Blackalicious – I Like the Way You Talk
Berner feat. G Herbo & Mozzy – Details
Grafh – No Issues
KATRANADA feat. Mick Jenkins – Gray Area
Pigeon Hole – June
Pete Flux & Parental – 6:30
D Smoke & Snoop Dogg – Gaspar Yanga
Anoyd & Statik Selektah feat. Nick Grant – New Legends
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib feat. BJ the Chicago Kid – Shame
Namir Blade feat. Jordan Webb – Pace
Homeboy Sandman – Canned Goods
Crown feat. Soulstice & Mainflow [cuts by Dj Nixon] – Here We Are
Sammus feat. Latasha Alcindor aka L.A. – 100 Percent
Danny Brown – Grown Up
Madlib – Movie Finale
Blue Scholars – No Rest for the Weary
Caleb Giles – Blxckberries
Danger Doom – El Chupe Nibre
Killah Priest – High Explosives
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo – Care Packages
Chuuwee – Cool World
Black Knights feat. Kinetic – Techniques & Shockwaves
BamFoe – Death Do Us Part
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Deeper
Murs – Skatin Through the City
Mick Jenkins – Alchemy
Sa-Roc – Goddess Lament
L’Orange feat. Boog Brown – Until The Fall
Milo feat. Myka 9 – Zen Scientist
Step Brothers feat. Roc Marciano – See the Rich Man Play
Below are some of my favorite hip-hop highlights of 2019. Check the following playlists, albums, and videos for my personal run-down of the year.
The Latest Playlist: 2019
*Track listing at bottom of post
Notable Albums of 2019
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
The most universally accepted rap album of 2019 was Bandana from Freddie Gibbs & Madlib. Legendary producer Madlib brings some of his finest work to this highly active Bandana instrumental. The samples are chosen brilliantly and blended masterfully, contributing layers of drama and grandeur to Freddie Gibbs’ tales of criminal lifestyle. Gibbs raps about life struggles through the lens of his experiences in illicit activities, primarily drug dealing. He provides generously detailed stories and references of past experiences with criminal activity, women, and law enforcement. Though he raps with the demeanor of an experienced member of organized crime, Gibbs doesn’t shy away from expressing his emotional state as he describes struggles he experiences as a result of his lifestyle. It is not at all lost in his message that his involvement in criminal activity is born out of a struggle to survive in an environment that doesn’t care if he succeeds, fails, lives, or dies. With outstanding production and heavy descriptive lyrics, Bandana is already considered a classic.
Billy Woods & Kenny Segal – Hiding Places
For years Billy Woods has been one of the most prolific emcees in the subgenre of abstract hip hop; 2019 was his banner year. Hiding Places represents a thoroughly developed and sophisticated Woods on the dark beats and crushing drums of his perfect producer counterpart: Kenny Segal. Hiding Places from Billy Woods & Kenny Segal is not an album for passive listening. Over the course of this project, Woods weaves in and out of fragmented thoughts, metaphor, memories and tangents. This is a deeply personal and emotional Woods, as he speaks passionately in heavy reflection of his childhood and life experiences. There is a fine line between rapping and spoken word, and Woods is constantly playing with that line. The overall aesthetic of this collaboration is dark, ominous, aggressive, and a bit uncomfortable. Hiding Places can be off-putting at first, but listening to this project in its entirety is a truly captivating experience. I also recommend checking out Billy Woods’ other 2019 release: Terror Management.
Kota the Friend – Foto
The album I listened to the most in 2019 was Foto from Kota the Friend. Kota the Friend has to be the most genuinely humble emcee out. Foto is not a complex album musically, conceptually, or otherwise, but it is a true gem for fans of boom bap conscious rap. Through mellow melodic delivery Kota speaks frankly about his life, relationships, and the importance of family. Kota is nearly void of rap braggadocio. The occasional boasting is done with a subtlety that points more towards a comfort in himself rather than any self-righteous arrogance. Foto is highly optimistic from front to back, and Kota speaks from a place of content and joy, consciously leaving hardships in his past. The beats are simple but solid. People looking for more innovative styles and sounds might find the album a bit repetitive, but I personally cant get enough of it.
Check out other Notable Albums from: Rapsody, Dreamville, EarthGang, Anderson .Paak, Mavi, Little Simz, YBN Cordae
Notable Videos of 2019
Freddie Gibbs – Fake Names
Little Simz – Venom
Tierra Whack – Unemployed
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Paul Wall – Juice
YBN Cordae feat. Aanderson .Paak – RNP
Boogie on Sway’s Universe
King Los on Power 106
Open Mike Eagle feat. Danny Brown – Unfiltered (Comedy Central/The New Negroes)
The Latest Playlist 2019
Little Simz – Venom
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Fake Names
Qari & Greenslime – Operation Hennessy
Rapsody – Serena
CRIMEAPPLE & DJ Skizz – Wet Dirt
YBN Cordae – Wintertime
Mach-Hommy feat. Tha God Fahim – Mozambique Drill
Flying Lotus – Andromeda
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Lanell Grant – Caged Birds
Anoyd & Statik Selektah – Purple
Kill Bill x Rav feat. Rekcahdam – Now you don’t
Kota the Friend – Sedona
Danny Brown – Best Life
Dreamville & JID feat. T.I. – Ladies, Ladies, Ladies
Kemba feat. Portugal, The Man – The Feels
MAVI – Love, Of Money
Maxo – Time
Medhane – Affirmation #1
Hemlock Ernst & Kenny Segal – Back at the House
Slowthai – Crack
Apollo Brown feat. Nolan The Ninja & Dopehead – Skimmin’
Homeboy Sandman – Step Inside
Your Old Droog – Train Love
Earl Sweatshirt – MTOMB
Billy Woods feat. Mach-Hommy – Windhoek
Anoyd & Statik Selektah – Mama Porch
Casey Veggies – Dream$
Marlon Craft – (not) Everybody
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib feat. Pusha T & Killer Mike – Palmolive
Your Old Droog feat. Quelle Chris – Taxi
