10. De La Soul and the Anonymous Nobody…
De La Soul made a big noise 30 years ago when they came onto the rap scene as the opposite of what you thought a rapper was at that time. They have released classics and remained intact as a group and true to themselves over this time period. This year they made the biggest noise. They raised over $600K via gofundme to produce their recent project and the Anonymous Nobody. The album is named for the anonymous individuals who made the project a possibility with their donations. De La Soul took that money, hired session musicians for jam sessions and used those jam sessions for samples as they created the project. This pure and direct approach to their music has earned them a No. 1 album and a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album this year. That accolade is well deserved. The album features Jill Scott, Snoop Dog, Estelle, Little Dragon, 2 Chainz and a few more artists. The standout song on the project is “Pain” featuring Snoop Dogg.
9. Chance The Rapper Coloring Book
No one has impacted the music industry in the past 10 years the way that Chance has. He has managed to tour the world, rally young voters in Chicago, and forced the Grammys to recognize artists and the amount of streams their music gets. He did all of this without a record contract. The icing on the cake is his seven Grammy nominations for Coloring Book. Coloring Book is essentially the grimiest gospel hip-hop album you have ever heard. When you listen closer it sounds like Chance’s personal conversation with God. The song “Summer Friends” feels like a journal entry as Chance laments the friends he has lost. The standout track on the project is “Juke Jam” feat. Justin Bieber and Towkio. It’s the perfect coming-of-age song.
8. King We Are King
These young ladies got the ultimate co-sign from Prince when they first emerged. Their latest project We Are King is what I would call R&B floating on cloud nine. Their voices blend to form a lush soundscape that draws the listener in. We Are King is not an album that features a lead singer and the background vocals. Their voices hover over the music and the listener is submerged in the beauty. “Supernatural” is the standout track from this project. It was on their original EP, but they brought it along for our listening pleasure.
7. Vic Mensa There’s Alot Going On
When I watched Vic perform “Wolves” with Kanye and Sia on “SNL” about a year ago I was not sure what to expect from him. I think ‘Wolves” is an amazing song but it seemed left of anything Mensa would do. What I learned is that Mensa can do whatever he pleases. His release There’s Alot Going On speaks to his diversity as an artist. His honesty is what carries the project. He is not afraid to be vulnerable or shout about injustice as witnessed in the song “Shades of Blue.” The Grammys missed the boat on this project, but it’s OK, Mensa is going to be around for a long time. The standout track from this project is “16 Shots” a song detailing the demonstrations following the shooting of an unarmed Laquan McDonald by a Chicago police officer.
6. Kanye West The Life of Pablo
Kanye’s name provokes many different emotions these days. For the purpose of this list, we are going to stick to the musical masterpiece that is The Life of Pablo.
When that little girl at the start of the album says ” We don’t want no devils in this house, we want the Lord!” It sets the whole tone of the album. “Ultralight Beams” is “Jesus Walks” with more insight and focus on who we are spiritually. Ye released an unfinished The Life of Pablo on Tidal and tinkered with it during the year. What we got was high energy sonically untouchable work — Kanye at his best. The standout songs on The Life of Pablo are “Father Stretch My Hands” 1 and 2. In the second song, he addresses his relationship with his father, his mother’s death, his car accident, and launching the career of an 18-year-old ball of energy named Desiigner.
