As 2026 opens its doors, a wide range of defining albums from 2021 are set to reach a major milestone: their fifth anniversary. Released during a period marked by rapid shifts in music consumption and global culture, these projects helped shape the sound of the decade across pop, hip-hop, K-pop, Latin, rock, and alternative music.
Several blockbuster releases from the era remain cultural cornerstones. Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album dominated the Billboard 200, becoming one of the longest-leading albums in the chart’s history. Hip-hop and rap fans were treated to Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, Kanye West’s Donda, and Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost.
Pop music also experienced a creative high point. Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever marked a strong shift from her record-breaking debut When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, while Adele’s 30 delivered one of the decade’s most commercially successful and critically acclaimed comebacks. Taylor Swift began her path toward Midnights (2022) with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version), her first re-recorded projects.
In 2021, numerous Latin icons shared the spotlight. Karol G’s KG0516, J Balvin’s Jose, and Rauw Alejandro’s Vice Versa expanded the genre’s global reach. In K-pop, releases from TWICE, TXT, Stray Kids, ENHYPEN, aespa, SEVENTEEN, and STAYC captured fans’ attention.
Albums Released in 2021
1. Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen
2. I Burn – I-Dle
3. K.O. – Danna Paola
4. Demidevil – Ashnikko
5. The Good Times and The Bad Ones – Why Don’t We
6. Nobody Is Listening – Zayn
7. Still Dreaming – TXT
8. Los Dioses – Ozuna & Angel AA
9. Paranoia – Maggie Lindemann
10. Medicine at Midnight – Foo Fighters
11. Flowers For Vases / Descansos – Hayley Williams
12. Shiesty Season – Pooh Shiesty
13. The Highlights – The Weeknd
14. Life Rolls On – Florida Georgia Line
15. K – Kelly Rowland
16. Scary Hours 2 – Drake
17. Poster Girl – Zara Larsson
18. Wild West – Central Cee
19. Spaceman – Nick Jonas
20. Revelation – Selena Gomez
21. Justice – Justin Bieber
22. Chemtrails over the Country Club – Lana Del Rey
23. El Dorado – 24kGoldn
24. My Savior – Carrie Underwood
25. The Bitter Truth – Evanescence
26. KG0516 – Karol G
27. Too Young To Be Sad – Tate McRae
28. Freedom – Justin Bieber
29. Seis – Mon Laferte
30. Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
31. Inbred – Ethel Cain
32. A Gangsta’s Pain – Moneybagg Yo
33. Border: Carnival – ENHYPEN
34. Not in Chronological Order – Julia Michaels
35. Better Mistake – Bebe Rexha
36. Hot Sauce – NCT Dream
37. The Off-Season – J. Cole
38. Be Right Back – Jorja Smith
39. Daddy’s Home – St. Vincent
40. The Chaos Chapter: Freeze – TXT
41. The Voice of the Heroes – Lil Baby & Lil Durk
42. Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land – Marina
43. Jordi – Maroon 5
44. Culture III – Migos
45. Hall of Fame – Polo G
46. Troubled Paradise – Slayyyter
47. Taste of Love – TWICE
48. One Foot in Front of the Other – Griff
49. Back of My Mind – H.E.R.
50. Planet Her – Doja Cat
51. Vice Versa – Rauw Alejandro
52. Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler, The Creator
53. Sling – Clairo
54. Faith – Pop Smoke
55. Lately I Feel Everything – Willow
56. Therapy – Anne-Marie
57. Happier Than Ever – Billie Eilish
58. 333 – Tinashe
59. The End of an Era – soggy Azalea
60. Pressure Machine – The Killers
61. When Facing the Things We Turn Away From – Luke Hemmings
62. Solar Power – Lorde
63. Trip at Knight – Trippie Redd
64. Noeasy – Stray Kids
65. Meanwhile – Gorillaz
66. If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power – Halsey
67. Human – OneRepublic
68. Donda – Kanye West
69. Jose – J Balvin
70. Certified Lover Boy – Drake
71. Mercury – Act 1 – Imagine Dragons
72. Stereotype – STAYC
73. The Melodic Blue – Baby Keem
74. Pretty Poison – Nessa Barrett
75. Montero – Lil Nas X
76. Savage – aespa
77. Seventeen Going Under – Sam Fender
78. Lady Jesus – UPSAHL
79. Music of the Spheres – Coldplay
80. Optimist – Finneas
81. To Hell with It – PinkPantheress
82. Punk – Young Thug
83. Blue Banisters – Lana Del Rey
84. Attacca – SEVENTEEN
85. = – Ed Sheeran
86. XOXO – JEON SOMI
87. Something for the Hotties – Megan Thee Stallion
88. Voyage – ABBA
89. It’ll All Make Sense in the End – James Arthur
90. Prelude – Lauren Jauregui
91. Still Over It – Summer Walker
92. This Is What It Feels Like – Gracie Abrams
93. Between Us – Little Mix
94. An Evening With Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
95. Red (Taylor’s Version) – Taylor Swift
96. Formula of Love: O+T=<3 – TWICE
97. 30 – Adele
98. Hall of Fame 2.0 – Polo G
99. Fighting Demons – Juice WRLD
100. Live Life Fast – Roddy Ricch
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