If the whopping one post from 2013 wasn't a big enough sign, this
has been a very busy year for me. I listened to a fraction of the new
music that I normally listen to. I made sure to listen to the most
lauded albums, and I also made sure to check out all of the releases
from my personal favorites. I don't think I missed out on much, but I
must apologize if that diamond in the rough that you fell in love with
this year was left off of this list because I never listened to it. And
unless you're a hard-core fan of 2 Chainz, you probably won't feel that
way.
The best album to come out in 2013, in
my opinion, was Yeezus by Kanye West. It has found its way to the top
of many industry lists, and I'm not sure it was for the same reason that
it's on top of mine. I put the album on top of my list for the year
because it's unlike any other rap album before it, and it actually
sounds really good. Yes, it is a very important album to the culture,
but that's mostly because we made it the most important album by talking
about it so much. It is a polarizing album from the most polarizing
figure in hip-hop. I couldn't run away from the fact that I love the
album, though. I listened to it the day it came out, and had it on
repeat for weeks afterward. But Kanye eventually wore me down with his
antics, and it made me almost sick to hear his voice. That's when I
didn't listen to the album again for a few months. And then, it came
time to make this list....
Chance the Rapper put
out the most sonically pleasing, catchy, interesting, and downright best
mixtapes in the history of hip hop with "Acid Rap." Eminem's second
installment of the Marshall Mathers series was surprising and a welcomed
to return to the old Slim Shady that we all fell in love with nearly 15
years ago. Jay-Z struck gold, even if he didn't realize it, with
"Magna Carta..Holy Grail." Drake followed up a classic with what can
only be described as a soulful sequal. Danny Brown dropped an album
that somehow lived up to the hype with "Old," and J.Cole continued to
build his brand and reputation with "Born Sinner." Ritz blew me away
with his talent and consistency with "The Life and Times of Jonny
Valiant," Big Sean blew up the streets again with "Hall of Fame," and
Wale did not disappoint with "The Gifted." But regardless of all of the
amazing albums that came out this year, "Yeezus" just stuck with me.
When I put it back on for the first time in probably over 100 days, I
fell in love with again. Kanye West is brash. Kanye West is bold. Kanye
West is smart. And Kanye West makes damn good music. "Yeezus" is
brash, bold, smart--- and very good music.
And now, without further rambling; The 10 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2013:
1. "YEEZUS" by KANYE WEST
2. "ACID RAP" by CHANCE THE RAPPER
3. "THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2" by EMINEM
4. "MAGNA CARTA... HOLY GRAIL" by JAY Z
5. "NOTHING WAS THE SAME" by DRAKE
6. "OLD" by DANNY BROWN
7. "BORN SINNER" by J.COLE
8. "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JONNY... VALIANT" by RITTZ
9. "HALL OF FAME" by BIG SEAN
10. "THE GIFTED" by WALE
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
"LONG.LIVE.A$AP." by A$AP ROCKY
"MY NAME IS MY NAME" by PUSHA T
"KING REMEMBERED IN TIME" by BIG KRIT
"RUN THE JEWELS" by KILLER MIKE & EL-P AS RUN THE JEWELS
Someone; and when I say someone, I mean a shit ton of fucking people... any way... someone once said that hip hop was dead. They were super fucking wrong. From 1998-2008, a whole bunch of really average hip hop was made, along with some really great hip hop. But, in the last few years, hip hop has been through a Renaissance, which has brought some incredible new talent to the game. This is the 25 best new artists of the decade, (2010-beyond), according to I; your master.
***with the exception of Wale, (because that's a hell of an exception) all artists on this list have only released studio albums since 2010.
So, let's get into it.. by immediately pissing everyone off the Kendrick Lamar isn't number one...
1. J.COLE
J.Cole thinks he let Nas down with the crossover hit "Work Out" from his
debut album. Perhaps he did let Nas down. But without that record,
J.Cole might not have ever gotten around to putting out "Born Sinner"
this year. J.Cole is a deep thinker, it comes out in his rhymes. He
knows that being materialistic has its price. He pays it, and he isn't
afraid to admit it. When he raps, it's the truth. It's the obvious
truth, why else would he say it? That's the reaction he evokes. Not
many rappers have done that, not even Nas. J.Cole has the character to
go along with the skills. That is what makes great MC's. If J.Cole can
stay on his current path, he will go down as one of the greatest MC's
of all time.
CHOICE TRACK : "CROOKED SMILE"
2. KENDRICK LAMAR
Kendrick Lamar doesn't really need to be explained to anyone reading
this. "Section.80" is one of the greatest mixtapes of the decade, and
"Good Kid MAAD City" is one of the greatest albums of the decade.
Kendrick has one of the most technically impressive deliveries of our
time. But when you examine his lyrics, there is often a lack of
profoundness. There is something missing at the very core of Kendrick
Lamar's lyrics; and it's what the rapper at #1 on this list has plenty
of: passion.
CHOICE TRACK : A.D.H.D.
3. DRAKE
It doesn't seem like Drake is a new rapper anymore. It's hard to
imagine someone who released their first album just over three years ago
could already be arguably the biggest name in music. Notice, I didn't
say hip hop... I said music. "Thank Me Later" was the introduction.
"Take Care" was the classic record. "Nothing Was The Same" seems to be
the interlude. The man just put out his third album 2 weeks ago and
people are already speculating about his fourth. He is polarizing within
groups of hip hop heads. He can be introspective, but also shallow.
One thing is for sure, he is an original and already considered among
the greatest to ever do it.
CHOICE TRACK : "HEADLINES"
4. MACKLEMORE
Macklemore is walking a fine line between greatness and gimmick.
Anyone who has followed his career since it's early days knows that he
is great, but his claim to fame was a YouTube sensation. Following
"Thrift Shop" with the likes of "Can't Hold Us," "Same Love," and now
"White Walls" has hopefully shown that Macklemore is just as versatile
and interesting as the production from his partner Ryan Lewis.
Macklemore is pushing peoples buttons in ways few have before him. But
he is also making music that few can make. That ought to be a recipe
for continued success.
CHOICE TRACK : "WINGS"
5. AB-SOUL
Ab-Soul spits far-out rhymes about down to earth
subject matter. He rivals his label mate Kendrick Lamar in lyrics, but
could use some work on his delivery. "Control System" was a great
album, minus some filler, and the future could hold big things for Ab,
especially with Kendrick's meteoric rise last year.
CHOICE TRACK : "TERRORIST TREATS" feat. Danny Brown
6. BIG K.R.I.T.
Sometimes, Big K.R.I.T. sounds like the resurrected soul of Pimp C.
Other times, he sounds like a southern reincarnation of Tupac Shakur.
And that's really what his style boils down to: the best of a pimp and
the best of a poet. If he can find a way to break through, he could
become a true legend of the south
CHOICE TRACK : "DREAMIN'"
7. GRIEVES
Grieves signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment in 2010. He had previously
spent time on a record label that was going nowhere, headed up by the
always short of success Mac Lethal. Rhymesayers was the better fit, and
"Together/Apart" proved that Grieves belonged on the indie mainstay.
CHOICE TRACK : "BLOODY POETRY"
8. WIZ KHALIFA
Wiz Khalifa is not a gifted lyricist. Neither was Snoop Dogg. The
comparisons between the two have been countless, rightfully so. What
Snoop did for gangster rap in 1993, making it accessible to the
mainstream, is what Wiz did for stoner rap in 2011 and 2012. For that,
he deserves all props given.
CHOICE TRACK : "WORK HARD PLAY HARD"
9. WALE
Wale released his debut album "Attention Deficit" in November of
2009. That technically disqualifies him for this list. However, that
Wale and the Wale that resides on MMG and released "Ambition" and "The
Gifted" are quite different. The move to MMG was brilliant, because it
made Wale a name in mainstream hip hop. It made it possible for Wale to
become a household name, though he has yet to actually become one. Once
he does, we may see him on some "greatest of all time" lists.
CHOICE TRACK: "LOVE HATE THING"
10. CHILDISH GAMBINO
Childish Gambino, a.k.a. Donald Glover, is an actor turned rapper
who is most famous as Troy Barnes on the TV show Community. His debut
album, "Camp" was anything but. Gambino makes fun music with sensitive
overtones. He is Drake for Internet nerds. As long as YouTube and
Facebook remain the stomping grounds for hip hop fans, Gambino will
remain relevant and should keep getting bigger and better.
CHOICE TRACK : "BONFIRE"
11. DANNY BROWN
Danny Brown can be hard to love. I was not only late to the bandwagon,
I'm still not really even on it. "Old" is a really solid album. "XXX"
has some really good tracks. But my question is still, is Danny Brown
for real?
CHOICE TRACK : "GROWN UP"
12. A$AP ROCKY
A$AP Rocky has grown on me considerably since he
first arrived on the scene. Like Big Sean, he suffers from not being
able to write honest lyrics. But the thing that makes Rocky better than
Sean is the fact that he owns it. Once you own it, it becomes timeless
because you become timeless (see Notorious B.I.G.).
CHOICE TRACK : "GOLDIE"
13. PROF
You may not know who Prof is, but those who do probably think that he
belongs higher. The issue with Prof is that he may just never break
through to any level higher than he already has. His fans are fans of
Atmosphere, not Drake or A$AP. If he doesn't make a name outside of the
Rhymesayers nation of fans, he may never make much of an impact,
regardless of his impeccable wit, charisma, and skill on the mic.
CHOICE TRACK : "MYSELF"
14. BIG SEAN
Big Sean is a very talented rapper, and he's from my home state, a
big plus. Big Sean has shown us that he can make hit records, catchy
singles, and tight posse cuts... But he hasn't shown us that he can make
great songs. There is nothing transcendent or timeless about the
records that he makes. He will never have a classic album or a classic
song until he learns how to be something other than a prototype.
CHOICE TRACK : "GUAP"
15. YELAWOLF
Drawing comparisons from other white rappers would sell Yelawolf
quite short. He is completely unique and stands on his own just fine.
It looked like he was on his way, but he seems to be prepared to spend
the rest of his career underground, unless Mr. Mathers decides to revive
it.
CHOICE TRACK : "HARD WHITE (UP IN THE CLUB"
16. MEEK MILL
Meek Mill raps like it's the last time he'll ever record a verse--
every time he records a verse. MMG is probably the perfect home for him,
he is too talented for anything lesser, but too unpolished for anything
greater. He's 50 Cent before the bullet wounds.
CHOICE TRACK : "BURN" feat Big Sean
17. 2 CHAINZ
2 Chainz, the literal rapper, is not on this list. 2 Chainz, the
culture icon and irony prop, is on this list. In my opinion, 2 Chainz
is cheekier than you think.
CHOICE TRACK : "BIRTHDAY SONG" feat Kanye West
18. ACTION BRONSON
Action Bronson is a beast, quite literally. He is ferocious on the
mic, and perfectly willing to bounce at his own concert (see YouTube).
The unfortunate fact that he sounds just like Ghostface Killah may keep
him from ever breaking through to the mainstream. And I don't mean that
it's because he sounds like Ghostface as in he jacked his style, I mean
that it's because he sounds like Ghostface as in the mainstream public
doesn't really listen to Ghostface. You know?
CHOICE TRACK : "BRUNCH"
19. EARL SWEATSHIRT
Earl Sweatshirt: better than Tyler the Creator, but worse than
(almost) everyone else on this list. I have him here because of his
potential and/or the impact that his hype has had on hip hop in the last
year. In some peoples eyes (like mine) Earl is too young to be judged
solely on his skills and lyrics. It just so happens that neither of
those are bad. They aren't that great, either. He is an above average
rapper who has everything needed to become great. The hype around him is
grand. Some think he has lived up to the hype with his debut album
"Doris." I am not one of those people. With time, Earl, with time.
Maybe.
CHOICE TRACK : "CHUM"
20. Hopsin
Hopsin sounds like vintage Eminem mixed with vintage Esham. If
you're from southern Michigan, that's really all you should need to hear
about him.
CHOICE TRACK : "SAG MY PANTS"
21. JOEY BADA$$
Joey Bada$$ feels like a throwback, but may actually be way ahead of his
time. At a time when the likes of Earl sweatshirt and J.Cole are being
crowned as the Nas's of our generation, Joey Badass might be the real
thing, just a better version. That may be blasphemous to say; but Joey
seems to be smarter and more introspective than his legendary
counterpart. I am certainly not trying to say that right now he is even
close to being as good as Nas, but in 10 years, if he is still around. I
think we may be having this conversation-- for real.
CHOICE TRACK : "95 TIL INFINITY"
22. CHANCE THE RAPPER
Earlier this year, Chance the Rapper put out one of the best
mixtapes of the last five years: "Acid Rap." He is 2013's critic
darling, and smacks of Childish Gambino, B.o.B., and Danny Brown: not a
bad combination.
CHOICE TRACK : "JUICE"
23. CURREN$Y
Curren$y has been rapping for over a decade. It wasn't until 2010,
with "Pilot Talk," that he became a well known solo artist. He seems to
be satisfied with making his money by touring and appearing as a guest
artist on others albums. He isn't the best rapper around, but no one
could say he's not a good rapper. He has a cult following and a fine
ability to paint pictures with words.
CHOICE TRACK : "JET LIFE" feat Wiz Khalifa and Big KRIT
24. TYLER, THE CREATOR
Tyler, the creator sprang onto the scene with an incredible video
for "Yonkers." His ability to create a visual far exceeds his ability
to create a great song, which is his greatest setback. I'm interested
in finding out what Tyler the Creator will look like in three years,
but for now he is a semi-talented rapper and an immensely talented
artist. If he can outgrow himself, like most us already have, he could
become great.
CHOICE TRACK : "YONKERS" (duh)
25. RITTZ
Rittz is easy to write off as gimmicky or cliche-- just by looking
at him. However, he is highly skilled on the mic. He has a rapid fire
technique similar to Twista and his strange music collaborator, Tech
N9ne. Rittz was introduced to us as a collaborator and friend of
Yelawolf. At first, his quick delivery seems to be making up for a lack
of substance, but there really is some poetry in his lyrics. His debut
album, "The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant" is excellent, and also one
of the breakout hip hop albums of 2013.
'Good Kid' follows a street level narrative, with more focus than 'Illmatic,' but with less appeal than 'Reasonable Doubt.' A critical darling like this one sometimes carries with it the "instant classic" label for little longer than a blink of an eye. But Kendrick Lamar has a skill-set which allows him to crossover, (see "Backseat Freestyle") or please the backpackers (see "The Art of Peer Pressure.) 'M.A.A.D. City' is one of the better albums of the new millennium, and certainly the best of the year.
2. THE HEIST by MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS 'The Heist' is introspective, without coming off is reclusive. Macklemore rhymes about life, love, addiction, struggle, and happiness over AMAZING beats crafted by Ryan Lewis, making for an incredibly deep, and, perhaps more incredible, accessible album.
3. FOOD & LIQUOR 2: THE GREAT AMERICAN RAP ALBUM PART I by LUPE FIASCO
The name is quite brash, but 'Food & Liquor 2' is quite possibly Lupe's finest work. The first installment of the series was excellent, but a younger Lupe Fiasco also meant a less thoughtful one. Lupe has grown some, and learned more, since. He takes risks within the lyrics, and gets back to his roots with the beats. After the let down of 'Lasers,' Lupe Fiasco delivers.
4. MOURNING IN AMERICA AND DREAMING IN COLOR by BROTHER ALI
Brother Ali, on his previous albums, worked exclusively with Atmosphere's producer, Ant. The two built a close relationship over the years, and it showed. Ali's previous 3 full lengths have been more than great hip hop albums, they have been all-time great albums, period. But this time around, Ali chose, out of necessity, to work with producer Jake One. Jake One is a fine producer, but the lack of chemistry does show. Nevertheless, 'Mourning in America' soars with conscientious valor. Ali's cause is not forgotten, though his sound is at times compromised.
5. TROUBLE MAN: HEAVY IS THE HEAD by T.I.
T.I. surprises with 'Trouble Man,' an ambitious and catchy album, stealing its name from a Marvin Gaye song, and it's vibe from Dirty South hip hop.
6. LIVE FROM THE UNDERGROUND by BIG K.R.I.T.
Big Krit is a newcomer who has been critically acclaimed since arriving on the scene. 'Live From the Underground' is his official debut, and it offers up a fine mix of southern swagger and conscious reflection.
7. LIFE IS GOOD by NAS
Nas continues to release great material, 18 years after his magnum opus "Illmatic." 'Life is Good' is the latest from the ever-consistent God MC. There are few missteps, with plenty of home runs.
8. R.A.P. MUSIC by KILLER MIKE Killer Mike teamed up with producer El-P to release what was probably the most anticipated underground release of the year, 'R.A.P. Music.' Reciting the struggle, pride, and plight of a"Rebellious African People" has been Mike's MO for years, and 'R.A.P. Music' is perhaps his best effort.
9. SKELETHON by AESOP ROCK
'Skelethon' is, in my opinion, Aesop Rock's best album since "Labor Days." Each song has it's own personality, as a part of a cohesive whole.
10. CRUEL SUMMER by G.O.O.D. MUSIC
'Cruel Summer' is a fine album. An assortment of posse cuts rarely come together so nicely. But with Kanye West's involvement, it was hard to expect otherwise.
