First quarter of 2018 is over. List your favorite albums of the year so far.

Paper Dollhouse - The Sky Looks Different Here
Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited
Skyzoo - In Celebration Of Us
MGMT - Little Dark Age
Nils Frahm - All Melody
The Soft Moon - Criminal
Ty Segall - Freedom’s Goblin
Tune-Yards - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
Evidence - Weather Or Not
The Voidz - Virtue
Black Milk - Fever
Preoccupations - New Material
Caroline Says - No Fool Like An Old Fool
Meshell Ndegeocello - Ventriloquism
Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
Palmbomen II - Memories Of Cindy

Mary Halvorson - Code Girl
Black Milk - FEVER
Natalia Lafourcade - Musas Vol 2
Phonte - No News Is Good News
Jean Grae & Quelle Chris - Everything's Fine
Jonny Greenwood - Phantom Thread Soundtrack
Quin Kirchner -The Other Side of Time
Walter Smith III - Twio
Jericho Jackson - Khrysis & Elzhi Are Jericho Jackson
Sons of Kemet - Your Queen Is a Reptile

Also, not an album but Ravyn Lenae's Crush EP is dope

>Phonte - No News Is Good News
>Jean Grae & Quelle Chris - Everything's Fine
>Jericho Jackson - Khrysis & Elzhi Are Jericho Jackson

Hoping these get a physical release at some point. I know, I hate being that guy but I'm not on the digital wave yet.

http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/store/phonte-no-news-is-good-news-cd-free-mp3-download.html

>http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/store/phonte-no-news-is-good-news-cd-free-mp3-download.html

I think it's been an amazing 2018 so far, and I'm going to have to list EPs on here too.

Red Velvet - The Perfect Red Velvet (This was technically 2017, but it's a repackage of last year's album, Perfect Velvet. However, the 3 new tracks added on aren't just a cash grab; I think they actually propel this album to be the best K-Pop album ever).
Against All Logic - 2012-2017
JPEGMAFIA - Veteran
Ought - Room Inside the World
MGMT - Little Dark Age
BoA - ONE SHOT, TWO SHOT
Heize - Wish & Wind
Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar
Black Milk - FEVER
Preoccupations - New Material
MONDO GROSSO - Attune/Detune
Primary x Anda - Do Worry Be Happy
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour
Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog
Kali Uchis - Isolation
Ravyn Lenae - Crush
Cardi B - Invasion of Privacy
Car Seat Headrest - Twin Fantasy
Keiji Haino + SUMAC - American Dollar Bill...
Soccer Mommy - Clean
Jean Grae x Quelle Chris - Everything's Fine

>Keiji Haino + SUMAC - American Dollar Bill...

>

Tom Misch - Geography
Cardi B - Invasion Of Privacy
Chris Dave And The Drumhedz
Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Ventriloquism
Khyrsis & Elzhi are Jericho Jackson
Phonte - No News Is Good News

In no order

Evidence - Weather Or Not
Skyzoo - In Celebration Of Us
Roc Marciano - RR2
Jericho Jackson - Jericho Jackson
Phonte - No News Is Good News
Czarface and MF Doom - Czarface Meets Metal Face
Austin Greene - Austin Greene
Planet Asia - The Golden Buddha
PRhyme - PRhyme 2
Black Milk - Fever
Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
Apathy - The Widow’s Son

I’m sure I forgot something but when was the last time we had a quarter this dope for hip-hop?

O.C. - A New Dawn
Skyzoo - In Celebration Of Us
Khrysis & Elzhi Are Jericho Jackson
Planet Asia - Golden Buddha

I can't stop listening to this album.

And that's high praise, because 2015 was a great year for hip-hop.

Truthfully, I could put together a respectable top 10 list for 2018 from what's already been released this first quarter.

Anywho, in no order:

Jean Grae and Qulle Chris - Everything's Fine
Phonte - No News Is Good News
Elzhi and Khrysis - Jericho Jackson
PRhyme - PRhyme 2
Evidence - Weather or Not
Murs - Strange Journey Into the Unimaginable
Roc Marciano - Rosebudd's Revenge 2
Black Milk - Fever
Czarface & MF DOOM - Czarface Meets Metal Face
Vic Spencer & Sonnyjim - Spencer For Hire
Dr. Octagon - Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation
Apathy - Widow's Son
Chuck Strangers - Consumer's Park
Le$ - Texas Rattlesnake
Curren$y - Parking Lot Music & Spring Collection
OC - New Dawn
Odd Mojo - Channel Your Mojo
Awthentik - Nothing More, Nothing Less
Meyhem Lauren - Glass
Westside Gunn & Mr. Green - Flygod is Good All the Time


Also, haven't gotten around to listen to the new Skyzoo yet. So I didn't include it. Also need to listen to Planet Asia's Golden Buddha.

There were definitely dope albums but I don’t remember a high quantity like 2012.

There’s something about the vibe of these new albums this year that has me loving hip-hop again.

2012 and some other years were dope because the albums were great and sounded new whereas some other years the albums either just sounded new in a bad way where I didn’t like where the art was going or just sounded old for the sake of being a throwback.

This year these albums have sounded both new and old in a good way that I haven’t felt in a minute.

Maybe that makes no sense but whatever! Lol

It really went from 2000 and took all the way to 2012 before I considered it a great year in hip-hop. I love releases from every year but as a whole it went from 2000 to 2012 imo and now I feel like 2018 will be in that line of great years in hip-hop.

At least not after the first quarter. 2012 was some rarified air. I gotta see how the rest of the year pans out.

I didn't even know dude had a new piece. Admittedly, I'm severely out the loop these days, but Ima have tp catch up. Good lookin out.

Like, really high.

..which makes it a pretty nice year so far

Bro...never thought I would say this, but Primo sounded kinda average on PRhyme2. Didn't like many of the concepts either...Royce was nice as usual, project just didn't hit like I thought it would... anyway, mines...for now...

Black Milk "Fever"
Czarface/Doom Joint
Jericho Jackson "Khrysis & Elzhi Are Jericho Jackson"
Phonte "No News Is Good News"
Evidence "Weather or Not"
OC "A New Dawn"

I listened front to back 3x out of respect, and because I was desperate for them to recapture the magic of the first one. But on the latter 2 listens I was pretty clearly just forcing it. If it wasn't PRhyme/Preem & Royce I would've shelved it after the first listen; to me it was borderline unlistenable from a production standpoint. Makes me sad still.

For two talents, who already have proven themselves to have chemistry to release what they released...I just can't call it...

saw it in your list and thought yeah that's the ticket... playing it now. thanks!

My favorite overall has been: Skyzoo-In Rememberance Of Us...

Other than that:

Black Milk/Phonte/Elzhi and Khrysis/PHyme 2
August Greene
Chris Dave & The Drumheadz
Django Django-Marble Skies
LPX-Bolt In The Blue
Wafia-VIII EP
Nipsey Hussle-Victory Lap (this was well worth the wait, but it's really a summer album that dropped in February)
Rhye-Blood
Sango-In The Comfort Of...(another that took so long to drop, but I'm glad it did)
Evidence-Weather Or Not
Blessthefall-Hard Feelings (I've been dipping my toe into Alt Rock because it's what a few of my friends have been listening to. As long it has some sort of melody it's been good.)


Lastly Kali Ucris-Isolation is something special. I've only listened to it once completely, but I think it's gonna stick with me for awhile.

Bring on Janelle Monae please!

Shirt's - Pure Beauty is third fav of the year.

Fourth fav is Bbymutha's - Bbyshoe EP, Lo-fi non trap ATL ratchet but insightful shit

Dug Elzhi's lp with Khrysis but only loved three songs and haven't returned to it much, same with Evidence's album.

I think Phone's album is strong too, tracks 4-8 are my shit...

Black Panther sdtrk was whatever

Wanted to like Nipsey's juss didn't

I liked Cardi's album but stopped listening after a couple days

Saba's album damn near put me to sleep but love the track "Life"

Still haven't listened to Culture II or PRhyme II or Czarface/DOOM

Weeknd's EP was basura

Need to listen to Uchis and Meshell too

i really enjoyed all four of those albums

Fever still my favorite, KOD maybe second...

other things I listened to were KTSE which is OK
Scorpion is boring; i like maybe 7-8 songs and two were the singles
Redemption, Jay Rock's album is good
ASAP's album was aight but forgetable
Flatbush Zombie's album was another dud (wish Meech would go solo)
Playboi Carti albums was basura

gunna relisten to Thought's album again. He wasn't the problem. 9th was. BT killed it per usual

still need to listen to Khadja and Jorja's albums

>First quarter of 2018 is over. List your favorite albums of
>the year so far.
>
>Paper Dollhouse - The Sky Looks Different Here
>Nipsey Hussle - Victory Lap
>U.S. Girls - In A Poem Unlimited
>Skyzoo - In Celebration Of Us
>MGMT - Little Dark Age
>Nils Frahm - All Melody
>The Soft Moon - Criminal
>Ty Segall - Freedom’s Goblin
>Tune-Yards - I Can Feel You Creep Into My Private Life
>Evidence - Weather Or Not
>The Voidz - Virtue
>Black Milk - Fever
>Preoccupations - New Material
>Caroline Says - No Fool Like An Old Fool
>Meshell Ndegeocello - Ventriloquism
>Anna von Hausswolff - Dead Magic
>Palmbomen II - Memories Of Cindy

Second quarter additions

Phonte Coleman - No News Is Good News
J. Cole - KOD
Pom Pom - Untitled
Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer
Sterile Hand - Sterile Hand
Thomas Fehlmann x Terrence Dixon - We Take It From Here
Royce Da 5'9" - Book Of Ryan
DJ Koze - Knock Knock
Beach House - 7
Parquet Courts - Wide Awake!
Meyhem Lauren - Glass
Kali Uchis - Isolation
Jorja Smith - Lost & Found
Jay Rock - Redemption
Skee Mask - Compro
Kamasi Washington - Heaven And Earth
Leon Vynehall - Nothing Is Still

I’m old school fam. If I don’t got the CD/vinyl I’m really not listening to it often. I’ll stream it a few times and move on.

Royce 5'9 - Book of Ryan
Statik Selektah - 8
Phonte - No News is Good News

Those are my top 4 I think.

Saba - Care For Me
Serpentwithfeet - Soil
Rayvn Lenae - Crush Ep
Girl Ultra - Adios Ep
Alina Baraz - The Color of You
Pusha T - Daytona
Bobby Feeno - Flamingo & Koval
Tom Misch - Geography
Phonte - No News Is Good News
Charlotte Day Wilson - Stone Woman
Kablito - Telenovela
Kadhja Bonet - Childqueen
Kali Uchis - Isolation
Jorja Smith - Lost & Found
Nipsey Hustle - Victory Lap
Black Panther OST


Waiting on Anderson .Paak, The Internet, Chance, Schoolboy Q...

dropping tmrw
just learning about these guys...
The project album by Julio Tavarez & Elliot James and co-producer Cobeshack was made over two years in Los Angeles.

Some weak spots keep it at overall lower rating but the high spots hit so much. I would had combined the best of it with prhyme 2 to make a classic.

In order of current rating 9.75-9/10

Daytona
Fever
Nasir
Jericho jackson
Ye
Redemption
In celebration of us
Weather or not
Everything is love
Kids see ghost
Kod
Streams of thought
Flamingo and koval
Black panther sdtk
Prhyme 2
No new is good news
Book of ryan

So far...

Black Milk -- FEVER
Murs -- A Strange Journey Into the Unimaginable
Jamie Isaac -- (4:30) Idler
Kooley High -- Never Come Down
Vic Spencer -- Spencer For Hire
Phonte -- No News Is Good News
Skyzoo -- In Celebration of Us
Jean Grae and Quelle Chris -- Everything's Fine
Potatohead People -- Nick & Astro's Guide to the Galaxy
Saba -- CARE FOR ME
Pusha T -- DAYTONA
Beach House -- 7
Kenny Segal -- Kenstrumentals Vol. 3: Travelog
THE CARTERS -- EVERYTHING IS LOVE
Adrian Younge -- Adrian Younge Presents: Voices of Gemma
Westside Gunn -- Supreme Blientele
Chris Orrick --Portraits

Need more time with...
The Midnight Hour -- The Midnight Hour
Kali Uchis -- Isolation
Jorja Smith -- Lost & Found
Kamasi Washington -- Heaven and Earth
Royce da 5'9" -- Book of Ryan
R+R=NOW -- Collagically Speaking
Kadhja Bonet -- Childqueen
Bobby Feeno of the Houston Texans -- Flamingo & Koval
Apollo Brown & Locksmith -- No Question
Marlowe (L'Orange & Solemn Brigham) -- Marlowe

Radio Galaxy -- Nobody Digs Your Music But Yourself

The Internet -- Hive Mind

a lot of shit I haven't listened to yet, but...(a few of these are really EPs/"mixtapes"):

Jay Rock - Redemption
Black Milk - FEVER
lojii - lofeye
Damu the Fudgemunk/Flex Matthews - Dreams and Vibrations
RF Shannon - Trickster Blues
The Dig - Moonlight Baby
Lorde Fred33 -Norf: The Legend of Hotboy Ronald
Sadiva - Minutes
La Luz - Floating Features
Mo Kolours - Inner Symbols
Night Beats - Sonic Bloom
CARRINGTON CASH - #HOTTRASH
SHIRT - PURE BEAUTY
The Undercover Dream Lovers - In Real Time
Michael Christmas - Role Model
Charlotte Day Wilson - Stone Woman
Spark Master Tape - Seven Sekkonds of Silence
Old Man Saxon - The Pursuit
EARTHGANG - Royalty
Chuck Strangers - Consumer's Park
Nickelus F - STUCK
DJ Luna - Sunday Morning
Freddie Gibbs - Freddie
dopesmoothies - Dsfm:2
KEY/Kenny Beats - 777

I'm mostly waiting for big baby scumbag to drop an album, though

I really need to do better. I haven't heard more than half of these albums.

(...shakes head and goes back to listening to KOD)