1. Rap is one of the most popular musical genres today.
2. It’s a genre that is enjoyed by people of all ages.
3. Rap music is versatile and can be used for many different purposes.
4. Rap music can be used to express oneself, tell a story, or just have fun.
5. There are many different styles of rap, so there’s something for everyone.
6. Some of the best rappers are those who are able to tell a story through their music.
7. Rappers often use their music to spread positive messages to their fans.
8. Rap music can be used as a form of self-expression or as a way to communicate with others.
9. There are many different types of rap music, so there’s something for everyone’s taste.
10. Rap music is a great way to get your message out there and make a difference in the world.
Table of Contents
Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is one of the most important albums of the past decade. It’s a masterclass in how to make a modern hip-hop album that is both accessible and challenging, and it’s a record that has something to say.
The production on DAMN. is impeccable, with each track feeling distinct and yet perfectly in line with the album’s overall aesthetic. Kendrick is a masterful lyricist, and his rhymes are complex and thought-provoking. The album also features some amazing guest appearances, including Rihanna, U2, and Zacari.
DAMN. is an essential album for anyone who loves hip-hop. It’s a brilliant record from one of the genre’s greatest artists, and it’s sure to stand the test of time.
J. Cole – 4 Your Eyez Only
4 Your Eyez Only is the fourth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on December 9, 2016, by Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. The album was preceded by the release of four singles: “Deja Vu”, “No Role Modelz”, “Crooked Smile”, and “Power Trip”. 4 Your Eyez Only was supported by three promotional singles: “Everybody Dies”, “False Prophets”, and “Neighbors”. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 497,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, of which 363,000 were pure album sales. It is Cole’s second US number-one album.
Critical reception
4 Your Eyez Only received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 17 reviews.
Writing for Pitchfork, Meaghan Garvey praised Cole for his maturity as an artist, saying he had “become more comfortable with vulnerability and ambiguity” on the album. She also complimented his production choices, calling it his “most sonically adventurous record to date”. AllMusic’s Neil Z. Yeung gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that it is “a tremendously moving listens that cements Cole’s place as one of hip-hop’s most effective storytellers.” Andrew Nosnitsky of Spin said the album is “an absorbing portrait of black America” and praised Cole for his honesty and willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles.
In a mixed review, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times found 4 Your Eyez Only to be less personal than Cole’s previous albums and criticized its lack of focus, saying that “the problem with an album like this isn’t that Mr. Cole doesn’t have enough to say. It’s that he has too much.” Similarly, Carolyn Menyes of Music Times found the album to be disjointed, writing that it “suffers from being all over the place”. However, she praised Cole for his honesty and lyrical prowess throughout the record.
Accolades
Commercial performance
4 Your Eyez Only debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 497,000 album-equivalent units (of which 363,000 were pure album sales), earning Cole his second consecutive US number-one album. In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the chart, selling 89,000 more units. In its third week, the album remained at number two on the chart, selling 73,000 units (including 54,000 in pure sales). In its fourth week, the album dropped to number seven on the chart selling 46,000 units (including 32,000 in pure sales). As of July 2017, 4 Your Eyez Only has sold 1.22 million copies in the United States.
Track listing
Notes’
* signifies a co-producer’
* signifies an additional producer’
* On physical editions of the album Track 11 is split into two tracks labeled 11A and 11B” on digital platforms.
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
If you’re a fan of Chance the Rapper, then you need to check out his latest album, Coloring Book. This album is amazing and has some of the best songs that Chance has ever released. “No Problem” is an incredible song that features Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, and it’s one of the catchiest songs on the album. “All We Got” is another great song that features Kanye West, and it’s a perfect example of the positive vibes that Chance brings on this album. “Blessings” is another standout track, and it features Jay Z and Nas. The production on this album is top-notch, and there’s not a bad song on here. If you’re looking for a feel-good hip-hop album, then you need to check out Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book.
Big Sean – I Decided.
I Decided is the fourth studio album by American rapper Big Sean. It was released on February 3, 2017, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Eminem, The-Dream, Jhené Aiko, Jeremih, Migos, Starrah, Flint Eastwood, 21 Savage and Payroll Giovanni. I Decided was supported by three singles: “Bounce Back”, “Moves” and “Halfway Off the Balcony”. The album received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
On December 5, 2016, Big Sean announced that his fourth studio album would be titled I Decided., with the album set to be released on February 3, 2017. Along with the announcement he also released the lead single from the album “Bounce Back”. On January 19, 2017,Big Sean revealed the artwork for I Decided., which was designed by Mike Will Made It. On January 31, 2017, just days before the album’s release, Big Sean premiered a short film also titled I Decided at YouTube Space in Los Angeles. The film featured music from the album and focused on Sean’s life growing up in Detroit and how making good decisions has led him to where he is today.
I Decided received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73 based on 15 reviews. AllMusic’s Neil Z. Yeung wrote that “while not a major artistic step forward, I Decided. is a likable and engaging record that confirms Big Sean as an assured pop-rap statesman.” Andy Kellman of Pitchfork Media stated, “I Decided. is easily Sean’s most consistent project since his debut.” Sheldon Pearce of Consequence of Sound said, “It cements his place as one of hip-hop’s more reliable artists.” Jordan Sargent of Spin wrote that “the feel-good moments are undercut by some painfully awkward ones.”
In the United States, I Decided. debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 151,000 equivalent album units; it sold 140,000 copies in its first week (making it his second US number-one album), while streaming activity and track sales contributed 11 million to its opening sum. This made Big Sean the only artist besides Drake to have two number-one albums in 2017. In its second week, the album dropped to number six on the chart selling 42,000 equivalent album units; it sold 36,000 copies and was streamed over 18 million times. As of March 2018, the album has sold 486,000 copies in the United States.
A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
A Tribe Called Quest’s final album, “We got it from Here�� Thank You 4 Your service” is a brilliant swan song that stands as one of the best albums of 2016. It’s a powerful and timely record that features some of the group’s best work, and it’s a fitting send-off for a hip-hop legend.
“We got it from Here�� Thank You 4 Your service” is a deeply personal album for A Tribe Called Quest, and it’s one that feels particularly relevant in today’s political climate. The group addresses issues of race, police brutality, and social injustice with honesty and insight, and they do so with the same sense of hope and positivity that has always defined their music.
The album features some of the most inventive and catchy production work of A Tribe Called Quest’s career, and the rapping is top-notch throughout. There are guest appearances from Andres 3000, Kendrick Lamar, Elton John, Jack White, and more, but the real star of the show is Q-Tip, who delivers some of the best verses of his career.
“We got it from Here�� Thank You 4 Your service” is an essential album for any fan of hip-hop, and it’s a fitting farewell from one of the genre’s most influential groups.
Drake – Views
Views is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on April 29, 2016, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. Recording sessions took place from 2015 to 2016, with both Drake and his longtime collaborator and record producer 40 serving as the record’s executive producers. Views was preceded by two singles, “Hotline Bling” and “One Dance”, the latter becoming Drake’s first number-one single in Canada and the US as a lead artist.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Drake revealed that he had been working on the album for over two years and that it was originally scheduled to be released in October 2015 but was pushed back due to other projects he had been working on such as What a Time to Be Alive (a collaborative album with Future) and the mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. He also stated that the album would feature “a lot of tunes” and would have more R&B influences than his previous work.
Upon its release, Views received mixed reviews from music critics. Many praised its expansive production, while others found it enjoyable but ultimately unmemorable. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States, selling over one million album-equivalent units in its first week of release, which made it Drake’s second consecutive album to do so. Internationally it debuted atop the charts in Canada and the United Kingdom. All 13 tracks from the standard edition of the album charted in Canada simultaneously. “One Dance” became Drake’s first number-one single as a lead artist on the Billboard Hot 100, spending ten non-consecutive weeks atop the chart. In doing so, he became only the sixth artist ever to reach number one with at least three songs concurrently on the Hot 100. Additionally, Views achieved platinum certifications in Australia, Denmark, Sweden and the United States.
Drake released his debut studio album Thank Me Later in 2010 to commercial success; it debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart and received generally positive reviews from critics.[1][2] His next two releases 2011’s Take Care and 2013’s Nothing Was the Same were critically and commercially successful;[3][4] the former earned him his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 54th Grammy Awards,[5] while the latter became his best-selling album to date.[6] They were followed by two mixtapes—2014’s Jungle and 2015’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late—before he released a collaboration with Future titled What a Time to Be Alive.[7] In 2015, Drake signed a deal with Apple Music to release a new album exclusively for streaming through their service before it was made available for purchase.[8]
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Beats 1, Drake revealed that he had been working on the album for over two years and that it was originally scheduled to be released in October 2015 but was pushed back due to other projects he had been working on such as What a Time to Be Alive (a collaborative album with Future) and the mixtape If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. He also stated that the album would feature “a lot of tunes” and would have more R&B influences than his previous work.[9]
On April 5, 2016, Drake announced that Views would be released on April 29, 2016.[10] On April 28, one day before its official release, Apple Music made Views available for streaming early,[11][12] while iTunes released four promotional singles—”Keep the Family Close”, “Weston Road Flows”, “One Dance”, and “Pop Style”—for digital download.[13] The same day Drake held an hour-long listening party for Views on Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio station; during which he announced that Rihanna would make an appearance on a track titled “Too Good”.[14][15] The album artwork was revealed soon after.[16]
Views is primarily a hip hop album,[17][18][19] with significant elements of R&B.[20][21][22] The opening track “Keep the Family Close” is a piano-driven song with a gospel influence;[23][24] it contains lyrics about betrayal and features additional vocals from Sampha.[25][26] The second track “9” is a trap song[27][28] which contains Auto-Tuned vocals throughout;[29][30] its production uses horn stabs similar to Travis Scott’s song “Antidote”.[31][32] The third track “U With Me?” is also a trap song;[33][34][35] its production uses minimal percussion and contains interpolations of R. Kelly’s 2003 single “Ignition (Remix)”.[36][37]
The fourth track “Hype” is an up-tempo Drill-inspired[38][39][40] song which features aggressive lyrical content throughout;[41][42] it has been described as being similar to Chicago drill music artists such as Chief Keef.[43][44] The fifth track “Weston Road Flows” is a nostalgic track[45][46] which samples Mary J. Blige’s 1992 hit single “Real Love”;[47][48] its production uses heavy bass drums and contains elements of trap music.[49][50][51] The sixth track “Redemption” is a piano ballad[52][53][54] which features additional vocals from PARTYNEXTDOOR;[55][56] its production uses minimal percussion and strings.[57][58]
The seventh track “With You” is an R&B song[59][60][61], while the eighth track “Feel No Ways” is an uptempo R&B song which contains elements of pop
Kanye West – The Life of Pablo
Kanye West’s long-awaited album, The Life of Pablo, is finally available to stream and purchase. After months of delays, false starts, and changes, the final product is a chaotic and rewarding listen that finds Kanye at his most vulnerable and unhinged.
The Life of Pablo is a dark and often difficult album, but it’s also one of Kanye’s most personal and rewarding works. It’s an album that feels both lived-in and fresh, as if we’re hearing a new side of Kanye West that we haven’t before.
The production is all over the place, but that’s part of the appeal. The beats are experimental and often jarring, but they perfectly complement the often-unsettling lyrical content. This is an album that demands your attention, and it rewards multiple listens.
Standout tracks include “Real Friends,” “Wolves,” “FML,” “Ultralight Beam,” and “Fade.” But really, there isn’t a weak track on the album.
If you’re a fan of Kanye West, or even just good music, do yourself a favor and check out The Life of Pablo. It’s an essential listen.
Schoolboy Q – Blank Face LP
If you’re a fan of Schoolboy Q, then you know that his new album, Blank Face LP, is one of the most anticipated hip-hop albums of 2016. And if you’re not a fan of Schoolboy Q, then you should be. The TDE MC is one of the most exciting and talented rappers in the game today, and he’s finally released a new album after a three year wait.
Blank Face LP is Q’s fourth studio album, and it finds him at the top of his game. The album is a masterclass in modern hip-hop, with Q deftly weaving together personal stories, social commentary, and braggadocio into 13 tracks that are equal parts moving and moshpit-worthy.
From the opening track, “Torch,” it’s clear that Q is on a mission to make Blank Face LP his magnum opus. The production is next-level, with Q enlisting the likes of Kanye West, Alchemist, Boi-1da, and Metro Boomin to create an atmospheric and menacing soundscape for him to do his thing over.
And Q does not disappoint. He spits fire on tracks like “WHateva U Want” and “Groovy Tony / Eddie Kane,” while also showing his vulnerable side on songs like “By Any Means” and “Overtime.”
The standout track on the album is “Tookie Knows II,” which features a guest verse from none other than Kendrick Lamar. It’s a perfect example of Q and Kendrick’s chemistry, as they trade bars back and forth over a soulful beat provided by Sounwave.
With Blank Face LP, Schoolboy Q has delivered one of the best hip-hop albums of 2016. If you’re a fan of rap music, then this is an album that you need in your collection.
Vince Staples – Prima Donna
If you’re a Vince Staples fan, then you know what to expect from his new album ‘Prima Donna’ – dark, honest and often brutal raps about the reality of life in the ghetto. And that’s exactly what you get on this short but sweet seven-track project.
As always, Staples’ delivery is impeccable and his lyrics are sharp as a knife, cutting through any BS and getting straight to the point. He’s not afraid to tackle controversial subjects either, with tracks like ‘War Ready’ and ‘Lift Me Up’ dealing with police violence and racism respectively.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom – there are moments of hope and positivity too, particularly on the beautiful closing track ‘Smile’. Overall, ‘Prima Donna’ is another excellent addition to Vince Staples’ already stellar discography and further proof that he’s one of the best rappers in the game right now.
Run the Jewels – RTJ3
Run the Jewels – RTJ3 Review
If you’re a fan of hip-hop, then you need to check out Run the Jewels. The group is made up of two of the most respected and talented rappers in the game, Killer Mike and El-P. Together, they create some of the most exciting and innovative music in the genre.
Their latest album, RTJ3, is no exception. It’s a brilliant record that finds the duo at the top of their game. The beats are fresh and exciting, and the raps are as sharp as ever. If you’re a fan of hip-hop, or even just good music, you need to check out RTJ3.