The Honorable Mentions
The Underachievers- Cellar Door
I was seriously waiting for this East Coast duo to impress me with a project, as I definitely heard the potential on some tracks. I'm glad it happened on their debut studio album. This thing is really nice, showcasing Issa Dash and AK trading bars over some booming, forward thinking production. AK in particular blew me away here. His constant onslaught of fast paced verses really kept me interested during this project. As a whole this was a really solid album from The Underachievers, its fulfilling to see them come through with something good.
Favorite Song: Luminesence
Mick Jenkins- The Water[s]
Mick Jenkins, previously unheard of, blew up this year with the success of The Water[s], and with good reason. This album pretty much has everything that solidifies someone in today's rap game. Mick came through with an original sound and interesting theme to his project. I loved the entire vibe of the mixtape and hearing some cool and relaxed sonic quality for the whole thing made me happy. I'm excited for what Mick does next, because this project proved the guy had got some really cool ideas going on, and he sure is skilled at making them sound fresh.
Favorite Song: The Waters
Future- Honest
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After landing on my mid year list, Future's Honest stays on thanks to its sheer awesomeness and replay value. These songs really just bang, and I think the production on this album is what drove it. Future's singing and rapping were on point as well, and he shows that he is pretty versatile on this album.
Favorite Song: Move that Dope
Cormega- Mega Philosophy
If you are looking for an MC that takes lyricism very seriously, Cormega is for you. The 44 year old rapper spits nothing but hard truth on this new album of his. He spends the project speaking his mind on various things going on in hip hop, while also connecting it to his personal life and childhood on some tracks. The vintage production from Large Professor helped make this album great as well.
Favorite Song: Industry
Sean Leon- Narcissus, the Drowning of Ego
This project came out of nowhere for me, but I am so thrilled that I found it. This guy has a very abstract and weird style, but it works in his favor for this album. Sean Leon raps about a variety of topics here. The highlight here, though, was the production. This sinister, haunting, extremely dark production may be the best on any album this year.
Favorite Song: Vanity
The Top 10
10. Vince Staples- Hell Can Wait
Vince Staples had a huge year, finally making the leap from little known Odd Future affiliate to a respected West Coast street talker. This debut EP of his shows off all his strengths, such as lyricism and mic presence. Some of the beats on this project also blew me away.
9. Ugly Frank- Bobby Hill
Last year, the mixtape of Washington rap trio ILLFIGHTYOU landed on my best of the year list. In 2014, it is group member Ugly Frank who takes the spot. This debut mixtape was just awesome. Ugly Frank's wild, violent, unpredictable rapping style is a perfect fit over Khris P's production, which makes use of some really wacky sound effects.
Favorite Song: Frank Truise
8. Future- Monster
This Halloween release truly delivered what everyone always wants out of a Future project: bangers, bangers, and even more bangers. Future is quickly asserting himself as the first rapper to look for if thats what you're craving. The thing about Monster that makes it crack the top 10 is not only the consistently high energy, but also the quality of Future's more serious and emotional tracks. After not quite hitting the mark on those on Honest earlier in the year, he delivers some sadder songs that are a lot more well made on Monster. On Monster, Future did what he is best at but also flexed some of his new versatility.
7. Schoolboy Q- Oxymoron
Schoolboy Q's much-anticipated debut album Oxymoron, did not disappoint for me. I felt Schoolboy showed tons of skill on this project. He was able to make radio hit songs, and then have songs where he throws it back to his childhood. He also wraps the whole album around a theme of him trying to get over his drug addiction while also being a good father. Add some stellar production, and I felt this was a great album.
Favorite Song: Break da Bank
6. J. Cole- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Sneaking into this list at the end of the year was J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive. J. Cole finally made me a fan with this album. I felt on this album that Cole improved on all fronts. The album is a personal narrative of his life journey to the amazing place he is at now. I loved the stories Cole told on this album, and he did it all with no features. This album honestly deserves all the success and acclaim it has had so far.
Favorite Song: G.O.M.D.
5. Travis Scott- Days Before Rodeo
If you were to just throw away lyrical content completely and rate albums on how well they bump and their production, Days Before Rodeo would easily be the album of the year. This album has fantastic, forward-thinking trap production and sounded incredible. These songs were unique and experimental but made my head bop every time. Travis Scott might not be the best rapper, but he flowed pretty well at times, and I must give him props for matching the booming production.
Favorite Song: Skyfall
4. YG- My Krazy Life
As with many people, this was my surprise, breakout album of 2014. When I downloaded My Krazy Life, I did not expect anything more then mediocre rapping over some boring trap production. I was in complete shock when this album ended, as the 2nd best album of 2014 was actually made by YG. This album tells a complete story of teenage YG getting into trouble in Compton, robbing houses, going to jail, and eventually wrapping the whole story around his relationship with his mother. It is a fantastic narrative, and is only made better by some awesome, banging production from DJ Mustard. Oh, and features by some guys named Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. I am thrilled that YG dropped such an amazing album, and we've officially got another West Coast artist to keep an eye on.
Favorite Song: BPT
3. Run the Jewels- RTJ2
Killer Mike and El-P returned in 2014 with a Run the Jewels sequel that only improved on everything the first one did well. While their first piece of music may have just been a collection of fun songs, the sequel was an actual, cohesive album. Some songs here were awesome, high energy bangers, and El-P's production sounded more high-energy and explosive. Killer Mike's aggressiveness is there as always, but the duo was also able to tell stories and make some political statements on this album. They really killed it with this sequel, and I understand this album being #1 on many lists.
Favorite Song: Blockbuster Night Part 1
2. Isaiah Rashad- Cilvia Demo
New TDE signee Isaiah Rashad should really be applauded for dropping an album in January and having it stay on the list for the whole year. This project could not have done a better job of introducing Isaiah to the world. This album's contrast is ultimately what makes it so good. The laid-back, relaxing, atmospheric beats mixed with Rashad's aggressive, choppy, unorthodox flow. He also shows that he is an extremely versatile artist on this project, as he is even seen spending entire tracks singing. This guy is poised to break out in upcoming years, and I am ready for more excellent projects like Cilvia Demo.
Favorite Song: Soliloquy
1. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Pinata
As cliche as it sounds, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib were truly a match made in heaven. Gibbs sounds better over Madlib's beats than on any other beat I have ever heard him on, and I was blown away by how focused and determined he sounded on Pinata. I always knew this guy could rap, but he placed himself right with the best MC's in hip hop right now with his performance on Pinata. He told stories of love and rejection, threw shots at Young Jeezy, and described his gangsta lifestyle all on one album. Madlib, meanwhile, came as no surprise. This legendary producer laid down some mind-blowing production for Gibbs to do his thing. The features were on point too, from Earl Sweatshirt to Ab-Soul to Raekwon. There is not one bad song on this whole album, and there is nothing I'd change. Pinata was a monument for Freddie Gibbs' career, and Madlib was a god behind the boards. That's why it is the album of the year.
Favorite Song: Thuggin
