We’ve had a good year for Hip-hop music so far if you’ve been willing to dig. Don Q, Rick Ross, Young Dolph, Drake, and Wale all dropped good projects. Raekwon the Chef hit us with his grimey 90s NY golden-age inspired project The Wild, Nef The Pharaoh dropped a project full of summer anthems and self-reflective sonnets “The Chang Project“, and Troy Ave even let off a heatrock following his jail release titled “Nupac.”
Here are my favorite 10 Hip-Hop projects of 2017 (so far):
#10 blkswn by Smino
-Variety of jams sprinkled throughout this project
-Smino deploys several ranges of voices & deliveries, which is most redeeming aspect as a musician
-Lots of Soulection production via Monte Booker + Sango
#9 Painting Pictures by Kodak Black
-An enhanced accumulation of the best aspects of Kodak’s past projects
-Kodak’s wit and humor allows him to carry this lengthy 18-track album on his shoulders.
#8 Long Live Nut by YFN Lucci
-Playfully non sequitur, yet focused sounding.
-Lucci managed to score some potential anthems on this project like “Never Worried” and “Everyday We Lit ft PnB Rock“
-There’s content and subject matter hidden beneath the trap and 808 production and club anthems, revealing Lucci’s diversity on the mic.
#7 The New Toronto 2 by Tory Lanez
-A great display of chemistry between artist and producer – Tory Lanez and Play Picasso.
-This project has a distinct “feel” and vibe that adds to its replay-ability factor, and this is largely due to Play Picasso providing unique vibes through his production
-Tory Lanez bounces between singing, rapping, and patois effortlessly
#6 Culture by Migos
-This is the Migos’ most cohesive project to date
-Migos chemistry and the way they bounce off of each other is unparalleled in Hip-Hop right now.
-Multiple songs on this LP are embedded into Hip-Hop culture forever such as “Bad & Boujee”
#5 At What Cost by GoldLink
-My main concern about GoldLink’s first project, The God Complex, was GoldLink taming his spastic signature double time flow. I appreciate his flow, but there were times where his flow would carry him offbeat.
-GoldLink surpassed my expectations on this project, and he has found his flow pocket
-GoldLink and his production always fit like a glove – he always sounds comfortable and in-zone. He’s developed a more comfortable feel for his lane.
-Nor. Cal/Sacramento emceeing over what sounds to be LA-inspired production
-Chock-full of Mozzy-isms and stories of the struggle
-Good balance between street raps and other varieties of subjects, making the album more accessible to people outside of street guys.
#3 There’s Really A Wolf by Russ
-20 song album and not one notable miss
-Seamless transitions between singing and rapping
-There are times on this LP where you forget you’re listening to just one artist
#2 DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar
-Well sequenced – plays seamlessly from front to back, which is par for course for every Kendrick album so far
-Considerable depth on this album such as on “Fear” and “Pride”
-Almost impossible to play on shuffle because I’d rather hear the album from start to finish – like a movie or book.
#1 Rosebudd’s Revenge by Roc Marciano
-The more I listen to this album the more it reminds me of Madvillainy.
-Very sonically visual album laced with clever raps and quotables
-I hear influences of MF DOOM, Madlib, Erick Sermon, Raekwon, and more
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