The 2024 idkSTEREO Hip-Hop Awards: Complete Winners List

As chosen by the people, here are the winners of our third annual Hip-Hop Awards.

Album Awards

An Album of the Year in hip-hop should be a masterpiece in the context of its time—one that balances lyrical brilliance, sonic innovation, cultural impact, and emotional resonance. It's not just about chart performance or popularity, but the depth, artistry, and influence of the work as a whole. Here are this year's winners:

Abstract Hip-Hop Album of the Year

The Thief Next to Jesus, KA
WINNER: Samurai, Lupe Fiasco
shadowbox, MAVI
FLDSZN, OBIJUAN
Carrot Season, Phiik & Lungs

Alternative Rap Album of the Year

practice makes perfect. 3, Marikys.
Service Merchandise, Previous Industries
Wooden Floors, SALIMATA
WINNER: F.U.N. T.O.Y., Sideshow
Pumpkin Seeds, Wiseboy Jeremy & Kirti Pandey

Avant-garde Hip-Hop Album of the Year

WINNER: BLK LBL, Armand Hammer
Genuine Dexterity, Kenny Segal & K-the-i???
Sidewalk Chalk, Parade Day Rain, Pastense
The Hottest Year On Record, Sasco
Kdiv, Serengeti

Boom Bap Album of the Year

STABBED & SHOT 2, Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh
WINNER: Across The Tracks, Boldy James & Conductor Williams
Richmond Hill, Masta Ace & Marco Polo
Marciology, Roc Marciano
BY ANY MEAN$, SAINT JAME$

Conscious Hip-Hop Album of the Year

When Angels Cry, jev.
#Richaxxhaitian, Mach-Hommy
WINNER: Memoirs in Armour, Navy Blue
Please Don’t Cry, Rapsody
WINNER: Dark Times, Vince Staples

Experimental Hip-Hop Album of the Year

REVELATOR, E L U C I D
Studying Absence, Hemlock Ernst & Icky Reels
WINNER: I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU, JPEGMAFIA
Nobody Planning to Leave, ShrapKnel & Controller 7
Hell On Wheels, spook & Sadhugold

Foreign Rap Album of the Year

WINNER: El Leon, CRIMEAPPLE & Preservation
Por Cesarea, Dillom
KINTSUGI, Dinos
Astronomisk, Machacha & Femmar
SP.I. – Mir Nicolas

Gangsta Rap Album of the Year

The Game is the Game, Elcamino & Real Bad Man
WINNER: You Only Die 1nce, Freddie Gibbs
God’s Timing, Grafh & 38 Spesh
Hatton Garden Holdup, Rome Streetz & Daringer
BANNED IN 9 STATES, V Don & Ty Da Dale

G-Funk Album of the Year

WINNER: Magic Hour, Jay Worthy & DaM FunK
Space Funk, Jphelpz
Maicarron, Ril Fella & Masta Clark
W.A.W.G. (We All We Got), Tha Dogg Pound
Let Tha Dopeness Begin, Yogisoul & LiL’WooFyWooF

Hardcore Rap Album of the Year

Mother & Gun, 38 Spesh
Ground Level, Jae Skeese
Children of the Scorned, Ja’king the Divine
WINNER: BLUE LIPS, ScHoolboy Q
Pardon My Sleeze, Willynova

Hip-House Album of the Year

WINNER: Head Rush, Channel Tres
Organised Mess, GBNGA
40, Jawnino
dog eat dog food world, Niko B
BARE SUGAR: SWEET NOTHINGS, Ragz Originale

Instrumental Hip-Hop Album of the Year

Winner: Zion X, 9th Wonder
Pt. 01, Black Milk
348VOL2, Daringer
48, DIBIA$E
Too Beautiful to Die, Roper Williams

Jazz Rap Album of the Year

Sublime, Awon & Parental
Running Man, Jaxon Mune
All Infinite, Kooley High & Tuamie
OKSE, OKSE
WINNER: 74: Out of Time, Ol’ Burger Beats

Melodic Rap Album of the Year

BRAVADO + INTiMO, IDK
Mynameisnt, mynameisntjmack
WINNER: SOFT GULUVA by NanguEnvy
Why Lawd?, NxWorries
Standing on Giant Shoulders, Seafood Sam

Political Hip-Hop Album of the Year

Humble As The Sun, Bob Vylan
SYSTEMATICALLY WE WERE NEVER FREE, Estee Nack & Boneweso
The Confidence of Knowing, Talib Kweli & J. Rawls
Vote or Else, Various Artists
WINNER: MABONGA UMONGAMELI, Willing Listeners Forum

Pop Rap Album of the Year

American Dream, 21 Savage
Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii
HARDSTONE PSYCHO, Don Toliver
GNX, Kendrick Lamar
WINNER: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator

Rapper & Producer Album of the Year

OTHERWISE A BLUR, Blackchai & August Fanon
Love (the) Ominous World, Blu & Exile
CINE, Cavalier & Child Actor
WINNER: The Auditorium, Vol. 1, Common & Pete Rock
Stimulus Package 2, Freeway & Jake One

South African Hip-Hop Album of the Year

WINNER: CLOTHES WE HAD TO PRAY OVER, BABA KUSHI & Kijana Damu
Pray 4 Pitori, Loatinover Pounds
Silungisa Amaphiko, Ntombela
Intrusive Thoughts, Nyota Parker
DUST, Priddy Ugly

Trap Album of the Year

TAKE CARE, BigXthaPlug
KING OF THE MISCHIEVOUS SOUTH, Denzel Curry
Angel Eyes, Kenny Mason
WINNER: Pinball, MIKE & Tony Seltzer
Saaheem, SahBabii

UK Hip-Hop Album of the Year

CONGLOMERATE, Fimiguerrero, Len & Lancey Foux
WINNER: A Man After God’s Own Heart, Kofi Stone
Forward Ever, Lex Amor
Where’s Your Feet?, Lord Apex & El Lif Beatz
Lively Experience, namesbliss

Individual Awards

The Individual Awards are dedicated to recognising the distinct talents and contributions of individuals who play key roles in shaping the evolution of hip-hop. Here are this year's winners:

Best Male Lyricist

38Spesh
AKAI SOLO
Common
Estee Nack
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Mach-Hommy
Navy Blue
Ransom

Best Female Lyricist

7xvethegenius
Che Noir
WINNER: Doechii
Nejma Neferiti
Raina Simone
Rapsody

Producer of the Year

WINNER: The Alchemist
August Fanon
Child Actor
Conductor Williams
Nightmare Henry
Sadhugold

DJ of the Year

DJ Clen
DJ Muggs
WINNER: DJ Mustard
DJ Rude One
DJ Sliqe

Freshman of the Year

BigXthaPlug
Blackchai
Bossman Dlow
WINNER: LaCabra
Klide
Neeq
Nino Fresko
Raina Simone

Dreamwork Awards

The Dreamwork Awards emphasises that, in hip-hop, success is rarely achieved in isolation. The award acknowledges the vital importance of collaboration in producing the best music, visuals, and artistic work. It celebrates synergy between creative minds and highlights the collective effort that goes into crafting timeless, boundary-pushing projects. Here are this year's winners:

Best Duo, Group or Collective

Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh
WINNER: Concrete Boys
JUNECINEMA
NxWorries
Previous Industries
Quelle Chris & Cavalier
Qwellers
Regular Henry
WINNER: Scum Babie$

Collaboration of the Year

Homies (feat. Pistol McFly & Cashus King), Blu & Exile
iJuzi (feat. Sastii, LaCabra, Lowfeye & Yungboyvegeta), DJ Sliqe, Flow Jones & Qwellers
Everyday Hustle, Future, Metro Boomin & Rick Ross
Envy (feat. Lia Butler & Thato Saul), Maglera Doe Boy & ONDELIVE
WINNER: KWASA KWASA (feat. BABA KUSHI), Nightmare Henry & Willing Listeners Forum
SANG & OR WITH JWLES (feat. Jwles), Sideshow

Rollout Campaign of the Year

THE CHIP IS STaLE, ByLwansta
The Auditorium, Vol. 1, Common & Pete Rock
Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii
BLUE LIPS, ScHoolboy Q
WINNER: CHROMAKOPIA, Tyler, The Creator

Cultural Impact Awards

The Cultural Impact Awards shine a light on the diverse and vital platforms that contribute to the sustainability and expansion of hip-hop culture. In recognising various cultural institutions, these awards honour the ecosystem that supports the genre beyond the artist's microphone. These categories emphasise that hip-hop is not just music - it's a culture that thrives through discourse, community-building, and creative collaboration. Here are this year's winners:

Blog or Website of the Year

Cabbages
Focus Hip Hop
WINNER: Hip Hop Golden Age
Passion of the Weiss
StudetyRaport

Commentary Platform of the Year

B-Side Rap Reviews
Dead End Hip Hop
WINNER: Lost In Vegas
Secret House Against
Post & The Diary Room

Event of the Year

WINNER: Back To The City
BarFest
GOOD WORK
The Hip Hop Floor
UNDERGROUND

Performance Platform of the Year

Chinatown Sound
Live From The Front Porch
WINNER: On The Radar
Red Bull 1520
Top Shelf Premium

Podcast of the Year

Choppin It With Bhudda T
Encyclopedia Hip Hop
My Expert Opinion
The Rap Music Plug Podcast
WINNER: The Sobering Podcast

Radio Show of the Year

WINNER: 5 Hip Hop Nights on 5FM
Bandcamp Hip-Hop Show
Chicken Feet Soup w/Goya Gumbani on NTS RADIO
The Hip-Hop Show on Tuks FM
That Other Rap Show on Rinse.Fm

Visual Awards

The Visual Awards emphasise the integral role of visual artistry in shaping the identity and culture of hip-hop. From the dynamic music videos that tell vivid stories to the album covers that become iconic symbols of the era, these awards honor those who enhance the listening experience with rich, imaginative, and culturally resonant visuals. Here are this year's winners:

Album Packaging of the Year

Love (the) Ominous World, Blu & Exile
THE CHIP IS STaLE, ByLwansta
HARDSTONE PSYCHO, Don Toliver
BRAVADO + INTiMO, IDK
Ground Level, Jae Skeese
Where’s Your Feet?, Lord Apex & El Lif Beatz
WINNER: Fruit Snax, MeccaMind
MM..FOOD (20^th Anniversary Edition), MF DOOM
The God Anomaly, Solo Ntsizwa Ka Mthimkhulu
Pumpkin Seeds, Wiseboy Jeremy
Waking Up and Choosing Violence, YUNGMORPHEUS & Alexander Spit

Music Video of the Year

Redrum, 21 Savage (dir. by Danny Seth)
Taylor Swif, A$AP Rocky (dir. by Vania Heymann & Gal Muggia)
Wise Up, Common & Pete Rock (dir. by Marleaux Desire)
Big Dawgs (feat. Kalmi), Hanumankind (dir. by Bijoy Shetty)
WINNER: Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar (dir. by Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar)

Best Short Film, Feature Film, or TV Series

Mother&Gun dir. 38 Spesh
WINNER: A Hip Hop Story dir. by Damaine Radcliff
Kneecap dir. by Rich Peppiatt
Hip Hop World dir. by Steven Cantor

Best Documentary/Docuseries of the Year

It Was All a Dream dir. by Dream Hampton
As We Speak dir. by J.M. Harper
Hip-Hop and the White House dir. by Jesse Washington
WINNER: Maftown Heights Untold Stories by Refiloe Ramogase & Khuli Chana
Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys dir. by Jason L. Pollard & Sam Pollard

Literary Awards

The Literary Awards highlight the power of language in hip-hop, an art form that has always been defined by its ability to communicate complex emotions, stories, and ideas through the mastery of words. From narrative innovation to poetic brilliance and critical discourse, these awards recognise those who use the written word to create culture, influence thought, and provoke change. Here are this year's winners:

Book or Novel of the Year

First Things First: Hip-Hop Ladies Who Changed the Game by Nadirah Simmons
WINNER: Hip-Hop is History by Questlove
Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made The World by Todd Boyd
The Graphic History of Hip Hop by Walter Greason