What's the haps folks?! It was hard to match the simply stunning year that 2015 was in terms of quality hip-hop, but 2016 wasn't far off whatsoever. Although we lost another legend in hip-hop with the passing of A Tribe Called Quest's five foot assassin Phife Dawg, the hip-hop that came from that year would surely make him proud and picking up a mic upstairs with God himself. Among those included were his own group's swan song with We Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service, Kendrick's masterful lost tapes album, untitled, unmastered, Kanye's The Life Of Pablo, ScHoolboy Q's blazing Blank Face LP, and Chance The Rapper's stellar gospel-influenced breakout effort, Coloring Book, there were quite a number of projects that were equally as impressive and sonically stimulating. Without further adue, let's get into these efforts shall we?
15. Flatbush Zombies
3001: A Laced Odyssey
Production: Erick "Arc" Elliot
Beast Coast representatives, Flatbush Zombies, are among the most intriguing up-and-coming acts out there. With their mixtapes of D.R.U.G.S. and BetterOffDead earning them a following, they dropped their first full-length album with 3001: A Laced Odyssey to some pretty decent acclaim. The fellas of Arc Elliot, Meechie Darco and Zombie Juice deliver their own brand of drug humor and, at times, thought-provoking anecdotes that exemplify the unique energy of this trio. This was every bit as dope as their mixtape efforts, as well as their collaborative EP with The Underachievers, Clockwork Indigo. The Zombies are ones to watch.
14. T.I.
Us Or Else: Letter To The System
Production: Nottz, Mike & Keys, Lil' C, others
Southern legend T.I. has always been about the trap, while occasionally spitting some jewels for you to digest and reflect upon. With Us Or Else: Letter To The System, he aggressively and bluntly addresses the state of Black America and the injustices that we live with and face daily. With the heartbreaking deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, and many others, along with other issues like gentrification and the judicial system, this is arguably the most important effort of his career. Don't be fooled, there's a lot of knock with this album too. Thumping production with charged, meaningful lyrics equals greatness.
13. Apathy
Handshakes With Snakes
Production: artist
Connecticut's own Apathy has been regarded as one of the most consistent emcees in the underground. Since his days with the Demigodz and Army Of The Pharoahs to his numerous mixtapes, EPs, and solo full-length debut, the flames Eastern Philosophy, Apathy has steadily garnered a cult like following, and rightfully. He returned with his fifth full-length project, Handshake With Snakes. It was more of the same from this charged up emcee. Thunderous production with piercing delivery and in-your-face rhymes. This was another fantastic release from Willimantic's favorite son.
12. Elzhi
Lead Poison
Production: Bombay, 14KT, Kareem Riggins, Oh No, others
One of the most lyrical emcees to emerge from the D (Detroit, that is) is Elzhi. The one time Slum Village member had already established himself in the underground and then got his breakout shine with SV. Once he left the group, he delivered projects such as the instant classic, The Preface, and the unbelievable tribute to Nas' Illmatic, Elmatic. However, during his time away, he was dealing with a rather lengthy bout of depression, and it was evident in his next project, Lead Poison. Although still an overall dope effort, you can tell that the same ferocity we had known was missing, but we did get very honest, soul-bearing rhymes that were both wrenching and brave.
11. Royce 5'9"
Layers
Production: Denaun Porter, Jake One, Nottz, S1, DJ Khalyl, Antman Wonder, others
Sticking with Motor City, one of the lyrical gods of Detroit is Royce 5'9". His extensive catalog may have some sure fire hits such as Street Hop and the brooding Death Is Certain, but lyrically, he's perhaps the most complete technical emcee in the game. His 2016 full-length, Layers, was an autobiographical, honest piece of work that showed more Ryan Montgomery than Royce. The one-time Slaughterhouse member has never been afraid to let us in, and he did so again in excellent fashion.
10. Dave East
Kairi Chanel
Production: Cardo, Buda & Grandz, Mr. Authentic, others
Harlem's Dave East is seen as one of the young up-and-comers looking to put NYC hip-hop back to the forefront. He earned the attention of Nas to be signed to his Mass Appeal label and his debut mixtape under the banner, Hate Me Now, was filled with raw lyrics and heavy street imagery that got him a lot of attention than with prior mixtapes. He followed that up with his 2016 release, Kairi Chanel, named after his daughter. The project is more of the same, only with more conceptual cuts like "Keisha" and cuts filled with urgency like the bangin' yet unfortunate "Don't Shoot". This continued to show that East is definitely among the future greats in the game.
9. Danny Brown
Atrocity Exhibition
Production; Black Milk, The Alchemist, Paul White
Yet another Detroit representative grabbed hip-hop by the throat in 2016. In this case, it was Danny Brown. The quirky, yet highly talented, emcee who was responsible for dropping very dope projects such as XXX and Old delivered the most complex, yet fascinating, album of his career wit Atrocity Exhibition. An eclectic mixture of sounds mixed with warped, drugged-out, and occasionally bizarre lyricism makes for an album that was highly ambitious and intriguing. Brown's niche for bringing us into his own psychedelic world has some oddball moments, but with this album is still a very enjoyable ride.
8. Royce 5'9"
Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter EP
Production: DJ Premier, Antman Wonder, Nottz, Jahlil Beats, AraabMuzik, others
Just before he dropped his Layers LP, Royce 5'9" gave us a hell of an appetizer with his surprise EP, Tabernacle: Trust The Shooter. Folks, this is straight up and down lyricism here. No frills. No chaser. Over top of some sick production from Nottz, AraabMuzik and PRhyme partner, DJ Premier, Royce is in full battle mode here and reestablishes himself as one of the single most dominating mic destroyers in the business. Cuts like "Which Is Cool" and "Dead President Heads" solidify his mark that could legitimately put him among the most underrated emcees of all-time. Talk about God flow.
7. Ab-Soul
Do What Thou Wilt
Production: Digi-Phonics, Wondagurl, FrancisGotHeat, Mike WILL Made It, others
While we all give much props and accolades to TDE's Kendrick, SZA, and ScHoolboy, there's absolutely no way we can forget about Isaiah Rashad, Jay Rock, SiR, Lance Skiiwalker, and especially the stoned thinker, Ab-Soul. Garnering much acclaim from his projects of Longterm Mentality and Control System, Soulo quickly asserted himself on a level critically as high as King Kendrick. While his follow-up, These Days, didn't quite measure up to the greatness of the prior releases, he attempted to get it back with D.W.T.W. (Do What Thou Wilt). This effort was fantastic, as he delved into familiar subjects like drugs, heartbreak, and society frustrations, while also yearning to fully comprehend women and understand their value. A step up from These Days, Soul delivered, and delivered well.
6. NoName
Telefone
Production: Saba, Phoelix, Cam O'bi, Monte Booker
Chi-town emcee Noname got some mainstream notoriety for her guest spots on Chance The Rapper's famed and revered Coloring Book effort. Although not new to the game, her name created more of a buzz to many that may not have known who she was. In comes Telefone, a rather amazing project that lets us know more about the emcee/poet. Over mostly breezy and jazzy soundscapes, Noname lets us into her world of complicated relationships and complex outlooks on life as a whole while discovering and establishing self-worth. Hopefully there's a lot more where this came from. A lot.
5. Apollo Brown & Skyzoo
The Easy Truth
Production: Apollo Brown
Skyzoo is such a technically gifted emcee. Among the most slept-on emcees of the decade. He has consistently dropped tremendous project after tremendous project with efforts like The Salvation, A Dream Deferred, and The Great Debater. In 2016, he collaborated with Detroit production phenom Apollo Brown to deliver, The Easy Truth. With Apollo's sick production pedigree, making insane beats for the likes of Ras Kass, Guilty Simpson, and Westside Gunn, this was a virtual marriage in underground heaven, this was just pure boom bap, lyrical proficiency. Hardly a blemish at all here, Sky and Apollo could very well be among the next producer/emcee duos of the game with more releases like this.
4. Westside Gunn
FLYGOD
Production: Daringer, Camouflage Monk, The Alchemist, Apollo Brown, Tha God Fahim, Statik Selektah, Roc Marciano
Buffalo, NY. No one had ever heard of much hip-hop from this city. That changed with the emergence of Griselda Records. Founder Westside Gunn and his brother Conway made it a mission to make Buffalo the next great NY city. The first major full-length release was the grimy as SHIT debut from Gunna, FLYGOD. Achieving much acclaim with multiple mixtapes and appearances, this debut was as gritty and streetcore as you could imagine. For those that had been missing that gutter trash NYC rap from the nineties like Mobb Deep, C-N-N, Screwball, or even recent acts like Roc Marciano, this is your new addiction.
3. KA
Honor Killed The Samurai
Production: artist
Brownsville veteran KA had dropped highly acclaimed projects such as Grief Pedigree, The Night's Gambit, and 1200 B.C. going into 2016, and his next effort, Honor Killed The Samurai, was more of the same. Jewels upon jewels mixed the vivid nature of the cold streets of NYC, KA methodically gave us an aura of caution and sharp wisdom coupled with dark and bleak tracks that reflect the world he presented.
2. Run The Jewels
RTJ3
Production: El-P
Could hip-hop's most socially angst duo complete the trifecta with an equally momentous album? With Killer Mike and El-P, the answer was a resounding hell yeah. With RTJ3, the album was released as a surprise release near the very end of the year, and it was one of the best post-Christmas gifts a hip-hop head could ask for. On the heels of the most deplorable set of events this generation with the election of Trump as president, they had PLENTY to say, and it was at times ugly, other times painful, but all times necessary. This was an album for the ages.
1. Common
Black America Again
Production: Kareem Riggins, Robert Glaspar
When you have amassed a twenty-five year career like Lonnie Rashid Lynn has had, greatness is attached to you. One of the true modern legends, Common is the man behind truly hallmark moments in the game such as BE, Like Water For Chocolate, and Resurrection, but added to his nearly immaculate discography with perhaps the most important album of his career, Black America Again. Filled with love, pain, pride, and anger, this album reflected Black culture at its most transparent. From the gripping title track with the icon himself Stevie Wonder to the simply beautiful eulogy to his late father "Little Chicago Boy", this was a new benchmark in the already celebrated career of Common.
Honorable Mentions
Ugly Heroes- Everything In Between
Open Mike Eagle & Jack White- Hella Personal Film Festival
Aesop Rock- The Impossible Kid
Mick Jenkins- The Healing Component
A$AP Mob- Cozy Tapes Vol. 1
J DIlla- The Diary
Atmosphere- Fishing Blues
A$AP Ferg- Always Strive And Prosper
Snoop Dogg- Coolaid
Domo Genesis- Genesis
Like- Songs Made While High
Homeboy Sandman- Kindness For Weakness
KAYTRANADA- 99.9%
Pete Rock & Smoke DZA- Don't Smoke Rock
L'Orange & Mr. Lif- The Life & Death Of Scenary
Oddisee- Alwasta EP
Mr. Lif- Don't Look Down
Westside Gunn- There's God and There's FLYGOD...Praise Both (EP)
As you can tell, 2016 was a year that pretty explosive year socially and politically as the music reflected this. While Common, Run The Jewels, and T.I., injustice and hostile society narratives were the story, others like Royce, Elzhi, Noname, and Ab-Soul dropped introspective releases that explored their emotions and thoughts in such transparent fashion. This was definitely an interesting, yet very dope, year of hip-hop.
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