2019 Mid-Year Hip-Hop
albums to consider
There is a sense of changing of guard in the mainstream as we are closing out the decade of 2010. New names dominating the charts and popular names on their way to being moguls. The tragic passing of Nipsey Hussle solidified his legacy as being one of the most influential ever.
Here are some albums that I have thoroughly enjoyed half way through 2019. Albums start from the more mainstream and creative trap albums, and then scroll all the way down to the more traditional hip hop. (FYI click the links)
Drake — Care Package
“Care Package” is considered an honorable mention. Most of the songs on this album has already been released on the internet in the past decade. This album consists some of Drake’s best music. 2010- 2015 marked the prime of Drake’s career where he shaped a new generation’s taste and attitude towards hip hop. He is at his lyrical best on some of these songs. “That’s why every song sound like Drake featuring Drake” — is exactly what Drake has done in the past decade as we begin to look back at his legacy in 2019.
Favorites: the whole album… How Bout Now, Days in the East, 4PM in Calabasas ,5AM in Toronto, Girls Love Beyonce
Mustard — Perfect Ten
Personifying the new West Coast sound, Mustard has been producing radio ready hits for the public. Nothing out of the norm here, but ‘Perfect Ten’ provides a smooth listen throughout. With ‘Pure Water’ serving as the bonafide club anthem and the sentimental ending with Nipsey Hussle’s verse over a simple guitar lick on ‘Perfect Ten’, the album has everything you need from a mainstream release.
Favorites: Pure Water, Perfect Ten , Baguettes in the Face
DaBaby — Baby on Baby
If you ask who’s the hottest rapper in 2019, nine times out of ten DaBaby is the name mentioned. ‘Baby on Baby’ is one of the most consistent albums of the year in terms of delivering hits after hits. With ‘Suge’ being the song of the summer and his featuring on the XXL cover, Dababy is here to stay in the foreseeable future.
Favorites: Suge, Baby Sitter, Taking It Out
Denzel Curry — Zuu
A few years ago it would have been hard to imagine seeing Denzel Curry live on National TV, but here he is in 2019. Contrasting from “Ta13oo” Denzel delivers a more down to earth street album to pay homage to his hometown Miami. Guaranteed bangers throughout the album.
Favorites: WISH, BIRDZ, CAROLMART
Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne — Sli’merre
This album has some of the most creative beats of the year. Icing on the cake would be including “Kid Cudi/Pissy Pamper” on the final album, unfortunately the samples were not cleared. Young Nudy delivers in a hybrid of Gucci Mane/Playboi Carti making the raps strong enough to hang onto the beats. Ultimately the beats make this album great.
Favorites: Dispatch, Mister, Extendo
Rico Nasty — Anger Management
Rico Nasty is at the front of the punk-inspired hip hop coming out in the industry. She is supplemented by Kenny Beats with ridiculous 808 drums that will destroy speakers. ‘Anger Management’ has this interesting therapy session for anger management concept throughout the album. 2019 is truly the breakout year for Rico Nasty going all the way into the XXL 2019 cover. More to come in the future.
Favorites: Cold, Big Titties, Relative
ScHoolboy Q — CrasH Talk
I was definitely slightly disappointed with the direction of his sound on this album, but that still doesn’t change the fact that there are gems on this album. Schoolboy Q remains one of the most consistent artists of the past decade.
Favorites: Crash, Water, Attention
Tyler, the Creator — Igor
Emotional, Consistent, and very Tyler. ‘Igor’ has to have the most soulful production this year by far. The album has less emphasis on traditional rapping, rather it has incorporated hip hop into a funk album.
Favorites: Igor’s Theme, Earfquake , New Magic Wand
Goldlink — Diaspora
‘Diaspora’ quite literally incorporates influences across the African music diaspora. Hip Hop, Funk, House, and Afrobeats are all included when Goldlink crafted this album. Combining his own unique flow and the plethora of music influences, ‘Diaspora” offers a unique listen especially since much of the influences heard are not familiar in the American mainstream.
Favorites: Joke Ting, Cokewhite , No Lie
Maxo Kream — Brandon Banks
After years of moving in the underground, Maxo Kream has finally had his major label debut. Maxo always had the reputation of speaking on street life very intricately over hard trap beats, ‘Brandon Banks’ is no exception. It’s about time Maxo got his shine.
Favorites: 8 Figures, Drizzy Draco , Murda Blocc , Pray 2 The Dope
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — Bandana
This was my most anticipated album of 2019 and the duo finally delivered. ‘Bandana’ does not quite match the heights of ‘Pinata’ but still is above 90% the albums released in the past year. In terms of traditional hip hop, you cannot go wrong with this album. Freddie Gibbs has been underrated for too long.
Favorites: Giannis, Half Manne Half Cocaine, Cateracts , Fake Names
Currensy — Gran Turismo
“Smooth” is the is the best thing I can describe Currensy and his raps. Pair him up with one of the smoothest producers in the game, Statik Selektah, and you have the smoothest album of the year. ‘Gran Turismo’ is has music perfect to just chill with.
Favorites: Nothin Less, Nothin New, Gran Turismo
Benny the Butcher — The Plugs I’ve Met
Benny the Butcher embodies the essence of grimy East Coast hip hop. “Tana Talk 3” might be the last album from last year. I got on Griselda Records late as they have been making waves in the underground for the past few years. These beats definitely take time to get used to as they are so different from what’s usually out on major charts, but once it clicks everything simply clicks. With Benny the Butcher getting more exposure, don’t be surprised if this grimy and dark sound take over the mainstream to a certain extent.
Favorites: Took the Money to the Plug House , 5 To 50, Crowns For Kings
More to come in the remaining months of 2019. I definitely missed out lots of great music. In the grand scheme of things, it is crazy that the decade is closing out.
