What's good peoples! Last night I posted the top forty hip-hop albums of 2014, with quite a few honorable mentions. Today, I'll be presenting a mixtape comprising of the best songs of the year. There were several very notable cuts this year that not only made these songs great and enjoyable listens from a production standpoint, but also these cuts challenged the listener from, at times, thematic standpoints as well. While the radio was plagued by the likes of Future (his Honest album was actually not bad, at least better than Pluto), Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, K-Camp, and other cats, there were cuts that were exemplary of raw talent, intriguing writing, and ambitious production. We will highlight these cuts today.
1. Locksmith- "Who I Am"
This underground battle rapper-turned-heralded emcee from the west brought us a very truthful and self-reflective album, A Thousand Cuts, and this track was a great example of much he exposes his soul to us.
2. Slaughterhouse- "Offshore"
Leave it to the House Gang to bring a brutally honest look into each other as emcees and friends, but also how jaded they are about the industry with true tales that continue to give you a look individually at the strengths and weaknesses of each rhymer. Many have called this the sequal to their mixtape cut of 2012 "Truth Or Truth"
3.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- "Real"
We haven't had a good venomous diss in quite a while. We haven't had the good slap-you-in-your-face-and-dare-you-to-do-something cut in years. We very well may have gotten it from Gangsta Gibbs on this cut. The first half, he's just showing his lyrical abilities, but the second half, Gibbs goes IN on former mentor, Jeezy. Over dazzling production by Madliberator himself, this cut may very well be the climax of what I considered to be the best album of 2014, and an instant classic, Pinata.
4.
Logic- "Nikki"
Logic's Def Jam debut, Under Pressure, was one of the single best albums of the year hands down, and this very poignant ode to his addiction to nicotine was an amazing piece of work.
5.
Run The Jewels- "Blockbuster Nite Pt. 1"
Killer Mike and El-P may very well be the most prodigious new duo in all of hip-hop. Their self-titled debut was outstanding to say the least, but RTJ2 may have even trumped that. Raucous, angry, and anti-establishment to the fullest, this cut is just one example of the blisters provided on this incredible piece of hip-hop and music as a whole.
6.
Big K.R.I.T.- "Mt. Olympus"
Unquestionably the strongest track to come out of the south all year. This track was clearly a response to the "Control (remix)" of last year, when Kendrick basically called out all up-and-comers to step their game up. K.R.I.T. showed up with his most lyrical cut to date over a melodic, yet explosive, beat. Although this cut did not appear on the stellar Cadillactica (there was a remix on it but it doesn't quite measure up to this version), this was still one of the biggest monsters to appear this year and quite possibly his best track ever.
7.
Ab-Soul feat. Action Bronson and Aasad- "Stigmata"
An ominous beat, coupled with hard-hitting lyrics by Action and Soulo, made this These Days...' best track, and the promo video for the cut is very intriguing, but would still raise eyebrows for Christians who wouldn't see the symbolism of it all.
8.
Big K.R.I.T.- "King Of The South"
Earlier, we presented "Mt. Olympus", but this album cut is a strong contender for best cut off Cadillactica, plus you have to appreciate the boldness of the title. If there was a "Mt. Olympus Pt. 2", this would be it.
9.
Kendrick Lamar- "I (Love Myself)"
Over a deliberate rip of The Isley Brothers "Lady", K-dot hammered home the need to appreciate one's self value through every trial and tribulation. In this day and time, a cut like this is very needed. This is the lead single to the as-yet-untitled sophomore Aftermath album coming in 2015.
10.
Eminem feat. Royce Da 5'9, Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej loaf, and Trick Trick- "Detroit Vs. Everybody"
Man listen! This was a posse cut for your ass! Some of the D's best came together and BODIED the Statik Selektah track to the utmost. Trick Trick later took the instrumental and put even more Detroit emcees on the track for a remix. Even Big Sean brought his ass on this one!
11.
Apollo Brown & Ras Kass- "How To Kill God"
WAIT!!!! Before you automatically start judging the track based off the title, do yourself a favor and LISTEN. This track is filled with historical hypocricies of organized religion, plus he reveals what would actually "kill" God, based upon how we act in today's society. Plus, the boom bap proved by Apollo Brown is just MONSTROUS! If you think this cut is controversial, listen to the rest of Blasphemy.
12.
Drake- "0-100/The Come Up"
Shouts to Hit-Boy for this STUPID beat for Aubrey Graham to rip over. Yeah, we've heard how this cut cause Diddy to blacken that eye of Drake's but whatever the case may be, Drizzy Hendrix was SPITTIN over this one, then brought it home with the close out track "The Come Up".
13.
Rapsody- "Godzilla"
Dear GAWD!!!! This is emceeing right here y'all! The NC native continues to show that she's more than capable of murdering tracks whenever she wants. This unusually mundane 9th Wonder track was opportune for Rapsody to command the track and boy does she. the close out track is just unreal! "I'm like Godzilla, only God's illa". Come on dude!!!
14.
Cyhi The Prince- "Basquiat"
Yes sir!!! The ever familiar club instrumental got some funky 808s behind it plus some melody just set this cut off. This G.O.O.D. Music upstart brought forth quite an amazing mixtape that mainly focused on black history and historical figures. It's not too often we hear a ton about the famed deceased artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, but I'm sure glad we did.
15. LeCrae- "All I Need Is You"
The Texas native made a great dedication to his wife, and showed a true testament that it's okay to have long songs in hip-hop. The Grammy Award-winning Christian hip-hop artist fearlessly, and without pride, expresses his deep love for his wife that even hard rocks could identify with, or at least would like to.
16.
Mindsone & Kev Brown- "Pillars"
If I had to give a most slept-on EP award to anyone, this team would definitely get nominated. Lyricism is excellently exhibited throughout this cut, but mixed with the highly melodic boom bap in this piece and this is a complete winner.
17.
ScHoolboy Q- "Man Of The Year"
This was a big time hit for TDE's residential thinking thug. In fact this was a big time album for ScHoolboy. Infectious production was teamed with party-starting lyrics to make a huge hit for the TDE camp.
19.
Common-"Rewind That"
One of Common's most personal, yet pretty creative, cuts, "Rewind That" has him rhyming over a melancholy beat from No I.D., whom he dedicates half of this cut to. The other half is dedicated to longtime friend and hip-hop production legend, the late J Dilla. Personal stories about both guys keep you intrigued, as well as the concept. The most standout track from his exceptional Nobody's Smiling.
20.
J. Cole-"Love Yourz"
To close out this mixtape of 2014, Jermaine Cole brought us his best work to date with his third offering, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. Definitely his most coming of age album, he closes off his own album with a reflective cut reminding people to appreciate those close to them over a very nicely put together track by Cole.
Trust me, there were a lot more tracks that should've been on this list, but these cuts stood out the most to me, and showed that hip-hop, in fact, isn't dead at all. As I tell people, you just have to know where to look. Until next time folks, enjoy the rest of 2014! I'll leave you with one more treat, a superb joint from veteran Brooklyn emcee J-Live, called "I Am A Man", which was recorded in the wake of the Michael Brown case. Touching stuff. Peace!
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