J. Cole Drops New Freestyle

It’s a Cole, Cole World.

By Colson O’Connor

“While two bitches lay in my bed, I’m used to it.
That’s your best friend givin’ me head, now you do it.”

— J. Cole

Two days ahead of his highly anticipated project The Off-Season, J. Cole ramps up the hype with a new freestyle on LA Leakers. The last time he did a radio freestyle like this was about eight years ago. He had a long time to prepare for this moment, and now that it finally came, Jermaine showed out. Matter of fact, this is arguably the best freestyle we have ever seen from the artist. He absolutely attacked the classic “93 Til Infinity” instrumental, ripping it in a fashion that proves his best work lies ahead of him. Between the words of his peers, his recent documentary, and this freestyle, you can tell the project will be well worth the wait.

Do you think The Off-Season will be Cole’s best project of all time?

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The Sam Lachow Interview: The Seattle Music Scene, Personal Health, and His Upcoming Album ‘Corduroy’

“what interests me the most is finding people from all different places and make something that is totally unique. A lot of my music is just a lucky combination of cool people that I’ve met.”

By Colson O’Connor

Listen to our favorite Sam Lachow songs while you read this article with our complementary playlist available on Apple Music and Spotify:

When discussing the Pacific Northwest Hip-Hop scene, Sam Lachow is a name that must be in the conversation.

It all started with Shankbone, an early rap collective Lachow was a part of that consisted of him and his friends back in high school. They started to gain traction and eventually Sam parted ways and started to make a name for himself. His music was rapidly making its way across the state, and he first made his way onto my playlist when I was in high school. Almost immediately, I began showing all my friends his cuts, and everyone loved him. It didn’t take long for me and my friends to start taking dabs while listening to “Banana Goo Pie”, or chugging beers and bumping “Half Past Twelve”. He created anthems for our weekend nights, and soon we were screaming all the words at his concerts.

After the release of his debut studio album “Brand New Bike” back in 2011, Lachow began carving a different lane alongside his Seattle Hip-Hop predecessors, like The Blue Scholars, Sir-Mix-a-Lot, & Macklemore. Similar to these artists, he does an incredible job of capturing the essence of the 206, but I guarantee it’s unlike anything you’ve ever heard. What separates him from the rest is his ability to draw influences from so many diverse genres and create a hit every time. Lachow can rap over virtually anything, whether it’s a jazzy beat with a crazy saxophone solo like “The Idea”, intense grand pianos like “Good To Be Home”, or just heavy 808’s & vocals like “Friends, Funk, & Liquor”.

Now the Seattle native is currently on the brink of releasing his fourth studio album Corduroy, to accompany his four EP’s and countless singles, following a two-year hiatus to focus on his personal health. Sam has grown and matured so much over the last few years, and as he does, the album evolved with him. I like to think of this album as sort of a ‘coming of age’ moment in his career, and I am so happy to see him thriving so much both in his personal life and his music. This combination is a guaranteed recipe for success.

Due to the pandemic and current movements delaying the release of the album (which was originally set to release earlier this year), ‘Lachowder’ made sure to not leave us hanging out to dry. He has dropped six tracks thus far, three of which accompanied by remarkable music videos. Four of these songs are currently available on streaming services, and you can get the other two by pre-ordering Corduroy on Apple Music. On these six cuts alone, Sam includes numerous outstanding features from other local icons, including Travis Thompson, Watsky, Dave B., and more.

As if those weren’t enough to hold us over, he even added two new cuts to his epic EP “5 Good Reasons”, a collaboration project with Raz Simone, which just maneuvered its way onto streaming services in May. This EP is one of my favorite body of works in his discography, and the two added songs tied the project together in a way I didn’t think possible. Now I sit here wondering how I ever even listened to the project without them. I really can’t recommend that project enough.

Back in April, we reached out to Sam and scored an interview with the legend himself. I got a chance to sit around a picnic table at a park in Capitol Hill on a beautiful day, discuss the new album, while the dogs ran around in the meantime.

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Colson O’Connor, StereoVision (CO): When did you discover your passion for music and start making music?

Sam Lachow (SL): “I started writing raps really early, like 4th/5th grade. I didn’t really know what to do with them. My dream was to be able to find a way to put the beats I heard in my head onto something. At a very young age, I would sneak into my dad’s room, who had a computer, and work on making beats and shit. Then that turned into Shankbone with my friends and we would actually make money cause we would sell burned CD’s in the hallways. We were known at our high school, we got written up in the school paper and for us that’s all we needed. One time we went to another school’s party and they were playing it, and we were like woah, this could be something that’s not just a silly joke with me and my friends.”

CO: When experimenting with Garageband, were you learning by yourself or was somebody showing you the ropes?

SL: I was just learning by myself. I kinda figured out how to create melodies, my best friend Maggie Brown was really into guitar and piano, she would kinda write melodies for me, and I played drums, so I learned how to form melodies on top of drums. When it comes to finding the right kick with the 808 I go to my guy Jake Crocker who knows how to really make it trap. I work with mostly people that do a lot of pop stuff, I like taking their ear for that, catchy/melody aspect of pop and turning it into some gangster shit.

CO: You have a very unique sound, a lot of bounce and a lot of instruments you don’t hear a lot, like horns. Who inspires that?

SL: That right there is a perfect mix of my two big influences which is bay area hip-hop, which has the bounce, and then the horns which comes from Outkast.

CO: How would you describe the Seattle music scene?

SL: Seattle has never really had like a sound to me, but now everyone I work with in Seattle we all have such different sounds. I don’t know how to categorize us.

(Us discussing the release of the album)

SL: So all these songs I always expected for people to hear them in with the rest of the album. It’s kind of hard to give someone one song, when in the back of my head I’m like ugh only if you knew what else I had! But it’s been a learning process too.

CO: Do you prefer doing collabs?

SL: I fully love collaborating, and that’s one of my main skill sets I think is hiring my weaknesses. That’s what interests me the most is finding people from all different places and make something that is totally unique. A lot of my music is just a lucky combination of cool people that I’ve met. I like a lot of variety.

CO: You seem to be a big music video guy-

SL: That used to be my job, I would shoot, edit, and direct videos for other artists around Seattle. That was late high school / out of high school.

CO: How was your creative process for the new album? Did you approach it differently, Or is the workflow pretty similar?

SL: This album sounds better than anything I’ve ever made. I almost put the album out a long time ago, and then I got sober, and looked back and was like this album is not finished. In some ways there’s parts of the album that are a little cringey to me now because I was writing about getting fucked up and now I know so much more about what was going on in my head that I didn’t realize at the time. This album is a huge turning point in my life.

CO: Are you planning to go on tour?

SL: Yeah I need to tour this album, I can’t wait to tour. I’m definitely nervous to tour sober, never done it. Part of this was like a little blessing in disguise, like I don’t know if I was ready.

CO: What’s your favorite project you’ve released?

SL: I would say Friends, Funk & Liquor because every song goes, it’s a bangin’ project, and I like the way it was mixed.

CO: If you could work with any artist dead or alive, who would it be?

SL: Pharrell, he’s just been so inspirational. All of my beats have a little ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ in it somewhere.

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We’ve been anticipating the release of this album all year, and now the time has come. Corduroy is officially set to release on Thursday, October 1st. So much time, energy, and effort went into this project, easily making it his most pivotal project to date. Take a look below for a sneak peek at the album artwork and track list:

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Leveling Up: 'State of Emergency' EP Review

By Colson O’Connor

On May 8th, 2020, Lil Tjay silenced all the haters with his new seven-track EP titled State of Emergency. It’s clear that this project is dedicated to the people of New York as all of the features on the record only come from the hottest rappers in Brooklyn. Some of these features include Fivio Foreign, Jay Critch, J.I. the Prince of N.Y, and the Brooklyn legend Pop Smoke.

Compared to Tjay’s previous work, this EP is much harder hitting. Aside from his two slower songs “Ice Cold” & “My City”, all these tracks consist of bass-heavy beats and hard-ass verses that prove Lil Tjay is leveling up in the game. My favorite aspect of this project is that it really showcases his growth, which isn’t necessarily a trend right now as artists rush to release music during quarantine.

If there’s one thing that is communicated clearly in State of Emergency, it’s that Tjay isn’t stopping until he is crowned the king of New York. Considering he dropped his debut album True 2 Myself in 2019, and he’s already released this EP, I think another full album is not too far away. It’s very clear that he’s been grinding in the studio and he’s got a lot left in the tank. This record and his recent singles are just what we needed to hold us over until we get the new album, which I assume is going to be the best project of his career (to date).

At only 19 years old, 2020 has already been a huge success for Lil Tjay, and we aren’t even halfway through the year. His work is very promising and we are only witnessing the tip of the iceberg.

Listen to State of Emergency here:

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Albums To Ride Out the Quarantine To

By StereoVision Staff

As many of us remain isolated in our homes, resigned to living lives devoid of social interaction not involving our roommates or family members, it can feel difficult not to go a little bit stir-crazy. Whether you live totally alone, or if you came back home to help your parents only to be asked to sanitize every room of the house on a tri-weekly basis (yours truly), many of us have had to get creative when coping to this change of lifestyle. Luckily, some members of the Stereovision team decided to provide their favorite records for riding out the all the sheltering, social distancing, and quarantines that have quickly dominated our daily agendas. From recent releases to modern classics, we hope you give these records a listen.

Toro Y Moi - Anything In Return (2013)

“Speaking from my own perspective - I am so fucking anxious all the time, so naturally you can expect that the past month has not been the greatest time for me. In dire need of an outlet where I can allow myself the opportunity to *relax*, I find myself listening to this album almost constantly. Straight from the brain of one of the people who popularized the term ‘chillwave’, Toro Y Moi’s 2013 opus is packed with easily digestible indie-electronic tracks that can range from relaxing to plain fun.” -Carter Fife

Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony (2020)

“After patiently waiting many years, Jay Electronica fans rejoice now that his new album A Written Testimony has dropped. The timing of the release couldn’t have been better, considering his wisdom can provide us with a sense of clarity in this uncertain time. The best part is we all have more time now, allowing us to give he album the in-depth listen it deserves.” -Colson O’Connor

G Herbo - PTSD (2020)

“Most G Herbo projects are definitely an acquired taste for many listeners from outside his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. PTSD is slightly different. G Herbo's reflections in songs such as "Feelings" and "Intuition" are a clear indication that the rapper is transforming into a better artist and person. The most popular song named after the album features Chance the Rapper, Juice WRLD, and Lil Uzi Vert. Sitting at just around a month old, it is time to give PTSD a listen if you have not already. Check out a more in-depth review of the album here!” -Amaya Lorick

Mac Miller - Circles (2020)

Being stuck around the house all the time can put you through a lot of different moods. Mac Miller’s ingenious album Circles, consists of songs for every one of those moods. His slow-tempo, rainy day jams are perfect for staying sane at home during this crazy time.” -Colson O’Connor

Sevdaliza - Ison (2017)

“Dutch-Iranian songwriter & producer Sevdaliza delivers a dark, atmospheric, and lush blend of alternative R&B and trip-hop with her debut album Ison. Across the project’s exploration of love and what it means to be a woman in our modern world, she creates a landscape of stuttering drum loops, sinister chord progressions, and haunting vocal refrains that ultimately transcend into pure, unadulterated beauty. It’s one of my personal favorites of all time, and I would highly recommend listening to the tracklist in order, but if I had to pick and choose a few standout tracks, then “Hubris,” “Amandine Insensible,” “Hero,” and “Loves Way” would be a good place to start.” -Owen Tait

REASON - There You Have It (2018)

“Top Dawg Entertainment signee, REASON, is still early in his career but has already made a name for himself in his debut album There You Have It. The project opens with a skit, titled "Rufus Collection", and is followed by 11 vividly reflective songs. Before signing with TDE in August 2018, There You Have It was independently released in 2017. The remastered project's most popular song Better Dayz was well received by Ice Cube in a special segment posted by Genius. This album was a great introduction to where REASON came from and could possibly be key to understanding who he is as an artist.” -Amaya Lorick

Jai Paul - Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones) (2019)

“Originally leaked six years earlier by an anonymous user on Bandcamp, UK producer, singer, and songwriter Jai Paul officially released Leaked 04-13 (Bait Ones) to streaming services in 2019. The project is a collection of 16 demos Paul wrote prior to the album’s leak, but the quality of the music here wouldn’t indicate their unfinished nature in the slightest. Featuring slick vocal hooks and tons of wonky production tricks throughout, Bait Ones is a tight, feel-good alternative pop record that will be sure to keep your vibes up during social isolation. Check out tracks such as “Str8 Outta Mumbai” and “jasmine - demo” for a good taste of what this album has to offer.” -Owen Tait

Isaiah Rashad - The Sun’s Tirade (2016)

Isaiah Rashad has no problem having his fans wait for new music. This album from 2016 is what really put him on the map as the next one up out of TDE. The Sun’s Tirade is a showcase of emotional and self reflective raps, and the sounds on this range from jazzy instrumentation to more traditional trap. -Miles Hagan

Rich Gang - Tha Tour Pt. 1 (2014)

“Prior to the beef and bullshit, one duo reigned supreme, prolifically dropping music and poised to take over the rap game. In 2014, Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan might as well have been Andre 3000 and Big Boi the way they took the direction the sound was heading and forced it to turn on a dime, changing the course of hip-hop history in the process. The duo resembled Outkast in more ways than the influence though. Rich Homie Quan acted as the Big Boi to Thugger’s three stacks by anchoring the young superstar and providing constancy, allowing him to develop into one of the all-time great he was born to be. In addition, there are few tapes that show such palpable influence to today’s specific pop rap sound, just listen to “I Know It” once and tell me you don’t hear DaBaby, Gunna, and Lil Baby. Tha Tour 1 is one of the most important mixtapes of this generation and is absolutely as slimy as it gets.” - Spencer Lobdell

The Internet - Ego Death (2015)

“Lead by Odd Future vocalist Syd and assisted by artists such as Steve Lacy and Kaytranada, The Internet’s Ego Death is a fresh, charismatic fusion of R&B and neo-soul that will ease the pressure of being cooped up at home. Boasting plenty of groovy bass lines and jazz-inspired percussion, this project is simply hypnotic, a quality that is certainly aided by Syd’s infectious refrains and melodies. The standout tracks on this record include—but are not limited to—“Go With It,” “Under Control,” and ‘Special Affair.’ ” -Owen Tait

Grimes - Art Angels (2015)

“You might be thinking: What if being too relaxed is my biggest problem right now, and what if I am struggling to feel something underneath the weight of perpetual isolation’s monotony? Look no further - Art Angels is so off-the-walls and high-octane that one listen will have you sprinting around your home screaming “B-E-H-A-V-E, arrest us!” into your hairbrush. At just under 50 minutes long, it will provide you with the perfect daily workout, forgetting you are confined to your home in the first place” -Carter Fife

Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful (2015)

In a time where our scenery may get a bit repetitive music is a way for us to still paint vivid pictures. Few are better at this than Action, who delivers slick verses over incredible and unique production. There are several standout singles from this project that still impress me till this day. -Miles Hagan

EARTHGANG - Torba (2015)

“Throw it back to 2015 in quarantine and listen to EARTHGANG’s EP “Torba”. Every track is named after each day of the week, and each cut perfectly depicts the vibe of each day. The beats on this album have such a unique bounce, and EARTHGANG comes in with a crazy flow that do the beats justice. There also happen to be smooth features from artists Mac Miller and JID that add to the greatness of this EP.” -Colson O’Connor

NxWorries - Yes Lawd! (2016)

“In 2016, NxWorries (Duo made up of singer/rapper Anderson .Paak & producer Knxledge) released their only project ever titled Yes Lawd! While Anderson .Paak music is always excellent, Knxledge’s production brought greatness out of the artist and led to him creating his best music ever. The album is one of the more cohesive hip-hop projects I’ve ever heard showcasing a similar chill vibe and cool energy that never gets old on most tracks. I don’t know if it’s Paak’s cutting vocal inflections, ultra-dynamic singing voice, or the introspective ways he writes about love, but something about his performance on this record is very special to me, solidifying Yes Lawd! as a personal top five record of all time.” - Spencer

KAYTRANADA - 99.9% (2016)

Production allows the imagination to wander. 99.9% is one of the best albums we have received from a producer in a while. Not only does he offer stellar beats from start to finish, but the list of guest features is to notch. Its upbeat tone and wild creativity draw you in from the moment you press play, and make it hard to press pause for the next hour. -Miles Hagan

Dom Kennedy - Los Angeles Is Not for Sale, Vol. 1 (2016) 

“While LA native Dom Kennedy has made some great music over the course of his career, nothing comes close to his magnum opus, Los Angeles Is Not for Sale, Vol. 1. Nobody does relaxed west coast gangsta rap like Kennedy and he is in full force throughout this entire project. On this record, Dom combines a sharp pen with a laid back SoCal delivery resulting in an hour of addicting bops to hotbox your mom’s car to.” -Spencer Lobdell

Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf (2015)

“Back in 2015, Chance the Rapper, Nico Segal (formerly known as Donnie Trumpet, and their band partnered with Apple Music to release Surf for free! It's leading single "Sunday Candy" will get you in the mood to do something productive and spread love from afar. The 16-song project has features including Big Sean, J. Cole, and Quavo but these artists were purposely left unlisted. If you have not already listened to Surf, I challenge you to allow yourself to be surprised by all of its guest appearances.” -Amaya Lorick

Baby Keem - DIE FOR MY BITCH (2019)

“I really do not have too much to say about this one. Is it too late to call it a deep-cut at this point? It doesn’t matter. Fans of outrageous rap and stellar production link up and join the Baby Keem fandom before the hype-train leaves the station. Keem’s irresistibly catchy hooks on tracks like ‘BULLIES’ and ‘TOP RAMEN’ will make you an instant fan, and the possibility of an upcoming collaboration with Kendrick might give you something to look forward to this year. Whether or not you’re already a fan, it is never too early - or too late - to enjoy this record.” -Carter Fife

We hope these records help lift your spirits in such an uncertain time. Stay safe out there, and be sure to let us know what you’ve been listening to over the past few weeks.

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D Smoke Distinguishes Himself and Drops Jaws With His First Studio Album “Black Habits”

By Colson O’Connor

 Inglewood native Daniel Farris, commonly known as rapper ‘D Smoke’, had one hell of a year with his seemingly-overnight success. When looking at his background, it is not much of a surprise that he became this successful, it was only a matter of time. His family is full of talented gospel singers in the Inglewood area and his younger brother, R&B singer SiR, is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. D Smoke has been working hard on his craft for a long time and that earned him his well-deserved spot on the popular new Netflix competition show Rhythm + Flow. He passed through all of the challenges on the show with flying colors and gave the audience absolutely stunning performances they will never forget. D Smoke went on to win the show and set the bar extremely high for all contestants to come.

D Smoke was very strategic when it came to the lead up and release to this album. Ahead of release he dropped two singles called “Fly” and “No Commas”, along with new music videos for each of them. After that, he went to social media to increase hype by revealing the release date and track list as while as posting pictures relating to the album. These tactics seemed to have paid off big time for him because Black Habits is doing numbers. 

Black Habits, D Smoke’s first official studio album, dropped on February 7th, 2020. The album runs just over an hour long, at about 62 minutes, and was published by WoodWorks Records. Although D Smoke on his own is already incredible, Ari Lennox, Snoop Dogg, and more are featured on this album and are a lot of what brought this beautiful piece together.  

Morning Prayer is the lead track for this project. It is mostly composed of a mother and her children going through a prayer before going to school, finishing with a couple of lines from D Smoke. These few lines hint at the upcoming topics he discusses later in the album, like racism and bullying. 

Smoke takes a stand in the second song called “Bullies”, where he raps hard with a killer flow. This tough hook will give you a good idea of the tone in the track:  

“So fuck y'all bullies We act like we ain't, but us all, bullies Never settlin' for subpar, bullies Don't make a nigga knock the rust off, bullies” 

This song is a statement and it’s dope to see him start the album this way because it lets you know he’s not about to take bullshit from anyone. 

The third track, “No Commas”, has got to be the hardest track on the album. D Smoke attacks bar after bar and snaps for two crazy verses. As if those verses weren’t great enough, he put the icing on the cake with the outro by bouncing back and forth between speaking English and Spanish. This skill really adds a third-dimension to the heavy-hitting cut. 

Ever since the tracklist was released and I saw Snoop Dogg, my excitement for the album shot through the roof. The two California natives pay homage over a bass-heavy beat for the song titled “Gaspar Yanga”. D Smoke raps for most of it, leading up to Snoop’s fire chorus, giving the track a major west coast feel that is bound to have you bouncing in the whip. 

On the fifth track of the album, “Top of the Morning”, D Smoke presents a great morning-time perspective and outlook on life. Smoke really takes a step back and reminds himself of how we should be attacking the day that lies ahead of us. This song will leave you two-stepping while grinding your daily hustle.  

Sitting at number ten on the tracklist is “Fallin”, a song about Smoke’s relationship with a girl. He opens up about his feelings in such a real and honest way, and he crushes the analogies, blending the feelings and bars so fluidly. There are three clever verses on this track and D bodies every single one of them.  

The east side and the west side come together to create a masterpiece in “Real Body”, the 12th track on Black Habits. D Smoke and the acclaimed Dreamville singer Ari Lennox go back to back singing sensual verses. It is a bit of a slower track, however, the arrangement of the drums add so much drive that you can’t help but rock your head and sing along. 

D Smoke linked with his brother SiR, who is also an immensely talented singer/songwriter, to collaborate  “Closer to God”. My favorite part of this song is the instrumentation. Going along with the idea of furthering their relationship with God, the two used pianos and a church organ to successfully create a very spiritual beat.

The final (and also my favorite) piece on the album is titled “Black Habits II”. The execution of this song is phenomenal. The message behind this song is super powerful, it has a flawless, jazzy beat, and the wordplay is extremely sharp. In every line throughout the intro, chorus, and first verse D Smoke uses the word black. Shining a light on his feelings toward racism, he cleverly adds this twist to make the lines hit so much harder. 

Thanks to Rhythm + Flow, bilingual rapper D Smoke has finally started to receive the clout he deserves. He has done nothing but keep us constantly entertained and his new album Black Habits is a major turning point for his career. We should expect to see even more growth from the Inglewood rapper in future projects. 

Favorite Tracks

Gasper Yanga (Ft. Snoop Dogg)

Fallin’

Black Habits II

Rating: 7.5

Listen to Black Habits here:

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The Top 25 Hip-Hop/R&B Songs of 2019

By StereoVision Staff

With so much great music released this year it’s nearly impossible to pick just 25 songs to call the year’s best, but we tried anyway. Our team of writers and critics here at StereoVision spent the last two weeks of the year revisiting the years deep discography to make sure every song got it’s chance and we can put out a list we can feel confident in. All 25 songs were also compiled into a Spotify and Apple Music playlist which can be found here:

Listen along as you read and get a taste of any song you might have not tapped into in 2019. Now without further ado, the top 25 hip-hop/r&b songs of 2019:

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“Ballin” by mustard & roddy ricch

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Simply put, this was the song of the summer. It was everywhere, and I can say with the utmost confidence it still HITS every time. Roddy delivers in every way on this track. His flows and melodies go perfectly over Mustards beat. Anyone can get behind the songs message of celebrating your come up and basking in your glory after. “Ballin’” is the definition of a feel good song and will not only be on my summer playlist this year, but for many years to come. -Miles Hagan

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“Are we still friends?” by tyler, the creator

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“ARE WE STILL FRIENDS” may be the best song on the best album of this year. It encompasses everything that Tyler is trying to say and do on IGOR. He comes to terms with the tragic love story that has unfolded right in front of him and in the end, the only thing he has left to say is “Are we still friends?”. Tyler calls upon All Green and Pharell Williams and integrates them into the track masterfully. No one overstays their welcome, and it may even be such subtle contributions that on first listen some may not pick up on all the nuances that not only make this song a masterpiece, but the entire album. -Miles Hagan

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“Intro” by dababy

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There is a case to be made that no one had a better 2019 then DaBaby and although some may say his smash hit “Suge” was his climax, I believe “INTRO” was undoubtably his finest moment of the year. While most everybody enjoyed Baby On Baby, there was a common concern among rap fans that DaBaby was one dimensional and that his follow up would bring Baby hitting the same flows over the same type of beats rapping about the same subjects. Enter “INTRO”, a hard-hitting yet introspective cut where DaBaby juxtaposes his poor upbringing with his newfound success while simultaneously paying tribute to his deceased father and grandmother that passed during the rappers come up. With “INTRO” DaBaby doesn’t only perfectly introduce us to Kirk, the man who inspired his most recent album, he also shows that he is more than a rap super-star, he’s a multidimensional artist. -Spencer Lobdell

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“Binz” by solange

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When I Get Home is my favorite album of the year. With so many phenomenal tracks, it was difficult to choose just one to add to this list. Once giving the project another listen, however,  I found myself utterly in love with “Binz.” “Binz” is an aspirational song. Solange dreams of luxury, but not in a way that is obnoxious or braggadocios. Her desire for opulence is driven by her socioeconomic context and the socioeconomic context of blackness in America. With clever lines like “Dollars never show up on CP time,” Solange subverts the narrative that blackness and poverty are a given all while rap-singing over a simple and melodic instrumental carried by groovy bass riffs and snares. -Kaila Cherry

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“Racks in the middle” by nipsey hussle (Feat. Roddy Ricch & Hit-boy)

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Released just over a month before the prolific LA rapper’s murder, “Racks In The Middle” is an extension of Nipsey Hussle’s excellent 2018 album Victory Lap and shows how happy Nip was during the last year of his life. On the track, Hussle raps about how good it feels to finally reap the benefits of years and years of hard work. Fellow Los Angeles native Roddy Ricch is featured and delivers one of the best hooks of the year that’ll having you hitting repeat over and over again if Nipsey’s motivational bars didn’t already do the trick. Rest in paradise Nipsey, the entire West Coast is still mourning your passing. -Spencer Lobdell

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“Orange soda”

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There seemed to be a shortage of A-list rap projects released in 2019, which gave talented underground artists a chance to shine through; Baby Keem was one of these artists, and he did not disappoint. “ORANGE SODA,” a single for his album DIE FOR MY BITCH, was one of the catchiest songs of the year, and it only foreshadowed how great the rest of his project would turn out to be. -Owen Tait

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“Down Bad” by Dreamville

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J. Cole, the mastermind behind Dreamville’s ROTD3 project, decided to organize one of the most collaborative hip hop albums of all time. No song represents that album like “Down Bad”, a track with an original hard-hitting beat that features hot takes from many popular and up-and-coming artists such as JID, Bas, EarthGang, and Young Nudy. When you hear the song come on, you have no choice but to go crazy. -Colson O’Connor

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“Make it better” by anderson .paak (feat. smokey robinson)

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While there were multiple songs off Anderson .Paak’s excellent 2019 offering Ventura that could’ve been selected, “Make It Better” edged out the others simply because of how good it feels. On this beautiful love song the soulful rapper recruits music legend Smokey Robinson to help him craft a track about lovers who have fallen out of love but are determined to reignite the spark they once shared. Anderson’s vocals are absolutely to die for as he rides one feel-good melody after another on the way to a musical masterpiece. The instrumental, which was aided by legendary producer The Alchemist, is just as impressive as the production team uses a stringed orchestra beautifully to create a modern symphony that is equal parts fun and brilliant. If you haven’t already, you need to hear this cut. -Spencer Lobdell

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“Proud of u” by earthgang (feat. young thug)

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“Proud Of U” is with out a doubt one of the most fun songs to drop in 2019. On the upbeat cut the three Atlanta MCs profess their gratitude for the women in their lives that make everything work. All three artists bring an unparalleled energy to this track and Doctur Dot’s third verse breakdown is one of my favorite moments in hip-hop this year. If you didn’t listen to this song in 2019, start the decade off right with this banger. -Spencer Lobdell

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“off my feet / westside rider anthem” by Matt Martians

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Definitely a tough call, but I think this track has to be my favorite of the year. Matt Martians is an industry staple - he is a famed hip-hop producer, songwriter, and has been a member of groups like Odd Future and The Internet. “Off My Feet” begins as an off-kilter descent into classic keyboard heaven, complete with pounding vintage drums and Martian’s soulful and alien vocals. The track evolves into “Westside Rider Anthem”, a much shorter and almost self-aware tangent from the original track. It is almost as if the first half is like a blissful dream, and the other is the process of waking up and rejoining reality. This track has been the soundtrack to my summer and fall this year, and I will be sure to keep it in heavy rotation for years to come. -Carter Fife

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“Crime Pays” by freddie gibbs & madlib

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On the third single for their excellent 2019 collab album Bandana, Freddie Gibbs spits his classic cocaine bars over a soulful Madlib beat that tastefully samples “Free Spirits” a 1979 song by Walt Barr. It is impossible to listen to this track and not be catapulted back to 2014 when the duo released their fantastic album Piñata. With a number of smart callbacks by Gibbs, the song seems to exist in its own world that we are allowed to visit for just over three minutes. Freddie ending the song with an A$AP Rocky and Jeezy diss is really the cherry on top of an excellent song. -Spencer Lobdell

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“holy terrain” by fka twigs (Feat. future)

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After four years of absence from the music scene, FKA twigs came back swinging with her second studio album MAGDALENE, released in November. In the weeks leading up to the release of the project, twigs dropped holy terrain as a single in conjunction with a music video. The video to the track is as mystical as it is demanding, the perfect companion piece to a song that exemplifies these same qualities. On holy terrain, twigs sings beautifully about wanting a man who will be able to take her in all her glory without feeling scared or threatened by her power. The addition of Future as the male voice makes the track all the more fascinating. Known for his trippy drug-induced raps, twigs encourages Future to delve into himself for a rare moment of self reflection. -Kaila Cherry

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“sugar” by brockhampton

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A soft guitar ballad with a melancholy twist. Throw on expertly-layered vocals, infectious refrains, and the boyband’s trademark vocal-pitching—this track was guaranteed to be a hit. “GINGER,” the titular track of their most recent album, was also a contender for this spot. -Owen Tait

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“That’s life” by 88-keys (Feat. Mac miller & sia)

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No song has impacted me on an emotional level this year quite like “That’s Life” by 88-Keys. This song was released under a year after Mac’s tragic death and he seems to offer us words of closure on both verses. Sia sings the beautiful bridge and 88-Keys responsible for the tear-jerking, piano-anchored instrumental. Mac uses the first verse to tell us about the struggles that he faced with his mom and drugs while growing up while on the second verse he offers advice to anyone going through something similar. This song seemed to be a message from Mac telling us to move on, he’s alright now and we should be to. -Spencer Lobdell

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“Save Room for us” by tinashe (Feat. makj)

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Found on Songs For You (Tinashe’s long-awaited return to R&B), “Save Room For Us” is an anthem for unrequited love. The infectiously catchy harmonies pared with her vocal ability and the bouncy mixing makes this song an easy highlight on the record. The layers of vocals truly make this a return to form for Tinashe. My first experience hearing this was while whipping down the I-5 at 2 AM. The look on my face must have been priceless. -Carter Fife

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“Sanguine paradise” by lil uzi vert

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After a long hiatus due to an ongoing feud with his record label, fans would’ve been happy with any music from Lil Uzi Vert. Fans didn’t just get any music from Lil Uzi Vert but rather an epic anthem that simply sounds like 2019. On “Sanguine Paradise”, we hear Uzi spit classic Uzi bars and melodies over a horn driven instrumental that is right in his wheel house. Let’s all say a quick prayer that we get Eternal Atake in 2020. -Spencer Lobdell

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“WHAT to do?” by jackboys

This was a late release, but after hearing this song once, it’s clear that it’s one of the best pieces of music to be put out this calendar year. This collaboration between Travis and Don Toliver is “CAN’T SAY”, one of the standouts on ASTROWORLD, on steroids. The beat is dark and moody, and it sounds like Travis back in the same state of mind he was back on Rodeo and Days Before Rodeo. Don Toliver steals the shows with an absolutely captivating hook. While the actual lyrics have no choice but to take a backseat to the stellar production by Jenius and London Cyr there is not wasted words on the entire track. The best way to understand why this is one of the songs of the year is to do yourself a favor and play the track. -Miles Hagan

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“Almeda” by solange

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Now answered is the fated question: what would a song with producer powerhouse Pharrell, R&B icons Solange and The-Dream, and rising hip-hop star Playboi Carti sound like? The track is incredible, with Solange’s lyrics about her pride in her heritage weaving in an out of Pharrell’s larger-than-life production. Playboi Carti’s baby rap vocals are also joined by the rap debut of Metro Boomin, to end the track before you know what hit you. I will never forget getting lost in the Kelso Sand Dunes with a close friend while this song blasted out of her Bluetooth speaker. -Carter Fife

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“psycho” by Slowthai & denzel curry

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This track was a single that fully lived up to its name, as “Psycho” saw UK rapper slowthai and Miami native Denzel Curry team up for an absolute nightmare of a banger. The two complement each other to perfection, dishing out gruesome punchlines over hyper-aggressive flows. Meanwhile, the beat is otherworldly, featuring an off-kilter string sample and massive 808s that will surely inspire moshpits upon listening. -Owen Tait

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“Jesus is the one (I got depression) by zack fox & kenny beats

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The creation of “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” began as a joke between comedian Zack Fox and producer Kenny Beats. Spawned on Kenny Beat’s Youtube show The Cave, the song was intended to simply be a tongue and cheek “meme” track. The song subsequently blew up on the app TikTok and spread to Twitter. Very quickly, “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” went from being a one off track to being one of the most popular songs Kenny Beats has ever made. On a “post 9/11 pre Whitney Houston death type beat,” Zack Fox raps about loving God, his diamonds actually being rhinestones, driving his car into white-owned businesses, mental illness, and many other things. The song is totally random, but not absurd. Fox’s delivery is strong, the production is great, and the lyrics are hilarious. “Jesus is the One (I Got Depression)” describes the zeitgeist of 2019 in such a fun way, making it a perfect track to round out the decade. -Kaila Cherry

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“Monte Carlo” by toro y moi (Feat. wet)

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Toro Y Moi’s most recent LP, Outer Peace, was far more bright and funky than his work in previous years, but on “Monte Carlo” he offers a classic dreamlike and ethereal cut. Sounding both retro and futuristic at the same time, Chaz’s vocal production is unparalleled, and his lyrics about returning to a simpler time will resonate with even the most stone-hearted of listeners. It is on tracks like these that Chaz’s immense skill really shines through. I listened to this constantly during my first weeks after moving to LA, and the lines about PDX and OAK made me simultaneously homesick, and hopeful for what would be the best year of my life. -Carter Fife

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“Sacrifices” by Dreamville

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The Dreamville team didn't disappoint this year with their collaborative effort Revenge of the Dreamers III. “Sacrifices” comes at the very end of the project, and no other song could have served as a more fitting conclusion. EARTHGANG and J. Cole represent Dreamville and deliver some of their most honest verse in recent memory. Each artist reflects on the sacrifices they have made in their life to get to where they are today. It is beautiful to see such talented lyricists not only paint a picture but capture the emotions of loving something or someone so much that you really might contemplate sacrificing anything. Saba and Smino come in as guest verse and seamless flow over a beat that seems like it was handmade for everyone included. This song perfectly displays what Revenge of the Dreamers was at its peak; a collection of some of the most talented rappers and producers in music right coming together to make captivating music. -Miles Hagan

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“Silent Ride” by Boogie

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Boogie’s Everythings For Sale was one of the most impressive releases of 2019 and “Silent Ride” is without a doubt the best song on the album. On “Silent Ride” Boogie locks into a hypnotizing flow over one of the most interesting instrumentals of the year. The way that he draws on the emotions of listeners and uses pathos in his music is one thing that makes Boogie exceptionally unique and enjoyable to listen to. The Compton emcee shows exactly why he has cosigns from greats like Kendrick Lamar and Eminem on “Silent Ride”, simply put, he’s an excellent rapper. -Spencer Lobdell

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“Racecar” by Deaton chris anthony (feat. Clairo & coco & clair clair)

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Released as one of the few singles for DCA’s debut record BO Y, “RACECAR” features an enthusiasm previously unseen from the melancholic emcee. The guest features do a great job lending their energy on DCA’s nostalgic production, and simply: the song is just a banger. The percussion and synths pair well together to make a track that is unlike anything else released this year. Whenever anyone asks for indie-pop artists to be on the lookout for, DCA is the first one I mention. -Carter Fife

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“A lot on ur plate” by father

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In June, Father dropped “A lot on ur plate” on Twitter, where it remained the only place to stream the track until August. This was inconvenient for me because I was obsessed with the song. Father raps melodically over a dreamy Meltycannon beat. Father is known for his hypersexual approach to music, with many of his songs towing the line between suggestive and overly vulgar. On “A lot on ur plate,” Father is able to deliver blunt lines such as “Eat on that bitch like an edible” and “I know you got a lot on your plate but I still wanna take you to dinner and put dick in your tummy” with sensuality and sensitivity.  His flow is tighter than ever before but not difficult to follow. Not to mention the chorus is extremely catchy, too. -Kaila Cherry

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