Celebrating Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary
In honor of Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary, we’re looking back at some of OTH.E.R.’S favorite hip-hop and R&B albums over the past few years
We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service- A Tribe Called Quest
This album sounds as if it could fit between The Low End Theory and Midnight Marauders. 18 years after their last release this album transcends time to make it the most relevant album of my generation. Generations of people are brought together by the message of hope through all Tribe albums. Their music is more than music- It’s a message to the world that the voiceless refuse not to be heard.
Blonde- Frank Ocean
We had no idea when Blonde would drop. Over a year after it’s expected release date, Blonde became a unique voice of solace. From hushed, dreamlike inspirations from the Beach Boy’s Pet Sounds to rewriting The Beatles “Here There and Everywhere” and turning it into “White Ferrari” Blonde has become a new classic.
Malibu- Anderson .Paak
Malibu started off 2016 and became the standard for all albums to follow. Anderson .Paak incorporates all kinds of music ranging from 50’s soul, doo-wop, hip-hop and dance music. The albums sounds as if it is just one bug jam session where .Paak never seems to miss a beat.
The Sun’s Tirade- Isaiah Rashad
This is an album where you could listen all the way through and each song blends perfectly together, or you could listen to each individual song by itself and you would still feel the rawness of emotion Rashad displays throughout the entire album. Isaiah Rashad is one of the most underrated members of the TDE group.
99.9%- Kaytranada
The Canadian producer has become one of the top artists of 2016. No one can produce a track like him. His sound uniquely captures essences of dance, punk, rock and hip-hop music all in one without sounding disjointed. His album, 99.9%, has an impressive lineup of features and an even more impressive sound that hasn’t been tapped into until now.
untitled unmastered- Kendrick Lamar.
Is it an album?? Who cares it’s one of the best pieces of music of 2016. The songs on the album are all songs that didn’t make the cut from 2015 best album of the year, To Pimp A Butterfly. If you do something well enough though it can transcend rules and expectations. That’s just what Kendrick Lamar does, so album or not it still beats out “official” albums.
Yes Lawd!- NxWorries
Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge team up to bring us an album we didn’t know we neded. It sounds almost unfinished with fuzz and retro sounding beats as if they were sampled off of your dad’s vinyl collection. It’s funky, sensual and current.
Bucket List Project- Saba
Bucket List Project brings the classic idea of a bucket list to life, showing the innovative and creative mind of Saba. The album gives a positive narrative of Saba and others that live in Chicago with a musicality that shows off jazzy undertones and classic R&B vibes incorporated with current hip-hop trends. Like Solange, Saba gives us a personal narrative that anyone can relate to. We will definitely hear more great things from Saba.
At What Cost- Goldlink Washington D.C. has been the birthplace for some amazing artists like, Pharrell, Trouble Funk, Fugazi, and Bad Brains, who have shaped music and left a lasting impression by staying true to their city’s roots. Goldlink’s debut album At What Cost mixes the sound of D.C.'s go-go music with a mix of futuristic funk and hip-hop. Goldlink produced an album that has a rich texture of sounds from kinetic bounces on “Meditation” to the loose, rich loop of “Crew”.
Blkswn-Smino Smino blends genres of music and does it in a way where it seems effortless. The beginning of the album starts of hazy, and one critic described it as a “hotbox confessional” kind of haze. The album then leads into this high-energy funk type beat that carries out until the end. He has this sound that reminds me of Timberland mixed in with a little T-Pain and Erykah Badu. Smino is the futuristic funk master who will bring us more great music in 2018.
4eva Is a Mighty Long Time_ Big K.R.I.T. K.R.I.T. gives us a sort of spiritual narrative on his most ambitious third studio-released album, and his ambition shows through his passion, heavy beats, and sheer depth in all of the tracks. This album bumps. Prepare your speakers and turn the bass up and enjoy.
4:44- Jay Z This summer in New York City I would see this album cover everywhere, on taxis, subway signs, and advertisements posted on buildings. Jay and Beyoncé are the experts on how to build up anticipation. Jay’s 13th studio album is a relaxed storytelling experience. He takes his time through each song with some of his best songwriting to date. Jay takes a retrospective look at how he went from the streets to American icon, father, and husband.
1992 Deluxe- Princess Nokia This is by far the most underrated album of 2017. Princess Nokia is one of the new forces in rap to be reckoned with. Her old school New York rap kind of sound pairs with her exceptional lyricism. She gives off the Lil Kim type of attitude with a Tupac and Biggie type of lyricism and sound. She sings of self-identity and self-preservation on 1992 Deluxe, and details the struggles she has faced in her life. She’s a boss and her album proves she can play the game better than most.
Flower Boy- Tyler, The Creator Tyler’s music has often been dismissed and not taken seriously, but with Flower Boy Tyler demands the attention of all the people who would refuse to take his music seriously. Flower Boy is a daydream of loneliness, self-discovery, and the joy that comes with youth. This is his best work to date.