My top 10 Hip Hop-albums from 2020
Every year I try to make a list of my favorite 10 projects that year. This year one of the projects is a project solely released as a digital one. I had to include it cause I love it. So enough of the talking, let's start with the top 10:
10. Ill Conscious x Aloeight - The Epic of Gilgamesh
Number 10 is the dope release on my brother's label 'Hip Hop-Enterprise' from Baltimore giant 'Ill Conscious' and Aloeight. The comparison with Big L and Ill Conscious is something you hear more often, flow-wise and voice-wise quite similar.Topic-wise it is quite different as Ill Conscious brings a lot of different issues to the table. I love it! It got content, good production and on point spitting in a very cohesive project.
9. Paris - Safe Space Invader
An old familiar MC on number 9. Back at it with another slamming LP, with actuality in the topics. Paris still has it after 30 years... I could spend hours of dissecting texts/lyrics of all albums, but that shit is done over and over again. I keep it plain and simple. Nice funky production and the P still got some fire in his spitting. Dope with a capital P!
8. Elzhi - Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up
Elzhi is mainly known for his entrance into Slum Village (this all happened after Jay Dee passed away, Rest In Peace) and the strong projects he put out in the past (20 years plus, going strong). Some people (the young boomers, not the real OG's/Generation X ones) were saying Elmatic was disrespectful, I think it was the greatest tribute a man could ever do to an album. This album is not as great as Elmatic, but you are missing out if you haven't heard this. Elzhi lifts this album to a higher level with his strong lyricism and delivery. I am not that big on the production relatively, but it's OK considering I am not the biggest Griselda-fan and IIRC the production was done by one of their affiliates.Anyway peep this :-)
7. Cut Beetlez - What Beetlez?
This is truly an album to my liking, this is also one of those albums in this top 10 that has the most replay value and joy while listening to it for me. I am a sucker for Boom Bap, and this is it! Some very nice features and excellent rhyming and production make this album very worthwhile to me. Plain B-Boyish this is to me... Love it!
6. Pawz One & DJ Dister - Watch & Learn
Before I hit Facebook back in 2017 I wasn't familiar with either one of these two. There is a good explanation to this though. Berlin DJ Dister delivers the on point production and Pawz One kills it on the vocals. Diversity on the subject matter is something I like... But it depends how the MC is bringing it, Pawz One does an excellent job on that. Cop this if you haven't already (and if it ain't sold out already, limited run).
5. Roccwell - Still Lovin' BoomBap
Straight up Boom Bap on this one. German producer with lots of MC's that sound hungry to perform and give it their best shot. I think also the cuts were done by guest DJ's or I must be dead-wrong. If you love the 90s Golden Era Boom Bap sound this is a certified joy to your ears! Unfortunately I never copped it cause I am more of a CD-guy. Will try and get the vinyl rather sooner than later though!
4.Horror City x Milkcrate - Rose from the Crypt
Nothing much to tell for me, Horror City 10/10 times brings the heat. This project unfortunately only got a digital release... If it ever gets read by anyone responsible, please release this too!!
3. Tha Anthom 'n Mike B - Neva Sellin' Out
First things first, if you are into Jazzy, Boombappish beats with good MC-ing, this is a good pick for you. Mike B also known from the Last Jazz Club is a well-crafted DJ, who lays it all together perfectly on this (I might be bias) modern day semi-classic. Well put together and very cohesive, never boring and the artwork by my man Rockin Roger aka AZQHone is crazy on point. It makes it one of the most complete recordings of 2020 to me. Got the wax as well as the CD, and no way in hell I am ever saying goodbye to either of them. DOPE!!
2. R.A. the Rugged Man - All My Heroes Are Dead
Normally R.A. isn't able to keep my attention during an entire album due to too much weird subject matter or the sometimes annoying fast flow (which is dope, but not in an overdose). He has grown as a human being and as an MC is something I clearly get from this LP. Rapping over sensitive stuff but also not afraid to talk about even more personal issues. He honors the Golden Era and it's far from monotonous. He finally is living up to the potential he always had and has. Very knowledgeable guy on several fronts which he greatly displays on this very underrated album. I seem to be one of the very few that likes it this much. To me this is a straight classic from R.A. (his first IMHO).
1. Jorun & Phill Most Chill - JORUNPMC
Nice B-Boy type of album that sounds very reminiscent of the late 80's/early 90's. No bullshit, straight up bangers. Jorun Bombay lays the foundation for it with hard as can be Boom Bap Beats and Phill Most Chill is a household-name in Underground Hip Hop and he brings the usual quality. Where in the past (mostly under the moniker Baritone Tiplove) he went on kind of fast rapping, that is far less the case on this LP. It's easy to follow and I honestly feel subject matter isn't sharp like R.A.'s, I go with my gut-feeling to call this the album of the year. The sound I grew up on, reminiscent of Hip Hop and Graffiti-jams/festivals. Unfortunately it was a CD-r, but nonetheless very happy to have it. By the way, if you wanna see on point artwork check this album. GOAT of Hip Hop-sleeves Dan Lish did another superb job!
Can't find a link to this album on either Youtube or Spotify. Not doing downloadlinks!
Hope you like my top 10 and feel free to post yours or your views on this year in Hip Hop in the comment section. P'z
Cool list. I've listened to most of them.
ReplyDeletePersonally I had Elzhi's album as my top pick for the year. It was cohesive and he carried the entire album almost entirely on his own. All My Heroes are Dead was a good album too but it felt bloated at 22 tracks (almost 1 hour 20 minutes long) and he recycled a lot of topics from his last album (blackballed from the industry, father served in the army, friends with BIG). It felt more like a deluxe/B-Side to Legends Never Die as opposed to a new album. JORUN PMC was dope.
I also liked these from 2020:
Leaf Dog - Live from the Balrog Chamber
Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 4
Apollo Brown & Che Noir - As God Intended
Fliptrix - Light Work
Verb T & Illinformed - The Land of the Foggy Skies
Elzhi's production wasn't the total package to me, it comes down to preferences anyway. The Elzhi-joint could be a grower though to be totally honest. Maybe in 3 years it's top 3 of 2020 for me.
DeleteI think you are partly right about R.A.'s effort, though I feel like he deepens it more out on the topics, plus Legends Never Die doesn't nearly come close for me in joy to listen to. He also matured which is shown in his lyrics...
From your HM"s I really can't stand RTJ... That is a personal thing, never felt that shit. El-P can be a genius on production but the RTJ albums don't cut it for me. I prefer old El-P with the dark productions like on Fan Dam or The Cold Vein.
Jorun PMC is just the soundtrack of my preferences but than in a 2020 coat! BOOM!!