I always like to take time now to reflect on releases from the previous year. There’s so much music coming out that it is difficult to make up your mind on a top 10 at the end of the year. You’ve got to wait until early the following year and let the music sink in, sit with the output a little while before you can put a best of list together. We’re now almost at the end of February and I feel like I can present my top 10 for 2023. So here we go for another ranking, starting from the top with number 10, and making my way down to number 1.
10. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday 2
I’ve never been much of a fan. I’ve always seen Nicki Minaj’s music as pop rather than rap and hip hop. That was until I checked out her 2018 album “Queen” on which she leaned a lot more on the rapping than the singing and that album I kind of liked. Nicki Minaj had not released a proper project since then and there was much anticipation for “Pink Friday 2”, even more so that this is the part 2 to what his seen by most as her best album. I checked out her singles “Ruby Da Sleeze” and the J. Cole featured “Let Me Calm Down” and they had me waiting to check out the album also. It finally came out late last year and the end result is great as Nicki nicely mixes the singing with the rapping throughout. The original Young Money crew is featured with appearances by Lil’ Wayne and Drake, which is a nice callback to the era of the first installment. Of course it’s a Nicki Minaj album so you’ll hear her rap over a lot of mainstream production and familiar samples (flipped many times before), but overall I didn’t mind it and even though the album is long, you won’t mind playing it through. This album helps Nicki Minaj reclaim her spot amongst female rappers and I live how confident and assertive she sounds throughout. I’d argue this is her best album and highlights for me are “Let Me Calm Down”, “Cowgirl”, “Ruby Da Sleeze”, “Super Freaky Girl” and “My Life”. Check it out if you haven’t already.
9. Westside Gunn - And Then You Pray For Me
8. Larry June & Cardo - The Night Shift
We’ve got here the second of 2 albums Larry June released last year. Perhaps not as diverse and impactful as the album with The Alchemist, due to the more repetitive style of production from producer Cardo, this project still knocks and is further affirmation of Larry’s dominance in west coast rap at the moment. The album starts off well with songs like “Clocked In” and “Chops On the Blade”. Albeit a bit overused in rap, the Bone Thugs N’ Harmony sample sounds good on “Live Of Money”. I’m less of a fan of the song with Dej Loaf, but that’s before The Alchemist makes an appearance on the song “The Great Escape”, rapping “Eating heavy, I might have to switch the pants size/Standing on big business, you’re stepping on a franchise”, providing continuity for their joint album that released earlier in the year. A high moment on this album. The Schoolboy Q-featured “Pop Out” is another highlight and there are plenty of other good tracks on here. This is great album to vibe to for any west coast rap fan like me.
7. Skyzoo & The Other Guys - The Mind of A Saint
I’m a huge fan of Skyzoo’s albums. He’s mastered the art of making good albums. Most recent best example of this was the 2021 “All Tye Brilliant Things” which was my favorite project that year. His taste in picking instrumentals is also amazing and I love the jazz sampling music he favors. This new album which sees him impersonates a drug kingpin to tell stories of the highs and lows of that life is no different. From the first track “Eminent Domain” Skyzoo keeps you engaged with impeccable storytelling and song writing. Highlights on this album include “Panther & Powder” where he talks of choosing between being revolutionary and a hustler, the first single off of the project “Straight Drop” and the sad yet high energy “Bodies!” on which he talks about the people he has to kill and that keep haunting him. Skyzoo falls perfectly into character for this album that feels cinematic in many ways. I only wished it was longer. It seems I’m going to have my wish fulfilled as he is preparing a deluxe version to the project that will see him add another 7 songs, to release this year on the first anniversary of this album. I can’t wait.
6. El Michels Affair & Black Thought - Glorious Game
Nowadays top emcees are common as the underground fuses with the mainstream and music publications increasingly recognize top lyricists beyond the a-listers of rap music. But there’s nobody quite as good as The Roots’ Black Thought I would argue. His voice, flows and imposing delivery have made him one of the best MC’s ever. In 2022 he partnered up with Danger Mouse for what was my best alb7m of the year: “Cheat Codes”. Beginning of 2023 he announced another project with producers El Michels Affair and I was excited. “Glorious Game” came out in the first half of 2023 and has not left the rotation throughout 2023. The title track knocks as do the rest of the album, but there is no match to the successive “Hollow Way” with its aggressive beat switch and incredible raps, and “Protocol” tracks. These songs made it straight to my reappear list. Other songs that are memorable are “That Girl” and “Miracle”. The album ends with the dope “Alter Ego”. The production is top notch as are Black Thought high caliber raps. Nothing can stop him.
5. Larry June & The Alchemist - The Great Escape
Here is the better of the two Larry June albums in 2023, and probably one of his best releases period. Producer The Alchemist has a lot to do with this, providing beautiful soundscapes for Larry to lay his trademark laidback raps over. I came late to this album and it took some time to catch on, but it definitely stands as one of the highlights of 2023 for me. There’s so much greatness on this one. Starting with “89 Earthquake” on which Larry June raps “It’s that ace of spades shit/Talking numbers on a jet/Little random flight to Vegas/Took down to a check”. Immediately after this one “Solid Plan” sees him being joined by Action Bronson for a dope Sopranos-inspired verse. Then there’s “Summer Reign” with Ty Dolla $ign and even Slum Village make an appearance on “Orange Village”. Songs like “Ocean Sounds” and “Left No Evidence” are amazing too, but the Curren$y and Joey Bada$$ assisted “Barragán Lighting” takes the crown for what will go down as one of The Alchemist’s best productions recently. I love this album.
Travis Scott’s return album “UTOPIA” certainly was a major event last year. His first full length solo project since the 2018 album “ASTROWORLD” and after the whole controversy around the stampede at one of his concerts. I loved the rollout with the multiple cover versions for the physical release and this album was an instant hit on release date for me. The production, innovative soundscapes and LaFlare’s trademark rapping and singing are just as captivating as on his previous albums if not more. From the high energy opener “Hyaena” all the way to the closing track “Til Further Notice”, this album keeps you entertained and engaged. It’s a trip. Songs like “My Eyes” which starts as a laidback ballad and turns into a dreamy song towards the end, the awesome Drake-assisted “Meltdown” or “Lost Forever” with a surprise cameo from Westside Gunn are just a few of the highlights on this album. As far as themes and lyrics go, it is the usual trippy storytelling about rich escapades, partying on drugs, but there are times when he gets more real like on “Modern Jam” where he addresses almost getting cancelled due to the concert stampede controversy. This album is a hell of an experience.
3. Logic - College Park
Logic albums can be hit or miss, but “College Park” probably is my favorite of his. The concept of the album, following the car journey of Logic and his crew to the venue where they’re going to perform their biggest show yet, is a metaphor for the growth and what can happen when you hold on to your dreams regardless of the obstacles. As Logic gets picked up and then picks up his crew members on the road, you find them grabbing fast food, freestyling and even facing a gas station robbery, before performing at the venue. The music is just as great as the storytelling. The album starts on a high note with a RZA collaboration, followed by a slew of dope tracks and great inspiring lyrics. There are highlights like the impeccable “Redpill VII”, the Redman and Seth MacFarlane featured “Self Medication”, “Paradise II” with singing from none other than Norah Jones. The features are just as varied as the tracklist, but they never overshadow Logic and the whole project feels very cohesive. This album isn’t without its flaws. It could have benefited from a shorter playtime and some of the skits are borderline corny. But overall, this album will not only stand out as one of my favorite releases of the year, but also as my most preferred Logic projects.
2. Curren$y & Harry Fraud - VICES
I’m a huge fan of the series of projects between highlights prolific New Orleans rapper Curren$y and dope producer Harry Fraud. From “Cigarette Boats” to “The Outrunners”, and to “Regatta”, they managed to capture that unique 80s Miami vibe so well. These albums with their tales of car and boat races, deals with major drug dealers and wild parties are amazing. When “VICES” came out I was excited because I knew they’d take it to another level again. And this album did not disappoint. It is actually in many ways the culmination in the series with Harry Fraud flipping many parts of the soundtrack to the iconic 80s TV series “Miami Vice”. He does this with brio and Curren$y lays as usual dope raps throughout. The guys features from the likes of Benny the Butcher, Rome Streetz and Larry June are amazing too. This is a solid, cohesive album that is just perfect to trip to, ride to. Some of my highlights are the Larry June-featured “Marble Columns”, where they trade raps about manipulative women over a heavy beat and saxophone sample, with bars like “She left her last man/Seeking financial gain/She kept her last name/But took the wedding ring/It’s a sign, is you high or blind?”. There’s the Rome Streetz track “‘86 Testarossa” and the impeccable closer “Purple Picasso”. This is a short but super sweet project that deservedly make it to my top 10 for 2023.
1. Planet Asia & Apollo Brown - Sardines
I’ve always thought Planet Asia’s flow is one of the best in the game. His voice is imposing and he rhymes sharply. I’ve never listened to his previous collaboration with Apollo Brown, but I loved his production on albums like “Blasphemy” with Ras Kass or Mona Lisa with Joell Ortiz. I thought I’d check this one out based on that and the fact that their previous collaboration was acclaimed by critics. I was not disappointed: a really solid album that you can listen to front to back and put on repeat right away. The impeccable production by Apollo Brown, light on drums, provides a clean backdrop for Planet Asia to deliver punchy verses and make his voice felt. Features are few and between, and where there are they add to the song without outshining the main act. All guest rappers drop dope verses of their own. Take Sick Jacken or Tristate for example. The latter appears on one of the standout tracks, “Wizardry” where Planet Asia and his Cold Chain Music crew member give you a masterclass in rapping. The next 5-6 tracks after this one are all fine raps, from “Jungle Juice” where fake rappers are addressed head-on with bars like “What the fuck you selling merch for/First make a record that’s valuable to the Earth boy” or “God forbid you change the topic”, to “Wide Awake” or to the first single from the album “Peas and Onions”. This album is a masterclass in rapping and a blueprint for rapper/producer collaboration albums. Definitely the album of the year 2024 for me!
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