Essential psychedelic rap listening

The albums that define psychedelic rap.

Our picks for where to start with psychedelic rap — with a one-line read on why each one matters.

The psychedelic rap essentials

Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.

Pink Tape

Lil Uzi Vert

Pink Tape

A kaleidoscopic blend of rap styles, merging introspective lyrics with vibrant, experimental production.

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JackBoys 2

Travis Scott

JackBoys 2

A vibrant mix of trap beats and introspective lyrics, capturing the essence of contemporary hip-hop culture.

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Elephants on Acid

Cypress Hill

Elephants on Acid

Cypress Hill's eclectic blend of psychedelic sounds and gritty hip-hop creates a surreal auditory journey through their signature themes.

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Stoned Raiders

Cypress Hill

Stoned Raiders

Psychedelic beats merge with hard-hitting lyrics, creating a distinctive fusion of hip-hop and rock elements.

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Cypress Hill IV

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill IV

A gritty fusion of hardcore hip-hop and psychedelic elements, pulsating with raw energy and social commentary.

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Back in Black

Cypress Hill

Back in Black

An explosive blend of hard-hitting beats and introspective lyrics that captures Cypress Hill's enduring legacy.

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Live at the Fillmore

Cypress Hill

Live at the Fillmore

A high-octane blend of hip-hop and rock, pulsating with vibrant energy and raw lyrical intensity.

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Skull & Bones

Cypress Hill

Skull & Bones

A bold fusion of hard-hitting hip-hop and metal-infused grooves that push genre boundaries.

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Black Sunday

Cypress Hill

Black Sunday

A psychedelic blend of hard-hitting beats and witty, irreverent lyrics that define West Coast hip-hop.

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Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight

Travis Scott

Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight

An immersive blend of atmospheric beats and introspective lyrics that captures the essence of modern hip-hop's emotional landscape.

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Rodeo

Travis Scott

Rodeo

A kaleidoscopic blend of trap beats, atmospheric production, and introspective lyricism that redefined modern hip-hop.

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Utopia

Travis Scott

Utopia

A kaleidoscopic blend of trap rhythms and introspective lyrics, exploring themes of fame and existentialism.

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Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill

A raw blend of gritty beats and bilingual lyricism that captures the essence of early 90s hip-hop culture.

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Rise Up

Cypress Hill

Rise Up

A robust blend of hip-hop and rock infused with a defiant spirit and socially conscious lyrics.

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Till Death Do Us Part

Cypress Hill

Till Death Do Us Part

A gritty fusion of hardcore rap and Latin influences layered over dark, atmospheric beats.

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Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill III: Temples of Boom

A gritty blend of hard-hitting beats and surreal lyricism that captures the essence of '90s hip-hop.

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Eternal Atake

Lil Uzi Vert

Eternal Atake

A vibrant fusion of trap beats and introspective lyrics layered over psychedelic soundscapes.

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Pluto × Baby Pluto

Lil Uzi Vert

Pluto × Baby Pluto

A vibrant blend of trap beats and melodic flows, capturing the synergy between two rap innovators.

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Astroworld

Travis Scott

Astroworld

A kaleidoscopic blend of psychedelic beats and trap rhythms, infused with introspective lyricism.

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All My Heroes Are Cornballs

JPEGMafia

All My Heroes Are Cornballs

A chaotic blend of abrasive production, sharp lyrics, and genre-defying experimentation that challenges hip-hop conventions.

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I Lay Down My Life for You

JPEGMafia

I Lay Down My Life for You

An audacious blend of industrial noise and introspective lyricism that challenges conventional hip-hop norms.

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Scaring the Hoes

JPEGMafia

Scaring the Hoes

A chaotic blend of industrial beats, lo-fi textures, and biting satire that challenges conventional hip-hop tropes.

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Doc's da Name 2000

Redman

Doc's da Name 2000

A kaleidoscopic blend of witty lyricism and funky beats, infused with Redman's signature irreverence.

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I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt

Earl Sweatshirt

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside: An Album By Earl Sweatshirt

Introspective and raw, this album fuses abstract hip-hop with sparse, haunting production and emotionally charged lyricism.

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