10.
Gang Starr — One of the Best Yet
Top Tracks = Family and Loyalty // Take Flight // So Many Rappers
As a general rule I am not a big fan of posthumous records. Major labels scraping the barrel of a dead icons offcut recordings usually never ends well. Luckily this time one half of the iconic hip hop duo was still around to ensure their legacy wasn't tainted (although not without tabloid controversy). DJ Premier does a great job of pairing his legendary beats with unheard Guru verses and specially selected guest features. For the most part it is very successful and brings Guru back to life, without feeling too forced. With all the royalties being directed to Guru's children this feels less like a cash grab and more like closure.
9.
Kanye West — Jesus is King
Top Tracks = Everything We Need // God Is // Hands On
I can't lie, I had very high hopes for this record. I don't want to say I was disappointed but I feel like it could have been so much more. At just 27 minutes long, there are a few moments of brilliance but also a few mis-steps. There are hints at greatness but it never quite transcends. That being said as usual with Kanye the visual side of things was exceptional and the accompanying IMAX film was very enjoyable. Shot in James Turrell's Roden Crater (to which Kanye is a major benefactor) the visual experience and reworked songs are breathtaking.
8.
Giggs — Big Bad...
Top Tracks = 187 // Set It Off // Baby
Giggs' profile on the world stage has never been bigger. With some select guest features from both the UK and stateside this is just a pure and simple enjoyable rap record. The production is on point with a good mix of current trends and some classic sample based stuff. I always enjoy a well made UK rap record because the lyricism and cultural references feel a lot closer to home. Not many people sound like they are having as much fun as Giggs and no-one can make it sound quite as effortless.
7.
Apollo Brown — Sincerely, Detroit
Top Tracks = Stopwatch // All Day // The Backbone
It's no secret that Apollo Brown has a signature sound and this is his magnum opus; a tribute to his home city featuring over fifty local artists from Detroit. The city is famous for the sounds it has given hip hop over the decades (from Dilla to Eminem) and Apollo Brown seeks to add to the legacy. At 21 tracks it is a mammoth record, but he switches the production styles and feature spots up enough to keep the momentum going. The signature cracks and pops of the vinyl are there along with an impeccable selection of samples that he chops into new masterpieces. If you like boom bap hip hop then it doesn't get much better than this
6.
Danny Brown — uknowhatimsayin?
Top Tracks = 3 Tearz // uknowhatimsayin? // Change Up
Danny Brown has come a long way in the last decade and nowhere is this clearer than on this record. Executively produced by Q-Tip, with a few well thought out guest features this is masterclass in both production and rhyming.
5.
Skepta — Ignorance is Bliss
Top Tracks = Bullet From A Gun // No Sleep // Pure Water
It feels like Skepta has been away for ages. Rather than throwing endless singles at the streaming algorithms he has taken his time over the last few years to explore fashion, fatherhood and create new music. You can really tell when someone takes their time with a project and this is what I like about this record. No filler, nothing unnecessary, just well crafted grime music, executed at the highest level and flawlessly released.
4.
Black Milk — DiVE
Top Tracks = Black NASA // TYME // Now BEGIN
I really enjoyed this record. Black Milk has been making exceptional music for years, but this one feels like he really nailed it. There aren't a lot of artists that can make beats this good AND rap well over the top of them, but Black Milk shows how it is done. The overall sound is smooth and soulful and the result is just great music.
3.
Dave — Psychodrama
Top Tracks = Location // environment // Disaster
As far as debut records go this is pretty impressive. At just 20 years old Dave has made an album with depth and integrity that not only won the Mercury Prize but will also stand the test of time. Lyrically the wordplay and rhyme schemes are exceptional and although it can feel pretty bleak at times it makes the brighter songs all the more impactful. The opposite of overhyped, this record deserves all its success
2.
The Game — Born 2 Rap
Top Tracks = Five Hundred Dollar Candles // Gold Daytonas // Born 2 Rap
Apparently this is The Games last record. I can still remember buying his first album on CD from the record store near my college. I have always liked his music but this album really surpassed all my expectations. Sure there are a few tracks that could have been cut and just the sight of Ed Sheeran's name on the feature list filled me with panic, but overall this can't be faulted. Yes some of Game's more awkward traits are still here (the name-dropping for one) but that being said this is probably the best record of his career. Perhaps it's the influence of executive producer and LA underground legend Dom Kennedy but the production is just on point. Classic samples are taken and reinterpreted (giving the album a nostalgic vibe). The bass is thick and the sound is warm, like the California streets that inspire it. The feature list is long and varied with a verse from the late Nipsey Hussle being a particular standout. The Game is trying to cement his legacy with this record and if you cut 5 or 6 tracks it would have been an instant classic. That being said it is a highly enjoyable listen and a clear standout record in his catalogue. Hopefully he will give the retirement a second thought
1.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — Bandana
Top Tracks = Freestyle S**T // Massage Seats // Half Manne Half Cocaine
It doesn’t get much better than this. Freddie Gibbs is one of my favourite rappers and Madlib is an undeniable hero of the genre. Combined they bring out the best of each other and create real rap magic, as evidenced on their first record Pinata. On paper the pair should never be put together but in practice it made for some of the best rap music this decade. This time around the stakes were raised and this album was released on a major label. With the major label came a major marketing budget and the build up to the record only increased my anticipation. Luckily they more than delivered and the chemistry this time around is palpable. You can tell that rather than Madlib sending a beat and Gibbs rapping on it from separate studios, this time they got together and collaborated in real time. Madlib's production is incomparable, a particular highlight being when he "goes trap" on "Half Manne Half Cocaine". Apparently all of the beats where made on an iPad (!) and it took over a year to get clearance for all the samples. Gibbs seems to effortlessly rap over whatever Madlib throws at him, taking each switch up or tempo change as a challenge. The result of their efforts is a pretty much flawless rap record. The accompanying music videos are both hilarious and cinematic at the same time and if you get chance be sure to watch their NPR tiny desk performance, where the songs are brought to life with live instrumentation. The person who needs more credit in all this Gibb’s long time manager Lambo who masterminded the whole thing and brought the two together. 15 years is a long time to slowly build a rappers career but slow and steady wins the race and Gibbs is just getting warmed up. Now we just need them all to get together once they finish celebrating and finish the trilogy
*BONUS*
Drake — So Far Gone / Care Package
These 2 records have no business being on a 2019 end of year list, but here they are. I still remember downloading the So Far Gone mixtape from Drake's blogspot website in 2009. A decade later he celebrated the landmark by re-releasing it on streaming services. Presumably feeling sentimental Drake also gathered all his loose songs released online over the years on various platforms and gathered them together on his "Care Package" album. Again nothing new, just obscure unrelated tracks that long term fans like myself have been dying to get hold of again. It just goes to show that the music stands the test of time and even on a year when Drake isn't dropping new music, his old stuff is still running the numbers.
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