Lamont's Lists

For hip hop, 2023 was a year of looking back. The genre reflected upon 50 years of existence by throwing itself a bunch of excellent parties throughout the year, including a rollicking celebration at Yankee Stadium back in August and a well-curated Grammy tribute in December. It was a well-deserved high-five for a music born out of the roughest of circumstances in the 70s and given very little chance of survival before going on to become a global force by the turn of the century.  But 2023 was also a year of much hand wringing, as we lamented the contemporary state of hip hop. Much was made of the genre's precipitous dip in popularity, given the lack of #1 albums and general slowing of sales momentum throughout the year. Many offered reasons why the genre seemed to be off its game, with opinions ranging from a lack of creativity, to the negative influence of social media, to the resurgence of rock and pop, to the a booming consumption of Latin X and Global music. All somewhat corre...