Best of 2018- Rap albums of the year

1/7/19

9:00 PM

2018 was a big year for rap fans and enthusiasts, from releases by aged veterans holding their crowns as well as up-and-coming artists on the rise. This year was definitely a historic mark for hiphop heads, from albums we’ve been expecting, the albums we were not expecting, to albums we’ve let down by, (talking to you Nas,)

To sum up the year the best way that I know how, here’s a list of my personal favorite Hip Hop and Rap albums of 2018.

10. Tha Carter V: Lil Wayne / Invasion of Privacy: Cardi B

lighter flick, inhale-

Of course we know that this means that Weezy F. Baby is indeed free, and he’s back with the fifth volume of the long lived and awaited Tha Carter series. After the triumphant resolution to his personal and musical ventures, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. delivers what seems to be his most mature and complete album to date. The four-year wait was well worth the while, as Wayne comes out of his dreaded chain of subpar releases. And it was probably best for everyone as early 2010’s was such a disappointing era of the “Best Rapper Alive’s” career, but truly in the case of Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne’s legacy is upheld by a solid album that makes you proud to ask the question, “You hear the new weezy album yet?”

2018 was huge for Cardi, her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy put Cardi on the map not only as one of the most successful female rappers, but also as one of the most notable musicians in history as it conquered the airwaves and the charts across the world. The raw energy and hype of Cardi’s music honestly just makes you want to move, her story as a former stripper working for ones to making millions only adds to the genuine nature of her music. Invasion of Privacy is probably one of, if not the funnest album of this year, and no matter how irritated you are of “Bodak Yellow,” … It really doesn’t matter because Cardi don’t dance now.

She make money moves.

9. iridescence: BROCKHAMPTON

Adhering to their latest album title, BROCKHAMPTON defies all pre-existing formulas of music and creates what seems to be a hodgepodge of sound, with more than ten current members and a few more within their past, each individual brings their own light to the record. BROCKHAMPTON continues to be a melting pot of cultural and musical backgrounds which make for a new wave of unidentifiable. The self proclaimed boy-band takes the listener on a roller coaster ride for the ears, where you have no idea where you are or where you are going. From raps to ballads(?), each track is incomparable from the previous and the next.

8. FM!: Vince Staples

Name me one other rapper right now who cares less than Vince Staples. Probably one of the realest rappers on this list, the North Long Beach native kicks fun at pretty much everyone and anyone, dropping what seems to be a summertime album— in the dead of winter… I’ll wait.

The 22 minute album does itself justice despite the short length, hopping from less serious matters to gang violence and death on the West coast in a matter of seconds.The album also featured a number notable artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Tyga, Jay Rock, but most importantly, E-40.

E-40 is in this album.

Oh, and also the beats are fire.

7. YSIV: Logic

Let’s forget about Logic’s ability to manipulate his flow and deliver quick, witty lines while still managing to pack in content for just a second, the fact that he managed to feature all the living members of the Wu-Tang Clan is logically madness. The second album by Logic to drop this year, YSIV felt like an evolution of his music as well as a returning point where he breaks away from the repetitive and perhaps even preachy nature of his message to step back to a more defiant and boisterous mindset. As a continuation of the Young Sinatra mixtape, the record successfully constructs a mix between jazzy elements and boom bap that puts Bobby Tarantino as one of the finest in the game.

6. Swimming: Mac Miller

Mac’s curtain call. I don’t know how to feel as I write about this album, as I listen to these songs, I wonder about the emotions that were involved in the makings of this album.

Incredibly relevant, forever peaceful, lyrics so written that the mind doesn’t sway from reality, coming a far way from where Mac started 11 years ago, seeing all that the musician and the man Malcolm McCormick has done and how many he’s influenced, this album means a lot.

Thanks, swim easy.

5. ASTROWORLD: Travis Scott

As a salute to the departed amusement park, Travis Scott pays his homage to his hometown with his third official studio album. And dare I say that ASTROWORLD is the most complete and solid trap album in the history of trap, 17 tracks at 58 minutes and not one second is wasted. Travis Scott’s drive for excellence is pretty admirable to say the least— the amount of content he puts out, the execution, and the production level of each song is anything but lacking, combine all of that and his product is unparalleled in its genre. The album sweetens the deal also by straying away from typical trap instrumentation and sounds to incorporate acoustic guitar among many other unique layers. Plus when you find out Mike Dean, John Mayer, and Stevie Wonder all chipped in for this album, you can’t really help but to put your hands up and scream like a little kid in an amusement park, hats off to you Mr. Scott.

4. Daytona: Pusha T     

 

Another quick look into the hard knock life of King Push— the Cocaine Cowboy. All of Pusha T's untapped potential is put on display in Daytona. From start to finish, the gritty but often soulful production assembled by Kanye West brings out the best in of both artists, complimenting and completing the record into what favors to be the best work of the rapper’s 26-year long career. When you take to Pusha T’s snappy vocals and rigid wording, ingesting this album seems like something we have been expecting from him for awhile; after a couple seasons of let downs and some works that didn’t quite take us to hip hop excellence, arriving at Daytona seems like the end of a long trip.

Sorry Drake, looks like at the end of the year, Pusha T’s album was just a little bit better.

3. KOD: J. Cole

Homonymously titled for Kids on Drugs, King Overdose, and Kill Our Demons, KOD is an album dedicated to shine light on addictions; from drugs to emotions to materialistic outlooks, Cole and his alter ego kiLL Edward— who personifies his past attractions toward unhealthy coping mechanisms and failures to keep stable— bounce off each other as to show that the endeavor to break away from addiction is a continuing one.

As one of rap’s most eminent poets and lyricists, J. Cole illustrates an image with his words in this album to take a shot at the recent surge of Soundcloud rappers, many of whom oftentimes popularize drugs, sex, and money and the chase for hedonistic lifestyles. The Dreamville founder meanwhile stays substantially real, balancing musical stimulation with his continuing message of spreading love and empowerment to those who listen to his music as he holds his title as one of the greats in his era.

2. DiCaprio 2: J.I.D.

J.I.D. made things a lot harder by dropping DiCaprio 2 near the end of the year, climbing on the roster as the best rookie artist to have come out this year and even seems to be one of the best rappers active just after his second studio album. An all-rounder when it comes to his music— the abundance of punchlines, skillful delivery, and devilish rhythmical elements build up each track of this record. A sucker punch to the unsuspecting listener, you begin to wonder how much Jiddy Jid has left in store in his future works as you get swept away by this sudden onslaught of genius.

Honorable Mentions:

Room 25: Noname- I reckon this album is what it’s like to walk into a jazz bar in the 80’s and be greeted by a poet on stage who sang along to the band, it’s a nice change of pace.

ye: Kanye West- Controversial to the ends of the Earth, everything that Yeezy does seems to be ironic, yet sincere to a degree.

Pieces of a Man: Mick Jenkins- Reminds you of J.Dilla. Haven’t listened all the way yet, real excited to though. Just realized that everyone on honorable mentions so far is from Chicago.

NOIR: Smino- Put lo-fi under high energy vocals, get Smino’s Noir.

i am> i was: 21 Savage- “I make muder music— killer n**** music.” - 21 Savage

1. Care For Me: Saba

Originally this album was placed a little lower, (around 4th or 5th) but after thinking about this list, Care For Me started creeping higher and higher until I eventually settled it as the number one album I’d recommend to anyone for hip hop in 2018. It’s thoughtful, regret, complete, hope, lonely, reflective, bittersweet, it’s personal. The moving point of this incredibly narrative album is centered around the abrupt end to Saba’s unexpected relationship that he had formed with his cousin, lapsed by his death.

More so than hip hop or rap, this is a story that needs to be heard.

—

Thanks for reading,

Happy New Year and here’s to another good year of music.

-Erik.

Full Playlist of albums below:

Best of 2018- Rap albums of the year

Honorable Mentions

DiCaprio 2: J.I.D.

12/13/18

5:03 PM

The East Atlanta playboy,

DiCaprio 2 is arguably one of the top albums in the hip-hop genre within this year and catches the listener by surprise with furious bars and ludicrous flows.

J.I.D.— the young Dreamville artist, honorary EARTHGANG member, and 2018 XXL Freshman—  unleashes his raw talent and near unmatched skill for wordplay as he taps into the realm of lyrical madness and hip-hop lunacy. It’s pretty crazy, as you start listening to the Atlanta-raised rapper’s second studio work, you begin to think and question, “Who…? When…? Huh…?” and by the end of the first few tracks, those thoughts begin shifting to “Yup, this is it.”

I’d already recognized J.I.D.’s aptitude for his offset rhythms as well as his serious/impish punchlines from previous records, but DiCaprio 2 borders somewhere between cold flame to str8 inferno as the veteran freshman takes it a notch hotter. Within the storms of swift bars and witty quips, J.I.D. successfully delivers a delicacy for the ears with flows and content, 

Intimate, infinite rhymes, give me the baton

A ticking, ticking time bomb, takin’ the finish line

J.I.D.’s usage of sounds and rhymes within words give his rapping an additional layer of speed that add to his readily agile delivery. His mastery of utilizing alliterations and assonance injects the funk into his lines even if the subject matter is deliberate (or not). From bangers like “Slick Talk” and “Off Deez,” the energy of this album is balanced by tracks that encompass more solemn and genuine aspects of J.I.D.’s life like his adolescent struggles, rise to fame, and the roots of where he came from.

DiCaprio 2 is definitely not lacking in the A&R department either, with features from hip-hop titans like DJ Drama, Method Man, A$AP Ferg, Joey Bada$$, and Dreamville’s own J. Cole to mention a few,  J.I.D. shows a lot of promise to have such renowned acts in his record and also hold his own against the best of them. J.I.D’s rap gestures and flows remind the listener of Carter III Lil’ Wayne crossed with M.A.A.D City Kendrick, making a statement that he’s no longer content with working hard without impact. J.I.D. takes a bow as he flashes his Oscar for DiCaprio 2, closing out the year for hip-hop with the freshest breath of air.

Listen to the album below:

DiCaprio 2

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships: The 1975

12/5/18

10:43 PM

“You learn a couple things when you get to my age”

It’s true, at age 29, Matt Healy and his electropop band The 1975 has since evolved from their earlier works. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships takes the indie pop formula that they’ve been running with since their self-titled debut album and matures it into a smooth and easy listen that still carries the lyrical delivery as well as their synth and rock based sound.

The internet-themed album bounces between energetic and upbeat digital rhythms to deep and ardent heartaches into the past life of lead vocalist and lyricist Matt Healy. From “TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME”— the cheerful track about infidelity and inability to be faithful— to more composed and serene ballads like “Be My Mistake” that tells of relationships that Matt struggles to forget and attempts to neglect with fleeting satisfactions, The 1975 has mastered the art of duality within the human emotion and evokes empathy from far ends of its spectrum, as well as everything in between. Not only does the band have carefree and pleasant tunes contrasted with desolate and  melancholy songs, they also have tracks that are neither of those polar feelings, displaying a balance of both bliss and depression. The lyrical play from Matt Healy still goes back to drugs and girls quite often, but is polished enough to retain content and weight; all the while relating these ideas back to online interactions. As Healy playfully scribbles on his songs with contradictions and almost meme-like lines, he still shows his talent for writing with subtle references and revelations of personal angles in his writing; strengthening the dearness of his songs to a intimate, yet widely relatable direction.

“I”ve been watching you walk

I’ve been learning the way that you talk

The back of your head is at the front of my mind

Soon I’ll crack it open just to see what’s inside your mind” 

Looking from where they have come from in terms of technicality, a prodigious leap has been made in their sound. Matt Healy’s shaky and raw vocals have been refined to a more clear and charming tone. The band’s established driving, young, and rhythmic qualities have been sophisticated into a more relaxing and engaging atmosphere by tapping into jazz instrumentation and influences while maintaining the core values of their sound. Overall, achieving a more complete level of music elevates this album to a new height, where the band continues to mature and grow. The compound of acoustic instruments with digital complements draw out a new vibe that The 1975 is known for, yet also is still refreshing because it’s done just a little bit more elegantly with each subsequent album and with a little more detail to the incomplete and broken life of its author.

Listen to the album below:

A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

For Emma, Forever Ago: Bon Iver

11/29/18

4:57 PM

An artist that everyone knows, but also an artist whose songs haven’t been heard.

Justin Vernon— also known by his moniker Bon Iver, and his one single that everybody knows by having heard sung by every other cover artist (“Skinny Love”)— has a story to tell in his debut album, and rightfully so.

Personally I thought that this album was pretty good in terms of an artist’s first project, but the album itself adds another element of dimensional aspect and weight once you come to the backstory of its creation.

-

Vernon began his musical career in Raleigh, North Carolina in several bands that ultimately didn’t work out; he found some love interests here and there, which also didn’t work out, he then had some complications with his health that contributed to some of the aforementioned breakups and worsening of his situation. Relationships and his self motivation failing, as well as  the sense of complacency led Vernon to lose his money on gambling.

From his early 20’s into quarter-life, Vernon had felt a deep regret and alienation from the last few years of his self loathing life and decided to leave Raleigh and return home to Eau Claire, Wisconsin overnight— leaving behind relationships and broken dreams in hopes to find amendment. Upon returning home, he then felt a sense of emptiness, which led to him to drive up to his father’s old hunting cabin for what seemed to be arcadian in his seeking of separation and silence.

It was here that Bon Iver developed his songwriting and music making to create For Emma, Forever Ago, picking up past projects that he’d left behind due to depression. Bon Iver began writing his songs in a setting that allowed for him to be left in loneliness and longing. For months, he would veer in and out of sanity. Upon finishing his process, he left the cabin to record, he explained that he wanted to emulate the sound that rang within the confines of isolation, in the dead of winter, replicating that conscious feeling of isolation, pain, and lost into his studio work.

It’s easy to sense the almost-lunacy found in the album, “For Emma” plays with the lyrical perspectives shared among two people who seem to be lovers (or were to be) as they lead into a near one sided conversation. And complex lyrics and melodies can be found all throughout the album, hinting at Bon Iver’s reluctant ideas of “I don’t know where I’m going” themes. But as the artist himself later claims that For Emma, Forever Ago was a victory for his mental health, Understanding is hard, but in hopes to one day find it, is where we’re headed.

“I toured the light; so many foreign roads for Emma, forever ago.”

Listen to the album below:

For Emma, Forever Ago

BALLADS 1: Joji

11/16/18

11:55 PM

Surprising, in the most pleasant way.

One of 88rising’s preeminent artists, George Miller, otherwise known as Filthy Frank, Pink Guy, and Joji, released BALLADS 1 on October 26th, 2018. In his past works as youtube troll and viral personality as Filthy Frank to a bizarre comic rapper Pink Guy, Miller often plays with social mediums and musical platforms to gain viral status on the internet. Going off of his preexisting persona as an entertainer, the artist Joji becomes a stark contrast to his past selves, dropping the facetious acts to portray a more serious and seemingly sober character.

It’s like that one friend that nobody takes serious until they get genuine, then everybody just goes, “whaaaaaaaaaaaaa…?”

BALLADS 1 is a play off of ballads (wow who would’ve guessed?), adding his own personality into a established genre of music to form a new sound. Joji’s latest album can be seen as '“sadboi” music, but really becomes a personal memorandum of heartache and lovesickness, as well as loneliness and realizations of disconnect. The gritty, yet simplistic production and the raw emotion emanating from his voice adds an eerie austerity to what seems to be a personal remembrance to past relationships and his newfound lifestyles.

The split-screen outlook evident in his character throughout his album and also in his career is put on display for anyone to understand as they dig into the lyrics, “Give me reasons we should be complete/ You should be with him, I can’t compete” in “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” shows just a glimpse of his struggles with being lonely, as he compares his torn state as a metaphor of slow dancing in the dark (wow who would’ve thought?).

The element of duality is so apparent in this album, from being in love to longing, friendships turning into fake friends, the way that Joji bounces from one to the other is admittedly depressing, yet amusing and delicate. The forlorn content is only reinforced by the production— the deep and ringing bass, the calming wave-like synths, and piano instrumentation that has proved to be traditional to the ballad genre. Between production and writing, BALLADS 1 becomes a pensive piece of work to the artist Joji.

This album seems to be a highlight for Joji’s career as he creates a musical remnant from his head and heart, because (filthy)frankly, beneath every obnoxious and self-pleasing troll, there lies a sadboi that just wants to be genuine to themselves— just waiting for the platform and the right heartbreak to rely on.

Listen to the album below:

BALLADS 1

Freudian: Daniel Caesar

11/8/18

11:26 AM

“You are the reason / The reason I sing”

A little over a year since the release of this album, Freudian by Daniel Caesar is still one of my favorite records to this day. I found a music video of the breakout single "Get You” while lazing around on a friends’ couch, it was nice. A couple of hours and few minutes later, I was led to the other singles like “Blessed” and “Japanese Denim” and found myself completely hooked.

Fast-forward to August of 2017 and the ten track album released. Freudian is my favorite album to have dropped last year, up to that point, I don’t think I’ve been stuck on an album that hard in a loooooong while.

Caesar’s carefully written lyrics exude simplicity, but underlays a beauty that is both relatable and dreamlike. Drawing from Gospel roots and biblical influences, Freudian almost feels like a moment in praise, both to his relationships and also to his own sanctuary; he mentions in an interview that music is something that he does for himself, to keep sane. Daniel Caesar has an air of enticing irony about himself and his music— while frequently citing worship and God, as well as biblical references, he himself does not claim to be religious, creating a back and forth between holy and secular. Themes outlined within the album such as love, life, and the self is further elevated by gospel driven sounds merged with R&B elements and vocals. From the organs to worship-like instrumentation heard throughout multiple tracks, the sound adds to the genuine nature of Daniel Caesar’s writing. Taking from divine elements and correlating his childhood memories and teachings in the church into his music, he composes a deeply personal album full of emotion and sentiment. Each song feels like a piece of his past or present converted from experience into musical relics.

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The debut album of the Canadian singer/songwriter brought him much demanded popularity and exposure. I’m still pretty salt about this album not winning the Grammys, but….

Listen to the album below:

Freudian

CARE FOR ME: Saba

11/1/18

9:06 PM

I’m trying out some new ways to listen to to music and one of the few things that I’ve started to do is listen to new albums by buying vinyl and experiencing the record firsthand via my turntable, it’s really nice.

One of the first albums that I implemented this method with was Saba’s CARE FOR ME.

It’s a really nice album.

Saba, a Chicago based rapper, wrote this album after the death of his cousin, Walter Long Jr., with whom he’d built a surprisingly awkward, yet unshakable relationship. Filled with contrite, yet smooth lyricism and instrumentation, He talks about the simple and hollow things in life he had chased after— girls, fitting in, and social events— and how these things paled in importance when the world around him forcefully struck awareness of life and death into him, Saba realizes the triviality of his past desires. It’s crazy how things change over a single moment in our lives and that’s something that Saba mentions throughout his album. The hopes he once held for life, turned into obligations, Saba creates a eloquent album emphasizing over his newfound values in life.

Overall, the technicality and the lyrical aspects as well as the production, tonality, and Saba’s delivery via his voice is a remarkable note of the rapper’s 2018 album CARE FOR ME. As Saba himself reaches for the next day, saying, “I just hope I make it ‘til tomorrow” he wishes that tomorrow will be a better one than his last. That wishful mentality is solidified by the last lines repeated in the album, in the perspective of those who’ve passed before him—

“There’s heaven all around me.”

Listen to the album below:

CARE FOR ME

Goodnight, Witness Light: Daphne Loves Derby

10/24/18

7:55 PM

I’ve been wondering what I should write about to begin this blog, I thought about a lot of options and as of yesterday, I felt that it was really clear what my first official music post should be about.

Daphne Loves Derby.

My inspiration for music and a band that I found that really pulled me into music. I discovered Daphne Loves Derby sometime in middle school, a couple of guys at my church had learned to play a song by them on guitar (Simple, Starving To Be Safe) and I thought to myself, “that’s a nice sound…” From there on, I searched their music across the vast different music platforms available in late 2000’s- Youtube, Myspace, Napster, Purevolume, Bandcamp, Limewire, etc.

A whole decade later, and they’re still my favorite band, although they don’t make music together anymore. The sentimental sound that they still carry, the ultra lethargic/ nostalgic writing in their lyrics, and the weight that their music carried in my life is something that made become inspired to be a musician/ music enthusiast today.

What brought on this post, was the fact that about a month ago, I randomly ended up on Jason Call’s (Daphne’s former bassist and vocalist) website . I also found that Jason was selling some digital copies of some older demos and LPs of Daphne Loves Derby along with his music as well. Naturally I bought it. The cool part of this whole experience was that Jason personally emailed me and apologized that he didn’t realized that I purchased the music and told me he’d be shipping the CD promptly. We also had a conversation via email about how the band members were and what my favorite tracks are and such, which was a really cool experience for me.

Fast forward to last night and I received the CD, and to my surprise, a hard copy of Good Night, Witness Light was also in the package as well.

I was pretty happy.

10/10 would recommend.

Alternative/ Indie/ Emo rock with expressive lyrics, simple yet mellow and cozy acoustic, and songs about heartbreak to growing up. If any of those elements draw you in, Daphne Loves Derby is a must listen.

Listen to the album below:

Goodnight, Witness Light