The Most Anticipated Albums of 2016

What's good everyone?!  Glad to see you hanging with me yet again.  These lists have been controversial, yet engaging and I definitely feel this is good for us hip-hop lovers and junkies to be involved in healthy discussions concerning these lists.  This week, the list will be the most anticipated albums of the year.  There are lots of projects that we've been waiting on for years that may actually see the light of day.  These are albums that are either confirmed or pretty much confirmed.  With that being said, let's get to it all shall we?

Lupe Fiasco

DROGAS, SKULLS, and ROY

2016

After releasing one of the year's single best albums, and his best album in years with Tetsuo & Youth, he's getting prepped to released not one, not two, but THREE albums this year before releasing his final studio album The Cool 2 in 2017.  One can hope that he'll continue the momentum left over from his mesmerizing album of 2015.

De La Soul

And To The Anonymous Nobody

April 2016

Still going strong after nearly thirty years non-stop, the legends of De La Soul will releases their Kickstarter-funded ninth new album, And To the Anonymous Nobody, and it's slated to be the biggest album of their illustrious careers.  With reported guests such as Usher, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and others, De La will attempt to recreate another wonderful album that will make them as important they were when they released prior classics like 3 Feet High & Rising and De La Soul Is Dead.

Isaiah Rashad

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

The only representative to rep the South from the TDE camp delivered a very damn good album with his "EP", Cilvia Demo.  With this promising debut, eyes are now on this young Tennessee native to deliver a very formidable debut full-length album, and with the high level success his team is having, who's going to bet against him?

J. Cole

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Within a span of a year and a half, Jermaine Cole went from a very dope emcee on the Roc Nation label to one of the most important fixtures in all of the game.  Although hitting Gold with his first two releases of Cole World and Born Sinner, he made history with 2014 Forest Hills Drive, as he went Platinum with no features, and considering how grossly under-promoted it was, this was something very magical and special.  He and good friend, Kendrick Lamar, put out a "Black Friday" mixtape that hinted at him dropping this year and this is very true.  While there's no truth to the highly awaited Cole & Kendrick collab album, we can still rejoice to the return of one of the game's true lyrical leaders.

Nas

The Lost Tapes 2 and As-Yet-Untitled album

2016

The legend himself returns in 2016 with two projects.  Later this year, he'll drop his final Def Jam full-length album before focusing all of his energy on his new label Mass Appeal, which hosts the likes of Fashawn, Run The Jewels, and Dave East.  His last effort, Life Is Good, was strictly for the grown folks, and showed the maturity we knew Nas was growing towards as an artist approaching the big four (that's forty years of age for those that don't know).  He continued to show why he was and is the best.  Once he leaves Def Jam, he'll FINALLY be able to put out his long-awaited sequel to his very highly acclaimed Lost Tapes album, which will surely be filled with unreleased, unheard jewels that continue to show why Nas is far and away one of the single greatest emcees ever seen and heard.

ScHoolboy Q

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

TDE's ScHoolboy Q delivered his long overdue commercial effort, with his nearly platinum major label debut, Oxymoron.  Now in 2016, the pressure is on for him to present a thorough follow-up to that very good album, but based on prior releases like Habits & Contradictions, that really shouldn't be too hard of a challenge.

Run The Jewels

RTJ3

2016

Uh-oh!!!  The most vicious tag team in hip-hop right now is El-P and Killer Mike, and they're on their way back.  After delivering some of hip-hop's most unbelievable releases in a decade or two, the socially commenting, anti-establishment duo is getting set to drop yet another exceptional piece of angry, fuck you hip-hop.  This may be a task after dropping two undisputed classic in their self-titled debut and RTJ2, but knowing these two, this will be another mission that will be successful.

Ghostface Killah & MF DOOM/DOOMStarks

GhostDOOM or Swift & Changeable

Feb. 2016

Talk about an album we've been highly anticipating, this has been in the works since just before Ghost's Fishscales album, and that was back in 2006.  The combo of Ghost's off-the-wall rhymes with DOOM's equally off-the-wall yet strangely melodic production made for possibly hip-hop's newest formidable tag team.  However, with the exception of two released songs by them, nothing surfaced.  Things may have changed now, as Ghost recently stated that DOOM is willing to put the album in February.  Let's really hope that surfaces, as we've hit the ten year mark since the first announcement of the collaboration.

Slaughterhouse

Glass House

2016

The Four Horsemen of hip-hop are putting the final touches to their highly awaited follow-up to their Shady Records debut, Welcome 2: Our House.  Seen industry-wide as the most feared lyrical supergroup in all of hip-hop, this album will pack an even harder punch than their dope, yet slightly underwhelming debut.  This will not only be executive produced by label boss, Eminem, but also DJ/producer extraordinaire Just Blaze as well.  With each doing their own projects leading up to this, the stage is set for a monstrous album, and quite possibly one of the most insane projects all year.

Ab-Soul

As-yet-Untitled

2016

TDE's residential conscious thinker (besides Kendrick) will be dropping his follow-up to his 2014 effort, These Days, which spawned the excellent cut with Action Bronson, "Stigmata".  Known for deep beneath the surface-type tracks, hopefully this will be a better project than the blatant urge to go more commercial like These Days attempted to do.  While his album, Control System, stands as his best effort to date, there's no reason why Soulo won't attempt to make an album as good if not better.

Missy Elliot

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Overcoming health issues and bouts of depression, the Grammy Award winner is finally returning with her first album in eleven years.  Delivering the funky, uptempo cut with Pharrell, "WTF", it's good to see the innovator back in the game again, and here's to her reinventing the game once again.  

Ghostface Killah

Supreme Clientele 2: The Blue & Cream Era

2016

Wu-Tang's most prolific emcee is returning with quite possibly another very busy year.  Besides dropping the aforementioned collab album with MF DOOM in February, he's also finishing up the much anticipated sequel to his undisputed best album ever, the Gold-selling Supreme Clientele.  Attempting to recreate the unmatched magic that the first one presented, hopefully all his samples are able to be cleared and we'll have an album that, much like the first, will be talked about another twenty years from now.

AZ

Doe Or Die 2

Spring 2016

One of hip-hop's most underrated lyricists on the planet dropped one of the most underrated albums of the entire nineties with his near platinum debut, Doe Or Die.  Since then, he's dropped dope albums such as Aziatic, A.W.O.L., and Pieces Of A Man.  All of which have been decent to fantastic, but none have had the fluidity and cohesiveness as his debut.  On the twentieth anniversary of his debut, he attempts to recreate the essence of his debut, and as talented as he is, my odds are on him to do it.

Drake

Views From The 6

January 2016 (tentative)

On a commercial level, nobody in hip-hop is hotter than Aubrey Drake Graham.  No matter how you see him, even if he is one of hip-hop's more polarizing fixtures, he's the IT guy of the game.  Never selling less than platinum in his brief yet impressive career, he has made history and broken records with his success.  Last year's mixtape, If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, went platinum in no time and spawned hit after hit after hit.  He later dropped a collab mixtape with Future with What A Time To Be Alive, which just hit gold status.  While subsequently slowing down the career of rival Meek Mill and having issues with label boss Birdman as well as with Lil' Wayne, he found time to record his much anticipated full-length follow-up to his Grammy-nominated Nothing Was The Same.  Expected tro drop any time now, here's to possibly another incredible year for the young Canadian.

Kanye West

SWISH

Feb. 2016

The almighty Yeezus himself is finally ready to drop his next album and take hip-hop to yet another level.  Regardless on how you feel about the man and his ego, he's one of the single top stars in all of music, and the anticipation of this album is reaching climax levels. He recently dropped the Ty Dollar Sign-assisted "Real Friends", which is being heralded as one of his best cuts in years, and a brief tease of his collab with Kendrick Lamar "No More Partying In LA" (over an AMAZING Madlib beat).  As to whether or not this makes the final version of the album, along with prior released singles such as "All In" with Thelonious Martin remains to be seen.  What is known is Mr. West is back, which means the year could very likely belong to him.

Pusha T

King Push

April 2016

What a hell of a way to end 2015 then when Pusha dropped the "prelude" to his forthcoming King Push album then his ten track monster, Darkest Before Dawn.  Heralded everywhere, the newly crowned President of G.O.O.D. Music is set to drop the real thing in April and Darkest Before Dawn was ANY indication as to what we'll be seeing, expect one of the year's most formidable releases, bar none.

Redman

Muddy Waters 2

Spring 2016

The Brick City native is back to his hungry self.  He dropped his Mudface EP near the end of 2015 and showed that he was lyrically focused now as he was when he broke in the game in '92.  He has stated that this was virtually a tease for the sequel of the album that is considered the magnum opus of his discography.  It's good to hear ol' Reggie again, and we can be assured that this will be a firestarter and a return to his gutter greatness.

Danny Brown

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

Detroit's quirky, yet very talented, Danny Brown last dropped a project in 2013, which was the fairly enjoyable Old.  Now in 2016, D-Brown is primed and ready to push the envelope with sexually exploitative, drug-infested, occasionally introspective rhymes.  There's no doubt the D will be aiming to dominate, with rumored releases from Eminem, Royce Da 5'9, and Black Milk, this cat here is sure to be among the ones looking to do the ass kicking.

Treach, Bumpy Knuckles, and Trick-Trick

As-Yet-Untitled

2016

This supergroup is scary.  The brutality of Bumpy, the viciousness of Trick, and the in-your-face aggression of Treach (mixed with the entire album produced by super underrated producer Nottz) makes for one of the game's most intriguing projects.  All three men are vets of this industry and you can expect some of the most hard hitting hip-hop all year with this one release.  The thought of this gives me chills, and I can't wait, and neither should you.  

Torae

Entitled

Jan. 2016

Coney Island's Torae Carr is seen as one of the brightest stars in the underground but based upon his cult like following, he may not stay in the underground much longer.  Last seen with Skyzoo dropping the excellent album, Barrel Brothers, it's once again his time to shine, and with help from Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Jahlil Beats, this is another step in the positive direction for the highly talented emcee.

Rumored releases for 2016

MF DOOM- untitled

Black Thought- The Talented Mr. Trotter

NYGz- Hustlas Union

A-F-R-O- untitled

GZA- Dark Matter

Mobb Deep- untitled

Sean Price- untitled

9th Wonder- The Dream Merchant Vol. 3

M.O.P.- untitled

T.I.- untitled

Andre 3000- untitled

Lauryn Hill- untitled

Chance The Rapper- untitled

Saigon- untitled

Cormega- untitled

Tragedy Khadafi- Magnum Opus

50 Cent- Street King Immortal

Eminem- untitled

Royce Da 5'9- untitled

Rapsody- untitled

Boldy James- untitled

Apathy- untitled

D.I.T.C.- untitled

This will clearly be another monumental year of hip-hop.  It'll be hard to follow the past two years, but I'm optimistic just based on this list alone that this will be a year that will we'll be talking about many years and eras from now.  Who are you looking forward to hearing this year?  There are lots of projects we hope will drop, but I would regardless put my money on an interesting year.  Strap up and get ready for the ride.  

The Best Hip-Hop Albums By Femcees!!

What's good folks!  Glad to have you rocking with me once again.  It's time for another list that will definitely cause discussion and even some controversy.  Gotta love it!  This list will be giving love to the ladies.  The femcees that have greatly contributed to hip-hop and to the culture as a whole.  Recently, I did a piece discussing the rise and fall of the ladies in hip-hop.  This week, this is showing just how valuable the ladies are and have been to the game with compelling, classic releases.  With that being said, let's get right to it.

20. Foxy Brown- Broken Silence

Everyone's favorite queen of beef starts this list off with her third album from 2001.  Born Inga Marchand, Fox Boogie was seen as an alluring carbon copy of Lil' Kim during her heyday, especially with her platinum-selling debut Ill Na Na.  On her third effort, she showed a lot more vulnerability and definitely brought one for the streets.  Bangers like the reggae-tinged "Oh Yeah" and the confessional "Letter" put this album as her best overall work.  Too bad a combination of her constant bridge burning, her legal troubles, and her losing her hearing ended her career.  One wonders what would've been had she would've still been around.

19. Nicki Minaj- The Pinkprint

The head chick running things for the ladies in hip-hop.  Known for her sexually hinted lyrics, but also for her occasionally quirky styles and sometimes deliberately pop-trenched image, Nicki is as hated by purists as she is loved by her "barbies".  Can the girl rap?  Absolutely.  Her third effort, The Pinkprint, was a healthy balance between her promising debut, Pink Friday, and her sickeningly pop Roman Reloaded.  More of the positive than the negative.  A far cry from her very hungry mix tapes of Beam Me Up Scotty and Playtime Is Over, she's running things, and whether you like her or not, she's smiling all the way to the bank.

18. Heather B- Eternal Affairs

Before she became Sway's right hand homegirl on Sway In The Morning, she was Heather B, a Brooklyn reality TV star-turned emcee that was actually quite nice on the mic.  Her sophomore effort, Eternal Affairs, was more personal and intimate than her hard-rocking debut, Takin' Myne.  Guests like Pete Rock, her future husband Horse of The Bravehearts, Nature, and an uncredited Kenny Lattimore assisted her in this dope follow-up to her debut.  BTW, who could escape the CRAZY Premo-powered cut, "Steady Rockin"?

17. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot- Supa Dupa Fly

Virginia rapper/singer/songwriter/producer Missy Elliot was something the likes of which the game had never really seen before in hip-hop.  She was a Jill of all trades, and as a female that was very impressive in this male saturated industry.  After working and doing appearances with the likes of Timbaland, Lil' Kim, the late Aaliyah, Nicole Wray, and others, her debut was starting to buzz, and when it dropped, it was quite the fun album.  Containing elements of hip-hop, dance, and R&B, this was a very charming and pleasing album.  Not to mention, it was the highest charting debut for a female rapper ever, debuting at number three on Billboard Top 200.  

16. Heather B- Takin' Myne

Heather's previously mentioned sophomore album, Eternal Affairs, was a very good album that was more personal and provided more introspective lyrics.  However, her debut was just straight boom-bap, unapologetic hip-hop.  Getting a buzz from her first single, "All Glocks Down", she followed it up with the thumping "If Heads Only Knew", and the album started to be in pretty good rotation.  Produced by DJ Kenny Parker, this album was rugged as anything you would hear in '96.

15. Rapsody- The Idea Of Beautiful

North Carolina's resident b-girl Rapsody was known for her critically acclaimed mixtapes of Return Of The B-Girl, Thank H.E.R. Now, and The Black Mamba before putting out her debut full-length album, The Idea Of Beautiful.  With the backing of her 9th Wonder-led troop, The Soul Council, we started to see the rise of a femcee we haven't heard on such a fundamentally complete level since MC Lyte.  This album was soulful and would occasionally pull on heartstrings, but the cohesiveness of this album was just a sign of things to come.

14. Queen Latifah- Black Reign

This album by the Queen marked a turning point in the career of Dana Owens.  Not only was this her highest-selling album, but this officially put her into more of a star status within the game.  Widely known for female empowerment from previous releases such as All Hail The Queen and Nation Of A Sista, she presented even more anthems of uplifting with anthems like "U.N.I.T.Y.", but was still able to show that she was that around the way girl that the homies could kick it with on cuts like "Bring The Flavor" and "Black Hand Side" over some of her best production to this day.  

13. Yo-Yo- Make Way For The Motherload

When it comes to the around the way homegirl in hip-hop, nobody personified that more than Yolanda "Yo-Yo" Whitaker.  Ice Cube's one time protege, she let everyone know that she wasn't having it.  Her debut, Make Way For The Motherload, was filled with thumping production, and is considered among the most influential female rap albums ever, and rightfully so.  We first heard from her on a national level on the emphatic collab with Cube, "You Can't Play With My Yo Yo", and from there, she helped define the ladies in the early nineties.

12. Rapsody- Beauty & The Beast (EP)

Once again we have Ms. Marlena Evans on here, and for good reason.  She dropped arguably her best work to date in 2014 with her EP, Beauty & The Beast.  From the ridiculously dope "Hard To Choose" to the ever lyrical slicing of "Godzilla" and her empowerment ode "Waiting For It", the only sincere flaw to this album was that this was only an EP.  Many say it was this album that propelled Dr. Dre and Kendrick to wanna work with her on Kendrick's masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, on the exceptional cut "Complexion", where she honestly stole the show.  The dangerous thing is, she's not even getting warm yet.

11. Bahamadia- Kollage

From the musically rich city of Philly came an afro-centric b-girl who had a monotone to her similar to a female version of the late Guru.  Bahamadia's debut, Kollage, was just that: a collage of concepts and classic hip-hop stylings similar to the likes of Lyte or Latifah before her.  Production-wise, this album was dope as it could get, with lots of help from Da Beatminerz, N.O. Joe, Ski Beatz, and Premo, who crafted the CRAZY "3 the Hard Way" featuring Mecca Starr and the late K-Swift.  Lyrically, production-wise, conceptually, and in terms of a true hip-hop spirit, there aren't many albums out to this day that are as complete and fluid.

10. Jean Grae- Attack of the Attacking Things

If there was a true heroine for female emcees in the underground throughout the late nineties into the millennium, it was Jean Grae.  Separating herself from her former crew, Natural Elements, the artist formerly known as Whut? Whut? shut it all the way down with her debut, Attack of the Attacking Things.  Although the production was pretty decent, it was her ability to slice the mic in half lyrically that was the key to this album.  Her talent immediately garnered a cult following that did nothing but steadily grow.  While she's released great projects like Jeanius, Bootleg of the Bootleg EP, and This Week, this was the album that started it all off, and we knew that we were seeing the growth of one of the most feared emcees around, male or female.

9. Lil' Kim- Hardcore

While the eighties and early nineties were establishing positive women in hip-hop that solidified strength, empowerment, and the uplifting of our young ladies through self awareness and education, there was a young lady from Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn that wanted to set new rules of her own.  Kim Jones, who was a protege of Biggie Smalls, felt that ladies shouldn't be afraid of their sexuality and started an entire new movement, accentuating sex and sensuality into the mix.  Her debut, Hardcore, was audio porn that empowered the women on a different level, and made every man listening to the album dream about her every night.  However the case may be, raunchy lyrics over overall pretty dope production made for platinum magic and made for one of the most imitated albums ever.

8. Eve- Ruff Ryders' First Lady

Another Philly girl with tremendous talent blesses this list.  During the late nineties, while sex was starting to be the staple point to sell for female rappers such as the aforementioned Lil' Kim, Foxy, Trina, and even one-hitters like Khia and Jackie-O, there was one that just wanted to rhyme.  No quills, no fronts, and no filters.  Eve jihan Jeffers was that young lady.  A former Dr. Dre protege, Eve went from Aftermath to the Ruff Ryders family, and she didn't just hit, she exploded.  Armed with a ferocity within her delivery, she let it be known she wasn't playing.  Her debut, Ruff Ryders First Lady, was what we thought it would be.  We saw the arrival of a new star, without having to be overtly sexually charged to do so.  

7. Rah Digga- Dirty Harriet

Raw, uncut, back to basics.  Those were some of the comments used to describe the debut of Flipmode Squad's first lady Rah Digga, Dirty Harriet.  Bringing up visions of MC Lyte's Lyte As A Rock, this album de force pounded your ears, and cause quite a few sound ordinance tickets to be distributed.  With a no-holds-barred style about her, this Jersey native presented one of hip-hop's hardest overall sounding albums in '98.  Even the intro of the album was tough as hell.  This was just plain and simple hip-hop, period.  This album remains a treasure regardless of sex, and even touches Busta's When Disaster Strikes as Flipmode's best album.

6. Da Brat- Funkdafied

Goodness grief!  Hip-hop's "female Snoop Dogg" was something we had never seen in the game before '94.  Laid-back, yet had an addictive style and flow about her, we knew we were on our way to seeing a new star, and when she finally dropped her eagerly anticipated debut, Funkdafied, she lived up to those expectations and then some.  Although categorized as a full-length album, at nine tracks deep, it's actually an EP.  No matter, from top to bottom, this was seen as a Chi-town Doggystyle, only without the misogyny and violence.  She also became the first femcee to ever sell over a million units with the album.  In the year that saw Illmatic, Ready To Die, and Stress: The Extinction Agenda, you better not be crazy and exclude this groundbreaking album for all female rappers.

5. MC Lyte- Eyes On This

Let's talk about Lana Moorer for a second.  This b-girl from Brooklyn has been considered a pioneer in feminist hip-hop and one of, if not the, best female emcees of all-time.  After her classic debut, Lyte As A Rock, she followed it up with Eyes On This, which rocked almost every bit as hard.  Working this time with the likes of PMD and Marley Marl, this album delivered one of the coldest hip-hop tracks ever heard on wax, "Cha, Cha Cha", but also delivered just flat out dope cuts like "Cappucino", "Stop, Look, Listen", and "Survival Of The Fittest".  This was just a continuance of how ahead of her time she was and how much of a true pioneer she was to become.  

4. Queen Latifah- All Hail The Queen

What a hell of a debut for a woman who soon become an icon.  This prodigious debut by Dana Owens introduced us to a new form of woman empowerment and uplifting.  During the time of '87/'88, it was not typical for a female to be very successful, but this album went Gold and spawned the feminist anthem "Ladies First" as well as the house-infused "Come Into My House".  This was an album that strongly represented during the early years of the "Golden Era", and was an album that deserves its place as one of the true best ever, and definitely the most influential of her career.

3. Salt-N-Pepa- Blacks Magic

In the eighties, this was the female act to beat.  Commercially, they were selling and making lots of noise.  They were the first female act to sell gold units and they were clearly blazing new trails.  With the mega success of "Push It", they were on their way to becoming the leaders of the femcee movement in the mid-eighties.  While they were the most commercially successful female rap act of all-time with Very Necessary, it was Blacks Magic that stands as quite possibly their magnum opus.  On top of infectious hits like "Do You Want Me" and "Expression", they went the social and personal route in various states on this one.  They did a brave act in being frank, yet PG, with the at-that-time controversial "Let's Talk About Sex" and its subsequent, and even more controversial, remix "Let's talk About AIDS".  This was a career shifter for SNP and was their first platinum album.

2. MC Lyte- Lyte As A Rock

The album that started it all for females in hip-hop on a mainstream level.  Lyte became the first female to release a full-length album, and the debut itself was nothing short of incredible.  A landmark album, this album contained classic tunes such as the title track and the vicious "10% dis", as well as one of hip-hop's best beats with "Paper Thin".  Who could dare forget "Hot damn ho, here we go again" on "10% dis"?  WOOO!!!  This album laid the groundwork and the blueprint for all femcees to follow, and became a trailblazer to show that this was no longer just a man's game.

1. Lauryn Hill- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill

In the midst of the sexual revolution that was being shoved down our throats, there was a very special young Jersey native named Lauryn Hill, who was a part of the trio known as The Fugees.  This group was responsible for creating one of music's finest moments with the Diamond-plus selling, The Score.  When they broke up, the highest buzz was for that of Ms. Hill.  This multi-talented woman was oozing with star appeal and an artistic ability the likes of which we hadn't seen in that generation or of that particular era.  After releasing the massive singles of "Lost Ones", "Doo Wop", and "Ex-Factor", there wasn't an anticipation any higher in years than for her debut, and when it dropped, it became clear that this was arguably the most important and artistic hip-hop album of that generation.  Dealing with the perils and pain of love, and finding solice in God, this was an album that marked the beginning of an enigmatic career for an icon.  Whether it was categorized as hip-hop, Pop, or neo-soul, this was one of the single finest moments music has ever been Blessed with.  Very similarly to today's generational masterwork, To Pimp A Butterfly, Lauryn reached deep within for inspiration and her pain and social commentary made us all cry and pray with and for her.  While we wait with limitless anticipation for her official sophomore effort, this will always be the crowning jewel, even if we never get another one from her.

Honorable Mentions:

Mia X- Unlady Like

No Limit's first lady dropped one of the label's most underrated and unappreciated albums

Infamous Syndicate- Changin' The Game

Chi-town duo that introduced us to DTP's Shawnna, as well as some of Kanye's early work, was a fantastic album.  Too bad there was no formidable sophomore effort

Jean Grae- This Week

Jean's most complete effort to date

Remy Ma- There's Something About Remy

Terror Squad's first lady showed the rest of the boys that she could her own and then a lot more

Lady Of Rage- Necessary Roughness

The inventor of the afro puffs went hard on her debut on Deathrow.  With tracks from Premo as well, this was supposed to be her ticket to a long-standing career.

Salt-N-Pepa- Very Necessary

The most successful female rap album before The Miseducation.

Rapsody- She Got Game

Very formidable mixtape from arguably this generation's version of MC Lyte

As you can see, the ladies came to slay as well, and their influence within this culture is very rich in itself.  Here's to all those women and all up-and-comers.  Let these albums be your guides to making timeless, innovative, and influential music to last for generations.  That's all for now kiddies.  Come back with me next time!

Poisonous Satisfaction: The Dangers Of Lean/Syrup

     What's up folks!  Happy New Year to everyone and to all that follow me and give me love for these lists and articles I compose.  Shouts to you all.  This week, I'm doing something a little more serious this time around.  I'm examining the dangers of this popular drink, Lean.  Lean is a drink that combines Promethazine, Codeine, and chaser, usually carbonated sodas such as Sprite.  Promethazine is the chief ingredient in cough syrup.  Cough syrup that those that are going through it with flu symptoms or average, regular colds take contains this ingredient.  Another ingredient is codeine.  It gets you drowsy and, yes, it can get you high and spaced out.  Somehow, mixing cough syrup with sprite and Jolly Rancher candy at the same time became popular, primarily in the South.  Often time, we would hear acts like DJ Screw, Lil' Wayne, Gucci Mane, Boosie, and Future endorse this drink much the same way Dr. Dre endorsed marijuana in the early nineties with his landmark album The Chronic.
     We first learned of Lean, or Sizzurp, on a national level with Three 6 Mafia and their collab with UGK for the sizzling "Sippin' On Some Syrup".  The concoction, which was fairly regionalized, became a hit and people such as Jim Jones were endorsing it.  However, we later started learning of very tragic consequences of drinking this drink.  Houston hip-hop pioneer, the aforementioned DJ Screw, died from an overdose of sizzurp, as well as a member of his Screwed Up Click, Big Moe, who passed from a heart attack that was greatly attributed to sizzurp.  Most notably, Pimp C from UGK passed in 2007 from a combination of sleep apnea and sizzurp. 
     With other incidences such as arrests of 2 Chainz, sport stars, and Lil' Wayne's seizures, the question is "Why in the hell would one like to endorse a product that has been widely known to take people out?"  It's stupid and dangerous.  Future's latest album, DS2 (which means 'Dirty Sprite 2'-another term for Lean) is a drug-infused album that has him notably pissed off and not in any good head spaces.  Lean was the inspiration behind the album title, and presumably was used often in recording the album. 
     One would argue, "What's the difference between Dre widely endorsing marijuana and these rappers of today endorsing Lean?"  Answer, with a question: when was the last time you heard rappers dying or having severe health problems from using marijuana?  NEVER.  This is a very sad state of affairs, and a big part of why this generation is lost.  There have been people that have stopped using Lean altogether such as Boosie due to how bad the effects can reach.  Don't get me wrong, I've had more than my fair share of alcohol abuse in the past, and it got to a point where if I didn't chill, there would be growing problems.  To all up-and-comers in the game, especially in the South, use your talents and your God-given abilities to become great artists, without such poison as Lean. 
     That's all I have folks.  Didn't need to drag this out, and truthfully didn't want this to be a P.S.A., but this is a very dangerous concoction that has already taken out very notable people, and caused adverse health effects on others.  There's no need for it. 

The Best Singles/Non-Singles of 2015

What's happening folks!  It's finally the end of the year, and we're all thankful to be here to see another year come in.  I have one last list for you for the year 2015.  This list involves the best singles and album cuts of the year.  This list, unlike the rest of the lists I've made, won't be in any particular order.  There's only one I would put at the top, and you'll see it later.  The rest of them are all cuts I had been really feeling throughout the year.  Without further a due, let's get into it.

Kendrick Lamar- "How Much A Dollar Cost" feat. James Faunterleroy and Ronald Isley

To Pimp A Butterfly

Production: LoveDragon

This was absolutely favorite track all year, and definitely among the best cuts King Kendrick has ever presented to us. Starting with the haunting two note keys, you already have a sense that this about to be a brooding track, and indeed it was.  Aside from subtle yet compelling production, the concept is very thought provoking and channels a spirit of humility like most we haven't heard this year, if not a pretty long time.  He plays a star that has traveled to Africa and comes across a man down on his luck and this encounter provokes a change in him that follows him the rest of the album.  The ending doesn't get any more powerful than how it was brought to us.  Personally, this track made me look at panhandlers, the homeless, and the unfortunate ones differently, as it could be us at any given time.  The exclamation point was put on beautifully by soul legend Ron Isley, while the morally simple yet effective hook was provided by James Faunterleroy.  Words can't do enough justice as to the impact this song had on the rest of the album.  This truly doesn't get enough credit compared to other breathtaking cuts like "U", "Mortal Man", and "Complexion", but truthfully, this may be the meat and potatoes of the album in terms of underlying themes.  This track will change you. 

Joe Budden- "Love I'm Good"

All Love Lost

Production: AraabMuzik

One of the better albums to emerge this year was Joe Budden's painfully personal, All Love Lost.  He touches on subjects such as depression, drugs, and definitely women problems.  Most people talk about his track dedicated to Slaughterhouse and Eminem, "Slaughtermouse", which is by all means an incredible track, but one that more people should be talking about is "Love I'm Good".  Each verse is towards something of importance.  His first verse has him spitting his utter frustrations about hip-hop, including him blatantly calling out Future and Young Thug.  The second verse has him pouring out his emotions towards the mother of his son (maybe even Tahiry, who knows).  The third has him speaking to his son in heart wrenching detail.  This has to go down as one of the best Budden tracks in his entire discography.  

Lupe Fiasco- "Mural"

Tetsuo & Youth

Production: The Buchanans

I've regarded Lupe in the past as a polarizing emcee, but no one can front on the dude's lyrical abilities, at all.  Over the last few years, he has put out mediocre to decent material from Lasers to Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album.  That all changed with his amazing Tetsuo & Youth, which is without question his best effort since The Cool.  The first track had you all the way open, as the track "Mural" was an eight minute plus lyrical onslaught full of controversial topics, but to hear him go to work that good was a friendly reminder of how stellar of a talent he is.  

Kendrick Lamar- "The Blacker The Berry"

To Pimp A Butterfly

Production: Boi-1nda & Terrace Martin

One word comes to mind when it comes to this track: EXPLOSIVE!  In the midst of the various profound subject matter and subdued production, here comes the epitome of Black rage for this generation.  While "Alright" channeled Black power and became the anthem for the #BlackLivesMatter movement, this cut is as in-your-face as any cut you'll hear all year.  What makes it even more compelling is the conclusion, in which he turns the mirror on his own community, specifically the gang culture.  While the word 'powerful' is instantaneously promoted within the album all throughout, there are various levels of how powerful the tracks are.  This one may be the highest form of it.

Logic- "Young Jesus" feat. Big Lembo

The Incredible True Story

Production: 6ix

In 2014, Baltimore emcee Logic dropped a very impressive debut called Under Pressure, and while critically was loved, it went under the radar somewhat, in spite of it being a Def Jam release.  Practically every cut was excellent.  Towards the end of the year, he dropped his sophomore effort, The Incredible True Story, and the lead single was a great throwback to mid to late nineties hip-hop, and it thumped.  Lyrically, he came as correct as we have come to expect from him.  His associate on the track, Big Lembo, did a good job himself (in spite of his flow and physical stature are very reminiscent of the late Big Pun).  This track was an instant head-nodder and served as one of the standout cuts on an overall great follow-up to his debut.

Kendrick Lamar- "Mortal Man"

To Pimp A Butterfly

Production: Sounwave

Once again, I'm back with another Kendrick track.  It's inescapable, his album contained THAT many jewels.  This one summed up the album as a whole, thus the reason this cut was the last cut on this masterpiece.  We've heard infinite people spit about loyalty, and this one is no different.  However, what makes this one special is the sheer passion he exhibits in this cut.  The hook alone is the pitch for the cut: "If shit hits the fan, are you still a fan?"  He tackles the subject concerning fans' fickleness and even so-called true homies.  He even shouts out Michael Jackson and his "fans" that turned their back on him during the molestation accusations.  This is a monster cut, and will have you questioning "love" around you.

Dave East- "Demons"

Hate Me Now

Production: Sean C & LV

Harlem resident, and Mass Appeal signee Dave East, generated a big buzz with his mixtape, Hate Me Now (obviously titled after the massive hit from his boss and mentor Nas).  The lead single was a SICK track that showed off his lyrical prowess and would even drop some occasional jewels: "Kids nowadays don't care about living, long as they die fresh."  Produced by former Hitmen Sean C & LV, this dark, menacing track was a standout on an overall dope release from an emcee considered among the future of NY hip-hop.

Pusha T- "Untouchable"

King Push Prelude: Darkest Before Dawn

Production: Timbaland

Virginia's favorite coke rapper, turned president of G.O.O.D. Music, Pusha T released a serious heater near the end of the year with the prelude to his eagerly anticipated album, King Push, and the lead single was nothing less than ill.  Over a uncharacteristically dark beat by fellow VA native Timbaland, he spits his trademark cocky street rhymes with hard-hitting validity.  This lead single may arguably be the best cut from an overall fantastic release.  Truly can't wait for the King Push album in April.

Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and ScHoolboy Q- "Vice City"

90059

Production: Cardo & Yung Exclusive

We didn't have too many in  the form of posse cuts this past year, but one that definitely got a lot of recognition was the Black Hippy-reunion, "Vice City".  Definitely one to crank the bass up in your speakers, each cat in this track brought it, and brought it well.  Many argue this was Kendrick's worst verse, but some others figured it would be to bring shine to the rest of his team.  On the plus side, ScHoolboy HANDLED this cut and made you anticipate his third TDE major label effort.  As a whole, this cut solidified that we NEED that Black Hippy album.  Hopefully in 2016, we'll finally get it.

PRhyme feat. Phonte and MF DOOM- "Highs & Lows"

PRhyme (Deluxe Edition)

Production: DJ Premier & Adrien Younge

What was one of the straight hardest EPs of the past ten-plus years was the highly anticipated union of legendary producer DJ premier and Detroit's resident lyrical beast, and one-fourth of Slaughterhouse, Royce Da 5'9.  They called themselves PRhyme and dropped their debut EP near the end of 2014 and it was just explosive, a classic album that heads will remember for years to come.  Near the end of 2015, they dropped the deluxe edition of the EP that included four new tracks.  One of which was the collab with Phonte and the one and only DOOM (tell me you never dreamed of DOOM over a Premo track).  Royce, Phontigallo, and ol' Metal Face delivered BARS on this excellent cut.  There has been a dispute as to who really ripped the track: DOOM or Royce?  The answer, WHO CARES?!  This is a BEAST of a cut and if PRhyme 2 does drop in 2016, it's a done deal and a wrap!

Georgia Anne Muldrow- "Great Blacks"

A Thought-iverse Unmarred

Production: Chris Keys

West coast poet/MC/songwriter Georgia Anne Muldrow provides us a very good history on the success of the Black race in a very uplifting cut over a very groovy, mellow track provided by Mello Music Group in-house producer Chris Keys.  Her acclaimed album, A Thought-iverse Unmarred, is an exemplary album filled with moments that make one reminisce of albums like The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and Nature Of A Sista, two very stellar albums of once iconic eras.  

Quelle Chris- "I Asked God"

Innocent Country

Production: Chris Keys

Mello Music Group emcee Quelle Chris has earned a following on the silent over the last few years.  His last album, Ghost At The Finish Line, was a slightly eccentirc, yet overall enjoyable, album that helped further the label of Mello Music.  In 2015, he followed that album up with Innocent Country, which improved upon the missteps of Ghost At The Finish Line and made an even more enjoyable album.  The second released single was the thought provoking "I Asked God", which contains part of the hook that provided the ever-introspective question: "I asked ain't you God, He said ain't you gods too?"  Over a nice piano loop provided by the aforementioned Chris Keys, this was among the true standouts on a dope album.

Kendrick Lamar- "Alright"

To Pimp A Butterfly

Production: Pharrell & Terrace Martin

My last of Kendrick on this list is undoubtedly the most impactful on a national scale.  The only song to be considered "turn up" became the anthem for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.  In this generation, there's no explainable level as to how much a song like this was needed for the uplifting of a culture as a whole.  This isn't quite "Fight The Power", but this is a song that shows strength, solidarity, and unity amongst the Black culture for this generation.  Aside from having arguably the best video on the planet in 2015, this was the best song for this era.  Simply put, King Kendrick officially became the leader of the pack with this one.

Jadakiss feat. Swizz Beats- "Jason"

T5DOA

Production: Swizz Beats

After a six year absence from the game, Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips returned with his Top 5 Dead Or Alive mixtape.  The lead track from that mixtape was the menacing, Swizz Beats- crafted "Jason".  Jada returned in big fashion, sounding as though he never left in the first place.  Hungry and rejuvenated, Kiss rips the mic apart, while bringing attention to the string of police murders by stating in the cut, "Hands up, don't shoot!".  It was good to see Kiss back, and this track was a warning notice to all.

Scarface- "Mental Exorcism"

Deeply Rooted

Production: N.O. Joe & artist

If there's one thing the southern legend is known for, and that's the real.  In every cut from him, you get raw, brutal honesty with no chaser.  In his triumphant return, he slammed any notions of him falling off with his beyond fantastic album, Deeply Rooted.  One of the more powerful tracks on the album was the very melancholy "Mental Exorcism".  His voice draped in sadness and anger over today's society with police brutality and the murders of the likes of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Eric Garner among many, many others.  An emotional cut with an equally, if not more, emotional video, Uncle Face delivered another important cut for times such as these.

The Game feat. Scarface- "Last Time You Seen"

The Documentary 2.5

Production: S-1

When 2015 is all said and done, an album a lot of people were surprised to hear was as potent as it was, was The Game's Documentary 2/2.5.  This double release is among the top five best hip-hop albums in the entire game.  If he would've released the album as one complete double album instead of releasing the first half one week and the other half two weeks later, it would be among the upper tier double albums in hip-hop history, bar none.  Regardless, most view the second half of the release as the better of the two, and one track standout track in particular was the collab with the previously mentioned Scarface on "Last Time You Seen", which was a damn good tribute to the late icon 2Pac.  At the end of the track we're Blessed with Pac spitting some jewels as usual in a compelling soundbyte.  While almost the entire Documentary 2/2.5 is amazing, this track may be its magnum opus.

Sean Price- "Planet Apes"

Songs In The Key Of Price (mixtape)

Production: PF Cutin

There wasn't a more heartbreaking anguish that occurred in hip-hop this year than the untimely passing of the great Sean Price.  One of hip-hop's most vicious lyricists passed in his sleep this past summer, and the effects are still being felt.  The former BCC soldier had finished up his mixtape Songs In The Key of Price just before his death, and the project further cemented his place in hip-hop immortality.  The first cut to be released was the PF Cutin-produced "Planet Apes".  The epic production from the Blahzay Blahzay member provided the best backdrop for this brutal lyrical onsluaght from "The brokest rapper you know".  Once of the best to do it, he'll always be remembered.  One time for Sean P!!!!!!

Oddisee- "Belong To The World"

The Good Fight

Production: artist

If there was an album that really put an underground artist on a bigger level, it was Diamond District's Oddisee.  He created one of the year's best gems with The Good Fight.  One of the better cuts on the album was "Belong To The World", which has him spitting about fitting in and self identity.  The spacey track he created was a great soundscape for his subject matter.  Often compared to albums like The College Dropout and One Day It'll All Make Sense, Oddisee's Good Fight is an album that shows the underdog can rise before your eyes.

Joey Bada$$- "Curry Chicken"

B4.Da.$$

Production: Statik Selektah

Brooklyn's own Joey Bada$$ knocked us on our asses at the beginning of 2015 with his eagerly anticipated full length debut, B4.Da.$$, and man was it worth the wait.  From top to bottom, it was a sonic pleasure as we saw a kid grow to a man before our very eyes and ears.  One of the more poignant tracks was the Statik Selektah-crafted "Curry Chicken".  This excellent ode to his wonderful relationship with his mother was just short of "Dear Mama" status, but nevertheless was a touching side of the otherwise hard-rocked Pro Era member.

Joe Budden- "Slaughtermouse"

All Love Lost

Production: AraabMuzik

Jersey Joey has been a fan of Eminem's since the very beginning, and this open letter to his Shady Records boss and to his groupmates of KXNG Crooked, Ortiz, and Royce is as personal of a track as you'll ever hear from Budden.  His album, All Love Lost, is among the most confessional, personal albums in recent memory, and this haunting-sounding track provided by AraabMuzik is just one example of Budden spilling his thoughts and emotions in the most raw form we've ever heard him.  

Well folks, that about does it.  I could do an honorable mentions spot, but simply put, there's way too many to put on it.  Instead, I'll just leave you to chime in about other substantial cuts that were different and impactful in 2015.  One can only imagine what we'll be in store for in 2016, but I for one am definitely perking my ears up.  Have a great 2016!  I'll be right back!