If you know me. GarserTheClown, you know that I talk a lot about Korean and Japanese music, hence the podcast for it.Well I am american and I do listen to American music and to prove it I've made a list of my favorite musical projects from this year.
I got into Gab when a Korean artist from Seattle, where they both come from, shouted her out on Instagram. I proceeded to listen to her second album, Gab The Most High. I enjoyed the hell out of this album. Gab is a great rapper and is musically correct as she is able to switch from a fast paced song with intense rapping to a slower paced song with vocals filled with love. If you're looking for a project with some party tracks, love tracks and boss ass tracks, this one here is for you. Gab definitely goes hard. My favorite tracks are Same Shit/Different Day, Piece of My Love and Now We Ain't.
Mic Capes - Concrete Dreams
I heard Mic Capes on Gab's album and had to check him out. Later this year in September he would release his debut album, Concrete Dreams. The album is filled with his hopes, ambitions and his struggle of living in Portland from a young age to adulthood. If you're looking for a rapper who can spit great verses about the things happening around them yet can still play the tracks and move to them, this rapper is for you. I highly recommend this 18 track story if you want to hear someone paint a picture. Favorite tracks are Jansport, Inner City Tantrum, and Jumper Cables.
2 Chainz and Lil Wayne - COLLEGOVE
Lil Wayne has lost his touch and 2 Chains will always be a great hype rapper so I wasn't expecting too much from this album, but I enjoyed it a lot. The trading of verses was great and it was good to hear Wayne rap with some meaning even though a majority of these tracks aren't to be taken seriously, Still I didn't cringe at them. I like this duo a lot. I like all of the tracks and overall its just a cool ass album that you can turn up to. Favorite tracks are Gotta Lotta, Smell Like Money, and Not Invited.
DJ Khaled - Major Key
I don't really listen to DJ Khaled. When he drops his multi talented singles, I always enjoy them a lot. Some have even been my favorite songs of the year. The only reason I listened to the album despite its colorful cast, was because of the memes he started beforehand. I enjoyed this album a lot. The production on each song was great and everything had a flow. This album has party tracks as well as tracks criticizing the world but those tracks are still molded so that you can listen to them as party tracks. For the most part I enjoyed every feature here (not Kodak Black). Favorite tracks are Nas Album Done, Holy Key, Forgive Me Father.
Rae Sremmurd - SremmLife2
Rae Srenmmurd work. Meaning that you can listen to their music which is usually geared to make you dance but not too idiotic to make make pause the track and question where you are mentally. I was expecting a party project but got that and some. I loved all the tracks, the production felt crisp and not played out and the lyrics were okay. I recommend this album as a pre turn up and turn up project. Favorite tracks are Start A Party, Now That I Know and Black Beatles.
The Game - 1992
I wasn't alive for the 92 Riots but I was able to relieve Game's entire life from that year here. Game is no doubt one of the best lyricists from the West Coast and he proves it here. The storytelling on this joint is amazing. Its almost as if I'm watching a hood movie like Menace 2 Society. Favorite tracks are Young Niggas, True Colors/Its On, and 92 Bars.
Twenty88 - Twenty88
I was skeptical of this project because even though Jhene Aiko is a good singer, her music is trash. Regardless these two together created one of my favorites EP's this year. The blend of R&B and HipHop was top notch. Neither one of the artists out shined the other but were equal the entire time. Jhene's lyrics were vivid and Sean never went off subject making this EP a must listen to. Favorite tracks are London Bridges, 2 Minute Warning and On The Way.
OG Maco - Lord of the Rage
I randomly decided to check out this mixtape as I'm not a fan of Maco, but I'm glad I did. The production in this mixtape was better than a majority of the Hip Hop albums that I listened to here. I don't know Maco's style but this shit here is great. Favorite tracks are Ape Shit, Champions, Sound The Trumpet.
Noname - Telefone
Another great and rising female MC here is Noname. Her mixtape Telefone was a great yet highly underrated project. I loved the mood that was created as it pictured Chicago the way that I usually see it and some. Noname definitely knows what she's doing as she can paint a picture with words and with time she'll be even better. Favorite tracks are Diddy Pop, Sunny Duet, Shadow Man.
Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love
Gambino switched up everything for this project. There is no rapping as he goes for a Funk and R&B album. From the first single "Me and Your Mama" to the last song on the album, "Stand Tall", the album is filled with songs about love for everyone. Its not about being a black nerd like "Camp", or being confused about love and life like "Because The Internet", This is his most solid album yet that I can not put down. The story he tells throughout dealing with his relationship to his son and baby mama is perfect and the telling of love between everyday people is solid. It has a ton of replay ability.
A Tribe Called Quest - Thank You For Your Service, We Got It From Here
The last album from a legendary group was a great way to go out. We got tracks hammering down on the state of America with tracks calling it trash, boosting our love with hope that can be a great America, love tracks and tracks targeting the "lil whatevas". I honestly can't explain this album the way it should be. Just check this shit out. I loved all the tracks.
Yuna - Chapters
I've known who Yuna is for about 2 years but it wasn't until after this project was released that I finally sat down to listen to her. The Malaysian superstar has a perfect voice for singing in English. She has a deep yet soft voice that fits perfectly with the mood and theme of the album. Chapters isn't a typical love play but has songs about her life as well. Through this one project I got to feel the colors that are Yuna so I'm excited to go back and listen to her previous works. Listen to Chapters, you will not be disappointed.
The Weekend - Starboy
By this point if you're a Weekend fan, you pretty much know what you're getting yourself into. But this album was better (in my opinion) than Beauty Behind The Madness. There are a total 18 tracks with the typical Weekend flavor but much more. The track "Secrets" is one of the few toned down songs that doesn't talk about sex and drug abuse but yet a falling apart relationship. But, I do enjoy the drug abuse and sex songs. Solid project with a ton of club bangers and a few slow tracks. Favorite tracks are Secrets, Star Girl Interlude, Sidewalks, Reminder.
Gambino switched up everything for this project. There is no rapping as he goes for a Funk and R&B album. From the first single "Me and Your Mama" to the last song on the album, "Stand Tall", the album is filled with songs about love for everyone. Its not about being a black nerd like "Camp", or being confused about love and life like "Because The Internet", This is his most solid album yet that I can not put down. The story he tells throughout dealing with his relationship to his son and baby mama is perfect and the telling of love between everyday people is solid. It has a ton of replay ability.
A Tribe Called Quest - Thank You For Your Service, We Got It From Here
The last album from a legendary group was a great way to go out. We got tracks hammering down on the state of America with tracks calling it trash, boosting our love with hope that can be a great America, love tracks and tracks targeting the "lil whatevas". I honestly can't explain this album the way it should be. Just check this shit out. I loved all the tracks.
Yuna - Chapters
I've known who Yuna is for about 2 years but it wasn't until after this project was released that I finally sat down to listen to her. The Malaysian superstar has a perfect voice for singing in English. She has a deep yet soft voice that fits perfectly with the mood and theme of the album. Chapters isn't a typical love play but has songs about her life as well. Through this one project I got to feel the colors that are Yuna so I'm excited to go back and listen to her previous works. Listen to Chapters, you will not be disappointed.
The Weekend - Starboy
By this point if you're a Weekend fan, you pretty much know what you're getting yourself into. But this album was better (in my opinion) than Beauty Behind The Madness. There are a total 18 tracks with the typical Weekend flavor but much more. The track "Secrets" is one of the few toned down songs that doesn't talk about sex and drug abuse but yet a falling apart relationship. But, I do enjoy the drug abuse and sex songs. Solid project with a ton of club bangers and a few slow tracks. Favorite tracks are Secrets, Star Girl Interlude, Sidewalks, Reminder.
Garser Dismuke is a writer for Blerdsonline.com as well as Garserspoetry.com
He releases his vast knowledge of Anime, Wrestling, K-pop and Poetry on the daily
Check out my new book “181820” on Amazon
