2018 Rap Up: Albums 50-26
- Zachery Moats
- Jan 24, 2019
- 13 min read
Updated: Jan 11, 2020
Now we are getting to the great stuff. We are officially entering the top 50. Let’s get to it with a quick recap.
100. Takeoff – The Last Rocket
99. A$AP Rocky – TESTING
98. Cypress Hill – Elephants on Acid
97. $uicideboy$ - I Want to Die in New Orleans
96. Chuck Strangers – Consumers Park
95. KYLE – Light of Mine
94. The Doppelgangaz – Aaaaggghh
93. Apathy – The Widow’s Son
92. Various Artists – Superfly Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
91. Ace Hood – Trust the Process II: Undefeated
90. Rich the Kid – The World Is Yours
89. Princess Nokia – A Girl Cried Red
88. Young Thug & YSL Records – Slime Language
87. Nines – Crop Circles
86. 88rising – Head in the Clouds
85. Roc Marciano – Behold a Dark Horse
84. Action Bronson – White Bronco
83. Joell Ortiz & Apollo Brown – Mona Lisa
82. Fat Tony – 10,000 Hours
81. Dave East – P2
80. Drake – Scorpion
79. Death Grips – Year of the Snitch
78. Cadence Weapon – Cadence Weapon
77. E-40 – The Gift of Gab
76. Octavian – SPACEMEN
75. Trippie Redd – Life’s A Trip
74. Bishop Nehru – Elevators: Acts I & II
73. Dabrye – Three/Three
72. Del the Funky Homosapien & Amp Live – Gate 13
71. Montana of 300 – Pray for the Devil
70. Kooley High – Never Come Down
69. G Herbo & Southside – Swervo
68. Logic – YSIV
67. Open Mike Eagle – What Happens When I Try To Relax
66. Aminé – ONEPOINTFIVE
65. PRhyme – PRhyme 2
64. Roc Marciano & DJ Muggs – KAOS
63. Evidence – Weather or Not
62. Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story
61. Skyzoo – In Celebration of Us
60. J. Cole – KOD
59. Rejjie Snow – Dear Annie
58. T.I. – DIME TRAP
57. cupcakKe – Eden
56. Czarface & MF DOOM – Czarface Meets Metal Face
55. Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS WAVE
54. City Girls – Girl Code
53. YG – Stay Dangerous
52. Meek Mill – Championships
51. Metro Boomin’ – NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES
50. Swizz Beatz – POISON
49. Cozz – Effected
Have you ever seen a wolf tear apart its prey? To watch a living animal ferociously feast by way of survival. That’s what it feels like to listen to Cozz flow over the beats on Effected. His 2014 debut – Cozz & Effect – established him as another solid rapper in J. Cole’s record label Dreamville. Effected sees him leapfrog a number of his peers on the label. From the opening track, Cozz start riding the beat just to tear it asunder. After “Questions,” Cozz never looks back. Cozz flexes his storytelling muscles with the help of Kendrick Lamar on the next track. However, it was not until the album continued to progress that the wolf truly started to take form. Cozz frequently punches through certain syllables on words and it creates this additional rhythm on top of the melody of the beat. It simultaneously makes you bob your head and get that little stank face whenever he punches through a particularly ruthless bar. “Freaky 45” is a prominent example because of how layered and muted that beat is. It has these gorgeous horns, but the skeleton is primarily just the drum beat. It lets Cozz just rip each verse to shreds, something he seems to have honed significantly since his debut four years ago.
48. SOB X RBE – Gangin’
When you started reading this countdown, you were thinking to yourself – “You know what I need? I need some trap over synth beats.” Don’t worry, I had no idea I was unconsciously yearning for something like SOB X RBE’s Gangin’ till I heard it either. The first time I heard “Anti-Social,” the whole sound just clicked and I had to run it back. Each track is bass heavy but in a different way than any other rap album on this list. The bass starts to thump as though a trap beat is going to ripple through your speakers, then the tempo speeds up and synths start to appear. Sometimes they abandon the notion of starting the song as a rap song at all, like on the infectious “Always.” I appreciate pushing boundaries, breaking down genre lines, and pursuing all different types of sound whenever I throw on an album, but sometimes it just does not work. I listened to plenty of rap albums this year where there was a heavy genre blend that just didn’t carry itself. In fact, that feels as though it happens more often than not. SOB X RBE does not have that issue on Gangin’. They carve out a sound their own exploring different styles and sounds never leaving the listener with a dull moment.
47. Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
46. Various Artists – Black Panther Soundtrack
45. Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, & The Alchemist – Fetti
44. 03 Greedo – God Level
In the summer of 2018, 03 Greedo was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Shortly after his guilty plea, he dropped the album/mixtape/compilation God Level. It is comfortably the longest rap album on this list. It runs just longer than an hour and half. It also has songs that might be considered thematically at completely opposite ends of the spectrum. (The spectrum we are considering here would be songs about guns and drugs and then love songs). Here’s the kicker though…the two ends of that spectrum are a whole lot closer for 03 Greedo on God Level. The braggadocios raps are laden with a certain anxiety. 03 Greedo’s bars about how his life has changed since he got famous scattered throughout the project embody “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” 03 Greedo expresses as much on the opening “Blower” and throughout the album. Somewhere between what once was for 03 Greedo, what currently is for him, and what never seems to change. To be able to straddle all three of those realities and do so by putting together anything that sounds close to the incomparable “Basehead” is a feat in and of itself. The album runs long, but 03 Greedo’s ability to entertain is only matched by his ability to paint as vivid a picture as you’ll hear from 2018 through his words and his voice. (Obviously this is helped too by the fact that “Blower” and “Basehead” were two of my favorite rap songs released all of last year).
43. Cavalier – Private Stock
42. Bun B – Return of the Trill
We have had some great southern albums in this countdown from T.I.’s DIME TRAP to Young Thug and YSL Records’ Slime Language, but there has been none so far to touch Bun B’s Return of the Trill. It is both a return for Bun B since his last album in 2013 and an ode to his hometown of Port Arthur, Texas (just east of Houston). In some ways, Bun occupies a similar space on this album that T.I. did on DIME TRAP. The straddling the past and the present is a prominent theme, but Bun does so to even greater effect. The production all over this record is crisp, in large part due to Big K.R.I.T., producer for most of the record. He didn’t release an album in 2018, but he has quietly established himself as one of the best dual threats in the rap game. He has a few features on this record where he shines in addition to that production too. The presence of Big K.R.I.T. and other new school rappers such as 2 Chainz are buoyed by the presence of southern mainstays such as Lil Wayne, 8Ball & MJG, and Slim Thug. For as great as the supporting cast is in this 56-minute drama, no one shines better than the legend himself. Bun B gives the trunk-popping tracks like “Trill Over Everything” and “Recognize.” He slows down the album in its second half, shifting to topics such as getting older (“Grow Up”) and a nuanced song about policing (“Blood on the Dash”) My guess is that we will see more of Bun B in the future. But if this is in fact his last album, it is a hell of a swan song.
41. Mick Jenkins – Pieces of a Man
The first track on Mick Jenkins’ Pieces of a Man is called “Heron Flow” and it sets the tone and form for all that follows. “Heron Flow” references Gil Scott Heron (in addition to the name of the album itself) and his powerful spoken word. Right out of the gates, Mick lets you know where he is going. He has also always been a fan of concept records, including his debut album, The Healing Component, in 2016. Pieces of a Man is the strongest out of his repertoire. Following its name, each song, verse, and chorus makes up distinct and entangled parts of Jenkins himself. His bars are both as tight and as expansive as ever - illuminating who he is, what makes up the pieces of the man. The production from the likes of BadBadNotGood, Kaytranada, and Black Milk creates the sonic landscape layered with groovy pianos, muffled drums, and electric sounds that pop at every turn. Mick Jenkins refuses boxing himself into one style or concept. At the age of 27, he is just going to continue to get better. Other rappers should be scared of that notion.
40. The Carters – Everything is Love
39. KIDS SEE GHOSTS – KIDS SEE GHOSTS
38. Royce da 5’9” – Book of Ryan
37. Roc Marciano – RR2: The Bitter Dose
36. Maxo Kream – Punken
There are two things that stand out listening to Punken: Maxo’s vivid storytelling ability and just how hard he consistently goes. Maxo takes no songs off, a trend that was also featured prominently on his 2015 tape, #Maxo187. On tracks like “Work” and “Roaches,” Maxo walks the tightrope of telling an evocative story over infectious beats. The stories are not only potent due to the words Maxo chooses, but how he moves through the song. His flow, especially on “Work,” is so deliberate and punchy, it creates a rhythm for the story all on its own. Maxo demonstrates his ability to ride a beat on the more uptempo tracks as well (“Bussdown”). The features are also far and few in between here (none beyond Trippie Redd and 03 Greedo, two other artists featured in this Rap Up) meaning Maxo has more room to operate. Throughout the course of album, he crafts small, detailed worlds in each song, inextricably linking them through his personality and rolling flow that punches through the headphones of the listener.
35. Black Milk – FEVER
Similar to Chuck Strangers, Black Milk has spent much of his career behind the guys who get credit for the hits. The biggest difference is that this is not the first time that Black Milk has stepped out and put his emcee shoes on. In fact, he has been doing so for over a decade. Black Milk has been known more for his production style though. A style that is expressed aptly on this record through the jazz-infused instrumentals – down to very style of drumming. Black Milk explores race, police brutality, relationships, and more with a pace that often mimics those jazz tones in their expression. In fact, some of the more electronic layers on the record combined with Black Milk’s content evokes the spirit of J. Dilla, Questlove, and Common’s collaborations on Electric Circus. The instrumentals are more than enough to keep you listening, wondering how Black Milk and his session musicians that include the likes of Malik Hunter (bass) and Chris Dave (percussion) are going to evolve even within the span of a single track. Black Milk’s emcee abilities are just icing on the cake.
34. Smino – NØIR
Smino’s debut album from last year, blkswn, was one of my favorites. After the release of NØIR, he continues and build off of the strengths of that debut. From the opening bars of “KOVERT,” one thing is abundantly clear: Smino’s flow is in the driver’s seat. The songs ebb and flow on his count. For a rapper to have that much command, especially on the strong, groovy R&B production that accompanies him throughout the album, is enchanting. It grabs the listener more on continuous spins, noticing the twists and turns in his voice and flow, occasionally forgetting to hear what he is actually saying. By track three (“KLINK”), you find yourself wondering just where Smino can or will go next. It is a joyous occasion to spin a record where each track is like opening a treasure chest where you just aren’t sure what it might be, but you know it will be special.
33. 6LACK – East Atlanta Love Letter
Alright, so maybe I cheated a little bit here. I would hardly call 6LACK just a rapper, but he also is not the first artist on the list who combines rapping with singing. I am also sure that nobody did it better than him in 2018. This album is exactly what it says it is: a love letter to East Atlanta – where 6LACK grew up. It is also more than that though. It is a confessional. That much is clear from its opening “Unfair.” While so much of his rapping sounds closer to spoken word to the ear, it sets the tone for the album. East Atlanta Love Letter is intimate and immersive from 6LACK’s somber tone to the hazy, chill production. The features are far and few in between, which serves to make them all the more potent when they do arrive. Future was the perfect selection for the title track, “East Atlanta Love Letter.” J. Cole, Khalid, and Offset round out the features the album more definition. East Atlanta Love Letter is an ode to youth, to Atlanta, and ultimately a somber introspection.
32. Freddie Gibbs – Freddie
Freddie Gibbs is reminiscent of that quiet friend who only speaks occasionally but whenever he does, it reminds you why you love him. The hype train doesn’t run for him in the same way it might for a Future release, but he also has some of the most consistent output over the past few years. Freddie continues that trend - just in a shorter, more contained space of 25 minutes. With one of the most unique flows in modern rap, Gibbs often carries the torch of gangsta rappers past. Freddie embraces those sensibilities wholeheartedly from his first few verses on “Weight.” The full power of the album doesn’t hit until his collaboration with 03 Greedo on “Death Row” (which contains one of the best sample flips of the entire year). Gibbs cuts loose on Freddie, perhaps giving us a taste of what is to come. If that is not the case, we are still left with 25 minutes tailor-made to spin in your car with the volume as loud as it can go.
31. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter V
Lil Wayne has never been one to shy away from his feelings. In fact, he has always had a penchant for straddling those emotive, intimate songs with the club hits. Tha Carter V is a vehicle for some of the most intimate Wayne we have ever heard: discussing his suicide attempt, playing recordings from his mother about how she worries about him (“Open Letter”). However, this is also the most alive, most resilient we have heard Wayne in years. The album has a long running time at almost an hour and thirty minutes. Even with that level of involvement, the album feels like an exclamation point on one of the best careers in rap music in recent years. It doesn’t just consist of Lil Wayne being honest about his struggles but putting on a show once again. From “Uproar” to “Open Safe” Wayne flexes his ability to ride bass-heavy party beats with the best of them. Tha Carter V is a culmination of Wayne’s career allowing the listener to reminisce on one of the best rappers of the past 20 years.
30. Tierra Whack – Whack World
Following one of the longest albums in the countdown is the shortest. Tierra Whack’s Whack World runs 15 minutes long. You read that right, this album is 6x shorter than Tha Carter V. It is also 15 songs long – each song lasting exactly one minute. Everything about Whack World is so beautifully bite-sized. Once those 15 minutes pass, it feels like you have listened to 15 different albums. The number of styles and sounds on the record manage to feel less like an artist trying to find their own sound instead one who is secure enough in their own abilities to be able to adapt to any style. Whack World is also layered with dark humor, wit, and plenty of parody. Within that humor lies the earnestness of Tierra Whack. “4 Wings” is a terrific example. It starts with a distorted piano into Whack deploying this lackadaisical flow on the hook: “Salt, pepper, ketchup, and hot sauce/Fry hard cause I do not like soft.” This morphs into some amalgamation of reflection and humor throughout her verse that never sounds anything less than heartfelt. No matter what the style, what world Tierra Whack is inhabiting, the intricate rhyme schemes she uses, the result is same: short bursts of excellence.
29. Denzel Curry – TA13OO
On the first listen of Denzel Curry’s TA13OO, the enticing darkness and Curry’s charisma stick out. No matter what the topic, Curry convinces you that listening to it and inviting it into your head is worth it. On the second listen, the internal rhymes and Curry’s flow started to pop. He demonstrates a mastery of control over his own flow. He knows just when to tear off his shirt and punch everything in sight and when to pull it back in focusing on the words themselves. Sometimes he even does it throughout the same verse (“Sirens”). Darkness is a motif throughout the record, but it does not always appear in the same way. In some songs it’s an undercurrent destined to rear its head only in Curry’s lyricism or the beat itself. Other tracks revel in the shadows. TA13OO often offers ruminations on dark subjects, but the album as a whole represents a step forward for Denzel Curry and his ability to craft great work.
28. Buddy – Harlan & Alondra
Most of Buddy’s Harlan & Alondra is funky and infectious. It brings grooves featured prominently in rap from bygone eras into modern times and does in a rapturous manner. “Trouble on Central” feels like a time capsule. It has an incredibly funky baseline with Buddy’s flow matching it step for step. “The Blue” follows in the funk footsteps of the previous track, going so far as to include the Doggfather of rap himself, Snoop Dogg – who always seems to excel on funk beats. Buddy isn’t just interested in funk though. “Black” with the aid of A$AP Ferg goes harder than any other song on the record. One of the most prominent features of Buddy’s work is the way he approaches storytelling. Rather than sitting down and writing a story the way Maxo did on Punken, Buddy tends to tell stories through the descriptions of emotions (“Speechless”). As opposed to just telling the listener how the story happened, he shows the listener. (That more straightforward style Maxo deploys does not necessarily show less, just in a different descriptive way). This is Buddy’s debut album. He is 25. This is not the last you will hear from him, so you should do yourself a favor and embrace the beauty of Harlan & Alondra.
27. City Girls – Period
Female emcees tend to get put in boxes the same way society tends to expect certain behavior from women. That is part of what makes it so sweet when female rappers put their middle fingers up, refusing to conform, contort, and appease the politics of respectability. City Girls spend the entirety of this album unabashedly themselves, not caring whether or not you like it. Aside from that endearing notion, they are also really good at rapping. “Where The Bag At” and “Period (We Live)” were two of the most frequently played rap songs in my car in 2018. They ride beats, even when those beats boom with overwhelming bass, with exactness – slowing their flows, punching syllables, taking it up-tempo, and changing annunciation to keep the rhyme scheme tight. Period is not even City Girls’ only record on this countdown, it is just their debut. Sometimes it befits us all to hand the rookie the ball.
26. Bas – MILKY WAY
It is no coincidence that the closer we got to the top, the more I have wanted to write about every album. I actually had to go through and trim down the amount of albums I covered in-depth. Prominent faces such as Lil Wayne, Royce da 5’9”, and Bun B showed up in this section of the countdown, but this might be the young bloods’ year to show off. Bas, Denzel Curry, Smino, City Girls, and Buddy have put themselves on the radar to watch in the forthcoming years. Any way you spin it, 2018 shaped up to be a terrific year in rap music, and in this next post, I get to go on about just how great. In the meantime, let me know your favorite album from this bunch. I hope you can join tomorrow, and as always, thanks for reading.
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