What's happening good people! After a somewhat sluggish first half of the year, once June hit, stuff started being more consistent, and with it, more bangers came out the gates. While there were no releases from heavyweights such as Drake, Jay, or Em, there were incredible releases from Freddie Gibbs, Eve, the Griselda crew, and Brother Ali among many others became the talk of the game, while heartfelt returns from Little Brother and one final Gangstarr album tugged at our heartstrings in such a great hop-hop way. This has ended up being a fantastic year, and thus this was a hard list to compile, but here we go. Strap in and let's take off.
30. Joell Ortiz
Monday
Production: Apollo Brown, Nottz, The Heatmakerz, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, others
We go back to Brooklyn with Joell Ortiz. The former Slaughterhouse member has been bringing consistent heat over the last few years especially with releases like Human, House Slippers, and last year's crazy, Mona Lisa. You can add his 2019 offering, Monday, to the list. One can rank this album among the dopest albums he's ever constructed. Lyrically, he remains as strong as ever and presents uneasy, yet refreshing vulnerability at times, and other times presents gritty street narratives and vintage Ortiz slapping. When you're finished listening to Monday, you'll have great Friday feelings.
29. Little Sims
Grey Area
Production: Inflo
One particularly standout UK hip-hop talent is Little Sims. This young emcee, who's been co-signed by the likes of Kendrick Lamar, has been under the radar to many American fans. Her new album, Grey Area, is a bit more different than previous albums of hers, in that this one is strikingly more vulnerable. Trying to find one's place in the world, much less within relationships, is a chore in itself, but trying to make sense of the good and bad is yet another tumultuous task. Little Sims does what is always welcomed in this game: be honest. Cuts like "Therapy", "Offence", and "Venom" demonstrate her need to express her story in such bold and unapologetic fashion that we are all the better from peeping this excellent album.
28. EarthGang
Mirrorland
Production: J Cole, Childish Major, Bink!, DJ Dahi, ELITE, Groove, Malik, Rahki, others
Among the most anticipated albums of the year was the debut full-length Dreamville debut of EarthGang. After delivering a number of EPs, critically acclaimed ones at that, Olu and WowGr8 dropped Mirrorland, and we were all delightfully pleased with the outcome. Draped in southern-lore and culture, this was an album with eclectic influences, but nonetheless was a great dedication to how they see Atlanta. Whether it's the good or not-so-good, it's the world these young emcees dwell in, but nonetheless cuts like "Swivel" and "Top Down" are standouts among the several that define this album. Keep your Outkast comparisons, EarthGang are creating a lane all their own.
27. Boogie
Everything's For Sale
Production: S1, STREETRUNNER, Ashton McCreight, Fresh Ayre, others
Shady Records has definitely undergone a transition over the years. From harboring acts such as 50, D-12, Cashis, Stat Quo and Bobby Creekwater to Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf to basically no artists, Shady has been in a need for new talent to keep the label afloat. Besides the Griselda crew (sans Benny), here comes Compton native, Boogie. Ever since his excellent spot in the Shady cypher of the 2018 BET hip-Hop Awards, Boogie has been the next up to handle his business, and his Shady debut, Everything's For Free, he comes correct throughout the whole album. Displaying rawness and honesty, Boogie shows his ability to draw us into his flaws while showing he's still human and will eventually establish personal growth. In much the same breath as albums such as Under Pressure or even Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, he's a tremendous mind in fucked up situations. His future in this game, however, looks very damn good.
26. Nas
The Lost Tapes 2
Production: Swizz Beats, RZA, Kanye West, Pete Rock, Statik Selektah, DJ Dahi, DJ Khalyl, No I.D., Pharrell Williams
For years we had been waiting for a follow-up to Nas' unbelievable classic, The Lost Tapes. With a slew of full-length releases since then such as Hip-Hop Is Dead, Street's Disciple, Untitled, and Life Is Good, the question is "When would see LT2?" One of the true GOATs finally delivered, and was quite the project. Many would argue this was a step down from the first one, but regardless of comparisons, this is a great stand alone album. Recorded during the Life Is Good, Untitled, Nasir, and HHID times, these were tremendous jewels that in some cases would've made these albums even better. Cuts like the somber "Queensbridge Politics", the triumphant "Beautiful Life", and the alarming "War Against Love" are defining examples of the greatness Nas still possesses. While many have been wanting to write Nas off since Nasir, this album shows he still has plenty more left in the tank to make cats understand he still never sleeps.
25.Your Old Droog
It Wasn't Even Close
Production: Daringer, Sahdu Gold, Roc Marciano, Tha God Fahim, Evidence, others
What a year for Brooklyn native, Your Old Droog. He put out three albums this year and they've all been knocking. Perhaps the coldest of all of these projects is first offering, It Wasn't Even Close. Still nagging around are those pesky Nas comparisons, but he's still showing he can hold his own to be respectfully be mentioned in the same breath at the GOAT emcee. With blistering production from the likes of Fahim, Roc Marci, and Griselda's in-house heavyweight, Daringer, this serves as an album with fairly dark, gritty production (Mach Hommy executive produces this effort so that explains the overall aura of this album), but he float and stings lyrically all over this crazy effort. Droog can damage any track he's virtually on, but with It Wasn't Even Close, as with his other albums this year, you might say he's still "not even close" to the potential this Brooklynite possesses to be among hip-hop's elite. Don't take that as a diss because with cuts like "Bubble Hill", "Smores", and "Ugly Truth", the game needs to catch up with him, not the other way around.
24. YBN Cordae
The Lost Boy
Production: J. Cole, Bongo, Cardiak, G Koop, Terrace Martin, others
In what has to be considered one of the true surprises of the year, YBN representative Cordae delivered a very damn good effort this year. The NC-turned-DMV resident dropped The Lost Boy on us,and while some were expecting your usual youthful braggadocio, at times incoherent lyrics over syruppy trap production instead was treated to down to earth themes with a refreshing display of very promising talent on his debut. We first got a glimpse of him with his response record to J. Cole's "1982" cut from K.O.D., and with cuts like "Long Time Coming", "Broke As Fuck", and the very catchy duet with Anderson.Paak "RNP", it's clear that response cut was just a small sign of things to come. In this Gen-Z era of baseless, drug-infested, Soundcloud-aimed rap, Cordae possesses an old soul, and a genuine love of the hip-hop that is current as well as the hip-hop before him. With The Lost Boy, the general consensus is bye YBN Nahmir, the new leader of YBN gang is Cordae.
23. Conway The Machine
Look What I Became
Production: The Alchemist, Daringer, DJ Muggs, Statik Selektah, JR Swiftz, others
Not any other crew has had the come up in 2019 more than those Buffalo kids, Griselda Records. With release after release, it was clear the Griselda takeover was in effect more than ever. One particularly hot album that came from them this year came from the mighty Conway with Look What I Became. From the initial single, the creepy piano-looped "Tito's Back" with fellow Griselda rhyme animal (and cousin) Benny, we knew the rest of the project wouldn't be far behind this track, and folks, it was not. Fueled off his acclaimed Everybody Is F.O.O.D. series, Look What I Became continues to show The machine evolving into more of a human and not just sadistic killer. While experimenting with southern bounce on the track "Half Of it" and going the somewhat heartfelt route on "You Made It", he still stays tried and true with in-your-face cuts like "No Woman, No Kids", "Black Spoons", and "Hawks", which appeals to the hardcore Griselda fanbase. If this is even a SLIGHT precursor to his Shady debut, God Makes No Mistakes, 2020 will be another insane year for The Machine and for Griselda as a whole.
22. L'Orange & Jeremiah Jae
Complicate Your Life With Violence
Production: L'Orange
In 2015, NC producer, L'Orange collaborated with Chi-town emcee Jeremiah Jae to deliver the stellar, The Night Took Us In Like Family. It was an album that put you in the 40s or 50s of gangsters and how hip-hop would based around that time of underworld society. You could sense the dusty black and white images as you're listening. Similarly, their new effort, Complicate Your Life Of Violence, conjures up images of how war and violence can make a man turn insane just for the sake of...well...war and violence. The usual dynamite usage of samples from L'Orange are put to magnificent use once again all over this very dark effort. Jeremiah, on the other hand, does an excellent part in being the narrator of a world gone mad, especially on cuts like "Behavior Report" and "Catch 22", which are a couple of the most sobering cuts you'll find this year. This new effort from these two is not an easy listen, but much like Pharoahe Monch's P.T.S.D., it deals with the aftermath of war and how it effects the mind long after the war is over. In fact, the internal war has just begun.
21. Common
Let Love
Production: Kareem Riggins, J Dilla
After an incredible album in 2017 with Black America Again, and his debut with Robert Glasper and Kareem Riggins as August Greene last year, Common is back with another solo offering in the form of Let Love (which is named after his memoir as well). The mid-forties Chi-town legend is all about the big 'L' word in this album. While many have scoffed that this album is dry or boring in terms of texture, this album is also strictly for the grown that want and need a mature break from the rah-rah of today. Among his most personal efforts, he delves into areas such as molestation ("Memories Of Home"), rebuilding his relationship with his daughter ("Show Me That You Love Me"), and the love of God ("God Is Love"), while generally encompassing how he views the world should love more. While BAA and the August Greene projects were about unity while letting our presence be known as a culture, Let Love is a call to bring love back. Lounge hip-hop it may be, but the vibe and spirit of this album is a relaxing breath of fresh air in the midst of the chaos our world and generation is currently living in.
20. Bun B & Statik Selektah
TrillStatik
Production: Statik Selektah
Boston's residential DJ/beat monster Statik Selektah took a trip down south to collaborate with different southern artists this year. One of which was the legendary Bun B. With TrillStatik, this is a surprisingly crazy match in hip-hop heaven. Ever since we heard RIP up Premo's "Let 'Em Know" on his dumb dope album, Trill O.G., plus his appearances on a number of Statik Selektah albums, we knew it was only a matter of time. The results are outstanding, as this effort shows that the O.G. is still as lyrically sharp as a dusty razor and with Statik providing his soundscape, this could be considered one of Bun's best outings. Along with east coast contemporaries such as Westside Gunn, Fat Joe, Pro Era and Method Man, Bun is still as trill as it gets.
19. Westside Gunn
FLYGOD Is An Awesome God
Production: Daringer, The Alchemist, Madlib, DJ Muggs, Sahdu Gold, JR Swiftz, others
While we eagerly await Westside Gunn's Shady debut (which may or may not FLYGOD 2), we got blessed with another full-length project to serve us until that happens. With FLYGOD is An Awesome God, this is the follow-up to his SICK 2018 offering, Supereme Blientele, and it damn picks up where he left off. One thing Gunn has going for him is his incredible ear for beats, as this album stands among the most crazy produced albums of 2019, but lyrically, Gunn is still as gutter as ever. While never claiming to be on the level as Con or Benny, he holds his own on cuts like "Bautista", "Lunchin'", and the true highlight of the album, the ungodly Madlib-powered, "Gunnlib", which aches for a whole collaborative effort from them (which BTW he confirmed will happen in 2020). Once you put aside his trademark adlibs and sound effects, Gunn isn't a terrible emcee, but more than that, he's a visionary for his crew. With FLYGOD Is An Awesome God, Gunn helps to keep the Griselda brand atop of the game with more superior quality and a freshness that core fans can't get enough of.
18. Danny Brown
uknowhatimsayin
Production: Q-Tip, Flying Lotus, Paul White, JPEGMafia, others
uknowhatimsayin
Production: Q-Tip, Flying Lotus, Paul White, JPEGMafia, others
One of the most intriguing emcees in the game is Detroit's Danny brown. known for his drug rantings and bizarre rhymes (although very talented), Brown has been quite a draw for this decade. Albums such as XXX, ODB, and especially the eccentric classic Atrocity Exhibition have pulled Brown from obscurity to a rapidly growing fan base everywhere you look. His latest offering, uknowhatimsayin, has him switching up almost a full 180-degrees. He cut his hair, became sober, and as a result, he's presented us with an album that truly unlocks a lot of the untapped potential we knew Brown possessed. Perhaps this was also due to the fact that hip-hop legend Q-Tip executive produced the project, thus giving it vibes of mid-nineties Tribe, but with brown's penchant style dazzled all over it. From the moment you hear the first single "Dirty Laundry", you know you're in for some hilarious bars and quirky humor from the Detroit native. This reflects the majority of the album with standouts like the Run The Jewels collab "3 Tearz", "Combat", and "Best Life". Brown is an emcee full of ambiguity, but with projects like this, he's evolving into more of a complete man who still loves to have fun.
17. Brother Ali
Secrets & Escapes
Production: Evidence
With a discography that could rival or surpass some of your favorite rapper's favorite rappers, Minnesota's Brother Ali made a surprising return with his out of the blue effort, Shadows & Escapes. Produced entirely by Evidence, this album knocks folks. KNOCKS. While not the spellbinding moment of albums like Shadows Of The Sun, Undisputed Truth, or Us, this is still an album that needs to be considered among nhis best works. Ali is noticeably more sullen here, as it seems that there's a lot on his mind and he spits at times filled with vigor and intensity and other times with melancholy in his voice. Withstanding that, cuts like the honest title track with Talib Kweli, the crazy collab with Pbharoahe Monch "Situated", and the simply outstanding "Father Figure" all exemplify Ali's ability to capture your attention with his vivid imagery and the passion he exudes. The musical marriage between Evidence and Ali is more than welcomed, and we need to see a lot more of this partnership.
16. Murs, 9th Wonder, & The Soul Council
The Illiad Is Over & The Oddyssey Is Dead
Production: 9th Wonder & The Soul Council
One more time, Cali's Murs gets back up with producer-in-crime 9th Wonder to deliver another fantastic effort in the form of The Illiad Is Over & The Oddyssey Is Dead. A few years after delivering The Final Adventure, the itch came to get back together, and this time it isn't just 9th, but his entire Soul Council team of E. Jones, Eric G, Nottz, and Khrysis to provide the appropriate soundscape for Murs. Murs with the Council sounds as fresh as any other project he's done with 9th, and much like the prior efforts, his storytelling abilities are fairly top notch here on cuts like "SIN" and "My Hero", while also maintaining his usual dose of fun on cuts like "Give Me A Reason" (which puts the begging-man-aesthetic to new levels) and "Cancun '08". Despite a misstep or two, this is yet another great addition to the tremendous discography these two have delivered over the years, and now with the rest of The Soul Council on board, this was quite an exciting release.
15. SOL Development
SOL Of Black Folk
Production: artist
When Common dropped Black America Again, it was seen as a fiery yet emotional call-to-arms about our place in a Trump-divided country. With the group SOL Development, this group takes the spirit of Black America Again and raises the bar with their debut album, SOL Of Black Folk. In a word, this album is powerful. While albums like the aformentioned BAA, along with others like Soul Food, Genocide & Juice, Let's get Free, or even Straight outta Compton to a degree, this is as emotionally raging as it is educational. Cuts like "helicopter" and "Brother" are so gripping that you will be left in awe by song's end, while others like "No Indictment" and "She Complied" are so filled with education and angst that it's impossible to not react or feel to these cuts. This group on one emcee and three singers has presented quite likely the most important album not just in 2019, but definitely one of the most socially vital albums in many years. SOL Of Black Folk isn't just for the Black and proud, but the Black, proud, and aware.
14. billy woods & Kenny Segal
Hiding Place
production: Kenny Segal
It's no secret that that NYC rhymer billy woods is a complex emcee. Talent is tremendous, but his outlook of the world around him is unique and at times pretty grim. This was especially evident on albums like Known Unknowns and Today I Wrote Nothing. However, on his collaborative effort with L.A.-based producer Kenny Segal, Hiding Place, he goes into an even more grim and brutally honest look at the life that he lives daily and what he feels the future holds. It's a jarring album, even more than usual, and that's exactly how woods wants it. He gets disturbingly nonchalant about his bleak future on "bigfakelaugh", while "spongebob" is an all-too-familiar look at how our current problems eventually tend to put us in a fuck-it type of mindstate, pretty much validating the pessimism already happening in your daily life. This is billy woods' most gripping album, but also his most incredible.
13. Westside Gunn
Hitler Wears Hermes 7
Production: The Alchemist, Daringer, Statik Selektah, JR Swiftz, Green Lantern, others
The Griselda truck rolls right along with Gunn's continuation of his Hitler Wears Hermes mixtape series. Having just released the aforementioned FLYGOD Is An Awesome God full-length album just a few months earlier, he kept his foot on our necks once again with HLH7, which if possible is even harder than FIAAG. With brutal production from the likes of Statik Selektah, Alchemist, JR Swiftz, and in-house beatmaker Daringer, Gunn continues to stick to his formula of gritty street rhymes and his traditional ad-libs. He didn't reinvent the wheel with this release, nor is there an incredible need for it right now. With tracks like the ominous "Size 42", "Connie's Son", and "Undertaker vs. Goldberg", his formula is simple: if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Definitely among the best of the HLH series, Gunn is in his comfort zone and to his core audience, that's suits them just fine. At least the music sounds damn good underneath his tried and true formula. Griselda wins again.
12. Mach Hommy
WON Konn Joj (EP)
Production: The Alchemist, Nicholas Craven, Tha God Fahim, Earl Sweatshirt
The ever allusive Mach Hommy returned with his first solo outing in a few years when he dropped a surprise EP for us, WON Konn Joj (Google it to see what the meaning is). While we've been so used to hearing Mach alongside the likes of Tha God Fahim, Your Old Droog, and a few others, the former Griselda-associate is one of the most interesting emcees out. This EP is filled with tremendous samples and excellent production from the likes of Alchemist, Fahim, and Nicholas Craven, who comprised the hypnotic "Mozambique Drill". His penchant for rhyming in different languages, notably his native tongue of French and Creole from his Haitian ancestry, is here, but the talent of Hommy continues to make people want to know more about this rather enigmatic emcee. If you were ever able to cop his most prized album, H.B.O. (Hatian Body Odor), you know how talented this guy is. Expect more of the same here, if not more so.
11. Damani Nkosi & Ill Camille are HARRIET
HARRIET
Production: Wayne Valentine, Jake Milliner, DK The Producer, others
One of the best hip-hop albums this entire decade belongs to west coast representative Damani Nkosi and his album, Thoughtful King. Filled with jazzy soundscapes with minimal to no explicit language, it was an album that was accessible without being corny and was among the most refreshing albums you'd ever wanna hear during this era. He returns about six years after that album with another talented west coast emcee, Ill Camille to become HARRIET. Their self-titled debut brings forth a spirit much like their namesake, Harriet Tubman. One of freedom, liberation, and being Black and proud. Over very good production by the likes of Jake Milliner and DK The producer, this album mixes west coast bounce with live instrumentation fit for lounge cafes and coffee shops, without putting you to sleep. With the prior review and high praise of SOL of Black Folks, HARRIET brings a coming together of the Black man and woman in an effort to celebrate our uniqueness and our need to have each other's back in the face of today's climate. Cuts like "SOL Train", "Native Son", and "Euphoria" are all examples of the type of songs we as a culture need to embrace more universally. Much like we said SOL Of Black Folks was a necessity, this is just as much one as well.
10. Skyzoo & Pete Rock
Retropolitan
Production: Pete Rock
Brooklyn's Skyzoo has among the most consistent and delightful discographies in hip-hop. Not a single effort of his has been even close to sub-par. From his days with 9th with Cloud 9 to his most recent effort, the widely acclaimed, In Celebration Of Us, S-k-Y-Z-O-O is an emcee's emcee with a crazy catalog of quality albums. You can now add his collaborative effort with the legendary Pete Rock to it with Retropolitan. Never short on the boom-bap approach, PR brings his best foot forward with this one and it brings some of the best bars from Sky to date. always wrapped in vintage 90s NYC allure, cuts like "It's All Good", "Penny Jerseys", and the massive posse cut with Griselda and Elzhi "Eastern Conference All-Stars", this is a feel good album to those who are those stuck in the 90s cats that just want that feel good boom bap. PR and Sky have your fix.
9. J. Cole & Dreamville
Revenge Of The Dreamers III
Production: J. Cole, T-Minus, Bink!, Elite, Christo, others
J. Cole's Dreamville Records imprint is a label that's been bubbling for some years now. Talent was clear on the label, but it had struggled to get a lot of nationwide notoriety. That has changed over the past couple of years with the signings of Queens emcee Bas, L.A. native Cozz, and especially Atlanta-signee J.I.D. Late in 2018, Cole also signed highly sought after free agents EarthGang, thus expanding the family even more. Capitalizing off all the building talent he was bringing in, Cole dropped the third installment of his Revenge of The Dreamers albums. This one is undoubtedly the most knocking. From the jump, the opening track "Under The Sun" (featuring an uncredited hook from Kendrick Lamar) puts you SLAP in with scintillating bars and deliveries from Cole and Charlotte natives Lute and one of 2019's hottest new acts Dababy. From there, it's a mixture of styles, sounds, and vibes throughout here, thus really giving the album a family feel. Excellent showings by the label acts themselves, along with outside guests such as King Mez, Saba, Buddy, and T.I., make this album one of the best label compilation albums to come along in years.
8. Add-2
Jim Crow: The Musical
Production: Jodah Arrington, Disrupt, Surplus, Slot-A, others
Former Jamla artist, Chicago native Add-2, is a skilled young artist. His debut album, Prey For The Poor, showed an emcee with promise and good vision to match his pen game. However, now he's an indie artist, and from it has come one of the decade's most unbelievable efforts, Jim Crow: The Musical. Similar to perhaps the best album of the decade, To Pimp A Butterfly, Jim Crow is a stunning narrative (provided by A Different World star Kadeem Hardison) that highlights the various struggles of Blacks in AmeriKKKa and how we have yet to fully emerge from these issues. Powerful, gripping, and definitely alarming, Add-2 pulls no punches and takes his gloves off when addressing issues such as police brutality, racism, and how we are depicted on mainstream media. With cuts like "Hashtag", "Young Niggaz", and "Back In The Day", you're in for a ride of mixed emotions but insightful imagery, as this album has made Andre Daniels a newfound voice in woke hip-hop.
7. Gangstarr
One Of The Best Yet
Production: DJ Premier
Hip-hop lost a seminal figure in 2010 when we lost the incomparable Keith "Guru" Elam to Myaloma. For years, heads were wondering if there was any left behind material from Preme and Guru. Questions were finally answered almost a decade later when Premo dropped "Family & Loyalty" with J. Cole and stated that a Gangstarr album was coming. Turns out Preme got his hands on lost and uncovered (to the public) Guru verses and we now have One Of The Best Yet. While we often scoff at posthumous albums, as they tend to sound posthumous, this album legitimately sounds like an entirely new Gangstarr album. The mixing of this album is impeccable and Guru's verses sound as if they were just recorded. This is an exemplary Gangstarr album that sounds like it's definitely up to 2019 standards. Even longtime Gangstarr Foundation members such as Jeru, Group Home, and Big Shug make appearances here to give it even more of a vintage feel. Folks, this is quite frankly one of the best GS albums to date, and while it's bittersweet that this may truthfully be the very last Gangstarr album, it at least will go out on one HELL of a high note. Gangstarr indeed remains..."One of the best yet"
6. Benny The Butcher
The Plugs I Met (EP)
Production: Daringer, The Alchemist, Beat Butcha, DJ Shay
The year of Griselda continues with the residential "shooter" of the Griselda gang, Benny The Butcher. Following up what was arguably the strongest Griselda album of 2018, Tana Talk 3, comes its companion piece, the seven track slapper, The Plugs I Met. Benny's dose of harsh realities mixed with distinct brand of ice-cold street narratives of hustling, drug sales, and unfortunate harm to those who cross him make this EP every bit as incredible as TT3. Over seminal production from Daringer, Alchemist, and Beat Butcha, Benny continues to elevate his name amongst hip-hop circles as a top tier emcee. With talks of Tana Talk 4 coming along with a collab album with Conway, Benny The Butcher's star power is only continuing to shine brighter and brighter.
5. Apollo Brown
Sincerely, Detroit
Production: artist
Over the past several years, a year doesn't go by without at least one Apollo Brown project. His recent efforts with the likes of Ras Kass (Blasphemy), Joell Ortiz (Mona Lisa) O.C. (Trophies), Guilty Simpson (Dice Roll), and Skyzoo (The Pretty Truth) are considered among the best projects of their respective years. This year's offering is his own compilation, Sincerely, Detroit, which brings together all up-and-coming Detroit emcees, as well as certified veterans such as Royce, Quelle Chris, Denmark Vessey, Trick Trick, Elzhi, and Black Milk. Apollo's production is quite frankly the center stage here, as his brand of sample-heavy, vocal-wailing production is as strong as ever here, especially on tracks like the CRAZY "Commas & Apostrophe's", "Stopwatch", and "Break The Code". However, on cuts like "All Day" and "365", he steps out that realm and provides with boom-bapish production that's eerily reminiscent of Dilla work. Don't get it twisted: every artist came to play here and for the most part, they all stepped up and succeeded. Apollo, however, is just on another level, and it's criminal that he's not mentioned among our current generations hardest producers. Hopefully, with Sincerely, Detroit, that changes.
4. Little Brother
May The Lord Watch
Production: Khrysis, Nottz, Black Milk, Focus, others
When the trio of Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder broke up at the beginning of the decade, it was basically a big blow to the collective gut of hip-hop. One of the best acts in the game broken up much like their heroes A Tribe Called Quest had done in the late nineties. After solo albums from Phonte and Pooh, plus 9th becoming one of the biggest names in music, it took the death of Phife Dawg in '16 to bring about a reunion of the three...or so it seemed. While 9th decided to not be a part of it, Pooh and Phonte continued on as a duo and delivered their first album since '10's Leftback, May The Lord Watch. Sounding refreshed and reinvigorated, Pooh and Phonte get back to what it's all about: the music. Based around the fictional UBN channel and the death of Phonte's R&B alter-ego Percy Miracles, LB delivers fun hip-hop that reminds us of why they were such a fantastic group in the first place. With production from Black Milk, Nottz, and longtime contributor Khrysis, May The Lord Watch is one of those albums that makes you feel good the moment 'play' is pushed. Lyrically, they're as strong as ever and on cuts like "Good Morning Sunshine", "Right On Time", and "All In A Day", the EPMD-esque chemistry they possess is completely back. With word of their being more new music to come, it's safe to say quality hip-hop is in great hands again with the likes of Little Brother.
3. Griselda
WWCD
Production: Daringer, Beat Butcha
The year of Griselda came to a close with perhaps not only the hardest album of the year, but one of the hardest albums this decade has had to offer. The much anticipated collab album between the three headed monster of Griselda, Westside Gunn, Conway, and Benny finally dropped and it was their Shady debut as well. Their debut album, WWCD (What Would ChineGunn Do- named after the late brother of Benny and Gunn and Conway's cousin), is a legit kick to the nuts to all those that thought that because they were signed to Shady that any dose of rawness would be sacrificed. This album is screwface ugly. You can virtually smell the gunpowder as soon as you peep the first single, "Dr. Birds". Furthermore, the album was done sample-free by Daringer and Beat Butcha, complete with some of the grimiest production you'll hear in this current age of hip-hop. While Benny is the clear lyrical star here, Conway is definitely the Beanie to Benny being Jay. Gunn doesn't come wack on here either folks. He hangs here, but with his brother and cousin killing the mic here, this three-some could rival any supergroup we've seen over the past few years, from Slaughterhouse to Random Axe. Cuts like "Scotties", "Chef Dreads", and "May Store" are just as remorseless as they are relentless. Even the 50 Cent-guested "City On The Map" brought out a 50 we haven't heard in almost ages. While the Eminem guest on the remix to "Bang" was totally unnecessary, WWCD is brutal. This is the album longtime Griselda heads have been waiting for and it was one hundred thousand percent worth the wait. Griselda is here kiddies!
2. Rapsody
Eve
Production: 9th Wonder & The Soul Council
Snow Hill, NC's Rapsody came into her long overdue own with her MAGICAL 2016 offering, Leila's Wisdom. The Grammy nominated album was the peak of what was a consistently grinding career and it delivered a legit instant classic. Well...at least we thought that was her peak. In comes this year's offering Eve, which is a themed album dedicated to Black women everywhere and the influence they have on society and the world. With titles such as "Cleo", "Aaliyah", Harriet", and "Afeni", it's clear the cuts are in the spirit of the ones the cuts are named after. Highlighting all the joys, strengths, and struggles within Black women, Rapsody's unapologetic approach to the celebration of the Black queen is as inspiring as it ambitious. Plus she does so without having to relentlessly unnecessarily slander Black men throughout the album. A masterwork in it's own right just like Leila's Wisdom, if not more so, Rapsody has provided the soundtrack every Black woman needs, and every Black man needs to respect.
1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
Bandana
Production: Madlib
In 2014, the game was blessed with one of the most incredible albums of the '10s with Pinata, a much hyped collaboration album between Indiana's Freddie Gibbs, and underrated hip-hop production genius, Madlib. Compared to Madvillainy as it's "gangsta cousin", Pinata was a bleak, vicious collection of drug-laced, violent imagery that Gibbs easily flowed over with some extraordinary production. Fast forward to 2019 and they reunite to deliver the much anticipated, Bandana, the second in the trilogy between them. The chemistry is exactly the same as before if not better. While Gibbs is till his brutal, hard self, he has also done a bit of growing up (a lot of tat could be contributed from the sexual assault case he had earlier this year), thus there's now more of a method to his madness. Cuts like "Education", "Situations" and "Gat Damn" are more introspective in nature, while others like "Massage Seats" and "Practice" are more dichotomy from him. The production Madliberator provides is a lot more intricate and strategic than Pinata. It's like the music literally guides you along for Gibbs narratives to imperfectly glide over. Madlib is truly a mad genius, while Gibbs is one of the best this generation has to offer. This ladies and gentlemen is a complete masterwork, and this is an album that will be discussed among the best of our time.
Honroiable Mentions
Earl Sweatshirt- Feet Of Clay (EP)
DJ Muggs & Tha God Fahim- Dump Assassins
DJ Muggs & Mach Hommy- Tuez-Les Tous
DJ Muggs & Mach Hommy are Kill 'Em All- Kill 'Em All
DJ Muggs & Eto- Hell's Roof
Smif-N-Wessun- The All
Black Moon- The Moon Has Rizen
2 Chainz- Rap Or Go To The League
PIVOTGang- You Can't Sit With Us
Czarface & Ghostface Killah- Czarface Meets Ghostface Killah
Quelle Chris- Guns
Blu & Exile- True & Livin'
Tyler The Creator- IGOR
Conway The Machine- EIF3
Sean Price & Lil' Fame- The Price Of Fame
Big K.R.I.T.- K.R.I.T. Iz Here
Clear Soul Forces- Soul
O.C.- The O-Zone Files
Epic Beard Men- This Was Supposed To Be Fun
The Good People- Good For Nothin'
DJ Muggs & CRIMEAPPLE- Madallo
A.J. Munson- Cigarettes & Coffee
Inspectah Deck- Chamber #9
Jim Jones- El Capo
Ras Kass- Soul On Ice 2
Dope Knife- Things Got Worse
Benny The Butcher & Smoke DZA- Statue Of Limitations (EP)
Black Milk- DIVE
Blu & Oh No- A Long Hot Summer Night In Los Angeles
JPEGMafia- All My Heroes Are Cornballs
Anti Lilly & Phoniks- That's The World
Paul Wall & Statik Selektah- Give Thanks
David Bars- The Bar Code (EP)
The Game- Born 2 Rap
Roc Marciano- Marcielago
Your Old Droog- Transportation
Your Old Droog- Jewelry
Erick Sermon- Vernia
Action Bronson & The Alchemist- Lamb Over Rice (EP)
The Alchemist- Yacht Rock (EP)
Wiki- Oofie
Marlon Craft- Funhouse Mirror
Sampa The Great- The Return
Dave- Psychodrama
Diabolic- The Disconnect
Injury Reserve- Injury Reserve
Yugen Blakrok- Anima Mysterium
Neak- Kwesbaar
KXNG Crooked & Bronze Nazareth- Gravitas
As you can see, this was an overall fantastic hip-hop year, even if it started abnormally slow to come around. Admittedly, was the strongest year of the decade? No. Not even close to other years like 2015 or 2012, but nonetheless, this became strong. As we start a new decade, let's look back at the highs of this year and how great it all turned out to be. Until next decade folks!
