‘Best Of Lists’ seem a little passe.
Whether it is Music, Film, Television, Video Games, Books, etc… There’s always so much excitement and intrigue, most of it completely irrational and unfounded but still brimming with enough wide-eyed optimism to overlook those little gaps in judgment. Of course, with each and every year, a handful of the most hotly anticipated projects will likely spit right in our faces and prove that hope should just go slit its wrists and drown us all in the reddened sorrow of mediocrity. I mean, it’s just easier to temper expectations straight out of the gate so that the eventual letdown is less punishing. I vote Nihilism in 2016. Just as jokes, 2015 had a lot going for it. I bring to you ‘The Wizeguy: The Bestest’
Kendrick Lamar ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’
I…I’m so torn on this album. On one hand, the lyrical prowess are undeniable – he’s the best rapper out, period. And, beyond just clever word play, he’s truly crafted something that requires deep thought and reflection, and has managed to take your average listener and push their boundaries – a quintessential sign of great art. And, further still, he’s managed to fill the album with multiple works that challenge the basic assumption of what a rap song is, like on ‘For Free’. I love that. He makes you think and feel, which is something very few rappers can do nowadays. This is a special album. He’s smart, he’s talented, and he has a gift to sharing his ideas in a form that transcends what most other rappers are capable of. As much as the concepts Kendrick deals with are insular and race-specific, the beauty of the album is the way in which he finds the common human thread throughout. By focusing in on the psychological and experiential he is able to make his struggle accessible. There is nobody that can’t connect with the struggles he has vis-a-vis society, trying to define his roll as both a part of it and a thinking individual who challenges it. There is nobody who can’t feel what he feels when he thinks he is at the peak of his intellect and then suddenly realizes he knows nothing when he comes back home (‘Momma’). The production is stellar, FlyLo…lean on the man to release that ‘folder of music’ that he recorded with the King. We need a T.P.A.B. 2.0 stat.
Oddisee ‘The Good Fight’
It baffles me how little attention Oddisee receives when his production and lyrics are so above par, but his music is definitely something that deserves to be heard. An incredible album by an underrated MC. Reigning from Washington D.C., Oddisee is an example of a rare breed of rappers who doesn’t sacrifice his art of substantial music for pop irrelevance. ‘The Good Fight’ is a nice collection of informative and uplifting music. Oddisee continues to stay fresh and productive on the boards and the mic, and continues to grow and grow with every release. From the the textured lyrics to the immaculate soul and funky production, this is an album that is meticulously put together from start to finish with no filler tracks in sight. From self appreciated ‘No Love’ all the way to the reflective ‘Worse Before Better’ this album is just amazing. Creative, conscious and thoughtful flow. Seriously lyrically skilled. Maybe the best ‘hip hop’ record I’ve heard in years. This is just pure perfection; so relevant, perspective and futuristic.
Big Grams ‘Big Grams EP’
This EP continues the experimentation between Big Boi (of Outkast fame) and phantogram that started on Big Boi’s ‘Vicious Lies Dangerous Rumors’ album. Hip Hop can be mixed with any sound. Not saying that it should be mixed with any sound but in this case it comes out great. These two artists seem to complement one another and all the tracks just seem to melt and mesh together organically. Like a funky outer space gumbo. From ‘Run For Your Life’ to ‘Drum Machine’ featuring Skrilex the EP moves briefly, making you wish that there were more songs. It’s refreshing to see some of your favorite artists taking such steps towards growth and collaboration. Dope rhymes, angelic melodies over the outlandish synth work and HARD hitting beats. I’m hoping there is a full length follow up in 2016.
Joey Bada$$, ‘B4.DA.$$’
I love the sound of 90’s Hip Hop and Joey Bada$$ was born smack in the middle of that decade. He is twenty years old. 20?!? It shocked me when I first gave ‘B4.Da.$$’ a spin. It sounded like something that would have been on the Duck Down (Nervous? Wreck?) Music roster. Think, Black Moon ‘Enta Da Stage’, Smif-n-Wessun ‘Dah Shinin’ or Heltah Skeltah ‘Nocturnal’. It is THAT good. This entire album is a master class on how to make catchy, heartfelt, passionate music without cutting away your integrity. This LP is filled with sure-shots: ‘Paper Trails’, ‘Big Dusty’ and ‘Christ Conscious’ are some of my favorites. Best thing about the album is that it doesn’t play down to some of the current trends, but it also doesn’t sound so underground that it gets boring. Joey Bada$$ isn’t a force to be reckoned with, he’s a voice to be heard.
Honorable Mentions: Dr Dre ‘Compton’, Czarface ‘Every Hero Needs A Villain’ & Pusha T ‘Darkest Before Dawn’
AND…Music you need to hear:
Mega Ran- ‘RNDM’
Random gets high scores every time. With RNDM, he has hit a kill screen. His most prolific and polished work to date.
http://megaran.com/
Fischloops & Applegreen split release ‘Jabuticaba’
This is a percussive play and rewind. And rewind again (Psst. You can get it on a cassette tape). I’m sure there are more samples on this thing than there are types of heirloom tomatoes at Trader Joes. Never boring, always interesting. This is a sonic gem.
https://fischloops.bandcamp.com/
https://applegreen.bandcamp.com/
Ravertooth Tiger- ‘+Add Me’
Two producers, Graz & Blood Code have put together seven tracks of distorted basslines, arpeggiated chiptunes of electro house. This almost made my head explode the first time I checked it out. Buyer be warned!
http://www.soundclound.com/grazcore
http://www.facebook.com/grazcore
http://graz.bandcamp.com
KadeshFlow- ‘We Are The Faithful’
Per Kadeshs’ bandcamp description: ‘We Are The Faithful’ s an EP that is thematically based on the “One Piece” anime series. I don’t know much about that specific anime. I do know, this guy can SPIT. Purchase it on the link below (and get two bonus tracks) or head over to Itunes. PS. He is currently working on a mixtape called #maytheflowbewithyou PSS. It might already be out now
https://geekeincproductions.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-the-faithful
Speaking of Star Wars…
Otaku Gang- ‘Life After Death Star’
The homie, Richie Branson from the Otaku Gang (the other producer being Solar Slim) recently dropped ‘Life After Death Star’ it is a Star Wars and Biggie Smalls mash up and well, it is pretty…pretty great. ‘Ten Crack Commandments’…All day.
http://lifeafterdeathstar.net/
J’Owl- ‘Pulsatrix’
Multi-instrumentalist Jason Chamberlain is no stranger to sonic experimentation and his latest project, J’owl is no exception. Combining elements of industrial, hip-hop, and jazz; J’owl creates a sonic collage that can only be described as cyberpunk jazz. A project that demands to be heard.
https://kylmyyskollective.bandcamp.com/track/jowlsounds
http://jowlsounds.net
Whats next in 2016:
David Bowie ‘Blackstar’
Blackstar will be Bowie’s 25th studio album and will be released on his 69th birthday. If you don’t think there will be ample amounts of pomp and grandiosity involved, then you clearly don’t know the artist formerly known as Ziggy Stardust. Adding to the scope of what those aforementioned numbers could mean, one of the engineers working on the album has said that, in preparation for writing Blackstar, David Bowie was “listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar.” Yep. You did indeed just read that right. Bowie is/was inspired by hip hop phenom Kendrick Lamar. Further describing the new album: “We wound up with nothing like that, but we loved the fact Kendrick was so open-minded and he didn’t do a straight-up hip-hop record. He threw everything on there, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do. The goal, in many, many ways, was to avoid rock & roll.” – I love it already.
Gorillaz ‘Title TBA’
The Gorillaz last proper release, 2011’s experimental The Fall, was a so-so offering recorded entirely on Albarn’s iPad while he was in the midst of touring. After that uneven album, Albarn kept busy with his various side projects, including a supergroup with Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers called Rocket Juice & the Moon. (Because why not?) He also released a solo album that was endlessly entertaining. But regardless of whatever the Blur frontman has been up to lately, five years is far too long of a stretch to be without new Gorillaz music. Described as “very upbeat, humorous, and positive,” the upcoming record is bound to be full of interesting collaborations and a renewed vigor. “It’s really fast and it’s got quite a lot of energy,” says Albarn.
Kanye West ‘Swish’
Mr West one of the last remaining artists in the hip-hop world who values the concept of an album as a whole, rather than as an artificial set of boundaries to place your hit singles into. Although details of the upcoming album (originally titled ‘So Help Me God’) are scattered few and far between, the bits and pieces he’s put out over the last year are intriguing as always. “Wolves,” which West performed on the SNL 40th Anniversary Show with Sia, was supposed to be included on SWISH, but will most likely be kept on the shelf since the album is taking longer than expected to be recorded. Ye says that this will be a ‘Sonic Painting’, I’m cool with it being another ‘Late Registration’.