So many quality + anticipated projects have been dropping such as Abhi & Dijon’s Montana project, Danny Brown’s Atrocity Exhibition, Andretti by Curren$y and many more!
Next month, Bay Area legend E-40 releases the D-Boy Diary Books, Chi-Town legend Common drops Black America Again, Lil Bibby comes with FC3 the Epilogue, and maybe a few surprise releases as well. Here are my top 10 listens of the year so far!
#10 Kamayiah – A Good Night in the Ghetto // Oakland, CA // Rap & Hip-Hop
Standout Songs: How Does It Feel?, Come Back, Fuck It Up (feat YG), For My Dawgs
— Female MC from Oakland with charisma
— West Coast Rap is in a renaissance right now
— Numerous slaps/bangers; good use of production
#9 Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade // Chattanooga, TN // Hip-Hop
Standout songs: Free Lunch, Park
— Doesn’t sound like any other contemporary rap
— Mellow vibes
— Best non-Kendrick TDE project
#8 Noname – Telefone // Chicago, IL // Spoken Word Rhythm
Standout songs: Diddy Bop (feat Raury & Cam O’bi), Reality Check (feat Eryn Allen Kane & Akenya), Forever (feat Ravyn Lenae & Joseph Chilliams),
— Lyrically profound
— Great exhibit of how to merge spoken word + rap
— Suitable beat selection
#7 Phonte and Eric Roberson – Tigallerro // Greensboro, NC // R&B & Rap
Standout songs: Waiting 4 Ya, Hold Tight, 3:45, It’s So Easy
— Good mix of rap + r&b
— Soothing
— Grown man music
#6 KAYTRANADA – 99.9% // Canada // Alternative Instrumental
Standout songs: Glowed Up (feat Anderson . Paak), Got It Good (feat Craig David), You’re The One (feat Syd Tha Kid)
— Variety of sounds
— Sonically colorful
— Musically ambitious and cohesive
#5 Kendrick Lamar – untitled, unmastered // Compton, CA // Rap & Hip-Hop
Standout songs: Track #3, Track #7
— Best compilation album since Nas The Lost Tapes?
— Hopefully this is mastered & released soon
#4 Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book // Chicago, IL // Rap & Gospel
Standout songs: Blessing 1 & 2 (feat Noname & Ty$), No Problem (feat Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz), Angels (feat Saba), Mixtape (feat Young Thug & Lil Yachty)
— Great mix of gospel + rap
— Focused Chance > Acid Chance
— Mixtape of the Year
#3 NxWorries – Yes Lawd! // Oxnard, CA // Hip-Hop & Neo-Soul
Standout songs: Suede
— Super melodic
— Knxwledge and .Paak go together seamlessly
— Lyrically animated
#2 YG – Still Brazy // Compton, CA // Gangsta Rap
Standout songs: Who Shot Me?, Twist My Fingaz, Still Brazy, Word is Bond, Police Get Away Wit Murder, I Got a Question (feat Lil Wayne)
— Surprisingly socio-political
— Amazing West Coast production w/ no Mustard
— Best sophomore follow-up in years
#1 Anderson .Paak – Malibu // Oxnard, CA // Alternative R&B
Standout songs: Come Down, The Season / Carry Me, Parking Lot, Heart Don’t Stand A Chance
— So gad damn good
— Extremely melodic and musical album
— Very lyrically inclined
— Veteran song structuring ability
Share your thoughts below!