My Top 10 TV Series Of 2021

10. Love Life S2 (HBO Max) - Love Life should be a show that serves as a minor distraction. An unassuming romcom to get you through a long weekend of binging when you're not in the mood to watch anything heavy. But it turns out to be far more funny, poignant and insightful than it purports to be, making for a series that exceeds expectations on multiple levels. Even more impressively, thanks to an amazing cast led by William Jackson Harper, S2 managed to improve upon an already amazing freshman season, ensuring that it would be the only series to make my Top 10 two years in a row.

9. Hacks (HBO Max) - Jean Smart crushes this role as past-her-prime comic Deborah Vance, a Joan Rivers type figure who still packs a punch with her dry wit and biting sarcasm. Smart and emerging star Hannah Einbinder, anchor a series that is astute and funny as hell, but also a little sad at times. All of Deborah's money (and she has a lot of it thanks to years spent on her grind) can't buy contentment. She's prickly about things that, at her age, seem out of reach; her glory days, career opportunities denied and the freedom to deliver jokes that are more cerebral than the ones she now has to pedal on her nightly gig in Vegas. Or maybe (kind of like with Jean Smart in real life) she just wants the industry to finally put some respek on her name.

8. Wandavision (Disney+) - I'm not much of a Marvel guy, so don't ask me about the Easter Eggs or the broader implications for the MCU that are at play here. But Wandavision did manage to draw me in. I dug the clever premise, the nostalgic drive through the history of TV sitcoms and the ridiculously great performances turned in by Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany and the always amazing Kathryn Hahn.

7. Station Eleven (HBO Max) - If a post-apocalyptic show about a flu that wipes out 99% of the population sounds like a bad idea right about now, don't worry, Station Eleven is not what you think (well, at first it's exactly what you think, but then it gets better...trust me). It's strange, mystical, a little bit haunting and surprisingly optimistic - an end-of-the-world show where you don't have to worry that people are going to eat each other. I've only seen 7 episodes so far but that is more than enough for me to put this show in my Top 10. It might even have been #1 had I gotten a chance to finish the whole season before having to publish this list.

6. Squid Game (Netflix) - I usually shy away from gory violence, but Squid Game is too good, too riveting, and too wild of a ride not to love. It's no wonder this show blew up and that people all over the world couldn't stop talking about it. I can't wait to see what the producers do for season 2 when they are given an actual budget to work with.

5. We Are Lady Parts (Peacock) - A coming-of-adulthood story, a romcom, a female empowerment saga? We Are Lady Parts is all of that and more. Plus the music rocks and despite being unapologetically upbeat, it's straight-up hilarious. I could hang out with these ladies all day.

4. Reservation Dogs (FX) - Four teenagers who live on a reservation in rural Oklahoma aspire to escape their stifling confines and move to LA. Their swagger is on 10 but their exit plans are dubious at best. Simple premise right? Cool, I'm here for it. Like one of my GOAT TV shows, Atlanta, however, Reservation Dogs starts out with a plot you think you basically understand and then morphs into something else entirely; deeper, more surreal and more expansive than you ever would have imagined. 

3. The White Lotus (HBO) - The murder mystery at the center of The White Lotus is enough to keep you engaged. But the real glue is the incredibly well-drawn character study that showrunner Mike White slowly unpacks over the course of 6 episodes. Despite their cringe worthy insecurities, it can be infuriating and often hard to watch these wealthy, privileged white people behaving badly. But the way the show humanizes them, while using satire to underscore the societal norms that perpetuate inequality, makes it almost seem like it's not their fault. Almost that is, until the show reminds you that the characters are all complicit in protecting the status quo.

2. Mare Of Easttown (HBO) - If this whole show was just Kate Winslet (in the best performance of the year) eating hoagies and yelling at her mom, it would still be must see TV. But in addition to that, it's a also a classic, hard-boiled detective drama that reaches highs not seen since True Detective S1. It's intense, twisty and utterly gut-wrenching to watch KW's Mare (a Columbo-smart investigator) try unravel a gruesome murder while also bringing a little bit of dignity back to herself and her down-and-out suburban Philadelphia hometown. I tried and failed to crack the case before Mare could, but truth be told, I didn't really want anybody to solve the crime...because I didn't want this series to end.

1. Succession S3 (HBO) - No other current series is as funny, sad, biting, neurotic or transcendent as Succession. And few have ever been. The show excels as an immersive, impossible-to-look-away tragicomedy - an exquisite portrayal of how wealth can insulate you from consequences but family can f*ck up your psyche. It's truly a work of genius, from the writing, to the acting to the luxurious filmmaking. Season 3 is where Succession went from great to all-time great in my opinion. 

Honorable Mention

Swagger (Apple TV+) - My two favorite things in one series, an uplifting coming-of-age drama built around kids who can hoop.

Dickinson S3 (Apple TV+) - Another series I haven't finished, but it's too good not to make the list. 

Ted Lasso S3 (Apple TV+) - One of my favorite's from 2020. S2 was down slightly but it's still one of the best on TV. And it will continue to be as long as Jason Sudeikis is in the starring role.

Dopesick (Hulu) - If you didn't hate the Sackler family before watching this show, you definitely will afterwards.

The Chair (Netflix) - I've always wanted to be a college professor, so this was right up my alley.

The Top 10 Albums Of 2021

Hello folks, below is my Top 10 Albums list for 2021. Truth be told, this was the first time in a while that I struggled to get to a list of 10 albums to include. It’s not that 2021 was a bad year for hip hop, it's just that most of the great music came in the form of singles, rather than as part of cohesive, feature-length albums. Is the album as an art form dying? Who's to say, but the new generation does seem to have moved away from it as the cornerstone of artistic achievement. That said, I find it interesting that my top 10 consists more or less of records that deploy a "traditional" beats/rhymes approach to songcraft, rather than the digitized/melody driven style that dominates the current charts. My favorites also seem to be more low-key, contemplative and melancholy than in recent years. Perhaps reflective of my (or should I say, our collective) state of mind in what was a year filled with optimism tempered by looming anxieties. Either way, it still makes for engaging listening as we take stock of the year in hip hop and 2021 comes to a close. As always, like, click, share and let me know what you think.

Enjoy 

Lamont

10. 2% Reese - 2% Effort - No bias here. By any standard, 2% Effort is a fantastic album that I listened to on repeat throughout 2021. Across 16 tracks, 2% shows impressive range and a true gift for melody. His voice, which slides effortlessly between singing and rapping, comes off as distinctive, musical and endlessly engaging. This is a breezy record that’s easy on the ears, thanks to the bouncy production supplied mostly by Neohugh Beats. But don’t let the niceties fool you, there’s a surprising amount of dexterity, wit and complexity baked into 2%’s rhyme schemes. Tracks like Hoop Mixtape and Super Saiyan 2 proceed at a rapid clip. While Helen Keller and Cartier For My Flaws take a laid back approach. Then there’s Homi, which dials up the heat to a simmering boil. All in all, it’s a confident and fearless debut for 2% and a strong indicator of more good things to come.

9. Kota The Friend & Statik Selektah - To Kill A Sunrise - TKAS is an unpretentious and nearly flawless platter of sample-driven hip hop that is understated, elegant and wholly enjoyable. The style might be traditional, even nostalgic at times, but Statik shows that he's too good of a producer to tread on old ground, tirelessly seeking out new ways to extrapolate familiar sounds in search of something fresh. For his part, Kota demonstrates that he is a stalwart MC, one who is capable of dialing up the intricacies of his wordplay if he wants to show off his Brooklyn bonafides. But instead he makes space here to invite listeners in with a chatty, casual style that's aimed at engaging rather than impressing. I love it when contemporary artists are able to deliver true school hip hop without sounding dated. And that is exactly what Statik and Kota pull off on To Kill A Sunrise.

8. Drake - Certified Lover Boy - Like most Drake albums, if you endeavor to mix & match your own playlist from the well-marketed Certified Lover Boy you can create something pretty good. I count at least 7-8 solid songs that I found myself coming back to weeks after the hype surrounding CLB had died down. Champagne Poetry for example, is a lyrical tour de force. And Fair Trade taps into the zeitgeist like only Drake can do. Then there's Knife Talk, 7AM On Bridle Path, The Remorse and the hard-charging No Friends In The Industry to name a few. But this is the streaming era, so rather than editing himself, Drake stuffed CLB with 21 tracks over an obscene 1 hours and 26 minutes of running time. So yes, there are also some stinkers on board (even Lil Baby couldn't save "Girls Want Girls"). But that is to be expected on an album with 48 producers and 15 different collaborators. Obviously the goal here was not coherence. If you accept that as the new reality, then CLB succeeds in a 2021 kind of way.

7. Nas - King's Disease II - I don't know how the partnership between Nas and Hit-boy came about, but it has obviously been beneficial to the iconic QB legend who long ago ran out of stuff to prove and would-be challengers to vanquish. On his 14th studio album, KD II (for my money a hair better than 2020's volume I), the chemistry between he and Hit-Boy has the 48 year-old Nas sounding invigorated and fully at ease. There's a loose, organic feel to the record that sounds at once earthy and otherworldly against Nas's husky voice, warm nostalgia and wistful storytelling. Maybe, with Nas's new found energy, he has set his sights on defeating father time himself. With Hit-Boy by his side, I wouldn't bet against him.

6. Tyler, The Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost - By now we've come to expect boundary-pushing creativity, exceptionally high quality and unexpected evolution from a Tyler The Creator album. Well, the "surprise" here is that (thanks to an assist from Gangsta Grillz mixtape legend DJ Drama) Tyler finds himself more grounded in early 2000's hip hop than on more expansive recent efforts like 2019's Igor and 2017's Flower Boy. That's not to say this album lacks twists and turns, on the contrary, it careens from absurd braggadocio (on tracks like Corso and Lemonhead) to introspective vulnerability on Massa and Wilshire. And the production, lively, inventive and exhilarating, consistently fires on all cylinders. It's safe to say, even by our lofty standards for Tyler The Creator, Call Me If You Get Lost did not disappoint. 

5. Isaish Rashad - The House Is Burning - This whole album is a vibe. The music here is so mellow it makes you want to dim the lights, kick back with a glass of brown and just ride the groove. But while exceptionally chill, you won't ever mistake The House Is Burning for sleepy. It's got a steady, joyful, southern-fried bounce to it that induces involuntary head nods. Songs like THIB, RIP Young, Chad and True Story, might even cause you to stand up and get your two-step on. Especially when Rashad's deceptively clever lyricism starts to reveal itself. Bottom line, if the house indeed was on fire, we'd all be better off if we had Isaiah Rashad around to remind everyone to remain calm. 

4. Mach-Hommy - Pray For Haiti - It's hard to put Mach-Hommy's appeal into words. He's like the best of a lot of things I love about hip hop. An elite MC who sounds like a surreal combination of Mos Def, MF Doom and Ghostface, with a little bit of Jay Electronica thrown in for good measure. His Griselda-produced Pray For Haiti is undoubtedly the break-through performance of the year. A mysterious, shape-shifting record that is odd, underground and unflinching, yet surprisingly accessible. Mach-Hommy's Creole-tinged voice and rhyme style is one of the most unique in the business right now. He somehow manages to rap with clear-eyed intensity while switching effortlessly between playful metaphors and worldly wisdom. His feel for detail and precision are truly impeccable. It's impossible to listen to Mach and not feel like you're in the room with him. I have a feeling we are going to be hearing a lot more from Mach-Hommy in the near future.

3. Little Simz - Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - "It's a gift and a curse to be this pretty and blessed" raps the stunningly talented UK MC Little Simz on Standing Ovation, nine tracks into Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. And if you hadn't figured it out by then, that line jolts you into realizing that Simz is working out a PHD-level thesis statement while blossoming into a star right before our eyes. There's a recurring theme on Introvert that interrogates the concept of weighty expectations - the pressure of living up to them and the unintended consequences of success. But you could still enjoy this album immensely if you missed all of that, and just listened to Simz spit rhymes. I mean...really listened 'cause WOW she's got that GOD flow in her. On Introvert Simz delivers depth, nuance, brilliant clarity and all manner of liquid flows & choice couplets at a breakneck pace with the greatest of ease. What's more, she does so across 19 sprawling tracks that sweep through tones, genres, moods and global soundscapes like an intercontinental train ride across time and space. 

2. Kanye West - Donda Deluxe - I pride myself on being able to separate art from the artist. But Kanye really tests my patience. His constant antics, including political tomfoolery and even the tiresome stops and starts surrounding the release of this album, make it very hard to root for him on any level. But alas, when listening to Donda, strictly on its merits, I have to admit...it's f*ing great. I mean, I get it, there are 32 songs (and counting) on Donda Deluxe so he gets a lot of turns at bat, but my goodness, there is a lot to love on this deeply personal and unabashedly spiritual record. Jail Pt. 2 pulsates with radiant energy, Praise God sticks with you long after you expect and Life Of The Party commands your attention (thanks to a soul-stirring verse from Andre 3000). And that's just for starters. Donda soars on the strength of Kanye's glorious production talents, propelled by a strict aesthetic that all collaborators, new and old, willingly buy into. Due to records like Donda, I suspect that a generation from now, Kanye's personal foibles will recede to become a footnote, but his contributions to hip hop will be fully celebrated. 

1. J. Cole - The Off Season - As a rapper, J. Cole is about as technically brilliant as they come. Blessed with all the tools, Cole has a soulful voice, a liquid flow and a chameleon-like ability to rap at any pace, in any tone or style. Elite does not begin to describe him. But for much of his career, Cole has been burdened by the weight of his considerable talents, a problem of "to whom much is given" that has compelled him to seek higher ground thematically and spiritually. On The Off-Season, however, he seems to have freed himself of his own expectations by letting go and allowing his instincts to light the way. From the very first bars on the opening track, 95 South: "This Sh*t too easy for me now / N* Cole been going plat since back when CDs was around" he sounds animated and fully in IDGAF mode. Gone also is his long-standing "No Features" pledge, collaborators such as Lil Baby, 21 Savage and Morray show up to breathe life into the project (as do outside producers Boi-1da, Timbaland and T-Minus). This is still J. Cole tho, so there are plenty of lessons to be gleaned from The Off-Season. Mainly there's a running theme that comes to a head on Punching The Clock about putting in the work to be great when nobody is watching. But for the most part, Cole eschews overwrought narratives in favor of well-earned boasts and absorbing meditations from a grown man who's spent a life on the grind. 

Honorable Mention
IDK - USEE4YOURSELF

Baby Keem - The Melodic Blue 

Benny The Butcher & Harry Fraud - The Plugs I Met 2
Conway The Machine - La Maquina

Doja Cat - Planet Her
Eshon Burgundy & Zora Royalty - It Is What It Is

EST Gee - Bigger Than Life Or Death

Hall Of Fame - Polo G
Iceberg $lim - The Feel Goods

Lute - Gold Mouf

Mello Music Group - Bushido
Vince Staples - Vince Staples
Wale - Folarin II
Whole Lotta Red - Playboi Carti
YSL, Young Thug & Gunna - Slime Language 2

My Favorite Hip Hop Songs of 2021

Well I can at least say that 2021 was better than 2020. I mean, not much better, but there was that brief period in late spring when things kinda got back to normal right? After a slow start, the music of 2021 also bounced back nicely, with so many excellent songs appearing - from superstars, upstarts, and veterans alike - that it was hard to trim this list down to just my 75 favorites. 

What were my top observations? I'm glad you asked. For starters, it was good to see the heavy hitters come back strong, with new offerings from Drake, Kanye and J. Cole that more or less lived up to the hype. But alas, Kendrick remained (mostly) elusive. Lil Baby continued his impressive run, appearing on like a thousand features. As did super producer Hit-Boy, who's string of dope beats has undeniably separated him from the pack. And I managed to enjoy the youth movement also (Polo, Tecca, Gunna and all the Lils) who continue to push hip hop into strange territories we could have never imagined (with mixed results to say the least). There was Trippie Redd, who turned the dirty synths up to full blast and delivered multiple hits that should ensure he remains as a festival staple for years to come. More triumphantly, Playboi Carti moved left (way left) of center, cementing his fanbase while carving out ample white space for himself. 

Not to be left behind, the more conventional rappers provided plenty for the true school aficionados to get excited about, with head bopping tracks delivered by artists as diverse as Benny The Butcher, Nas, Mach-Hommy and Kota The Friend. Finally, the ladies managed to more than hold their own, with Megan kicking it up to yet another level, Little Simz plotting a British Invasion, Cardi punching above her weight and Doja Cat turning hardrocks into fanboys.

All in all, it was another satisfying year to be a listener. There is truly something here for hip hop heads of all walks of life to love (and unfortunately for me, also to hate). That's the fun of it. I keep listening to it all, so you don't have to. As usual, If I missed your favorite, I apologize...there's A LOT out there. Even I couldn't get to it all (and I tried, I really did). Good, bad or indifferent, take a read (and click on a link or 2 to take a listen), then let me know what you think.

Enjoy

Lamont

Fly With Me - Benny The Butcher Ft. Conway The Machine - The Griselda crew remains undefeated. But a soul clap is owed to producers Chop-La-Rock & Rare Scrilla for their inspired flip of the Greg Perry sample that goes down so smoothly.

Solid - Young Stoner Life Ft. Drake - Drake tweaks his delivery just enough to work with the off-kilter aesthetic. Then Thug and Gunna turn up to push things a little further out. Like the best of YSL, it creeps up on you in a good way.

Back In Traffic - Hit-Boy Ft. Kirby - The reigning best producer on the planet (don't @me) keeps one for himself. Sounding poised and confident here thanks to a lyrical assist from Kendrick Lamar.

Lemon Pepper Freestyle - Drake Ft. Rick Ross - Months before the brouhaha surrounding Certified Lover Boy, Drake reminded us all once again that when he's locked in there are few who can touch him.

Real As It Gets - Lil Baby Ft. EST Gee - I know it must seem like Lil Baby is on every record these days, but I don't hear anybody complaining. It's flows like the ones on display here that demonstrate why he is so in demand.

SUVs (Black On Black) - Jack Harlow & Pooh Shiesty - Memphis and Louisville collide on this Pooh Shiesty and Jack Harlow collab. The result is a surprisingly complementary brag fest that is as effervescent as it is irresistible.

Nobody - Nas Ft. Lauryn Hill - What were y'all doing while Ms. Lauryn was out here saving souls? 

MP5 - Trippie Redd & SoFaygo - So-Cal mosh pit music for the Rolling Loud set. I'm here for it.

Pride Is The Devil - J. Cole & Lil Baby - Soulful crooning, immersive guitars and a couple of electrifying verses from 2 of the best in the world. This is about as good as it gets.

Wolves - Kota The Friend & Statik Selekatah - Morning motivation for the rise-and-go-gettas. There are a lot of A-List collaborations on this list, but trust me, none are better than this one with Kota and Static. Low-Key perfection.

Sinister - Cordae Ft. Lil Wayne - Cordae and Wayne trade high-caliber battle rhymes over straight fire from Hit-Boy.

Best Friend (Remix) - Saweetie Ft. Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj & Megan Thee Stallion - The catchiest, bounciest, raunchiest club-entering theme song any besties will ever need.  

Life Of The Party - Kanye West Ft. Andre 3000 - Leave it to Kanye to coax the best verse out of Andre that we have heard in years.

Family Ties - Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar - "New flows coming, be patient brother". We now know what Kendrick's been up to over the past several years, ducking the pandemic and smoking on your Top 5. 

Rap Star - Polo G - Another day, another introspective lament from Polo G, this one catching fire on the strength of the most acclaimed ukulele solo in rap history.

Get Into It (Yuh) - Doja Cat - Dance party starter kit:  Doja Cat, a boomin' system and the adult beverage of your choice. No other people required. Your living room is fine.

Ramen & OJ - Joyner Lucas & Lil Baby - A motivational Ted Talk from Joyner and Lil Baby, rapping eloquently about how fortune favors the hustlers.

My City - 2% Reese - "I be upstate with it. Cold out, poles out, living great with it." Having conquered Maplewood, NJ. 2% relocates to Syracuse. Immediately proclaims it as his city. Makes us believers.

His & Hers - Internet Money, Don Toliver & Lil Uzi Vert Ft. Gunna - Imma tell my grandkids this is what music sounded like circa 2020. Cause I could swear this track (with some combination of the same artists) has been on my list for the last 5 years.

RIP Young - Isaiah Rashad - This seriously mellow ear worm is perfect for slow-rolling through Inglewood. But stop calling Isaiah Rashad a cool cat...He's clearly a Top Dawg.

Sharing Locations - Meek Mill Ft. Lil Baby & Lil Durk - This song's got it all, a hilarious premise (her man be sharing locations, lol), Meek's contagious energy, Lil Baby's wicked flows and Durk's melodic serenading.

I Believed It - dvsn & Ty Dolla $ign Ft. Mac Miller - This is an 80s heartbreak, New Edition / Ready For The World type joint masquerading as trap music. I ain't mad at y'all fellas.

Introvert - Little Simz - The army-marching-in theme at the top of this track tells you everything you need to know. There's a war going on. And Little Simz is locked, loaded and ready for battle.

Labou - Mach-Hommy - Every year somebody reminds me why I keep slogging through new hip hop. It's because every now and then a guy like this shows up to blow me away. "Straight up out the muddy waters" of Newark, NJ (by way of Haiti)...a star is born.

Late At Night - Roddy Ricch - This sultry little gem from Roddy, dropped in early June, did a nice job of helping to tide us over until the December release of his long awaited follow up LP.

Law Of Averages - Vince Staples - Vince Staples is a fearless, original and highly skilled lyricist who cannot be put into any kind of box. Oh, and he don't trust nobody.

One Of The Last - Mello Music Group Ft. L'Orange, Marlowe & Solemn Brigham - A head-nodding headphone banger from a ridiculously talented collective of indie rap veterans.

Repeat It - Lil Tecca & Gunna - It's easy to dismiss Tecca as a lightweight zanny rapper, but tracks like this one make it clear that he's got sneaky clever talent for crowd pleasing hooks and infectious melodies. 

Scatter Brain - Conway The Machine Ft. Ludacris & JID - This menacing Don Cannon produced heat seeker - combined with 3 contrasting deliveries from Conway, Ludacris and JID - makes for an intoxicating brew.

Tabula Rasa - Earl Sweatshirt Ft. Armand Hammer - If all of Earl Sweatshirt's Sick!, releasing in Jan 22, is going to be this good, we might as well lock it in for album of the year right now.

Up - Cardi B - Relentless, full of swagger and dare I say... hard af. Up will get you through that last mile on the treadmill for sure.

When We Move - Common Ft. Black Thought & Seun Kuti - Imagine enjoying yourself while doing a two step at an Afrobeat party in the Motherland...and then having 2 GOATs show up, grab the mic and spit vintage jewels. That's When We Move.

Dry Cleaners - Iceberg $lim - Slick bars from the aspiring DMV rapper, complete with an obligatory shout out to Foamposites.

Wusyaname - Tyler, The Creator Ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again & Ty Dolla $ign - Tyler, as only Tyler can do, flips a lame pick up line into a beautiful ode to shooting your shot.

Slay3r - Playboi Carti - As near as I can tell, this song is about Carti celebrating his rock star lifestyle - like Slayer...get it? Not really? Well, it's better if you stop trying. Just let the wall of sound wash over you and zone out.

Too Good Not To Mention

Hoop Mixtape - 2% Reese / Maybach - 42 Dugg Ft. Future / Charmander - Amine / Paperwork Party - Babyface Ray & Jack Harlow / Come Through - Bankrol Hayden & Lil Tecca / What A Life - Big Sean & Hit Boy / Super Series - Curren$y and Harry Fraud Ft. Larry June / Shame On You - D Smoke / Fair Trade - Drake Ft. Travis Scott / 2010 - Earl Sweatshirt / Let It Rain - Eshon Burgandy & Zara Royalty / Young Shiners - EST Gee / I Don't Wanna Die - G Herbo / Headshots (4r Da Locals) - Isaiah Rashad / My Life - J. Cole Ft. 21 Savage & Morray / King Of Hip Hop - Jason Jump & Mr. A.N.O.N. / Take My Life - Jay Wheeler, Tyla Yaweh & DJ Nelson / Your Heart - Joyner Lucas & J. Cole / Burn -Juice Wrld / Jail pt 2 - Kanye West Ft. Lil Baby / Sunrise - Kota The Friend & Statik Selektah / Vaccine - Logic / Ghetto Love - Lute Ft. Blakk Soul & Ari Lennox / Kriminel - Mach-Hommy / Thot Shit - Megan Thee Stallion / Malibu - Migos Ft. Polo G / Wockesha - Moneybagg Yo / Trenches - Morray / Seeing Green - Nicki Minaj, Drake & Lil Wayne / What It Feels Like - Nipsey Hussle & Jay-Z / Rainforest - Noname / Blessing - Philthy Rich Ft. 24hrs / Gang Gang - Polo G & Lil Wayne / Top Shotta - Pop Smoke & The Neptunes Ft. Pusha T, Travi & Beam / Flex (Superpowers) - QG Flow / Stand Up - Tierra Whack / Holy Smokes - Trippie Redd Ft. Lil Uzi Vert / I Won - Ty Dolla $ign, Jack Harlow & 24KGoldn / Lumberjack - Tyler, The Creator / Hello Baby - Young M.A. Ft. Fivio Foreign

The Top 10 Hip Hop Love Songs

 Beats, Rhymes and Love. 💘 Happy Valentine's Day. Enjoy.

10. '03 Bonnie & Clyde – Jay-Z Ft. Beyonce - "All I need in this life of sin..." Jay and Bey have given us a few to choose from over the years. This one always spoke to me.

9. Make Me Better – Fabolous Ft. Ne-Yo - It makes sense that Fabo, so slick with the verbs, would craft an elite ode to his better half. The assist from Ne-yo is essential however.

8. Vivrant Thing – Q-Tip - Grab your partner and get your 2 step on. This one bangs.

7. Now That We Found Love – Heavy D & The Boyz - Hev, always a deceptively clever wordsmith, was a true ladies man. Here he flips Third World's classic effortlessly.

6. I'll Be There For You – Method Man Ft. Mary J Blige - Meth & Mary. Undisputed classic.

5. The Light - Common - Common's Like Water For Chocolate gem is a career highlight. A love letter to Erykah Badu, produced by J Dilla, that never gets old.

4. You Got Me – The Roots - Basically, an all-around perfect song. Beautifully performed by Black Thought and Eve...anybody who's ever had to reassure a significant other that they have nothing to worry about can relate.

3. Beautiful – Snoop Dogg Ft. Pharrell - This is some of the finest work of Pharrell's career, even before the infectious chorus he had us at the opening with that "Oh oh oh oh...yeah yeah yeah yeah". 

2. Bonita Applebum – A Tribe Called Quest - A love song for every teenage boy who has ever worked up the nerve to shoot his shot at the out-of-reach fantasy girl of his dreams. 

1. I Need Love – LL Cool J - The first and still the gold standard. LL made this playlist possible.

Honorable Mentions

• Power Trip - J Cole Ft. Miguel
• Around The Way Girl – LL Cool 
• I Do – Young Jeezy Ft. Jay-Z & Andre 3000
• One Love – Whodini
• Renee – The Lost Boyz
• Me And My Bitch – The Notorious B.I.G
• Luv You Better – LL Cool J
• Eye Know – De La Soul
• Marvin’s Room – Drake
• Passing Me By – The Pharcyde
• Mahogany – Eric B. & Rakim
• Ms. Fat Booty – Mos Def
• Teenage Love – Slick Rick
• Poetic Justice – Kendrick Lamar Ft. Drake
• Prototype – Outkast
• Nights Like This – J-Live Ft. Rokafela
• 21 Questions – 50 Cent
• Always On Time – Ja Rule Ft. Ashanti
• Gettin Up – Q-Tip
• Temptations – Tupac

THE TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2020

Like many people I spent a lot of time watching TV in 2020. As such, I wanted to start a new tradition by documenting my top shows of the year to go along with my best albums list. Like with music, there was so much TV to consume that I couldn't get through it all (so don't @me fans of Lovecraft Country, Normal People and The Mandalorian...I'm getting to those, I promise). But of the many that I did manage to finish, below are my favorites. Enjoy.

1. The Queen's Gambit (Netflix)

The Queen's Gambit is a flat out masterpiece. Cinematic, engrossing and stunning to look at. Never has chess seemed so intense, a great testimony to the performance by Anya Taylor-Joy, who spends a lot of time by herself - commanding the screen in every moment in every way.

2. The Last Dance (ESPN)

This docuseries was a meme-generating life saver that came near the start of the pandemic lockdown. It was also a source of many entertaining text exchanges among my friends. Filled with juicy details we never knew, it provided a rewarding trip down memory lane and was every bit as good as advertised.

3. Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

I thought this might be a bit too silly after seeing the promos. Boy was I wrong. Ted Lasso is a sneaky good comedy that gets all the details right (including several endearing hip hop references). Jason Sudeikis gives a comedic masterclass here, embodying Coach Lasso with heart, humanity and boundless hilarity.

4. I May Destroy You (HBO)

The subject matter is dark but I May Destroy you never comes off as such. The writing, filmmaking style and effortless chemistry between the actors at the heart of this dramedy gives it a feeling of warmth and intimacy that makes it seem like you are always in the room with them. I expect nothing but more greatness to come from Michaela Coel.

5. The Crown S4 (Netflix)

I’m definitely one of those people who tend to view The Crown as if it is a historical recounting of what actually happened. Season 4 was the first time I finally understood why the royal family has a problem with that.

6. Ozark S3 (Netflix)

There was never a dull moment on Ozark season 3 (the most intense one yet) as Marty Byrde and clan burrowed even deeper into the world of drug cartels and dirty money, all while somehow managing to elude both the law and meeting an untimely demise.

7. Industry (HBO)

The plot is somewhat hard to follow on Industry since there’s probably too much going on for anybody to keep up with (including insane amounts of sex and illicit drug use). But each scene is riveting and expertly designed to draw you into the wild lives of these ambitious young investment bankers.  

8. High Fidelity (Hulu)

High Fidelity is one of my all-time favorite books and movies. So no one was more surprised than me that the TV series, powered by a charismatic performance from Zoe Kravitz, was able to live up to, and maybe even surpass, the source material.

9. Love Life (HBO Max)

No television conventions were broken on Love Life, it's just a funny, well-acted, well-told story about a young woman in New York searching for true love and failing in many creative ways. If you are into that type of thing, then you will find a lot to enjoy about Love Life.

 

10. Betty (HBO)

Betty is a beautiful little series where not much happens. Just a quiet, meandering glimpse into the lives of an impossibly cool crew of city kids with skate boards and a lot of time on their hands.

First 5 Out (Honorable Mention):

• A. P. Bio (Peacock) - Not your average bad teacher show
• Cheer (Netflix) - Better than it has any right to be
• Briarpatch (USA) - Rosario Dawson is in this (and some stuff happens)
• The Undoing (HBO) - Checks all the boxes for a classic crime thriller
• Dave (FX) - Cringe worthy comedy at its finest