Underrated Albums of 2015

What's good peoples?!  The year of 2015 has been considered the best year within hip-hop this decade music-wise, and rightfully so.  We saw what may be the best album this generation of To Pimp A Butterfly, the landmark sophomore album by Kendrick Lamar, as well as Drake's excellent If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, Dr. Dre's LONG-awaited return with the flammable Compton, Game's phenomenal sequel to his 2005 classic debut, The Documentary, and Lupe Fiasco's best album since his 2007 release, The Cool, Tetsuo & Youth.  Not to mention other stellar releases from Joey Bada$$ and the triumphant return of Scarface.  There was critical acclaim all over the place in 2015, and it was such a time to be a hip-hop fan.  Of course, we also mourned the loss of the legendary Sean Price that summer as well.  Such a blow to the hip-hop community hurt us, but musically, we knew Sean was pleased even in his afterlife.  However, there were other releases that were almost just as acclaimed as the ones you heard and rotated more, and these are the ones we will give love to.  With that said, let's start this simply awesome list.

15. Earl Sweatshirt

I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside

Production: artist, Left Brain

Arguably the most talented, albeit the most enigmatic, ember of the former OFWGKTA was Earl Sweatshirt.  His mixtapes plus appearances on various members projects made him a standout star.  His prior album, Doris, introduced us to his deeply personal and complex world while seeing how very talented this kid was.  He followed it up with the brooding I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside.  Even more personal and introspective than before due to the loss of a close relative and his battles with depression, this was very dark but very insightful.  Earl is among the brightest young emcees in the game, even if sometimes his material is melancholy.

14. Freddie Gibbs

Shadow Of A Doubt

Production: KAYTRANADA, Frank Dukes, Mike Dean, Murda Beatz, Speakerbomb, Boi-1nda, others

Fresh off his career-defining classic with Madlib, Pinata, Gangsta Gibbs dropped Shadow Of A Doubt.  The album was filled with what we usually expect from Gibbs, only varying up his style at a time or two.  Much like prior albums like ESGN, Str8 Killa, and Cold Day In Hell, Gibbs brought the rawness as only he could and it became an album that took him from just a mixtape sensation to a bonafide artist.  Lyrically focused over some tight production, Gibbs' stature was building and building, without being on a major label.

13. Rapper Big Pooh & Apollo Brown

Words Paint Pictures

Production: Apollo Brown

In the wake of the saddening deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland among countless others, former Little Brother member Rapper Big Pooh addressed society's heavy, tense climate on the excellent Words Paint Pictures.  He tackles issues such as racism and police brutality and other societal issues on this release.  Arguably his best project up to this point, Pooh came back from his hiatus in a big time way with this highly dope project with one of the hottest up-and-coming producers around in Apollo Brown.

12. Milo

So The Flies Don't Come

Production:Kenny Segal

Milwaukee emcee Milo is a complex lyricist with a quirky, yet unique, approach to hip-hop.  typically categorized in the alt hip-hop arena, Milo has a sense of humor and eclectic vision for his talent.  Although make no mistake about it, he has a lot of talent.  This is made evident by his album, So The Flies Don't Come.  Often times fascinating and intriguing, Milo delivers aesthetically smart rhymes into his independent thinking.  He is an emcee that requires a lot of listening in order to get the full gist of who he is and where he comes from on an artistic level, but it's worth the ride.

11. Ghostface Killah & BADBADNOTGOOD

Sour Soul

Production: BADBADNOTGOOD

The ever prolific Ghostface Killah had been hitting on all cylinders for the majority of his career, if not his whole career period.  Back to back to back smash releases puts him among hip-hop's true elite.  He followed up his incredible Twelve Reasons To Die and ambitious 36 Seasons with Sour Soul, a collaboration with Canadian jazz production group BADBADNOTGOOD.  As had been the case, the production very nicely suited to Ghost's distinctive style and complimented him damn near perfectly.  Along with guests like Elzhi, Danny Brown and MF DOOM, Big Face Ghost knocks another one out and continues to show why he should rightfully be considered among the legends of the game.

10. Rapper Big Pooh

Home Sweet Home

Production: Nottz

As was previously mentioned, Rapper Big Pooh had reemerged on the scene, but he didn't just drop one project.  Although the aforementioned Words Paint Pictures was the more serious in terms of tone and content, his collaborative effort with highly acclaimed VA beatmaker Nottz, Home Sweet Home, was definitely more flavorful in terms of just good ol' fashioned hip-hop.  While you almost rest assured anything Nottz touches turns to a certified banger, Pooh almost flawlessly glides over each track with ease over some of the most thumping production that year.  What a year for Pooh.

9. Czarface

Every Hero Needs A Villain

Production: 7L

After the critical success and acclaim of their debut self-titled album, the crew of Czarface (7L, Esoteric, and Inspectah Deck) decided to do it again with the release of their follow-yup effort, Every Hero Needs A Villain.  Literally every bit as knocking as their debut effort, this album is cleverly executed with relentless lyricism and quite the blistering production.  Easily a throwback to nineties styled hip-hop, this album also serves a great purpose in today's times as well.  This team was two for two.

8. L'Orange & Jeremih Jae

The Night Took Us In Like Family

Production: L'Orange

One of hip-hop's most brilliant, yet highly slept-on, producers is NC native L'Orange.  His penchant for dramatic, vintage-themed production is borderline breathtaking at times and can be very distinctive.  This was very evidenced on the collaborative effort with LA rapper/producer Jeremiah Jae, The Night Took Us In Like Family.  Thematically, this piece has a scent of dark hip-hop from far earlier eras such as the thirties or forties.  One gets the aural feeling of being in the gangster age in New York during that time period, and  you'll notice how seamlessly each track blends into the next.  This is a dynamite piece of work that will leave you wanting more from them.

7. Skyzoo

Music For My Friends

Production: !llmind, Antman Wonder, Jahlil Beats, Thelonious Martin, Apollo Brown, others

One of the leaders of the new school from Brooklyn is Skyzoo.  Dropping consistent acclaimed mixtapes, EP, and full-lengths, Sky is one whom you would consider an emcee's emcee.  His focus on being honest and letting you into his world is refreshing and at times quite captivating.  With his third full-length album, Music For My Friends, Sky brings us into his adolescence much like The Game did on his stellar 1992 album.  With simply fantastic production from the likes of frequent collaborator !llmind, Apollo Brown, and Thelonious Martin, Sky effortlessly owns each beat he's on.  Conceptually, musically, and lyrically, Sky hit another home run with this one.

6. Ghostface Killah & Adrien Younge

Twelve Reasons To Die II

Production: Adrien Younge

When emcees attempt to deliver sequels to major efforts, they can be hit or miss.  For every Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2, there's a Blueprint 2.   Fortunately that was not the case with Twelve Reasons To Die II, the sequel to Ghostface's knockout album Twelve Reasons To Die.  Scored and produced once again by Adrien Younge and narrated by RZA, Ghost is not done raising hell on those who killed him in the first installment.  With more co-stars with him such as Chino XL, Vince Staples, and his Wu brother Raekwon, this latest version is every bit as intriguing and visually stunning as its predecessor.  Will Ghost ever lose? Don't bank on it.

5. Big K.R.I.T.

It's Better This Way

Production: artist

After packing up and leaving Def Jam, K.R.I.T. went back to the indie route and dropped another critical darling of a mixtape, It's Better This Way.  Every bit as soulful as previous efforts, K.R.I.T. is at a crossroads on this release, as evidenced by the cover art.  It's this paradox and ambiguity that K.R.I.T. wrestles with on this project, which makes this even more orf a project to peep.  His honest duality and complexity is very human at this stage in his career and we're just elated we get to hear him bear it all to us.

4. Vince Staples

Summertime '06

Production: No I.D.

Long Beach emcee Vince Staples had been much the buzz from his appearances on Earl Sweatshirt's Doris to his own Def Jam debut EP, Hell Can Wait.  It was time to deliver his debut full-length, Summertime '06, which was a double album filled with flames.  An overall dark yet lyrically gifted project, Staples details his life in the streets letting us in to his one time world of gangs and violence.  The world outside his window wasn't pretty and with knockers like "Street Punks" and the DOPE "Summertime", Staples secured his place as one of hip-hop's brightest newcomers.

3. Joe Budden

All Love Lost

Production: AraabMuzik, Boi-1nda, Vinylz, others

Joe Budden is quite the polarizing emcee.  While most won't dispute his verbal and lyrical talents, it's his antics away from the mic that have made him gain almost as many detractors as fans.  However, musically, the one time Slaughterhouse member has been delivering some fairly dope efforts such as Padded Room and definitely Some Love Lost.  However, he hit a career high with All Love Lost.  Unquestionably the most personal and honest we've ever heard him, Budden bares his soul like never before and it comes off equally troubling and refreshing.  Jersey Joe put his pride to the side and let us into his personal diary and the result was a career hallmark.

2. Oddisee

The Good Fight

Production: artist

DMV native Oddisee has often times been overlooked when it comes to up-and-coming stars within hip-hop.  The Diamond District member has dropped some very dope efforts, but it was his seventh solo album, The Good Fight, where he finally see him come into his own.  An exceptional piece of work, Oddisee dropped a jewel of an album that was relatable to the common man and those just trying to maintain out here in the world.  The epitome of not giving up and living dreams, Oddisee emphasizes that off and on throughout this effort and it's so very needed.

1. Scarface

Deeply Rooted

Production: N.O.Joe, Mike Dean, Nottz, others

The ever legendary Brad Jordan.  Known for being among the most influential emcees to ever grace a mic, Face dropped his first album in seven years with Deeply Rooted.  His best album since his seminal classic The Fix in '05, Face shows once again why he's been such a big part in helping mold the careers of cats like Ludacris, T.I., and Bun B, while garnering massive respect from the likes of Jay, Nas, and The Game.  Tackling social issues, dropping jewels. and reminding everyone just who's the hardest of the hard is what Face is about on this album.  This was classic Scarface, and this was so very welcomed.

Honorable Mentions

MED, Blu, & Madlib- Bad Neighbor
Conway The Machine- Reject 2

Kirk Knight- Late Knight Special

Tyler The Creator- Cherry Bomb

Canibal Ox- Blade Of The Ronin

The Underachievers- Evermore: The Art Of Duality

Dizzy Wright- The Growing Process

Donald Trump & The Social Experiement- Surf

Death Grips- The Powers That B

Mick Jenkins- Wave(s)

Talib Kweli & 9th Wonder- Indie 500

Raury- All We Need
Statik Selektah- Lucky 7
Dr. Yen Lo- Days With Dr. Yen Lo
Georgia Anne Maldrow- A Thoughtiverse Unmarred
Quelle Chris- Innocent Country
Mello Music Group- Persona
Pete Rock- Petestrumentals 2

What a hell of a year 2015 was in hip-hop. We had some very triumphant highs and some heartbreaking lows, but this was among the best hip-hop years of the decade.  Underdogs rose to the occasion and crews such as Pro Era showed their potency among some of hip-hop's true finest.  It would be hard pressed to find a better year (besides the prior year) than 2015, and for good reason.  Until next time folks!