By Wyatt Spears and Gavin Bowyer
- Utopia, Travis Scott
“Utopia” showcases Travis Scott’s evolution from a rapper to a multifaceted musical artist, demonstrating his versatility and creativity. The album’s seamless integration of features highlights Scott’s ability to curate a diverse and compelling lineup. Songs Like “I KNOW ?” and “F!EN” underscore the album’s depth and sonic richness. Even though the production is very reminiscent of “Yeezus,” Travis certainly brings his own energy and style to each song. Utopia’s long-awaited delivery met the hype and exceeded expectations with masterful execution of the project.
Best Song: “MY EYES”
- SCARING THE HOES, JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown
“Scaring the Hoes,” the collaborative effort between JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, showcases the unique and experimental styles of these two underground hip-hop icons. The album humorously addresses the challenge of creating music that diverges from mainstream trends. The podcast conversation between the artists provides insight into their shared understanding of the complexities in crafting non-conformist music. JPEGMAFIA’s production is satisfyingly unhinged while Danny Brown shines because he can truly rap on anything and make it sound good, creating a legendary combo.
Best Song: “Lean Beef Patty”
- Heroes and Villains, Metroboomin
While technically released in late 2022, “Heroes and Villains” could only be truly absorbed by 2023. The second addition to a soon-to-be trilogy shows Metro to be one of the greatest hip hop and trap producers of his generation. His dark melodic beats are easy to listen to and easy to dance to, and the southern rappers working on them brought their A-game to the table. The superhero theme is followed for as long as a trap album can follow a lyrical theme (so, the first couple of songs), which makes for interesting bars. Metro’s consistent production lets his features shine. Notably with Don Toliver on the track “Too Many Nights” and Young Thug on “Metro Spider.”
Best Song: “Lock On Me”
- SOS, SZA
“SOS” is expansive, but the abundance of tracks makes it somewhat bloated and lacking consistency. The amalgamation of diverse concepts within songs adds complexity, and while some tracks could be omitted, the album overall stands out for its rare quality in a lengthy release. Noteworthy highlights include the haunting “Kill Bill,” emotionally charged “Seek & Destroy,” and captivating “Blind,” showcasing SZA’s impeccable vocals and great songwriting. The production, though occasionally underwhelming, is redeemed by SZA’s vocal prowess. Collaborations with artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Ol’ Dirty Bastard are well-balanced. Despite its length, “SOS” is an outstanding R&B album, undermined by its own excess.
Best Song: Love Language
- Gumbo, Young Nudy
Coming back relatively soon after his wonderful EA Monster tape, Young Nudy dishes out a really fun and creative album all about food, food, and more food. Reminiscent of MF DOOM’s album, “MM.. Food.”. Well, that’s not quite true, since most of the tracks on here, even if they are named after certain items, it’s of course always metaphors for how things are going in East Atlanta, and once again Nudy proves himself to be one of the most consistent and easily charismatic performers in modern Trap. His flows are still lovably disheveled, his humor is pitch black, and he can get a bit softerwhen he wants to but also portrays the street as dark as it can get. He really vibes with his beats as well, and Coupe, Pi’erre Bourne, and friends provided up a plate of really chill, relaxed production-work with glimmering synth-work, pleasant summer-atmospheres and the occasional hard-edged banger. It’s incredibly consistent overall, has great sequencing, and even though a little bit more variety and more energy on Nudy’s end (he sounds weirdly dead sometimes, charmingly so, but still) would be desired, but this still rounds out wonderfully.
Best Song: “Portabella”
- AftërLyfe, Yeat
This album sounds nothing like anything else in mainstream hip hop. The production, vocal effects, adlibs, and delivery are all unique to Yeat, and they help create a futuristic alien-sounding soundscape. Yeat plays characters throughout the album, experimenting with his arsenal of vocal deliveries that range from whispering, to shrieking like a bird, to moody balladry that mirrors some of the most dejected Future tracks. The rapping here isn’t polished, but Yeat brings relentless flows with verses that regularly surpass the standard 16-bar structure. The production on this project – especially BNYX’s inclusions – is varied but always quality. Tracks like “Nun id change” and “Back homë” sound futuristic in a very particular early 2000s sounding way that has yet to be explored in rap music, but they come off very well and give Yeat a place to shine and show off his versatility. Like a lot of albums that become influential over time, such as Kanye West’s “808s and Heartbreak” and Playboi Carti’s “Whole Lotta Red,” this project initially received mixed reviews, but this album will come as an important project to the evolution of the genre as a whole.
Best Song: “How it go”
- Pink Tape, Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Uzi Vert’s latest album, “Pink Tape,” showcases an intriguing artistic evolution, blending their established formula with a newfound interest in rock influences. The incorporation of rock aesthetics, especially elements from hard and punk rock, is evident throughout the album. While some may find the cover of System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!” an acquired taste, tracks like “Werewolf” and “The End” featuring Bring Me the Horizon and BABYMETAL, respectively, stand out with fantastic collaborations. For fans of Uzi’s older work, there are nostalgic tracks like “Flooded the Face” and “All Alone,” alongside ventures into emo rap with “Days Come and Go” and ‘Rehab.’ The album’s stacked feature list, including Nicki Minaj and Don Toliver, adds to its eclectic nature. Despite its flaws, “Pink Tape” offers a diverse and engaging listening experience.
Best Song: “Suicide Doors”
- Hood Hottest Princess (Deluxe), Sexyy Red
Over the past 5 years, the hip-hop scene has seen a shift in the gender ratio, and Sexyy Red emerges as a standout figure in this wave of new female talent. While she may not be a lyrical genius, Sexyy Red brings style, attitude, humor, and infectious hooks to the table. The album, with its 22 tracks, showcases her versatility, drawing inspiration from Southern hip-hop and trap sounds, reminiscent of Waka Flocka Flame and Gucci Mane. Sexyy Red’s bold and confident persona shines through, offering a refreshing departure from the hypersexualized norms of female rap. It is notable that women in rap face a disproportionate amount of hate and backlash in comparison to male rappers, while essentially rapping about the same or similar topics. The project is a chaotic yet entertaining mix of raw energy, hilarious topics, and unfiltered lyricism.
Best Song: “Ghetto Princess”
- Rocket Power, Quavo
Quavo’s “Rocket Power” marks a significant departure from his previous solo endeavors, showcasing a more confident and introspective artist. The album delves into themes of grief and regret, influenced by the passing of Takeoff, one-third of Migos, and Quavo’s nephew. While maintaining his club-friendly style, Quavo surprises with poignant tracks that reveal a more vulnerable side. The album’s highlights include ethereal psychedelia in “Rocket Power” and the raw introspection of “Hold Me.” Quavo’s vigorous rapping, reminiscent of the energy in “Culture,” is a standout feature, even as some pacing issues and familiar habits resurface. Despite its imperfections, “Rocket Power” represents a positive step in Quavo’s artistic evolution, offering a purposeful and individualistic album.
Best Song: “Fueled Up”
- For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition, Drake
Packaged as a deluxe to boost the streaming revenue on For All The Dogs, Scary Hours 3 a six additional six tracks to an already dragged out album. In the deluxe cut, Drake takes it back and it actually sounds great. This EP sounds straight out of the era between Nothing Was The Same and If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late. The tracks are bar-heavy/sing-songy, luxuriously produced, and full of those funny one-liners that Drake fans love. Also, what is he saying on “You Broke My Heart”?!?
Best Song: “Evil Ways”
Honorable Mentions:
A Great Chaos, Ken Carson
This album is extremely solid and is honestly one of the Opium projects. Despite only having features from labelmate Destroy Lonely and a dry feature from Lil Uzi Vert, the songs manage to remain fresh. The first half of the album is absolutely crazy with all kinds of beats that would normally be in an Opium/rage album. Starboy is exceptional on this album and F1lthy cooked as usual. The second half is creative and explores hyperpop in sync with older projects like Boy Barbie. Lyrically, the first couple tracks have some crazy rhymes but obviously songs like Hardcore are clear examples that Ken Carson is not really listened to for his lyrics. Ken Carson is not for everyone.
Best Song:”Jennifer’s Body”
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale, Tyler, the Creator
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale is a masterful deluxe cut by Tyler, the Creator, showcasing his musical evolution, but could not be on the top 10 because of this, unfortunately. The diverse tracks seamlessly blend hip-hop, R&B, and soul, creating an innovative and nostalgic sound. Tyler’s introspective lyrics add depth, exploring personal reflections and self-discovery. The album is a testament to his artistic prowess, delivering a captivating and thought-provoking listening experience. Could not be on the list
Best Song: “SORRY NOT SORRY”
Like..?, Ice Spice
Ice Spice shows a lot of potential, but definitely left more to be expected. The rapping is decent. The flows are a bit stale by the end of the 13 minutes, and I don’t really find any of the lines or general lyricism insane, although they’re definitely a bit above average. The beats are a mixed bag of being interesting and being middle of the road. Within the world of trap they’re interesting and dynamic. Overall, just a cut above average, her first studio album leaving some to be desired but a good start nonetheless.
Best Song: “Bikini Bottom”