GO!

AOE "Homecoming"
DJ Harrison "TapeCookies2"
Oddisee "Iceberg"
Omar "Love In Beats"
Gabriel Garzon-Montano "Jardin"
Wayne Snow "Freedom TV"

https://digife.com

10. Roc Marciano - Rosebudd
9. Your Old Droog - Packs
8. L'Orange - The Ordinary Man
7. Jihad the Roughneck MC - The Wretched and the Verse
6. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
5. Da Buze Bruvaz - Adebisi Hat
4. Oddisee - The Iceberg
3. Tanya Morgan - YGWY$4
2. Rapsody - Laila's Wisdom
1. Brother Ali - All the Beauty in This Whole Life

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

01. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
02. Priests - Nothing Feels Natural
03. SZA - CTRL
04. Protomartyr - Relatives in Descent
05. 2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
06. Jay Som - Everybody Works
07. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time
08. Jlin - Black Origami
09. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
10. Aaron Dilloway - The Gag File

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

01. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
02. 2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
03. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time
04. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
05. Sean Price - Imperius Rex
06. Cyhi the Prynce - No Dope on Sundays
07. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
08. Jay Z - 4:44
09. Armand Hammer - ROME
10. Rick Ross - Rather You Than Me

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

Alphabetical order:
CyHi The Prynce - No Dope On Sundays
JID - The Never Story
Kendrick Lamar - Damn
Milo - Who Told You To Think
Oddisee - The Iceberg
Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
Rapsody - Laila's Wisdom
Roc Marciano - Rosebudd's Revenge
Vince Stapes - Big Fish Theory
Wiki - No Mountains In Manhattan

kendrick and hov were the only memorable projects for me, the rest ranged from bad/mediocre to goodish.

i've heard some truly great r&b tho... SZA, khalid, tiller, elijah blake, curtis harding, miguel, dvsn all dropped good stuff.

Yung 11 - Drop That Wet (some good righteous anger over great hazy beats)
Expressway Yo Yo Dieting - Undone Harmony Following (experimental chopped and screwed)
Mourning a Blkstr - Blk Muzak (feels like if Eddie Gale did a rap/rnb hybrid album)
Melanie Charles - The Girl with the Green Shoes (like nxworries you can play in mixed company)
Lando Chill -The Boy Who Spoke to the Wind
Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
Bitamina - Kawalerka (Polish hip hop band--super duper polished and melodic)
Burt Sienna & Valvoline - Capers (chill raps over great abstract beats)
Draama- Helmi ihmisten ilmoilla (I love this rapper's voice. No idea what she's saying. Very strange and rewarding production choices)
King Krule - The Ooz (A sad slog of an album for a sad slog of a year. Somehow works for me. Lots of late night driving to clear my head with this as the soundtrack)

----
I check for: Serengeti, Zeroh, Open Mike Eagle, Jeremiah Jae, Moka Only.

i really liked For Mark, Your Son album. I didn't know he dropped another project.

--sig--
n/a

01. christian scott atunde adjuah - the centennial trilogy: ruler rebel/ diaspora/ the emancipation procrastination (kinda cheating here, because these were three releases, but it really seems like a triptych)
02. cameron graves - planetary prince
03. ahmad jamal - marseille
04. vince staples - big fish theory
05. quantic & nidia gongora - curao
06. kendrick lamar - damn
07. king krule - the ooz
08. kelly lee owens - kelly lee owens
09. mount kimbie - love what survives
10. nerd - no one ever really dies

He also sells it that way on his bandcamp and that's how most media outlets addressed them, so I think it's fair.



~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

i am relieved.

In no real order...

1. Jansport J "Pharoah"
2. Torii Wolf "Flow Riiot"
3. Kendrick Lamar "Damn"
4. L'Orange "The Ordinary Man"
5. Tanya Morgan "YGWY$4"
6. Forest Swords "Compassion"
7. Blockhead "Funeral Balloons"
8. Sampha "Process"
9. Jlin "Black Origami"
10.Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith "The Kid"

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

01. Khalid, American Teen
02. Lorde, Melodrama
03. SZA, Control
0. Kendrick Lamar, DAMN
05. St. Vincent, MASSEDUCTION
06. Calvin Harris - Fun Wav Bounces Vol. 1
07. Kehlani - SweetSexySavage
08. DREAMCAR - DREAMCAR
09. Future Islands - The Far Field
10. Childish Gambino, “Awaken, My Love!”

Missing just by inches: Jidenna, Jason Isbell, Jessie Ware, John Mayer, The Lone Bellow, Justin Townes Earle, The Regrettes, The National, Chris Stapleton, Ryan Adams, Stormzy, Ron Pope, Connor Oberst, Joey Bada$$, Syd, Lupo Fiasco, The Secret Sisters, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Old 97's.

(Lorde's Melodrama would likely have ended up here if I hadn't just started giving it some serious spins yesterday).


1. SZA - CTRL
2. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream
3. Migos - Culture
4. Future - HNDRXX
5. Milo - who told you to think?​?​!​!​?​!​?​!​?​!
6. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
7. 2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Like Trap Music
8. Jay-Z - 4:44
9. Freddie Gibbs - You Only Live 2wice
10. Future - FUTURE

THis list isn't that useful, though. I listened to 15 rap albums seriously enough to write about them this year, and the last three are sub-8/10 ratings for me, and I don't write about non-rap music much nor do I score it so I always find it harder to rank in lists post-Handbook, but I also didn't listen to much of that attentively this year either so...

I'll also shout out Khalid's American Teen, which actually probably does make this list but I forgot it and feel like that says something, Alvvways' Socialities for having four stellar songs followed by a set of bland ones, the fact that Kendrick would probably rise a bit if I revisited it (just about every Kendrick album I've listened to has started as a low 4 and risen a rung over time), Your Old Droog's record which I really enjoyed but wasn't surprising, Drake's record which I really enjoyed but was so long, the whole Playboi Carti/Kodak Black type movement that was good for a vibe but never for a full length, Mount Eerie for that real ass shit you should only listen to once.

Special shout to Big KRIT for finally making everybody excited while continuing to be less and less for me and Tyler the Creator for (apparently, I'm not compelled to give it a look) finally making a good album.

To Brand New for making an album that seemed great but I stopped listening to before I could form a real opinion due to his abuse charges, The Nier: Automata soundtrack for apparently being gorgeous, Brockhampton for playing the internet well, The National for trying their best to make their KID A and Sampha for making a beautiful album I just never felt compelled to listen to.


~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

I wish I'd scheduled my days out more and let more podcasts that covered the same material slide so I had more time for music. 2018 goals.


~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

planning to use this week off I have to go through his discography. what I did give listens to (Shyne Coldchain Vol. 1, Stolen Youth) I wasn't anything like blown away.

I loved "Norf Norf" but didn't give Summertime 06 much time either.

Listening to his music can be a little hard for me since it's pretty much a 180 from his interview personality.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

Torii Wolf - Flow Riiot
Vince Staples - Big FIsh Theory
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
The National - Sleep Well Beast
Skyzoo - Peddlers Theme
Thundercat - Drunk
Joey Bada$$ - All-Amerikkkan Bada$$
Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy
Flaming Lips - Oczy Mlody

Big Krit / Oddisee share the 10th spot. I am huge fans of both but I got less listens on their respective albums than I thought I would.


werd.

If you care, my Top 10 Hip Hop albums of 2017 (in no order):

1.Joey Bada$$ - ALL AMERICAN BADA$$
2. Rhapsody - Laila's Wisdom
3. Jay Z - 4:44
4. Vince Staples - Big Fish Theory
5 2 Chainz - Pretty Girls Love Trap Music
6. Cyhi The Prince - No Dope on Sundays
7. Tyler The Creator - Flower Boy
8. BROCKHAMPTON - SATURATION II
9. Migos - Culture
10. Your Old Droog - Packs

There are some albums that I genuinely really like (i.e. DAMN, The Iceberg) that didn't even make my overall top 25 because of other stuff. Found a lot of good stuff in 2017.

Artist - Album ("Track")

Overall:

25. Cat Toren’s Human Kind - Cat Toren’s Human Kind (“The Public Good”)
24. Julia Holter - In The Same Room (“Vasquez”)
23. Natalia Lafourcade - Musas (“Soledad y el Mar”)
22. Billy Woods - Known Unknowns (“Fall Back”)
21. King Krule - The Ooz (“Dum Surfer”)
20. Xenia - Xenia (“Perfeita pra você”)
19. Elder - Reflections of a Floating World (“The Falling Veil”)
18. Thundercat - Drunk (“Lava Lamp”)
17. Idles - Brutalism (“Faith in the City”)
16. Mary Halvorson Quartet - Paimon: The Book of Angels Volume 32 (“Yeqon”)
15. Elucid - Valley of Grace (“Strength is Admired Humanity is Denied”)
14. Quelle Chris - Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often (“Popeye”)
13. Greg Saunier/Mary Halvorson/Ron Miles - New American Songbooks, Volume 1 (“Luke and Leia ”)
12. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream (“Feel At Home”)
11. Charlotte Dos Santos - Cleo (“Red Clay”)
10. Jaimie Branch - Fly or Die (“Theme 001”)
9. Milo - Who Told You to Think​?​?​!​!​?​!​?​!​?​! (“Yet Another”)
8. Vijay Iyer Sextet - Far From Over (“Threnody”)
7. Cécile Mclorin Salvant - Dreams and Daggers (“Never Will I Marry”)
6. Tomas Fujiwara - Triple Double (“Decisive Shadow”)
5. Nicole Mitchell - Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds (“Listening Embrace”)
4. Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy (“Boredom”)
3. Armand Hammer - ROME (“Barbarians”)
2. Gerald Clayton - Tributary Tales (“A Light”)
1. La Lá - “Zamba puta” (“La Felicidad”)

Hip-Hop only*:

1. Armand Hammer - ROME
2. Tyler, The Creator - Flower Boy
3. Milo - Who Told You to Think​?​?​!​!​?​!​?​!​?​!
4. Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
5. Quelle Chris - Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often
6. Elucid - Valley of Grace
7. Billy Woods - Known Unknowns
8. Rapsody - Laila's Wisdom
9. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
10. Oddisee - The Iceberg

*Big KRIT's album isn't on here, but I need to spend more time with it, I've only heard it all the way through once, whereas all of these records I've played the hell out

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

in no order:

Future Islands - Far Field
Kendrick Lamar - DAMN
Meyhem Lauren - Gems from the Equinox
MIKE - May God Bless your Hustle
Conway - G.O.A.T.
Colter Wall - Self Titled
Pumarosa - The Witch
Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids
Armand Hammer - Rome
Mount Eerie - A Crow Looked at Me

***************************************


xbox gamertag: Winladen
PSN: Winladen

In no specific order:

Kendrick - DAMN
Thundercat - Drunk
Jay-Z - 4:44
Tyler the Creator - Flower Boy
lojii & swarvy - Due Rent
Tanya Morgan - You Get What You Pay For
Washed Out - Mister Mellow
Skyzoo - Peddler Themes
Jonwayne - Rap Album Two

That was the nine I thought of on New Years Day and it feels right. For number 10 I'm gonna cheat with a 3-way tie:

Run the Jewels - RTJ3
Oddisee - The Iceberg
Von Pea & The Other Guys - The Fiasco


Just for fun, Top 10 beat tape/instrumental releases (no specific order):

Kiefer - Kickin it Alone
Karriem Riggins - Headnod Suite
ΔKTR - LALA
Fuzzoscope - Earwax Shelf Life
Beautiful Disco - Heavy Rotation
Foisey - Byrds
wowflower - balloons
DJ Harrison - HazyMoods
Onra – Chinoiseries pt. 3
Damu The Fudgemunk- Vignettes

__
I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno

Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)

Father John Misty - Pure Comedy
Nick Hakim - Green Twins
Gabriel Garzon-Montano - Jardin
Overdoz - 2008
Kendrick - DAMN
King Krule - The OOZ
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Sketches of Brunswick East OR Gumboot Soup
Quelle Chris - Being You Is Great
Natalia Lafourcade - Musas
Open Mike Eagle - Brick Body Kids Still Daydream
LCD Soundsystem - American Dream
Moses Sumney - Aromanticism

if I had to take off two it'd be Lafourcade & Garzon.