The Writer's Block: 2015

It’s June already. Where the hell has time gone? This column isn’t just late, it’s beyond late. I’ve already started compiling songs and albums for the Best of ’15. But I didn’t want to miss a year for two reasons. No. 1: Consistency. I couldn’t review every year in hip-hop since 1991 and just skip a year. And No. 2: 2014 had some really high quality music to celebrate. While the radio continues to play the worst of what this art form has to offer, those of us who know better were able to enjoy some really terrific hip-hop in 2014. Same rules apply as always, 20 songs with no repeats from one album and 10 albums. Here we go!

Best Songs

20. “0 to 100” – Drake

Patrice O’Neal described Charlie Sheen as follows at the Roast of Charlie Sheen: “He sucks, but he’s good, but he sucks at the same time.” That’s how I feel about Drake. As a hip-hop head, I shouldn’t like him. But at the same time I can’t help but like him. He makes hits and he has a lot of talent, but he’s soft and that hurts his credibility when he wants to talk tough. No matter how you view him, “0 to 100” was another winner in Drake’s catalog and takes the No. 20 spot here.

19. “First Step” – Diamond District

I first discovered Diamond District member Uptown XO late in 2013 and really enjoyed his album Colour de Grey. I also knew of District member Oddisee and enjoy his music. So when I heard XO, Oddisse and yU were in a group called Diamond District, I had to check it out. Their album March on Washington was a tough omission from the Top 10 albums list. It is really, really solid from front to back. And the song that gets the album jump started is “First Step” which showcases all three MC’s ability to the best as well as reinforces just how dope a producer Oddisee is.

18. “Damage” – Pharoahe Monch

Pharoahe once again finds himself weaving his narrative through the eyes of a bullet a metaphor he used before on Organized Konfusion’s “Stray Bullet” and “When The Gun Draws” off his solo album Desire. Pharoahe is giving social commentary, political commentary and perspective on this final chapter of his anti-gun violence trilogy and hits another home run with “Damage.” The use of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” for the hook was a great touch and I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a tip of the cap to Lee Stone for his production on this track.

17. “Fire” – Vince Staples

Vince Staples released a really solid project in the form of his EP, Hell Can Wait. I couldn’t include in on the Best Albums list because much like Action Bronson’s Saab Stories that came before it, it isn’t a full-length. But it is worth adding to your catalog. “Fire” is short and sweet, but sets the tone for what you can expect from Staples on the EP. The beat is stripped down and Vince’s lyrics are distorted but it’s that raw feeling that makes the song stick out.

16. “The Season” - Nas

Nas dropped off this song out of nowhere at the end of October when he made a surprise appearance at the Run The Jewels listening party. Adding to the excitement over a new Nas track was his use of Dilla’s “Gobstoppers” which originally appeared on Donuts. The jazzy, soulful beat is the perfect backdrop for Nas and sounds like something that would’ve fit on Nas’ 2012 album, Life Is Good, perfectly. Looking forward to a new Nas album in 2015 as “The Season” served as the perfect appetizer.

15. “Broad Daylight” – M.O.P. feat. Busta Rhymes

Anybody who has followed this blog knows how big of an M.O.P. fan I am. I consider them one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time and certainly one of my favorite hip-hop artists ever. While they are getting older, they aren’t compromising their sound, still bringing that in-your-face, menacing brand of hip-hop that they ushered in with “How About Some Hardcore” back in 1994. The beat on “Broad Daylight” is raw as hell and provides the perfect backdrop for Lil’ Fame, Billy Danze and one of their long-time collaborators Busta Rhymes to hurl threats over. Classic M.O.P. and that’s all that needs to be said.

14. “Curse of the Pharoahs” – Army of the Pharoahs

AOTP released two albums in 2014, giving fans 28 new tracks in one calendar year. The song I’m going to pick is the opening track on In Death Reborn, the first of the two Pharoahs’ albums to be released in ‘14. “Curse of the Pharoahs” is everything you’d expect from AOTP, a lyrical tour de force from Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Celph Titled, Esoteric and Reef the Lost Cauze and a pounding, unforgiving beat. The Pharoahs have made it known that each member sees every song as a competition to out rap one another and “Curse” is a perfect example of what happens when each member brings their A-game.

13. “Collard Greens” – Schoolboy Q feat. Kendrick Lamar

Q’s Oxymoron was too inconsistent for me to put it on the Top 10 albums list, but there were plenty of highlights and I could’ve gone a few different ways with my choice off of the album. All “Hoover Street,” “Blind Threats” featuring Raekwon and “Break The Bank” could’ve earned a spot here. But “Collard Greens” remains the best song on the album. Having Kendrick featured will always help your cause, but “Collard Greens” really embodied the TDE sound to me, thus giving it the slight edge over “Break The Bank.”

12. “Hallelujah” – Dilated Peoples feat. Fashawn, Rapsody, Domo Genesis, Vinnie Paz & Action Bronson

This posse cut is a bonus cut for Dilated’s Directors of Photography and it is the standout. To begin with, the production is excellent as DJ Babu samples Deep Purple’s “Hallelujah” to create a banger. Lyrically every MC brings plenty to the table with Evidence and Action Bronson providing my two favorite verses on the song.

11. “Kingdom (Remix)” – Common feat. Vince Staples & Jay Electronica

Originally I had “Rewind That” as my pick off Nobody’s Smiling. I really liked the production on that track and how Common recalled his last days with J. Dilla. But then I heard the remix to “Kingdom” and Jay Electronica’s verse and it was easy to make this the pick for the Best of ’14 list. The backdrop for “Kingdom” was always good and the hook was solid, but Electronica’s verse just takes this song to a whole other level.

10. “Underground Kings” – PRHYME feat. Schoolboy Q & Killer Mike

I could talk about so many songs off PRHYME, but I’ll save that for the Best Albums portion. There isn’t a single song on the 9-song album that I don’t like and I could agree with anyone who picked a different track as their favorite, but for me the beat, the hook and the inclusion of Killer Mike is what made “Underground Kings” the top choice. It’s sad that Royce, Schoolboy and Killer Mike are underground, because they are miles ahead of many well known and commercially successful MCs. But they are not wrong in considering themselves underground royalty.

9. “Detroit vs. Everybody” – Eminem feat. Royce da 5’9”, Big Sean, Danny Brown & Dej Loaf

I remember the day this track dropped. I was on a 2-hour car ride for a work function and went on Twitter to pass the time and this track came out and had everyone talking. I wouldn’t say it blew Twitter up the way Big Sean’s “Control” did, but it did have a certain buzz to it. And Danny Brown’s “Xan got me cross eyed like Bernstein’s son” garnered a lot of steam. Thought all four MCs were solid on this one and still find it incredible that Danny Brown and Eminem rapped on a track back-to-back. Goes to show that Em still has his pulse on the game despite all his success.

8. “Easy Rider” – Action Bronson

Have been enjoying Bronson’s Mr. Wonderful and I’m sure it will be on the Best Albums list for 2015. But well in advance of the album, Action dropped “Easy Rider” back in August (I think). This was the perfect appetizer for the new album, as Bronson brings his normal energy over some heavy electric guitar riffs and even the sound of a Harley’s engine revving. The video for this song takes it to a whole other level. Be sure to peep it.

7. “Shitsville” – Freddie Gibbs

I’ve always enjoyed songs that pull no punches, tell it like it is and are in your face. Gibbs’ lyrics on “Shitsville” are raw and unapologetic as he spits, “Motherfuck euthanasia, I’ll lace your food up with razors/Make you gargle with salt water, excuse yourself from my table.” Yeah, this isn’t a song about material possessions, or how much money he has or anything glamorous. And it’s perfect for Gibbs’ style. It’s also my favorite Madlib beat on Pinata and there were plenty to choose from.

6. “The Imperial” – Statik Selektah feat. Action Bronson, Royce da 5’9” & Black Thought

While Statik’s What Goes Around got rave reviews, I have to be honest, I got bored with it after a few listens. I liked the jazz/hip-hop fusion, but it was almost overkill for me. One track that certainly stood out, however, was “The Imperial.” The beat was excellent and the track continued to build as Action kicks things off calling himself the rap Scott Disick, Royce cleverly weaves some UNLV Runnin’ Rebels wordplay and then Thought delivers the Verse of the Year. It’s the second time in as many years that Thought has delivered my favorite verse and it just so happens once again on a Statik Selektah track.

5. “Never” – The Roots feat. Patty Crash

There’s something very haunting about this song and I remember it stopping me in my tracks the first time I heard it. Patty Crash’s vocals are so unique and are certainly the highlight of this song. But it all works so well together, with the slow build of the production, the first time Patty’s voice hits and then Black Thought’s lone verse stuck smack dab in the middle. This is not your classic, boom bap hip-hop. And “Never” does not sound like anything that is getting airplay in 2014 (or now 2015). It has different levels and textures and it is a song that I can listen to again and again and just zone out to.

4. “Flicker” – Atmosphere

Slug’s ode to Eyedea and it is heartfelt, it is emotional, it is genuine and yet somehow celebratory. Ant’s production is upbeat, the sample for the hook is well used and yet the song is about the death of a friend. I’ve always like Atmosphere’s music the most when Slug is penning lyrics about his personal life. It’s why I’m such a huge fan of songs like “That Night,” “Yesterday,” and “Something So.” Slug says goodbye to Eyedea on “Flicker” and how he handled the news of his friend’s death by smoking “1,000 cigarettes” and drinking himself into a stupor. It’s reflective and earnest and it’s why I’m an Atmosphere fan.

3. “Jeopardy” – Run The Jewels

Run The Jewels hit another home run in 2014, with their follow-up to 2013’s classic debut. Much like their first album, I can see people making an argument for just about any song on this album as the best of the bunch. But the way “Jeopardy” opens the album, it’s just smacks you in the face and lets you know what kind of ride you’re in for. Killer Mike’s verse builds as the beat builds and it’s my favorite beat on the whole album. El-P finishes off the track in fine fashion, but the first 2 minutes of the song are absolutely owned by Killer Mike and I can listen to it over and over again.

2. “Story 2” – clipping.

There’s so much to say about “Story 2” that it’s hard to sum up in a paragraph. The lyrics are fantastic, the beat is perfect, building to a climax as the story progresses and Daveed Diggs matches the pace delivering each line with more and more of a sense of urgency. The Cliff’s Notes version of “Story 2” is about a man with a criminal, perhaps psychotic, past has turned his life around, but the skeletons in his closet reappear, burning his house to the ground with his children inside of it. Not a happy ending at all, but the way the song is executed is brilliant.

1. “Perspective” – Blueprint

Blueprint doesn’t try to do anything fancy lyrically here, but his words hold plenty of weight throughout. The concept is simple – we don’t understand, and for the most part don’t care, about other people’s problems, we only focus on our own. When you step outside yourself and look around, you realize that everyone is faced with struggles, some more serious than others, and it helps you appreciate all that you have. I could quote the whole song, but I’m just going to leave you with this: “A woman makes a post on facebook, about how she and her brother got beef/Unaware it was read by a friend of hers, who’s own brother passed away just last week.” Perspective.

Best Albums

10. Respect The Architect - Blueprint

Got my hands on this album really, really late in ’14, but glad that I did. Blueprint handles all the production duties on this one, save for “Perspective” as well as MC duties, with the lone guest spots coming from Count Bass D, Midas Beast and Illogic, which allows the album to remain cohesive and represent Blueprint’s vision in full clarity. It’s my favorite solo album of his thus far, although not quite on Soul Position’s 8 Million Stories level. The album starts with that classic almost ‘90’s sounding vintage hip-hop sound, before he drops “Overdosin’” which he produced without a drum beat – a risk for sure in hip-hop, but it works here. The album wraps up with the three best and most introspective tracks in “Perspective,” “Silver Lining” and “The Climb,” putting a nice little bow on a solid album from start to finish.

9. 36 Seasons – Ghostface Killah

For the record, I’m tired of concept albums. They are just too restrictive and usually don’t hold up to the artist’s other work. This is Ghostface’s second concept album in as many releases and falls short of having the same impact as his 2013 collaboration with Adrian Younge, 12 Reasons To Die. But Ghostface delivers enough quality over the Revelations production to make it worthwhile. The concept is Ghostface returns home after 9 years (aka 36 Seasons) to reclaim his girl and clean up his neighborhood, while facing opposition from a crooked cop (played by AZ) and a new kingpin (played by Kool G. Rap). The production is consistent and each MC is used well, it’s just not the greatest or most interesting story which hurts its overall value as a concept album.

8. In Death Reborn – Army of the Pharaohs

The biggest challenge with a Pharaohs album is having to focus on so many different MCs over the course of the album. But In Death Reborn feels like the most cohesive album the Pharaohs have released to this point and had a clear standout in Apathy (not surprising). The production was solid throughout and each song flowed well into the next, so while there may have been 16 different MCs sharing mic time, the production kept you invested throughout. “Curse of the Pharaohs” kicks off the album in grand fashion, but there are plenty highlights here such as “God Particle,” “Azrael,” and “Headless Ritual” among others.

7. PTSD – Pharoahe Monch

Pharoahe’s 4^th solo release is my favorite since his solo debut, Internal Affairs, from 1999. While a lot of people had W.A.R. on their 2011 Best of lists, I prefer PTSD, which is more or less the second part of a two-part series that started with W.A.R. in ’11. In an interview, Monch described PTSD as being, “more mental, emotional and personal” than W.A.R. and that is probably what makes the biggest difference to me. The album features standout tracks like “Damage,” “The Jungle” and “Bad M.F.” Also enjoyed the collaborations with Black Thought on “Rapid Eye Movement” and Talib Kweli on “D.R.E.A.M.” It’s solid hip-hop from top to bottom, which is nothing new when it comes to Pharoahe Monch.

6. Under Pressure - Logic

It seems odd talking about Under Pressure as Logic’s debut album since he’s been making mixtapes since ’09, but it is. And Logic didn’t disappoint with his first feature full length album. The production on the album is consistent throughout handled largely by 6ix and Logic himself and you could feel No I.D.’s influence on the album as he served as Executive Producer. Logic opens up about his personal life, shares some insight on dealing with depression, growing up poor and handling the task of trying to make it as a rapper while balancing a personal life. The title track is one of the many highlights on the album and really captures the tone of the album perfectly.

5. …and then you shoot your cousin – The Roots

With the exception of their debut album, Organix, I have heard and own every Roots album ever released so I think it’s safe for me to say that their 2014 concept album, …and then you shoot your cousin, is the worst of all their releases. Black Thought contributes about 6 verses total to the entire album and if you don’t have Thought, you don’t have The Roots at their best. The amazing thing is, The Roots at their worst is about 90% better than everything else out there, which is why they are No. 5 on this list. The album is still really strong lyrically and musically and when Thought is rhyming he makes every verse count.

4. Pinata – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

I’ve been a fan of Freddie Gibbs for several years now, but was still waiting for him to bring out his best. Luckily Madlib was able to do that quite easily. Madlib’s production sets the perfect backdrop for Gangsta Gibbs’ street narratives and allows the Gary, Indiana MC to flex his lyrical muscle. Songs like “Shitsville,” “Deep,” “Harold’s” and “Lakers” are among the many highlights, but the album is consistently solid from start to finish. Hopefully these two pair up again to deliver a sequel (and while we’re on the subject of Madlib, how about another Madvillian album?)

3. Southsiders - Atmosphere

I have read about 20 different Best of 2014 Hip-Hop write-ups and Southsiders was consistently left off those lists. Even if it was the Top 25 or even Top 40 hip-hop albums of ’14, Southsiders was snubbed. How can that be? Sorry, but Y.G.’s My Crazy Life should not be in everyone’s top 5 and it especially shouldn’t be there if you’re going to snub Southsiders all together. Maybe everyone slept on Atmosphere’s latest? I just don’t know, but for my money it was the third best hip-hop album of 2014. It starts with a bang on “Camera Thieft” and continues to hit its mark with “Arthur’s Song,” “The World Might Not Live Through The Night,” “Southsiders,” and the aforementioned “Flicker.” It’s grown up hip-hop and while it might not be as fun as Atmosphere albums of the past, it’s still excellent from start to finish.

2. PRHYME – PRHYME

Gang Starr can never be duplicated (R.I.P. Guru). There’s no way to do it. But if you wanted to get close to a “new” Gang Starr album, then pairing up Royce da 5’9” with DJ Premier would be the way to do it. With the formation of PRHYME, Royce and Premo delivered a nostalgic, lyrical showcase with that classic Premier production. The album does not have a weak moment, although I wish it would’ve been a little longer. Guest appearances include Ab-Soul, Mac Miller, Common, Jay Electronica, Schoolboy Q, Killer Mike and Slaughterhouse, but it’s clear that it’s Royce’s show from the beginning and he and Premier make a fabulous team.

1. Run The Jewels 2– Run The Jewels 2

Back-to-back Album of the Year honors for Killer Mike and El-P, and it’s well deserved. While not quite as good as the first offering these two gave us in 2013, RTJ2 is just as mean and unapologetic as the first. Killer Mike once again scores MVP honors with quotable after quotable, but there is no denying what El-P’s production has done for Mike’s career. El-P is able to match Mike’s ferocity and perhaps even bring out an even hungrier Killer Mike. Interesting collaborations on this one with Rage Against The Machine front man Zach de la Rocha dropping a verse on “Close Your Eyes,” Travis Barker supplying the drums for “All Due Respect” and Michael Winslow (of Police Academy fame) lending his vocals to “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry.” Then there’s “Jeopardy” that kicks off the album and lets you know exactly what you’re in for – a punch in the face, a stomp on your throat and an assault on your ears in the best way possible. Run The Jewels reigns supreme once again.