In today’s climate of Hip-Hop, it should be considered a condemnable rap card offense to say that any given year, let alone this past one, starts and ends with one or two albums, or one or two artists (convincingly predicated by major award shows everywhere). The genre is simply too deep and subjectively broad to be lassoed in by one trophy. Dissenting on whether an album like “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar may (or may not) be the best and most important album of 2015, is entirely a moot point. There are many other traffic-ridden avenues bustling with hip-hop artistry and more importantly, fanfare, that should bode mention or be made aware of, and to that we shall begin our descent into this vast melting pot…

A – Antagonists

Where better to start than to initially focus on our critique for the mighty failure that is the commercial industry. An enterprise that handsomely rewards a flash in the pan and lightning strikes. A few artists have set out to turn the industry’s mass hypnosis on its side and they spell it out blankly for you. Hopsin released “Pound Syndrome” which offered up such quips as well as an ingenious trolling of the radio on “No Words”. However, nobody can beat the antagonistic rancor (or the videos) of the top dickhead himself, Lil Dicky who capitalized as a lyricist with “Professional Rapper”. He went bar to bar sparring with Snoop, applying to be a professional rapper by plot in one of the most cleverly written songs of all-time.



B – Brits

Before we hop into the madness that is the United States of Amurrica, let’s give a solid mention to one of the best nations doing it overseas, as well as speaking a language we can understand. Everyday players in the UK consist of Lee Scott, Roots Manuva, and DJ Yoda who boasted the best project with the electric-laden “Breakfast of Champions”. There exists a commercial side to this coin that hasn’t quite joined the ranks in terms of respectability, but there’s this gem by JME called “Work”:



C – Compton

It was the month of August when the hip-hop world paid (due) homage to the stomping grounds of the N.W.A. starting with Dr. Dre‘s “Compton: A Soundtrack”. The long-awaited album was a joint 4 years in the making and 16 years removed from Dre’s last album. It was tightly scored by none other than the trusted Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak, coupled with some of the finest young talent that have become staple figures on the Doc’s radar recently. This Apple Music exclusive was followed by a box-office NWA-produced hit Straight Outta Compton which garnered an 89% rating on RottenTomatoes and scored a cool $200 million at the ticket counter.

D – Drake

Straight Outta Compton

The featured image sheds a little light on the “What A Time To Be Alive” collaboration with Future, but nothing quite captured the magic that was ushered onto the masses within a quick unknown instant, than when Drake spontaneously dropped (a strategy exclusively reserved for the most elite) “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late”. The Toronto talent came correct with a multitude of techniques as a means to show off, reminding the hip-hop world that he wasn’t merely a singing n****. The teflon don who underwent rumors of ghostwriting as if they were going to stain his success, also pulled some disses out of his back wallet to bury a disgruntled Meek Mill in not one, but “Back to Back” slaps to boot and then did the “Hotline Bling” on his grave. If rap had a prime minister, it would be this guy!



E – Eulogy

Several rappers passed away this year, and a few deaths hit us extremely hard. First, a special R.I.P. to Chinx, A$AP Yams, Pumpkinhead, Hussein Fatal, and Koopsta Knicca. Y’all will be missed my many, but only one individual puts a damper on my heart more than the passing of The Jacka (who had one of the most surreal styles one can possess), and that individual is the late great gorilla giant Sean Price. “Ruck” as he was also known, was proudly displayed on many features throughout the year as well as putting in work on his own album “Songs in the Key of Price”. The Boot Camp Clik legend was considered to be the cliques favorite and most impressionable emcee, so the underground committee in its entirety lost a legendary one.

F – Future vs. Fetty

Sean Price

The battle for hook control has taken precedent in 2015-16, and although these aren’t the only stars with the proverbial fishing rods, they happen to be some of the most unique. Future represents a trap hustler who has yet to take on the liberty of leaving his crime-infested block in terms of content, but his loyalty has paid off with Jeezy-esque fanfare. Contrarily, Fetty Wap is a proponent for rapping about that charming party lifestyle with experimental vocalizing that captured ears everywhere with “Trap Queen”. Still, nothing quite beats this anthem no matter what subset you grasp to:

