Ki Rates Hip Hop Albums
 

Seeing as I've been diving heavily into the Hip Hop genre, I would like to formally have a journal for that specific thing. My main journal has been seeing a lot of hip hop activity lately, and I want to be more organized with this. With all the albums I've been listening to this year, hip hop has started to take over. If I were to redo a 2016 album of the year list, there'd be more hip hop on there than I've ever seen. So this will be a substitute for that so that I don't have to redo my previous list.

So...this could also be a place to throw recommendations my way as I've been getting a lot from you guys. I'll be rating them here.

Woo!

Here's What You'll Find In This Journal:
Kanye West - The Life of Pablo
Travis Scott - Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight
Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'
The Weeknd (Starboy) / Kanye West (808's & Heartbreak) / Big Sean (Dark Sky Paradise)
Kanye West - Yeezus
Travis Scott - Rodeo
Mac Miller - The Divine Feminine
Flatbush Zombies - 3001: A Laced Odyssey
2 Chainz - Hibachi for Lunch
Blue Scholars - The Long March EP
Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered.
Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2

Recommendations:
Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon: The End Of Day (djchameleon)
Elzhi - Lead Poison (Qwertyy)
Dead Prez - Let's Get Free (The Batlord)
Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager (djchameleon)
Madvillain - Madvillainy (Frownland)
Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition (Qwertyy)
Denzel Curry - Imperial (Qwertyy)
7L & Esoteric - The Soul Purpose (The Batlord)
J Dilla - Donuts (Frownland)
Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap (TristanGeoff)
NWA - Straight Outta Compton (Violet)
Esham - KKKill The Fetus (The Batlord)

Other
Random Assortment of Hip Hop Albums

Danny Brown - Atrocity Exhibition & Elzhi - Lead Poison for 2k16 recs

Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap mother****er

Thanks for the recs you two. For now I'm going to quickly post some of the best albums i've heard this year that were released this year.

Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2016 According To Ki

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Kanye West - The Life of Pablo

Pretty much in my top 3 hip hop albums that I've heard this year. I pushed this album away prior to getting into the genre because I thought the album cover was atrocious. I don't think the album cover is creative or interesting in any way, but the music within is fantastic. Before passing judgement, bare in mind this was one of my first experiences with Kanye West, and admittedly I absolutely love his earlier stuff, this one is still fantastic.

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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...g_McKnight.jpg
Travis Scott - Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight

I get a lot of **** for liking Travis Scott, and I honestly don't understand why. Travis Scott is certainly up there for making my year extra special in regards to music. It seems like whatever artist or album I'm listening to, I bring hate to myself. But y'know what? I honestly don't care. It's a solid album, and I happily made it my album of the year. Don't hate the album because other people told you to. Form your own opinion.

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Kid Cudi - Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin'

Fantastic album. My very first experience with Kid Cudi and it did a great job of getting me into the artist. Very solid release that makes 2016 an even better year for hip hop. This gives Travis Scott a run for his money.

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Honorable Mentions For Albums in 2016 (And Prior)

I'm throwing these albums into one place because it's either commonly known that I love the heck out of the albums, or they are album that have had a lasting effect on me. These are albums that were both released in 2016, and before 2016.

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The Weeknd - Starboy (2016)

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises this year. Starboy has gotten the most listens out of this year, for sure.

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Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (2008)

As it turns out, 808s & Heartbreak has some of my all time favorite Kanye West tracks on it. I wouldn't have known that had I not listened to the album, but once I listened to it, I fell in love with it. Solid release.

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Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise (2015)

In the same vein as The Weeknd and Kid Cudi in regards to being an album that I was completely surprised by, but absolutely loved. I'm diving into more Big Sean because of it.

Now moving onto albums that weren't released in 2016, but I heard in 2016

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Kanye West - Yeezus (2013)

It should be known by now that I've become a pretty big fan of Kanye West, and rightfully so. Yeezus is probably up there in being one of the best hip hop albums I've heard this year and period. The production value on top of everything else are phenomenal. I could listen to this album over and over and love it every time.

Wait, so you're taking recs for albums from any time period? If so...

dead prez - Let's Get Free

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7L & Esoteric - The Soul Purpose

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Esham - KKKill the Fetus

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Yessir, any time period. Thanks! I'll jot those down.

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Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon: The End Of Day (2009)
Recommended By: Dj (in the "last album you downloaded" thread)

Quick Thoughts: Holy **** this is fantastic. Thanks deej for rec'ing this! I'm looking forward to listening to Man of the Moon II. You weren't kidding when you said this was quintessential cudi. I'm loving everything about this.

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Have you heard Madvillainy?

I have not. I'll add that to the list!

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Elzhi - Lead Poison (2016)
Recommended by: Qwertyy

Quick Thoughts: God damn Qwertyy, you're really starting to understand what I love with hip hop. This album is fantastic!

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hell yeah :afro:

More albums that I've heard this year:

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Kanye West / Gucci Mane / Big Sean / 2 Chainz / Travis Scott / Yo Gotti / Guavo / Desiigner - Champions (2016)

It's just one song, but holy **** it's one of the best hip hop tracks I've ever heard. So many fantastic ways this song goes and it does everything perfectly.

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Gucci Mane - Everybody Looking (2016) / The Return of East Atlanta Santa (2016)

These were the first two albums I ever heard of Gucci Mane and god damn they're good. The Return of East Atlanta Santa is easily in the top 10 hip hop albums I've heard this year.

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Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010)

This is probably unpopular opinion but I think My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy may be my least favorite Kanye album right now. There are a few great tracks, but as a whole it's very bland. I know a lot of people love this album. I mean no disrespect.

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Dead Prez - Let's Get Free (2000)
Recommended by: The Batlord

Quick Thoughts: This is fantastic. I'm only a few tracks in and I'm enjoying each track more than the last. The album flows really well and the beats are great. Lyrically it's phenomenal. It reminds me of Blue Scholars big time.

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And an extra half because you are fueling my hip hop needs greatly. http://i.imgur.com/6v17YJx.png

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Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager (2010)
Recommended by: dj (again, in the same thread as before)

Quick Thoughts: Holy ****, this is good.

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Didn't I rec you Acid Rap like, forever ago.

I don't listen to music 24/7

You should.

and yet you got to all these other recs first.

Dude hasn't even heard Madvillainy yet.

****ing hell.

Glad you liked both Man on the Moon albums. The second one is definitely darker and might be in the vain of his latest release which I still need to listen to.

Yeah they're pretty damn good. They'd easily be albums I'd thrown on agilain if I'm in need of something.

Who is Agilain and why would you throw something on them? Gonna name my firstborn Agilain btw.

I'm typing on a phone. No idea where that word came from.

Some recs.

5. Action Bronson - Rare Chandeliers
4. Big K.R.I.T - 4Eva N a day
3. A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP
2. Tha Alkaholiks - 21 & Over
1. K-Dot-O-Dot - Trap Jesus

Trist, Acid Rap isn't on Spotify. Any other place I can find it? Thanks.

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Madvillain - Madvillainy (2004)

Quick Thoughts: I got a few tracks in before turning the album off. I don't care if people like this album, but this is pretty much the opposite of what I like in hip hop.

Rating:

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I wouldn't feel comfortable giving a star rating to an album I hadn't listened to in full.

I'm not going to listen to a full album if I can barely stomach half of it.

What didn't you like about it?

This is why we make fun of your taste btw.

Tbh I don't really like that album as much as some of his other releases.

The flow was off, the voice didn't fit and the overuse of avant-garde instrumentals does not work well with hip hop verses imo.

tbh you're a fan got

Mm...Food tho >>>

and Operation:Doomsday as well

I recommend returning to it after a while because this is not a very good analysis of the album. It didn't grab me on the first listen either.

Also gotta say that Mm..Food is mad overrated.

Yeah, but I'd just refrain from giving it a rating. And I agree with Frown that you should go back later.

Keep in mind a 2 star is an unfinished rating. I'll never rate below.