SO TIRED (Chapter Seven)
” ‘Mama, what is war?’
And they say: ‘Mama, what is free?’
They say: ‘Mama, what’s in me?’
From the river to the sea.”
From A Penny feat. Lauren Whitehead by Nappy Nina & Swarvy
40. Renelle 893 & Bay29 – Art Thief
Renelle 893‘s debut album, Art Thief, is an uncompromising foray into the world of rap art. With producer Bay29 under the label High Focus Records, Renelle delivers a masterpiece that completely transforms the rap scene. In his own words, this album is not only a celebration of art but also of courage and personal growth. The album draws us into the dark alleys of Renelle’s inner world, where themes such as the struggle for survival, the desire for one’s own identity, and the fight for freedom are intertwined. His words are powerful and uncompromising, revealing the deep layers of the human soul and inner conflict. The album as a whole is a mix of excitement, passion, and intensity, with each track bringing a new dimension to Renell’s narrative. Look forward to guest artists such as CLBRKS, Illiterate, and Nelson Dialect.
39. Brainorchestra – The Stone Tablet
Brainorchestra is one of our favorite artists. His creativity and passion for music are truly inspiring. Also fascinating is his “strategy and business model” of building a self-sustaining community where he doesn’t let in any parasitic outside influences. Over the past two years he has released great albums It Means A Lot, E-TOWN GENERAL 2, Greatness Takes A Lifetime (w/ Budamunk), Relic, and a plethora of instrumental projects. However, he released his best album in the last months of last year. The Stone Tablet is a manifesto of creation and creativity. Brainorechestra is a true alchemist, a true rap magician. What is written in The Stone Tablet cannot be taken back. The Stone Tablet, like Brainorchestra’s other records, retains a trace of creation. It’s as if the album carries the creative process itself and not just the mere result. Listening to it, we had the feeling that the songs were opening up, crystallizing as they went along and revealing their essence. This unique experience is the result of Brainorchester’s love for the genre, his technical precision, and the fact that he produced, recorded, and mastered the album himself. On the track Times Passing Ft. Raz Fresco, there’s also a skit that explores the technical aspect of making rap. Every second, verse, idea, and beat of The Stone Tablet exudes a love for the genre that really can’t be replicated. We had high expectations, but Brainorchestra exceeded them all with this project. Go support him.
38. ScHoolboy Q – BLUE LIPS
ScHoolboy Q is an artist that everyone loves. He has world-famous hits and great records to his credit; his music entertains mainstream listeners and underground rap fans alike. ScHoolboy Q released his fifth album, CrasH Talk, in 2019 and has only made guest appearances on a few tracks since then. The wait for a new project after five long years is over. It was with great pleasure that we were able to stream BLUE LIPS last year. BLUE LIPS, like qroovy’s other records, has a colorful palette of sounds and top-notch rap. Everyone will find their favorite track here. ScHoolboy Q alternates aggressive tracks with melancholic ones. The album, despite its almost one-hour duration, passes quickly and never gets boring. ScHoolboy Q has certainly undergone personal development, and BLUE LIPS is different from its predecessors. While other groovy albums are more like immersive adrenaline films, BLUE LIPS is a book. It’s therapy to play out loud in your car. It’s a moment in the club when you reflect on the lyrics of the song that got the whole club moving, and for a moment you close in on yourself and time stops. On record, ScHoolboy Q reflects on gangster themes and his life so far in both introspective and macro ways. It is in the duality of the album that its greatest strength and uniqueness lie.
37. Cavalier – Different Type Time
Cavalier, a legend of underground rap, has numerous LPs to his credit and contributed to the debut of Quelle Chris. Yet he comes across as a wandering ghost who never stays in one place for too long. Everyone knows him, and his presence is always felt, but there’s always a wait for the moment when Cavalier steals the spotlight for himself. That time came last year. It’s Different Type Time, a time that has no expiration date. Cavalier’s debut under Backwoodz Studioz is a massive opus and one of the most mesmerizing rap albums of 2024. The album will envelop you and erase all imaginary space-time boundaries. You will travel between past and present, between cities and countryside, and you will explore every nook and cranny of the rapper’s mind to the sounds of jazz-tinged beats. Different Type Time tastes like life; it’s the conversations around us, human embrace, and pain. It’s already clear that this album will redefine who Cavalier is, and we hope that, at least for a while, this rap spirit will materialize and be seen and, more importantly, heard alongside mortals. Oh, and if that’s still not enough, Cavalier managed to release two more phenomenal albums last year. Wow.
36. Boldy James & Nicholas Craven – Penalty Of Leadership
Boldy James and Nicholas Craven are leaders in their fields, anything they can get their hands on, they turn into gold. In 2022, they released their joint album Fair Exchange No Robbery, which immediately made history. In 2023, the rap world was shocked by the news of Boldy James’ serious car accident. Fortunately, the rapper successfully recovered, and immediately after his treatment, he teamed up with Craven to put the life-changing experience into songs. So last year we got to see their second record together, Penalty Of Leadership, which is another masterpiece. Nicholas Craven once again produced absolutely unique beats, full of lilting samples and memorable melodies. The way he works with samples is unprecedented. The beats alone tell powerful stories that reinforce the impact of Boldy’s lyrics. Boldy James used the beats masterfully, really opening up to the listener on the album, recounting the events that shaped his life, his gratitude for still being alive, and reflecting on his success. Penalty Of Leadership is a very distinctive album that is not to be confused with any other. Boldy gets along with Craven as well as with The Alchemist, and it’s absolutely fascinating that he and both producers are creating equally high-quality, yet diametrically opposed projects.
35. Vince Staples – Dark Times
Vince Staples has more than one modern classic to his credit. Albums like Summertime ’06, Big Fish Theory, and FM! have touched hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Vince is among a unique group of artists who can release a song that reigns supreme on the charts yet resonates strongly with listeners. Eleven years ago, Vince began his chapter under Def Jam. Since then, he has released five studio albums and several mixtapes. Last year, he parted ways with the label and ended a great chapter with Dark Times. Vince Staples has come a long way as an artist, and the Dark Times album carries so much nuance that it’s fascinating. With incredible sensitivity, Vince captures the life of a man from the ghetto to whom the whole world has opened up, yet he can’t escape his past. Dark Times is hope for all who have long since lost it. Vince Staples can write hard-hitting tracks that have very laid-back beats and are sensitive and catchy. The album is the story of an artist who carries a lot of pain but chooses to deal with it. And if Vince could do it, so can you.
34. MAVI – shadowbox
It’s okay to cry! Two years after Laughing So Hard, it Hurts, MAVI has released his third studio album, Shadowbox. He found light in the darkness and strength in the pain. To the sound of atmospheric beats that could evoke strong emotions on their own, MAVI peels back layer after layer of his emotive rap to reflect and understand who he is. The album has the power to resonate strongly with listeners, full of emotion, pain, love, sadness, and happiness. MAVI is incredibly open and shares his life experiences with details that some rappers wouldn’t be able to share with even their best friends. The final track, my own way, is the perfect conclusion to MAVI’s thought-provoking, vulnerable, and honest odyssey.
33. al.divino – firewater
al.divino is an artist who cannot be imitated. He is one of the most progressive rappers of the last decade, and with every project, he tests his listeners. The rapper’s projects could be divided into several categories. On one side are albums like WILE COYOTE (w/ MichaelAngelo), which are somewhat more traditional by rapper standards. On the other end are albums that the artist releases under the cvv.vino pseudonym, which are chaotic sonic odysseys without a single rule. firewater stands squarely in the middle, offering a perfect fusion of everything we love about the rapper. Expect hard, uncompromising rap that will take you into utter chaos. All of the producers have created completely unique beats that no one else but al.divino could rap to. No music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track CHA$E.
32. Elcamino – Millionaire
Elcamino confirms once again that the Black Soprano Family just won’t quit burning. On Millionaire, which is only seven tracks long, he proves that quality over quantity. Estee Nack is the main guest on the project, and the rap chemistry they have with each other is just phenomenal. Estee appears on three tracks straight, and each time he’s like an unexpected hand serving aces in a poker game. In addition to Nack, the album features Kenyada Nikile. The highlight is the track Wu Level, which is really something special. Elcamino really went all out here, lyrically and emotionally. The whole track is about personal choices and how they define us. Instead of judging anyone, he says that everyone has their own style, their own struggles, and their own choices. And this tolerance for human frailty gives the track an interesting depth. Elcamino points out that there is beauty in every fight, it just depends on where you look. His metaphors about Buffalo, Brooklyn, and life on the streets show how the harsh environment shapes his view of the world. And through it all, there’s a pervasive glimmer of pride and determination on the record. The album’s production has a dark yet sort of subdued elegiac vibe. It sounds like music for people who have weathered the storms and know that life isn’t all black and white. These beats don’t give you a clear answer but rather leave you searching for your own truths.
31. Vic Spencer x Original Super Legend – Be Double Clip Tight
Vic Spencer kicked off another phenomenal year with the uncompromising album Be Double Clip Tight, an album that takes no guff. After three years, Vic Spencer reunited with producer Original Super Legend and together they followed up their album Legend Laws of Power. Be Double Clip Tight is everything you could want from a rap album. Vic Spencer is in the form of his life; the beats are incredibly sophisticated, catchy, and yet simple at the core. You can also look forward to an incredible posse cut featuring Skunkz, Rasheed Chappell, Reef Hustle, Rome Streetz, Silent Snipers, and The Musalini.
