Here we go, my ten favorite albums released so far this year. Meant to post this yesterday morning at 9 like I usually do, but the 4th of July has been killing me the past week. This list will descend from 10 to 1, with a short blurb, and my most recommended track from each album. Like always, I welcome others to share what they have heard this year that has knocked their socks off as much as these albums have for me.
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10. Future – The WIZRD
Future’s… well I’m not sure how many albums he has at this point but it’s a lot. This newest project comes off of a relatively (for Future anyways) quiet 2018. A lot of tracks here, and not all of them hit, but it has a wide variety of sounds from across Future’s catalog, and most of the production comes through. If you are a fan of mainstream trap music, you can’t get much better than Future.
Recommended Track: Stick to the Models
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to The WIZRD
https://open.spotify.com/album/3LpIwZdzFwc10psLingT8x
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGk77BNy-AjxxF6Wi40baTNtAMH_lAT7C
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9. Higher Brothers – Five Stars
The second album from the hip-hop outfit from China is their most well-rounded and varied project to date, with killer features (sans Soulja Boy), great production from a long list of popular producers, and an increased effort from all members to create memorable material, particularly material that would fly over in America. More mainstream trap, but a lot of the lyrics are in Chinese, so be prepared.
Recommended Track: One Punch Man (Feat. Ski Mask the Slump God & Denzel Curry)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to Five Stars
https://open.spotify.com/album/3lnH9OOzXwxd8SlYOuJfyK
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mQY9c7b43ZpLrruq9vfq5UCuLqltNQF8c
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8. DJ Mustard – Perfect Ten
The only album in my list that didn’t appear on a Monthly post, Mustard’s third studio album is a surprisingly solid album given the usual pattern of producer albums with many collaborators making up the tracklist. There’s definitely some west-coast influence, even some straight bay-area tracks, but for the most part he sticks with tried and true trap music here. In particular, some of the instrumentation he uses, especially the guitars on a few tracks, bring this album and it’s production to another level.
Recommended Track: On GOD (Feat. A$AP Ferg, A$AP Rocky, YG, & Tyga)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to Perfect Ten
https://open.spotify.com/album/2WrNHOba5u6P9S9xEboaUy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQsj4QkhA_o&list=OLAK5uy_mB2Mtq1rk6YsIZnApmpZgLdj5t-Idpi84
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7. Denzel Curry – ZUU
Denzel’s third album seems like a passion project, a love letter if you will, to the sounds of both past and present Miami. With insane, mind-melting production and aggressive flows from Curry, if you were a fan of Soundcloud Rap and wanted to see it get *crazier*, this is the album for you.
Recommended Track: BIRDZ (Feat. Rick Ross)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to ZUU:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6PkSBdx19zarn4ae1D08gA
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_leIprUoVJW0OhDb6_y0flrN3hw5vI3C_U
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6. Benny the Butcher – The Plugs I Met
The newest EP from Buffalo-native and member of rap collective Griselda, Benny the Butcher offers a tight seven tracks full of clever, hard-hitting drug-slinging tales. Benny himself is on point, with his wordplay and presence on the track sharper than ever, and is joined by many staples of the current New York underground. This is that grimy, underground New York street shit, with lots of 90’s gangsta rap influence.
Recommended Track: Crowns for Kings (Feat. Black Thought)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to The Plugs I Met:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5So31JibrTO74WvuCozsAb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkJYekLeQ3c
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5. DJ Muggs & Eto – Hells Roof
A short collaboration between Cypress Hill legend DJ Muggs and Rochester MC Eto, Hells Roof is an evil project. Muggs composes both hellish and high-class beats, over which Eto waxes a very matter-of-fact flow, highlighting the devastating effects of crack on his city. Amazing atmosphere conjured in this project, that doesn’t really let up until the end. This is underground New York with a heavy slant towards forlorn and scary production.
Recommended Track: Holy Wine
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to Hells Roof:
https://open.spotify.com/album/0weY1KJwZ51NBdOqVXSi8N
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7AB-qg81fA
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4. Injury Reserve – Injury Reserve
Self-titled debut album from Arizona rap trio that lives up to the expectations coming off of two very successful projects. There really isn’t one word to describe the album, given the wide variety of sounds here, but left-field comes close enough. There’s some jazz-rap, there’s some trap, there’s some borderline industrial beats; it’s really all over the place stylistically. Give this a listen if you like hearing something different, but with a cheeky and humorous edge.
Recommended Track: Wax On (Feat. Freddie Gibbs)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to Injury Reserve:
https://open.spotify.com/album/5UWKsRDw3O4BsobmeyRpB9
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxKdjZ0hwfvmBwubzVZgnW90CdcoMBytV
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3. Statik Seletah & Bun B – TrillStatik
Legendary New York DJ Statik Selektah teams up with the *legendary* Texas trillmaster Bun B to create (in 24 hours no less) an album of exceedingly high quality. Packed to the brim with fantastic features from MCs all over the country, this album truly feels like a group effort from a large group of people who truly love the genre. The beats from Statik are full of soul and charm, reminiscent of golden age hip-hop. Give this a shot if you are looking for something old school.
Recommended Track: Concrete (Feat. Westside Gunn & Termanology)
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to TrillStatik:
https://open.spotify.com/album/4Maqwoh2mr48wdCPUevRIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByN_mvgyXB4
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2. Your Old Droog – It Wasn’t Even Close
Droog’s second album sees a shift sonically to a darker, more sinister production, but without losing that trademark humor and flow. With executive producer duties being handled by Mach-Hommy, the two craft an album more in line with more popular underground NY, but instead of the usual drug-dealing and murder that is often seen, Droog tells his personal stories and observations mixed with his references to dated pop-culture. This would be a good fit for you if you like to listen and enjoy clever wordplay.
Recommended Track: Bubble Hill
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to It Wasn’t Even Close:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6MGpdaaOYQ7YGyK9GDAQZB
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lKZG0kXksYU_VptlmB-b0Jj_4FsYVgw1U
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1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Bandana
Second album from Freddie Gibbs (rap monster) and Madlib (always tripping off shrooms and made all the beats for this album on his iPad), following 2014’s Pinata, an album I consider to be one of the best of all time. Dusty, vintage, lyrical, flow-mastery, topical, varied, jazzy/funky/soulful, and so much more. This album has only been out a week, but I can *feel* the timeless qualities that only these two can bring, and how, despite the ungodly high expectations I placed on this album, it was still able to surprise me with it’s production and rapping. Truly two of the best to ever do it, and worth every minute of your time. Listen if you like hip-hop. Period.
Recommended Track: Cataracts
Here’s the Spotify/YouTube link(s) to listen to Bandana:
https://open.spotify.com/album/31KbO7WnDp2AjPdmRTJzdf
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mFm9YeVwJhmfKfrJRLdK0eZ_WJnpPxG1c