Hey guys, with the year coming to a close and the vast majority of album releases done, I'd like to ask you what your favorite albums of the year are.
Give your top 3 to 5 albums of the year and tell us a little about them and why you like them so much, give a little bit of description or a link to a song on youtube if you so desire so others can see what it's like.
I'll start off with my three favorite albums this year and later go into my favorites of specific genres.
First, we have the album RAP Music by Killer Mike.
This album is throwback rap in style, content, and lyrics, based around the concept of Rebellious African People. This album is a no holds barred celebration of the best of 90s hiphop, with Killer Mike acting as a modern day Ice Cube, this album is incredibly amazing from both a rapping viewpoint with Killer Mike showing off his verbal chops and social rap conciousness, while being paired with the incredible production of El-P, one of the more forward thinking rapper-producers in the hiphop industry today. This is an essential album for any hiphop fan to listen to, and a great throwback for any fans of the golden age of hiphop. The entire album can be listened to here.
My second album of the year is easily Cancer 4 Cure by El-P.
This album is so incredible. El-P is a rapper/producer, known for incredibly intricate lyrics and futuristic production, and his mastery over all elements of his music is immediately apparent on this album. This album uses elements of dystopian futures with its unique beats to make a totally one of a kind album. The features on this album, ranging from Despot, Mr Muthafucking eXquire, Killer Mike, and Danny Brown fill out this roster as one of the most talented groups of people on a record this year. I love this album because the lyrics are incredibly well written and the beats which are made specifically so they can be enjoyed without any rapping over them are so well made.
My third album of the year would have the be The Money Store by Death Grips
This album is the least conventional of my top albums this year, coming from the experimental rap trio consisting of MC Ride, Flatlander, and Zach Hill. This album creates an aesthetic mix of industrial sounds, electronic music, and hip hop that has never been created before along with a visual aesthetic unlike anything else in popular music. They're one of the most interesting groups of musicians in the music scene at the moment, both creating and perfecting a new sound. The beats and rapping have so much aggression that they're incredibly gratifying to listen to once you become used to the aesthetic. Definitely worth checking out for anyone who wants to expand their music horizons. This is in my top three albums of the year, like the other two, because they bring something new to the table while still managing to be incredibly relevant and making excellent music.
So guys, what are your favorites? A description as long as mine are is not necessary. I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys listened to this year.
