The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album has been awarded since 1996. Grammy Awards of one year are presented for works released in the previous year. The recordings must be released or reach their peak in popularity between October 1 of one year and September 30 of the next year.
- 2007 – Ludacris for Release Therapy
- 2006 – Kanye West for Late Registration
- 2005 – Kanye West for The College Dropout
- 2004 – Outkast for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
- 2003 – Eminem for The Eminem Show
- 2002 – OutKast for Stankonia
- 2001 – Eminem for The Marshall Mathers LP
- 2000 – Eminem for The Slim Shady LP
- 1999 – Jay-Z for Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life
- 1998 – Puff Daddy & the Family for No Way Out
- 1997 – The Fugeesfor The Score