The Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2017

What's up all?! It's been a long time since we've connected but I'm back for something that's always anticipated this time of year. The year-end best.  This is many people's time of year, as we dissect the best from the worst, the legendary from the wack, and the promising from the doubtful. In 2017, this has been a very melting pot of a year.  Musically, some very rich and intriguing projects emerged this year, while the sudden and dizzying appeal of "mumble rap" has also become the new go-to style of rap for a lot of the younger demographic.  What has also been prevalent has been the amount of politically charged rhetoric mixed with spiritual inquiries about growth and their place within these changing times.  New stars such as Cardi B and Lil' Uzi Vert have become part of our consciousness, no matter if it's for fifteen minutes or for fifteen years, while artists such as Rapsody, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z have put out career and genre defining music that will be talked about for decades to come.  This has been a great year, and it's time to break down the best.  Let's begin.

30.Action Bronson

Blue Chips 7000

Production: The Alchemist, Daringer, Party Supplies, Knxwledge, Harry Fraud, others

The Queens chef/TV show host/emcee was last seen back in 2014 with Mr. Wonderful, his major label debut with Atlantic that was good yet underwhelming considering previous work such as Dr. Lecter and Rare Chandeliers.  With his new album, Blue Chips 7000, we glimpses of his former projects with assistance from Rick Ross, Meyhem Lauren and Big Body Bes, and over blistering sonicscapes from the likes of Alchemist, Griselda's head beat monster Daringer, and Party Supplies.  He sounds re-energized, refocused, and yes, hungrier than before (put puns in there where need be).  This was a fairly entertaining album and pulled off what Mr. Wonderful should've been.

29. Quelle Chris

Being You Is Great...I Wish I Could Be You More Often

Production: artist, Chris Keys, The Alchemist, others

The quirky and eccentric Quelle Chris is one of Mello Music Group's most consistent talents.  The newly engaged emcee (who's rooting for he and underground legend Jean Grae to be the next Jay/B or Pap/Remy?) dropped the self-empowering, Being You Is Great...I Wish I Could Be You More Often to follow-up 2015's Innocent Country.  Led by the self-loving "Buddies", it's a look at the vulnerabilities of the young Detroit native, yet it also shows him appreciating the uniqueness that is him and celebrates his imperfections, as we all should.  If only more male emcees would release more projects this candid and personal.

28. Big Boi

Boomiverse

Production: Organized Noize, TM88, DJ Dahi, Mannie Fresh, Scott Storch, DJ Khalyl, others

The legendary Big Boi of Outkast finally dropped his first album in five years with Boomiverse.  Reuniting with former Outkast production team Organized Noize for nearly half the album, Big Boi reminds us why he's one of the most influential emcees of his generation.  Led by the singles, "Kill Jill" and "Mic Jack", Big Boi brought back the same funk and trunk rattling elements that made his solo debut, Sir Lucious Leftfoot, such a critical smash, and one of the hottest debuts to come from beneath the Mason-Dixon line.  While there's nearly a one hundred percent chance of no Outkast reunion and the likelihood of no Andre 3000 solo album growing by the year, Big Boi continues to hold down their legacy and shows why he's one of our true giants.

27. Roc Marciano

Rosebudd's Revenge

Production: artist, Knxwledge, others

One of NYC's grittiest emcees is Long Island native Roc Marciano. Known for releasing critically acclaimed knockers such as Marcberg, Reloaded, and Marci Beaucoup, Marciano drops another smash with Rosebudd's Revenge. Complete with slick production from himself, as well as Knxwledge and The Arch Druids, Marciano tells various stories of being a pimp and a hustler, while making it sound oh so good.  With cuts like "Marksmen" , "Herringbone", and the title track, Marciano shows up once again with a .38-caliber pointed at you, while spitting out game and telling you vivid stories of the streets.  Another knockout win.

26. GQ

E. 14th

Production: 9th Wonder & The Soul Council

Jamla artist, and Cali native, GQ is a big part of the critical success of the house that Grammy Award-winner 9th Wonder built.  Appearing on various Jamla projects during his tenure, he dropped Rated Oakland in 2014 to pretty decent noise. However, he dropped his follow-up, E. 14th silently late in the year and it showed the progression of GQ as an emcee.  Over some very delightful production from in-house team The Soul Council, GQ is a promising talent that is slowly bubbling into one to really watch while continuing the legacy of The Bay.

25. Fashawn

Manna (EP)

Production: Exile, Large Professor, others

Fresno resident Fashawn is becoming a fixture in acclaimed west coast hip-hop.  First dropping his simply fantastic debut, Boy Meets World, in '09 and followed that up with The Ecology in 2015 to more acclaim.  He has returned with Manna, a solid EP that tackles areas that are personal to him, especially the powerful, "Mother AmeriKKKa".  While we await another full-length album from him, let's enjoy this excellent project that shows why Nas signed him to his Mass Appeal label in the first place.

24. Cunninlynguists

Rose Azura Njano

Production: Kno

The guys of Deacon, Natti, and rapper/DJ/producer Kno are one of the most revered, yet slept-on, acts out of the South.  For a decade and a half, Cunninlynguists have delivered some of the most incredible releases known and have garnered a devoted fan base as well.  After dropping two EPs this year (The Rose and Azura), they deliver Rose Azura Njano, a fantastic conceptual album that follows a young lady trying to escape her world through music.  Much like previous awesome conceptual works such as A Piece Of Strange and Oneirology, this album will expand their fan base and further show why they have such a devoted following as it is.

23. Tha God Fahim

Tha Tragedy Of Shogunn

Production: artist, Camouflage Monk, others

Nobody, and I repeat NOBODY has worked harder this year in putting out material than Atlanta native Tha God Fahim.  Releasing over two dozen albums, EPs and mixtapes, Fahim was a machine in 2017.  The one time Griselda affiliate had several albums worthy of making the list, but Tha Tragedy Of Shogunn is among the most vivid of his discography.  With dark production and street-wise jewels, Fahim is definitely one to watch in 2018.  While artist like Gucci, Migos, and Future all put in work this year, Fahim ran laps around them, at times putting out a different project a week.  With TTOS, Fahim was arguably at his cinematic and jewel-dropping best.

22. Sean Price

Imperius Rex

Production: The Alchemist, Nottz, Harry Fraud, Marco Polo, others

In 2015, the hip-hop world lost a legend in Sean price, and the reverberation from his passing is still felt to this day.  One of the nicest to ever touch a mic that never saw that allusive platinum plaque, Price's widow Bernadette dropped Imperius Rex for his fans, an album he was working on prior to his untimely passing.  Every bit as knocking as previous works of Jesus Price Supastar, Monkey Barz, and Mic Tyson, Price come equipped with clever lines and his trademarked IDGAF bravado over neck-snapping production from Alchemist, Marco Polo, and Nottz among others, not to mention he BLISTERS the BCC/Wu-Tang collab track, "Wu Click".  Hopefully there are more projects we will hear from the self-professed "Sean Nice", and may his legacy continue to live on. P!

21. Raekwon

The Wild

Production: Dame Grease, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Xtreme, Frank G, others

The legendary chef of the iconic Wu-Tang Clan dropped his seventh album, The Wild, and it banged harder than a lot of albums to merge this year.  Bringing back some of that gritty and raw sound from the nineties, the creator of one of hip-hop's all-time treasures, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., put his hoodie back on and spit gems over menacing production.  Although a RZA track or two would've been a great addition, this album was knocking enough to continue to cement his status as one of the game's finest storytellers.

20. Cyhi The Prince

No Dope On Sundays

Production: The Olympicks, Lex Luger, S-1, Shawty Redd, Novel, others

After leaving Def Jam for greener pastures, G.O.O.D. Music artist Cyhi The Prince finally drops his long-awaited full-length album, No Dope On Sundays, and boy was it worth the wait.  After the critical acclaim of his Black Hystori Project mixtape, this was a refreshing answer to the question, "Could he deliver just as strongly?" Great lyricism mixed with excellent storytelling and engaging production makes this album a standout, especially with cuts like the ScHoolboy Q-assisted "Movin' Around", "God Bless Your Heart" and the searing Travis $cott-assisted "I'm Fine".  His star has now begun to shine, and it'll only get brighter from here.

19. Milo

Who Told You To Think?

Production: artist

Milwaukee native Milo is a fixture in the underground scene and has been for the better part of this decade.  His knack for creating obscure, thought-provoking, abstract rhymes and narratives are unique and can be an acquired taste.  Gathering noise primarily with his 2015 release, When The Flies Come Home, he follows that up with Who Told You To Think, which is easily as left-field as anything else he has done, but also produces an intrigue factor that makes one want to dig a little deeper within the fascinating mind of this young talent.

18. Statik Selektah

8

Production: artist, The Alchemist

Boston's Statik Selektah has become one of the most in-demand producers in the game over the past few years, on top of being one of the top DJs in the land and head of his own label, Showoff Records.  He has delivered an album a year for the past several years in a row, and all have been thumpers.  Following up last year's Lucky 7 comes the appropriately titled, 8.  Known for gathering industry heavyweights and putting them all on one project, he has done it again with talent such as Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Joey Bada$$, The Lox, Wiz Khalifa, and the late Sean price and Prodigy all on absolute bangers.  From the commercially catchy "Ain't A Damn Thing Changed" to the grimy title track, this album has something for everybody and deserves to be named among his best efforts.

17. Apollo Brown & Planet Asia

Anchovies

Production: Apollo Brown

Detroit production animal Apollo Brown has put out consistent fire for the past few years now.  Working with everybody from Guilty Simpson to Ras Kass and O.C. In 2016, he and Brooklyn's highly underrated Skyzoo delivered one of the best albums of the year with The Easy Truth.  This year, he collabs with west coast underground veteran Planet Asia for Anchovies.  As usual, Apollo brings dynamite soulful production while Asia verbally undresses the mic with tracks such as the melancholy "Deep In The Casket", the haunting "Pain", "Fire Fire", and "Get Back".  Apollo somehow manages to bring the best out of anyone he works with, as Ras Kass and O.C. delivered career benchmarks thanks to him, and Planet Asia can now say the same thing.

16. Tyler The Creator

Flower Boy

Producer: artist

Former Odd Future frontman Tyler The Creator has been known to deliver shock and at times appalling bars on polarized projects such as Cherry Bomb and Wolf.  It was clear he had talent, but he was more concerned with causing shock and uproar rather than put out a game-changing album.  We wanted to see beneath this persona, and it finally happened.  His latest album, Flower Boy, is everything we had wanted to hear from him, which is vulnerable, mask off hip-hop, and he delivered with magical results.  This Grammy nominated album shows Tyler revealing lost love, regretful disconnections, and even comes out on the album confessing his crush for "white boys since high school".At times we see the Tyler we all know very well with trunk rattlers like "Who Dat Boy", while contemplating his life on "Boredom".  His most internal project to date, Tyler just let us in to his heart more so than in projects past, and he did so wonderfully.

15. Talib Kweli & Styles P

The Seven (EP)

Production: 88-Keys, Marco Polo, Khrysis, Oh No, Nottz others

When heads heard that two of the games finest emcees would collab together for a project in Talib Kweli and Styles P, anticipation instantly mounted, and before long, they dropped The Seven, an EP filled with complete fire.  Nothing short of fantastic with cuts like the bangin' "Nine Point Five" with Styles' Lox brothers Jadakiss and Sheek Louch, "Brown Guys", and "Last Ones", you only wish we would've gotten a whole full-length from them, as this project was stronger than most full-lengths of the year.  Mixing political with social commentary and just good ol' fashioned hip-hop, this album gets constant and consistent replay value.

14. Big K.R.I.T.

4eva Is A Mighty Long Time

Production: artist, Mannie Fresh, Organized Noize, DJ Khalyl, others

It's sometimes incredible what freedom can do for one after being pigeonholed by a major label.  Mississippi's prodigy Big K.R.I.T. delivered some of the most acclaimed mixtapes to ever emerge from the south, including K.R.I.T. Was Here and Return Of 4eva, and they were enough for Def Jam to scoop him.  His projects, Live From The Underground and Cadillactica, were critical darlings but went highly underappreciated by the ;label and he split.  Now dropping his first full-length project since his departure, he gives us 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time, a phenomenal double album that shows his on-stage persona and his true self in separate discs.  The K.R.I.T. side is filled with trunk rattlers and shit talking, only done is slickly confident, extroverted way. The Justin Scott side is deeply personal and autobiographical, as he bares his complete soul on cuts like "Bury Me In Gold" and "Drinking Sessions".  This may arguably be K.R.I.T.'s most cohesive and complete project to date, but without a doubt, his most ambitious.

13. J.I.D.

The Never Story

Production: Childish Major, J. Cole, others

Straight from the A is Dreamville signee J.I.D. After buzzing with EarthGang as Spillage Village, he dropped an EP and shortly after was signed by J. Cole to Dreamville. Showing that there's a lot more to the A than trap and mumble rap for today's younger generation, he mixes profound lyricism with promising songwriting as well as singing ability, as evidenced with the cut "Hereditary".  Meanwhile other cuts like "Hood Booga" and "EdEddNEddy" presents to us an up-and-comer that very well could give the Dreamville creator a run for his money one day.

12. Talib Kweli

Radio Silence

Production: Oh No, Robert Glaspar, The Alchemist, KAYTRANADA, others

Regarded as one of hip-hop's most important voices (and a savage on Twitter towards uneducated trolls, racists, and sexists), Talib Kweli presents to us his eighth full-length solo album, Radio Silence, and it's very much vintage Kweli.  His ability to connect with the human spirit and make you go deeper within your thought process is a knack very few emcees can still do in today's times as greatly as he can, but with impactful cuts like the touching "She's My Hero", the amazing "All Of Us", and the powerful title track,these are some examples of why Talib Kweli is regarded as a modern legend and much like The Rock, is in fact the people's champion.

11. Oddisee

The Iceberg

Production: artist

Mello Music Group, and Diamond District member, Oddisee is becoming quite the underground journeyman, with fabulous albums to match his hunger.  Equally excellent in lyrics and production, he follows up 2015's simply charming full-length The Good Fight and his incredible EP of 2016, Alwasta, with this year's The Iceberg. He doesn't stray far at all from his formula of highly engaging production and relatable lyrics to give us a soulful look at this very talented emcee.  From the up-tempo delights of "Things" to the D.C. go-go drums of "NNGE", Oddisee has another production gift for us, while cuts like "You Grew Up" and "This Girl I Know" are personal, thought-provoking cuts that exhibit Oddisee as a talent that is in it for the long haul with no slow down in sight.

10. Hex One

Words Are Worth A Thousand Pictures
Production: Planet Ragtime, Loot Fattig, Klaus Layer, others

South Florida emcee Hex One is known primarily in the underground as one half of the duo Epidemic, and if you have never peeped any of their albums, absolutely do yourself a favor and peep them (Monochrome Skies is an especially fantastic listen).  In the fourth quarter of 2017, Hex dropped Words Are Worth A Thousand Pictures and is one of the most cleverly skilled lyrical executions to be heard all year. Cuts like the Skyzoo-assisted "Peep The Steeze", "Leave It All Behind", and "My Story" are well-crafted and show off his complex multi-syllabic rhyme structure over great production. While the majority of mainstream accessible hip-hop doesn't know who he is, with more releases like this, he won't be an unknown forever.

9. Logic

Everybody

Production: artist, 6ix, No I.D., DJ Khalyl, others

Since his quite excellent Def Jam debut, Under Pressure, Baltimore representative Logic has proved he has earned the success that has been allotted to him. One of the game's most underrated emcees, Logic constructed quite the unique concept album with Everybody, having the main character die, go to heaven, speak to God about being reincarnated, and it happens, only he must live as every single person on the planet in order to proceed into the afterlife.  This album definitely explores every kind of person imaginable and reaches even the most serious of topics such as suicide on "1-800-273-8255", but gets right back to celebrating life on "Black Spiderman", which touches on the beauty of diversity. Conceptually, lyrically, and production-wise, Logic has crafted his most ambitious project to date.

8. Jonwayne

Rap Album Two

Production: artist, DJ Babu, others

When you look back on some of the game's most personal albums, treasures such as Me Against The World, The Fix, and The Eminem Show come to mind. With Cali's Jonwayne, his vulnerabilities, fears, and his ability to overcome significant demons tell the story of this album. Painfully introspective, Jonwayne gives us a very compelling look into his world that is as hopeful as is it depressing. Tracks like the story of his alcohol addiction "Blue Green" and the soul searching "These Words Are Everything" exemplify an artist trying to find a good space within himself so that he may view the world around him with more hope and peace, even though in today's times, that's a challenge all and of itself.

7. Brother Ali

All The Beauty In This Life

Production: Ant

Oh how great it is to see Brother Ali back in the game. After presenting some of the game's most breathtaking releases such as Shadows On The Sun, Us, and The Undisputed Truth.  Providing social commentary, personal truths, and political awareness, Ali is a needed fixture in today's hip-hop climate. Coming with his first album in four years, All The Beauty In This Whole Life, he reflects upon the peace and sincerity life can bring, in spite of today's perilous political and socially divisive climate.  Back with Ant, who was responsible for his previous classics, Ali gives us a refreshing gift that should be carefully eaten and absorbed as true soul food

6. Skyzoo

Peddler Themes EP

Production: !llmind, Apollo Brown, others

Brooklyn's own Skyzoo is widely considered one of the most consistent emcees in the game, as everything he gets involved in is acclaimed work. In 2016, he got together with Apollo Brown to present The Easy Truth, and it became one of the best moments of the year. This year, he delivered an EP called Peddlers Theme. This is an eight track tour de force of incredible beats and equally potent rhymes from an emcee's emcee.  His ode to the nineties with "95 Bad Boy Logo" and the ever lyrical "Bamboo" are two of the best tracks from what has to be considered another high level project from this hellacious lyrical Brooklynite.

5. Jay-Z

4:44

Production: No I.D.

One of the year's most anticipated albums was the return of Jay-Z, and goodness did this deliver.  In what was the most vulnerable and most introspective album in his career, 4:44 addressed everything from his infidelity from Beyonce to his mother coming out as a lesbian to his displeasure with his absent father, this album is THAT album we had been waiting for from him. We saw less Jay-Z and more Shawn Carter, and over some tremendous No I.D. production, this may arguably be his overall best effort since The Black Album. Another Grammy-nominated album for Hov, this album may now very well serve as Shawn Carter's arrival.

4. Joey Bada$$

All AmeriKKKan Bada$$

Production: Kirk Knight, 1-900, DJ Khalyl, Statik Selektah, Chuck Strangers, Like, others

The biggest face of Pro Ea,Joey Bada$$, delivered what has to be a career hallmark with All-AmeiKKKan Bada$$, which is clothed in socio-political commentary. Gone is the tough talk from previous stellar efforts such as B4.Da.$$, 1999, and Summer Knights, and included are views of the world from socioeconomic and racial viewpoint. With cuts like the J. Cole-assisted "Legendary", "Land Of The Free", and "Temptation", Joey has found his voice and the scary thing is he hasn't even begun to reach his full potential yet. Steez would be proud.

3. Run The Jewels

RTJ3

Production: El-p

After the incredible acclaim of their self-titled debut album, and their sophomore album, RTJ2, that proved to be one of the most defining hip-hop albums of the decade, Killer Mike and El-P return with the third part of the Run The Jewels trilogy, RTJ3. Originally dropped as a surprise digital download Christmas Eve 2016, it barely missed the deadline for the best of list last year, but the album, regardless, finds the duo more comfortable with their message within this poisonous socio-political climate. This falls just short of the utter brilliance of RTJ2, but nonetheless exhibits that these two may be the feared duo in all of hip-hop with yet another unbelievable effort.

2. Kendrick Lamar

DAMN

Production: Sounwave, The Alchemist, Mike WILL Made It, DJ Dahi, Terrace Martin, 9th Wonder, BadBadNotGood, Cardo, others

What else can you say about Mr. Duckworth that hasn't already been said? He's been called a modern day genius, a modern legend, the voice of this generation, and all these titles are well earned. After the monster success of the stunning major label debut, good kid, M.A.A.D. City, and the simply breathtaking masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, the pressure was on to deliver yet another benchmark for hip-hop, and goodness did he ever with DAMN.  While Butterfly had him being the conflicted voice of his community trying to find his balance of stardom and humanity, while trying to find himself spiritually, DAMN is his "fuck it" record. This peace he's seeking is costing him his sanity and his faith in humanity.  Lyrically, he misses no step whatsoever, but musically this is more of a straightforward listen than Butterfly or even his exquisite lost tapes album of 2016, untitled. unmastered, and perhaps his most accessible effort to date. He progressed, musically, from good kid's slick boom bap to Butterfly's jazzy, soulful funk to DAMN's boom-trap to switch up his sound. Kendrick, with DAMN, put all doubters to rest with the notion of him not being the best rapper alive, as it's apparent he runs laps around most in the game with this Grammy-nominated album. All hail king Kendrick!

1. Rapsody

Laila's Wisdom

Production: 9th Wonder & The Soul Council

Jamla/Roc Nation artist, and Snow Hill, NC native Rapsody, had been really garnering a folowing for some years now, and with her show-stealing verse on Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly's "Complexion", she entered mainstream hip-hop's consciousness. While previous efforts such as The Idea Of Beautiful, Beauty & The Beast, and 2016's Crown were all incredible lyrical efforts from this new age B-girl, her Roc Nation debut, Laila's Wisdom, is simply put a timeless hip-hop epic.  Addressing the perils and pride of today's Black woman, while also showing love to the brothas as well, Rapsody excels in not only bringing some of her best battle bars, but also her captivating storytelling abilities. This was none more evident than on the AMAZING "Jesus Coming", but other cuts like the ode to her family "Ridin'", "Nobody", and the wonderful title track proudly exhibit her remarkable talents with effortless confidence over some of the year's most compelling and soulful production thanks to Grammy Award winner, 9th Wonder, and his Soul Council collective (what up Khrysis!). Every year, we are blessed to have an album that so proudly represents the progression of our culture, yet still conjuring the spirit of hip-hop's essence through education, soul food, and cementing positive legacies. Rapsody has delivered it this year in the form Laila's Wisdom (a 2018 Grammy-nominated album BTW), and this is a classic in every sense as this will be an album we still play twenty years from now.

Honorable Mentions

Lute- 1996 Pt. 2
Brockhampton- Saturation
Brockhampton- Saturation 2
Brockhampton- Saturation 3
Freddie Gibbs- You Only Live 2wice (EP)

Armand Hammer- Rome
Reuben Vincent- Myers Park

Slaine & Termanology- Anti-Hero

EarthGang- Robots (EP)

The Alchemist & Bougie- The Good Book Vol. 2

Mach Hommy- Dump Gawd: Hommy Edition

Kool G. Rap- Return Of The Don

Joyner Lucas- 508-507-2209

Vince Staples- The Big Fish Theory

MC Eiht- Which Way Iz West

Substantial- The Past Is The Present Of The Future

Westside Gunn- Riots On Fashion Ave. (EP)

Westside Gunn & MF DOOM- WestsideDOOM (EP)

Scarface- Deeply Rooted: The Lost Files

Jeezy- Pressure

Migos- Culture

Future- Future

Future- HNDRXX

Prodigy- The Hegelian Dialectic: The Book Of Revelations

2 Chainz- Pretty Girls Like Trap Music

Tha God Fahim- Dump Gawd

Tha God Fahim- Dump Gawd 4

Tha God Fahim- TGIF

Tha God Fahim- Supreme Dump Legend

Tha God Fahim- Tha Dark Shogun Saga Vol. 2

Nyck Caution & Kirk Knight- Nick @ Knight (EP)

Apathy & O.C.- Perastroyka

Meyhem Lauren & DJ Muggs- Gems From The Equinox
Princess Nokia- 1992
Uncommon Nasa
billy woods- Known Unknown
Open Mike Eagle- Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
Mike WILL Made It- Ransom 2
Problem- Selfish
Big Sean- I Decided
Vic Mensa- The Autobiography
Snoop Dogg- Neva Left

Mixtapes of 2017

Westside Gunn- Hitler On Steroids

Westside Gunn- Hitler Wears Hermes 5

Conway The Machine- G.O.A.T.

Conway The Machine- Reject On Steroids

Conway The Machine- More Steroids

B.E.N.N.Y.- Butcher On Steroids

El Camino- El Camino

Rain910- WTFAY

Royce 5'9"- The Bar Exam 4

Siya- 383-For Roosevelt

Ras G- My Kinda Blues

DOmo Genesis- Red Corolla

Drake- More Life

Cam'ron- The Program

Yo Gotti & Mike WILL Made It- Gotti MADE It

SMoke DZA- Cause I Felt Like It Again

Onry Ozzbourne- Black Phillip

Killah Priest & 4th Disciple- Don't Sit On Speakers

Dizzy Wright- The Golden Age 2

Problem- Chachiville

A$AP Ferg- Still Striving

What a year 2017 turned out to be. Incredible and impeccable musical achievements were presented in various forms. This was truly a year that showed that one should never pinpoint hip-hop as dying or that it's on life support due to mumble rap or the like. These were projects that showed the beauty of artistic craftsmanship and dedication to preserving the culture. In 2018, artists like Nas (we hope), PRhyme, all the Griselda acts, The Game, and many more will attempt to handle more business by furthering the art of hip-hop.  In this twisted, saddening time of power, sexism, racism, and blatant fascism thanks to POTUS 45, we can still rely on music to help us out. Until next time y'all!

The Best Hip-Hop Albums (so far) of 2017

What's the deal people?!  It's that time again when we go over and evaluate the best projects of the year thus far, as we're halfway through 2017.  This has been an overall dope half-year, with amazing releases from Run The Jewels, Kendrick Lamar, Big Boi, and Joey Bada$$ that have been highly critically acclaimed and in constant rotation.  Have there been better half-year releases?  Absolutely, without a doubt, but this is 2017, and we focus on this year's half-year efforts that deserve to be recognized for overall great quality.  With that being said, let's get into it.

15. MC Eiht- Which Way Iz West?

Production: DJ Premier, Brink Santana

What a dope return for the longtime Compton O.G. himself, MC Eiht.  He returns to the scene with what could arguably be considered one of the best efforts of his career with Which Way Iz West.  Collaborating with the legendary Premo behind the boards on three tracks and scratches on even more tracks, Eiht-Hype sounds rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to show these young kids what true west coast hip-hop is about.  With stellar cuts such as "My Nia'z", "4 The O.G.'z", and the reunion with Compton's Most Wanted "Last Ones Left", as well as duets with the likes of Lady Of Rage, Xzibit, and B-Real, this albums is a successful return for the former A-Wax.

14. Drake- More Life

Production: Noah "40" Shebib, T-Minus, Boi-1nda, Vinylz, Frank Dukes, NineteenEighty5, Murda Beatz, others

After the overall disappointment, critically, that was Views, Drake went back to what he knew and constructed his own "playlist", More Life.  The results were definitely better, and it does in fact sound like a playlist.  There are many different styles being presented on this album, and it accomplished what it wanted to do, which was make for the missteps of Views.  From the island vibes of "Madiba Riddim" to the trap stylings of "Sacrifices" and the blatant top 40 vibes of "Passion Fruit", there's something for every Drake fan on this release, and it works.

13. Prodigy- The Hegelian Dialectic

Production: KnXwledge, The Alchemist, Beat Butcher, others

We, in the hip-hop community, are still greatly mourning and in shock over the loss of Queens legend, and one-half of the one of the single greatest hip-hop duos of all-time Mobb Deep, Prodigy.  Earlier in the year, P released what has to be considered his most conscious and informative album within his discography, The Hegelian Dialectic.  The album is a ton more spiritual and philosophical than we're used to from "Bandana P", as evidenced with tracks like "No Religion", the anti-political "Tyranny", and "Spiritual War", while climaxing with the INCREDIBLE Alchemist-crafted "Mystic".  P had bars for days already, but with this album he showed he also had jewels to reflect on.  The game lost one of the best to do it, but it's albums like this that really continue to keep his legacy memorable.

12. J.I.D.- The Never Story

Production: J. Cole, Christo, Childish Major, others

Out of Atlanta comes one of the A's brightest, and most sincerely talented, new stars, J.I.D.  Signed to J. Cole's Dreamville's imprint, he delivered a more than decent debut offering, The Never Story, to critical praise and acclaim.  Far and away from the mumble movement that's widely associated with Atlanta nowadays, this young emcee has the songwriting and star appeal the likes of which could truly propel him as the biggest star of his label that's not named Cole.  Cuts like "Hoodbooger", "Lauder" and "Somebody" are excellent cuts that will let people pay more attention to this star in the making.

11. Quelle Chris- Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often

Production: artist, Chris Keys, The Alchemist, others

One of the most intriguing and somewhat eccentric artists from Detroit's underground is Quelle Chris.   Following up his offering of 2015, Innocent Country, this album delves into self-examination with oddball, blunted humor and occasional heaviness.  Arguably his most cohesive album to date, Chris makes it a point to show his insecurities, and his ability to celebrate them throughout the album.  A definite project to endorse among his best work, Quelle Chris brings a depth with this album that, even with his peculiar presentation, should be paid a lot more attention to.

10. Raekwon- The Wild

Production: Dame Grease, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, others

Wu-Tang's residential chef, Raekwon, is seen as one of the most vivid storytellers in the game for over the last two decades.  Widely known as the emcee that dropped one of hip-hop's most iconic albums, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., he has yet to deliver an effort, besides OB4CB2, that measures up to that type of acclaim.  Enter, The Wild.  This album is as close to Cuban Linx-esque material as we've heard in all of his projects.  This album screams of late-nineties NYC hip-hop, as the chef went back to the kitchen and served up some tremendous cuts such as "Marvin" and "This Is What It Comes To" for those missing that good bang-out material we know Rae is obviously more than capable of delivering.

9. Big Boi- Boomiverse

Production: Organized Noize, Mannie Fresh, DJ Dahi, DJ Khalyl, Scott Storch, TM88, others

While we wait with damn near dying breath for either an Outkast album or an Andre 3000 album, at least we have Big Boi to help us along our way, and he returned in grand fashion with his third album, Boomiverse.  Aiming to have us get back to the dance floor and turn our speakers up in grown folk fashion, Big Boi brings an assortment of funk and soul that has been greatly missed within southern hip-hop.  The veteran of over two decades shows the game that he's not a legend for no reason, as cuts like the spaced-aged funk of "Chocolate" and the buttery soulful "Mic Jack" clearly demonstrate.  Arguably the best southern release thus far this year.

8. Talib Kweli & Styles P- The Seven

Production: 88 Keys, Oh No, Khrysis, Marco Polo, Nottz, Dot Da Genius, others

When word got around that NYC greats Talib Kweli and Styles P were getting together for a collaboration project, heads went nuts in anticipation.  The anticipation paid off with their seven-track EP, The Seven.  These two drop jewels as we would always expect them to do and they sound great together doing so.  Over some knocking production and guest assistance from Common, Rapsody, Chris Rivers, and Styles' Lox-mates Jadakiss and Sheek Louch, this is an effort that hopefully will result in a full-length project one day, as these seven cuts alone are exemplary quality hip-hop.

7. Logic- Everybody

Production: artist, 6ix, No I.D., DJ Khalyl, others

DMV rhyme-slinger Logic has been delivering fairly excellent projects since since Def Jam debut, Under Pressure in 2014.  His latest release, Everybody, is once again a conceptual effort that has a character named Atom being reincarnated as every single type of human being in order to pass through the gates of Heaven.  The album is a celebratory yet conflicting look at life and the various types of people that life can present.  The music is very representative of his last Def Jam effort, The Incredible True Story, in which it's very layered and grand, yet Logic himself is still filled with double and triple-timed rhymes with substance and value.  This may very well be his project to date.

6. Oddisee- The Iceberg

Production: artist

One of hip-hop's most underrated emcee/producers is DMV native Oddisee.  Following up his incredible release of 2015, The Good Fight, and 2016's EP, Alwasta, Oddisee delivers more of the same goodness with The Iceberg.  Personal and soulful, Oddisee brings forth a sense of reliability and a  down-to-earth, everyday man aura within his rhymes, touching on subjects close to him over some of the best production one can imagine from him.  Trust me, with cuts like "Like Really", "Things", and "Want To Be", Oddisee won't get slept-on too much longer.  He and his efforts lyrically and musically keep getting better and better.

5. Joey Bada$$- All AmeriKKKan Bada$$

Production: Kirk Knight, Chuck Strangers, Statik Selektah, Like, 1-900, DJ Khalyl, others

Pro Era in the house, as it's most acclaimed artist, Joey bada$$ delivered the album of his young career with All AmeriKKKan Bada$$.  Highly political and educational, Bada$$ took a fiery, yet conscious, route in this disturbing climate we're in politically and socially.  This album is reflective of a young man trying to rally up troops to fight back against the oppressors of today's generation.  While every bit as impressive as his mixtape classics of 1999 and Summer Knights, as well as his debut solo full-length, B4.Da.$$, this stands as his most important.

4. Jonwayne- Album Number Two

Production: artist, DJ Babu, Dibia$e

Cali-based emcee/poet/producer Jonwayne presented one of the most intriguing and personal projects all year with Album Number Two.  Painfully deep and courageously introspective, Jonwayne delves into areas such as addiction, low self-esteem, and acceptance with such transparency that it makes it just as refreshing as it does almost concerning.  Cuts like "Blue Green" and "These Words Are Everything" are poignant and riddled with pain, but therein also lies his messages of hope and determination to make it.  The future looks bright for this artist and efforts like this mean that there's even more where this came from.

3. Brother Ali- All The Beauty In This Life

Production: Ant

It's been five years too long since we've heard anything from Brother Ali.  We last heard him with his album, Mourning In America, Dreaming In Color.  While very dope indeed, we all wanted that Ali sound that got him his acclaim and following in the first place.  He reunited with Atmosphere's Ant to present, All The Beauty In This Life, and our taste buds were delightfully fulfilled.  Summoning the musical and lyrical spirits of prior classics like Shadows On The Sun, The Undisputed Truth, and Us, this album is more about the positivity and beauty that life holds once one reflects and looks into their own lives, in spite of dark moments. Cuts like the anti-pornography ode "The Bitten Apple" and the stunning "Dear Black Son" are presented with such pride and poignancy that you feel him giving you his heart through record. Very powerful and gripping throughout the majority of the album, Brother Ali presents us with an album that is greatly needed in today's times.

2. Kendrick Lamar- DAMN.

Production: Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike WILL Made It, Terrace Martin, The Alchemist, 9th Wonder, BADBADNOTGOOD, others

All hail King Kendrick!  How do you follow-up a generational masterpiece such as To Pimp A Butterfly, as well as an equally awe-inspiring mixture of unreleased and unmixed cuts like Untitled.Unmastered?  His answer lies in DAMN.  Gone are the stripped down, melodic, live instrumentation of TPAB in favor of boom-bap and 808s, however Lamar managed to reinvent himself via story, as we have a young man dealing with heavy spiritual issues in a stunning display of conflict, redemption, angst, and confusion.  Many wondered if he could go three-for-three in terms of brilliant major label albums and ride in line with TPAB and good kid, M.A.A.D. City.  The answer is a resounding HELL YEAH!  With this album, his ingenious approach to the game officially makes him the greatest emcee of this generation.

1. Run The Jewels- RTJ3

Production: El-P

Released at literally the end of the year digitally, this album barely missed year-end awards of 2016, but in 2017, it's hands down the best album of the year thus far.  Killer Mike and El-P did it again.  By 'it', I mean hit you in your face with some of the brutal truth and inescapable production you'll ever hear.  Dark, dense, political, and gritty, RTJ3 is every bit as amazing as their other efforts together, and stand as another genuine hip-hop classic in today's times.  Each cut brilliantly blends into he next and their approach to grabbing a hold of your throat and never letting go until you comprehend their agenda is practically effortless.  Cuts like "2100", "Don't Get Captured", and "Down" are no longer just aiming for individual battles, they wanna win the overall war over societal and musical tyranny.  This is a release you'll never soon forget.

Honorable Mentions

Roc Marciano- Rosebudd's Revenge

Vince Staples- The Big Fish Theory

Tha God Fahim- Tha Tragedy of Shogunn

David Banner- The God Box

Big Sean- I Decided

Freddie Gibbs- You Only Live 2wice

Mike WILL Made It- Ransom 2

Your Old Droog- Packs

DJ Quik & Problem- Rosecrans

Goldlink- At What Cost

Bone Thugs- New Waves

Stormzy- Gang Signs & Prayer

As you can see, there have been some rather impressive efforts so far this year, and this doesn't count insane mixtape from Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, and especially Royce 5'9"'s most recent Bar Exam 4.  Now is when we start waiting with heightened anticipation with releases from Nas, The Roots, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Redman, PRhyme, Earl Sweatshirt, Skyzoo, Evidence, the Shady debut of Westside Gunn & Conway The Machine, and Jay-Z's 4:44 project.  Will this year round off as fantastic as the last few years have?  We shall soon see.  Until next time!

Forever Infamous: Long Live Prodigy

What's going on guys and gals?  Folks, this is a very tough one.  They don't get any easier as time goes along.  On June 20th, Was announced on his Instagram page that Albert Johnson, known collectively to the world as Prodigy of Mobb Deep, had passed away at the age of forty-two.  This announcement was made valid by his family and all of the sudden, the hip-hop world stopped and was immediately stunned and impacted.  While unconfirmed and unofficial reports are in fact stating that he succumbed to complications related to his life-long battle with sickle-cell anemia, the wind has been knocked out of the hip-hop family. A couple of years ago, we were rocked by the sudden death of Sean Price, then we were dealt with an even bigger blow, as the legendary Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest had passed from complications relating to his Diabetes.  Now, we in the hip-hop community are dealt with yet another very, very saddening blow that, in all intents and purposes, is a huge loss to the game.

 One of the most influential emcees within the game, the Long Island-bred emcee who proudly ripped Queensbridge Housing Projects with partner-in-rhyme Havoc, was an emcee that struck fear to many a listener, both imagery-wise and lyrically.  We first heard him and Hav as the Poetical Prophets in the early nineties, as they later changed their name to Mobb Deep.  They released their debut album, Juvenile Hell, in their mid teens, but during an age where kid acts such as Shyheim, ABC, Kris Kross, Illegal, and Quo were coming out left and right, Mobb Deep was trying to make their voices heard just as loudly.  While a modest effort, Mobb Deep didn't really make a ton of waves with they debut, in spite of fairly impressive production from the likes of production legends DJ Premier and Large Professor.  As they were trying to figure out what was next for them, they got the call they had been waiting on, as they got signed to Loud Records, and they delivered one of the influential hip-hop albums of all-time with The Infamous.  Many saw that album as their "proper" debut album, and with the help of their legendary single "Shook Ones Pt. 2" and their equally classic follow-up "Survival Of The Fittest", the album was highly considered among the albums that brought the east coast back from the west, who had been dominating with the likes of Deathrow Records.  The album nearly went platinum, but it made Mobb Deep the next heroes of NYC hip-hop.  Prodigy, in particular, was starting to be more in demand due to his level of ice-cold deliveries and a style that was so chilling yet so New York at the same time.

They followed up the monument that was The Infamous with the just-as-amazing Hell On Earth, which produced stingers such as the title track and "G.O.D. Pt. III".  The album was even more brutal with graphic images of violence, paranoia, and despair, but it was Prodigy's captivating style that made you believe every single thing he was spitting out.  Their clout was on the rise rapidly.  Collaborations and guest sixteens from one or both were increasing and they were officially hip-hop heavyweights, in spite of their reputation as bullies on the block, as them along with many of their friends including The Infamous Mobb collective of Ty Nitty, G.O.D. Father, and Twin Gambino were known for inciting fights and small riots.  It became a time where they were on the verge of the allusive platinum plaque, but that would change with their break through album, Murda Muzik, which delivered the anthemic "Quiet Storm" (especially the more known remix with Lil' Kim) and the Scarface-inspired "It's Mine", as the album went double platinum and they officially superstars.  The album was a searing combination of the intensity of The Infamous and the below-zero aesthetics of Hell On Earth, and the result was another treasure from the Mobb.  During this time, he had appearances on projects such as the underrated QB's Finest album, his blistering sixteen on LL Cool J's "Who Shot Ya (remix)", KRS-One's "5 Boroughs", and albums from the likes of Charli Baltimore and Almighty RSO.

However, now was the talk of "Bandana P" going solo for an album, and he did so with H.N.I.C., and it was undeniable banger, as it delivered the lyrically zoned-out "Keep It Thoro" and the haunting cut centered around his sickle-cell anemia struggle "You Never Feel My Pain".  The album went gold and certified him as a more than capable solo artist able to hold it down on his own.  From there, there was a tumble.  It came from the now notorious Hot 97 Summer Jam fiasco involving Jay-Z calling out Prodigy and Nas, as Hovi went so far as to put disparaging photos of P on a big screen in front of everyone.  This messed up P a lot, as it was evidenced on Mobb Deep's next album, Infamy.  We didn't hear the same Prodigy they we had heard before.  He was clearly off a step, as the ridicule and his obsession to destroy Jay-Z took him over.  Lyrically, he wasn't as hitting on all cylinders as he normally was, as at one point P was among the best lyricists in all of hip-hop. The album, as a whole, was decent but not the game-changing epics they had released prior.  As Prodigy continued to try snd find his way back to the lyrical prominence he had been known for, musically the Mobb was in a transition period, as they were caught in a time where crunk-hop was the trend and sounds were more so relegated to the south.  While they still kept it NYC, they would at times veer off with cuts like "Handcuffs" and the Lil' John-crafted "Real Gangstas" that was atypical Mobb.

As time would go on, the Mobb would have a stint with G-Unit, as they produced their only G-Unit affiliated album, Blood Money, and their most recent album, The Infamous Mobb Deep, which was the closest thing we had gotten to classic Mobb in years.  However, Prodigy and Hav were also going back to the mixtape sounding days, with underground projects such as Prodigy's fantastic efforts with beyond incredible producer, and frequent Mobb collaborator The Alchemist, Albert Einstein and Return Of The Mac.  These efforts, along with H.N.I.C. Pt. 2, and appearances on various projects had P back in his zone.  Unfortunately, he had to do a brief bid for firearm possession from 2007-2011. There was even a short-lived issue between he and Havoc, in which some very cstrong, and potentially caret-threatening accusations were being dropped, but fortunately they reconciled and were able to make The Infamous Mobb Deep. During his stint, he seemingly went through a change, for when he came out, his music was more about educating, giving historical facts, and more illuminati referencing more so than the macabre imagery he was depicting before.

Earlier this year, he dropped The Hegelian Dialectic, an album that was based around the teachings of known as famed philosopher Georg Hegel, as he believed that life and the thought process of human beings had a thesis, an anthithesis, and a conclusion.  A deeply philosophical album that showed P's growth as a man and as an artist.  This was surprisingly more spiritual and thought-filled than projects before.  The album, musically, was a very decent showing, especially the crazy, Alchemist-produced "Mystic".  There were plans to continue the Hegelian Dialectic series throughout the year, as well as another Mobb Deep album, and a supposed collaboration album with underground Denmark hip-hop producers The Snowgoons.

We won't get into any and all beefs he had, whether warranted or not, as P's legacy is a ton more about how crazy of a lyricist he was and his huge impact upon the game as a whole.  prodigy's a legend in all aspects and this is a wound that will take a long time to heal from.  For me personally, I was captivated by his mic presence as soon he dropped the now famous lines: "I got you shook off the realness/we be the infamous you heard of us/official Queensbridge murders".  That one part let me know I was in for a bumpy ride, and the result was "Shook Ones" being within my top three favorite singles of all-time.  To this day, within three seconds of hearing that snare, I'm in my own zone.  It's by far one of the most influential songs to ever hit me in my life, and is not the type of cut I need to hear if I'm angry with liquor in my system. It was a song that I could freestyle word for word without missing a step within the first week or two of constantly rotating it.  Hell, The Infamous is one of very few albums that I can freestyle word for word without missing a beat due to just how much I had been banging the album. There was a time nobody could tell me that, besides Nas or Scarface, there was anyone in the world better than P.  Literally nobody.  Much like Illmatic the year before, The Infamous completely and totally changed me.  This came out during a time also where there were non-stop epic releases coming out such as Ready To Die, Midnight Marauders, The Diary, the aforementioned Illmatic, and Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) so I was in hip-hop heaven.  While there was truly nothing like Nas or Face at this time, there was something special about P.  Again, his voice, delivery, and imagery were those of legend and impact quickly.  Even during his lyrically struggling period, I knew P would get his mojo back because he was just way too talented to settle for average and mediocrity.  Almost immediately, within minutes of being told of his passing, friends and people that knew of my fandom of P instantly checked in on me to see how I was doing, and trust me, I thank them.  My feelings were immediately hurt and I was beyond shocked.

When the music world lost Michael Jackson and Prince, time stood still and we were all in another dimension almost outside of our bodies when the losses of these icons were delivered upon us.  In hip-hop, we were like that when 2Pac and Biggie had died.  Over time, for me personally, I was hurt when Sean P had died, as he was among my true favorites on all of rap.  When Phife died, I was saddened as Tribe made a major contribution to my hip-hop upbringing.  However, P was in my top five or ten of all-time bar none.  This emcee was the master of the opening lines.  Stingers such as his opening to "Shook Ones" or even to "Survival Of The Fittest" ("There's a war going on outside no man is safe from/you can run but you can't hide forever/from these, streets that we done took/you looking with your head down scared to look") or "Quiet Storm" ("I put my lifetime in between the paper's lines") and "Keep It Thoro" ("I break bread, ribs, humid dollar bills") showed that P was in his own lane and nobody was touching him in it.  I mentioned quite a few times already about how vivid his rhymes were.  He should, in all truth, be considered among the greatest storytellers to ever pick up a pen.  Every bit as revered as the likes of Face, Slick Rick, or Raekwon.  On cuts like "Cradle To The Grave", "You Could Never Feel My Pain", or "Nighttime Vultures", he painted pictures so clear that you were basically in the same scenes with him and you got the shivers with the imagery.

This is a loss that will be felt for years to come, much like Pac, Biggie, Phife, Sean, or Guru.  For many, Mobb Deep helped define an era in hip-hop that we may never see again.  When NYC was the epitome of hip-hop and the sounds that came from there were historic and far from trendy.  With the loss of P, there will be another gaping void within the game, as a legend has transcended this life into far greater destinations.  However, here on earth, all we have now are his numerous lyrical offerings that displayed his immense talent.  Shouts to the whole NYC, but more importantly to his family, friends, Havoc, Infamous Mobb, Nas, and any other person that has been deeply affected by this enormous loss.  My daily routine was at least one Mobb or P cut per day within my music rotation.  There will be a ton more than usual this week at the very least, and I have a BUNCH of Mobb and P to hold me down, but no matter how much gets played, it'll never be the same again.  Put one in the air for P and always remember kiddies, ain't no such thing as halfway crooks!