40. kemp dupri & masala mane! – Yemayá
kemp dupri is another artist we discovered last year, and we could dive straight into the depths of his discography. The rapper released many excellent albums last year. We have selected Yemaya, the completely produced masala mane!. The album is a Catholic version of Yemayá, which is based on Yoruba spirituality and can be seen as a black mermaid, protector of the sea. Yemayá watched over kidnapped Africans crossing the sea during the transatlantic slave trade. The water on the album cover symbolizes diaspora, migration, colonization, resistance, death, and exploitation. kemp dupri masterfully reflects on the past and present, offering listeners plenty of thought-provoking lyrics. He also does it with a grace all his own, so you’ll have a great time listening to the album.
Support artists: Bandcamp
39. Raz Fresco & ALS – SOLRAP!
Raz Fresco is definitely one of the biggest talents of our time, and if you’re not familiar with the name, fix that immediately. ALS produced the whole album except for the last track, which was handled by Fresco himself. We can feel the progression on the record; we have seen a shift in every aspect since their first collaboration on ALKMY. The beats are on a completely different level, they are less chaotic, yet they don’t lack experimentation and are really lilting. Fresco doesn’t know how to step on the wrong foot and sounds masterful on every beat. BKRSCLB is currently one of the best hip-hop groups, and you should not miss their next projects.
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38. Lukah – Permanently Blackface (The 1st Expression)
Lukah is one of the best rappers of his generation. Yes, we’ll introduce his latest album, Permanently Blackface (The 1st Expression), right off the bat with this strong statement. Because the Memphis rapper has it all. His records offer a consistent and cohesive sound yet feature a diverse array of dense beats like boom bap, g-funk, and soul. Behind the mic, Lukah is absolutely bulletproof and raps with an urgency all his own. His greatest asset, however, is the lyrics themselves and the concepts of the entire albums that are connected to them. Lukah is a first-class lyricist who paints vivid pictures with his words. His latest album has all the aforementioned attributes that abound throughout the rapper’s discography. The cover art and album title already set in stone that this is going to cut to the chase and it’s not going to be a lighthearted listen. Lukah goes to the heart of the burning social issues and dissects in detail all the repression and oppression his people have experienced for countless centuries. After listening to the album, you will be in awe of its complexity but also full of the bitter emotions it so precisely evokes. Unfortunately no video clip was released for the album, so we are attaching the whole album.
Support the artist: Bandcamp, Shop
37. Starker & Theravada – SPIRIDON
Starker and Theravada will appear on our list later. Both artists deserve much praise, awards, and medals for their life’s work. And we will stay with medals for a while. SPIRIDON is their victory lap, a collaborative record that we couldn’t wait for. Theravada produced some great beats that Starker jumped on with a passion all his own. The uniqueness of the record lies mostly in its structure. SPIRIDON is a living organism with no rules, shaping the listener right in the headphones. The beats change, Starker spits out one memorable verse after another, the tracks are interspersed with instrumental tracks, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a pattern here. Starker convinces you after the first few seconds that nothing is more dope than his fast-paced rapping. And fast-rap is not our cup of tea. Listening to it, you get the feeling that Starker is sprinting around the other rappers, laughing in their faces, and showing them what rap should look like. “These rappers steady getting ready for the little league.” Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we’re attaching the full album.
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36. The Alchemist, MIKE & Wiki – Faith Is a Rock
Wiki and MIKE are without a doubt among the best rappers of today. Wiki, the master of catchy stories with a good dose of humanity, once again paints the New York scenery and recalls all the days he lived in the American city. MIKE complements him with his profound lyrics, and both rappers offer their listeners an endless barrage of emotional, thought-provoking, and truly powerful lyrics that contain many of life’s truths. The rappers gracefully alternate and complement each other on the tracks, and throughout the album, they don’t give you the slightest reason to doubt their skill. The performance they put on is so good that it even outshines Alchemist’s beats. We don’t mean this in a bad way at all. The Alchemist once again performs at his best, but as with Voir Dire, he delivers minimalistic and mostly monotonous beats that give the rappers maximum space. Watch the excellent video for Mayors A Cop, immerse yourself in the album, and take away a vortex as unshakable as a rock.
Support artists: Shop I, Shop II, Shop III
35. Jay Worthy & Roc Marciano – Nothing Bigger Than The Program
Jay Worthy, a rapper from Vancouver, has projects with Alchemist, Larry June, Harry Fraud, and DJ Muggs. Last year he released Nothing Bigger Than The Program completely produced by Roc Marciano. Roc Marciano did his job perfectly; the record features subtle beats full of lilting samples, piano, and minimal drums. This gives Jay Worthy plenty of space, which he fills with celebratory lyrics about his success or reminiscing about his cruel past. Throughout the album, you will find a lot of guests, including a legend. Guest appearances include Bun B, A$ton Matthews, Jay305, Kokane, Ab-Soul, A$AP Ant, Kurupt, Da$h, and Bart Oatmeal. That last name doesn’t ring a bell? Bart Oatmeal is the rap alias of professional basketball player Baron Davis, who makes his debut on this record. Does he plan on continuing his rap career? Let’s see. The album is very atmospheric, highlighted, for example, by the bone-chilling sing-along chorus by Kokane on the track The Plug. Jay Worthy and Roc Maricano have done what they do best and created a great album that listens to itself.
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34. Shaykh Hanif & MichaelAngelo – Wilderness of North America
Shaykh Hanif and MichaelAngelo released a true masterpiece last year. Shaykh is tremendously sensitive in his lyrics; he is not afraid to show pain, which is also quite inspiring. Through his music, he wants to motivate people in his community and also people who don’t have the opportunity to express their opinion. He has been using the power of his own words since 2019, when he was released from prison after serving a decade. Through his lyrics, he details his experiences and different moments in his life. If you haven’t heard the album yet, do yourself a favor and drop in. The production is handled by the brilliant MichaelAngelo, so expect nothing but amazing symphonies here. Guest appearances from CRIMEAPPLE, Primo Profit, Keisha Plum, BoriRock, and FUNERAL Ant Bell.
Support artists: Bandcamp
33. DJ Muggs – Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley
The wait is over. DJ Muggs is wrapping up his Soul Assassins trilogy, 26 years after the release of the first installment. As usual, Muggs has invited some of the best names in the business to join him on his record, including Roc Marciano, Boldy James, Westside Gunn, Evidence, Rome Streetz, and many more. The record is totally unique, and Muggs once again did not disappoint; he collected countless dirty sounds and made them harmonious. The result is phenomenal; no one makes beats like the legendary Muggs. Aside from the productions, you can also look forward to various combinations of names you’ve never heard on either Muggs’ or indeed any beat before, such as Westside Gunn x Ghostface Killah, NWA x Cypress Hill, or Roc Marciano x Rome Streetz. The trilogy couldn’t have been concluded better; the record offers a great contrast between the veterans and the biggest names in the contemporary underground.
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32. Sonnyjim & Lee Scott – Ortolan & Armagnac
And once again we visit Britain. Sonnyjim and Lee Scott are possibly among the best artists in the whole country; their love of music is admirable. They have really refined techniques for lyrics and production that we haven’t seen anywhere else; they are absolute masters who live for rap. Sonnyjim is a rapper who has won us over countless times. His strict flow and deep voice create a mysterious atmosphere that is perfectly illustrated by Lee Scott with his mysterious productions. In addition to these two, the record features guest appearances from Crimeapple, Your Old Droog, Heems, D-Styles, Beni LayLo, and King Grubb. This is an absolute must for all rap fans and non-fans alike.
Support artists: Bandcamp, Shop
31. Cise Greeny – “METAL HEAD”
The saga continues. Cise Greeny, a Queens talent, has released several excellent records last year. We were most enchanted by the project “METAL HEAD”, which continues to fascinate us to this day. “METAL HEAD” is a 21-track opus that is full of beautiful beats with beautiful samples. The tracks are interspersed with skits that help to form the entirety of the record and give it a sauce. Cise has once again built an album of technocratic sci-fi concepts, but the content is almost the opposite. The artist introduced the album with the words “PROPER SPIRITUAL GROWTH. EVERYTHING COUNTS…” and that’s exactly how it struck us. The album is about spiritual growth, finding inner balance, and soaking up all the details that surround us. It’s about never-ending self-reflection, constantly re-evaluating our attitudes and the space between us and other people. Cise Greeny may be a “METAL HEAD”, but he certainly doesn’t have a “METAL HEART”. Phenomenal.
Support the artist: Bandcamp
