2013 proved to be a phenomenal year for hip hop all across the board. Throughout the year we were exposed to some fresh faces that will likely be around for quite some time, and were revisited by some legends whose projects brought the word hype to a whole new level. It was tough coming up with a list of our favorite releases of the year because there were just so many outstanding ones, but here are our eleven favorites from this year. Hope you enjoy…
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J. Cole – Born Sinner
Twitter: @JColeNC
J. Cole did everything right with this release. Born Sinner, his second official release coming a couple years after his debut album Cole World – The Sideline Story battled the likes of Kanye and Mac Miller upon release. This album as a whole is fantastic. Cole did his thing throughout, sounded focused and had a chip on his shoulder to prove that he belonged in the same breath as the greats. Cole’s amazing attention to detail really set the bar high for the sounds that he wanted to come out of his work, and his desire to do everything just right really speaks volumes about him and his work ethic. With no forced features to create a radio hit, the success garnered from the anthem that was, “Power Trip” couldn’t have been sweeter as it fit cohesively into the album. J. Cole definitely proved that he belongs in the highest tier of hip hop artists with Born Sinner, and he will for sure be a name to reckon with for as long as he chooses to make music.
Favorite Tracks:
Power Trip
She Knows
Villuminati
Let Nas Down
Forbidden Fruit
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Drake – Nothing Was the Same
Twitter: @Drake
The amount of chaos Drizzy Drake can create on the Internet when he releases something new says it all about how far he’s come in such a short period of time in climbing to the very top of the totem pole. When Nothing Was the Same leaked before its official release, the internet went crazy. Even when this man just drops a single verse, you are sure to hear about it for months. Drake could have been a huge winner this past year without even dropping an album, with multiple features that became huge hits. The icing on the cake to his successful year was Nothing Was the Same though. Amidst all the hate that the dude gets for basically just being so great, he did his best and more to hush the doubters with this release. From track one in “Tuscan Leather” to the dying sounds of the last instrumental, Drake rapped his ass off. Arguably the most well rounded rapper out right now, able to go bar for bar with just about anyone and serenade with his harmonies, everything this man touches turns to gold or better yet platinum.
Favorite Tracks:
Tuscan Leather
Too Much
Started From The Bottom
Worst Behavior
The Language
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Chance the Rapper – Acid Rap
Twitter: @chancetherapper
Entering 2013 relatively unknown outside the Internet, Chance the Rapper definitely made his presence felt this year. Acid Rap was one of those projects that is pretty much impossible to hate. Each song infectious in its own way, no filler track whatsoever, this release might have been the most significant of the year in terms of what it did for him. The replay value with this project is insane, Chance killing every verse, harmony, ad lib, or whatever and choosing some amazing features in the likes of BJ The Chicago Kid, Vic Mensa, Twista, Childish Gambino, Action Bronson, and Ab-Soul among others. Aside from the album itself, the success this album has created for Chance has led him to be able to perform world wide, and his performances are amazing in their own. His constant energy and crowd control is among the best and most fun experiences you can see of any performer and with the sky being the limit for him, we should be hearing his “nananananana” for a long long time.
Favorite Tracks:
Good Ass Intro
Pusha Man
Cocoa Butter Kisses
Juice
Favorite Song
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Vic Mensa – INNANETAPE
Twitter: @VicMensa
One of the most stellar releases of the year that has gone overlooked by a lot of people is Vic Mensa’s INNANETAPE. After being a part of the group Kid’s These Days, Mensa went solo and gave us one of the best mixtapes of the year. After appearing on Chance the Rappers’ Acid Rap featured on the track “Cocoa Butter Kisses” and absolutely demolishing his verse, he built some quality hype towards the release of his project. Not only were the tracks on this project amazing, the few music videos shot by Illroots were stellar as well. Vic Mensa is one of a kind, very unique flow and great charisma. It’s a matter of time before he blows up to unworldly proportions. Be on the lookout for more from him in 2014 as he could very well be the next big thing in rap.
Favorite Tracks:
Orange Soda
Lovely Day
Tweakin’
RUN!
YNSP
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A$AP Rocky – LongLiveASAP
Twitter: @asvpxrocky
A release that has some how gone quite under the radar for a lot of people was Rocky’s major debut album. In fact, the album leaked at the end of 2012, but overall it’s one of the best of 2013. If we’ve learned anything from the A$AP Mob as a whole it’s that they always have amazing sounding production and they can certainly back it up with their lyrical ability. Rocky knows how to make some of the most fun tracks like “Fuckin Problems” and “Wild For The Night”, but the balance of the hits on this and the more personal tracks like “LVL” and “Phoenix” is perfect. A$AP Rocky has blown up to enormous proportions over the course of only a few years and is now a household name and icon. Rocky knows how to have a good time, and this record certainly showcases that.
Favorite Tracks:
PMW
Fuckin Problems
Phoenix
Suddenly
Angels
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Dom Kennedy – Get Home Safely
Twitter: @DomKennedyOPM
Dom Kennedy might be the most consistent rapper in the game right now. The man hailing from Los Angeles, California has always been know for that laid back summer time vibe California sound. His latest effort Get Home Safely represents his sound at the highest quality. He doesn’t wonder far from his roots and we’re perfectly fine with that because the end result is always dope. The airy sounding instrumentals on this album are on point as usual with production ranging from The Futuristiks, DJ Khalil, DrewByrd, and DJ Mustard among others. Dom did his thing with this album, creating a project with the perfect summer vibe to listen to with the windows down in the car just cruising.
Favorite Tracks:
All Girl Crazy
After School
Tryna Find My Way
Black Bentleys
South Central Love
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Childish Gambino – Because the Internet
Twitter: @DonaldGlover
If there’s one thing we learned from 2013, it’s that Donald Glover is a creative genius. This album has an insanely complicated concept that we won’t really go into, but it’s crazy the amount of thought and preparation that went into creating the story. Bino proved that he can rap with the best of them on this project, his flow changing over and over again but pulling off each and every one. His melodies were phenomenal as well. “Telegraph Ave” is one of the best tracks of the year and his singing on it is superb. His features were well placed with the likes of some of our favorites in Chance the Rapper, Macklemore, and Jhene Aiko. Everything that went into this album should be applauded from the teaser videos to the “3005” lyric video to the script… but even if delving into the analytical things isn’t your cup of tea, the music by itself is definitely more than satisfying.
Favorite Tracks:
The Worst Guys
Telegraph Ave (“Okaland by Lloyd”)
Sweatpants
3005
Pink Toes
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Tory Lanez – Conflicts of My Soul
Twitter: @Tlanez
The most criminally underrated artist on this list. Tory Lanez who hails from Toronto but now calls the south his home, has been making music for quite a while now. His latest release Conflicts of My Soul has set him up for prominent success. The mixtape itself is very dope. It showcases the different types of sounds that Tory is capable of, from the ranging harmonic melodies to the gritty dark sounding verses. He has a wide spectrum of ability that most artists can only dream of possessing. With some dope videos in “Know What’s Up” and “Hate Me On The Low” that have garnered over a million views between them, he’s starting to receive even more recognition, which he absolutely deserves. With countless mixtapes all over the Internet from the past few years, it’s easy to tell that this dude has a crazy work ethic and drive that will certainly help him get to the top. It’s only a matter of time until Tory is in the upper echelon of the music world, and it’s obvious that with his talent and drive he will continue to release amazing sounding music for a long while.
Favorite Tracks:
Hate Me On The Low
D.O.E The Lights
Driver
Know What’s Up
Icey Dicey
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Kanye West – Yeezus
Twitter: @kanyewest
Mr. West is an innovator. If anything else, his music and everything he is involved with can’t truly be told its impact or quality until a few years time. With Yeezus, he went in a whole new direction that hadn’t been seen before in rap. The reception was mixed, but we truly believe that it was amazing. While different, we won’t be surprised if artists are birthed out of the Yeezus sound just like artists like Kid Cudi and Drake were birthed from the 808’s sound. The electro heavy influence in Yeezus translates very excitingly into the live atmosphere where the Yeezus Tour was one of the biggest spectacles in music of the year. Kanye will continue to do his thing and influence others in doing so in whatever he does, and we will continue to support Yeezy. Think about it, who else but Ye could put Chief Keef and Justin Vernon on a track and have it come out sounding phenomenal?
Favorite Tracks:
New Slaves
Hold My Liqour
Blood On The Leaves
I Am A God
Bound 2
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Mac Miller – Watching Movies With the Sound Off
Twitter: @MacMiller
Mac Miller had probably the most to prove in 2013 upon his release of Watching Movies With the Sound Off. Dropping his album on the most anticipated day in recent memory among the likes of Cole and Kanye, people wondered how his project would match up against them. The often-labeled frat rapper, easily brushed off that title with this project. His sound has matured dramatically since the days of K.I.D.S. and prior releases. The thing is, Mac has always been dope, his frat rap or whatever you want to call it was great, he was the best doing it, and now he’s carried himself into a whole new category where he is the leader. This album’s spacey production and insanely infectious melodies put it over the top as one of our favorites of the year. Mac went above and beyond breaking expectations that a lot of people had for him this year, and he’s finally getting the respect he deserves from a lot of more established artists who didn’t take him quite as seriously before. He surrounded himself with a bunch of other dope artists on this album like Earl & Tyler, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, ScHoolboy Q, and even Jay Electronica. The kid has done it all independent too, there’s nothing he can’t do.
Favorite Tracks:
The Star Room
Objects in the Mirror
Red Dot Music
Gees
Aquarium
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Wale – The Gifted
Twitter: @Wale
The MMG affiliate and DC native rapper Wale always brings the heat. With the release of his latest album The Gifted, 2013 proved no different. In fact, The Gifted has been Wale’s most commercially successful album to date. After two solid previous albums, Wale’s third studio effort brought hits, dope features, sick production, and all around amazing rapping. Wale has always been known for his stellar flow in which he can effortlessly flip words whichever way he chooses. He is one of the most clever rappers in the game, and is one of the best when making references to sports or his shoe game. Look for Wale to continue to keep growing in 2014, the dude just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Favorite Tracks:
Bad (Remix)
Rotation
Clappers
Heaven’s Afternoon
Tired of Dreaming
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