So last year around December I had a thought. I thought, “hey
I like Hip-Hop, and I love looking at year-end lists, so why not make my own.”
It was then with the help of my Friends Alex and Aiyana that we stared a Facebook
group called the Fire Squad. The purpose of this group was just to discuss year
end stuff and make a TOP LIST for 2014, but eventually it got to the point where we would use it year round
to talk about Hip-Hop culture as a whole. News, memes, new songs, and random
questions were thrown in the group and it motivated us to keep better track of
what we listened to throughout the year. So instead of cramping in albums at
the end of the year like I did in 2014, I kept myself current and now I feel
like I am in a better place to give some great listening recommendations on
some of the best Hip-Hop music 2015 had to offer.
HONORABLE
MENTIONS
The Ecology- Fashawn
Song Choice: Guess Who's Back
This album is great, but unfortunately dropped a bit
under the radar with its release. Although it was popular in underground
circles the first week of release, that wasn’t enough to really let this album
take off. Building off his 2009 classic “Boy Meets World”, West-Coast rapper
Fashawn takes another look at the world through soulful production and raw lyrics.
Being a bit more clever than crude, this is the kind of album you could show to
someone who only associates Hip-Hop with violence and stupidity in order to
prove them wrong. Talking about his environment and how that shaped him,
Fashawn reminisces on his hard-headed youth, his beautiful state, and his love
for his daughter. It is wonderful fully fleshed out album that makes you feel
good, no matter where you may be in life, and as a Californian it makes me
proud that I belong to a community that helped inspire music like this.
I Don’t Like Shit, I
Don’t Go outside- Earl Sweatshirt
Song Choice: Grief
The adorable yet twisted young super star of Odd Future
has grown into a somber dark rap genius. Already known for his amazing lyricism
and dark content, Earl turned everyone into a self-reflective introvert with
his latest album. Still containing the same lyrical skill he is known for, this
time Earl produced the entire album almost by himself, taking a minimalist
approach and allowing heavy bass and quiet melodies to form the instrumentals
he dances over. Taking of course about his own lack of desire to go outside,
being betrayed by those he trusted, and missing his late Grandma, this is not
the kind of album you listen when you want to feel happy. That in itself
becomes its greatest strength though, as it holds the unique place of saying
what a lot of people may think but don’t say. There is nothing wrong with the
feelings of sadness or loneliness, especially when phrased so eloquently like
they are by Earl on this album. Read more HERE
Mr.Wonderful- Action
Bronson
Song Choice: Baby Blue
I think Action Bronson is one of the most unique figures
in rap right now. With a whimsical attitude and comedic tendencies, you would
never expect this man to spit the bars that he does. But his latest album is
filled with just that. In addition to the wavy production that fuses Rock N’ Roll,
blues, and jazz together to make fun and layered instrumentals, we get Bronson
put his metaphors and storytelling skills to work and giving us one hell of an album to listen to. This is another feel good project from one raps most interesting
figures, and he proves once again that you don’t have to fall into a stereotype
to be a successful rapper. Read more HERE
Sour Soul- Ghostface
Killah & BadBadNotGood
Song Choice: Ray Gun
This album really turned me onto GFK, whom I never really
listened to before this. The Wu-Tang legend has been putting out some stellar
music lately, but paired with the musical genius that is BBNG, it just gets so
much better. With production that takes the improvisation elements of Jazz and
fuses them with the classic soundtrack stylings of movies from the 60’s/70’s,
this album sounds like it came out of a time capsule and on the way out picked
up some raw lyrics. Over all this great music GFK does what he does best, tell stories
of being a hood superhero and lyrical assassin. In a lot of ways with sounds
like a classic DOOM album (which is funny because he is on the album), but
without the cartoon interludes. If this is GFK’s way of branching out into new sounds
I hope he continues to expand his horizons, because this album is just a small
taste of greatness and I want more. Read more HERE
GO:OD AM- Mac Miller
Song Choice: 100 Grandkids
Since his debut album was crucially panned, Mac Miller
has been on a mission. The youth once hailed as a protégé after the releases of his mixtapes has started to shift his focus to more serious music. Not serious
in the sense the lyrical content is too deep, but rather more lush instrumentals
and albums that feel like they are actually part of a holistic album. He has
spoken at length about how much more into the music he is now and that is certainly
shown on his newest album. With production credits from everyone from Flying
Lotus to Tyler, The Creater, GO:OD AM is a return to form for Mac Miller. With the
optimistic vibe he became famous for coupled with the introspective lyrics that
spawned after his darker period, he is now a more complete artist, able to
comment on the lows of life while still being able to enjoy it. This album is
fun to listen to, and more than that, it goes all over the world in turns of
samples and production, and leaves you feeling like this kid is on the top of
his game.
The
Ten Titans
10. Cherry Bomb- Tyler, The Creator
Song Choice: Fucking Young
While
you can read more detailed musings about this album HERE, I think this album is a fantastic step in this young
rapper/producers career. Getting to a place in life where you can feel
comfortable just being yourself is one thing, but to be able to make music
centered around the concept of finding that self and using it to propel
yourself to success is another feat entirely. In this album Tyler paints
colorful pictures of his inspiration and life goals, all so that you the
listener can vibe with the music he is putting out and follow your own dreams.
9.
Rodeo- Travis $cott
Song Choice: Oh My Dis Side
Rodeo
came out of nowhere for me. I had been made aware of Travis’ work and have it all
on my computer to eventually listen to, but I just never had time. What I did
know was that Travis leaned more to the Trap side of rap production and that
had me worried. You can read more HERE, but
the basic point is that this GOOD music protégé has found a way to fuse the
production style of Trap with the soulful aspects of traditional Hip-Hop
production to make a sound that bangs and resonates with you at the same time.
8. The Documentary 2/2.5- The Game
Song Choice: Gang Bang Anyway
A Lengthy work and bold release,
West-Coast legend The Game dropped this double album in commemoration of the 10
year anniversary of his first album “The Documentary”. So what we get in this
over 2 hours of music is a bunch of funky jams and tales of The Game’s gang
infested past. Even now he maintains that he is a proud affiliate, even though
he understands the consequences of his actions. 2.5 is overall stronger than
the first CD, but both dive deep into what it means to be a gang member and how
that affects your and your environment. Despite what many may think, The Game
is no fool. He wants a better life for his sons and fellow people of Compton,
and uses this music as a way to take control of his past and help others secure
a better future. This is another Gangsta Rap classic, and I hope one day we can get to a point where this genre is no longer needed.
7.
90059- Jay Rock
Song Choice: Vice City
After keeping his fan base waiting
for 4 years, Jay rock dropped his album in September and it takes a different
approach to the Gangsa Rap genre. While still telling stories about his hood
and the kind of people you may find in it, he surprises you with the
unexpectedly melodic production, sounding way more pretty than it has any right
to. On top of that the way that Jay Rock changes up his flow from song to song
shows just how versatile he is as a rapper. Being a part of TDE, Jay Rock
cannot afford to be a slouch. While all of his label mates have found a sound
that works for them, it seemed like he was falling behind. However after this
album I don’t think there is anyone who thinks that. This takes the best of the
in-house producers of TDE and spins a yarn that touches on gang violence,
feelings of desperation, and the vices that haunt Jay Rock to this very day.
6.
At. Long. Last. A$ap- A$ap Rocky
Song Choice: Electric Body
A sad year for Rocky, who lost one
of his closest friends and business partners A$ap Yams earlier in the year,
this album is as much a celebration and tribute as it is anything else. Filled
with that signature aggressive soul sampling and dark moody productions, this
is the sound that Rocky and Yams made to boost him to stardom. And it is well
deserved, appealing to both old Hip-Hop Heads and the new blood. It is a musical homage to
psychedelic exploration with contemporary rap flavors mixed in. it is
designed t take you on a trip and leave you there, with talk of women, fashion,
and spirituality. With the added musicality of Joe Fox, a random musician rocky
found on the streets of London who ended up helping with a big chunk of the
album, this project excels at what it does, and will carry you away to a dark
yet pleasant world that is meant to both hype you up and calm you down.
5.
The Incredible True Story- Logic
Song Choice: Young Jesus
Part Hip-Hop joyride and part Sci-fi
epic, this album is a wonderfully put together sophomore release from Maryland
rapper Logic. Now logic’s album from just a year prior also made our list last
year, and his new joint is even better than that. Logic’s biggest strength is
that he is a huge fan of Hip-Hop, and uses other artists as much he does a drum
machine for inspiration. What this results is an original story about two space
pilots trying to find a lost planet accompanied but the then legendary album by
Logic, which takes the best of the rap world and makes it its own. Produced by
himself and his friend 6ix, this album features some of my favorite production
of the year, with smooth melodies that actually make you feel like you are
drifting off into space. Also on this album Logic explores the idea of leaving
behind all the negativity of the rap game as well as what it means to find your
own paradise. This almost has some of the strongest story telling elements of
the year and has the best one of the best ending tracks to an album I have ever
heard. Even if you think you wouldn’t be able to take logic seriously. Give
this album a chance and really let yourself go.
4.
Summertime ’06- Vince Staples
Song Choice: Norf Norf
The debut album of Long Beach native
Vince Staple makes for one of the best releases of the year. Why? While I talk
about it at length HERE, The
idea of such a young man going through so much is crazy. What is crazier
though, is his ability to capture life in the hood so well and analyze the pros
and cons of such a lifestyle. The youth may feel like legends and invincible at
times, but more often than not they are plagued with anxiety and depression,
all of which are hidden behind trigger fingers and gang signs. This is a modern
take on Gangsta Rap, with a conscious twist and big ambitions. With the production done by the legendary No I.D, we get everything from booming beats
to haunting melodies. While the second half is not as strong as the first, but
are just as important and create the image of a lifestyle most of us do not
want to even imagine, for it would be too much to handle even in the safety of
our thoughts.
3.
Compton- Dr.Dre
Song Choice: Deep Water
Back after 16 years to grace us once
more with an album, this project was more than just promotion for the N.W.A
movie that hit theaters in August. It is a powerful maximal production album
that is in stark contrast with his older works. Although famous for creating the G-Funk sound back in the 90’s, Dre tried out his hand at makes beats just
explode, and the end result is fantastic. With beats that almost break your
speakers and features from what seems like the entire rap game, this album
amazes song after song and does not stop until that 16th track ends.
Dre is a genius producer, and even better at constructing albums, each song
flows into the next, and addresses everything from his rise to power to the
state of his hometown today. He may have helped put Compton on the map, but he
is well aware that he needs to do more to help his city, and has no shame
taking pride in hailing from one of the most violent cities in America. Dre is
a legend and continues do make music with the wisdom of a man who has seen the
best and worst of this rap game.
2.
Tetsuo & Youth- Lupe Fiasco
Song Choice: Mural
Lupe is finally back in a big way.
After his deal with Atlantic lead to some less than stellar albums coming out,
the man who brought us “Food and Liquor” and “The Cool” is back to paint us
another musical masterpiece. Separated into
the 4 seasons, this album touches on life, love, pain, loss, the prison
industrial complex, and stuff that I am sure is buried so deep that no one has
found it yet. All of this done by one of the best uses of live instrumentation
and sampling I have seen done on an album this year. Lupe crafts these amazingly
long songs that just get so into themselves it’s no wonder he considers this to
be a classic already. Despite many people falling off of Lupe, he spared no
expenses in delivering a beautiful piece of rap genius. You can read more HERE, but I strongly encourage
everyone to hear this album, it is the pinnacle of lyrical mastery and a bold artistic
statement from one of raps finest.
1. To Pimp a Butterfly- Kendrick Lamar
Song Choice: Alright
While this should come as a shock to no one, especially considering my lengthy review HERE, This album is still just as amazing as when it dropped in March. Taking some of the best elements of all popular black music from the last 50 or so years, Kendrick creates not only a musical landmark, but an anthem for the new movement sweeping America. This is an album about hate, how we have been taught to hate ourselves for things we have no control over. This is an album about forgiveness, as we all make mistakes, and learning how to grow from those mistakes makes us better people. This is an album about depression, and how carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders will only ever weigh you down. This is an album about hope, and that if we keep holding on, everything will be alright. This is an album about pride, being proud of yourself and your heritage, and using that pride every day to build a better future for yourself and those around you. This is the kind of album people will be talking about in 20 years as the album that changed everything. I will be showing my kids this album when they ask me what got me through hard times in my final college years. Most importantly people will remember this album as the work the inspired them to remember who they are, where they came from, and where they want to go. There have been a ton of amazing albums that I have had the pleasure of listening to this year, but none have plagued my thoughts so much that even in my dreams I can hear Kendrick screaming “I love myself”.
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