2020 Year In Review: 15 Hip Hop Albums That Should Be In Your Playlist

By: James Teague

Up until COVID-19 making it’s controversial debut into the world, the year 2020 was set up to be a promising year for us. With the new year and new decade came new music to help serve as a personal life soundtrack for our lives this current year. As this year comes to a close, it’s safe to say that we will never forget 2020 and all of the craziness that’s unfolded.

I personally can’t wait until I’m at the dinner table with my future family and we’re talking to our kids about what will happen in 2020. From losing Kobe Bean Bryant in the beginning of the year to experiencing a global pandemic thanks to COVID-19, seeing the continuing cycle of black people being murdered and us being outside protesting for our rights and for police brutality and systematic racism during a pandemic, and controversial Celebrity stories such as J-Cole vs NoName, Meg The Stallion/Tory Lanez debacle, the 2020 election, etc.

With life happening all around us, it was difficult for some to really focus and digest the latest of new Friday music releases due to the lack of stability around us. How can you be mad at anyone who might have personally choose to not check for new music at a time when we don’t know what’s going to happen next in the world. Luckily for I, music still played a big role in assisting me with dealing with the global Pandemic in it’s entirety. Even though we weren’t outside as often normally, the music released this year still served it’s purpose for me.

Here is the list of just my personal favorite hip-hop albums of 2020. Keep in mind readers these favorites of mine are not in order.

---

BLXST - NO LOVE LOST

I remember hearing about No Love Lost while I was listening to the Joe Budden Podcast and hearing Mal giving his praises on the album. So one day while at work, I decided to take a listen for myself and this quickly became one of my favorite albums cuts to play. Til this day I love it when I discover new & original dope acts. Discovering new music is considered a love language for me personally. My favorite songs off the album include “Gang Slide”, “Overrated”, “Be Alone”, and “Wrong or Right”.

Blxst - No Love Lost

---

6LACK- 6PC HOT EP

I’m not even a huge 6lack fan like that but I enjoyed 6PC Hot EP. It felt good for him to create this EP to hold us over until the time comes for the official album whenever it is time to drop. My favorite song(s) off the EP was “Know my Rights” with Lil Baby and “Elephant in the Room”. Im looking forward to see what 6lack is officially cooking up for his next album.

6lack - ATL Freestyle

---

VIC MENSA - V TAPE

Last time that I was tapped in with Vic Mensa was on his last project Hooligans. I’ve always been a fan of Vic Mensa music since his Save Money days. Innanetape is a personal Chicago hip-hop classic mixtape. I think Vic is one of the most talented rappers to come out of the city but he almost lost me a bit when he was making his rock music. I much would rather prefer Vic when he is on his Hip-Hop tip. “Vendetta” was the perfect intro song for V Tape. Not only did it help set the tone for me on what to expect but it’s the lyrics that reminded me why Vic is considered to be one of the best emcee’s out in Chicago. All of the guest features did their thing , especially Snoh Aalegra, which i didn’t expect for ”XGames” to really be as great of a song it was. Hit Boy came through for Vic on “Dirt on my Name”.

Vic Mensa - VENDETTA

---

BIZZY CROOK - FROM ME, TO YOU

I want to personally thank my homie Kim Chanel for putting me onto Bizzy Crook music through via her IG story post. I came across this album From Me, To You. Up until this year recently, It’s honestly been awhile since I was actually able to search for newer and unknown hip-hop music. I was impressed by some of the people I checked out this year, including Bizzy Crook himself. Bizzy originally hails from Miami, Florida and has an extensive catalog of projects released since 2011. My favorite tracks include “Dios Mio”, “Rich and Damaged”, “Broke my Heart”, and “South Florida Girls”.

Bizzy Crook - Over You

---

DON TOLIVER - HEAVEN OR HELL

Let me tell you if it wasn’t for Coronavirus impacting the entire world, Heaven or Hell would have been the perfect album for the summer of 2020. I heard about Don Toliver through Twitter. He was originally on the Jackboys EP with Travis Scott. When I found out about his debut project, I decided to tap in to the project to see it for myself. I was not expecting to love this debut album as much as I do. All of the vibes that I received from this project just told me that the music would’ve hit 10x more had the world been open up formal. Regardless of COVID, Don Toliver still was able to held it down on Heaven or Hell as the artist to stand his ground and let the world know he’s here to stay, pandemic or not. My favorite cuts off this album include “Cant Feel my Legs” , “After Party”, “Cardigan”, and “Candy”.

Don Toliver - Heaven Or Hell [Official Audio]

---

K CAMP - KISS 5

I would just like to get this out of the way and say that K Camp does not miss at all when it comes to music. He does not disappoint with Kiss 5 (regular and deluxe album) as this served as the sendoff for the final chapter of the Kiss Series. “What’s on Your Mind”, “Tatted Up”, “1 Mo Time”, “Ari, What’s The Rush”, and “Rude Boy” are some of my favorite cuts to come from this album. Even though this deluxe has came out I’m already excited for whats to come with Camp and the Rare Sound crew in 2021. On another note, Camp told us through social media that he is to be referred as Float.

K CAMP - Regret (Intro/Audio)

---

DOE BOY AND SOUTHSIDE - DEMONS R US

This album was most anticipated from me with Doe Boy. Since 2012, Ive been following his music and I’ve been waiting so long for Doe to make an album that’s going to let the world know that he’s here to stay. He makes the type of music that I want to hear and he didn’t disappoint at all not even the slightest. The sound for Demons R US is the exact sound I was waiting for Doe to rap on. I’m looking forward to seeing where Doe goes 2021 and beyond.

Doe Boy, Southside - Intro (Official Audio)

---

BENNY THE BUTCHER AND HIT BOY - BURDEN OF PROOF

Hit Boy has been having a helluva year between playing executive producer for Sean’s album Detroit 2 and other projects plus him opening up about his slave deal he got into when he was younger, Hit has been making it a point to prove his worthiness to be being producer of the year. He hooked up with one of Griselda’s own Benny the Butcher and the result was his album Burden of Proof. His first single timeless with Lil Wayne and Big Sean had me sold on being excited for this new album. I’m not a huge huge fan of Griselda like that even though I know they’re some of the most talented rappers out right now, but I was amazed by Benny’s album. The sound throughout the album sounds so much more polished and rich. You can tell that there has been a lifestyle upgrade. “Famous”, “Timeless”, “Where Would I Go”, “Over The Limit”, and “Legend” are some of the songs that I enjoy.

Benny The Butcher and Hit Boy - Burden Of Proof

---

21 SAVAGE AND METRO BOOMIN – SAVAGE MODE 2

Savage Mode 2 was another anticipated album that I was looking forward to. It was safe to say that the sequel overly delivered and its possible that it can be better than the original but we’ll let time tell since this album is still brand new. Now that the album has been out for a minute I can say confidently that “Runnin” is a top 5 21 Savage song. “Runnin” and “Glock In My Life” going back to back should be considered a crime. What I also love about Savage Mode 2 is how 21 has found his pocket with the Memphis sound. 21 and Metro are a duo to be reckoned with.

21 Savage - Intro

---

GUNNA – WUNNA DELUX

It’s took me some time to warm up to Gunna’s music but Wunna did what it was supposed to do. A lot of Gunna’ music prior to Wunna was hit or miss for me. I liked him when he was making songs with Lil Baby or if he was on certain songs with certain rappers. Gunna to me at first sounded a whole lot like Thug too much. I was watching him and Lil Baby’s musical growth to see who was better. I’m not going to hold you I thought Baby’s album My Turn was going to be better than Wunna but once I pressed play the album told me a different story. “Met Gala”, “MOTW”, “Top Floor”, “Wunna”, “Blindfold”, and “Cooler Than a Bitch” are some of the tracks I love from Wunna.

Gunna - 200 FOR LUNCH [Official Audio]

---

HONORABLE MENTIONS 

G-HERBO - PTSD DELUXE 

LIL UZI VERT - LUV VS THA WORLD 2/ETERNAL ATAKE 

LIL BABY - MY TURN 

DRAKE - DARK LANE DEMO TAPE

NAS AND HIT BOY - KINGS DISEASE

---

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA

WAP Video Exposes Double Standards In Hip Hop: It's Time To Let Women Enjoy Things

By: James Teague

Social Media and society has been up in flames ever since Cardi B dropped her anticipated new single with Meg The Stallion called “WAP” on this past Friday night (technically Thursday). Since the release of this record, the amount of opinions and hot takes that were presented to the masses were very interesting to say the least.

Cardi B - WAP feat. Megan Thee Stallion [Official Music Video]

Some listeners  debated that “WAP” was one of the nastiest songs they’ve heard (me personally i don't agree but that’s a different story for another write up LOL) while others have went as far as creating a petition in hopes of getting a certain individual removed from the music video (I refuse to say this person name but If you know you know). I'm very conflicted about that particular subject but again, different topic for another write up.

One thing that stuck out to me the most was seeing how some men were being reactive towards the music and the women enjoying it. Me being a Man myself, it was weird for me to scroll down my twitter timeline watching other grown men on social media acting real republican like when it came to the overall message of WAP. It got even more aggravating when the men once again brought up rapper Rapsody and were using her as a crutch only in an attempt to shame Cardi and Meg for their vulgar raps about their sexuality.

First off, just by the way she’s only brought up to combat other successful women who rap, it just says to me that y’all don't really listen to Rapsody music like that. Secondly she’s expressed before that women like Cardi B and Meg The stallion are necessary and important for the hip-hop world. And Also, if you REALLY claim to believe that women who are conscious rappers don't get the same love like the more hyper sexual women rappers, then show more love and support to those conscious rappers then. Buy their music, show up to their shows, let them know that you see them, feel them, and support what they’re doing .

Cardi B Co-Signs Tierra Whack, Rapsody + More

 I don’t know how many times this needs to be said but let the women love and enjoy the things that were made and meant for them and stop policing what they should or should not like, and what they should do or not do. This is applicable to different subject matters outside of music. Music is just being used as a main example here. Every time women are out here having fun enjoying themselves with the music that’s made for them, men want to suddenly get on their high horses and speak about how music is suddenly a bad influence for the children and suddenly want to rely on celebrities to raise their kids.

It says so much more about you as either a man, parent, or both when you decide to go to social media and voice your opinion on this type of thing. There should be no reason why anyone complaining about how vulgar or sexualized the music is when there is so much content available to us that caters to different audiences. Not to mention the amounts of content that’s been created over the decades that were catered to stroking  the male ego with things such as money, high class cars, and beautiful women damn near naked women running around in videos.

Whenever that content is released, the women have allowed us men to get our shit off. But when the content for women is made and the shoe is on the other foot, all of a sudden now some men all of a sudden have high morals. Bro, I understand that you feel how you feel in regards to the subject matter and you have your right to feel however you want to feel. But please, just leave it alone and let the women have their moment of celebration. I promise that it will help you more than hurt you. If you are really sitting there complaining and critiquing a song that’s clearly not catered to you, then it speaks more volume about yourself than the consumers enjoying the content.

---

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN:

SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA