003 onward where awards were handed out on November of the same year). Drake has the most nominations with 9.
Winners and nominees 1980s Year Artist Album Ref 1989 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper Public Enemy It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Run–D.M.C. Tougher Than Leather
1990s Year Artist Album Ref 1990 MC Hammer Let's Get It Started Eazy-E Eazy-Duz-It Tone Lōc Lōc-ed After Dark 1991 MC Hammer Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet Vanilla Ice To the Extreme 1992 DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Homebase LL Cool J Mama Said Knock You Out Public Enemy Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black 1993 – 1999 colspan="3"
2000s Year Artist Album Ref 2000 – 2002 colspan="3" 2003 Eminem The Eminem Show Ashanti Ashanti Ludacris Word of Mouf Nelly Nellyville 2003 50 Cent Get Rich or Die Tryin' Missy Elliott Under Construction Eminem 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Sean Paul Dutty Rock 2004 Outkast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Jay-Z The Black Album Kanye West The College Dropout 2005 50 Cent The Massacre Eminem Encore T.I. Urban Legend 2006 The Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits T.I. King 2007 T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Strength & Loyalty Young Jeezy The Inspiration 2008 Kanye West Graduation Jay-Z American Gangster Lil Wayne Tha Carter III 2009 Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 Eminem Relapse T.I. Paper Trail
2010s Year Artist Album Ref 2010 Eminem Recovery B.o.B B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray Drake Thank Me Later 2011 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday Jay-Z and Kanye West Watch the Throne Lil Wayne Tha Carter IV 2012 Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded Drake Take Care J. Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story 2013 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist Jay-Z Magna Carta Holy Grail Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, M.A.A.D City 2014 Iggy Azalea The New Classic Drake Nothing Was the Same Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2 2015 Nicki Minaj The Pinkprint Drake If You're Reading This It's Too Late J. Cole 2014 Forest Hills Drive 2016 Drake Views Drake and Future What a Time to Be Alive Fetty Wap Fetty Wap 2017 Kendrick Lamar Damn Drake More Life Migos Culture 2018 Post Malone Beerbongs & Bentleys Drake Scorpion Lil Uzi Vert Luv Is Rage 2 2019 Post Malone Hollywood's Bleeding Meek Mill Championships Travis Scott Astroworld
2020s Year Artist Album Ref 2020 Roddy Ricch Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial Lil Baby My Turn Lil Uzi Vert Eternal Atake 2021 Megan Thee Stallion Good News Drake Certified Lover Boy Juice Wrld Legends Never Die Pop Smoke Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon Rod Wave SoulFly 2022 Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Future I Never Liked You Gunna DS4Ever Lil Durk 7220 Polo G Hall of Fame 2.0 2023 – 24 colspan="3" 2025 Eminem The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce) Future and Metro Boomin We Don't Trust You Gunna One of Wun Kendrick Lamar GNX Tyler, the Creator Chromakopia 2026 Cardi B Am I the Drama? Don Toliver Octane Gunna The Last Wun Playboi Carti Music YoungBoy Never Broke Again MASA
Category facts Multiple wins
3 wins Eminem Nicki Minaj
2 wins 50 Cent DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince MC Hammer Post Malone Kendrick Lamar
Multiple nominations
9 nominations Drake
8 nominations Eminem
5 nominations Jay-Z
4 nominations Kendrick Lamar T.I.
3 nominations Future Gunna Nicki Minaj Public Enemy Kanye West
2 nominations Post Malone 50 Cent J. Cole DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Lil Uzi Vert Lil Wayne MC Hammer
References