Year-End Lists

Complex: 50 Best Albums of 2012

[see also 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2011]

1. good kid, m.A.A.d city
   Kendrick Lamar
2. Channel Orange
   Frank Ocean
3. Rich Forever
   Rick Ross
4. Born to Die
   Lana Del Rey
5. Habits & Contradictions
   Schoolboy Q
6. The Idler Wheel…
   Fiona Apple
7. Grief Pedigree
   Ka
8. Taylor Allderdice
   Wiz Khalifa
9. Pluto
   Future
10. Cancer 4 Cure
    El-P
11. Visions
    Grimes
12. Life Is Good
    Nas
13. Bloom
    Beach House
14. Dreamchasers 2
    Meek Mill
15. Beach House
    Ty Dolla $ign
16. Unapologetic
    Rihanna
17. Kaleidoscope Dream
    Miguel
18. Blue Chips
    Action Bronson
19. (III)
    Crystal Castles
20. Control System
    Ab-Soul
21. 2
    Mac DeMarco
22. Master of My Make-Believe
    Santigold
23. The Haunted Man
    Bat for Lashes
24. Cruel Summer
    G.O.O.D. Music
25. TNGHT EP
    TNGHT
26. Detroit
    Big Sean
27. Coexist
    The xx
28. Finally Rich
    Chief Keef
29. Shrines
    Purity Ring
30. Yellow Album
    Dom Kennedy
31. Celebration Rock
    Japandroids
32. R.A.P. Music
    Killer Mike
33. Devotion
    Jessie Ware
34. Wiki93
    Ratking
35. Attack on Memory
    Cloud Nothings
36. I’m Still a Hitta
    Lil Durk
37. Lonerism
    Tame Impala
38. 1999
    Joey Bada$$
39. Local Business
    Titus Andronicus
40. The Money Store
    Death Grips
41. Duality
    Captain Murphy
42. Swing Lo Magellan
    Dirty Projectors
43. Pineapple Now-Laters
    BJ The Chicago Kid
44. Confess
    Twin Shadow
45. Jesus Piece
    Game
46. Home Again
    Michael Kiwanuka
47. Sweet Jamaica
    Mr. Vegas
48. Reloaded
    Roc Marciano
49. Little Broken Hearts
    Norah Jones
50. Macadelic
    Mac Miller