Hip-Hop Albums From 2019 That Didn’t Suck
photo courtesy of @feliciathegoat Instagram
The year 2019 was rocky for contemporary Hip-Hop. Between the flop records that were Jesus is King and Big Day, to the overall lack of projects in general, 2019 just did not live up to the other quality years of Hip Hop we’ve had in the past. However, it wasn’t all terrible. Several artists recognized the music drought and saw an opportunity to release creative projects that granted them a spotlight. Here is JERK’s list of 2019 Hip-Hop albums that didn’t totally suck!
IGOR - Tyler, The Creator
IGOR is highly experimental in the best possible way. From its jarring opening track “IGOR’S THEME” to its bittersweet ending on “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?”, Tyler lays out a sound like nothing we’ve ever heard before in music. Additionally, Tyler self-produced, arranged, and wrote the project, earning him the Wall Street Journal’s Music Innovator of the Year award. There really isn’t one specific way to describe the sound of this remarkable album, so just do yourself a favor and hit the play button on track one.
The Falling Man - Duckwrth
Duckwrth is an amazingly underrated artist in the current hip-hop ecosystem. The production on The Falling Man is absolutely incredible and brings an energy that flows seamlessly through the album. “FALL BACK” practically begs listeners to start a mosh pit, while “SOPRANO” shows off Duckwrth’s versatility as an artist. If you missed out on the opportunity to see him perform at Bandersnatch, start streaming this album ASAP.
Bandana - Freddie Gibbs and Madlib
Bandana is one of the best albums to come out of 2019 so far, and we mean it. The fantastic synergy between Madlib’s jazz inspired beats and Freddie Gibbs’ buttery flow creates a signature sound for the project. “Freestyle s**t” sets the tone for the record, and tracks like “Palmolive” and “Giannis” — which features our King, Anderson .Paak— keep the energy flowing. Freddie Gibbs is finally getting his well-deserved success and we couldn’t be happier.
Fever - Megan Thee Stallion
First of all, whoever assumes that only men produce hip-hop bops needs to take a step back and listen to Megan Thee Stallion. She had an exceptional year beginning with the release of “Hot Girl Summer”, as she started a societal revolution and created her own success. Her new album, Fever, is laced with hard beats and explicit sexual themes, in the best way. Megan boasts her sex positive attitude through incredibly catchy songs like “Cash Shit”. Fever is exactly what we would expect from Megan Thee Stallion and we are obsessed with the results.
GINGER - BROCKHAMPTON
GINGER is widely different from other projects put out by BROCKHAMPTON. It’s a calmer, more introspective, and self-fulfilling album. Songs like “SUGAR” and “GINGER” bring an eased look into the innovative boyband while “BOY BYE” brings back the classic BROCKHAMPTON signature beats and flows. Honestly, it’s a major improvement from last year’s IRIDESCENCE. Well worth a listen and a solid album.
Mirrorland - EARTHGANG
Juice Jam 2019’s saving grace was EARTHGANG’s newest album, Mirrorland. The record is a solid example of innovation in an oversaturated field. Its beats are catchy and the duo’s flow is consistent throughout the entire project. Songs like “Bank” and “Stuck” are absolutely stellar, making us all too eager to hear more in the future.
Cuz I Love You - Lizzo
The year of 2019 was the year of Lizzo. Her breakout songs, “Juice” and “Truth Hurts,” topped the charts and became international successes for both their messages and Lizzo’s incredible vocal abilities. Her debut album, Cuz I Love You, follows up on her message of confidence and body positivity, while simultaneously delivering an amazing album. “Tempo”, featuring Missy Elliott, is an exceptional track as well. Listen if you’re in the mood to have some fun.
Ventura - Anderson .Paak
In his follow up to Oxnard last year, Anderson .Paak is back with his classic RnB infused style of hip-hop. Ventura brings us back, forming and mixing classic 70’s soul with modern dance beats. “Come Home” and “Make It Better” are obvious highlights on the album, with stellar features from Andre 3000 and Smokey Robinson. If you’re looking for a more chill vibe for finals week, we highly recommend giving this a listen.
Uknowwhatimsayin¿ - Danny Brown
Danny Brown is back with another insanely inventive album. The 38 year old rapper has traded in his party animal lifestyle for the persona of a wise, yet fun uncle. His raunchy lyrics and inventive beats mesh with his unique vocal inflection to create a very solid album. Additionally, the executive producer credit to Q-Tip is very prominent, considering the old school feel of the album. An inventive and solid album from a rap legend.
Revenge Of The Dreamers III - Dreamville
J. Cole brought out the big guns on this project. With the recent singing of EARTHGANG, Dreamville Records has become one of the most iconic rap labels today. Smino, Saba, DaBaby, Ari Lennox, Bas, and JID are featured prominently throughout the project and it’s exceptionally packed with talent considering the entire album was recorded in 10 days. “Wells Fargo” and “Down Bad” are exceptional party jams, while “Got Me” and “Sacrifices” are rooted further in contemporary RnB. With the pure amount of talent on this album, it’s for sure worth your listen. It’s easy to miss amazing projects when the world is so caught up in negative energy and constant criticism. Hopefully these albums will convince you that 2019 wasn’t THE worst year in music history.