Continuation of Excellence or Lack of Innovation? “It’s Almost Dry” Review

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by Asher Ali

Pusha T’s status as one of the most preeminent figures in “cocaine rap” has been in the work since he went under the moniker of Terrar as one half of the duo Clipse. Layered over beats almost exclusively produced by none other than Pharrell Williams, Terrance Thorton and his brother Gene slang bars like they were on a street corner.  

Push then caught the eye of Kanye West, and after signing with GOOD Music label in 2010, Thorton was promoted to company president two years later, and has been guided by Ye’s production and industry insight to a fruitful solo career. Push’s “DAYTONA” in 2018 was an elaborate composition arranged by West that took Push’s sound to new heights far and above what other coke rappers were doing then.  

Now, the duality of Push’s past career has conjoined on his newest project “It’s Almost Dry,” featuring six songs produced by Pharrell and six songs produced by West. The two hip hop maestros go toe to toe bringing some of the most solid beats heard this year, but outside of a few of tracks, this album doesn’t advance Push’s sound, much less the sound of contemporary coke rap.  

Pharrell immediately kicks it back to the Clipse days with “It’s Almost Dry’s” first track “Brambleton.” A smooth kick drum driven beat comes with Push’s malfeasance bars that cover his young life in Brambleton, Virginia where his mother worked and his adverse feelings toward ex-Clipse manager Anthony Gonzalez, who aired some dirty laundry with Push in a recent interview Gonzalez did with VladTV.   

Push immediately jumps onto another, more bombastic Pharrell beat with “Let The Smokers Shine The Coupes” where Push paints himself as the “coke game’s Dr. Seuss.” 

The first Ye backed track is introduced third on the track list with “Dreamin Of The Past” which is both lifted and brought down by Kanye. The track soars thanks to a well-pulled sample from Donny Hathaway’s “Jealous Guy” that lifts Push’s fluid drug-laced bars to a euphoric plane. As Push’s final verse fades, listeners are bombarded with an unwelcome verse from West, an awkwardly mixed 30 second feature the West rounds out with an uncomfortable line about how his family is currently unsafe.

Ye once again manages to be the greatest advocate and detriment for Push on “Rock N Roll” the alleged final song with Kid Cudi and West. Once again, a beautifully assembled beat on Ye’s end comes with a heinous guest verse from him, this one sounding more like the nonsensical bars that Kanye gave on the first rendition of DONDA 2. Cudi’s hook sounds muffled and over-produced as well, while Push delivers some strong verses about his premiere status at the top of the rap and the drug-dealing game.  

At his best on this album, Pusha T is elaborating on the narrative of authenticity, or lack thereof, in a world of glamor and fame. The two singles on the project, “Neck & Wrist” and “Diet Coke” address the lengths that people will go to fabricate a glamorous drug lifestyle in order to avoid actual hardships.  

“Neck & Wrist” sees Push and feature Jay-Z spitting over a whining synth and sharp piano key beat while they boast about a lifestyle they live but others pretend to have. HOV’s cutthroat line, “y’all spend real money on fake watches shockingly,” getting to the core of the absurd lengths people will go to construct facades.  

“Diet Coke” then expands on why people aspire to have a certain kind of life but aren’t willing to assume the risks.  

It seems on the latter portion of this project that Thorton lost motivation to push any boundaries however, which is disappointing when listeners come to expect that from him and his pen constantly. Not only did Push lose interest, but it appears Pharrell did too on “Call My Bluff” which is completely dry of energy and motivation.  

“Scrape It Off” is definitely this album’s attempt at a top charting club banger, featuring Don Toliver on the hook and Lil Uzi Vert. Toliver is as reliable as ever giving an ethereal hook, but Uzi phones in his verse and Push doesn’t bring an interesting flow to spice up the track on its back end.  

The final three songs on the albums are decent in their own right, but all come off as watered-down versions of more innovative cuts Push had earlier on the album. Even the final track “I Pray For You” doesn’t do much despite a beautiful intro and a Malice feature to rekindle a Clipse cut.  

“It’s Almost Dry” comes out strong to show that Push is still among the one of the most elite in the game, but a weak back half of the project doesn’t propel him to the new heights that people wanted to see. 

Favorite tracks: 

Just So You Remember 

Neck & Wrist (feat. JAY-Z & Pharrell Williams)

Dreamin Of The Past (feat. Kanye West)

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Asher Ali is a staff writer. Follow him on Twitter.

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We Can't be Stopped: Geto Boys' Influence Permeates Through Modern Rap

by Giovanni Recinos

The Geto Boys is a Houston hip-hop group that is most commonly recognized for their smash hit “Mind Playin Tricks on Me,” released in 1991. However, their true impact on hip-hop culture is often overlooked.

Geto Boys' music laid a lot of groundwork for sub-genres and common topics in hip-hop today such as: horrorcore, mental health topics and mafioso raps. While these topics are much more normalized in today’s hip-hop scene, at the time, Geto Boys were threatened by censorship for their detailed and hardcore lyricism. Despite these challenges, the Geto Boys would be the first to propel Southern artists into hip-hop conversations.

Courtesy of USA Today.

While the group had received many changes to its lineup over the years, the most notable members are Scarface, Bushwick Bill and Willie D. While those names may not click right away, you most likely have encountered all three of these rappers. Scarface, first known as Akshen, is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Scarface has offered features to many classic records by rappers including Freddie Gibbs, Jay-Z and Gang Starr. His often direct and dirty mafioso raps worked hand in hand with the adoption of his new stage name “Scarface,” which was inspired by the 1983 film. Most recently, Scarface was featured on part 1 of the Jeen-Yuhs documentary, listening to Kanye West’s “Family Business.”

Bushwick Bill on the other hand was immediately a breakthrough for the industry. Standing at 3 feet and 8 inches tall, “Little Billy” was often the most aggressively twisted lyrically and was notable for his often off-beat delivery. Though, Bill’s most recognizable appearance in hip-hop would probably be his appearance on Dr. Dre’s, The Chronic track “Stranded On Death Row” where Bushwick provided vocals for the intro and outro.

Last is Willie D or the “Gangsta of Love,” who’s lyrics were often regarded as extremely misogynistic, but he should also be noted for calling out the music industry's racist double standards. His most notable reference in hip-hop is probably on Ice Cube’s famous N.W.A. diss track, “No Vaseline.” On the track, Ice Cube quotes Willie D’s lyrics saying, “Willie D told me to let a ho be a ho, so.”

No Radio, Talk show or Magazine: Geto Boys Uncensored.

Though the Geto Boys would originally debut in 1988 with their project, Making Trouble. This album would flop, leading to a change in line-up and of content for the group. With the newly added Scarface and Willie D, their lyrics would shift towards more aggressively detailed lyrics about sex, murder and violence on their second project Grip it! On That Other Level. Though at this point, this was nothing new for the hip-hop genre, as N.W.A. was already going through censorship issues for “Fuck The Police” and their supposed “glorified gangsterism.” 2 Live Crew also had members arrested in 1990 for playing their album which was deemed as “obscene” and therefore banned in certain parts of Florida.

Courtesy of Columbus Calling.

The Geto Boys played their own role in the fight against censorship on their self-titled release, which contained both new and remixed tracks with the help of Rick Rubin. While the project was originally supposed to be distributed by Geffen Records, they refused to release the record stating, “I've never been frightened by a record before in my life, but for me the graphic details of the violence were really frightening. Finally we decided that we have a right as a private company to decide what kind of materials we want to be associated with, and this one, we decided, went too far.”

This project would later be released under WEA (now Warner Music) and would be the only WEA project to be released with an Explicit Content sticker along with this text, “Def American Recordings is opposed to censorship. Our manufacturer and distributor, however, do not condone or endorse the content of this recording, which they find violent, sexist, racist, and indecent.”

The Geto Boys would later call out the racism associated with these choices made by many of the music industry's distributors and manufacturers, as other albums with racist content towards minority groups were not given the same treatment. On their next project, We Can’t Be Stopped, they would call out the racism of the industry that they were being challenged by, arguing “It’s on the news every hour, why can’t I talk about it?” The choice to fight against the industry played a huge role in making music a place of free expression for many artists in the future such as: Tyler the Creator and Eminem.

mr. scarface is back.

Courtesy of Vulture

Springboarding off of the gruesome organized crime motifs of the Scarface movie, along with the creation of the mafioso genre often, the Geto Boys played a huge role in setting the foundation of many elements of contemporary rap. Their debut album, Making Trouble, had already used samples from the Scarface film, but what really made the Geto Boys usage of the film stand out was their track “Scarface.” This track solely featured rapper Scarface, who at this point in his career was named Akshen. After the release of this track, Akshen would officially become Scarface and would later drop his debut album, Mr. Scarface is Back.

This project would really push the mafia aesthetic further in ways that were not really done before in hip-hop. The album cover has obvious inspiration from the film with its use of aesthetics and extreme imagery such as shotguns and cocaine.

While rappers from New York pushed the growth of the genre to what it is today, the Geto Boys and Scarface were some of the first artists to go into topics such as detailed murder and violence. These extremities in juxtaposition with the money received from these criminal activities, would become a huge factor in some of the most critical Mafioso projects such as Raekwon’s, Only Built 4 Linx… or Kool G Rap and DJ Polo’s Live and Let Die. The latter of which both Bushwick Bill and Scarface would feature on, emphasizing their influence on these artists. Without the Geto Boys, it is reasonable to question where the careers of rappers such as Freddie Gibbs, Griselda and Pusha T would have landed topically.

with birth comes death.

“Flashes, I get flashes of Jason. Gimme a knife, a million lives I’m wasting,” said Bushwick Bill in 1989. Since then, the horrorcore genre has grown immensely popular, touching artists such as Tyler, the Creator, Eminem and Three 6 Mafia. The group wasn’t just referencing horror movies, but also pairing it with eerie beats, psychotic mindsets and detailed violent content.

One of their most iconic horrorcore tracks is the track “Chuckie” which samples the 1988 film, Child’s Play. This track features Bushwick Bill solely, with him playing on his noticeably short height, stating, “I told you size wasn’t shit, so I murdered your nieces.” The graphic details related to murder and the abstract stream-of-consciousness on the track would affect the genre heavily, with obvious influence on the writing styles of Eminem’s Slim Shady LP and Marshall Mathers LP.

While this was the case, Scarface’s duality in the horrorcore genre should also be recognized. While Scarface was detailing violence and murder, Scarface was also detailing a more reflective side, often detailing his paranoia and depressions that brought these horrors to his mind. This is best showcased on “Mind Playing Tricks on Me,” where Scarface introduced a lot of mental health related topics to hip-hop and how they have brought out certain grim actions to his life. The Geto Boys overall did a ton for hip-hop and should be recognized for their influence on the trajectory of the genre. Rest in Peace Bushwick Bill.

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Giovanni Recinos is a staff writer.

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Kanye West’s Powerful Sunday Service at The Forum in Los Angeles

By Carter Fife

Last Sunday Kanye West provided Los Angeles with its very own Sunday Service event, the first since the release of his ninth solo studio album Jesus Is King. Hosted by The Forum, the faded gloss of the vermillion floors was obstructed by a multitude of different flora and in its center: a large grassy circular platform surrounded by lush and colorful flowers, all directly underneath a rounded screen. Astounding scenery aside, it was as if the diverse crowd of hypebeasts and older LA natives had accidentally come upon a secret oasis in the middle of Inglewood. 

This event was the first time West had performed many of the tracks off Jesus Is King live, and after following the rocky release schedule over the past year, there seemed to be an air of relief in the venue. Since West announced the release date for his latest project (then called YANDHI) in September 2018, the album went through multiple delays and transformations, many of which were attributed to West not feeling satisfied with the sound or progress of the record. As the year ended, many fans speculated that YANDHI had been scrapped, but feelings of hope began to rise when in January 2019 West began to privately host “Sunday Service” events, where he and a choir would dress in similar white garb and perform soulful gospel tracks for a select audience of the industry’s elite. Many of these tracks were softer and more religious interpolations of West’s previous work, which made these private events a joy for fans to track. After bringing his Sunday Service to Coachella, and a summer full of YANDHI leaks trickling out of the G.O.O.D music camp, West would later announce a tentative release date and tracklist for his new album Jesus Is King in the fall of 2019. 

Despite having Sunday Service / listening session hybrid events in Detroit, Salt Lake City, New York, Chicago, and even Kingston Jamaica, the album failed to arrive when West promised, and fans’ hopes were dashed again. At these events West also premiered portions of Jesus Is King: A Kanye West Film, an IMAX film created at the Roden Crater featuring performances from the Sunday Service choir, which received mixed reviews from attendees. A month later, ticket sales for the IMAX film appeared seemingly out of nowhere, West tweeted a new tracklist and release date for the record along with its new cover art, and as quickly as the promotion started, it ended Friday morning when Jesus is King released on streaming services. 

Sunday’s event was in part a spiritual successor to the events that preceded it: Sunday Service at the forum was part sermon, part Sunday Service choir performance, and part Kanye West show. Merchandise was available for purchase, including a garment that was designed in collaboration with AWGE, and a multitude of expensive garments that made some cry sacrilege. What set this event apart, however, was the sheer cinematic power that West’s performance had on its attendees. This was not a private gathering of Hollywood’s elite witnessing a shotty mess of hardware and plastic chairs, this was a public multimedia event that was West’s first show of the JIK era, complete with elaborate costuming, sound and stage design, guest artists and a setlist that had a little bit for everyone.

To put it lightly: the event did not disappoint.

Surrounded by around 50 performers including vocalists, percussionists, keyboard and brass players, West performed powerful renditions of his newest material, including beginning the event with an incredible performance of ‘Closed On Sunday’. Since Jesus is King’s release, this track has been under a large amount of scrutiny from critics and fans alike for the seemingly vapid hooks about Chick Fil-A and lemonade. While lyrically the humor in the song may be at odds with its other layers, there is no denying that this song has some powerful melodies that are accentuated heavily by the presence of a choir. The harmonic conversations created by West’s impassioned singing juxtaposed against the choir’s haunting aural register made my jaw drop, as before then I had given little attention to this song. 

This was not the only moment that West’s coordination of choir, instruments, and song choice captivated the crowd, as over the course of the two hour performance fans were treated to rare performances of church classics like “How Excellent”, improvised beat sampling by Kanye West, and even a religious themed rendition of Damian Marley’s legendary reggae anthem “Welcome to Jamrock”. This Sunday Service also featured the first live performance of “Saint Pablo”, guest appearances from Francis and the Lights (performing “Take Me To The Light”), and perhaps most notably, an unforgettable reunion of Clipse on “Use This Gospel” which also featured two solos from the legendary Kenny G on his soprano saxophone. 

Clipse and Kenny G join Kanye on stage for an awe-inspiring performance of “Use This Gospel”

Sunday Service at the Forum was visually striking as well, with each member of the choir being draped in bone-colored garments that featured the occasional splash of faded pastel coloring. Women danced in unison with long and beautifully decorated braids underneath a circular screen that projected different colored lights, and even a cloudy sky at various moments in the show. It was refreshing to see a stage that was in many ways an inverse of Kanye West’s stage design on 2016’s Saint Pablo tour. Before, West stood alone on the panopticon stage, hovering above his fans performing to them. On Sunday, West was under his fans performing for them, and aside from his performances of the tracks, there were many moments in the production where West was far from the focal point. Jason White, the service’s choir director, took the spotlight for the majority of the show while West would simply blend in with the performers. 

Whether or not one believes Kanye West to be a ‘true christian’, or a real supporter of the conservative party, or whether or not one boxes West to a caricature of a misguided celebrity plagued by mental illness and a growing distance between himself and reality, there is no denying that this event was powerful. Though the merchandise was expensive (LA Apparel / Yeezy Blanks cost far more to produce than Gildan Tees), entry to the event was only 15$ a person, as it was clearly designed to be a spectacle for the public to not only consume, but to be a part of as well. Audience participation was encouraged and never before have I been to a show where there had been such a tangible sense of elation both social and spiritual. Between seeing Kanye’s daughter playfully sing while on Kanye’s shoulders, and witnessing the reunion of one of hip-hop’s most powerful duos, Sunday Service at The Forum was an event I will not soon forget.

Listen to Kanye West’s new album Jesus Is King here:

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Songs of the Week: March 24th

By Spencer Lobdell

Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior along with one throwback song of the week. To stay up to date on all new music, follow my Spotify playlist “What I’m Feeling” which is updated weekly to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:

A playlist updated weekly with whatever new songs I'm feeling at the time. Always 30 songs and in order with what I'm feeling the most at the top.

New Songs of the Week:

“CAPO” by NLE Choppa

CAPO, a song by NLE Choppa on Spotify

At the beginning of the year the world was introduced to 16 year old NLE Choppa when his high energy underground hit “Shotta Flow” broke onto the charts. The Memphis rapper is back this week with a cut even more exciting than his breakout hit. On “CAPO” Choppa once again shows his ability to lock into an instrumental and snap on verses but this time it’s his menacing hook that steals the show. This is the best song we’ve heard from the promising young artist only adding to the already existing excitement surrounding his name.

“Ran down in the street, man, this nigga tried to play me

I hit one in the head but his gun was on safety

They askin’ how I been, what I been feelin’ lately

I got good aim in the pocket like I’m Brady”

— NLE Choppa "CAPO"

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“WOAH” BY RICH THE KID (FEAT. MIGUEL & TY DOLLA $IGN)

Woah (feat. Miguel & Ty Dolla $ign), a song by Rich The Kid, Miguel, Ty Dolla $ign on Spotify

This week Rich the Kid dropped The World Is Yours 2. While Rich sticks to his tested formula for most of the album, the occasional detour into a more experimental direction lead to the best moments on the album. This is the case with the slower, wavy cut “Woah” which is the best song on the album. Everything about this song is pure bliss from Miguels beautiful harmonies on the chorus to Rich’s tasteful and entertaining first verse. This song can fit many different vibes giving it serious potential when it comes to sales. Regardless of how it sells, I don’t see this song leaving my constant rotation any time soon.

“She got that woah

She got that drip slow

She got that I might pull up on her buy a Range Rove”

— Rich The Kid "Woah"

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“Jailbreak the Tesla” by Injury Reserve (Feat. Amine)

Jailbreak the Tesla (feat. Aminé), a song by Injury Reserve, Aminé on Spotify

This week, critically acclaimed rap trio Injury Reserved teamed up with Amine for their second release this year. “Jailbreak the Tesla” is a grinding cut anchored by a futuristic instrumental filled with high-tech sound effects. Injury Reserve and Amine go bar for bar throughout the song rapping about their cars and connecting it to when everyone was obsessed with jailbreaking their apple products. It appears an album is on the near horizon for Injury Reserve which is always a reason for excitement.

“Had the iPod Touch with the Redsn0w
Cydia, but you could pirate all the apps though
They would have security cams by the back doors
Nigga, this was Limewire on crack, though”

— Richie With a T "Jailbreak the Tesla"

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Throwback song of the week:

“M.F.T.R” by Pusha T (Feat. The Dream)

M.F.T.R., a song by Pusha T, The-Dream on Spotify

In 2015 Pusha T released King Push, a perfect precursor for his masterpiece that was Daytona. The third track on the album “M.F.T.R” stands for “More Famous Than Rich” and showcases King Push coming for the throat of all clout chasers in the industry. Pusha has always made a point of his authenticity and “M.F.T.R” is one of the best examples. The Dream assists on the song and sings an epic hook that sits perfectly on top of the polished instrumental. “M.F.T.R” is a sleeper in Pusha T’s excellent discography and a personal favorite.

“King Push is synonymous with kingpin
Chess moves on your checkerboard, king him”

— Pusha T "M.F.T.R"

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Songs of the Week: March 17th

By Spencer Lobdell

Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior along with one throwback song of the week. To stay up to date on all new music, follow my Spotify playlist “What I’m Feeling” which is updated weekly to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:

A playlist updated weekly with whatever new songs I'm feeling at the time. Always 30 songs and in order with what I'm feeling the most at the top.

New Songs of the Week:

“King James” by Anderson .Paak

King James, a song by Anderson .Paak on Spotify

The most soulful voice in hip-hop is back with his first single off his upcoming album Ventura. “King James” is a groovy ode to those using their fame as a platform to uplift their community and better the world. Where many fans felt like Dr. Dre’s production on Oxnard created an identity crisis for Paak, on “King James” he seems to rediscovers himself in a fantastic way. It’s looking like Ventura could shape out to be another outstanding album from Anderson .Paak.

“We couldn’t stand to see our children shot dead in the streets
But when I finally took a knee
Them crackers took me out the league”

— Anderson .Paak "King James"

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“Numb Numb juice” by Schoolboy Q

Numb Numb Juice, a song by ScHoolboy Q on Spotify

“Numb Numb Juice” is the first single off ScHoolboy Q’s long awaited fifth studio album. On this menacing track we hear Q call out industry rappers and fake gangstas for all kinds of “bitch shit.” The TDE rapper also dropped a dope video for the new single which you can check out here. Q is out for blood on this new track which should only intensify the anticipation surrounding the new project. 

“Faking like you got it in your pockets, yeah, that’s bitch shit
Talking to them hoes, you steady gossip, yeah, that’s bitch shit
Telling on your mans so you can scram, yeah, that’s bitch shit
Pull it out and acting like it jam, yeah, that’s bitch shit”

— ScHoolBoy Q "Numb numb juice"

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“Wasteland” By Tierra Whack

Wasteland, a song by Tierra Whack on Spotify

Tierra Whack has been building a buzz lately through a series of singles which she refers to as “Whack History Month.” While everything she’s released recently has been very good, ”Wasteland” might just be my favorite track she’s put out since Whack World last year. This slower ode to curving guys is anchored by a pulsing chord progression played on an organ giving this song a hypnotizing feel. 

“I was brought up by myself
And it’s by choice
You was on a bike
I was Rolls Royce ”

— Tierra Whack "Wasteland"

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Throwback song of the week:

“Rush hour” by Mac Miller

Rush Hour, a song by Mac Miller on Spotify

“Rush Hour” is the third track off Mac’s major label debut GO:OD AM. The track is boastful yet insightful and honest as Mac frequently was. The song is about making money and basking in wealth but it is so different than most tracks with the same topic. Somehow Mac flexes how easily he makes money without ever putting himself on a pedestal and seeming unrelatable. Mac’s ability to connect with listeners while still being sincere about his insane life is one of the many things that made him so special and makes this song so special.

“I give a fuck less and less every day
The more you give a fuck, I guess the less you make
Homie we just out here tryna elevate
Heaven is a crime scene, stay behind the yellow tape”

— Mac Miller "Rush Hour"

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The Top 50 Hip-Hop Projects of 2018

By Spencer Lobdell

2018 was an excellent year in Hip-Hop. We had major artists drop exceptional albums (J. Cole, A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, etc.). We had new artists release excellent debut projects (Tierra Whack, Jay Critch, Juice WRLD, etc.). Older veterans made comebacks (Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Royce da 5’9, etc.) We even had entertaining rap beefs (Drake v Push and Tory v Joyner). The music was plentiful and of high quality. The demand for hip-hop has grown exponentially in the last two years pushing the boundaries of the genre further than ever before in 2018. As a result, this year has been historic so the least we can do is look back and appreciate the best of the best from a great year.

Before we get to the list I have to rant. While many may say my year end list is a month late, it is absolutely stupid that it is acceptable to drop a list like this at the end of November. Every year major publications miss excellent albums dropped in December because they jump the gun and race each other to drop their list, and as a result you won’t see an excellent Kodak Black album and a very good 21 Savage album on any other year end list.

For every project included on my list I selected three tracks to spotlight. I have compiled all these tracks onto a Spotify playlist that will be linked here:

This playlist is a the counterpart to my article "The Top 50 Hip-Hop Projects of 2018" on www.hottakehiphop.com. I picked 3 songs from each of my top 50 projects of the year and included them in this playlist. Hit play and enjoy the best 2018 had to offer.

Listen along as you read and get a taste of any album you might have not tapped into in 2018. Now without further ado, the top 50 hip-hop projects of 2018:

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50. Rolling Papers 2 by Wiz Khalifa

If you went into this album thinking it was going to live up to the OG Rolling Papers you clearlyhaven’t been paying attention. With that being said, Rolling Papers 2 served its purpose of providing Wiz fans with a handful of quality songs to smoke to all summer. While the album is far too long, the best tracks on this thing are really good and had excellent replay value in 2018.

Best Songs:

Rolling Papers 2

Hopeless Romantics (Feat. Swae Lee)

Fr Fr (Feat. Lil Skies)

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49. Harder Than Ever by Lil Baby

Harder than ever was the start to a breakout 2018 for Lil Baby. This tape is loaded with bangers and high-level features. While it’s safe to say that a Drake cosign is one of the best ways for any young artist to pop, with features from Lil Uzi Vert, Yung Thug, Gunna, and others, Lil Baby was bound to blow with or without his brand new whip with no keys.

Best Songs:

Exotic (Feat. Starlito)

Southside

Life Goes On (Feat. Gunna & Lil Uzi Vert)

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48. Life’s a Trip by Trippie Redd

If 2017 was the year that Trippie Redd moved from Soundcloud hero to mainstream artist than 2018 was the year he became a superstar. While this project feels less cohesive than his Love Letter series it also encompasses Trippie Redd at his absolute best. There are hits scattered throughout this tape and on “Missing My Idols” we hear Trippie rap the best he has since earlier SoundCloud releases. While they are cuts, Trippie reached a little too deep into his bag by including UKA UKA and Dark Knight Dummo on this tape which caused for the middle of the album to be a little boring for fans that have been following Trippie prior to 2018.

Best Songs:

Taking a Walk

Missing My Idols

Oomps Revenge

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47. Northsbest by Lil Mosey

While Seattle rapper Lil Mosey may have just turned 16, that didn’t keep him from releasing a project packed with some of the catchiest songs of the year. Mosey’s trendy dialect and youthful energy makes Northsbest one of the most fun albums of 2018 even if it lacks much context.

Best Songs:

Kamikaze

Noticed

Boof Pack

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46. Fetti by Freddie Gibbs, Curren$y, & The Alchemist

LA legend Freddie Gibbs continues to drop quality tape after quality tape without any mainstream recognition. On Fetti, Gibbs links up with OG LA producer The Alchemist and Young Money rapper Curren$y. No one does modern gangsta rap like Gibbs and his counterparts lift him to new enjoyable places on his latest project.

Best Songs:

Location Remote

The Blow

Saturday Night Special

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45. On the Rvn by Young Thug

2018 has been an emotional roller coaster for me when it comes to Young Thug. I was very disappointed by his labels collaborative album Slime Language when it came out in August. I was ready to give up on Thugger for 2018 until he dropped his surprise EP/album On the Rvn. On this tape Thug trades quantity for quality and delivers with six excellent tracks. On the final track “High” New York City based producer Stelios Phili chops up Elton Johns classic song “Rocket Man” into the most ambitious beat in recent memory. Thug’s vocals sweetly glide over the hypnotizing instrumental making for one of the best tracks of the year.

Best Songs:

Climax (Feat. 6lack)

Sin (Feat. Jaden Smith)

High (Feat. Elton John)

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44. Life of a Dark Rose by Lil Skies

Welcome to the rodeo Lil Skies. Skies was absolutely undeniable in 2018 and one of the best new artists of the year. This all started with Life of a Dark Rose, which is packed with cuts. There are few dull moments on this album and although Skies’s rapping can be repetitive and basic he does a great job of holding the listeners attention throughout the 41-minute project. Only time will tell if Skies will stick around in 2019.

Best Songs:

Welcome to the Rodeo

Lust

Nowadays (Feat. Landon Cube)

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43. Scorpion by Drake

As his career progresses it seems harder and harder for Drake to live up to expectations he set for himself with his first three albums. With this being said, Drake continues to crush the chart and make hits at rate no one in hip-hop ever has. Scorpion is a double album with the first disc being dedicated to Drake the rapper and second Drake the singer. This was a terrific idea and allows Scorpion to appeal to every Drake fan out there. The best moment on this album was four songs in when Drizzy snaps for 5 minutes of straight introspective bars in true Take Care fashion on “Emotionless.” While there were some real highs on this project, they came with lows and a saturated album that didn’t lie as long as it should’ve in 2018.

Best Songs:

Emotionless

Sandra’s Rose

Blue Tint

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42. Danny Womack by Don Toliver

Don’t know who Don Toliver is? Don’t worry, neither did the rest of the world until his feature on “Can’t Say” on Travis Scott’s Astroworld. The Houston Trap&B artist has an extremely unique sound that will cross over into the mainstream if he continues to drop music in 2019. His debut album Donny Womack is a perfect introduction to Don Toliver and is full of songs you’ll be excited to play for your friends.

Best Songs:

Diva

Issues

2 Lil Shorty

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41. A Love Letter to You 3 by Trippie Redd

Trippie Redd was everywhere in 2018 and the third installment of his A Love Letter To You Series was his best work of the year. The album opens with one of the catchiest songs of Trippie’s career with “Topanga.” The album is very solid throughout and a close second in the Love Letter To You series.

Best Tracks:

Topanga

Love Scars 3

1400/ 999 Freestyle (Feat. Juice WRLD)

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40. Victory Lap by Nipsey Hustle

Los Angeles OG Nipsey Hustle dropped the best album of his career in early 2018. Victory Lap sounds exactly like the name implies, a braggadocios victory lap around the rap game that Nipsey has been playing in for a decade. “Last Time That I Checc’d” with YG was probably the most improbable track of the year due to gang affiliations. While unexpected, it is probably the most gangsta track of the year and held in very high standards in the Los Angeles rap scene.

Best Songs:

Last Time That I Checc’d (Feat. YG)

Grinding All My Life

Double Up (Feat. Belly & Dom Kennedy

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39. Punken by Maxo Kream

Twelve days into 2018 Maxo Kream dropped Punken, the most cohesive project of his career. Maxo’s nonstop flow and brutally honest story telling makes “Grannies” an easy highlight of the album. The Houston native has his own flow and plenty of real life experiences to share, making Punken an extremely authentic and enjoyable listen.

Best Songs:

Grannies

Capeesh (Feat. Trippie Redd)

Bussdown

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38. November by SiR

TDE’s SiR opened 2018 with the extremely smart November. Sir’s sophomore project is jazzy, sophisticated, and different. His style is fresh and a breath of fresh air in a hip-hop industry saturate with trap. In the brilliant song “D’Evils” SiR’s relaxing layered singing beautifully lays on top of a cool reggae sample. There is a reason that fellow TDE members were pushing this album so hard in January – it’s dope.

Best Songs:

Something Foreign

D’Evils

Never Home

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37. I am > I Was by 21 Savage

21 Savage’s Christmas present to the world was his most complete album yet, I am > I was.  Throughout this album savage tries out new styles and flows without ever loosing the hard, ruthless, bloodthirsty 21 that we all fell in love with. The album opens with a heavy hitter and one of the best intros of the year in “a lot” with J. Cole. 21 exceeds expectations the entire tape and reminds why he blew in the first place.

Best Songs:

a lot (Feat. J. Cole)

All my friends (Feat. Post Malone)

can’t leave without it (Feat. Gunna & Lil Baby)

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36. Goodbye & Good Riddance by Juice WRLD

We love sad boy rap! Crash your whip! Take the percs! Juice WRLD had some kind of year. The first half of his debut album, Goodbye & Good Riddance, was the soundtrack to the beginning of 2018. It is an overly emotional break up album with some of the catchiest songs of the year. It’s impossible to not love juice’s passion filled voice and gliding melodies.

Best Songs:

Lucid Dreams

Black & White

Lean Wit Me

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35. Noir by Smino

In 2018 Smino continued to be authentically himself and carve out his own lane. He seamlessly switches between singing and rapping and has potentially the most unique style in the rap game right now. The second cut on the album “L.M.F”  is one of the best songs of the year and the album never slows down. Noir was one of the most fun and exciting projects of 2018.

Best Songs:

L.M.F

Klink

Z4L (Feat. Bari & Jay2)

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34. K.T.S.E by Teyana Taylor

The Kanye West produced K.T.S.E absolutely took Teyana Taylor’s music to places it had never been before. Throughout the 22 minutes, Teyana charms us with her beautiful vocals that couldn’t fit better with some of Kanye’s best instrumentals of the year. The album ends with the electrically sensual “WTP” where Taylor shows us just how much of a bad bitch she really is.

Best Songs:

Issues/Hold On

Hurry (Feat. Kanye Wesst)

WTP

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33. GOOD Job, You Found Me by Valee

In an industry full of impersonators and flow-biters it is a true rarity to find someone as unique as Valee. The newest member of Kanye West’s G.O.O.D Music has his own flow that has already been stolen and used by may A-List rappers on their hit records. While GOOD Job, You Found Me only has a play time of 14 minutes it absolutely has to be included on any year end hip-hop list. Valee occupies his own lane and leaves the listener begging for more.

Best Songs:

Miami (Feat. Pusha T)

Skinny

Shell

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32. East Atlanta Love Letter by 6lack

6LACK’s emotionally chilling sophomore album is beautiful and profound and is somewhat reminiscent of early releases from the weekend. Throughout the album 6LACK sings about women as evil temptations, an entertaining and provocative counter narrative to common hip-hop themes. 6LACK’s tone is almost one of warning and his experiences with women are earnest and easy to relate to.

Best Songs:

Loaded Gun

Pretty Little Fears (Feat. J. Cole)

Seasons (Feat. Khalid)

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31. Room 25 by Noname

Noname never disappoints. Her spoken poetry rap is so nice on the ears and her lyricism is second to none. Room 25 is beautiful, sophisticated, and badass all at the same time. Twice in the album’s excellent intro Noname spits, “Y’all really thought a bitch couldn’t rap?” If there was ever a doubt Room 25 silences it and proves Noname can rap and do much more.

Best Songs:

Self

Blaxploitation

Ace (Feat. Smino & Saba)

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30. Black Panther the Album by Various Artists

In 2018 Kendrick Lamar and friends released the best movie soundtrack put together in recent memory. Black Panther the Album has a star studded track list with songs from Kendrick Lamar, SZA, The Weekend, Travis Scott, Schoolboy Q, and many others. This album holds your attention as good as anything on this list with the slew of featured artists and fantastic production.

Best Songs:

Paramedic! (Feat. SOB X RBE)

Bloody Waters (Feat. Anderson .Paak & Ab-Soul)

Big Shot (Feat. Travis Scott)

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29. Hood Favorite by Jay Critch

2019 will be the year that all of New York embraces Jay Critch as their crown jewel. The up-and-coming Bronx rapper released his debut album in November and it is packed with hits. The third track “Ego” has one of the catchiest hooks of the year and is sure to see mainstream success in 2019. Jay Critch is the next big thing out of the east coast and Hood Favorite is just the beginning.

Best Songs:

Smutty

Ego

Try It (Feat. French Montana & Fabolous)

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28. Championship by Meek Mill

Meek has always rapped with tremendous passion, but Championship takes this passion and intensity to another level. Meek Mill’s life experience with the court system and jail makes his raps about a prison reform extremely convincing and valid. Championship is cohesive, has a purpose, and most importantly, it bangs.

Best Songs:

What’s Free (Feat. JAY-Z & Rick Ross)

Championships

Tic Tac Toe (Feat. Kodak Black)

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27. ? by XXXTENTACION

RIP X! ? is an eerie assortment of bold styles and passion filled lyrics that few could pull off. X grew immensely through the making of ? and it’s easy to see that if he just had more time the future was very bright. While a couple of songs on this thing miss pretty hard, majority show incredible foresight and an ear for many different styles. Besides just being unique, X proves over and over again on his sophomore album that he was a very talented MC when he decides to rap rap like he does on a number of joints on this album.

Best Songs:

Moonlight

The remedy for a broken heart

Infinity (Feat. Joey Bada$$)

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26. God Level by 03 Greedo

When it comes to underground raap in LA, no one is held in higher regards than 03 Greedo. God Level is easily Greedo’s best work and was released a months after being sentenced to 20 years in prison for gun and drug possession. The hour and forty minute album truly sounds like a glimpse into the future of rap and it’s a true shame that Greedo has such limited time left to record music to be released during his jail stint. Free 03!

Best Songs:

Blower (Feat. AD)

Dibiase

Conscience

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25. Veteran by JPEGMAFIA

Veteran is  frantic, weird, glitchy, and oh so good. JPEGMAFIA achieves something on this album that was only possible because it was entirely self produced. I won’t lie, more than once throughout this album I had to check and make sure my headphones weren’t spazzing out, but the more I listened the more I enjoyed these strange, grinding, futuristic instrumentals. Veteran is uniquely special and rooted in provocative political messages.

Best Songs:

1539 N. Calvert

Thug Tears

Macaulay Calkin

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24. Die Lit by Playboi Carti

The human instrument is back at it with a fun, exciting, and immensely cool 19-track album. Where Carti lacks as a lyricist, he makes up for through incredibly infectious rapping that seems to bounce back and forth with tremendous energy. The albums excellent playability should be attributed half to Carti and half to super producer Pi’erre Bourne who handles majority of the production on this project. Bourne’s beats sound like a mix of extremely expensive synths, retro video game sound effects, and booming 808s. This style couldn’t pair better with Carti’s style of rap and makes Die Lit an exceptional listen.

Best Songs:

Long Time

Shoota (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

Poke it Out (Feat. Nicki Minaj)

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23. Milky Way by Bas

Dreamville’s Bas reached new highs with his third studio album, Milky Way. Bas has always been an excellent MC who comes with profound lyrics while still maintaining a chill sound that never comes off as condescending. This thing is packed with great songs from the bouncing, high-energy single “Tribe” to the soothing “Purge” where Bas calmly snaps in back to back verses. Milky Way is extremely put together and one of the most professional albums of the year from cover to cover.

Best Songs:

Tribe (Feat. J. Cole)

Boca Raton (Feat. A$AP Ferg)

Fragrance (Feat. Correy C)

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22. Requiem by Thouxanban Faunni

The biggest mystery of 2018 is how Thouxanban Faunni failed to blow up for the second year in a row. The sound cloud legend dropped the best project of his career with Requiem yet still failed to achieve mainstream success. This project plays more like a playlist than an album but that is far from an issue with Faunni. I am perfectly fine with sacrificing context and cohesion for new wave trap bangers on every track. The best tracks on this tape double as some of the best tracks of the year. Faunni is the future of rap, tap in to Requiem before you’re late to the party.

Best Songs:

Fully Automatic Stick

Wide Awake

Xenon

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21. Tha Carter V by Lil Wayne

After years of waiting we finally received Tha Carter V in 2018 and it didn’t disappoint. Weezy is sharper than we’ve heard him in recent years and his punchlines are still top notch. “Mona Lisa” with Kendrick Lamar is a collab made in heaven where two top ten rappers of all time truly do their thing. Wayne is a legend and Tha Carter V proves that he is still extremely relevent in 2018.

Best Songs:

Don’t Cry (Feat. XXXTENTACION)

Let It Fly ( Feat. Travis Scott)

Mona Lisa (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

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20. Book of Ryan by Royce da 5’9

Royce da 5’9 has always been an incredible lyricist and Book Of Ryan is him flexing his gift. Throughout the hour-and-ten minute concept album Royce tells us his life story through a series of extremely entertaining personal anecdotes that reek of authenticity. You know an album is special when after one listen you feel like you personally know the artists and this is absolutely the case with Book of Ryan. This album is Royce at his most venerable which is Royce at his best.

Best Songs:

Caterpillar (Feat. Eminem & King Green)

Boblo Boat (Feat. J. Cole)

Summer on Lock (Feat. Pusha T, Jadakiss, Fabolous, & Agent Sasco)

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19. Lady Lady by Masego

If you are unfamiliar with Masego it’s time to wake up. He was born in Jamaica, plays the saxophone, and dropped one of the coolest albums of 2018. Masego transcends genres with his chill jazz-trap that can appeal to a wide variety of audiences. Lady Lady, his debut full length album is sophisticated, jazzy, and so so dope.

Best Songs:

Lavish Lullaby

Old Age (Feat. SiR)

Tadow (Feat. FKJ)

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18. Ye by Kanye West

Kanye West’s entire career has been filled by controversy and douch-baggery so it baffles me why people were surprised when 2018 was a shit show for Kanye in the media. If we can block out the media hell storm that is Kanye West, we are left with some really good music. While Ye only runs for 23 minutes you’ll need an hour to listen to this project because one listen won’t be enough. The album concludes with “Violent Crimes” a beautiful song dedicated to Kanye’s daughters that will go down as an all-time classic Kanye song.

Best Songs:

Wouldn’t Leave

Ghost Town

Violent Crimes

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17. DiCaprio 2 by JID

While people who say JID’s voice and flow sound like Kendrick Lamar are completely out of pocket, his talented is somewhat reminiscent of a young King Kunta. JID spazzes all over this tape with his classic fast flow and introspective lyrics. Bar for bar, few projects can keep up with DiCaprio 2 in 2018.

Best Songs:

Slick Talk

Off Da Zoinkys

Skrawberries (Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)

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16. Astroworld by Travis Scott

While the truly unobtainable expectations and hype that Astroworld gained prior to its release took away from the project for some, we need to take it for what it is: a classic project from the production prodigy. Travis Scott delivers with his classic sound and gives us an hour of straight futuristic rap that doesn’t lose your attention once. Take a trip to Astroworld for some of the best production you’ll hear anywhere with equally as entertaining lyrics and features.

Best Songs:

STARGAZING

NO BYSTANDERS

YOSEMITE

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15. Testing by A$AP Rocky

A$AP Rocky is the definition of an icon. He is always years ahead of everyone else and practically decides what is trendy. On his latest project, Testing, Rocky experiments with lots of new sounds that aren’t really as outlandish as some seem to think. This album is refreshing and shows that Rocky’s creativity and uniqueness should never be questioned even when it seems he has done everything there is to do. “Praise The Lord” should be in the running for song of the year and “A$AP Forever” should win music video of the year hands down. Testing has fantastic replay value and was one of the best albums of 2018.

Best Songs:

A$AP Forever REMIX (Feat. Moby, T.I., & Kid Cudi)

Fukk Sleep (Feat. FKA twigs)

Praise The Lord (Feat. Skepta)

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14. Redemption by Jay Rock

Jay Rock has spent nearly a decade in the shadow of Kendrick Lamar, his childhood friend and fellow TDE member, and while Kdot’s Black Panther album was super dope, 2018 was finally Jay Rock’s year. Redemption is extremely gangsta well-being sophisticated and tasteful at the same time. It is impossible to not be reeled in and hooked by Jay Rock’s stories that are scattered throughout this project. Redemption is a fantastic album that will continue to get play time far beyond 2018.

Best Songs:

The Bloodiest

Knock It Off

WIN

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13. Oxnard by Anderson .Paak

Yes Lawd! Anderson .Paak talent is absolutely undeniable when you watch him play the drums and rap simultaneously all well constantly flashing the best teeth in the rap game in his infectious smile. While Oxnard feels slightly less cohesive than Malibu it is so fun and funky that no one in their right mind should care. Paak’s music is so tasteful and feels so good. You can hear the passion and thoughtfulness that goes into every bar he spits or sings. Oxnard is an essential installment to the masterpiece in progress that is Anderson .Paak’s discography.

Best Songs:

Tints (Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Who R U?

Cheers (Feat. Q-Tip

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12. KOD by J. Cole

KOD is a perfect example of why J. Cole has been considered a top tier rapper for years. It is an album that overtly condemns drug use without ever coming off as preachy or condescending. He does this through very thoughtful rhetoric that is sympathetic and understanding of the complexities of addiction. Cole even employs an alter-ego, kiLL Edward, an addict who makes us feel the pain of addiction. KOD concludes with “1985” an extremely witty diss track named at an entire generation of new age rappers. 

Best Songs:

KOD

ATM

1985 – Intro to “The Fall Off”

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11. Memories Don’t Die by Tory Lanez

Tory Lanez dominated 2018 on every front. He dropped two exceptional albums, murdered radio freestyles left and right, and even won a rap beef with seasoned battle rapper Joyner Lucas. Memories Don’t Die bounces back and forth from stories and anecdotes from Tory’s life and pure hits. “Pieces” with 50 cent is the kind of song that you hear for the first time and instantly listen three more times because you are so shocked by the plot and exceptional story telling. It’s the best story-book rap song I’ve heard in years and 50’s intro and outro cements it as a legendary track that won’t be appreciated until years after release. Memories don’t die and neither will this album.

Best Songs:

Shooters

B.I.D

Pieces (Feat. 50 Cent)

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10. Vacation in Hell by Flatbush Zombies

Flatbush Zombies continue to be one of the most entertaining groups in rap in 2018. The New York trio’s sophomore album Vacation in Hell is packed with context, purpose, and bangers. All three zombies complement each other extremely well, from Meechy Darko’s head-turning verses sure to start mosh pits everywhere, to Zombie Juice’s witty and catchy hooks, to Erik the Architect’s perfect instrumentals. There is a tremendous sense of New York unity on this tape proving that the Beast Coast movement is far from over.

Best Songs:

Vacation (Feat. Joey Bada$$)

Headstone

U&I (Feat. Dia)

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9. Dying to Live by Kodak Black

While Kodak Black has released plenty of great music, Dying To Live proves that he is special. Kodak sounds wise beyond his years while still using the freshest dialect and coolest allusions. While many of us laugh it off when Kodak Black calls himself a scholar, I’m far more inclined to believe him after his brilliant XXXTENTACION tribute “Malcolm X.X.X.” where he compares X’s negative and violent perception in the media to that of the Nation of Islam. Dying To Live is fantastic the entire way through and gives people legitimist reason to believe he is a top tier rapper.

Best Songs:

Malcolm X.X.X.

Calling My Spirit

From The Cradle

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 8. Swimming by Mac Miller

RIP Mac Miller. Nobody could say what Mac did and make it sound so damn cool. He was a true legend and Swimming was his most mature project he put out. The album is jazzy and hip. It’s passion filled and a true masterpiece. On the third track “What’s the Use?” Thundercat drops the funkiest baseline of the year that makes it impossible to sit still. Swimming is beautiful and a vibe from cover to cover.

Best Songs:

What’s the Use?

Self Care

2009

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7. Beerbongs & Bentlys by Post Malone

Post Malone has found his lane and he executes perfectly in it. Beerbongs & Bentlys is an hour of straight hits. There are close to no bad songs on this album and the production is so damn perfect for Post’s epic singing. The albums intro “Paranoid” sets the tone for the grand ballads that this album is packed with. Regardless of your opinion on Post, it’s impossible to discredit Beerbongs & Bentlys.

 Best Songs:

Paranoid

Rich & Sad

Better Now

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6. Whack World by Tierra Whack

15 songs. 15 minutes. Tierra Whack did it first, always remember that. Whack World is a look into the creative Philadelphia MC’s scattered brain. Although these 1-minute songs switch back and forth between moods and genres this project still feels extremely tight and together. The 15-minute visual album that you can find on YouTube enhances the album even further and is a pleasure to watch. This album is fun and silly without feeling corny or juvenile. Don’t forget the name Tierra Whack.

Best Songs:

Black Nails

Hungry Hippos

Pet Cemetery

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5. Kids See Ghosts by Kids See Ghosts

Kids See Ghost, super group made up of Kanye West and Kid Cudi, dropped their self-titled debut in 2018 and we can only pray that there will be more on the way. The 23-minute album is flawless from beginning to end with 7 songs that all sound immensely different in the best way. “Reborn” is epic and beautiful and another song of the year contender. Cudi’s hypnotizing voice floats through the hook in such an eloquent way that no one cares how many times it loops. We need a sequel in 2019.

Best Songs:

4th Dimension

Reborn

Cudi Montage

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4. Love Me Now by Tory Lanez

Love Me Now is the best album Tory Lanez has ever put out. It has everything you could want from the emotional intro “Why Don’t You Love Me” to one of the best pop-rap songs of the year “Ferris Wheel.” The features are enjoyable and add to the project. Tory may have had the best 2018 out of any artist and Love Me Now was the peak.

Best Songs:

Ferris Wheel (Feat. Trippie Redd)

The Run Off

You Thought Wrong

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3. Daytona by Pusha T

G.O.O.D Music president Pusha T is the unlikely hero (or villain) of 2018. First, he dropped his masterpiece, Daytona, a truly flawless album full of smart raps about selling drugs and making money. Next, he slayed raps Goliath when he destroyed drake with the best diss-track in years. Not only is Push excellent on Daytona but it is Kanye West the producer’s best album of the year. The instrumentals are unique, complex, and hit hard. Daytona is airtight and makes a very strong case for album of the year.

Best Songs:

If You Know You Know

The Games We Play

What Would Meek Do? (Feat. Kanye West)

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2. Care For Me by Saba

Care For Me beautifully describes what it’s like to be painfully lonely in the most connected age in history. Saba’s story telling throughout the project is emotional and compelling. Last year his cousin Walter was stabbed to death in Chicago and every bit of grief and pain that Saba felt comes through on this album. On the song “Prom / King” Saba dedicates seven and a half minutes of clever storytelling to dive into Walter and his relationship from the very beginning to the last days of his life. You can tell Saba poured his entire soul into this album and it truly pays off every time anyone anywhere hits play.

Best Songs:

Life

Logout (Feat. Chance the Rapper)

Prom / King

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1. TA13OO by Denzel Curry

Denzel Curry’s TA13OO is the rap album of the year. Everything about it was perfect. The three-week roll out was a genius way to digest a project where every song deserves a large amount of attention. Denzel’s out raps everyone on TA13OO and while aggressive rap is easily his forte, there are emotional and slow tracks on here that hit just as hard. Denzel’s rapping is hypnotizing and witty and the production never gets in the way. Picking just three songs to highlight on this project is near impossible and doesn’t do the album as a whole justice. TA13OO is the best rap project of 2018.

Best Songs:

Switch it Up

Clout Cobain

The Blackest Balloon

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