I love doing lists like this. This is probably not my final as there is a few stuff left to listen to and that I haven't heard but this is pretty close. Note that these arent the best albums of the year, just the ones I enjoyed the most.
14. J.Cole: Born Sinner
I was initially very bored with this album. But as the year went on, it grew on me. However, The best songs are on the deluxe album. Still even the worse songs are listenable even if they are a bit bland. JCole is an artist that can be really bland in large doses tho so the album can go up and down depending on where it is in the year as such I can only put it as an honorable mention. I doubt many will agree with me even putting it there.
13. Danny Brown: Old
Danny Brown is an aquired taste and I am not sure I have it...still the first half of the album is great. It places here as the second half is less so. Worth a listen for sure.
12. Travi$ Scott- Owl Pharaoh
Despite his lolworthy cypher verse, Travis put out a solid tape here. The beats carry it as his rapping isnt anything special (or good) but shit bangs. Castle Music is always welcome.
11. Tyler the Creator- Wolf
Tyler is childish and not as clever as he may think but Wolf is a solid outing. Tyler has some of the best songs of his short career here and I feels as if there is some growth. Also as a Pharell/Neptunes stan, Tyler's knock off Neptunes beats do it for me...now with actual Neptunes beats too. Not for everyone as Tyler's subject matter...is the same.
10. Woodkid- The Golden Age
This is soundtrack/ movie trailer music. Like every song could be used for some type of trailer for something. I suspect Ubisoft will use some for the next assasins creed or more Drake...because why the fuck not. Still some catchy, epic songs here. I really like the instrumentation too.. A common theme on my list is that the singer/rapper is often the "worst" part of them and Woodkid's "singing" is the same here. It doesn't hurt it tho as it goes with the dreery music.
9. Mac Miller- Watching Movies with the Sound Off
I hated Mac Miller. Or rather I hated the guy/rapper I thought he was. But I still gave this a shot and was pleasantly surprised. Once again, Mac isn't the greatest rapper ever but he has a solid flow, is occasionally funny, and has a ear for beats (which we will see again later in this list). Really solid album. Hopefully he continues to keep down this path.
8. A$AP Rocky- Long Live A$AP
The leak wasn't kind to this album as I actually listened to it a lot when it leaked. But I wanted to make sure it made my list because despite technically not aging super well, I still get some solid plays out of it. Rocky....wait for it.....isn't the greatest rapper but his cadence and conifdence along with some great beats carries this album.
7. Pusha T- My Name is My Name
Probably the most complete album of my list. Every song is good. Nosetalgia being the stand out and even the Ma$e track is solid (still don't believe thats not him...). Pusha is actually a good rapper so there...
6. Earl - Doris
Earl's Nyquil flow isn't for everyone and when you get down to it, he isn't saying much but I really couldn't find any issues with it. I like every song on here. It is a bit weird that Earl gets cooked multiple times by someone else on most tracks that feature someone but still really good album
5. Kanye West- Yeezus
My relationship with Yeezus is weird. I like every song on here and yet I can understand why one would hate it...as I did during my first listen. It was just noise and I don't even...and then it grew on me. Shit bangs and that was enough for me. It also helps that I didn't wear it out and I suspect this is an album that I will never want to listen to again after a few months...I haven't gotten there yet.
4. Eminem - MMLP2
I am a stan. Sue me. Is it as good as his first 3 albums? Naw. But with Em I have learned to stop chasing that high. It's better IMO than His last 3 and thats all I wanted. Some of his worst songs are on this album tho which hurts it but it is currently in constant rotation. See what I said about Yeezus...it probably applies here too.
3. One OK Rock- Jinsei x Boku
This entry kinda shows what I want out of my music. Catchy Beats and good melodies. I don't understand one word of what they are saying. Which is silly obviously but shit is catchy so fuck it. This has been on my phone all year and that staying power is why it is this high.
2. Chance the Rapper- Acid Rap
This actually is the one album that has the least ammount of songs I like but the ones I do? woooooooo. Chance isn't for everyone. His voice/flow is weird as fuck and at first sounds awful but fuck it, it grows on you. Smoke Again is the standout (although Ab-Soul tries his hardest to ruin it with that one line...wtf breh). Give it and 10 Day a shot.
1. Vince Staples- Stolen Youth
I'll admit that this is probably this high off of Vince's verses on other dudes shit alone. Dude came thru and smashed buildings. This album is also damn good. Vince's laid back and yet badass flow is awesome on most songs. Dude is basically bragging without coming off as Big Sean, where its like really, dude? Killing Em is the standout. Ab-Soul redeems his smoke again (and other) appearences only for Vince to take his soul with his verse. That verse is on the list of Verse of the year IMO. Give it a shot as this is by far my album/tape of the year. Also check him out on Earl's album too and other songs as well as he seems to bring his A game all the time.
Look I know my tastes are both mainstream and weird at the same time. Like I said, my list isnt the best of this year but they are my favorites. It was a good year and now I will look at other people's lists to see if I can add anything to mine.
