Racism In Hip-Hop

What's good folks!  Hope you're still getting down to my mixtape of 2014, as well as checking the rest of my best of...lists.  Unfortunately, a very disturbing situation is rounding off the year in hip-hop that simply must get addressed.  First of all, before I get into the story and issue at hand, I LOVE hip-hop.  Always have, always will be.  I live, breathe, walk, talk, eat, sleep hip-hop.  It's a major part of who I am.  In spite of this well known fact about me, there are some things about my culture that really vehemently piss me off.  One of which is bashing and bullying.  What do I mean?  Well let's get into it.

Earlier this year, I wrote a piece about how Grand Hustle artist, the Australian-born Iggy Azaelia was nothing more than a product of the machine.  I didn't consider as superbly talented, and still don't, but as a human being, I still respect her, especially as someone that's just trying to make it in the music business.  Yes, I consider her the Vanilla Ice of our generation, in spite of who she's signed to and signed with.  However, in comes Azaelia Banks, a New York up-and-comer, who finally released her full-length debut Broke With Expensive Taste.  She's more known for her Twitter beefs than any material released anywhere other than Vimeo or Vevo.  This...chick (ahem) has been the biggest antagonist of Iggy. She has never been short on words when it came to her disinterest in her.  Although she hasn't been the only one to have an issue with Iggy and how she's been defined as the new voice of hip-hop within suburban America, people like Banks and Snoop Dogg have gone out of their way to bully and harass Iggy.  So much to the point of bringing race into the picture.

Throughout this past year, Brand Nubian member Lord Jamar considered whites in hip-hop as "guests in our house" and didn't feel like they belonged in hip-hop culture due to how historically Whites have used bits of our culture and claimed it for themselves like Elvis in Rock & Roll.  Although I can see where Jamar was coming from in that sense, let's not get it twisted.  The Beastie Boys are still considered one of hip-hop's most important acts and was definitely a big time player in the early beginnings of hip-hop.  Simply put, you're BUGGIN if you don't own or haven't listened to their magnum opus Ill Communication, or even for that matter their landmark debut Licensed To Ill.  They used to get off and on flack too about being White in hip-hop, even to the point where there was a brief division between the ghettos of America and the suburbs, where the Beasties clearly were having their biggest audiences from.  I, personally, thought tracks like "Brass Monkey" and "Paul Revere" were as hip-hop anything Run-DMC and Doug E. Fresh were putting out.  Fast forward to Rob Van Winkle (aka Vanilla Ice) and that was where the problem started.  While the song was as dope as you could imagine at that time (do NOT front on me and say that you weren't dancing notoriously to the cut until you found out he was White), when it came to his background and how he came up in the game, he was a fraud the whole time.  He was just pulling an Elvis.  From there, artists like 3rd Bass had to prove that they weren't plastic rappers.  They succeeded with their stellar album, The Cactus Album, and showed that White boys could in fact rhyme, and be real at the same time.

Fast forward to today's times where Iggy, sincerely talented or not, is still a part of hip-hop and does respect our culture.  Use some type of sense: do you think T.I. would have anything whatsoever to do with someone that would deliberately disrespect his culture?  So for Banks for just flat out attack her as well as Seattle hip-hop phenomenon Macklemore is not just unfair, it's hypocritical.  In this day and age, racism is blatant and is more visible than it's been in many years, with us being the victims of it as usual.  However, with this past weekend's tweet arguments between Banks and Iggy, seasoned vet Q-Tip chimed in on the history of hip-hop to give Iggy perspective into how hip-hop culture is subsequently Black culture.  T.I. then threw his 150 characters plus into the situation and defended Iggy.

Now for my rant!  You've been warned.  This is just insane.  What we have here is someone like Azaelia Banks, who can't get marketed or talked about in no other way except about who she had something to say about, doing whatever she can to have Iggy drop her mic.  Maybe she is the new Vanilla Ice and T.I. is being suckered into it.  The point is, bullying this girl just makes her look like the bigot, bully and angry woman Iggy has stated that she is.  Plus this chick Banks has been throwing jabs at people like Action Bronson as well as Em simply because of a line Slim said in his breathtaking and defining Shady XV Cypher verse throwing shade at Alana Del Ray, who it turns out is a friend of Banks.  There would be no problem with that but I can't help but see a pattern of her beefing with White emcees (I use that term loosely with Iggy).  Is she another Lord Jamar that feels that Whites should just be "guests" in hip-hop?  Let's get this straight.  Eminem is one of the single greatest artists in the over thirty-five year history of recorded hip-hop.  Em is likely better than your favorite emcee and usually bodies most people on their own song.  He put to death the notion that Whites can't rhyme because artists like Marshall don't come along often.  The self-proclaimed "Rap God" is special.  He's a lyrical genius that will be remembered for his ability to chew up and spit out emcees and tracks at a moment's notice, plus he's a true student of the game who has highly influenced in his trailer park by the likes of Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Ice-T and even Treach of Naughty By Nature, in which he stated "Yoke The Joker" by NBN was the cut that influenced him the most to want to rhyme.  Others Caucasian cats like Apathy, The High & Mighty, R.A. The Rugged Man, Ant from Atmosphere, and Yelawolf are monstrous emcees that could easily compete and maybe even outdo some of our own in this game.  Let's stop using this race bullshit.  Yes, artists like Iggy are being shoved down peopkle's throats as the new voice of hip-hop, as is Macklemore, but let's very briefly examine this.  Have we ever had a White female emcee before, much less one that has made any rippling effect?  Not a bit.  Kreashawn's career came and went in under fifteen minutes.  The hunt has always been on for a White female rhyme spitter to compete in this business.  In comes the plan to create one.  Atlantic Records, the parent company of Grand Hustle, saw possible big business in having hip-hop's first successful White female rapper on its roster.  Well how does that happen?  Give this girl a body, have her rhyme and sound like Nicki Minaj, give her catchy songs and have them flood your brainwaves with her tracks all over radio.  Badda-bing, badda-boom!  We have paydirt!

I'm fully about every race and gender showing up on the mic and exhibiting their talents.  This is to promote hip-hop culture and if you're dope, you're just dope.  We sure as hell don't have enough dopeness to run around in this business, at least not on a mainstream or commercial level.  Hip-Hop should not at all be exclusive to ANYONE as long as they're doing justice to ones that paved the way for today's generation, as well as respect the culture by way of lyrics, beats, and the principles/origins of the culture.  We're very short on students of the game and we're in dire need of them.  No matter what race you are.  From Latin artists like Kid Frost, Puerto Rican emcees like Fat Joe and the late great Big Pun, to even Asian artists like famed underground Dj, DJ Honda and former battle emcee turned Christian rapper Jin, Hip-Hop is for the world, just respect the culture and the ones that paved the way and in some cases died so that our culture could take over the world.  Granted, Iggy said some things that were deemed "questionable", but in all fairness, this Banks chick is all over Twitter and doing interviews not just saying she's wack or the like, but by bringing race into it in a very bigoted way is crazy, especially when you're not even relevant enough to say anything about who should be successful and who shouldn't be.  Don't forget, we have plenty of buffoonery and coonery within our own race to be a disgrace to hip-hop as well.

That's it for now people, but before I go, here's this week's cut of the week.  This offering comes from longtime west coast vet and Compton giant, DJ Quik.  His album, Midnight Life, was horrendously slept on this year.  Although I didn't rate it in my top forty or in my honorable mentions, that's merely because I forgot about it, not for it being anything lackluster.  This is truthfully his best album in years and puts me back in the days of Quik Is The Name, Safe & Sound, and Rhythm-Al-Ism.  Here's "Pet Semetary". Get your Chuck Taylors out, and start your C-Walking!  Until next time folks,  Happy holidays!

Best Non-Hip-Hop of 2014

What's happening folks!  I know, I know, this is supposed to be a HIP-HOP blog.  It is still a hip-hop section, do trust.  However, there are various other forms of music that affect hip-hop and vice versa so this still equates.  I'll start by saying I don't listen to much non hip-hop except some occasional rock, gospel, definitely some jazz but mostly R&B.  With that said, I'm going over the ten best non hip-hop albums of the year so let's go!

10. Shabazz Palaces- Lese Majesty
Production: artist
Guests: N/A

This duo, that consists of Baba and Ishmael (formerly of 90s jazz hip-hop trio Digable Planets), brought an even more experimental album in Lese Majesty.  This duo is not your conventional hip-hop duo in the least so you have to go into it with open ears and an open mind.  In 2011, their album Black Up was so sonically unbelievable, and they did a very good follow-up to it.  Here's a look at "Motion Sickness". 




9.
Tinashe- Aquarius
Production: Stargate, artist, Boi-1nda, others
Guests: Future, Schoolboy Q, A$AP Rocky

The west coast native presented an excellent debut that has heralded all across the board.  Her breezy, wispy vocals makes one reminisce of a 2014 Janet Jackson of sorts. Filled with sultry rhythms and passionate, yet vulnerable, lyrics, this will not be the last you hear of this young lady.  Shouts to a fellow Aquarian!!




8.

Luke James- Luke James
Production: unknown
Guests: Rick Ross

It's about time we got a whole full-length album from a guy even Beyonce herself says is one of her favorite artists.  So much to the point where he even opened up for her on a few dates.  The anticipation had been building for him since 2011.  His mixtapes were just teasers for the full meal, as his great radio hit "I.O.U." made rounds in the urban contemporary circuit.  This self-titled debut is passionate, angry, and sincere, all the traits for a lasting R&B debut.  You don't feel him, to quote him, "Fuck u"!



7.

Joe- Bridges
Producer: D.O.A.
Guests: Kelly Rowland, 50 Cent

Yet another incredible album from Mr. Joe Thomas.  This is a follow-up to last year's equally fantastic Doubleback: Evolution Of R&B.  With just over twenty years under his belt, he's officially a seasoned vet, and based upon albums like this, he still sounds as good as he did when he debuted, maybe even better.



6.

Faith Evans- Incomparable
Producer: artist, Chucky Thompson, Mike City, others
Guests: Missy Elliot, Sharaya J, Karen Clark-Sheard, Keke Wyatt, others

Incomparable is a very accurate description and adjective for the multiple Grammy Award winner.  Her latest album continues to show her exceptional vocal talents and gripping songwriting.  While it barely doesn't hold up to her last offering, Something About Faith, Faith Renee Evans still holds tons of weight on this album and more than worth the listens.



5.

FKA twigs- LP1
Producer: artist
Guests: N/A

English singer-songwriter FKA twigs delivered a somewhat spellbinding debut full-length that contains bits of mystery, yet a huge amount of intrigue.  Truthfully, the aura of this album is something refreshing and different.  This young lady is something to keep an eye on.

4.

Mali Music- Mali Is...
Production: artist
Guests: N/A

Mali Music entered the world of the mainstream with his KonVict Muzik debut, Mali Is..., and what an amazing debut.  The contemporary Gospel artist made a genre-free album that although inspirational, provided gripping pieces of personal heartbreaks and growing pains.  It's not hard to see why this album has been compared to Lauryn Hill's masterpiece The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill.

3.

Tank- Stronger
Production: Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis, artist, others
Guests: N/A

R&B's general is back with a MONSTER of a follow-up to his 2012 offering This Is How I Feel.  Complete with songs that contained live instrumentation as well as his powerful set of ballads, Tank continues to show why he's one of the most insane vocalists and stirring songwriters of our current time.  Let's hope the industry hasn't jaded him as he has stated and that he actually DOES put out another album.  This was his best solo album to date!



2.

Jhene Aiko- Souled Out
Production: No I.D., others
Guests: Common, Cocaine 80s

Jhene Aiko's debut, in a word, breathtaking!  In another word, flawless.  No I.D. presented us with his most defining production soundscape we've ever heard from within R&B.  This album reeked with pain, love, heartbreak, and redemption.  Arguably the most vulnerable album of the year.  Fellas, we don't look so good on this album, but this is less about male bashing and more about one guy that has hurt her badly and she expresses it in such poetic fashion.  There's a Grammy in her future.


1.

D'Angelo & The Vanguard- Black Messiah
Production: artist
Guests: N/A

DAMN!!!!  Fourteen years was the last time we heard from D'Angelo, but man was it worth the wait.  As good or possibly better than his last epic, Voodoo, Black Messiah presents anti-establishment, and provides social commentary the likes of which resembles timeless classic albums like Marvin Gaye's What's Goin' On.  This is a musical conundrum of funk, soul, and some bits of Prince-influence and Jimi Hendrix influence.  Vocally, he's as strong as ever and makes you forget he's been out of the limelight for fourteen years.   What a way to end the year with this modern day instant classic.





                                                                                                                                                                           
There have been some great albums to come out this year, and these were just some of them.  ALbums from Keke Wyatt, Chris Brown, Flying Lotus, Erica Campbell and others showed ferocity and true musicianship.  Let's keep the momentum going next year with albums from Jill Scott, Tyrese, Stevie Wonder, Carl Thomas, and more. Here are some honorable mentions for the year.

Prince-Art Official Age
His Royal Badness returned with edgier sound yet still unapologetically funky.

Chris Brown- X
The much awaited and oft delayed album from Breezy resulted in his finest album since Exclusive.

Pharrell- G.I.R.L.
He forced the world to get "Happy", but the rest of the album is just as infectious and catchy.  Pharrell had a sleeper on his hands.

SZA-Z
TDE's only R&B princess delivered a great montage of songs that introduces us to her slightly eccentric, yet fascinating, world

Michael Jackson- Xscape
This posthumous EP was met with mixed reviews, but regardless of how you feel about a couple of the music selections, you can't deny that it remains feel good to hear the King back over fresh production.  Love live the King.

Sam Smith- In The Lonely Hour
Vulnerable and emotional, this newcomer dominated the urban contemporary airwaves with "Stay With Me", but with this new album, he may the next in charge of blue-eyed soul

Erica Campbell- Help
One half of the famed Gospel duo, Mary Mary, delivered an album that even heathens could relate to and reflect upon. 

Tink- Winter's Diary 2
One word...NICE!!!

Mary J. Blige- The London Sessions
Now THIS is the MJB we've been wanting to hear for years.  She returned in incredible fashion with her best album in years.

Until next time folks, one love!!

Mixtape Of 2014: Best Hip-Hop Cuts of 2014

What's good peoples!  Last night I posted the top forty hip-hop albums of 2014, with quite a few honorable mentions.  Today, I'll be presenting a mixtape comprising of the best songs of the year.  There were several very notable cuts this year that not only made these songs great and enjoyable listens from a production standpoint, but also these cuts challenged the listener from, at times, thematic standpoints as well.  While the radio was plagued by the likes of Future (his Honest album was actually not bad, at least better than Pluto), Young Thug, Rich Homie Quan, K-Camp, and other cats, there were cuts that were exemplary of raw talent, intriguing writing, and ambitious production.  We will highlight these cuts today.

1. Locksmith- "Who I Am"
This underground battle rapper-turned-heralded emcee from the west brought us a very truthful and self-reflective album, A Thousand Cuts, and this track was a great example of much he exposes his soul to us.



2. Slaughterhouse- "Offshore"
Leave it to the House Gang to bring a brutally honest look into each other as emcees and friends, but also how jaded they are about the industry with true tales that continue to give you a look individually at the strengths and weaknesses of each rhymer.  Many have called this the sequal to their mixtape cut of 2012 "Truth Or Truth"


3.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- "Real"
We haven't had a good venomous diss in quite a while.  We haven't had the good slap-you-in-your-face-and-dare-you-to-do-something cut in years.  We very well may have gotten it from Gangsta Gibbs on this cut.  The first half, he's just showing his lyrical abilities, but the second half, Gibbs goes IN on former mentor, Jeezy.  Over dazzling production by Madliberator himself, this cut may very well be the climax of what I considered to be the best album of 2014, and an instant classic, Pinata.

4.
Logic- "Nikki"
Logic's Def Jam debut, Under Pressure, was one of the single best albums of the year hands down, and this very poignant ode to his addiction to nicotine was an amazing piece of work.


 5.
Run The Jewels- "Blockbuster Nite Pt. 1"
Killer Mike and El-P may very well be the most prodigious new duo in all of hip-hop.  Their self-titled debut was outstanding to say the least, but RTJ2 may have even trumped that.  Raucous, angry, and anti-establishment to the fullest, this cut is just one example of the blisters provided on this incredible piece of hip-hop and music as a whole.


6.
Big K.R.I.T.- "Mt. Olympus"
Unquestionably the strongest track to come out of the south all year.  This track was clearly a response to the "Control (remix)" of last year, when Kendrick basically called out all up-and-comers to step their game up.  K.R.I.T. showed up with his most lyrical cut to date over a melodic, yet explosive, beat.  Although this cut did not appear on the stellar Cadillactica (there was a remix on it but it doesn't quite measure up to this version), this was still one of the biggest monsters to appear this year and quite possibly his best track ever.


7.
Ab-Soul feat. Action Bronson and Aasad- "Stigmata"
An ominous beat, coupled with hard-hitting lyrics by Action and Soulo, made this These Days...' best track, and the promo video for the cut is very intriguing, but would still raise eyebrows for Christians who wouldn't see the symbolism of it all.


8.
Big K.R.I.T.- "King Of The South"
Earlier, we presented "Mt. Olympus", but this album cut is a strong contender for best cut off Cadillactica, plus you have to appreciate the boldness of the title.  If there was a "Mt. Olympus Pt. 2", this would be it.




9.

Kendrick Lamar- "I (Love Myself)"
Over a deliberate rip of The Isley Brothers "Lady", K-dot hammered home the need to appreciate one's self value through every trial and tribulation.  In this day and time, a cut like this is very needed.  This is the lead single to the as-yet-untitled sophomore Aftermath album coming in 2015.


10.

Eminem feat. Royce Da 5'9, Big Sean, Danny Brown, Dej loaf, and Trick Trick- "Detroit Vs. Everybody"
Man listen!  This was a posse cut for your ass!  Some of the D's best came together and BODIED the Statik Selektah track to the utmost.  Trick Trick later took the instrumental and put even more Detroit emcees on the track for a remix.  Even Big Sean brought his ass on this one!


11.

Apollo Brown & Ras Kass- "How To Kill God"
WAIT!!!!  Before you automatically start judging the track based off the title, do yourself a favor and LISTEN.  This track is filled with historical hypocricies of organized religion, plus he reveals what would actually "kill" God, based upon how we act in today's society.  Plus, the boom bap proved by Apollo Brown is just MONSTROUS!  If you think this cut is controversial, listen to the rest of Blasphemy.

12.

Drake- "0-100/The Come Up"
Shouts to Hit-Boy for this STUPID beat for Aubrey Graham to rip over.  Yeah, we've heard how this cut cause Diddy to blacken that eye of Drake's but whatever the case may be, Drizzy Hendrix was SPITTIN over this one, then brought it home with the close out track "The Come Up".


13.

Rapsody- "Godzilla"
Dear GAWD!!!!  This is emceeing right here y'all!  The NC native continues to show that she's more than capable of murdering tracks whenever she wants.  This unusually mundane 9th Wonder track was opportune for Rapsody to command the track and boy does she.  the close out track is just unreal!  "I'm like Godzilla, only God's illa".  Come on dude!!!


14.

Cyhi The Prince- "Basquiat"
Yes sir!!!  The ever familiar club instrumental got some funky 808s behind it plus some melody just set this cut off.  This G.O.O.D. Music upstart brought forth quite an amazing mixtape that mainly focused on black history and historical figures.  It's not too often we hear a ton about the famed deceased artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, but I'm sure glad we did.





15. LeCrae- "All I Need Is You"
The Texas native made a great dedication to his wife, and showed a true testament that it's okay to have long songs in hip-hop.  The Grammy Award-winning Christian hip-hop artist fearlessly, and without pride, expresses his deep love for his wife that even hard rocks could identify with, or at least would like to.




16.

Mindsone & Kev Brown- "Pillars"
If I had to give a most slept-on EP award to anyone, this team would definitely get nominated.  Lyricism is excellently exhibited throughout this cut, but mixed with the highly melodic boom bap in this piece and this is a complete winner.

17.

ScHoolboy Q- "Man Of The Year"
This was a big time hit for TDE's residential thinking thug.  In fact this was a big time album for ScHoolboy.  Infectious production was teamed with party-starting lyrics to make a huge hit for the TDE camp. 

19.

Common-"Rewind That"
One of Common's most personal, yet pretty creative, cuts, "Rewind That" has him rhyming over a melancholy beat from No I.D., whom he dedicates half of this cut to.  The other half is dedicated to longtime friend and hip-hop production legend, the late J Dilla.  Personal stories about both guys keep you intrigued, as well as the concept.  The most standout track from his exceptional Nobody's Smiling.




20.

J. Cole-"Love Yourz"
To close out this mixtape of 2014, Jermaine Cole brought us his best work to date with his third offering, 2014 Forest Hills Drive.  Definitely his most coming of age album, he closes off his own album with a reflective cut reminding people to appreciate those close to them over a very nicely put together track by Cole.




Trust me, there were a lot more tracks that should've been on this list, but these cuts stood out the most to me, and showed that hip-hop, in fact, isn't dead at all.  As I tell people, you just have to know where to look.  Until next time folks, enjoy the rest of 2014!  I'll leave you with one more treat, a superb joint from veteran Brooklyn emcee J-Live, called "I Am A Man", which was recorded in the wake of the Michael Brown case.  Touching stuff.  Peace!

The Best Hip-Hop of 2014

Welcome folks!  It's been a good minute since I updated my hip-hop blog due to various reasons (both personal and professional), however this new addition to my hip-hop section today will be well worth the wait, and the debate.  So let's begin!

This has been an OUTSTANDING year for hip-hop.  I'm definitely not talking about that watered down garbage being forced down the ears of listeners nationwide due to shady radio handlings with labels and such.  I'm talking about that hip-hop that radio won't allow you to listen to because of how "inaccessible" these acts and their albums are.  Truthfully there hasn't been a year this consistently good since 2009, and we've had some damn good ones since then as well.  From the beginning of the year when The Alchemist and Evidence came together to become Step Brothers and dropped their stellar debut, Lord Steppington, to today when J. Cole dropped his AMAZING third effort, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, this has been a year that actually greatly continued the momentum last year brought when Nas, Rapsody, Black Milk, Slaughterhouse, and Gangrene dropped tremendous rotators for albums.  While we were disappointed that albums from Joey Bada$$, Kendrick Lamar, Ludacris, Scarface, and Lupe Fiasco didn't drop this year, please be aware that they're on deck for 2015, with albums also from Nas, Sean Price, Slaughterhouse, another posthumous album from Dilla, Drake (hopefully without the black eye), and the epic collab album between Premo and Pete Rock (WHOA!).  However, right now I'm going to concentrate on the top forty albums of the year.  Normally I do twenty-five albums, but it was just that hard to compress twenty-five albums.  They were all that good.  With that being said, let's begin.

40. Cormega- Mega Philosophy
Production: Large Professor
Guests: Styles P, Nature, Redman, AZ, Raekwon, Black Rob

This Cormega's long-awaited return to the game, and he brought long time revered producer, Large Professor, with him to this album.  We saw a less gangsta, more grown-up, introspective Corey on this release, and this definitely delivered.

39. Various Artists- 9th Wonder Presents Jamla Is The Squad
Production: The Soul Council
Guests: Talib Kweli, Lecrae, Masta Killa, Elzhi, Phonte,Jadakiss, Blu, BJ The Chicago Kid, Pete Rock, others

9th Wonder has brought together a big group of talented artists under his umbrella and hooked them up with some more notable guests and the results are overall great.  The Soul Council (9th, Khrysis, Eric G., E. Jones, Kash, among a few others, as well as Nottz) provides some sonically blistering delights all over here.  Rapsody's "Betty Shabazz" is just one of the year's most lyrically stellar cuts, period (hint: this isn't the last time I mention Rapsody).

38. 50 Cent- Animal Ambition
Production: Dr. Dre, Jake One, Swiff D, Ty Fiffe, others
Guests: Prodigy, Jadakiss, Styles P, Kidd Kidd, Trey Songz, Yo Gotti

Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has finally re-emerged with perhaps his best wall-to-wall album since The Massacre.  Many may scoff that content wise he's still the same 50 as we've seen.  This is true.  However, if flashes of 50 circa 1999-2001, this is your album.

37. M.O.P.- Street Certified (EP)
Production: Fizzy Womack
Guests: Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep

FIYAH!!!!!!!  Great to see the return of the Mashed Out Posse (or Monkeys On Parole, whichever sounds better to you, or to them for that matter).  One of hip-hop's most consistent, and in-your-face, duos ever, return with an EP that will precede their tenth full-length album coming next year (word has it Premo will be the sole producer of the album *shivers*).  This is classic M.O.P. and contains much of the same ruggedness that we've been used to for over a decade.  The track "Broad Daylight" with a rather menacing Busta Rhymes holds the crown on this one.

36. Cunninlynguists- Strange Journey Vol. 3
Production: Kno
Guests: Masta Ace, Blu, J-Live, Murs, Del The Funkee Homosapien, Aesop Rock, Apathy, Celph Titled, others

One of hip-hop's most slept-on and unappreciated acts returns with the third edition of their Strange Journey mixtape series.  Kno, as usual, brings his highly eerie yet melodic production to this one.  This album contains tons of guests, plus this doesn't completely measure up to recent albums like Dirty Acres, the astonishing A Piece Of Strange, and the recent Oneirology, but they do manage to provide a breath of fresh air in terms of originality and a spacey concept.

35. Various Artists- Eminem Presents Shady XV
Production: Eminem, DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, Boi-1nda, Just Blaze
Guests: N/A

Em and the boys of Shady celebrate their fifteenth anniversary of the label and present a compilation of precision.  While the second disc contains Shady classics, the first disc is an excellent example of the talent in Shadyville.  Obviously Em steals the show, but he allows Slaughterhouse, Skylar Grey, and Yelawolf to get lots of shine themselves and the results are overall spectacular.

34.Vince Staples- Hell Can Wait (EP)
Production: Hagler, No I.D., others
Guests: Teyana Taylor

Cali's next to blow, Vince Staples, delivered his debut EP to much critical acclaim.  The atmosphere was one of anticipation after great guest spots on albums from Earl Sweatshirt and Common.  This EP didn't disappoint, but you do wish this was more than an EP.  Raw talent + No I.D. production = Two thumbs up, way up!

33. Dag Savage (Johaz & Exile)- E&J
Production: Exile
Guests: Fashawn, Blu, Ras Kass, Choosey, Co$$, others

Exile remains as one of hip-hop most incredible underground producers, although he's done work in the past with Mobb Deep ("Pearly Gates"), but most notably he's worked with new Mass Appeal (Nas' indie label) signee, Fashawn.  While we wait with heavy anticipation for Fashawn's sophomore album, The Ecology (which will be exclusively handled by Ex), we got presented with a rather potent album by he and fellow Cali native Johaz as Dag Savage.  Simply put folks, Ex's very engaging production combined with Johaz' sharp skill equates into a winner.

32. Black Milk- Glitches In The Break (EP)
Production: artist
Guest: Fat Ray

This was the first of two projects from the heir apparent to Dilla outta the D.  This was an EP, but a very strong EP at that.  This EP was reminiscent of Popular Demand, only within eight tracks.  This is not the last you'll see of Milk in this list, but this is a pretty decent start.  The track "Dirt Bells"...man listen!

31. Skyzoo & Torae- Barrel Brothers
Production: !llmind, DJ Premier, Oh No, Jahlil Beats, Khrysis, Black Milk, Apollo Brown, others
Guests: Random Axe, Sha Stimuli, Blu

This album has been awaited for a few years, and now it's here.  Boy was it worth the wait.  Anytime, Sky and Torae get together, you can sense a hell of a tandem, and on their debut, they prove themselves worthy of the next generation of formidable duos in hip-hop much like Run The Jewels and The Underachievers.  Truly bananas production only puts the cherry on top of the sundae that is lyrical tag teaming that would make EPMD applaud them.  This is NYC at its essence.

30. Statik Selektah- What Goes Around
Production: artist
Guests: Heltah Skeltah, Royce Da 5'9, Black Thought, Styles P, Kool Keith, Bun B, Logic, Pro Era, Crooked I, Pharoahe Monch, Sheek Louch, Astro, Action Bronson, Posdnous, Lil' Fame, others

Statik Selektah has become one of hip-hop's most in-demand producers, and has also crafted his best album to date.  This Boston DJ, who has collaborated with the likes of Termanology, Bumpy Knuckles, Freddie Gibbs, and many others, brought the elite of hip-hop together over relatively jazz-esque sampled production and nobody, I repeat NOBODY, brought anything sub-par.  Plus, how good was it to have Rock and Ruck (Sean Price) back together for a track?!

29. Bishop Nehru & MF DOOM- NehruvianDOOM
Production: MF DOOM
Guests: N/A

It's about damn time we got DOOM back on the mic, much less crafting behind the boards.  He brought with him young NYC upstart, and Mass Appeal signee, Bishop Nehru.  Oft-times compared to fellow NYC youngster Joey Bada$$, he clearly tries to establish a path all his own alongside his elder mentor.  The result: a promising album from one to watch in the very near future.

28. The Roots- And Then You Shoot Your Cousin...
Production: artist
Guests: Raheem Devaughn, Patti Crash, others

Come on folks, it's the legendary Roots crew.  Need I say more?  Continuing their themes of suffering, poverty, and the decaying of the American dream, this album may not be quite as cohesive as say their amazing How I Got Over or their truly breathtaking classic Illadelph Halflife Vol. 3, this album will still grip you from the time you push play.

27. Mellow Music Group- Mandala Vol. 2, Today's Mathematics
Production: Apollo Brown, Has-Lo, Oddisee, others
Guests: Murs, Wise Intelligent, Rapper Big Pooh, Blacastan, Ugly Heroez, others

Mello Music Group is an indie label based out of Arizona, and their acts that include Open Mike Eagle, Quelle Chris, Ugly Heroez, Has-Lo and Castle are without question dope artists.  The second half of their Mandala double album is more production heavy than the first half, but that's not saying the lyrics are below average by any means.  This is a label with a ton of promise, and trust me, there's enough talent to make noise.

26. The Underachievers- The Cellar Door: Terminus Et Exordium
Producers: Supreme, Statik Selektah, others
Guests: N/A

Brooklyn natives The Underachievers brought a fresh new ethereal sound with down south 808s on their highly heralded mixtape/free album Indigoism.  This is their debut full-length album, and it definitely holds up.  This album is dark, and focuses on much of the same themes as Indigoism does, however Issa Gold and AK makes their impression more accessible without bastardizing what brought them to the dance in the first place.

25. Pharoahe Monch- P.T.S.D.
Producers: Quell Chris, artist, Lee Stone, Marco Polo, others
Guests: Talib Kweli, Black Thought, The Step Kids

We're all familiar with the lyrical legend that is Pharoahe.  However, we've been wanting that subsequent superior album like his debut, Internal Affairs.  While Desire and W.A.R. were both fairly good albums, we've been missing that oomph from him.  Conceptually, lyrically, and in terms of storytelling, Monche is among the top five emcees in the game.  With P.T.S.D., he continues the theme of W.A.R. and shows the after effects of the W.A.R. if you will.  The results are great overall music, but it's really Monch himself that shines above everything.

24. Mello Music Group- Mandala Vol. 1, Polysonic Flows
Producers: Apollo Brown, Oddissee, Has-Lo, Audible Doctor, others
Guests: Denmark Vessy, L'Orange, Quelle Chris, Mr. Lif, yU, Open Mike Eagle, Oddisee, Has-Lo, others

This is the first half of the Mandala double album, and this is a lyrical ambiance. We see future potential stars like Open Mike Eagle and Castle and the production on this half is hypnotic and among the best in all of hip-hop all year.

23. Mobb Deep- The Infamous Mobb Deep
Production: Havoc, The Alchemist, !llmind, Boi-1nda, others
Guests: The Lox, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, French Montana, Nas, Bun B, Juicy J

Twenty years ago, hip-hop was declared "shook" by some troublesome nineteen year olds from Queensbridge, and they dropped one of hip-hop's most incredible, albeit very dark and menacing, albums ever in The Infamous.  They pay homage to that album by calling this one The Infamous Mobb Deep, and although the new cuts on this double album don't quite bring the same chills that the debut did, they do recapture the magic that made them one of the game's most "infamous" duos.  The second disc contains demos and B-sides that make you greatly miss the early 90s, but if you've never peeped "Shook Ones Pt. 1", you're in luck.  Best album from them in years!

22. Ka & Preservation- 1200 B.C. (EP)
Production: Preservation
Guests: Roc Marciano

Last year, Ka dropped one of the year's best albums in The Knight's Gambit.  It was murky, dark, and you felt the dampness of NYC streets.  This EP doesn't stray far at all, in fact these are some damn compelling six tracks.  While I'm waiting for Roc & Ka's Metal Clergy collab album, I could use another album from these two as well.

21. ScHoolboy Q- Oxymoron
Production: The Alchemist, Digi-Phonics, Pharrell
Guests: BJ The Chicago Kid, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, Raekwon, Tyler The Creator, Kurupt

What a year for Schoolboy Q.  He definitely made a mainstream impact this year, especially on the radio.  The album reflected much of his prior album Habits & Contradictions, only with more accessibility.  I don't care how much you despise the radio, you can't deny the production of "Man Of The Year" and the bounce of "Collard Greens", but other bangers like "Hoover Street" and the title track solidified this album.

20. Your Old Droog- Your Old Droog
Production: DJ Driz
Guests: N/A

Shooting down conspiracy theories of this cat being Nas under a new moniker, people could still see how he could he could be compared to the iconic emcee, if not by voice alone.  His debut is intriguing and definitely deserves some much warranted attention.  Stop sleeping!

19. Rapsody- Beauty & The Beast (EP)
Production: The Soul Council
Guests: N/A

Many regard her as the best female emcee in the game right now.  She states she's the best in the game, period.  Either way, she very well may be the best regardless of man or woman.  Last year, she dropped the extremely dope She Got Game, and this year she extends her impressive catalog with this formidable EP.  Her track "Godzilla" is just lyrics personified.

18. Step Brothers (The Alchemist & Evidence)- Lord Steppington
Production: artist
Guests: Domo Genesis, Fashawn, Rakaa Iriscience, Gangrene,  Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, Blu, Styles P

80s pop culture references galore, this long-awaited collab between two of the best producers from the west coast (not to mention longtime friends) was every bit as hot as it was expected to be.  While the majority of the album was done by Allan The Chemist, the track Ev did, "Byron G" is arguably the most thunderous cut on the album.  While not breaking any new ground lyrically, the album makes up for it with outstanding production from head to toe.

17. Joe Budden- Some Love Lost (EP)
Production: Karon Graham, 8 Bars, others
Guests: Emanny

As one quarter of the most lyrically feared supergroup in the game Slaughterhouse, we're used to hearing Budden ripping mics apart, but on this EP, which will serve as a pre-cursor to his 2015 release All Love Lost, he bares his soul in ways we haven't heard him before.  While one of hip-hop's most honest emcees already, Budden goes another few miles discussing his addictions and failed relationships with complete sincerity.  Wish there were more cuts to this tremendous EP.

16. Isaiah Rashad- Cilvia Demo
Production: Digi-Phonics
Guests: Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, SZA

Wow!!  This was arguably the dopest southern debut to come out this year, in fact in the past few (sans Big K.R.I.T.).  This TDE representative has been called a "southern Kendrick Lamar", and with most of the cuts on this incredible album, it's not hard to see why.  Although it doesn't contain a ton of depth, it more than makes up for it with prodigious talent and some of the best production this year.

15. De La Soul- Smell The D.A.I.S.Y. (mixtape/free album)
Production: J Dilla
Guests: Redman

De La + Dilla = SUPERB!!!  Nothing more to say!

14. Slaughterhouse- House Rules (mixtape/free album)
Production: Jahlil Beats, !llmind, Just Blaze, ARAABMUZIK, Nottz, The Heatmakerz, Harry Fraud
Guests: N/A

If this is ANY indication of what to expect from their 2015 album, Glass House, they will be one of the acts that will OWN 2015.  This mixtape makes you damn near forget about their good yet underwhelming Shady debut Welcome 2 Our House.

13. Black Milk- If There's A Hell Below...
Production: artist
Guests: Bun B, Random Axe, Pete Rock, others

Earlier we gave acclaim to his Glitches EP, but this album is nothing short of fire (hence the Hell Below title I guess).  Last year, he dropped the vivid conceptual album No Poison, No Paradise, and this picks right up from there in all respects.  Lyrically, he continues to slowly improve, but it's his continuously stellar production that continues to make Black Milk a worthy heir to Dilla's throne.

12. Mindsone & Kev Brown- Pillars EP
Production: Kev Brown
Guests: N/A

Admittedly, I wasn't too much up on this west coast duo of Mindsone, but I had heard of MC/Producer/DJ Kev Brown, as he was a student of DJ Jazzy Jeff.  This collab is straight lyrical and is no filler and contains no lightweight material.  Meanwhile the production Brown provides is classic, melodic boom bap that will make you a fan of his if you've never heard work from him before.

11. Dilated Peoples- Directors Of Photography
Production: Evidence, Babu, The Alchemist, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, Oh No, Jake One, Diamond D
Guests: Vince Staples, Krondon, Sick Jacken, Aloe Blacc, Defari, Gangrene

What an outstanding return by team Dilated.  With each member putting out solo albums, it was only a matter of time before the reunion took place.  This is clearly the best album they've done since their exceptional sophomore album, Expansion Team. As a whole, they sound as fresh as they did when they debuted in 2000.

10. Damani Nkosi- Thoughtful King
Production: Warren Campbell, others
Guests: PJ Morton, Musiq Soulchild, Robert Glasper Jr.

I'll admit and say I slept on this Cali vet, who apparently has collaborated with the likes of Snoop before.  This album is the most laid-back, melodic, sincere album to hit in 2014.  This is strictly grown folk hip-hop, and quite frankly this is the single most REFRESHING hip-hop album this entire year.  Did I mention this contains little to no cussing in here??

9. J. Cole- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Production: artist, !llmind, Cardiak, others
Guests: N/A

Disillusioned with the subsequent buffoonery mainstream/commercial hip-hop has seemingly become, Jermaine Cole went back to his roots and went back to his home of Fayetteville to remind himself of who he is and where he came from.  Even with no marketing, advertising, or lead single, Cole has presented the best best, and most cohesive, album to date of his career.

8. Run The Jewels- RTJ2
Production: El-P
Guests: Zach De La Rocha, Travis Barker, Gangsta Boo

If it was even possible to outdo their nearly flawless debut self titled album, Killer Mike & El-P may have surpassed even that phenomenal piece of work.  With RTJ2, this even more urgent.  This is even more paranoid.  This is even more anti-establishment.  It's very possible I should've ranked this higher, but this folks is a true CLASSIC!!!!!

7. Cyhi The Prince- Black Hystori Project (mixtape/free album)
Production:Tec Beatz, others
Guests:Jon Connor, Milah Brown, others

This G.O.O.D. Music, Konvict Music artist was best known on the Cruel Summer album, but man oh man did he shine on his mixtape/free album, that places great emphasis on Black history and historical figures.  The production is completely enthralling, but it's relatively understated compared to the raw, exceptional talent that is the man born Cydal Young.  BTW, did I mention Mr. West executive produced this?

6. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass- Blasphemy
Production: Apollo Brown
Guests: Sean Price, Sick Jacken, Slaine, Bishop Lamont, Royce Da 5'9, Xzibit

While it may very well be the most controversial hip-hop release of 2014, this is also among the most standout as well.  Apollo continues to show why he's quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with on the boards, while Ras continues to prove why he's one of the most stellar lyrical emcees of all-time.  If you peeped Ras' infamous "Nature Of The Threat" and you were taken aback and offended, trust me, this album isn't for you.

5. Common- Nobody's Smiling
Production: No I.D.
Guests: Lil' Herb, Jhene Aiko, Elijah Blake, Vince Staples, Jay Electronica, Drezzy, Snoh Allegra, Big Sean, Malik Yusef

Com reunited with his longtime collaborator No I.D. to construct a very socially conscious, bleak record documenting the hells of his native Chi-town.  Darker than most of his usual stuff, brother Com was seeking salvation and answers to the problems plaguing his city, resulting in his best body of work since his landmark classic, BE.

4. Logic- Under Pressure
Production: artist, 6ix, Dun Deal, others
Guests: N/A

After generating enough buzz from his Young Sinatra mixtape series, he released his Def Jam debut, and to be perfectly honest, this is highly comparable to 2012's most prized possession, good kid, M.A.A.D. City.  Consistent and engaging production is thrown a back seat compared to Logic's occasional rapid fire, double time rhymes, but also his sense of vulnerability and his unapologetic sincerity.  The track "Nikki" is one of the year's most compelling cuts.  Hell of a debut.

3. Big K.R.I.T.- Cadillactica
Production: artist, Jim Jonsin, Terrace Martin, DJ Khalil, Raphael Saadiq, others
Guests: Raphael Saadiq, Rico love, Bun B, Devin The Dude, Jamie N Commons, Lupe Fiasco, E-40, Wiz Khalifa, others

K.R.I.T. dropped his Def Jam sophomore album with much hype and anticipation.  The result: his best body of work to date, and that's saying knowing just how consistent and outstanding the rest of his work is, including his heralded Def Jam debut, Live From The Underground.  Conceptual, soulful, consistent, and highly engaging, this album is damn near flawless.

2. PRhyme- PRhyme
Production: DJ Premier
Guests: Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Slaughterhouse, Mac Miller, Killer Mike, Common, Jay Electronica, Dwele

This new version of Gangstarr (R.I.P. Guru) is just what hip-hop ordered.  This is hip-hop tour de force.  Royce brought his A-game as usual, maybe even with some extra animal.  Premo, well what can you say it's Premo.  As for the unofficial third member of this ensemble, Adrien Younge, he proivided the samples for Preme to use for the album.  The only complaint about this impeccable album: it's only an EP.

1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Pinata
Production: Madlib
Guests: Scarface, Raekwon, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, Ab-Soul, Danny Brown, Mac Miller, Casey veggies, others

This was the best album, not just in 2014, but in the career of Gangsta Gibbs, no question about it.  This album served as a new benchmark, not just for Gibbs but for the ever eccentric Madlib as well.  While this may not be the genre-changing flawless classic Madvillainy was, this can arguably be considered as Madvillain's gangsta cousin.  Madlib's sinister, yet highly melodic, production was meshed effortlessly with Gibbs straight in-your-face delivery. If you were fortunate to conceive the brilliance that Madvillainy was, you'll roughly get that same feeling, only with more brutal realism and vivid storytelling.  If not for anything else, his venomous diss towards his one time mentor Jeezy, "Real" could easily be among the top diss records in recent memory.  This album has been compared, at its highest, to another exceptional classic in hip-hop, Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... and rightfully so. This album truly deserves the title CLASSIC.

Honorable Mentions:

Flying Lotus- You're Dead!
The producer's most experimental, yet most accessible, album to date with great results

Childish Gambino- STN MTN/Kauai
Catchy, R&B-flavored mixtape/EP from Mr. Glover that continues to expound his overall well-rounded talent.  Not a bad follow up to Because The Internet

Ray West & O.C.- Ray's Cafe
Veteran D.I.T.C. member collabs with a production upstart and the album is filled with laid-back, ol school-tinged production.

Ghostface Killah- 36 Seasons
The dude Starks is back with yet another incredible conceptual album, backed with The Revelations.  Although it falls short of other stellar moments in his discography like Ironman, Supreme Clientele, Fishscales, and the more recent Twelve Reasons To Die, it still shows GFK as one of the game's best storytellers.

Lecrae- Anomaly
The Grammy-award winning Christian hip-hop artist dropped another sonically pleasing album filled with references of God, love, and how rappers nowadays need to grow up.  Is "All I Need Is You" the new hip-hop love song anthem?

Diamond District- March On Washington
Fairly decent follow-up to their exceptional debut, In The Ruff.  More accessible, yet the boom bap never disappeared.  Not to mention, this Mello Music trio has rhymes galore.

Buckshot & P-Money- Backpack Travels
Always good to see Buck on a track, and this new collab with the Australian producer is a throwback to mid-90s hip-hop and it works well.

Wu-Tang Clan- A Better Tomorrow
Regardless whether or not this may the final album for hip-hop's divine nine, this is a nice step up from their half hearted 8 Diagrams in 2009.

Jeezy- Seen It All: The Autobiography
Still sounding as hungry as he did when he made his debut in the early millennium,  this is yet another heatmaker from the "snowman".

YG- My Krazy Life
Attempting to make "Toot It & Boot It" a memory, he resurfaced with a west coast knocker that brought some polish back to the gangsta scene out there.  You can also thank DJ Mustard for constructing the new movement out there as well.

Locksmith- A Thousand Cuts
This young underground cat's newest project is among the personal and truthful albums you'll hear all year.  Much like Has-Lo's In Case I Don't Make It, you'll FEEL every bit of this release.

Mick Jenkins- The Water(s)
The young Chi-town upstart created an interesting, yet promising, album to show he's among the next to blow from the Chi

Open Mike Eagle- Dark Comedy
Unorthodox, yet strategic, debut from this Cali upstart.

Stalley- Ohio
Raw and unbridled, there was bubbling anticipation for this Maybach artist, and it met the hype

Azaelia Banks- Broke With Expensive Taste
She made a habit of speaking her mind and garnering some enemies via Twitter, but her debut is definitely full of potential

Atmosphere- Southsiders
Slug and Ant are among the underground's most heralded acts, and albums like this continues to show why.  Although it's no God Loves Ugly, it's still a big time project for these two that shouldn't be ignored.

Blu- Good To Be Home
This son of a preacher man from Cali brought it back home with a double album full of goodies, although it lacks the substance and cohesiveness of Below the Heavens or Her Favorite Colo(u)r.

Ab-Soul- These Days...
TDE's deep thinking stoner crafted a more commercial follow-up to his outstanding release Control System.  Hell, he had me with the video trailer for the album.  Dope, but a slight letdown considering we've seen him do lots better.

Kid Cudi- Satellite Flight: The Journey To Mother Moon
Always eccentric and different from Scott Miscudi, but always worth a listen.  This is no different.

Tragedy Khadafi- Pre-Magnum Opus
What else do you expect, it's the Intelligent Hoodlum for God's sake!

Remy Ma- I'm Around
We celebrate Remy's return to freedom with a mixtape worthy of her maintaining her status as a 'Murda Mami'.

Joell Ortiz- House Slippers
One quarter of Slaughterhouse dropped his most personal album yet complete with searing production from the likes of !llmind and The Heatmakerz.  You must be sure and peep "Say Yes", which is considered one of the realest songs you'll hear this entire year.

Hasaan Mackey & Kev Brown- That Grit
Low Budget Crew member out of Rochester, NY native connects with the aforementioned Kev Brown for an impressive outing of tracks that shows the undenyable talents of Mr. Mackey.  Cuts like "War" and "Simone Louder" are especially knocking.   If no frills, boom-bap hip-hop is what you want, don't snooze on this one any longer.


As you can see, this was a superb year for hip-hop and I don't know about you but I'm ready for 2015 already.  Stay tuned later for my mixtape of 2014.  For now, peep these albums on this list.  Just because there were albums that didn't make it onto the top 40 didn't mean they weren't dope, thus the honorable mentions.  If you feel your album didn't make the cut or should've been on one of the two lists, definitely let me know and we'll discuss it.  Here's to an awesome year in hip-hop!  Until next time folks!