TBT Top 10 Album Picks of 2016
This past year has featured A LOT of amazing hip hop music. Narrowing it down to 10 albums was nothing short of easy but TBT has managed to compile what we think are the 10 most stand-out albums. It’s almost the end of the year so let’s get right to it:
10. Open Mike Eagle & Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival
Chicago emcee Open Mike Eagle collabs with London Producer Paul White for one of the most clever, lyrical and open-minded albums of the year.
9. Ab Soul – Do What Thou Wilt.
TDE’s lyrical, conscious mastermind comes through heavy 16 track album that ranges from topics of femininity to our disconnect from the human spirit. Tracks such as D.R.U.G.S and Lonely Soul also display Soul’s versatility as a complete artist and show that the Black Lip Pastor is as humble as he is wise.
8. Travis Scott – Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight
It seems like a Travis Scott headline is impossible to avoid nowadays. From fighting security to throwing down EPIC shows, Travis has molded himself as a posterchild of today’s younger musical generation. Birds manages to find balance between auto-tuned catchy hooks and straight trap flavored production but does it in a way that doesn’t sound corny. This album has very few weak points from start to finish and is probably Scott’s strongest body of work.
7. Flatbush Zombies – 3001: A Laced Odyssey
The infamous Flatbush trio come through with their debut commercial album. Erick Arc Elliott really puts his production talents on display producing the entire album, sample-free. The album is a total psychedelic journey through the minds of Meech, Juice and Erick. The very last track ‘Your Favorite Rap Song’ the trio lay down some of the best rap verses of the year. The album also supposedly synchronizes with Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey so be sure to check that out.
6. YG – Still Brazy
YG’s Still Brazy is the most complete gangster rap album in recent memory. The entire production on the album is west-coast sound at its finest. The track “Fuck Donald Trump” was also an anthem for many and honestly, the only anti-Donald Trump song worth hyping.
5. Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid
If you’re a hip-hop head or general fan of hip-hop than don’t let this Aesop Rock album slip from your headphones. The ultra-talented Rhymesayer’s emcee comes through with an impressive project with word-play and delivery that is seemingly out of this world.
4. Injury Reserve – Floss
Arizona collective Injury Reserve drop their sophomore album Floss and it’s really one of the most well-rounded, complete rap albums of the year. The tracks “All This Money” and “OH SHIT!!!” are two singles that completely got us engulfed into what Injury Reserve was doing musically. The trio consisting of rappers Steppa J. Groggs, Ritchie With a T, and producer Parker Corey also slow it down on tracks such as Keep On Slippin featuring Vic Mensa and the final track Look Mama I Did It. Overall, this album comes through with so much energy and charisma from start to finish that it’s impossible to overlook these guys. Be sure to listen.
3. Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
Schoolboy Q delivers his strongest album to date with the Blank Face LP. The album leaves no short cuts going in on a lengthy 17 tracks and Q manages to pull out everything out his gangster bag. The features on this album is what is most impressive with Vince Staples, E-40 and Kanye all having memorable verses. Blank Face is dark, intense, and cinematic and Q wants to let the world know that he has no intent of slowing down.
2. Anderson Paak – Malibu
Anderson .Paak had a hell of a ride in 2016 with an enormous leap into stardom, and rightly so. Malibu is everything fans would expect from the talented singer/songwriter and Paak’s talents are at full display with influences of soul, funk and hip-hop. Paak really stands out from his contemporaries pulling off sounds and vocal deliveries that are reminiscent from 60’s club vibes to modern day rap.
1.Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
Danny Brown just basically shitted on every rapper in 2016 with this amazing new album and the fact it didn’t get a Grammy nod is beyond me. The production on Atrocity Exhibition no other rapper would even come close to spitting over and Danny manages to pull off lyrics such as “Sniff a gram and a half / Plus her pussy juicier than Shalamar curl bag / While she draw me a bath”. The album also featured this years best rap posse cuts with dope verses from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Earl Sweatshirt. From start to finish, this album displays emotion and character along with top notch lyrics and beats. I couldn’t imagine Danny pulling off a more impressive album so hats off to you Danny.
In The Cut: 6LACK – FREE 6LACK, D.R.A.M – Big Baby D.R.A.M, Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade
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