best albums

Here we are, the mid-year mark of 2015. So far, it's been a standout year for hip-hop, with some of the biggest rappers in the game upping the quality of their projects and delivering the best albums of their careers so far. We've got stellar debuts and triumphant comebacks, statement sophomore projects and catalog boosters, surprise albums and long-awaited releases, older vets and newer heads all

Keep up to date with all our 2015 XXL Freshmen stories, freestyles, interviews and videos right here.

This past year has been many things: a rejuvenation for the West Coast, another major year for Atlanta and a coronation of sorts for DJ Mustard. But across the board, sentiment has been that 2014 was a down year for hip-hop. But that doesn't mean that there wasn't still great rap music that was made...