The 15 Best Posthumous Rap Albums of All Time, Ranked
Over the years, dozens of posthumous rap albums have been released, most forgettable, some exceptional. Here’s our ranking of the very best.
In the fall of 1991, jazz legend Miles Davis died of pneumonia, respiratory failure, and a stroke. At the time of his death, he was deep into a new project with Brooklyn-based producer Easy Mo Bee, one that aimed to fuse jazz with the rising sound of sample-based hip-hop.
The album was only partially complete. Easy Mo Bee—who would later produce seminal work for The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac—took unreleased horn sections from Miles’ scrapped 1985 album Rubberband and built around them.
The result, Doo-Bop, was released nine months later. It was panned. Still, it helped usher in the concept of the posthumous album within hip-hop—even if it came from a jazz artist. It also foreshadowed what posthumous rap albums would often become: messy, compromised, and tied to increasingly lowered standards.
In the 30 plus years since, dozens of posthumous rap albums have been released. Most haven’t been good, suffering from demo-itis, clumsy estate decisions, or creative liberties taken by people who never shared the artist’s original vision. And yet, they’ve become increasingly common—partly because they sell (two of the top 20 best-selling rap albums ever are posthumous), and partly because hip-hop remains one of the most tragically loss-ridden genres, with promising young artists dying far too often.
In our ranking of the best posthumous rap albums, you’ll find a few undeniable classics—records where the artist had a clear vision and left behind enough material to realize it. Then there’s a steep drop-off, where too many hands in the kitchen try to force in whatever sound is popping at the time.
We should also add: when we say “posthumous,” we’re referring to when the album was released, not when it was recorded. Because, honestly, how can we really know when an artist considered something done?
Here are the 15 best posthumous rap albums of all time.
15.King Von, 'What it Means to Be King' (2022)
Features: G Herbo, 21 Savage, Fivio Foreign, Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, Tee Grizzley, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Dreezy, Boss Top, DqFrmDaO, OMB Peezy
The name “King Von” carries a controversial ring, but there’s no denying he was one of the most gifted rappers to come out of Chicago in the past decade. A natural storyteller, he rapped about the streets with vivid, uncompromising detail. His debut album, Welcome to O’Block, dropped just a week before he was killed during an altercation in Atlanta.
The follow-up, What It Means to Be King, released two years later, might actually be the stronger project. Like his cousin Lil Durk, Von was beginning to show there were layers to his gangsta storytelling. The opening track, “Where I’m From,” is a standout from his short career—his intricate lyrics carried by a raw, emotive delivery that most "one-note" rappers can't pull off. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
14.The Notorious B.I.G., 'Born Again' (1999)
Features: Lil' Kim, Puff Daddy, Lil' Cease, Nas, K-Ci & JoJo, Too $hort, Black Rob, Ice Cube, Beanie Sigel, Sadat X, Mobb Deep, Joe Hooker, G-Dep, Craig Mack, Missy Elliott, Eminem, Hot Boys, Method Man, Redman, Big Tymers, Mark Curry, Junior M.A.F.I.A. Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes
The Notorious B.I.G. was the closest thing we’ve seen to a perfect MC—someone who could sound good over anything. But that kind of versatility becomes a double-edged sword when his vocals are left in someone else’s hands. Enter Born Again. If Bad Boy invented the remix, they might have also pioneered the trend-chasing posthumous album: a patchwork of contemporary beats and fleeting fads awkwardly merged with Biggie verses we’d mostly heard before.
Want to hear what a bouncy Biggie–Cash Money collab sounds like? It’s here with the disastrous “Hope You Niggas Sleep.” Curious how he’d sound on a Bay Area anthem? There’s “Big Booty Hoes” with Too $hort. How about Biggie over some jiggy-era R&B production? Check out “I Really Want to Show You” with Nas and K-Ci & JoJo.
Most of it is a mess, if we’re being honest. But “Dead Wrong,” featuring an unreal Eminem verse, and the single “Notorious B.I.G.”—with Lil’ Kim and Diddy—make the ticket worth the price of admission. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
13.UGK, 'UGK 4 Life' (2009)
Features: 8Ball & MJG, Akon, Big Gipp, B-Legit, E-40, Lil' Boosie, Raheem DeVaughn, Ronald Isley, Sleepy Brown, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, Webbie.
Pimp C passed away from a lean overdose shortly after UGK hit their commercial peak, thanks to the success of “International Players Anthem” and their double album, Underground Kingz. But even with that mainstream breakthrough, it was heartening to hear the duo still making classic UGK music—gangsta country tunes with sprinkles of comedy—right up until the end.
UGK 4 Life, released about a year and a half after Pimp's death, might play it too safe, never straying far from the group’s established sound, and collaborating with old friends like Big Gipp, E-40 and Too $hort. But then again, this was the last time we’d hear them together—so why not stick to the formula? If anything feels new here, it’s how Bun B, usually the A mic, lets Pimp steal the show, especially on the hilarious “Harry Asshole” and the charming, addictive “She Luv It.” —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
12.Mac Miller, 'Balloonerism' (2025)
Features: SZA, Delusional Thomas
When Balloonerism dropped earlier this year, Mac Miller’s estate had done what so few posthumous rap projects manage to do: Honor the artist, not the algorithm. Brought to light more than a decade after it was recorded (and six years after his death), Balloonerism is a mint time capsule preserved in the form that Mac had intended for it to be shared in. Originally made in between Watching Movies With the Sound Off and Faces, the album was shelved as Mac evolved creatively and focused on other endeavors during that time. But what makes Balloonerism so compelling over a decade later is how fresh it feels despite its time on ice.
Fittingly, Balloonerism plays like a reverse mirror to Faces. Where Faces felt like a slow, spiraling descent, Balloonerism floats aimlessly upward—delirious, spacey, and seemingly weightless like a balloon itself. It’s a contemplative prequel or proving ground for the catharsis of Faces. Tracks like “Stoned,” “Funny Papers,” “Rick’s Piano,” and “Tomorrow Will Never Know” lay the groundwork for the themes and textures that Mac would fully develop later on—blending existential dread with psychedelic detachment. “I was not on planet Earth when I made Faces,” he once tweeted. That alien energy is largely present here, too. —Jon Barlas
11.J Dilla, 'The Shining' (2006)
Features: Busta Rhymes, Dwele, Black Thought Common, Pharoahe Monch, Madlib, Guilty Simpson, J. Rocc, Karriem Riggins, D'Angelo, MED
Donuts gets all the acclaim—and rightfully so. It’s a legit masterpiece, more of a religious experience than an album. It’s what super producer J Dilla was working on while on his hospital deathbed.
But its legendary status often overshadows The Shining, which was shaping up to be his next big rap release—and his first since Welcome 2 Detroit. After Dilla died in February 2006, longtime collaborator Karriem Riggins stepped in to finish the album.
Where Donuts is a beat tape with every song in conversation—telling an almost biographical story without words—The Shining is more scattershot, showcasing Dilla’s range over the years, from car-rattling bangers to smooth funk grooves. The soulful tracks hit the hardest: Pharoahe Monch’s “Love,” Common’s “So Far to Go,” Guilty Simpson and Madlib’s “Baby” are lush, layered, and warm—deeply textured examples of Dilla at his most emotionally resonant. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
10.Eazy-E, 'Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton' (1996)
Features: Dresta, B.G. Knocc Out, Sylk-E. Fyne, MC Ren, Dirty Red, Roger Troutman, Menajahtwa
“Eternal E,” the final song on Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton, features a short message from DJ Yella, explaining that Eazy really wanted this track on the album—so he finished it. There's no rapping; instead, Eazy delivers something like an origin story of N.W.A., over a G-funk beat laced with Roger Troutman vocals in the background. It’s an odd but emotional closer to an album that, years later, takes more interesting swings than it's often given credit for.
The album wasn’t well received when it dropped, partly due to its patched-together feel and lack of fully finished material—but that looseness lets it take some wild risks. “Lickin, Suckin, Fuckin” sounds like Eazy is getting a blowjob over a sleazy Yella beat. “My Baby’z Mama” flips the same sample Public Enemy used on “Rebel Without a Pause,” turning it into something way more perverted. And “Hit the Hooker” pairs some of Eazy’s most explicit lyrics with a smooth R&B-style production. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
9.2Pac, 'R U Still Down? (Remember Me)' (1997)
Features: Stretch, Val Young, Y?N-Vee, Maxee, Richie Rich, Yaki Kadafi, Dave Hollister, Dramacydal, Big Syke, Spice 1, Eric Williams of Blackstreet
R U Still Down marks the beginning of the 2Pac posthumous era, during which his estate released eight albums over the next decade. Some of these releases were vital (like Greatest Hits) or interesting experiments (the back to back releases of Until the End of Time and Better Dayz), but much of it was mid—pulling scraps from Pac’s vast archive and stretching them thin, like boiling rotisserie bones to make broth.
The highlight of this run is R U Still Down? (Remember Me), released just a year after his death. It’s a sprawling collection of demos and unreleased tracks that span the years before he joined Death Row and became more interested in material wealth. The album isn’t cohesive, but it reveals his depth—especially on songs that focus on social issues, like “Hellrazor” and “If I Wonder If Heaven’s Got a Ghetto.” —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
8.Big Pun, 'Yeeeah Baby' (2000)
Features: Prospect, Drag-On, Fat Joe, Remy Martin, Opera Steve, Donell Jones, Sunkiss, Cuban Link, M.O.P., Tony Sunshine
During Big Pun’s final interview, just a week before he died, the rapper talked about making a record that was less “hardcore.” He said, “With this album, I was like, ‘Let me do five [hardcore songs] and then some slower ones for those kids that can't understand what I'm sayin’.” That makes Yeeeah Baby feel a bit tragic.
At his peak, Pun was known for his multisyllabic, rapid-fire delivery. But you could always understand what he was saying. On Yeeeah Baby, you can hear how his health and weight—reportedly around 700 pounds, according to Cuban Link—affected his style. His words sometimes slur, and you can hear him taking deep breaths, while, in general, some of the rapping isn’t as ambitious as before.
Still, Yeeeah Baby is a good sophomore effort, just not the classic that Capital Punishment was. The album shines when Pun embraces a darker sense of humor, with oddball tracks like “Laughing at You,” “My Dick,” and “Leatherface” becoming fan favorites. He also mastered his hitmaking ability here: “It’s So Hard” with Donell Jones stands out as a classic rap/R&B bop, while “100%” laid the groundwork for blending rap with Latin music. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
7.Juice WRLD, 'Legends Never Die' (2020)
Features: The Weeknd, Trippie Redd, Marshmello, Polo G, the Kid Laroi, Halsey
Despite coming out of the SoundCloud era—a scene often driven more by vibe and aesthetic than lyricism—Juice WRLD was an outlier. He was an elite rapper who mastered melody, choosing to make introspective records over guitar-laced, bass-heavy trap beats.
Legends Never Die captures Juice at just 21, already feeling like a mid-career artist. He had dropped two albums, become one of the most successful rappers of his generation, and was grappling with the contradictions that come with fame. The album features big-name producers like Marshmello and Dr. Luke, but its lyrics focus more on the dark side of success.
“Don’t know what to do with myself these daysYoung rich nigga, I done fell in love with the bankBut all this money don’t rid me of my pain,” he raps.
Tracks like the somber “Blood on My Jeans” and the pop-leaning “Wishing Well” showcase the range in his sound—even as the lyrics remain locked in on addiction and depression.
Since Legends, the Juice WRLD estate has released two more full-length projects, but this one—which Juice was actively working on before he died—still feels like the most complete. —Antonio Johri
6.A Tribe Called Quest, 'We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service' (2016)
Features: André 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Jack White, Elton John, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak, Talib Kweli, Consequence, Busta Rhymes
When Phife Dawg died in the spring of 2016 from complications related to diabetes, it was clear that A Tribe Called Quest were in a fractured place. What the world didn’t know was that they had been holed up in a studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, recording one final album, their first in 18 years.
The joy of We Got It from Here... Thank You 4 Your Service is hearing them together again: Q-Tip, the leader and visionary; Phife Dawg, with the punchlines and off-kilter flow; and the low-key Jarobi. It all comes together in a way that feels organic, not forced or cynical. In many ways, this is the reunion rap fans had been waiting for years. The production has that jazzy, live instrumental providing a eclectic backbone, and guest appearances from extended members of the Tribe family—Busta Rhymes, André 3000, Kendrick Lamar.
The final track, “The Donald,” serves as a tribute to Phife and features one last verse from him:
"Orthodox spitter or bring on the southpaw/No doubt I'mma set it, dudes best be ready/Off top on the spot, no reading from your Whackberry/Leave the iPhones home, skill sets must be shown"
There would be one more posthumous solo Phife album, Forever, which would drop in 2020. But this is his sign off. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
5.Big L, ‘The Big Picture’ (2000)
Features: 2Pac, A.G., O.C. & Remy Ma) Miss Jones & Stan Spit, Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Guru, Sadat X
It’s well known that before he was killed, Big L was set to sign with Roc-A-Fella Records—a move that would’ve paired one of the illest pure lyricists ever with star-making infrastructure.
The Big Picture is the closest we got to a proper modern-day mainstream release. (His debut, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, was more of a cult, underground favorite.) Released by Rawkus, The Big Picture is a collection of completed songs, freestyles, and collaborations. It might not be the perfect, cohesive vision for one of NYC’s greatest MCs, but the highs are undeniable.
“Enemy,” carried by a hypnotic DJ Premier beat and a fiery verse from Fat Joe, stands as one of the best storytelling tracks in rap history, detailing the brutalities of the NYPD. “Platinum Plus,” featuring Big Daddy Kane, has the two legends trading punchlines, each trying to outdo the other. The bombastic “Flamboyant” feels tailor-made for clubs. And who could forget “Ebonics”—a conceptual song with so much staying power that, decades later, Central Cee built his own version using the gimmick. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
4.Mac Miller, ‘Circles’ (2020)
Features: No guest features
Circles is a deeply intentional body of work. This was always the vision, though, as Circles serves as a companion to 2018’s Swimming—circling back on Mac Miller’s concept of “Swimming in Circles,” a poetic nod to the cyclical, stagnant nature of personal growth. However, what makes Circles stand out on its own is how gracefully it closes the loop on Mac’s career—one that was well-spent wrestling with inner demons and filled with existential questions. “Well, this is what it looks like, right before you fall,” he murmurs on the opening track, eerily addressing his own passing from beyond. It’s a chilling, meditative introduction to an album that encapsulates the self-aware, free spirit that Mac was.
Draped in mellow basslines, somber melodies, and dreamy keys shaped by composer Jon Brion (who worked with Miller on the album before and after his passing), Circles offers an intimate look at an artist ultimately coming to terms with himself. Musically, it’s a complete departure (and evolution) of the sounds found on Swimming, only hinted at in small doses. It’s expansive, layered, with vocals that sound fragile, ghostly even, but there’s beauty in that sonic surrender. Tracks like “Good News,” “Hand Me Downs” and “Once a Day” are among the most gut-wrenching and raw, capturing Mac’s career-long inquisitions of mortality and meaning. —Jon Barlas
3.Pop Smoke, ‘Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon’ (2020)
Features: Quavo, Lil Baby, DaBaby, Swae Lee, Future, Rowdy Rebel, 50 Cent, Roddy Ricch, Tyga, Karol G, Lil Tjay, King Combs
Pop Smoke wasn’t even 20 when he entered the game and dominated. He quickly became the voice of Brooklyn drill, with his husky, growling vocals and no-nonsense, blunt rhyme style. Brooklyn was just the beginning—he was poised to take over New York and beyond.
You know what happened next. He was killed in February 2020 during a home invasion, just months before he was set to turn 21. The album he had been working on—eventually released as Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon—was executive produced by his mentor, 50 Cent. It captured both his ambition and the clear direction his career was headed in.
Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon is a modern-day rap classic and one of the best albums of the 2020s. It showcased Pop’s ability to touch every pocket. He still fed Brooklyn with hard-edged tracks like “Tunnel Vision (Outro)” and “44 BullDog,” but he also had the ladies in mind: radio-friendly melodic records like “What You Know Bout Love” and “Enjoy Yourself” became the driving force behind the album, with Pop’s gravelly voice contrasted against syrupy, melodic production.—Antonio Johri
2.2Pac, ‘The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory’ (1996)
Features: E.D.I., Young Noble, Outlawz, Hurt-M-Badd, Bad Azz, Aaron Hall, Danny Boy, K-Ci & JoJo, Val Young
The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory was originally meant to be 2Pac’s mixtape—a rawer, more street-leaning and political project that showcased his crew, The Outlawz. It was even supposed to be free. He eventually changed his mind—a deal with Suge Knight will do that—but the street ethos still runs deep through the album.
The 7 Day Theory is fascinating to revisit right after All Eyez on Me. While the latter—which came months before and basically ran the summer—is a gangsta rap blockbuster, filled with club-ready anthems and trendsetting hooks, 7 Day Theory has almost no hits. Instead, it's built on mythology. It’s like Pac heard all the criticisms—that he was a shapeshifter with no cohesive ideology—and leaned into it. Here, he's both the boss (“Against All Odds”) and the soldier (“Life of an Outlaw”), frivolous (“Just Like Daddy”) and focused (“White Man'z World”), conscious (“Hold Ya Head”) and gangsta (“Bomb First (My Second Reply)”). —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
1.The Notorious B.I.G., ‘Life After Death’ (1997)
Features: 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, R. Kelly, The Lox, Angela Winbush, Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Puff Daddy
In a lot of ways, this is cheating. Unlike most of the albums on this list, Life After Death presents a fully formed vision. Biggie made it off the corner (Ready to Die) and is now living the life of a boss: the women, the riches, the stress—each day wildly different from the last.
That’s the structure of Life After Death: it opens with a harrowing story of violence where a child gets killed by mistake (“Somebody’s Gotta Die”), then pivots to a club anthem where “every cutie with a booty gets a Coogi” (“Hypnotize”). Pain and joy are deeply connected, and success isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Beyond the brilliant rhyming and orchestral production, the real genius of the album is how Biggie moves between glossy singles and gritty street epics—a blueprint that 50 Cent would follow, and later, Pop Smoke would take a crack at.
It’s hard to even compare this album to the others on the list because, again, it genuinely feels like this is the album Biggie wanted—not something pieced together to benefit the estate. There’s a lesson there. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
