The year 2013 has come and (nearly) gone. It’s been a big year for hip hop- we've seen Kanye meltdowns, Gucci plead guilty and a resurgence of the wonder drug Molly. We heard Drake from Canada crooning luscious, lovely ballads, and Big Sean in the D with those same shitty adlibs (boi!). G Rap crushed mics and Ghostface Killah split wigs, while Killer Mike and El-P became BFFs, ya dig? Funk Flex dropped bombs, K. Dot got turnt and Danny Brown spit that grimy shit like that ole Dirt McGirt. 2013 had it’s duds (I see you Jay!), and a handful of hit records. Now let’s break down the top ten, and remember, ain't no half steppers.
2013, it’s been real. Now let’s see the ten best hip hop albums of the year:
10) Denmark Vessey - Cult Classic
Denmark had a big coming out party this year with Cult Classic, and his mixtape Don’t Drink the Kool Aid. Cult Classic is a deeply secular concept album themed around corruption in religion. The LP chronicles DV’s life from a man of cloth to a truly corrupt cult leader a la Jim Jones/Creflo Dollar. Between Denmark spitting righteous flows track after track, and Scud One’s Middle Eastern-infused production, this album easily finds a spot near the end of my list. For more analysis on this album, check out the full album review.
9) R.A. The Rugged Man - Legends Never Die
After a nine year hiatus, R.A. The Rugged Man decided 2013 was the year to bless us with his sophomore album, Legends Never Die. R.A. is rap veteran, who’s been active in the game since the early nineties. He’s been cosigned by Biggie, won a verse of the year with Jedi Mind Tricks and just released one of the most lyrically vicious albums of the last ten years. His signature staccato, double-time flow is on full display throughout nearly every track. Despite having some corny hooks, R.A.’s verses are more than enough to make up any deficit. Very solid body of work and worth a listen for any hip hop head.
8) YC The Cynic - GNK
YC the Cynic’s freshman LP, GNK, is one of most socially aware hip hop projects I've heard this year. He raps about the streets, the internal conflicts of American society, and gets deep on his biggest critics. The beats are laid back, but open the door for YC spit a very intellectual, conscious flow. He can drop knowledge one track, then kick your teeth in with the follow up. If you’re into underground hip hop, or can appreciate a rapper with a more socially conscious vibe, don’t sleep on GNK.
7) ASAP Rocky - Long.Live.A$AP
At number eight we've got A$AP Rocky’s debut album, Long.Live.A$AP. Repping Harlem and spitting Houston, ASAP gave us a polished follow up to his 2011 mixtape with Clams Casino. Clammy Clams jumps on a few beats, but mostly lets Rocky take a step out of his comfort zone with a range of different producers. His pen is sharper and his flows are tighter this time around. He’s proven himself as a diverse rapper, and shows a lot of potential going forward. Honestly, this LP would be worth buying for the ‘One Train’ posse cut alone. I loved LiveLoveA$AP, and I’m even more impressed with LongLiveA$AP. Easy choice for my list this year.
6) Ka - The Night’s Gambit
While this may not be the most exciting album you’ll hear this year, it’s easily one of the most poetic. Ka’s dark, smokey vocals tell a violent story of a career hustler; born into a broken system and raised by violence. In the track Jungle he says he was “molded in friction, you can hear it in my diction”. The Night’s Gambit is a very solemn LP, which shouldn't be a surprise coming from such a soft spoken rapper. A wise man once said “speak softly and carry a big stick.” - a piece of advice Ka definitely heeded on this album.
5) Kanye West - Yeezus
Yeezus confused a lot of Kanye fans when it dropped in June. Rightfully so, it was a completely new sound for mainstream listeners. But for those of us with an ear to the underground, it was a bit derivative. Regardless, it’s a bold move by ‘Ye to champion such a grainy production style and present it to the masses. Yeezus is unlike anything from Kanye’s back catalog. He’s (mostly) done away with the pitched up soul samples, and adopted a heavy, political tone for this project. Lyrically, we’re hearing a new version of Kanye with an even more inflated ego. While politico outrages have their place on this album, it can be a bit dicey to understand his real sentiment behind tracks like New Slaves given his history with projects like Watch The Throne. All that being said, it’s easy to nit pick at Yeezus and overlook the album’s importance on a larger scale. The beats are distorted and angry, and the verses are powerful in their in own right. Tracks like Blood on the Leaves and Guilt Trip look into Mr. West’s ever-evolving persona, and keep long time listeners eager to hear the next chapter of his work.
4) Danny Brown - Old
Danny Brown set the bar high when he dropped XXX in 2011. He had one of the hottest releases of the year, and created a great deal of pressure to outdo himself the next time around. Even from the first listen, it was obvious that Old was light years ahead of the Danny Brown of 2011. With this LP, Danny gives us two distinct halves of an album. On side A, he revisits his signature style of jagged, drug-induced street hymns- and he does it well. On side B, we’re introduced to a new era of Danny Brown music. The production climate changes drastically, taking a sharp left turn into the genre of electronic/industrial music. Tracks like Dip, Way Up Here and Dubstep reveal an EDM-inspired production, unlike anything previously heard on The Return, 25 Bucks or Gremlins. Old is the perfect Yin Ying of hip hop albums, with nearly 20 tracks of raw Danny Brown wordplay. XXX was great, Old is even better.
3) Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons to Die
Twelve Reasons to Die is a cinematic experience in album form. Based on the Italian horror movie by the same name, Ghostface and Adrian Younge set out to re-envision the storyline, told through rap. This album was as impressive lyrically as it was sonically. Younge essentially wrote a movie score for Ghostface, who perfectly illustrated the film’s haunting plot. While Ghost didn't go in on that same Supreme Clientele/Fishscale style of villainy, his ability to narrate each scene shows his diverse lyrical prowess. Now with ten solo records under his belt, and a few collaborations rumored for 2014, Ghost’s output hasn't lost a beat. Now if only DOOM would quick slacking on Swift & Changeable…
2) Black Milk - No Poison No Paradise
I've always been a big fan of Black Milk’s beats, but hesitated when he spit a verse. He’s been typecasted into the typical “great producer, very average rapper” role by a lot of hip hop fans (myself included), but shattered that stereotype on No Poison No Paradise. Lyrically, Black Milk delivered on every track, giving listeners a peek into childhood growing up in Detroit. Production wise, he murdered synth samples and clashed them with gritty drum loops, adding to the darker vibes on this album. Not only was No Poison No Paradise a great album, but Black Milk’s intricate production creates a lot of replay value for this project. This probably my favorite Black Milk album out of his discography, and a piece I’ll be bumping well into the the new year. If you’re into that Detroit-styled grit, or are a fan of Black Milk’s back catalog, this album is a must have.
1) Run The Jewels - Run the Jewels
Killer Mike and El-P were out for blood this year. Hot off the trails of two major solo releases, the pair decided to make their partnership official in 2013. The newly formed rap duo, known as Run The Jewels, released a monster of a free album on the public this year. Essentially, Mike and El went and Louis CK’d the hip hop game. By giving out the album for free, they formed an unspoken agreement with fans to show support in other ways, like paying for tickets to a show. Killer Mike has commented on the future of Run The Jewels, saying that they are a real rap group and will continue to put out albums together in the future. Thank the Lord.
Having worked together extensively on Mike’s R.A.P. Music, and even a feature on Cancer 4 Cure, the chemistry between these two is undeniable. Killer Mike’s baritone truly sounds best when riding a cosmic, bassy El-P beat. And El’s creativity both lyrically and production-wise is as sharp as ever on this release. Killer Mike will deliver a verse that hits you like a brick, and El-P will have you scouring Rap Genius for further analysis of his metaphors. It’s the well balanced writing formula that brings out the best of each skill set. On the opening self titled track, we get a taste test of the cold lyrical aggression we’re in for on this album. From the opener to the closer, Christmas Fucking Miracle (note: not a Christmas carol), we’re repeatedly barraged with creative, murderous wordplay and production that takes elevates this album to new heights. Run The Jewels is a consistent body of work, terrorizing from beginning to end.
But there’s more to it than just the music- these guys are supporting a lost art in hip hop: the rap group. Where conglomerates like the Beastie Boys and De La Soul were once musical powerhouses, and duos like Eric B & Rakim, Gang Starr and even Outkast were high on authority scale - today’s genre is almost entirely void of these collaborations. There’s something to be said for a team getting in the booth together to hash out concepts and beats, not just sharing their SoundCloud tracks over Twitter. While both methods have their merits, I think we can all agree that the the triple beams have been a bit uneven in the last decade. This tandem approach of sharp, witty verses is part of what makes Run The Jewels so refreshing. You feel the chemistry between these two, which speaks again to their ability of creating a unified body of work. Run The Jewels is a hip hop head’s dream album, and an honest piece of evangelism for a resurgence of rap groups. Download Run The Jewels for free here: foolsgoldrecs.com/runthejewels/
Honorable Mentions
Pusha T - My Name is My Name
Quasimoto - Yessir Whatever
Inspectah Deck + 7L & Esoteric - Czarface
ASAP Ferg - Trap Lord
At the end of day, this top ten list is purely based on my personal preference. I thought Drake’s album was garbage and Mac Miller was uninspiring. I’m not going to try convincing you that Magna Carta Holy Grail was good album, because it just wasn't. That’s my opinion- but I’d really like to hear yours too. How does my year end list compare to yours? Anything you think I missed?
Stay tuned for the Top Mixtapes of 2013 coming soon.
