2016 best hip hop albums

Best albums of 2016

2016 was full of great albums of all genres moods and tones. These ranged from Frank Ocean's beautiful R&B album Blonde to Kendrick Lamar’s funky jazz beats mixed with quick bars. Ill list the quick top 10 albums of the year  with analysis and critique, it's based purely on opinion, plus there were so many great works this year. These are not my favorite albums in order but the albums of the highest quality

10. At number 10 comes vince staples Prima Dona. Only 7 songs but not disappointing. It was full of funky an psychedelic beats, uptempo music. However some of the songs are also slowed and chopped to the point on near slo motion. Its extremely diverse producing and Vince’s vocal variation was unique.

9. At 9th comes Bas’s To High to Riot.  This album focuses in the struggle of the music industry as well as the social injustice in society and how police brutality has led to an increased riots and rebellion against authority especially in urban America. Hence the name of the album: To High To Riot. Overall it's a great work of art full of urban beats and mixed toned throughout.

8..  The group Tribe Called Quest, legendary for funky music mixed with wild rhythmic beats, credited for being one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time released their new and final album: “Thank you for you service we got it from here”.  This album purely send a message of peace, in a world of such conflict. Addressing problems in modern society like gang violence,  our president elect-e Donald Trump, and the system of urban poverty in America.

7.  A member of Kendrick lamar's record label “Top Dawg Entertainment”, Isaiah Rashad released his second studio album: The Sun’s Triade. The album is full of vocal variation, old school beats and features from great independent artists like kendrick lamar. Its old school roots mixed with modern beats gives it a ranking of number six. But that's not the only reason it's ranked here. Isaiah Rashad's relevance in the world of hip hop has skyrocketed in the last couple of years.

6. This year travis scott surprised us with his second studio album Birds in the trap sing mcknight. The album features some of the most diverse producing, and some of the best features of the year. Staring artists like kid cudi and kendrick lamar.  Songs like goosebumps show off kendricks vocal variation mixed with travis’s excellent tone mix for quite the song.

5. A grammy nominated album. A wildly successful artist. And a new style of music.  Schoolboy Q’s Blank Face LP is one of the greatest albums of the year, and one of his best solo albums of his career. Its lyrics speak of a life full of violence, police brutality, and the hard work it takes to succeed in the music world. His producing ranges from hardcore urban beats, full of consistent and intense rapping, to almost a slow R&B tone. His ability to change his voice and project it in such a firm way to go along with his music, gives him the high ranking spot.

4. Kendrick lamar is currently the most talented rapper in all of hip hop. His ability to mix the polish funky and rhythmic beats, as well as newer more bass produced music with relevant lyrics that speak of true things and the struggle of life to his audience. He unexpectedly came out with a new album Untitled and unmastered. The album has the most diverse producing and set of beats I have witnessed in a rap album. He bends the genre, including tons of  jazz, funky beats and inconsistencies that create a masterpiece of music.

3. 3001 a laced odessy.An album bya new yoork rap group known as Flatbush zombie is a 14 song album full of phycadeic, soft and quick, slowed and choped and hardcore beats mixed with increadiblt talented rhyme. These are all things pertaining to the album. It also has catchy hooks and danceable beats. It's in my opinion the best produced album of the year.

2. Coming in at number 2 is an album that tells a story. A story of a suburban street liver who struggles to support his family, and battles a life of crime while trying to raise his daughter. 4 your eyes only is the debatably the year's most anticipated album. J. cole did not disappoint . The album is filled with sadness and remorse, but also optimism. The album directly speaks to j. Coles daughter. And tell the story of his friend who had passed.

1. The years greatest hiphop/R&B album was non other than R&B artist Frank ocean's masterpiece, Blonde. Without a doubt a beautiful work of art whose lyrics tackle about every social injustice in our society as well as a look on our world from a more distant perspective. Franks chorallistic and high tone mixed with psychedelic and harmonious beats mixes for the year's most anticipated album, and the year's best.