Interested in some non-mainstream hip hop? A friend of mine on Facebook or Twitter? Whatever reason brings you here, just know that I downloaded and listened to a lot of mixtapes, many many more than are on this list. Why? To bring you, dear reader, the great, the good and some not so good mixtapes that came out this year. You’re welcome
Below are my top five for 2013, several that just barely didn't make it, and a lot “no, just...no” albums.
Best of 2013
1. Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap ( Download free here )
Drunken monkey kung-fu with soul. That’s how I describe this mixtape. It’s loopy and silly, but in all that chaos there’s art and proficiency. Whether Chance unabashedly singing off key, stream of conscious rapping, or just making noise there’s something on this album for all hip hop heads. I can’t stop singing along to “Cocoa Butter Kisses” and “Everybody’s Something”.
This is Killer Mike and El-P’s bid to take over the rap game. If the rap game sounds like this if the rapper/producer duo take power, let them for the love of Rev. Run, let them. Killer Mike’s high energy (high volume at times) southern style storytelling mixes well with El-P’s on monotone rapping and years ahead of the game production style. This album is free? Download it now.
(NOTE: On the download link below you need to 1) Click "get it here" 2) Give them an email address to download 3) I'm sure you can find it elsewhere but I think it's worth giving these guys a spam email address to DL this album)
Take the soulfulness of Chance and the southern style storytelling from Killer Mike, add in some blues guitar, jazz piano, funky beats and what do you get? This mixtape. K.R.I.T.’s 2012 studio debut Live from the Underground was a skillful taste of what hip hop from the south could be. King Remember in Time and ultimately Young Krizzle himself delivers on two fronts by not only rapping but also handling all of the aforementioned multi-genre production himself.
Yes he has a dollar sign in his name, yes this is stoner rap, no stoner rap doesn't mean stupid or lazy rap. 2012’s The Stoned Immaculate was excellent from top to bottom. New Jet City is not far behind. Current$y’s drowsy rapping style fits right in with the laid back beats. Don’t expect much talk about hard hitting social issues on this album, do expect to be playing this in your car during the summer with the windows down.
5. Logic - Young Sinatra: Welcome to Forever ( Download free here )
Logic had the most to prove to me as I’ve at least heard of the others on this list, Young Sinatra, clocking in at twenty tracks (more than any other tape in the top 5) doesn't disappoint. He tells a story of shaky beginnings and being humbly happy to get as far as he’s gotten. With a competent flow and the ability to tell a familiar hip hop story with a fresh voice, this kid is worth keeping an eye on.
Good, but not great
Putting some tapes in this section was harder than others. It’s pretty self explanatory, these albums were good, but they didn't really bring anything new to the game or improve on their previous successes so they get put here.
Casey Veggies - Life Changes
So close to making it to top five, but he solidly fell in the category of “good, but nothing new”.
D Lector - BARS ATTACK
This one had the most basic production out of everything on the list and therefore felt most “mixtapish” to me in a sense I could see me buying this after a show out of someone’s trunk. Kid has some real Eminem flow but he’s not there yet.
Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights
His first tape 1999 was supremely listenable, this one just treads the same waters without improving or adding anything new.
The Underachievers - Indigoism
There’s a lot of ideas on this album and several rappers in the group, none of that really comes together cohesively enough to lift it to top five status.
Dizzy Wright - The Golden Age
22 tracks on this tape and I feel like it could've been cut by half. He has some talent and hope this is stepping stone, but nothing that impressive or new on this one.
No...just no
Complete misses, sad attempts and retreads and hopefully some bad stepping stones albums that lead to good music in the future.
Cam’ron - Ghetto Heaven Vol. 1
Come for the cover featuring Ronald McDonald pointing a gun at you, notice the song about Instagram, listen to the song with TI where they rap over “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” then leave.
Trinidad James - 10pc Mild
The most heartbreaking entry in this section. 2012’s Don’t be S.A.F.E was ignorant, but fun to listen to. This tape wishes it was more of the same, it’s not.
Flatbush Zombies - Better off Dead
We have gritty voices and silly voices and possibly something interesting to say but it’s going to take some work.
Nipsey Hussle - Crenshaw
Some good production, a lot of guest rappers and just one or two good songs for all that effort. I want to like you Nipsey!
Travis Scott - Owl Pharaoh
This feels like a bad stepping stone album to me. There’s some ideas here, it’s a beginning and that’s about it. Hopefully the next one is better.
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