![]() ![]() The emergence of Pro Era (along with the entire BeastCoast movement) was monumental for me, because I watched the group evolve at a young age. ![]() Pro Era - PEEP The Aprocalypse - When you think of hip-hop super groups, Wu-Tang Clan, Slaughterhouse, Boot Camp Clik, etc. Aside from its sound, this UA project changed my life, as it shifted my mindset during a period of uncertainty of what to believe. Issa Gold in particular introduced me to some of the best books I’ve ever read, such as Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, and James Redfield’s The Celestine Prophecy. Fast forward to their first mixtape, Indigoism was undoubtedly the most unique project I’d ever heard, introducing me to new age spirituality, and indigo child theory. Whereas other drug heavy artists such as Wiz Khalifa (no slight to Wiz, I still enjoy his music) did not deliver such a first impression, I had a feeling that this duo would offer much more than just drug raps. Although I do not personally do drugs, I found myself deeply enjoying the music, and oddly even relating to it in a way I could not describe. The Underachievers - Indigoism - I first stumbled upon UA from their viral music video for the song “Herb Shuttles,” which predictably is filled with drug references. However, despite the large quantity of guests, Saba is not overshadowed, with each appearance meshing phenomenally with the rapper’s creative element. The features on this project are exceptional, with names such as Twista, Jean Deaux, NoName, Smino, and PiVotGang affiliate Joseph Chilliams. The smooth, seamless transition from hip-hop to smooth r&B on tracks such as “ GPS” and “ Symmetry” are audio gold for any listener that appreciates both genres. To my pleasant surprise, his first studio album Bucket List was nothing short of an instant classic from my earlobe’s perspective. Individual songs like “ TimeZone” were highly addictive, which sparked my interest as to what artistic direction the (west side) Chicago rapper would pursue next. Saba - Bucket List - The ComfortZone mixtape was my introduction to Saba, after stumbling upon his music by Way of a Lupe Fiasco retweet. Songs such as “ Waves,” “ Hardknock,” and “ Survival Tactics” became my equivalent of “Ny State of Mind,” “It Ain’t Hard To Tell,” and “The World is Yours.” For the majority of the mixtape, Joey seemingly floats on the tracks, matching the heavenly mellow, jazzy boom-bap production throughout. This particular body of work embodies Flatbush Brooklyn, where Joey and the entirety of the BeastCoat movement grew up together. If I had to describe what this project means to me, it would be comparable to what many felt when Nas’s Illmatic dropped, embodying the essence of Queensbridge. ![]() I have a soft spot for East coast hip-hop, particularly New-York. Joey Bada$$ - 1999 - Anyone that knows me personally knows how highly I regard this mixtape… So much so that I consider it to be an album, given its cohesiveness, quality, and consistency throughout. Had teenage Kendrick not overcome these real-life events, these future bodies of work would not exist, yet alone the artist that we all revere today. Whether it be gang violence, sexual experiences, or social pressures, GKMC brilliantly showcases the maturation of the the same artist that we know today, who created To Pimp A Butterlfy and the Pulitzer winning project DAMN. With songs such as “ Sing About Me/ I’m Dying of Thirst,” “ The Art of Peer Pressure,” and “ m.A.A.d city,” the album hauntingly puts you through the life of K.Dot, aka teenage Kendrick Lamar. For me, Kendrick Lamar is among the first of artists, largely because of this classic piece of work. When my father thinks of storytelling, legends like Slick Rick automatically come to mind. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid, M.A.A.D City - Presently my favorite Kendrick album. Peep the music video for “Madonna,” featuring the exceptional Nikki Jean to get a taste of what to expect on this album. Not only does the album sound brilliant, but its complexity in and of itself enhances its replay value, as I still have yet to fully grasp the concept as a whole. It’s fitting that the album cover was painted by Lupe himself. The body of work (pun intended) quite literally sounds like an abstract painting, with each track being the next brush stroke before its eventual completion. With arguably the greatest hip-hop song of all time, “ Mural” is only a fraction of the masterpiece. Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuo & Youth - An album that I proudly own physically via CD form. Projects may include albums, mixtapes, EP’s, etc… Feel free to respond in the comments with your personal favorites! Hopefully the next decade brings just as many classics. As this decade comes to a close, I thought I’d share my top 25 personal favorite projects of the decade., with a few honorable mentions listed at the end. ![]()
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