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
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