# 2010 in hip-hop

This article summarizes the events, album releases and album release dates in hip-hop for the year 2010.

## Events
### January

* Producer Shawty Redd was arrested on a murder charge.

### February

* Game signs a new record contract and returns to Aftermath Entertainment.
* Nujabes died on February 26, aged 36, in a traffic accident.

### March

* Lil Wayne begins his one-year prison term. He shot over 30 music videos before his term.
* Ludacris becomes the first rapper in 2010 to be featured on 3 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 charted songs. (Justin Bieber's "Baby", Taio Cruz's "Break Your Heart", and "How Low")
* T.I. is officially released from prison and begins work on his seventh album.
* Lloyd Banks releases info via his Twitter that his new album will be called 'Hunger For More 2' and will attempt to take him back to his best work. However, the G-Unit label responded later that day stating that the title is tentative and not set in concrete.
* Ludacris' seventh studio album Battle of the Sexes becomes the first hip hop album of 2010 to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
* O.S.T.R.'s album Tylko dla dorosłych becomes the first hip hop album of 2010 to reach No. 1 on the OLiS.

### April

* Dr. Dre announces the first single off his much anticipated Detox album. The track features Jay-Z.
* Lil Wayne's album Rebirth reaches gold, with 505,000 copies sold after two months of release.
* Eminem's album Relapse 2 is renamed to Recovery and confirmed to be released June 22, 2010.
* Guru dies on April 19, aged 48, from multiple myeloma.
* 50 Cent announces The Invitation Tour to promote Black Magic and Before I Self Destruct.
* B.o.B's track "Nothin' on You" becomes the first Hip Hop song of the year to hit number one on the Hot 100. The single was also certified platinum.

### May

* B.o.B becomes the second Hip Hop act to top the Billboard 200 in 2010 with his album B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray. It sold 85,000 copies in its first week.
* Gucci Mane is released from prison after spending 6 months behind bars for violating his probation. He announced that he has made a new label called 1017 Brick Squad Records and pushed back release date of his third album, The State vs. Radric Davis: The Appeal to a later date.
* Eminem's single "Not Afraid" debuts at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming the first hip hop track to do so in 2010 and second hip hop song in history to debut at #1.
* Young Money's group album We Are Young Money is certified Gold.

### June

* Ludacris' single "My Chick Bad" is RIAA certified Platinum.
* DJ Khaled's single "All I Do Is Win" is RIAA certified Gold.
* Ludacris' album Battle of the Sexes becomes the second hip hop album released in 2010 to be certified Gold.
* Lil Boosie is indicted on murder charges.
* DonGuralesko's album Totem Leśnych Ludzi becomes the second hip hop album of 2010 to reach No. 1 on the OLiS.
* Fat Joe and his entourage are questioned for sexual assault in Wisconsin.
* Drake's debut album Thank Me Later sold about 449,000 copies in its first week giving it a No. 1 debut on the Billboard 200.
* Eminem's new album Recovery debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and sold more copies than any album in one week during 2010.
* Hip-hop pioneer Rammellzee dies on June 29.
* Lil Wayne's single "Drop the World" is certified Platinum.
* Kid Cudi is arrested in Manhattan, New York and charged with felony criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. He is subsequently released in time to headline the Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

### July

* The rumored track list for Kanye West's Good Ass Job leaks.
* Eminem's album Recovery passes 1,000,000 copies sold in its second week.
* Eldo's album Zapiski z 1001 Nocy becomes the third hip hop album of 2010 to reach No. 1 on the OLiS.
* It is officially announced that. pending good behavior, rapper Lil Wayne will be released from prison on November 4, 2010.
* Eminem's single "Love the Way You Lie" tops the Billboard Hot 100, making it Eminem's fourth overall No. 1 single.

### August

* Drake hosted the first annual OVO (October's Very Own) Festival which included the VIP list of rap stars including: Jay-Z, Eminem, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Bun B and Fabolous.
* The music videos for Kanye West's hit single Power and Eminem's hit single Love the Way You Lie debut the same day on MTV.
* DJ Khaled's single "All I Do Is Win" is RIAA certified Platinum.
* Kanye West's and Nicki Minaj's upcoming studio albums are titles are revealed to be Dark Twisted Fantasy and Pink Friday respectively.
* Hip-Hop's Cash Kings 2010 list comes out August 17, 2010. Jay-Z ($63 million), Diddy ($30 million), & Akon ($21 million) come on as the Hip-Hop Cash Kings in 2010. The rest follow as Lil Wayne ($20 million), Dr. Dre ($17 million), Ludacris ($16 million), Snoop Dogg ($15 million), Timbaland ($14 million), Pharrell Williams ($13 million), Drake ($10 million), T.I. ($9 million), Swizz Beatz ($9 million), Eminem ($8 million), 50 Cent ($8 million).
* DJ Khaled signs a record contract with Cash Money Records.
* Eminem's album Recovery reaches 2,000,000 sales in two months.

### October

* On October 13, Harlem World member Huddy 6 is killed in a car accident at the George Washington Bridge in New York, aged 34.
* T.I.'s pending drug charges are dropped, but due to a violation of his parole, he is sentenced to 11 months in FCC Forrest City, a prison facility where he had previously served time for weapons-possession charges. It is speculated that these events caused him to change his upcoming album's title from King Uncaged to No Mercy.

### November

* Lil Wayne is released from prison.
* Dr. Dre releases the first official single off Detox, titled "Kush", which features Snoop Dogg and Akon. The song peaks within the top 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
* After 58 weeks on the charts, Kid Cudi's debut album, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, is certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
* Atlanta rapper Waka Flocka Flame receives his first gold plaque for the single "No Hands" produced by Memphis, Tennessee's Drumma Boy, off his debut album Flockaveli.
* Nicki Minaj releases her debut album, Pink Friday. It sells 375,000 copies the first week.

### December

* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rapper Sam Willis's single "Peso" is certified Gold.
* Following an arrest for a probation violation, DMX is sentenced to a year in prison in Arizona.
* Lil Wayne releases "6 Foot 7 Foot", the first single off Tha Carter IV and his first single since being released from jail.
* Former Bad Boy artist G. Dep confesses to police regarding a cold case murder he committed in 1993, reportedly due to a want of "making amends" with his past.
* Former Cash Money Records artist Magnolia Shorty is shot and killed on December 20.

## Released albums

| Release date | Artist | Album | Notes |
| January 5 | Kanye West | VH1 Storytellers: Kanye West | Live album |
| January 19 | RJD2 | The Colossus | |
| January 19 | Dessa | A Badly Broken Code | |
| January 26 | Strong Arm Steady | In Search of Stoney Jackson | |
| January 26 | DMX | The Best of DMX | |
| January 29 | Maino | Unstoppable – The EP | |
| February 2 | Lil Wayne | Rebirth | Debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 200 Singles: "Prom Queen", "On Fire", "Drop the World" Certified Gold |
| February 2 | Styles P & DJ Green Lantern | The Green Ghost Project | |
| February 2 | Statik Selektah | 100 Proof: The Hangover | |
| February 8 | SwinDoe | SwinDoe | Debuted at No. 123 on Billboard 200 |
| February 9 | Canibus | Melatonin Magik | |
| February 9 | DJ Kay Slay | More Than Just a DJ | Debuted at No. 133 on Billboard 200 |
| February 16 | Freeway & Jake One | The Stimulus Package | Debuted at No. 63 on Billboard 200 |
| February 16 | Pastor Troy | G.I. Troy – Strictly 4 My Soldiers | |
| February 19 | Bushido | Zeiten ändern dich | Debuted at No. 2 on Media-Control-Charts, No. 1 on the Austrian Charts, No. 3 on the Swiss Charts |
| February 24 | MellowHype | YelloWhite | Debuted at No. 3 on OLiS |
| February 26 | O.S.T.R. | Tylko dla dorosłych | Debuted at No. 3 on OLiS |
| March 2 | DJ Khaled | Victory | Debuted at No. 14 on Billboard 200 Singles: "Fed Up", "All I Do Is Win" |
| March 4 | Sam Adams | Boston's Boy | |
| March 9 | Ludacris | Battle of the Sexes | Debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Singles: "How Low", "My Chick Bad", "Sex Room" Certified Gold |
| March 9 | Kidz in the Hall | Land of Make Believe | |
| March 9 | Freeway & Beanie Sigel | The Roc Boys | Charted on Billboards Top R&B album charts at number 53 |
| March 13 | Gucci Mane | Burrrprint (2) HD | Debuted at No. 19 on Billboard 200 Retail Mixtape |
| March 23 | Brotha Lynch Hung | Dinner and a Movie | Debuted at No. 69 on Billboard 200 |
| March 23 | Snoop Dogg | More Malice | Debuted at No. 29 on Billboard 200 Re-Release of Malice in Wonderland |
| March 23 | Outlawz | The Lost Songs Vol. 1, The Lost Songs Vol. 2, The Lost Songs Vol. 3 | |
| March 23 | Young Noble | Noble Justice: The Lost Songs | |
| March 23 | EDIDON | The Stash Spot | |
| March 23 | Inspectah Deck | Manifesto | |
| March 23 | J-Kwon | J-Kwon | |
| March 23 | Marco Polo & Ruste Juxx | The eXXecution | |
| March 23 | Donwill | Don Cusack In High Fidelity | |
| March 26 | Spider Loc | Be About Your Money At All Costs (B.A.Y.M.A.A.C.) | |
| March 30 | Army of the Pharaohs | The Unholy Terror | |
| March 30 | E-40 | Revenue Retrievin': Day Shift | Debuted at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 Spawned one successful single: "Bitch" |
| March 30 | E-40 | Revenue Retrievin': Night Shift | Debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200 |
| March 30 | Tech N9ne | The Lost Scripts of K.O.D. | Debuted at No. 117 on the Billboard 200 |
| March 30 | Meth, Ghost & Rae | Wu-Massacre | Debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 |
| March 30 | Sho Baraka | Lions and Liars | Debuted at No. 149 on the Billboard 200 |
| March 30 | Manafest | The Chase | |
| March 30 | Masta Killa | Masta Killa Live | |
| March 31 | Earl Sweatshirt | EARL (Mixtape) | |
| April 4 | Cuete Yeska | Love Stories, Part 2 -The Notebook | |
| April 6 | Too Short | Still Blowin' | Debuted at No. 70 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Billboard chart Internet only release |
| April 6 | Insane Clown Posse | Bang! Pow! Boom! (Nuclear Version) | |
| April 6 | Diabolic | Liar & a Thief | |
| April 13 | Murs & 9th Wonder | Fornever | Debuted at No. 87 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 14 | Wiz Khalifa | Kush and Orange Juice (Mixtape) | |
| April 16 | Chakuza | Monster in mir | Debuted at No. 8 on Media-Control-Charts |
| April 20 | Little Brother | Leftback LP | Debuted at No. 128 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 20 | Cypress Hill | Rise Up | Debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 20 | Devin The Dude | Suite 420 | Debuted at No. 85 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 20 | Andre Nickatina | Khan! The Me Generation | |
| April 20 | Cognito | Automatic | |
| April 20 | Kurupt | Streetlights | Debuted at No. 183 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 20 | Kottonmouth Kings | Long Live The Kings | Debuted at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 |
| April 27 | B.o.B | B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Singles: Nothin' on You, Don't Let Me Fall, Airplanes, Bet I, Magic, I'll Be in the Sky |
| April 27 | Daddy Yankee | Mundial | |
| May 4 | Bone Thugs-N-Harmony | Uni-5: The World's Enemy | Debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 |
| May 4 | 8Ball & MJG | Ten Toes Down | Debuted at No. 36 on the Billboard 200 |
| May 4 | Ayatollah | The Quixotic | |
| May 4 | Trina | Amazin' | Debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 |
| May 4 | Lil Cuete | The Only & Only | |
| May 7 | Kay One | Kenneth allein zu Haus | Debuted at No. 7 on Media-Control-Charts |
| May 11 | Boondox | South of Hell | |
| May 11 | Sage Francis | Life | |
| May 12 | KRS-One | Back to the L.A.B. | |
| May 18 | Nas & Damian Marley | Distant Relatives | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| May 18 | Reflection Eternal | Revolutions Per Minute | Debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 |
| May 18 | Styles P | The Ghost Dub-Dime | |
| May 18 | Necro | Die! | |
| May 18 | Guilty Simpson | O.J. Simpson | |
| May 18 | Bizarre | Friday Night At St. Andrew's | |
| May 18 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 5: The History Of Loop Digga | |
| May 18 | Tha Dogg Pound | Keep on Ridin | Compilation album |
| May 18 | Esoteric | Fly Casualties | |
| May 18 | Jermside & Danny Diggs | Middle Classic | |
| May 18 | PackFM | I Fucking Hate Rappers | |
| May 18 | Common | Go! Common Classics | Compilation album |
| May 18 | Keak da Sneak | Mob Boss | |
| May 18 | Roc Marciano | Marcberg | |
| May 25 | Scarface | Dopeman Music | |
| May 25 | Pastor Troy | Zero Tolerence | |
| May 25 | Royce da 5'9" | Street Hop (Deluxe Edition) | |
| May 25 | Cam’ron & The U.N. | Heat In Here Vol. 1 | Debuted at No. 133 on the Billboard 200 Retail Mixtape |
| May 25 | Apollo Brown | The Reset | |
| May 26 | Noah23 & Vinyl Blight | Vermin vs Noah23 EP | |
| June 1 | Yukmouth | Free at Last | |
| June 1 | Kokane | Gimme All Mine | |
| June 1 | Homeboy Sandman | The Good Sun | |
| June 1 | June Marx | Body Of God | |
| June 4 | Noah23 & Playpad Circus | Noah23 / Playpad Circus | |
| June 8 | Plies | Goon Affiliated | Debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 8 | Lil Jon | Crunk Rock | Debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 8 | Travis McCoy | Lazarus | Debuted at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Billionaire" |
| June 8 | Rhymefest | El Che | |
| June 8 | Ratatat | LP4 | Debuted at No. 66 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 8 | Kutt Calhoun | Raw and Un-Kutt | Debuted at No. 145 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 8 | Reef the Lost Cauze | Fight Music | |
| June 8 | MF Grimm | You Only Live Twice: The Audio Graphic Novel | |
| June 8 | DJ Clay | Book of the Wicked, Chapter One | |
| June 11 | DonGuralesko | Totem Leśnych Ludzi | Debuted at No. 1 on OLiS |
| June 11 | Fler | Flersguterjunge | Debuted at No. 4 on Media-Control-Charts |
| June 15 | C-Murder | Tomorrow | |
| June 15 | Nappy Roots | The Pursuit Of Nappyness | |
| June 15 | Drake | Thank Me Later | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Over", "Find Your Love", "Miss Me", and "Fancy" Certified Platinum |
| June 15 | Crooked I | Hood Star | |
| June 15 | H-Ryda | Half Dead, Half Livin | |
| June 15 | Pastor Troy | Attitude Adjuster 2 | |
| June 15 | Mr. Capone-E | The Blue Album | |
| June 15 | Black C | 70's Baby | |
| June 15 | Dirty Circus | Alive and Well | Sweatshop Union side project |
| June 15 | Pigeon Hole | Age Like Astronauts | Sweatshop Union side project |
| June 15 | Trillionaire$ | By Hook or by Crook | Sweatshop Union side project |
| June 21 | Eminem | Recovery | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Not Afraid", "Love the Way You Lie", and "No Love" Certified Quadruple Platinum |
| June 21 | The Roots | How I Got Over | Debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 21 | Z-Ro | Heroin | Debuted at No. 131 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 22 | Blaze Ya Dead Homie | Gang Rags | Debuted at No. 52 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 22 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 6: Brain Wreck Show | |
| June 22 | Vinnie Paz | Season of the Assassin | |
| June 22 | Trip Lee | Between Two Worlds | Debuted at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 22 | Super Chron Flight Brothers | Cape Verde | |
| June 24 | Tede | FuckTede / Glam Rap | Debuted at No. 3 on OLiS |
| June 24 | Bumpy Knuckles | Music From The Man… Volume One | |
| June 29 | 3OH!3 | Streets of Gold | Debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 |
| June 29 | Marco Polo | The Stupendous Adventures | |
| June 29 | Eternia & MoSS | At Last | |
| June 29 | A.G. | Everything's Berri | |
| June 29 | Eldo | Zapiski z 1001 Nocy | Debuted at No. 4 on OLiS |
| July 6 | Big Boi | Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty | Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 6 | Juvenile | Beast Mode | Debuted at No. 55 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 6 | Lil' Flip | Ahead of My Time | |
| July 6 | Rick Ross | The Albert Anastasia EP | |
| July 13 | Capone-N-Noreaga | The War Report 2 | Debuted at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 13 | Paul Wall | Heart of a Champion | Debuted at No. 56 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 13 | Stat Quo | Statlanta | |
| July 13 | Curren$y | Pilot Talk | Debuted at No. 38 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 13 | Pro | Redemption | |
| July 13 | Snoop Dogg | My No. 1 Priority | |
| July 13 | Sam Adams | Boston's Boy (Deluxe Edition) | |
| July 13 | Mr. Criminal | Death Before Dishonor | |
| July 20 | Rick Ross | Teflon Don | Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Super High", "B.M.F. (Blowing Money Fast)", "Aston Martin Music" Certified Gold |
| July 20 | Ron Browz | Etherlibrium | |
| July 20 | Ayatollah | Cocoon | |
| July 20 | Rakaa | Crown Of Thorns | |
| July 20 | Ras Kass & DJ Rhettmatic | A.D.I.D.A.S. (All Day I Dream About Spittin’) | |
| July 20 | Potluck | Greatest Hits with Our Buds | |
| July 27 | Tech N9ne | The Gates Mixed Plate | Debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 27 | Fat Joe | The Darkside Vol. 1 | Debuted at No. 27 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 27 | Slum Village | Villa Manifesto | Debuted at No. 171 on the Billboard 200 |
| July 27 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 7: High Jazz | |
| July 27 | Killah Priest | The 3 Day Theory | |
| July 27 | Cut Chemist | Sound Of The Police | |
| July 27 | Bizzy Bone | Crossover: 2010 EP | |
| July 27 | Krayzie Bone | The Fixtape Volume 3: Lyrical Paraphernalia | |
| July 27 | Trek Life | Everything Changed Nothing | |
| July 27 | Zo! | SunStorm | |
| July 27 | Willie the Kid & Lee Bannon | Never A Dull Moment: The EP | |
| August 1 | Mistachuck | Don’t Rhyme For The Sake Of Riddlin’ | |
| August 3 | Bun B | Trill O.G. | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 |
| August 3 | Freddie Gibbs | Str8 Killa | Debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums |
| August 3 | Pastor Troy | King of All Kings | |
| August 3 | Esham | Suspended Animation | |
| August 3 | El-P | Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3 | |
| August 3 | Lil' Keke | The Don Ke Chronicles | |
| August 3 | Roc C | Scapegoat | |
| August 3 | King Gordy | Xerxes The God-King | |
| August 3 | Messy Marv, The Jacka & Blanco | Jonestown | |
| August 5 | Del the Funky Homosapien | It Ain't Illegal Yet | |
| August 10 | Dirt Nasty | Nasty As I Wanna Be | |
| August 10 | Ahmad | The Death Of Me | |
| August 10 | DJ Screw | Forever | |
| August 10 | GRITS | Quarantine | |
| August 10 | LMNO | Tripping On This Journey | |
| August 10 | Ayatollah | Live From The MPC 60 (Box Set) | |
| August 10 | Messy Marv | Thizz City | |
| August 10 | Buck 65 | 20 Odd Years Volume 3: Albuquerque | |
| August 10 | Bun B & DJ Michael “5000” Watts | Trill O.G. (Screwed & Chopped) | |
| August 10 | Lord Infamous | Futuristic Rowdy Bounty Hunter | |
| August 13 | Mac Miller | K.I.D.S. | |
| August 17 | D-Loc | Made For Kings | |
| August 17 | Camu Tao | King Of Hearts | |
| August 17 | Mac Dre | G.A.M.E. | |
| August 17 | Messy Marv & Berner | Blow: Blocks And Boat Docks | |
| August 17 | Crooked I | Planet C.O.B. Vol. 1 | |
| August 17 | Husalah | Tha Furly Ghost Volume 3 | |
| August 17 | Tha Dogg Pound | 100 Wayz | |
| August 17 | Raekwon | Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II (Gold Deluxe Edition) | |
| August 17 | Bizzy Bone | The Best Of Bizzy Bone Vol. 2 | |
| August 24 | Blu | Her Favorite Colo(u)r (Re-Release) | |
| August 24 | Messy Marv | Thizz City | |
| August 24 | The Pack | Wolfpack Party | |
| August 24 | Bizzy Bone | Crossroads: 2010 | |
| August 24 | Tek | 24KT Smoke | |
| August 24 | Apollo Brown | The Reset (Instrumentals) | |
| August 24 | Jneiro Jarel | Fauna (International Release) | |
| August 24 | Cassidy | Face 2 Face Ep | |
| August 31 | Big L | 139 & Lenox | |
| August 31 | Common Sense | Resurrection (Deluxe Edition) | |
| August 31 | DJ Muggs & Ill Bill | Kill Devil Hills | |
| August 31 | Fabolous | There Is No Competition 2: The Grieving Music EP | Debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 Single: "You Be Killing Em" |
| August 31 | KRS-One & True Master | Meta-Historical | |
| August 31 | Godfather Don | Properties Of Steel: The Hydra Records Singles | |
| August 31 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 8: Advanced Jazz | |
| August 31 | Tela | Gators & Suits | |
| August 31 | Kano | Method To The Maadness (International Release) | |
| August 31 | Whodini | Whodini (Re-Release) | |
| August 31 | Exile | Radio: AM/FM | |
| August 31 | Fes Taylor | I’m Not A Rapper! | |
| September 7 | Chingy | Success & Failure | |
| September 7 | Young Buck | The Rehab | Debuted at No. 55 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 7 | Q-Unique | Between Heaven & Hell | |
| September 7 | Nate Dogg | G-Funk Mix | |
| September 7 | Dorrough | Get Big | Debuted at No. 67 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Get Big" |
| September 7 | Rock & Suge White | Rockin Out West | |
| September 7 | Atmosphere | To All My Friends, Blood Makes The Blade Holy: The Atmosphere EP's | Debuted at No. 37 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 7 | September 10 | Harlem 6 | The New Breed |
| September 14 | Krizz Kaliko | Shock Treatment | Debuted at No. 97 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 14 | Huey | Redemption | |
| September 14 | Black Milk | Album of the Year | Debuted at No. 129 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 14 | J Dawg | Still Behind Tint | |
| September 14 | MF Doom & Big Benn Klingon | Expektoration Live | |
| September 14 | Watchmen | Wu-Tang Management Presents Watchmen | |
| September 14 | Rah Digga | Classic | |
| September 14 | Pete Rock & CL Smooth | Mecca and the Soul Brother (Deluxe Edition) | |
| September 15 | Dirt Platoon | Deeper Than Dirt | |
| September 20 | Witchdoctor | Dracula “Transylvania” | |
| September 21 | Twiztid | Heartbroken & Homicidal | Debuted at No. 29 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 21 | MC Eiht | The Best Of MC Eiht | |
| September 21 | Prospect | First Blood | |
| September 21 | Ski Beatz | 24 Hour Karate School | |
| September 21 | Spice 1 | The Best Of Spice 1 Vol. 2 | |
| September 27 | Lil Wayne | I Am Not a Human Being | Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, peaked at No. 1 Singles: "Right Above It" Certified Gold Released while Lil Wayne was serving a prison sentence |
| September 28 | Hell Razah | Heaven Razah | |
| September 28 | Lecrae | Rehab | Debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 28 | Kane & Abel | Back On Money | |
| September 28 | Group Home | G.U.R.U. (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) | |
| September 28 | Gucci Mane | The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Gucci Time" |
| September 28 | Timbo King | From Babylon To Timbuktu | |
| September 28 | Boogie Down Productions | Criminal Minded (Elite Edition) | |
| September 28 | Boosie Badazz | Incarcerated | Debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 28 | Ice Cube | I Am the West | Debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 |
| September 28 | Trae Tha Truth, Evil Empire, & DJ Folk | Can’t Ban Tha Truth | |
| September 28 | Thug Lordz | Thug Money | |
| September 28 | Big Remo | Entrapment | |
| September 28 | B-Real | The Harvest Vol. 1: The Mixtape | |
| September 28 | Brown Study | Brown Study | |
| September 28 | Count Bass D & DJ Pocket | Activity | |
| September 28 | DJ Spinna & BBE Soundsystem | Strange Games & Funky Things Volume 5 | |
| September 28 | Donnis | Fashionably Late | |
| September 28 | J-Bo | Herringbone Jones | |
| September 28 | Koopsta Knicca | A Murder In Room 8 | |
| September 28 | Madlib & Nitti | Madlib Medicine Show No. 9: High Fi Sounds For Smokers And Drinkers | |
| September 29 | Noah23 | Heart of Rock | |
| September 30 | Black Knights | West Coast Killa Beez (The Stolen Legacy Vol. 1) | |
| October 1 | Tinie Tempah | Disc-Overy | Debuted at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart |
| October 1 | Bag Raiders | Bag Raiders | |
| October 4 | Soprano | La Colombe | Debuted at No. 1 on the France Albums Chart |
| October 5 | B.G. | Hollyhood | |
| October 5 | Canibus | C of Tranquility | |
| October 5 | Pimp C | The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones | Debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 |
| October 5 | Skyzoo & Illmind | Live from the Tape Deck | Debuted at No. 174 on the Billboard 200 |
| October 5 | Savage | The Tribal Council | |
| October 5 | Waka Flocka Flame | Flockaveli | Debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "O Let's Do It", "Hard in Da Paint", "No Hands", "Groove St. Party" |
| October 5 | 8Ball & MJG | From the Bottom 2 the Top | |
| October 5 | Hezekiah | Conscious Porn | |
| October 5 | Bone Brothers | The Best of Bone Brothers | |
| October 10 | The Gaslamp Killer | Death Gate | |
| October 10 | LMNO | James Kelly (Box Set) | |
| October 12 | ¡Mayday! | Stuck On An Island | |
| October 12 | Pac Div | Grown Kid Syndrome | |
| October 12 | Cali Swag District | The Kickback | Single: "Teach Me How to Dougie" |
| October 12 | Illmind | Behind The Curtain | |
| October 12 | 9th Prince | One Man Army | |
| October 12 | El Da Sensei & The Returners | GT2: Nu World | |
| October 12 | GLC | Love, Life & Loyalty | |
| October 12 | Lord Jamar | Known Associates | |
| October 12 | Pigeon John | Dragon Slayer | |
| October 12 | 7L & Esoteric | 1212 | |
| October 12 | Chiddy Bang | Chiddy Bang: The Preview | Debuted at No. 75 on the Billboard 200 |
| October 12 | Tha Chill | Chillafornia EP | |
| October 12 | Far East Movement | Free Wired | Debuted at No. 24 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Like a G6", "Rocketeer", "If I Was You (OMG)" |
| October 12 | Vado | Slime Flu | |
| October 12 | The HoodStarz | Controversy | |
| October 12 | Kaz Kyzah & Ammbush | Deadly Operation | |
| October 12 | Nems | Prezident’s Day | |
| October 19 | Pastor Troy | The Best Of Pastor Troy Vol. 1 | |
| October 19 | Pastor Troy | The Best Of Pastor Troy Vol. 2 | |
| October 19 | The Jacka & Ampichino | Devilz Rejectz 2: House Of The Dead | |
| October 19 | Kokayi | Robots & Dinosaurs | |
| October 19 | Von Pea | Pea’s Gotta Have It | |
| October 19 | The Lost Children of Babylon | Zeitgeist: The Spirit Of The Age | |
| October 19 | Lil' Keke | Seven 13 Vol. 4 | |
| October 19 | Lil Scrappy | Prince of the South 2 | |
| October 19 | LMNO, KeyKool & 2Mex | Blessing In Disguise | |
| October 19 | Pimp C & DJ Michael “5000” Watts | The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones (Screwed & Chopped) | |
| October 19 | Anybody Killa | Medicine Bag | Debuted at No. 117 on the Billboard 200 |
| October 19 | Kinto Sol | El Ultimo Suspiro | |
| October 20 | Ski Beatz | 24 Hour Karate School Japan | |
| October 20 | John Forté | The Bloomingdales Acoustics | |
| October 22 | Berlins Most Wanted | Berlins Most Wanted | |
| October 25 | Tech N9ne | Seepage EP | Debuted at No. 57 on Billboard 200 |
| October 25 | Lyrics Born | As U Were | |
| October 25 | Various Artists | Stomp The Yard: Homecoming OST | |
| October 25 | Skillz | The World Needs More Skillz | |
| October 25 | Cap D | PolyMath | |
| October 26 | 1982 | 1982 | |
| October 26 | 9th Wonder | 9th's Opus: It's A Wonderful World Music Group Volume 1 |
| October 26 | Celph Titled & Buckwild | Nineteen Ninety Now | |
| October 26 | Chaundon | No Excuses | |
| October 26 | Greg Nice | The Popcycle | |
| October 26 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 10: Black Soul | |
| October 26 | Vinnie Paz | Prayer For The Assassin | |
| October 26 | Doc Ish | The First Treatment | |
| October 26 | 2Mex | My Fanbase Will Destroy | |
| October 26 | No One | The Substance | |
| October 26 | Wisemen | Children of a Lesser God | |
| October 26 | Lord Infamous & Black Rain Ent. | Helloween Part 2: The Rise Of Satan | |
| October 26 | Nottz | You Need This Music | |
| October 26 | The Left | Gas Mask | |
| October 31 | Koopsta Knicca | Da Devil's Playground 2 | |
| October 31 | Spice 1 | Hallowpoint | |
| October 31 | Outlawz | Killuminati 2K10 | |
| November 2 | Devin the Dude | Gotta Be Me | |
| November 2 | Pitbull | Armando | Debuted at No. 65 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 2 | J-Live | Undivided Attention | |
| November 2 | Diplo | Blow Your Head: Dubstep | |
| November 2 | Psycho Les | Psycho Therapy: The Remixes | |
| November 2 | Gangrene | Sawblade EP | |
| November 2 | San Quinn & Loyal-T | Never Say Die | |
| November 2 | Trigganometry | Trigga Happy 3 | |
| November 4 | Nocando | Unlocked | |
| November 5 | Ghostface Killah | Supreme Clientele (Special Edition) | |
| November 9 | Eligh | GreyCrow | |
| November 9 | Kid Cudi | Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager | Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Erase Me" Certified Gold |
| November 9 | Custom Made | Hi-Def | |
| November 9 | Knoc-turn'al | Knoc's Ville | |
| November 9 | Watchmen | Power | |
| November 9 | Twista | The Perfect Storm | Debuted at No. 42 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 9 | Lil Boosie, Webbie, Lil' Trill & Trill Fam | Trill Entertainment Presents: All or Nothing | Debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 9 | DJ Felli Fel | Thump Ridaz Mix | |
| November 9 | Zion I | Atomic Clock | |
| November 9 | Lord Jamar | Known Associates | |
| November 9 | Lil' Keke | 713: The Album | |
| November 9 | Joe Budden | Mood Muzik 4: A Turn 4 The Worst | Debuted at No. 94 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 9 | Smoke DZA | George Kush Da Button (The Deluxe Edition) | |
| November 9 | Buckwild | Presents… | |
| November 9 | Criminal Manne | Got That Work | |
| November 9 | Stan Sly | Anutha World | |
| November 9 | Various Artists | Super Jerkin’ Vol. 2 | |
| November 9 | Gucci Mane | La Flare | |
| November 9 | Bomb Zombies | Sincerely Yours | |
| November 9 | The Boy Boy Young Me$$ | Paystyle Flow: No Pen Vol. 2 | |
| November 9 | San Quinn & Loyal-T | Never Say Die | |
| November 12 | Mystro | Digmund Freud E.P. | |
| November 16 | Nelly | Nelly 5.0 | Debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Just a Dream", "Move That Body" |
| November 16 | Berner & Ampichino | Traffic 2 | |
| November 16 | Cutthroat | The Takeova | |
| November 16 | LMNO & DJ Babu | No Apologies | |
| November 16 | Cassidy | C.A.S.H. (Cass A Straight Hustla) | Debuted at No. 116 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 16 | Bizzy Bone | The Greatest Rapper Alive | |
| November 16 | Masta Killa | Wu-Tang: The Next Chamber | |
| November 16 | John Regan | Sorry I'm Late | |
| November 16 | Messy Marv | D.I.N.O.S.A.U.R. The Collection Volume One | |
| November 16 | J-Zone | A Job Ain’t Nuthin But Work (Deluxe Edition) | |
| November 19 | Hopsin | Raw | |
| November 19 | The Beatnuts | Street Level (Deluxe Edition) | |
| November 22 | Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Power", "Runaway", "All of the Lights", and "Monster" Certified Platinum |
| November 22 | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Singles: "Check It Out", "Your Love", "Right Thru Me", "Moment 4 Life", "Fly", "Did It on Em", "Super Bass" Certified Platinum |
| November 22 | Yelawolf | Trunk Muzik 0-60 | Debuted at No. 164 on Billboard 200. |
| November 22 | Phanatik | Party Over Here | |
| November 22 | Jay-Z | The Hits Collection, Volume One | |
| November 22 | Gangrene | Gutter Water | |
| November 22 | Duke Da God | The D.I.P. Agenda | |
| November 22 | Curren$y | Pilot Talk II | Debuted at No. 83 on Billboard 200. |
| November 22 | Lloyd Banks | H.F.M. 2 (The Hunger for More) | Debuted at No. 25 on Billboard 200. Singles: "Beamer, Benz or Bentley", "Any Girl", "Start It Up", "I Don't Deserve You", "So Forgetful". |
| November 22 | Bronze Nazareth | School For The Blindman | |
| November 22 | Rye Rye | Sunshine Remix EP | |
| November 22 | Tabi Bonney | Fre$h | |
| November 22 | Booba | Lunatic | |
| November 22 | Calle 13 | Entren Los Que Quieran | |
| November 23 | Inspectah Deck | Manifesto Redux | |
| November 23 | Mr. Capone-E | Gang Stories | |
| November 23 | Big L | Return of the Devil's Son | |
| November 23 | Damu the Fudgemunk | Supply For Demand | |
| November 23 | Maestro Fresh-Wes | The Black Tie Affair (Re-Release) | |
| November 23 | Bubba Sparxxx | Miracle On Gamble Road | |
| November 23 | Esham | Suspended Extended (Subatomic Jetpack Edition) | |
| November 25 | Various Artists | Free Leonard Peltier: Hip Hop's Contribution To The Freedom Campaign | |
| November 30 | Slim Thug | Tha Thug Show | Debuted at No. 78 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 30 | Soulja Boy Tell 'Em | The DeAndre Way | Debuted at No. 79 on the Billboard 200 |
| November 30 | Nu Jerzey Devil | Behind Closed Doors | |
| November 30 | Flo Rida | Only One Flo (Part 1) | Debuted at No. 107 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Club Can't Handle Me", "Turn Around (5, 4, 3, 2,1)", "Who Dat Girl" |
| November 30 | Haystak | Easy 2 Hate | |
| November 30 | Daz Dillinger | Matter of Dayz | |
| November 30 | AZ | Doe or Die 15th Anniversary | |
| November 30 | Sleepy D & DJ Fresh | The Tonite Show: Sleep Walking | |
| November 30 | MC Mr. Napkins | The Album | |
| November 30 | Big Hutch | Ef U Hutch | |
| November 30 | Ali Vegas | AutoVegography | |
| November 30 | Bad Seed | Intelligently Ignant | |
| November 30 | Big Hutch | Ef U Hutch | |
| November 30 | Deacon The Villain & Sheisty Khrist | Niggaz With Latitude (N.W.L.) | |
| November 30 | JR & PH7 | The Update | |
| November 30 | Copywrite | The Life And Times Of Peter Nelson | |
| November 30 | Big Rich | Built To Last | |
| December 7 | Snowgoons | Kraftwerk | |
| December 7 | Large Professor & Neek The Exotic | Exotic Species | |
| December 7 | DJ Premier & Year Round Records | Get Used To Us | |
| December 7 | Redman | Redman Presents... Reggie | Debuted at No. 118 on the Billboard 200 |
| December 7 | T.I. | No Mercy | Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Single: "Get Back Up", "I'm Back", "Yeah Ya Know (Takers)", "Got Your Back", "That's All She Wrote" Certified Gold |
| December 7 | Crown Royale | Crown Royale | |
| December 7 | Philthy Rich & DJ Fresh | My Block: Welcome To Sem City 2 | |
| December 7 | Remedy | It All Comes Down To This | |
| December 7 | Madlib | Madlib Medicine Show No. 11: Low Budget High Fi Music | |
| December 7 | DJ Clay | Book Of The Wicked: The Mixtape Vol. 2 | |
| December 7 | Father MC | My (Digitally Remastered) | |
| December 7 | Messy Marv | Collabos | |
| December 14 | Sheek Louch | Donnie G: Don Gorilla | |
| December 14 | LMNO | LMNO Is Dead | |
| December 14 | Various Artists | Lost Tapes Of Suave House | |
| December 14 | The Untouchables | Al Capone’s Vault | |
| December 14 | J Stalin | The Real World Part 3 | |
| December 14 | Too Short | Respect the Pimpin' | |
| December 14 | Doc Ish | The First Treatment | |
| December 14 | Andre Nickatina & The Jacka | My Middle Name Is Crime EP | |
| December 14 | Andre Nickatina & Smoov-E | The King And Mr. Biscuits | |
| December 20 | WC | That’s What I’m Talking About |
| December 20 | Gorilla Zoe | I Am Atlanta 3 | |
| December 21 | Brand Nubian | Enter The Dubstep Volume 2 | |
| December 21 | David Banner & 9th Wonder | Death of a Pop Star | |
| December 21 | Dru Down | Chronicles Of A Pimp | |
| December 21 | Ghostface Killah | Apollo Kids | Debuted at No. 128 on the Billboard 200 |
| December 21 | Cyssero | Destined for Greatness | |
| December 21 | Statik Selektah | The Left-Overs (Of What’s To Come…) (EP) | |
| December 21 | Messy Marv | Shooting Range Part 2 | |
| December 21 | Mikkey Halsted | The Darkroom | |
| December 21 | Illa J | 4 Past Midnite | |
| December 28 | Flame | Captured | Debuted at No. 152 on the Billboard 200 |
| December 28 | Planet Asia | Crack Belt Theatre | |
| December 28 | Sha Stimuli | Unsung Vol. 1: The Garden Of Eden | |
| December 31 | Statik Selektah & Termanology | The Evening News EP | |

## Highest-charting singles

Hip hop singles from any year which charted in the 2010 Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 :
| Song | Artist | Project | Peak position |
| "Love the Way You Lie" | Eminem featuring Rihanna | Recovery | 1 |
| "Not Afraid" | Eminem | Recovery | 1 |
| "Just A Dream" | Nelly | 5.0 | 3 |
| "Down on Me" | Jeremih featuring 50 Cent | All About You | 4 |
| "Right Above It" | Lil Wayne featuring Drake | I Am Not a Human Being | 6 |
| "Young Forever" | Jay-Z featuring Mr Hudson | The Blueprint 3 | 10 |
| "My Chick Bad" | Ludacris featuring Nicki Minaj | Battle of the Sexes | 11 |
| "Carry Out" | Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake | Shock Value II | 11 |
| "Runaway" | Kanye West featuring Pusha T | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 12 |
| "Your Love" | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | 14 |
| "Over" | Drake | Thank Me Later | 14 |
| "Miss Me" | Drake featuring Lil Wayne | Thank Me Later | 15 |
| "Gonnorhea" | Lil Wayne featuring Drake | I Am Not A Human Being | 17 |
| "Monster" | Kanye West featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 18 |
| "Drop the World" | Lil Wayne featuring Eminem | Rebirth | 18 |
| "That's All She Wrote" | T.I. featuring Eminem | No Mercy | 18 |
| "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" | Kevin Rudolf featuring Birdman, Jay Sean & Lil Wayne | To the Sky | 21 |
| "POWER" | Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 22 |
| "Erase Me" | Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West | Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager | 22 |
| "Say Something" | Timbaland featuring Drake | Shock Value II | 23 |
| "No Love" | Eminem featuring Lil Wayne | Recovery | 23 |
| "Check It Out" | will.i.am & Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | 24 |
| "All I Do Is Win" | DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross | Victory | 24 |
| "Fancy" | Drake featuring T.I. & Swizz Beatz | Thank Me Later | 25 |
| "Right Thru Me" | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | 26 |
| "Hello Good Morning" | Diddy & Dirty Money featuring T.I. | Last Train to Paris | 27 |
| "Hell Breaks Loose" | Eminem featuring Dr. Dre | Relapse: Refill | 29 |
| "Aston Martin Music" | Rick Ross featuring Drake & Chrisette Michele | Teflon Don | 30 |
| "Kush" | Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg & Akon | — | 34 |
| "Lose My Mind" | Jeezy featuring Plies | Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition | 35 |
| "On to the Next One" | Jay-Z featuring Swizz Beatz | The Blueprint 3 | 37 |
| "Got Your Back" | T.I. featuring Keri Hilson | No Mercy | 38 |

## Highest first week sales

As of December 31, 2010.
| Number | Artist | Album | 1st week sales | 1st week position |
| 1 | Eminem | Recovery | 741,000 | #1 |
| 2 | Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 496,000 | #1 |
| 3 | Drake | Thank Me Later | 447,000 | #1 |
| 4 | Nicki Minaj | Pink Friday | 375,000 | #2 |
| 5 | Lil Wayne | Rebirth | 176,000 | #2 |
| 6 | Rick Ross | Teflon Don | 176,000 | #2 |
| 7 | Kid Cudi | Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager | 169,000 | #3 |
| 8 | T.I. | No Mercy | 159,000 | #4 |
| 9 | Ludacris | Battle of the Sexes | 137,000 | #1 |
| 10 | Lil Wayne | I Am Not a Human Being | 125,000 | #1 |

## Highest critically reviewed albums (Metacritic)

| Number | Artist | Album | Average score | Number of reviews |
| 1 | Kanye West | My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy | 94 | 45 reviews |
| 2 | Big Boi | Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty | 90 | 33 reviews |
| 4 | The Roots | How I Got Over | 86 | 23 reviews |
| 5 | Ghostface Killah | Apollo Kids | 84 | 17 reviews |
| 6 | CeeLo Green | The Lady Killer | 80 | 33 reviews |
| 7 | Rick Ross | Teflon Don | 79 | 18 reviews |
| 8 | Gil Scott-Heron | I'm New Here | 78 | 28 reviews |
| 9 | Freeway & Jake One | The Stimulus Package | 78 | 15 reviews |
| 10 | John Legend & The Roots | Wake Up! | 77 | 22 reviews |