Hip-Hop/Rap
Reviews
Kosa12
Otherworldly beats rapped over by two emcees who had never worked together before on a full length LP, but perfectly contrast one another. Layered lyricism that addresses the combination anti-black racism, imperialism and late stage capitalism in heady and visceral ways.
Kosa12
Unlike their previous records, SHRINES has darkness and light, and woods and Elucid are extraordinary writers with distinct interesting styles. The cryptic, non-linear nature of the lyricism invites repeat listens.
Aft
IMO this is the best pure rap album of the year, the perfect blend of the old guard style of hip hop mixed with modern sensibilities and trap inspired production. I really dont gotta say more...i am aft...
wav404
The deluxe version of teejay's 2019 release, brings 12 new tracks that are so fun and outrageous and even tackling some new styles that I think cement teejay as one of the most versatile and enjoyable artist in the game right now.
wav404
My favorite of the 4 projects duwap dropped in 2020. This project has duwap riding the synth heavy production so well. Another Cup is one of my favorite songs from the rapper. We even see a song called No autotune that proves that duwap does not need autotune to produce a banger.
wav404
David shawty and producer hoodwtch team up to make one of the most fun rap projects I've heard this year. The production is sampled filled and packed it's hard to even imagine how someone could rap over beats like twin david, but david shawty provides great fun lyrics that just put you in such a tweaked out mood. it's quite lovely.
magic
Borderline psychotic lyrics over blown out bass and massive synths. It's very loud. About as abrasive and terrifying a mainstream rap record can get. Playboi Carti continues his climb.
Aft
wildly creative trap music that really sounds like nothing else. it's all anger, energy, and vibes. and for the people in the know, they can pick up on Carti's influences and see how far he pushes the boundaries and normal conventions of rap delivery.
Aft
This is atlanta trap at it's finest, metro's production is simple in nature while always being open for evolution and progression into something more unique. 21 Savage isn't saying anything crazy but the way in which he delivers his words creates a perfect accompaniment for the dark production. also he's very funny
siys
the beats are hard. the rapping is hard. everything’s hard.
Jax
Another great & emotional project from Mike. This album feels like when ur too sad to do anything so u keep drifting in & out of sleep & ur glued to ur bed
Jax
New Griselda member Boldy James flows over some killer Alchemist beats with complex lyric structures & the delivery of someone who’s been through it all
Jax
Yung Lean drops an album that you can tell he’s proud of. His songwriting keeps getting better every album & the production is amazing again
Jax
Mach drops another great project in his stacked discography with more stellar production & more complex lyricism & flows. A full length that should’ve been longer, the elusive rapper gets beats courtesy of DJ Preservation, Earl Sweatshirt, & Nicholas Craven with great features all around. Short & sweet but takes multiple listens to wrap ur head around every bar Mach puts on tracks
Aft
uzi fulfills on his promise to make the wait worth it after almost 3 years of not releasing a project. there’s nothing deep about this album, it’s just the very best uzi has to offer in terms of singing, genuine rapping ability, and catchy songwriting that brought him fame in the first place. he brings together just the right balance of hard hitting bangers and emotional epics that make the album fly by. this is also helped by the incredible productional efforts of working on dying, maaly raw, tm88, etc. who bring the cutting edge of weird/unique mainstream trap beats to the table. overall, the hype was met and exceeded for fans with this release and the deluxe version of the album that followed.
magic
Lil Uzi is an excellent rapper and that is on full display here. Probably his best beat selection since his early tapes, and his best hooks maybe ever. Really fuckin fun to listen to, perfect music for nowadays malaise.
magic
Duwap absolutely positively effortlessly floating over some beautiful production. For a guy who probably likes just sitting at home smoking weed and watching tv more than anything, he can craft a beautiful damn trap song. Beats are experimental, ethereal, jumpy, video gamey(?), and really just weird as shit sometimes. Theyre perfect for Duwap's melodic flow.
Marshmallowsz
In my opinion the strongest griselda album of the year and one of their best releases yet. Hit-Boy's production here sounds so fresh and works fantastically with Benny. Benny the butcher kills it like always and his rapping is sharp and confident.
Marshmallowsz
A big step up from his previous projects, showing his versatility and dropping some of his best songs yet. Pressure in My Palms is one of the best bangers of the year and Fetus with Injury Reserve hit really hard, especially with Groggs' passing, his verse still almost brings me to tears, he just left us way too soon.
Marshmallowsz
Che Noir had a fantastic year with this album, her amazing ep After 12 and some features. Her rapping is great and her lyrics hit hard. Really curious what she's gonna do next. Apollo Brown nails the production as usual.
Slightly
best pop rap album of the year. Hypnotic cutesy romantic pop ballads with trap production.
siys
the album was like a movie to me. the transitions are great and i love the vocals. i haven’t really heard much story-like/cinematic rap albums so this one put me in awe. this one definitely catches my eye when i think about 2020 hip hop albums.
wav404
its like kinda rap but not really, but it's the best bladee project of the 3 that came out this year, include it, this is a threat.
gryme
Included because it's probably the best of the three stellar Bladee releases from 2020 and because i am scared for my life.
noah
Døves - Ultraclub4k: totally brilliant and something like the natural conclusion to the fusion
of trance with internet trap that's been going on for a while. would have been my #1 but it's
not really a pop album!
[note: moved this to hiphop!]
Honourable Mentions
Jax
"Lil Uzi Vert - Eternal Atake
070 Shake - Modus Vivendi
Sahbabii - Barnacles
Pop Smoke - Meet the Woo 2
Rap Ferreira - Purple Moonlight Pages
Duwap Kaine - Bad Kid From the 4
DJ Preservation - Eastern Medicine Western Illness
The Alchemist & Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo"
magic
Pink Siifu - Negro
simon
Bbymutha - Muthaland (my hip hop album of the year, slaps like a muthafucka)