OK folks you've waited all year for this....Here are the Top 12 Albums of 2014!
12. Cyhi The Prynce-Black Hystori Project- Cydell Young is one of the most talented underated lyricist in rap today period...You've heard him on many of Kanye's (NOT Yeezus) classics (Had the best verse on So Appalled). It was about damn time that he released a project that was worthy of the lofty praise...Released earlier in the year...it managed to much play throughout the year and it still bumps..its gonna be tough to top this one Cyhi.
11. Vince Staples- Shyne Coldchain II & Hell Can Wait- VINCE STAPLES IS NEXT UP!...Thats It....No seriously....This kid is dope...vivid storytelling...accurate portrayals of his life and the life of his homies and just raw beats. These two project are vital...if this is your first time hearing of Vince...go listen and thank me later.
10. The Roots-....and then you shoot your cousin..- Since The Roots have been Jimmy Fallon's house band...they have been still...THATS A GREAT THING...since becoming the house band they have been in one area and able to just sit back and create timeless music...this album is no exception..Its arguably their best work since "Game Theory" which is my personal favorite..."Undun" is a distant second...but this album made me a Roots fan again...straight up.
9. Scotty ATL- Spaghetti Junction- I discovered Scotty ATL around 6 or 7 months ago and I eagerly awaiting this release..while the prelude to this album was underwhelming (OTR2SJ) to say the least...By the time I heard this..it was clear that the prelude nothing but a mere appeitizer to the main course...This album BANGS...its really authentic to the region and it has a familiar sound that makes you miss the Dungeon family...and anytime you hear a DJ Toomp beat...you know you're in for a Southern Treat..
8. Logic- Under Pressure- While you were sleeping Logic has been silently crafting an instant classic...I mean it was the perfect album...Intro...Standard Length LP...Outro....NO FEATURES...bonus tracks...Dope right?....So why isn't this the Album Of The Year Then Leeb? Long story short...I had a hard time hearing LOGIC on a lot of his songs...Its one thing to have influences that create your style and sound but its an different animal when you SOUND like your influences...some songs sound like Kendrick material while others sound like Outkast and early Drake material...don't get me wrong I love those acts but if I'm listening to LOGIC I want to hear LOGIC material...no hard feelings...its still a stellar debut album.
7. Pharoahe Monch- PTSD(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)- It still amazes me that a MC that is arguably one of the best top 5 Lyricist EVER (Seriously) has only 4 albums to his credit...but with that being said this is definitely his most focused and dense concept album yet. Song by song he proceeds to break down the thought process of a soldier who has just come home from war and is dealing with PTSD...or maybe he is in some futuristic sleep chamber where they analyze his dreams and he's dreaming about being a soldier coming home from war and dealing with PTSD...wait what...the rap version of Assassins Creed?...A Sci-Fi Hip-Hop Album?.....BRILLIANT.
6. Stalley-OHIO- This album surprised me immensely. Usually when I see anything attached to MaMaMaMaybach Music I normally give it the side eye and place it back in the cd rack and go about my day...And based on his first release (Intelligent Trunk Musik) I didn't want to hear an entire album of Stalley talking about Cars and Pain (the equivalent to Nas' Pissy Stair Case Bars) but when I pressed play...I realized he wasn't going that route and decided to craft an album around the sound and soul of his home state...to the untrained ear it may sound like he's jacking west coast beats when he is clearly from the midwest...but anyone worth their salt in music will tell you that SOUND that is so closely identified with West Coast "G-Funk" ORIGINATED in the Midwest...OHIO to be exact...I wont go any further but just keep that in mind when you listen to this album.
5. Black Milk- If There's A Hell Below- Black Milk has been a favorite of mine for years...I sat back and watched his sound evolve and I must say when if he ever went mainstream...they wouldn't know how to act. This album is clearly a sequel to 2013's "No Poison No Paradise" and while not at good as the first...its still a very strong entry into the Black Milk catalog..and will get much play for years to come just like the rest of his albums.
4. J. Cole- 2014 Forest Hills Drive- J.Cole man...how many superlatives can I lay down about this piece are art...I wont kill ya'll with them but this is amazing..."Born Sinner" was an obvious attempt at Grammy snatching but when it was royally snubbed...Cole realized it was back to the drawing board and he treated this album like a mixtape...and it we all see the glorious results.
3. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass-Blasphemy- What happens when you da hyper talented producer and criminally underrated lyricist and put them together on a "He's The DJ...Im The Rapper" project...Blasphemy...This album is incredible..it stuck to my tried and true formula...Dope Beats and Dope Rhymes while simultaneously dropping knowledge...Isn't that what True Hip-Hop is all about?
2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib-Pinata- I was so excited when I found out this project was being announced because I figured any rapper (THATS NOT DOOM OR DILLA) that could handle Madlb's production would be legendary...Welp that's exactly what happend on Pinata...Madlib through Gangsta Gibbs a plethora of beats and he killed all of them over this lengthy project...I seriously doubt this project would have seen the light of day had Gibbs stayed with CTE...but know Gibbs..it probably would have...Don't sleep on this masterpiece.
1. PRhyme (DJ Premier & Royce 5'9)- PRHYME- Where do I begin....Never in a million years did I think Royce and Preemo would team up for an ENTIRE project...Admittedly...Preem has always been my 2nd or 3rd Favorite producer of all time...depending on the day...and Ive been rocking with Royce since The Slim Shady LP...I even referred to him as the "Black Eminem" (Don't believe me?..Ask AJ)...So you can imagine my glee the first time heard "Let's Grow" (Produced by J.Dilla) I knew at 15 this dude was one of the best...Then I heard "Boom" and that sealed the deal...I thought to myself I said "Self....if these two ever do an album together it would be a classic"...that was 2001....Even when "Hell The Sequel" came out I could even argue that Royce out rapped Em on MANY of their songs. Fast forward to 2014 and my dream became a reality...From start to finish Royce proceeds to go absolute ape shit on every song....EVERY SONG....I for one have never heard Royce sound so focused before in all my years of listening to him. Maybe with the exception of "Hood Hop" but other than that ...He was on an complete tear...Each feature tried to outshine him but that was a mere exercise in futility. DJ Premier's sound went through an extreme overhaul due in large part to Adrian Younge....all of the live instrumentation you hear on this project is by him and is masterfully sampled and scratched by DJ Premier...My only gripe is that its only 9 songs...like damn I couldn't get 12 songs ya'll...for real?!....lol but that's just me being greedy...In ending, this album could have came out in January 1st 2014 and it would have still been My album of year...Complete perfection...PRHYME...ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2014!...See you guys next year!!!! 2015 is gonna be epic...mark my words....Happy New Year....Peace.
