Curated rap & hip hop, updated monthly. Underground favorites, a handful of classics, and new releases that aren't already in your rotation. Best listened to in order, with a 3-4 second crossfade. Support all of these artists.
Machinedrum - “Kane Train” feat. Freddie Gibbs
Maybe I’ve been following him too closely, but Freddie Gibbs is shaping up to have an all-time dominating year in 2020, and I’m not just talking about Alfredo. Producer Machinedrum is more well-known for his footwork-adjacent electronica DJ work, but has always had an ear for hip hop and lends his talents to the genre sporadically (see Azaelia Bank’s “Van Vogue”). Did Machinedrum craft a track perfectly tailored for Freddie, or is Freddie so unassailable that he can slide into any type of beat and absolutely demolish it? You can decide for yourself.
J-Hop - “The Wire” feat. Femdot
Understated St. Louis rapper J-Hop dropped a head-turner with this one. The sped-up harp sample hits hard and incessantly but never loses its shimmer, and it finishes off with an impeccable slowdown finale. J-Hop and Chicago’s unsung hero Femdot are both fast, technical, and catchy; I might question your taste if this doesn’t hook you on the first listen. For more of J-Hop, check out the softer Pelican Bay EP and him crushing this freestyle guest spot; Femdot’s Delacreme 2 deserves a thousand-word article on its own.
JID - “Skrawberries” feat. BJ The Chicago Kid
I was slow on the uptake of JID and didn’t truly dive into this record until after Dreamville III dominated the summer of 2019; I’ll take the massive L for sleeping. BJ delivers a downright D’Angelo-level hook for the chorus that gives me chills every time I hear it. “My girl booty soft and it’s shaped like a skrawberry / her pussy bald with a tat like Stephon Marbury” is a gold-plated bar.
Aakeem Eshu - “Goodfellas” feat. Mikeyyy NYC
I’m shocked that I can find so little information about Chicago rapper Aakeem Eshu, so please enlighten me. I’ve been a longtime fan of footwork producer DJ Earl, who produced this retool of the “Wanksta” melody, as well as the stellar EP Black Dobson that dropped back in July. Aakeem’s flow is smooth and infectious, and he obliterates this track -- he deserves way more attention than he’s gotten so far. I originally wanted to use “Do This Shit” that opens with a justified clowning of Chance’s The Best Day.
Mulatto - “Muwop” feat. Gucci Mane
We’ve come a long way from 2016’s Miss Mulatto to the full-blown Atlanta force that’s presented to us today (recent controversy acknowledged). “Bitch From Da Souf” was an undeniable banger, and proved that she can bear the weight of headlining a major single. I love this lead single, a rework of Gucci’s “Freaky Girl,” from recently released Queen Of Da Souf that should continue to elevate her musical profile, especially when it comes to the upper echelon of female rappers. It might be early to say she’s at the Megan/Cardi/Nicki superstar level, but Big Latto is well on her way, and easily worthy of her spot in this year’s XXL Freshman Class.
CHIKA - “INDUSTRY GAMES”
Speaking of 2020 XXL freshmen, Chika completely balls out on this title track single, rightly and defiantly refusing to fit into the “traditional” role of a female rapper, which is a toxic and misleading categorization anyways (and yes, I just used the term for Mulatto; we can’t all be perfect). Anyone who dismisses Chika just as the new Lizzo because of the Calvin Klein ads is truly missing out, not just on how immensely talented she is, but how much of a singular, powerful persona she boasts. Her Industry Games EP is gorgeously varied and layered, and is easily one of the best records I’ve heard this year.
Maxo Kream - “Capeesh” feat. Trippie Redd
Houston legend Maxo Kream succeeds on grind and authenticity, and I get thrown off every time I come across Brooklyn’s Maxo because I just hear Kream’s “Maxo” refrain from “Pop Another.” Punken was one of my favorite records of 2018, and I always find myself circling back to this standout bouncy gem. I’ve never been a big Trippie Redd fan, but he deserves some credit for how well he compliments this beat, even if he sounds a little like a cut-rate Young Thug here.
Aakeem Eshu - “Black Dobson”
I’ll admit that it appears lazy to have two tracks from the same artist in one playlist, but it was unavoidable. Even if Aakeem uses part of the same verse that he wrote for “Goodfellas,” this feels like more of a call-back than a rehash. I’m all-in on Aakeem, including every track on the aforementioned Black Dobson EP. Check out this snippet of a freestyle; I’ll get my hands on anything of his that I can get.
Black Moon - “Who Got Da Props”
I often associate this song with Traxman’s “Itz Crack,” which used the same Ronnie Law sample made popular by “Who Got Da Props,” so this stone cold classic from 1992 fit in perfectly after Chicago’s Aakeem and DJ Earl. Brooklyn’s Black Moon is a staple of 90s boom bap but isn’t always recognized as such, since their complicated breakup-turned-hiatus derailed their momentum for the rest of the decade, but 2003’s Total Eclipse is still incredibly solid. What more can I say; you deserve to know this song if you didn’t already.
Kool G Rap - “Fast Life” feat. Nas
I’d prefer for none of the late-80s to mid-90s rap forebearers to be forgotten. I got into Kool G later than a lot of other rappers of that era, but his impact and timelessness shouldn’t be understated. If you’re not into this style, or you want to bemoan the relative lack of polish on the hook, be reminded that this song is over three decades old, and that the Nas verse is ice cold. Give yourself a history lesson or get lost.
Fly Anakin - “Fuck Tomorrow” feat. Noah Rime$
Richmond rapper Fly Anakin reminds me a bit of Hodgy Beats with that glitchy upswinging flow, but he also brings that distinctive DMV flair to his delivery. Anakin helps lead the rap collective Mutant Academy, who are quietly starting to fill the void left by Divine Council -- see my review of the new $ilkmoney record for more on how that void was created. Shouts to producer Noah Rime$; the panning on this beat is stoney perfection.
Sidewalk Kal - “20/20 Vision” feat. Ill Sugi
I’m a sucker for production like this, with muted and distant underwater effects on the jazz sample. Sidewalk weaves in and out of the beat with ease, displaying that underground Brooklyn sound. He paired up with Japanese lofi producer Ill Sugi on the stylish The ILL Solution that stands at a hefty twelve tracks.
Tha God Fahim - “The Shape of Slaughter” feat. Mach-Hommy
The refrain “I’m in love with the moolah” will get stuck in your head without fail. I often keep Fahim in my rotation, but he can lull himself into a monotonous tone that might be off-putting for first time listeners. I always appreciate when the beat stretches out well past the vocals. There’s too much to be said about Newark rapper Mach-Hommy in one sentence, but he’s clearly becoming a focal point of prolific underground rappers with his expensive physical releases.
Small Professor - “reflection”
The only downside to including this track is that Spotify doesn’t have the bulk of Small Professor’s astounding Jawns beat tape series. Small Professor is an unsung producer from Philly who has been chopping it up for fifteen years. “reflection” isn’t that nameless reverb-filled lofi sound, just punchy drums and clear jazz samples, followed by strings that come in beautifully. Here’s another one if you still need convincing.
100s - “Land of The Laced”
I saw Berkeley rapper 100s open for A$AP Ferg back in 2013, and that long hair perm was no joke. This track shows his early Bay Area roots, bringing you back to the days of Main Attrakionz and cloud rap, a straightforward synth hook with drums that remind me of Clipse’s “Grindin’” with a deep 808 underneath. Be sure to check out his work under new moniker Kossisko, adopted shortly after 2014’s IVRY released on Fool’s Gold, where he expands further into that smooth R&B take on g-funk.
Retch - “$hort Sermons” feat. Ab-Soul
I can’t get enough of Retch’s slurry syncopated flow, which hasn’t wavered even as he’s drifted darker over the years, like the dripping trap sound he did on Lean & Neck. This track is from his bold debut studio album Polo Sporting Goods, completely produced by Thelonius Martin -- don’t forget the fine work he produced for Curren$y’s The Drive In Theater. Ab-Soul meets Retch on his level and adds his own tone, working the beat flawlessly.
Facade Records - “I Don’t Like” feat. Domo Genesis / Mike & Keys / Kay Franklin
Domo Genesis and producer duo Mike & Keys (of Food and Liquor II fame) teamed up for 2018’s Facade Records EP, which has slowly expanded to a mini collective of its own. Here they bring on Kay Franklin to give some Usher polish to the hook that I wasn’t expecting, and Domo has softened some of his edges that help to hold the track together.
Russ - “Take You Back” feat. Kehlani
This has K-Ci and JoJo written all over its DNA, which is probably selling it short and undermining Russ’ knack for crafting elegant, effortless slow jams. It would take a lot to mess up any Kehlani feature, who always brings her sultry sexpot A-game, striking that balance of being both strong and vulnerable. It Was Good Until It Wasn’t isn’t generating enough conversation this year -- “Can I” is the luscious NSFW single the world needed, not “WAP.”
Bas - “Jollof Rice [SAY3 Remix]” feat. EARTHGANG
Dreamville’s first signee brought us this island theme-tinged single last year, and Atlanta producer SAY3 spiced it up with extra bass to be even more club-worthy. As his SoundCloud profile boasts, “I just wanna make you bounce.” EARTHGANG adds their signature Outkast ethos to the mix; everyone should love dancing to this one.
Denzel Curry - “Wish” feat. Kiddo Marv
For someone who has successfully navigated so many styles, Denzel Curry sure is polarizing. Sometimes I miss the days of “Denny Cascade” and Lil Ugly Mane features, but that’s a conversation for another time. This track is the best of everything Denzel has to offer, Marv’s verse slaps, and there are easily six other tracks from ZUU that I would be comfortable putting in its place.
WiFiGawd - “Scope” feat. Sickboyrari
Props to WiFiGawd for continually exploring subgenres and contributing to the unique roster of DMV rappers, and for focusing on sourcing the best producers he can find to craft his unique array of mixtapes. His lack of ego and understated talent allows him to pursue each concept to its full extent, like on the Oogie Mane collab Trenches to Riches. Here he brings Sickboyrari (formerly Black Kray) along for the ride for this bass-heavy jam with a flute hook that was definitely created for late night drives.
Slade Da Monsta - “Truth Serum” feat. KEY!
You might recognize Slade Da Monsta’s work from Cardi B’s “Press” or Quality Control’s Control the Streets compilations, but here he matches the lighter tone of KEY!, who quietly hasn’t had a miss since before 777. I wanted to end on a more optimistic note, and this one-off single from the mainstay ATL producer dropped just at the right time.
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