Well, it's been another year of hip-hop. I can't say anything ground breaking happened. We got a lot of bad music. We got a lot of meh music. It can even be considered the year of drill music. None of that matters because we still got some good music. I've sat here and come up with a list of my favorite albums from 2014. You may not agree with the list. That's okay. Before I start I'd just like to say this list is in no particular order. Today I'm bringing the first five. I'd give you 10 but this was getting long so you can get the other 5 right here
Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo: This is a strange album. It's what I would call a happy melancholy. On the surface it might sound like a happy album, but when you look deeper it's filled with references to suicide and abandonment. Isaiah isn't necessarily the greatest lyricist, but he does pick great instrumentals. He's not afraid to simply let the beat ride for a few minutes instead of forcing in a verse that makes no sense. It's an album that gives you a sense of nostalgia even without hearing it before. My favorite tracks on the album are Modest and Heavenly Father
J. Cole - 2014 Forest Hill Drives: Before you close the browser and walk away let me explain. J. Cole lied about Born Sinner having no features. Forest Hill had no features and he produced all of the tracks except three. That's not why the album is great. Cole always sees himself as a story teller but this was the first album that he actually told a story all the way through without the use of skits. It's not an album of Cole trying to force in political issues with stories about his life like Born Sinner. It's not Cole trying to get a mainstream hit on every track like Sideline Story. It's simply Cole being Cole and it's his best work since Friday Night Lights. My favorite songs are A Tale of 2 Citiez and No Role Modelz
Y.G. - My Krazy Life: "I used to rob niggas, that's probably why they wanna rob my style." That sounds bitter. Music on the West Coast is on the up swing and Y.G. was at the forefront of that before he went to prison. When he came home there were indeed a lot of people trying to copy his style. Most people know Y.G from his singles My Nigga or Toot It and Boot It. But My Krazy Life tells the story leading up to his incarceration as well as release. It tells the same story as Good Kid m.a.a.d. City but where Kendrick finds God Y.G. finds music. Most people see Y.G. as someone who makes just party music but there's so much more there. My favorite tracks on the album are Really Be and I Just Want To Party.
Lecrae - Anomaly: Lecrae is indeed an anomaly. He's a Christian rapper but doesn't want to be known as a Christian Rapper but a rapper who is a Christian. It's weird. Luckily he managed to put together an album that makes him a rapper that happens to be Christian. I'm not going to lie and say he isn't going to be talking about his faith on this album. But what makes it good is the fact that he isn't going to be beating it over your head. Because he's not beating you with a cross until you believe you're able to take a step back and say "Wow he's actually a pretty dope rapper." My favorite tracks are Dirty Water and All I Need Is You.
Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Pinata: I shouldn't even put this on the list because Gibbs manager tried to punk me on Twitter but I'm not bitter like you Archibald Bonkers. I googled it too, Ben Lambert is Gibbs manager. You're just some groupie that told me I couldn't go to Gary. Now that I've said that. Gibbs teamed up with Madlib in what is the second best producer/rapper with a rapper combination of the year. Gibbs described the album as a modern blaxploitaiton film. It really is. Gibbs talks about everything he has done with no shame but still looks for redemption. Madlib . My favorite tracks are Broken and Bomb.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
Isaiah Rashad - Cilvia Demo: This is a strange album. It's what I would call a happy melancholy. On the surface it might sound like a happy album, but when you look deeper it's filled with references to suicide and abandonment. Isaiah isn't necessarily the greatest lyricist, but he does pick great instrumentals. He's not afraid to simply let the beat ride for a few minutes instead of forcing in a verse that makes no sense. It's an album that gives you a sense of nostalgia even without hearing it before. My favorite tracks on the album are Modest and Heavenly FatherJ. Cole - 2014 Forest Hill Drives: Before you close the browser and walk away let me explain. J. Cole lied about Born Sinner having no features. Forest Hill had no features and he produced all of the tracks except three. That's not why the album is great. Cole always sees himself as a story teller but this was the first album that he actually told a story all the way through without the use of skits. It's not an album of Cole trying to force in political issues with stories about his life like Born Sinner. It's not Cole trying to get a mainstream hit on every track like Sideline Story. It's simply Cole being Cole and it's his best work since Friday Night Lights. My favorite songs are A Tale of 2 Citiez and No Role ModelzLecrae - Anomaly: Lecrae is indeed an anomaly. He's a Christian rapper but doesn't want to be known as a Christian Rapper but a rapper who is a Christian. It's weird. Luckily he managed to put together an album that makes him a rapper that happens to be Christian. I'm not going to lie and say he isn't going to be talking about his faith on this album. But what makes it good is the fact that he isn't going to be beating it over your head. Because he's not beating you with a cross until you believe you're able to take a step back and say "Wow he's actually a pretty dope rapper." My favorite tracks are Dirty Water and All I Need Is You.You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
