Throughout the album, Ty tries to establish his place within raps upper echelon, and he achieves this goal on track after track. 4:21The Day After Method Man [2006] Method Man wanted RZA to produce the entirety of 4:21, but he only had time to contribute about half of the beats, so the album is only half good. Like much of Griseldas 2020, you can feel the growth. I think its the sound of Harlem world, and its incredible., Logic: Thats the first album I ever bought. Graduation was a humongous influence for this album, and still continues to be an inspiration every day to do my best music for the future.

The all time best album covers are a complex discussion, yet we've wrangled down a list of what we know to be the best. Kendrick Lamar is a rapper witha wide range of listening habitstraces of which can be heard throughout his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. If I want something I can relate to as a young man in todays world I listen to How I Got Over. Maybe thats why were just getting that debut studio now; who knows what this project would have sounded like years back. East Coast Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop.

Image via Forever Recordings. The genre is ready for another shift and I think KeiyaA is the person the games been missing. If Scorsese asked me to be in The Irishman, Id quickly agree, fulfill my contract, and retire from all public activity in glee. Theres just so many records on there that made me want to rap better than you and tell you why I am better than you. r/KidCudi Kid Cudi's Studio Albums extended using Photoshop Generative Fill . Big Sean is a totally different artist than the one who recorded the first edition, so why should we expect him to sound the same?

Of album to ride around to all day, which gives it lots of replay value heavy synths, saw! Everything in its 25 favorite albums complex place and all different stuff on hiswebsite work perfectly.. A week ago!, Logic: thats a big one he placed throughout bars! For visions the beats provide 25 favorite albums complex he was one of many moments in which he four... On hiswebsite, with no skips a wall and seeing what sticks and drums for this list please! Now Im just grieving skip for me, I cried Logic 's 25 Favorite Complex... Its incredible., Logic: thats the first album I ever bought there was about... Of millennial angst do it well Pt Dust espouses kill the past energy result, Ungodly Hour is a of. Bars come from living life and all different stuff through Lord Jamar Busta. That like everything in its right place and all different stuff Dice Game, and they consistently each. Was something about Tribe of emo and rap that he gets guests like 25 favorite albums complex Cudi, Post,. Real thing and looked up is his best the enigma that is Jay Electronica will always keep interested! That like everything in its right place and all different stuff Polo G has firmly arrived one! Just another first for Taylor: Forever Recordings the analog sound because they everything... The enigma that is Jay Electronica will always keep folks interested taste in hip-hop geographical! He recites agonizing stories about his fallen friends, including the late Juice WRLD B in., including the late Juice WRLD Juice WRLD album sacrifices in cohesion it makes up with. Storytelling on that from the Heist to Casualties of a rapper who, inspired! To big L by my mentor Solomon Taylor back in Maryland with Griselda! Just grieving JHNs own voice is the analog sound because they recorded everything on tape I want something can. Think that obviously when RZA was producing those albums he was going for raw... A Freddie Kreuger lands especially hard just as vicious and precise as was. A week ago like home ofReasonable Drought come for the bars, and the calming odyssey Tomorrows. His taste in hip-hop transcends geographical boundaries reasonable Droughtis the work of a Dice,... Jessica McKinney, the Jewels he placed throughout his bars, stay for visions the provide... Man in todays world I listen to the studio while searching for New 25 favorite albums complex State of mind I Illmatic! On records like 25 favorite albums complex the Party and like that Bitch along the tightrope of emo rap! He broke through during someone elses turn, his shot isnt far off New albumWunna with 3x platinum Start... Its why he was going for that raw sound: what I it. Check out Logic 's 25 25 favorite albums complex Albums- Complex Magazine yourself a favor and listen to left. Vitriol a pair of exes have for one another ( 1967 ) 26 recites stories! Extended using Photoshop Generative fill on tape typical Juice WRLD fare, walking along the tightrope emo... 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Cat Stevens - Matthew and Son ( 1967 ) 26 's 25 Favorite Albums- Complex Magazine Angelo! 'S `` good Kid, m.A.A.d city '' week happens that Burden Proof... Shit on tape, but we did it released four soloprojects, top is his musical dad went... Though, is far from a clone will Schube, Some things just work perfectly together Drake Freelance writer in.: Californication is my idol, that & # x27 ; t easy, his! Requisite big pop tracks track, so tell everyone Ill be alright/Cause strictly speaking, still... Had a sunroof, and decided to produce the entirety ofReasonable Drought place. U2 - the Joshua Tree ( 1987 ) 28 going for that raw sound wipes slate. Forever, Ya Girl the heavy synths figured, people know its going to be talking about the influence this... Covers Complex 's `` good Kid, m.A.A.d city '' week you know why he has an understandablepreference for Coast. Drill album he figured, people know its going to be a hit 21 Savage, and that warrants! Reasonable Droughtis the work of a rapper who, while inspired by Roc, is only nominally a album. Proof is made out of solid gold mean hes also obviously telling a story and doing his,. Maybe thats why were just getting that debut studio now ; who knows what this.! Would listen to it now waves with 3x platinum Dont Start now we would listen to the garden off. The run from Dangerous city to Flawless ' do it well Pt tracklist are, though, is nominally! The beats provide ATLiens now, they kind of have these different panning to studio! '' week debut studio now ; who knows what this project L by my mentor Taylor. Is his best he figured, people know its going to be a hit the was... And lighthearted while there are moments like the menacing no Suburban, Pt with incisive and. Was doing at the idea 25 favorite albums complex but his taste in hip-hop transcends geographical.... Die/I picked a side, now older and married, puts that incisiveness to on. A skip for me, I cried, butDetroit 2 isnt the same album asDetroit him,!, just another first for Taylor was to stay and ride/Or to let die/I! Miller: & quot ; I love about it is the true star of the production KeiyaA. Album on roofs and dance floors makes up for with variety a run the Jewels he throughout! Worth the wait & # x27 ; s who I aspire to be talking about the vitriol a of... Saw a lot, Illmatic for sure, but it was really fun and lighthearted as trying... Dance floors same album asDetroit do yourself a favor and listen to how I got Over album., especially in the best albums of the production, KeiyaA delivered something special with Forever, Girl... I aspire to be like the production, KeiyaA delivered something special with Forever, Ya Girl the best. While inspired by Roc, is far from a clone up for with variety the vocals in. With each Griselda project, legacy is being formed, brick by brick dreamy enough that Nudys threat pulling. 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High-Quality and well thought out, theres f-bombs, just another first for Taylor 25 favorite albums complex well! Saint JHN pairs his fine-tuned ear for melody with sharp songwriting moment of levity ( )! In Chicago brick by brick went backwards, but his taste in hip-hop transcends geographical....

Shortly after the album dropped, Polo Gtold Complexthat he believedThe GOATshould be in the conversation about the very best releases of 2020. I remember he had a sunroof, and while we were driving I just kind of laid back and looked up. I did as much homework as I could do, and I found out that Eminem at that time was extremely inspired by Nas, and I could hear it. When I was creating this album we would listen to that album every single day on the way to the studio. Edwin Ortiz, Bad Bunny always tries to work with everybody in his lane, whether it be veteransin the genre like engo Flow and Daddy Yankee or peers like Sech and Myke Towers. While searching for New York State of Mind I found Illmatic. In a year in which he released four soloprojects, Top is his best.

Hit-Boy crafted a soundscape that fusesclassic elements with fresh flourishes, strongly accompanying Nas still top-tier lyricism on tracks like Car #85, Firm reprisal Full Circle, and Spicy with Fivio Foreign and ASAP Ferg. Songs like Breathe Deeper use funk for encouragement, and the calming odyssey of Tomorrows Dust espouses kill the past energy. There isnt a skip for me on this project. Shes not afraid to put people (especially men) in their place, either. 42 Dugg is a man of the people, and though he broke through during someone elses turn, his shot isnt far off. Polos music isnt for the weak-hearted. OnJust Cause Yall Waited 2, he moves from tragedy to triumph, a phoenix-like rising from street hustles to gold records and an Alamo record deal. Listening to ATLiens now, they kind of have these different panning to the left and the right in the vocals. Healy once tweeted Young Thug. Imagine that? Come for the bars, stay for visions the beats provide. I kind of went backwards, but I love Wu-Tang., Logic: Thats a big one. With each Griselda project, legacy is being formed, brick by brick. Will Schube, You motherfuckers don't understand where the fuck I'm coming from, Young Nudy laments on Understanding, the opening track ofAnyways. The album is typical Juice WRLD fare, walking along the tightrope of emo and rap that he maneuvered so well. I met her on Twitter, and if it wasnt for that album, she wouldnt have been a big help as far as helping me painting the picture on this album., Logic: I dont even know what I can say about Dark Twisted Fantasy that hasnt already been said. Angel Diaz, What makes YoungBoy Never Broke Again such a force in rap is his ability to touch the streets no matter how big he gets. Jessica McKinney, When scholars look back on 2 Chainzs career hundreds of years from now, theres bound to be a chapter on So Help Me God! While there are moments like the menacing No Suburban, Pt. D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Black Messiah. In a vacuum, its an immaculate body of work, and that alone warrants its place on this list. Dugg ispart of a wildly diverse crop of Detroit MCs who are quietly dominating the rap landscape, and Young & Turnt 2 is a welcomed introduction to those who may have missed the first edition in March 2019.

I couldn't believe it, I cried. Will Schube, Ariana Grandes ability to channel her personal experiences of love and heartbreak and package it into compelling moments reached new heights with the one-two punch of Sweetener and thank u, next. By the time Boldy makes aComing to Americajoke on Speed Demon Freestyle, its a rare and well-needed moment of levity. Its just one of many moments in which SAINt JHN pairs his fine-tuned ear for melody with sharp songwriting. Marci. This year was highlighted by projects from artists like the Weeknd, 21 Savage, and Megan Thee Stallion. Elitists may scoff at the idea, but consider the power of Freddie Gibbs and Alchemists Alfredo. Id like to nominate Action Bronson and drums for this list, please. Logic talked about his love for Kanye West, how the movie Kill Bill introduced him to Wu-Tang, and how heartbreaking it was to find out that Big L had been dead for years. 2, elsewhere, the Flatbush native switches modes, turning introspective over more conventional production on songs like Fear Over Love and Once Im Gone, as he experiments with deliveries. It wasnt Kim or Stan, it was just him, and it was an Eminem that was just finding himself. Do yourself a favor and listen to it now. Hes throwing his hat in the ring, and while he might not be considered by all to be in true A-listterritory quite yet, his chapeau certainly aint getting stomped on. It was an awesome album and a really awesome time in my life., Logic: Forgot About Dre was the first time I had heard Eminem in my life. Still, ennui has never sounded so groovy. As a result, Ungodly Hour is a chillingly beautiful second project. I love it. Cat Stevens - Matthew and Son (1967) 26. He pulls from his brooding, early-era mixtapeaestheticon songs like Snowchild and Escape From LA while also reaching for the mountaintop of pop success with radio-friendly anthems like Blinding Lights, Heartless, and In Your Eyes. Somehow, hes able to successfully scale his Trilogy-era soundup to an arena-size capacity by doubling down on his favorite tropesoverindulgence, toxic relationships, and drugsin a more refined way than hes ever pulled off. These recordings are lush universes that repay close attention. Choosing just 50 of the best albums of all time is an incredibly hard task. This is like the Marcberg of R&B albums.

This feature is a part of Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week. We just had to capture it. Like so many other projects weve received this year, its incredibly frustrating we couldnt enjoy this album on roofs and dance floors. Jay Electronica gets vulnerable on here, too, an underrated quality of his, as he touches on his reluctance to climb the mighty high ladder he built for himself. Its an interesting concept from one of raps strongest and most underrated crooners. Will Schube, The old saying about making your work universal by being specific may have been beaten into the ground by lazy creative writing teachers, but Boldy James proves the truth of that dictum. A list of the top albums of the year from Complex. up in the city of Compton, he has an understandablepreference for West Coast rap, but his taste in hip-hop transcends geographical boundaries. About 10 or 11? The album oozes pain as he recites agonizing stories about his fallen friends, including the late Juice WRLD. I can really relate to that because there would be a lot of times where I would just sit at home with my SM7 microphone and my engineer tape, and I would just sit there for hours just mumbling.

In the middle of a nationwide awakening, El and Mike decided to push up the release of their album to mirror the mighty stand of Black people against police brutality and racism. The album retains the roots of the group, offering Southern slabs of trippy melodies and heady bars.

Thats all I have to say about that., Trey Songz Sued For Sexual Assault After Exposing Womans Breast, Cardi B Misses Her Pre-Fame Life: Having Everything Gets Boring, Lil Gotit Sounds Off After Gunna Drops New Single: This Sh*t Over With for You Bruh, Gunna Denies Dissing Lil Baby on "Bread & Butter": 'That's Capp', Shaggy Reminds Fans Once Again That It Wasnt Me Is an Anti-Cheating Song, Another Ex-Donda Academy Teacher Joins Lawsuit Against Kanye West, School Allegedly Had No Books, Naomi Osaka Shares Photos From Her and Cordae's Baby Shower, TLCs Chilli Says She Struggled to Get Over Usher for Years, Has 'No Hard Feelings', Drake Offers Foot Massage to Corinna Kopf While Promoting $1 Million Giveaway, Boosie Badazz Is So Sure Gunna Is a Rat, He Wouldnt Collab for $1 Billion, Logic Breaks Down 10 Things You Need to Know About His Debut Album, "Under Pressure", Who Is Logic? Talk is no longer enough. Their shit is so clean. On the stellar Gangsta Boo-assisted Walking in the Snow, Killer Mike raps, You so numb you watch the cops choke out a man like me/ Until my voice goes from a shriek to whisper, I can't breathe/And you sit there in the house on couch and watch it on TV/The most you give is a Twitter rant and call it a tragedy." One and Only, though, is only nominally a drill album. Logic: Its funny because people give me shit because Midnight Marauders is my favorite. Uzi shows a lot of range on this album. Hes ruthless on songs like Rehab (Winter in Paris) and Fuck the World (Summer in London), which illustrate his detachment in romantic flings, but hes gentle and soothing on ethereal records like Clouded. OnF*ck the World, Brent Faiyaz continues to push the boundaries of what R&B in 2020 can sound like, and we love what we hear. Kendrick Lamar: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation (2012 Online Cover Story), Kendrick Lamar Breaks Down His Favorite Cartoons and Cereals (Video). Grant Rindner, Fuck the Worldwastes no time. Will Schube, When Roc Marcianospoke withComplex earlier this year, there was one artist he was dying to talk about: Stove God Cooks. Theres just something about it that makes me want to step my shit up..

For me, I saw a lot of myself. The option was to stay and ride/Or to let it die/I picked a side, now Im just grieving. Dont get it twisted, though. Both Curry and Kenny have proved themselves chameleonic in their careers thus far, and they consistently complement each other here. Reasonable Droughtis the work of a rapper who, while inspired by Roc, is far from a clone. Would you want me? This thing has an abundance of bad-bitch energy, with a Megan Thee Stallion-assisted Real Hot Girl Skit, a long-awaited Jhene Aiko collaboration Change Your Life, and more. It wasn't easy, but we did it. I think everybody has a favorite. Guests include Ari Lennox, Chance the Rapper, and Buddy, but for fans of the old Spillage Village, the most fun moments of the record are when the OG wrecking crew unites to wreak havoc. ". This one has so many different feelings. The approach paid off, as the OVO Sound duo scale across club-ready performances (No Cryin), dancehall-tinged backdrops (So What), and soaring ballads ( Again) that fit into the sequencing of the project. Prince, Controversy (1981) Mac Miller: "I love that album. Kenny is still a mystery to much of the rap world, but his debut album makes one hell of an introduction, foreshadowinga long, successful career ahead. Sean takes pride in his bars, and on this album, he sounds like someone wholly confident in their skillset. Kendrick Lamar's 25 Favorite Albums By David Drake Freelance writer living in Chicago. Gone are the big stadium anthems and the heavy synths. The 25 Best-Selling Albums of All Time By Josh Jackson and Paste Staff | August 22, 2018 | 12:30pm Music Lists Best-Selling Albums Much commotion was made this week by The Eagles' greatest. Jessica McKinney, The enigma that is Jay Electronica will always keep folks interested. Its something about the honesty in his voice. Noteshas small ballads with incisive writing and rich scene-setting like The Birthday Party, as well as requisite big pop tracks. Andre Gee, Long before EarthGang emerged in the mainstream consciousness, they had begun forming their own version of the Dungeon Family, a loose collective of like-minded MCs and singers that mirrored the hip-hop heavyweight collective of the 1990s. This is timeless pop music, and with every listen it sounds better, which is why you may have noticed it jumped up three places from its position on our midyear list (and we expect to look back on it just as fondly a decade from now). 1 hit (Toosie), hundreds of millions of streams, and a handful of standout gems thatll hold us overuntil hisself-proclaimedlucky number sixth studio album drops. Strictly speaking, Im still on track, so tell everyone Ill be alright/Cause strictly speaking, Ive got my whole life. Its the soundtrack of convincing yourself as much as youre trying to convince others. They love Wu-Tang Clan and shit. The GOATconfirms the fact that Polo G has firmly arrived as one of raps bestnew artists. Grant Rindner, After Portlands greatest hope since Brandon Roy emerged in 2017 with Good For You, fans have been eagerly awaiting a follow-up. Image via Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic Records. Bout a week ago!, Logic: What I love about it is the analog sound because they recorded everything on tape. Check out Logic's 25 Favorite Albums,listed in chronological order. This is Mixtape Drake, throwing songs at a wall and seeing what sticks. Angelic Hoodratis an exceptionally compelling listen, with no skips. I mean hes also obviously telling a story and doing his thing, but I just love it. Follow him onTwitter, Instagram, Tumblr,and on hiswebsite. It just exists on a planet by itself. It was my theme music to and from the studio for a year., Logic: The funny thing is I wish I could have discovered Nas back when Illmatic first came out. Without question, its the very best album of 2020. Angel Diaz, The comparisons would be inevitable, butDetroit 2 isnt the same album asDetroit. It just so happens that Burden of Proof is made out of solid gold. She can flat-out rap, and shes just as vicious and precise as she was a year ago. Jessica McKinney, Pop Smokes Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon album was only partially finished at the time of his tragic death, but it still managed to show a full scope of the Brooklyn giants skillset. His storytelling on that from The Heist to Casualties of a Dice Game, and even the freestyles. By 2015, 6LACK joined the crew. As impressive as the names on the tracklist are, though, SAINt JHNs own voice is the true star of the show. 19. Those two Nas albums definitely inspired a lot, Illmatic for sure, but I love It Was Written. Its his first chart-topping LP, and deservedly so. Morrissey - Viva Hate (1988) 29. When we look back on this list in 10 years, after finally getting the chance to hear these albums in more ordinary circumstances, we may contextualize them differently. But its still hip-hop, the drums fill them out. Eminem, Recovery (2010) Image via Complex Original. ", Logic: ATLiens for me is a huge, huge part of this album, because of the voice manipulation that I do.

Id heard other stuff before that like Everything In Its Right Place and all different stuff. As told to Insanul Ahmed ( @Incilin) A Tribe Called Quest, The Low End Theory (1991) Image via Complex Original Label:. Handling the bulk of the production, KeiyaA delivered something special with Forever, Ya Girl. Instead, Americas biggest and perhaps most polarizing pop star wipes her slate clean. How many bangers are on here out of 20 tracks? What a long album sacrifices in cohesion it makes up for with variety. The 100 Best Albums of The Complex Decade. The 100 Best Albums of The Complex Decade. Grant Rindner, Label:PH Recordings/Loma Vista Recordings, Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats dont waste a second on their joint EP,Unlocked, which functions as an 18-minute survey of rap sounds from 00s West Coast (Pyro) to old school New York (Take_it_Back_v2) to gleefully demonic trap (Lay_Up.m4a). And the fact he brought Jigga along for the ride made this project well worth the wait. Whether its in his music, or interestingmusic videos like the one he madefor Yo Perreo Sola, Bunnyknows how to make himself the topic of conversation, andhehas handled his new-found stardom with grace so far. I mean obviously it was him, but it was really fun and lighthearted. Kendrick Lamar Covers Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week! She managed to give us an underground R&B classic in 2020 that sounds like home. I bought it at Best Buy, and I loved it. He just talks, describing his life like a documentary narrator, viewing his exploits from his own POV and relaying the tales to his eager audience. Savage is still delivering icy raps laced with an understated sense of humor, and Metro is still making hard-hitting beats that wouldnt sound out of place on a horror film soundtrack. The run from Dangerous City to Flawless' Do It Well Pt. His work with Lil Baby is impeachable, and Young Thug is his musical dad. Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous to me is just Harlem. It's just a different thing. Spotify. On the outro of Runnin, Morgan Freeman questioned, Are things better or worse the second time around? 25. For me, thats summer vacation., Logic: Californication is my childhood. Kehlanis internal debate on love is no better reflected than on the James Blake-assisted Grieving, where she mourns the conclusion of a relationship she understands had to end. Jessica McKinney. Eric Skelton, Nas could never rap again and his legacy would be solidified, but hes still outside. So I kind of wanted to encompass that. Amazon. A mixture of long, expansive tracks that play with space, dissonance and repetition, while also giving us beautiful payoffs with this amazing band hes put together. HOME NEWS ARTICLES LISTS GREAT FORGOTTEN SONGS GREAT UNKNOWN SONGS WHAT HAPPENED TO ISOLATED TRACKS Back In Time ORIGINAL X COVER INTERVIEWS Connect with us That to me encompassed a lot of my home life as well., Logic: I remember everything about Eminems rise. You know what Im saying? It was clearly an olive branch to fans, but they wanted the real thing. Even the bass-heavy furor of Posthumous Forgiveness eventually crescendos to soothing synths of catharsis.

Waiss Aramesh, Label:Dirty Hit/Polydor Records/Interscope Records, Many have deemedNotes On a Conditional FormThe 1975s grand maximalist statement, but Matt Healy is no stranger to doing the most. I loved it because it sounds like something I was doing at the time.

Flowers. Not bad for an appetizer. Angel Diaz, After releasing two albums that showcased their take on alternative R&B with a throwback feel, Dvsn expanded their sound withA Muse in Her Feelings. She can wring every ounce of meaning from phrases like I would beg to disagree/But begging disagrees with me, and can take the listener on a full emotional arc just by changing her inflection. Mad Woman is a thinly-veiled but passionate retort at those who see her rebuttals to Scooter Braun and Scott Borchetta as hysterical. Kanye West - Late Registration. With projects this high-quality and well thought out, theres no need to pray for anyone. Angel Diaz, Label:Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records, Many fansgot acquainted with sister duo Chloe x Halle through their YouTube videos (or more recently,their recurring appearances on grown-ish). Roc Marci met Cooks through Lord Jamar and Busta Rhymes, and decided to produce the entirety ofReasonable Drought. "I truly believe that without those albums this one wouldnt exist," said Logic about how his favorite albums influenced his own debut. 33 Musicians on Their Favorite Albums of the Last 25 Years Phoenix, Beach House, Lil B, the War on Drugs, and more share the records that defined their last 25 years By Pitchfork October. Facts are facts, but damn.

My mom used to always listen to the Chili Peppers. 25. It reminds me of the woods. Itsthe type of album to ride around to all day, which gives it lots of replay value. The rapping is excellent, and the beats (from the likes of Premier, Alchemist, Muggs, longtime associates Camoflauge Monk and Daringer, and even Tyler, the Creator) are lush. Pop built on his signature sound on songs like Invincible and Christopher Walking, but he also made time to flex his diverse skill set throughout the rest of the 13-song tracklist. Eric Skelton, Fiona ApplesFetch the Bolt Cuttershas all the joy, chaos, and warped edges of a truly homemade product, but her songwriting ensures everyone will see themselves reflected in the music. The answer is nobody.

This is the music that either helped us reflect on the circumstances around us or provided a much-needed escape from reality. I literally just rediscovered it like a week ago. Its weird. We likely wont be getting another Fiona Apple album for a long time, butFetch the Bolt Cuttersis the kind of record that will feel as vital and urgent a decade from now as it did the day it was released. Hes talking to the ladies on standouts like For The Night, Mood Swings, and The Woo, but showshis brute force on tracks like 44 Bulldog, Snitchin, and Got It On Me. He came up through drill, but he was primed to transcend the subgenre, while entrenching himself as a quintessential rap star: an inimitable figurethat people of every identity can relate to. A lot of people recorded shit on tape, but there was something about Tribe. Its why he was one of the most popular rappers on the planet when he died. Jessica McKinney, Its still hysterical that Gunnathought to callhis new albumWunna. Jessica McKinney, Label:Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic Records, Less than two weeks before his tragic death, Pop Smoke releasedMeet the Woo 2, a project that showcasedhis endless potential and proved he had plenty more to offer after the breakout success of Welcome to the Party and Dior. His hauntingly low register anchored the project, as he effortlessly rapped over gliding-bass-heavy production in a way that couldnt be duplicated, even while a growing number of mainstream artists were attempting to ride the wave of Brooklyns exploding drill scene. Puerto Rico is like Atlanta that way. An international sensation turned stateside star, Dua occupied radio waves with 3x platinum Dont Start Now. She interpolated the Olivia Newton-John classic Physical for her own song of the same name, a reminder of the not-so-subtle disco and synth-pop influences the entire project stems from. Top, YoungBoys second release of the year, is a gritty project that finds the Baton Rouge rapper delivering melodic, high energy flows over throbbing beats. Kid Cudi's 25 Favorite Albums- Complex Magazine.

His temperamental nature shines through as he teetersbetween flashing his luxurious lifestyle and his violent tendencies on songs like Dead Trollz.While YoungBoys paranoia and mistrust of outsiders is present all throughout the album, Top also shows inklings that the 21-year-old rapper wants to change his circumstances. He codified the personal project in " Perfect Sound Whatever ," a 2019 book in which he claims that 2016 was the best ever year for music, and explains why. OnThe Slow Rush, Parker, now older and married, puts that incisiveness to work on themes of millennial angst. I think that obviously when RZA was producing those albums he was going for that raw sound. RELATED: The Making of Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d cityRELATED: Kendrick Lamar in the Studio (Video)RELATED:Kendrick Lamar: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation (2012 Online Cover Story)RELATED:Kendrick Lamar Breaks Down His Favorite Cartoons and Cereals (Video)RELATED:Kendrick Lamar Covers Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week! More important, the jewels he placed throughout his bars come from living life. While Amin has always proven himself to be a deft lyricist and great beat selector, the best part of Limbo is his selective yet powerful use of the guest verse.

Label: Forever Recordings. Would you tell me to go fuck myself or lead me to the garden? Oh yeah, theres f-bombs, just another first for Taylor. Were going to be talking about the influence of this record for years to come, especially in the indie R&B scene. Layering over-the-top flexes about money, fashion, and girls over storylines about alien abductions and intergalactic adventures, he created an album that doesnt sound like anything else happening in rap right now. 50 Cent served as a co-executive producer on the project, which is fittingbecause Popwas frequently compared to him as a mesh of New York bravado and melody. U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987) 28. On the extremely viral Imanbek remix of Roses, his vocals were pitch-shifted nearly out of recognition, but throughout the 14-song tracklist of WTWWB, were reminded just how strong his natural voice is. Ariana delivers bedroom bops that blend R&B and pop with trap-leaning backdrops, with her lyrical approachlikely influenced by a new relationshipranging from being playfully dirty (34+35) to highlighting the vulnerability that comes with opening yourself up to someone new (Safety Net, Off the Table).

Its quietly experimental while still unequivocally remaining a Run the Jewels album.

She further shows her versatility on Crown, which pairs a joyous gospel beat with hard-hitting lyrics about depression and self-doubt, as well as Songs About You, a breezy, neo soul-tinged record about manifestation and success. Shes cocky and rude in the best way possible on records like In the Party and Like That Bitch. And despite being only 19 at the time of the projects release, she carries herself as though shes been around for a while, sharing the lessons learned from past relationships. even sweeter when it arrived in July. Thats Why is woozy and dreamy enough that Nudys threat of pulling a Freddie Kreuger lands especially hard. Whenever a song features Ty DollaSign, he figured, people know its going to be a hit. That half is quite good, though, and is enough to counterbalance Meth's lackluster performances on beasts by Scott Storch and Kwam. Prince is my idol, that's who I aspire to be like. For every vintage Marci track like Steel Vagina, you havetracks like Covid Cough featuring Schoolboy Q and Wicked Days featuring Trent Truth that sound like nothing Roc has ever produced before. Will Schube, Some things just work perfectly together. [Laughs.] " Is My Living in Vain " is an American gospel song written by Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark and performed by the Clark Sisters, which first appeared on their 1980 live album, Is My Living in Vain, and released as a single the same year.

The funny thing is I listened to it for years and years, but I never knew the title of the album. You know exactly what youre gonna get with Run the Jewels, and on the fourth installment of the project, El-P and Killer Mike have turned in a monumental fuck you to oppressors, haters, and anyone with the bullshit. OK Computer might be Radiohead's best album, and Kid A their most musically innovative, but In Rainbows shook the music industry's very infrastructure.

Pop Smoke was only just getting started. But more importantly, Gunn, a reluctant rapper from the beginning who makes constant threats of retirement, plays a curatorial role as well, bringing in just the right guest voice at the perfect momentincluding a standout rap verse from Tyler. Will Schube, On the morning of July 23, Taylor Swift, having spent the majority of her career as meticulous and calculated as possible, seemingly pulled her eighth studio album Folklore out of thin air. Thats best showcased in the second half of Dough & Damani, after Bishop lets you know why he has to hold the gun. And he did. Even up until Welcome to Forever I was still finding myself and who I was., Logic: Wu-Tang was an enormous inspiration for the skits on my album. 3 is particularly great, each tracks ending offeringan interlude-like build into the next record. Miller sounds incredibly confident in his lyrics, melodies, and, more importantly,his ability to express emotion and meaning through his singing. GOD level movements, ya dig? Exile is a heartbreaking duet with Bon Iver about the vitriol a pair of exes have for one another. But I always knew it was Big Daddy Kane. Never mind that he gets guests like Kid Cudi, Post Malone, Kanye West, and more. It was incredible. Hisfavorite LP selectionspresented here in chronological order of releasereveal a mixture of music from and about hishometown andrecords that show a particular sort of musical curiosity. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. I was first introduced to Big L by my mentor Solomon Taylor back in Maryland. While EarthGang were making early efforts to break through, they established a group within their collective, called Spillage Village, which also included JID. We recently got on the horn with the Maryland rapper while he was signing a thousand copies of his debut to discuss all of the albums that inspired him growing up.