Daily Chiefers Presents: The Best Albums of 2015

Chiefer Joey  //  @ItssJoey

1. Mac Miller – GO:OD AM
2. Smino – blkjuptr
3. Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife
4. Jay Prince – BeFor Our Time
5. Lucki Eck$ – X
Honorable Mention: Dave B – Punch Drunk

My favorite albums are filled with nothing but great vibes. As far as 2015 goes, there was a ton of GREAT music. Although I could of probably filled this list with 20 different albums, I finally narrowed it down to my siz favorite projects. Now, I’m not saying these are the best albums of the year, but, they are my personal favorites, with Mac Miller and Jay Prince’s album being my top 2. Roll up, Chiefers!

Chiefer Adam  //  @theadamesmith

1. BADBADNOTGOOD & Ghostface Killah – Sour Soul
2. Oddisee – The Good Fight
3. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
4. Greg Grease – Born To Lurk Forced To Work
5. Cousin Stizz – Suffolk County
Honorable Mention: Stik Figa – JOBB

While albums full of merit like Days With Dr. Yen Lo entirely shredded the modern trend of casual listening in the millenial era, taps of jazz instrumentation would really flourish on less densely hypnotic offerings like the live band and emcee tag team between BADBADNOTGOOD and Ghostfacr Killah. Where Sour Soul found beauty in grit and wit, Oddisee manifested the culmination of his entire sonic identity into an uplifting tour de force of cleanly delivered lyricism and smooth song craft on The Good Fight. Likely the overtly accessible and universally praised middle ground between the aforementioned two project, King Kendrick’s third major league swing placed a dot on targets ranging from sociopolitical rage to introspective philosophical musings unlike the world has heard until now. Lesser known than To Pimp A Butterfly, but equally pointed in his assessments of American culture and life’s constant roller coaster, Greg Grease’s Born To Lurk Forced To Work is a steady continuation of a gravity filled catalog light years ahead of its time…for now. Maybe a guilty pleasure of sorts for one who claims to attach to relevant commentary and deep sociological poetry in song, it is the audible simplicity and ability to tap into innate vocal manipulation that places Cousin Stizz’s debut Suffolk County as one of the best representations of 2015’s discerning identity. Oft underrated and unmentioned, even by the label that claims to claim him when its convenient, the truly underground and independent offerings of JOBB by Stik Figa and D/Will personifies the tragedy of pristine art being lost in the shroud of media swirl and internet traffic chaos.  

Chiefer Hef  //  @Hefstradamus

1. Jimi Tents – 5’Clock Shadow
2. Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful
3. Trapo – The Black Beverly Hills
4. The Game – The Documentary 2
5. A$AP Rocky – At.Long.Last.A$AP
Honorable Mention: Miles Meraki – Angels May Die

This was an amazing year of music, with endless quality coming from both the underground and mainstream sides of the spectrum. These five that I picked are a pretty colorful bunch, with teenage prodigies like Jimi Tents and Trapo being the youngest of the group. Both have very distinct and memorable styles, and lyrics that are sure to carry them to even more success than they garnered this year. DMV rep Miles Meraki also dropped a really dope album recently, which was a very versatile, yet cohesive project titled Angels May Die. It’s his first project ever, and definitely proved that he’s got hits. Look out for him and the rest of After F in 2016.

Chiefer Kyle  //  @Kyledoscope

1. Bryson Tiller – T R A P S O U L
2. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
3. Travi$ Scott – Rodeo
4. Justin Bieber – Purpose
5. Wale – The Album About Nothing
Honorable Mention: Joey Bada$$ – B4DA$$

This was probably the hardest thing I’ve had to do all year. Scratch that, this was the hardest thing I’ve had to do all year. 2015 was a monumental year for hip-hop and music in general. Picking my favorites, excluding mixtapes, was beyond difficult. But these, as disagreeable as they may be, are my favorite albums of 2015. Enjoy!

Chiefer Michael  //  @BvdBadBoy

1. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
2. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
3. The Social Experiment – Surf
4. Mac Miller – GO:OD AM
5. Goodbye Tomorrow – A Journey Through The Mind of a Non Believer
Honorable Mention: King Los – God, Money, War

2015 was filled with tons of great albums, but here are my top five. 2015 was a year of creative freedom for artists, allowing a variety of different sounds and musical approaches to land here. From dense conceptual albums like TPAB, to catchy and high energy projects like GO:OD AM, the past 365 days have very much blessed us with a wide range of hip-hop, and these are the top 5 reasons why.

Chiefer David  //  @_daveathome

1. The Internet – Ego Death
2. Mac Miller – GO:OD AM
3. Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
4. Joey Bada$$ – B4DA$$
5. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Honorable Mention: A$AP Rocky – At.Long.Last.A$AP

I really vibe with the sound on Ego Death. Combining the perfect mix of soul, funk, and smooth jazz, Syd’s amazing voice continues to push the band to the forefront of music. GO:OD AM is one of my favorite rap albums of this, but not for the lyrics. It’s a feel-good album that seems to shed light on Mac Miller’s growth as an artist. Along with IDLSIDGO, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly LP rounds off my top 5. Enjoy!

Chiefer Chris  //  @checkmyesque

1. Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth
2. Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon
3. Tyler, The Creator – Cherry Bomb
4. Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
5. Vince Staples – Summertime 06
Honorable Mention: Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly

Tetsuo & Youth is the Beginning of Lupe’s 2^nd prime. Not only is he a better rapper, he’s also still better than everyone else. The album holds the best rapping display of 2015 in “Mural,” and scores a 10/10 in the concept department. Futuristic Grammy nominated Australian soul band Hiatus Kaiyote released their second LP, exceeding expectations that were left from their 1st album, Tawk Tomahawk, while garnering new followers in the process. Cherry Bomb is the album that Tyler has been wanting to make since the age of 12, and his best album sonically and artistically since the dawn of time. Recruiting greats like Leon Ware, Wanya Morris, Kanye and Pharrell, Tyler once again spills his brain onto a canvas, but this time 150% by his own rules. IDLSIDGO is a 30 minute insight into a 20/21 year old Earl Sweatshirt’s wavering battle with depression, drug usage, and maneuvering through the culture shock. Summertime 06 established Vince as an artist to watch in 2016. To Pimp A Butterfly is therapy for Kendrick Lamar. Detailing his battle with survivor’s guilt and his struggle with being crowned as rap’s new king 6 months after GKMC was released.

Chiefer Kelsey  //  @keldollaz

1. Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth
2. Wale – The Album About Nothing
3. Tyler, The Creator – Cherry Bomb
4. Travi$ Scott – Rodeo
5. Jay Rock – 90059

Per usual, Lupe Fiasco has always had a way with words. On this album, Lupe continues to share his intricate word play abilities and his amazing beat selection. I honestly have no clue how people think Wale is a boring rapper or hate on him, this dude has been dropping solid projects for years now, and this, in my opinion, was another addition to the collection. Tyler, The Creator really tuned into a more funkier side of production for his Cherry Bomb album, and I absolutely loved it. Truly, it is almost impossible for me not to like a Travis Scott album. The drug-infused sounds on Rodeo really spoke to me, allowing his voice to ride smoothly over top-notch production. 90059 is short and sweet, but definitely worth the wait.