In the past 40 years, Hip-Hop has been through the process of dynamic development. From The Sugarhill Gang's groovy hit "Rapper's Delight" of 1979 to Bigge Smalls' raw lyricism on "Juicy" in 1994 to the charismatic Rock 'n Roll elements of Lil Uzi Vert in 2016, Hip-Hop has proven to be a heterogeneous genre of music. 2017 was a time of breakout artists, innovative new styles of rap, and impactful new additions to the Rap culture. Here is a list of essential projects/albums that were produced this year
1. "DAMN." by Kendrick Lamar
"King Kendrick" has been at the top of the list when it comes to lyrical/conscious rappers for years now and he isn't making it easier for other rappers to take his throne. Kendrick Lamar released his fourth studio album "DAMN." on April 14th, 2017. Kendrick's mastery of versatility is once again displayed on this record as he uses a blend of rap, hip-hop, jazz, pop, and funk to create an audial masterpiece.
The project depicts a story when it is played from track 1 to track 14 and is rumored to tell a reverse story when it is played from 14 to 1. With hit singles such as "HUMBLE", "DNA", and "LOYALTY", it is hard to turn on the radio and not hear Kendrick Lamar's genius.
His intent to create a sense of mystery and ambiguity in this album, as he lures listeners to listen beyond a beat and lyrics. "DAMN's" existential focal point and double-entendre packed bars are what makes it such a prolific album. It is currently certified double platinum and number one on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Kendrick Lamar believes he is the best rapper/MC of this generation and anyone who disagrees must simply be an unworthy adversary.
2. "More Life" by Drake
Drake's impact on the music industry is no secret; he has arguably been the best hip-hop/pop artist in the business for eight straight years. On March 18th, 2017, Drake released his playlist/album "More Life" and it has been a classic ever since.
Like Kendrick Lamar, Drake also incorporates a motley variety of genres in his project. Drake popularizes Dancehall, Trap, Pop, Afrobeat, and Rap in this project, making every song capable of inducing a different vibe than the previous. Production of "More Life" consists of the likes of 40, Boi-1da, Murda Beatz, Kanye West, and more.
He featured multiple trending new artists such as Young Thug, Quavo, Travis Scott, and more throughout the playlist. Singles such as "Fake Love", "Free Smoke", and "Portland" all added anticipation to the project, making its release that much more explosive. Drake has contributed hits on hits to his discography and it doesn't look like he will miss any time soon. "More Life" debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming his seventh consecutive album to do so, while also breaking dozens of streaming records.
3. "C U L T U R E" by Migos
When Hip-Hop's hottest new music group released their hit single "Bad and Boujee" with Lil Uzi Vert in 2016, fans expected Migos to keep up their rapidly growing hype. Surely enough, they went on to release "T-Shirt" and "Slippery" in 2017, two singles from their second studio album. C U L T U R E was released on January 27th, 2017, and surpassed projections by landslide margins.
Unlike Drake's "More Life" and Kendrick's "DAMN.," "Culture" took hip-hop to a singular genre. Migos are the champion pioneers of Atlanta's youth Hip-Hop scene. From "rags to riches", the Migos flooded commercial Rap with trap [stories of surviving life in the poor inner cities] music.
As the mainstream markets became more and more acceptive of trap music through artists like Gucci Mane, Future, and Chief Keef, the Migos became the top trap music group. "C U L T U R E" is filled with high-quality synthetic sounds such as electric guitars, heavy bass percussions, and sharp high hats. These instruments accompanied with the Migos' harmonic and rhythmic cadences make "C U L T U R E" a full stereo experience.
