As the door closes on another year and we also count down the final days of the decade, it is fitting that 2019 is a punctuation mark of strong album releases from artists both brand new and established within the last 10 years or beyond. While the unfavorable trend of standout post-humous releases presented itself again as a new normal in the world of rap music, the genre itself showed nothing but strong signs of life across its numerous styles, sub-genres and approaches to the storied art form now decades deep in its dominance of the music spectrum. It is no easy feat to whittle down 365 days worth of studio offerings to a handful of picks, but these are our favorite drops of the year.
Adam (@theadamesmith)
1. Lil Peep – Everybody’s Everything
2. Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks
3. 10 Fifty & Lil Gotit – Hood Fifty
4. Kembe X – I Was Depressed Until I Made This
5. Earthgang – Mirrorland
HM: Smokepurpp – Lost Planet EP, Denzel Curry – ZUU, Anderson .Paak – Ventura, Juice Wrld – A Deathrace for Love, Shoreline Mafia – Party Pack, Vol. 2, Little Simz – Grey Area, Yung Pinch – Summers Over EP, Rod Wave – Ghetto Gospel
Joey (@itssjoey)
1. Sheff G – The Unluccy Luccy Kid
2. Kalan frfr – Leak the Tape
3. NoCap – The Hood Dictionary
4. Wifisfuneral- EV3RYTHING SUCKS
5. Lil Mexico – Life of an Outlaw
HM: Sleepy Hallow – Don’t Sleep
Bel (@belmesbahi)
1. Pi’erre Bourne – The Life of Pi’erre 4
2. Young Thug – So Much Fun
3. Santi – Mandy & The Jungle
4. Lucki – Freewave 3
5. Lancey Foux – Friend Or Foux
HM: Key! – So Emotional
Brick (@fatboybrick)
1. Baby Keem – Die For My Bitch
2. Westside Gunn – Hitler Wears Hermes 7
3. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
4. Lucki – Freewave 3
5. Flee & StoopidXool – Xool Summer
HM: Freshie- Bad Behavior, Leclair – Lukewarm, Blood Orange- Angel’s Pulse, The Alchemist – Yacht Rock 2, Pi’erre Bourne – The Life Of Pi’erre 4, Isai Morales – A FALTA DE PAN, TORTILLAS, Rossi Blue – Junkfood
Evan (@SteinEvan)
1. Benny the Butcher – The Plugs I Met
2. Baby Smoove – Purple Hearts
3. Flee & Stoopidxool – Xool Summer
4. Burna Boy – African Giant
5. Lucki – Freewave 3
HM: Sheff G – The Unluccy Luccy Kid
Jack (@fedexkid)
1. Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
2. Lil Keed – Long Live Mexico
3. SwaVay – Pure Infinity
4. Slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain
5. Young Thug – So Much Fun
Ashton (@A20H)
1. Lucki – Freewave 3
2. Richie Bux – Early Infamy II: The Fraud Fix
3. Baby Keem – Die For My Bitch
4. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
5. Blxst & Bino Rideaux – Sixtape
HM: Pi’erre – TLOP 4; Kaytranada – Bubba; Little Brother – May The Lord Watch; Rucci – Tako’s Son; Roddy Ricch – Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial; Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack; Mac Ayers – Juicebox; BJ The Chicago Kid – 1123; Baby Smoove – Flawless; Ari Lennox – Shea Butter Baby.
Mike (@mclaughs21)
Lucki – Freewave 3
Hooligan Chase – Bodyache
AJ Tracey – AJ Tracey (Deluxe)
Bry Greatah – I Am A Ticket
Beam – 95
HM: Key! – So Emotional, Pi’erre Bourne – The Life of Pi’rerre 4, Young Thug – So Much Fun, Baby Keem – Die For My Bitch, Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana, Kaytranada – Bubba, Slowthai – Nothing Great About Britain, Omar Apollo – Friends, SwaVay – Pure Infinity, Tony Velour – Vices Hurt
