Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly
What can you say that hasn't been said about this album. Many have called this a "masterpiece", while others have called it "brilliant", "classic", and other terms that don't often get used in hip-hop anymore. Those that have had those terms used in description altered the course of hip-hop in some form or fashion for years and generations to come. From the first stanza of his poem, we knew we were in for something special, and that became an understatement, especially the more you listened to it. Kendrick explores depression, suicide, Black pride, narcissism, spirituality, and humility in some of the most jarring and clever approaches heard in years, if ever.While the concept of this album alone deserves an all-time kudos, the individual aspects of this master work deserve more than a few spins to fully digest and absorb the richness that this is. Stellar tracks like "How Much A Dollar Cost" and "Momma" exemplify the significance of this monumental album. Kendrick solidified his alias as "King Kendrick" with this epic release that may very well be the best hip-hop album of the past decade.
L'Orange & Jeremiah Jae- The Night Took Us In Like Family
North Carolina producer L'Orange hooked up with underground young jack Jeremiah Jae for a wonderful taste of gritty forties street life with an exceptional soundtrack provided by the vanguard producer. Jeremiah's breezy, yet slightly monotone, delivery creates an ambience of another Blu. In fact, this album reminds me somewhat of Blu's fantastic Her Favorite Coulo(u)r in terms of production, but in terms of concept, being that this album is broken up into five stages, you're captivated just enough to keep this album rotating for the remaining year and beyond.
Lupe's fifth album finally channeled the passion and hunger he displayed on his phenomenal first two albums, Food & Liquor and The Cool. With label problems finally resolved and behind him, as he's about to hit the indie route up, he finally made an album worthy of all his talents and shows a maturity that we knew he was capable of achieving. Socially conscious, yet controversial, as ever, Lupe dropped a incredible album that finally allowed him the peace he needed to have as an artist and as a man.
Georgia Anne Muldrow- A Thoughtiverse Unmarred
Many have never heard her name before but this young Cali native is no stranger to this game. She's been putting out material since 2003, but she really hit pay dirt with this new album. As this is her first actual rap album, she blends sincere vulnerability with passionate inner strength in such a way that we haven't seen in hip-hop since The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. She sings, raps and does spoken word so flawlessly you would swear she's a legend already in this culture. Channeling the spirits of greats like Nina Simone and the jazziness of Ella Fitzgerald, she may be ahead of any other female act out there right now, and maybe even some male counterparts as well. Trust me when I tell you, you may never hear another soulful female hip-hop release all year and may be the most under-utilized female talent in the game.
Oddisee- The Good Fight
Mello Music Group is truly on a roll in 2015, and besides the previously mentioned Georgia Anne Muldrow, Oddisee delivered the most stellar album of his career. Seen as one of hip-hop's most under appreciated producer emcees, he brought an honest, down to earth approach to the struggles of the industry, love, and getting love from fans. One third of Diamond District (who put out a rather formidable album last year in March On Washington) showed he can compete for 2015's best just as hard as anyone else. The results, along with some tremendous production, is arguably the most consistent hip-hop album (other than TPAB) to get released this year.
Earl Sweatshirt- I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside
Arguably seen as the most overall talented emcee of OFWGKTA, Earl Sweatshirt followed up his 2013 release, Doris, with an album even more depressing and dark. Dealing with label problems and death, it's not hard to see why this young dude just felt like recording in a basement with barely a light on probably. Don't expect sunshiny tracks and big radio cuts. Earl is very moody here, but as is the case with prized albums like Royce Da 5'9's Death Is Certain and 2Pac's Me Against The World, sometimes the darkest moments of these cats lives results in their best efforts, and this is no different.
A$AP Rocky- At.Long.Last.A$AP
The forefront, and most known, member of the A$AP Mob, Rakim Myers returned with one of the strongest albums of the year and definitely the best project of his career. Inspired partially by the death of A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams, Rocky wanted to bring something different than anything out right now, and based upon the fact that the album was executives produced by Danger Mouse, this would be promised, and it delivered. This followed up his pretty good debut, Long Live A$AP, which had people open from the jump with his "Fuckin' Problem" single. At times funky, and other times somewhat ethereal and spacey, this is a different project for him, but the results are incredible, and stands as the best album to ever come out of the A$AP camp.
Action Bronson- Mr. Wonderful
Action Bronson's major label debut is almost every bit as fun as the rest of his mix tapes and underground albums. Although some of his experimental cuts tend to hit and miss, the overall experience is one of unpredictability and a definite ride. Crazy tracks like "Terry" and "Actin' Crazy" exhibit his unorthodox appeal and now Ariyan Arsiani can now be as much of a threat to mainstream hip-hop as he is in the kitchen.
Joey Bada$$- B4. Da. $$
Brooklyn's good son, Joey Bada$$, dropped his official first full-length album, B4. Da. $$, and much like his excellent mixtapes of 1999 and Summer Knights, he bleeds of nineties NYC hip-hop structure and sounds. With little guest appearances, we get to see him and him alone with all of his great lyrical talents. If you were a fan of his mix tapes, I assure you, you won't be disappointed. In fact, you'll be even more proud, as we see a more mature Bada$$, and this album reflects this.
Drake- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
Say what you want to about Aubrey Drake Graham, but he has put out some great hip-hop albums, albeit at times he shows maybe too much vulnerability in this macho hip-hop game. With this particular album (or mixtape), he takes the gloves off and actually comes with more aggression than we're used to seeing over some fairly strong tracks. He even throws some daggers towards Tyga on the very dope cut, "6PM In New York". His heart-on-my-sleeve approach has often times made him the subject of ridicule, but on this particular project, this may be his version of Mama Said Knock You Out, and he delivers strong.
Mello Music Group- Persona
The Arizona-based Mello Music Group has steadily become the new Rawkus Records from the mid-late nineties. An underground label with incredible talent that produces equally incredible albums and projects. Last year's Mandala double volume series was critically-acclaimed for stellar performances and this year's Persona is no different. Appearances by yU, Open Mike Eagle, Rapper Big Pooh, and Has-Lo among others were on point and the production was simply fantastic from the likes of Apollo Brown, Nottz, L'Orange, and Quelle Chris. This is unquestionably the best compilation thus far this year and is among the best produced as well. The label has already dropped amazing albums from Georgia Anne Muldrow, Oddisee, and Red Pill this year, and with other albums coming from yU and Quelle Chris among others, Mello Music Group may be the best label in the game before too long.
Bishop Nehru- Nehruvia: The Nehruvian EP
Much like Joey Bada$$, this teenage lyrical firestarter is one of the acts aiming to start a New York resurgence through the eyes of the youth. Fresh off his very dope collaborative EP with mentor MF Doom, NehruvianDOOM, this EP from him continues to serve as a tasty appetizer to his official full-length debut on Nas' Mass Appeal Records. Over subtle, yet very nineties NYC-esque production, Nehru is a star in the making and with tracks like "Mellowithme" and "Users", it's not hard to see why.
Rapper Big Pooh & Apollo Brown- Words Paint Pictures EP
Virginia emcee, and former Little Brother member, Rapper Big Pooh collaborated with Detroit producing phenomenon Apollo Brown for an EP that is among the best projects yet of the year. We haven't seen Pooh go this hard in years, as Apollo's super soulful boom-bap has brought out a rejuvenation in him that has been needed. One can only imagine how a whole full-length would be with these two.
Ludacris- Ludaversal
Anytime your intro, alone, is stupid solid, you know you're in for a ride. For Chris Bridges, this has been a formula he's conquered for over a decade and really hasn't disappointed yet. This much anticipated follow-up to 2010's underwhelming Battle Of The Sexes is a very moody and complex album, but is a definite step up from the last album and falls right in line with some of the rest of his very dope discography. From the sheer knocking of "Beast Mode" to the touching "Ocean Skies" and the introspective "This Has Been My World", Luda covers every emotion and knocks it out the park as usual.
Open Mike Eagle- A Special Episode Of (EP)
This Mello Music Group artist dropped one of the more surprising releases of last year and was met with big time critical acclaim for Dark Comedy. He follows up that project with a very formidable EP, complete with tremendous production and often times hilarious zingers throughout the album pointing out how idiotic we can be a humans with intimate poignancy.
Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD- Sour Soul
The most tried and true Wu member, and definitely the most consistent, returns with a slightly different sound thanks to jazz instrumental band BadBadNotGood and it actually works and works pretty damn well. The sound has a very vintage, almost soul-like, style with it, and especially on the track with MF Doom "Ray Gun", the live instrumentation fits in perfectly. Lately we've been hearing some of the best material from Pretty Tony since he first started, and this is another incredible example of his greatness.
Tech N9ne- Special Effects
The legendary Tech N9ne returns with his fifteenth album and it's very much the same Aaron Yates we've known and loved. His triple and quadruple timed spitting is still very prevalent, but on the Eminem-assisted "Speedom", there's so much breakneck speed, your head just may explode. His brand of dark humor and demented charm mixed with occasional introspection makes this another hit. While just short of exceptional releases like Anghellic, All 6's & 7's, and especially Something Else, Special Effects is regardless a great piece of work from one of the game's most respected emcees.
Skyzoo- Music For My Friends
Heralded Brooklyn emcee Skyzoo returns for yet another incredible record for the masses, and this one has more of a jazzy appeal to it than albums before. Following up his sincere last solo album, A Dream Deferred, and last year's bananas collaboration album with Torae, Barrel Brothers, Skyzoo brings themes of succeeding in the business and staying humble among other very identifiable matters that have made him one of the most down to earth cats currently going. While guests like Jadakiss and Black Thought definitely shine on here, he has enough talent to not get overblown from them, thus proving his worth once again.
Slum Village- YES!
Detroit's favorite sons, Slum Village, return with what has to be considered their strongest album in the years since the departure and eventual death of founding member J-Dilla, as well as the same departure and eventual death of another founding member, Baatin. Yes, SV has gone through lots of turbulence and tragedies. Yes, they've brought forth new members along the way like Elzhi and Dilla's little brother, Illa J. However, have they produced stellar albums before? YES! Have they done it one more time with some lost treasures from Dilla? An astounding YES!!! With guest spots from legendary figures like De La Soul and Phife Dawg, are they still showing they can go? To quote Daniel Bryan, "YES, YES, YES!"
Wale- The Album About Nothing
Since his intriguing debut, Attention Deficit, Wale has been an interesting emcee to watch. Many would say he compromised his sound when he first signed to Maybach Music, and maybe it showed on his albums The Gifted and Ambition, but on this one, he comes full circle seemingly and went back to his mixtape roots by delivering a great and enjoyable album. Continuing on the Seinfeld-themed mixtape he's been delivering, this one shows how grounded he still is and explores very relatable themes in this album. Guests like Usher, SZA, J. Cole, and Chrisette Michele contribute to an album that really shows Wale in that element that made us root for him in the first place: being that dude next door that just so happen he could rap his ass off.
Other notables include:
Dizzy Wright- The Growing Process
Big Sean- Dark Sky Paradise
Chance The Rapper & The Social Experiment- Surf
Canibus & Bronze Nazareth- Time Flies, Life Dies, Phoenix Rise
Murs- Have A Good Life
G-Unit- The Beast Is G-Unit (EP)
Cyhi The Prince- Black Hystori Project 2: NAACP
Canibal Ox- Blade Of The Ronin
Kenn Starr- Square One
Czarface- Every Hero Needs A Villain
Large Professor- Re: Living
This concludes my top twenty albums (thus far) in 2015. The year is literally almost half-over and as you can see, there have been some truly outstanding moments. There have been more, but I just wanted to condense them. We still have albums to come from Nas, Sean Price, Slaughterhouse, Kanye, Run The Jewels, Ghostface Killah and lots more that will be rattling from speakers coast to coast. Let's see if they can continue the momentum throughout the year. Here are tracks from each album noted here, from Kendrick all the way down. The next time there will be a list like this will be the year-end awards in December, which is always controversial, and that's just how it needs to be. Until next time, have a dope week!
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