For a reason similar to the title of Childish Gambino’s breakthrough Because The Internet, keeping up with the abundance of rap music online can be as daunting as it is gratifying. There are unsung classics in all eras of rap history, and we are in the middle of a new Golden Era with our current champions carrying the torch for the genre’s progression.
The amalgamation of social media, regional music and subcultural blogs, and advertising on TV networks and popular media websites comprises a virtual tsunami for music lovers anticipating new music. The information blitz from mass marketing can overwhelm online users and overshadow the music under the surface.
Even as music writers, the HipHopDX staff are fans first, and, like our readers, we’re bombarded with new artists’ albums every week. But we got you! Let us be the Noah of your ark, gathering here all the essential (but often unappreciated) specimens, during the flood of dope albums in 2016.
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Here is HipHopDX’s list of the Top 20 Slept-On Albums of the Year.
Flatbush Zombies – 3001 – A Laced Odyssey
Release Date: March 11, 2016
Label: Glorious Dead Recordings
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 10
Production Credits: Erick “The Architect” Elliott
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They say New York rap doesn’t sound like New York rap no more. They also said Eminem couldn’t rap about whatever the hell he wanted but it’s 2016 and here we are. Without the corny “NYC-is-back” mantras, Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick “The Architect” Elliott reminded all who checked for their debut album why Brooklyn will always boast the most unfuckwithable MCs.
Like – Songs Made While High
Release Date: September 30, 2016
Label: Squatch Records
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Like
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Pac Div were once known as de facto leaders of the West Coast’s alternative Hip Hop scene during the blog era. Instead of living in relative obscurity, all three members went in interesting career directions. In Like’s case, he ended up being a sought-after producer lending beats to everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Anderson .Paak. For his Songs Made While High album, he evolves his already jazzy production and reminds listeners that he still has bars in him.
AD & Sorry Jaynari – By The Way
Release Date: June 10, 2016
Label: League Of Starz/Swish MGMT
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Sorry Jaynari
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AD linking up with League Of Starz producer Sorry Jaynari for a complete project was a no-brainer considering the success they had together with “Juice.” By The Way is a unique take on West Coast gangster rap traditions and the Compton rapper spits some of the most high-energy rhymes you’ll hear all year.
Dream Junkies – Good Religion
Release Date: March 4, 2016
Label: Kings Dream Ent.
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Ruslan, Kerry Marshall, Anthony Cruz, Jungle Hype, Jruckers & DJ Rek, Christian Sager, Bam Beatz, Lere, Ray Rock, Wontel
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The Oceanside, CA trio came through 2016 under the radar and delivered an album you need to hear. Mixing a little Arrested Development steez with an Audio Push vibe, the trio provided a refreshing album both sonically and lyrically to a generation desperately needing an infusion of lyricism and musicality.
Elzhi – Lead Poison
Release Date: March 25, 2016
Label: Glow 365
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Karriem Riggins, Oh No, Nick Speed, 14KT, Bombay, Quelle Chris, Soledad Brother Joself, Agor
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For all the talk this year about mental health as it pertains to rappers, and Black people in general, eLZhi released an album that took the first leap. Lead Poison was the perfect mix of highs, eL’s superior lyrical ability and storytelling, and lows — tackling his personal depression and mental health.
Domo Genesis – Genesis
Release Date: March 25, 2016
Label: Odd Future
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 110
Production Credits: Tyler, The Creator, Sha Money XL, SAP, Mike & Keys, Christian Rich, DrewByrd, Left Brain, KiNTaRO, Steely Wonderbread, Garcia Bros, Cam O’bi, G Koop, MaffYuu
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Though it’s been more than a year since Odd Future called it quits, Domo Genesis’ Genesis album became more than just a nostalgic trip for one of Hip Hop’s most important collectives. On its own merit, Genesis crafts an album that flexes every lyrical and conceptual muscle in his creative arsenal. And, let’s not act like “Dapper” featuring Anderson .Paak wasn’t one of the funkiest tracks this year.
Open Mike Eagle & Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival
Release Date: March 25, 2016
Label: Mello Music Group
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Paul White
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Project Blowed veteran Open Mike Eagle has been on a roll the past several years thanks to projects including Dark Comedy and his A Special Episode Of EP. Linking up with celebrated producer Paul White for Hella Personal Film Festival gave Eagle the perfect soundtrack to spit rhymes that are essentially the lyrical equivalent to normcore.
Trapo – Shade Trees
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Label: Esselgy Records
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Derrick Thomas, Norwei, P Soul & Chris LaBella, Bird Language, Mykal Riley
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“I was being really versatile on Shade Trees on purpose. I wanted to get the project out, prove I’m versatile, and keep them wondering what I’m going to do next,” Trapo told DX last month. Considering his agenda, the 18-year-old was spot on with project number three, an escapist’s memoir layered in visceral, melodic flows that challenge the conventional formulas of Hip Hop. Keep a keen eye on the Wisconsin native in the new year — 2017 should see him starting to garner the credit he rightfully deserves.
Rittz – Top of The Line
Release Date: May 06, 2016
Label: Strange Music
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 19
Production Credits: Seven, Kato, Best Kept Secret, Heartbeatz, Mike Harnett, Gabriel “Wonder” Arillo, Matic Lee
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Following suit with Strange Music’s paranormal soundscapes and their roster’s preternatural double-timed rhyme cadences, White Jesus finally stood atop independent Cavalry this year with his third album. His nasal Southern drawl, Atlanta funk ripped from Organized Noize’s production playbook, and nuanced R&B choruses made listeners bounce and sway until their hair got as frizzy as the Georgia-bred MC’s mane.
Homeboy Sandman – Kindness For Weakness
Release Date: May 06, 2016
Label: 2016 Stones Throw Records
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Large Professor, RJD2, Paul White, J57, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Edan, Jonwayne, Until the Ribbon Breaks, V-Man, Eric Lau, 2 Hungry Bros., EL RTNC, Nin Vibe
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Six studio albums in and the Queens native has established himself a seasoned vet of the indie Hip Hop discussion. Mixing a colorful assortment of flows with kick-back worthy production, the Sandman’s kindness shines through each track of this nostalgic rap record, especially on “Talking (Bleep),” a far-out, spoken-word shot at fans and competition alike.
Snoop Dogg – Coolaid
Release Date: July 1, 2016
Label: Doggystyle
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 40
Production Credits: Timbaland, Just Blaze, Swizz Beatz, J Dilla, Nottz, Daz Dillinger, Jazze Pha, Cardo, Bongo, Rockwilder, Soopafly, Avenue Beatz, KJ Conteh, Los, L-Finguz, Musicman, Ty Nottz, Powered By Raw B, Snagz, Niggarachi
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The world seemingly would rather watch Snoop sautée onions with Martha Stewart, but the old Dogg brushed up on some familiar tricks with this criminally overlooked LP. Long live the Super Crip.
Phonte & Eric Roberson – Tigallerro
Release Date: July 22, 2016
Label: The Foreign Exchange Music
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: S1, Zo!, Nicolay, Sheldon Williams, Stro Eliot, DJ Harrison, E. Jones
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Year in and year out, music lovers complain there’s no balance in the music labels promote — particularly in the urban world. It’s as if Phonte doesn’t exist. Tigallerro was a slept-on slapper, grown and sexy that you can enjoy in a myriad of ways. These are some of Phonte’s best bars since Little Brother.
Saba – Bucket List Project
Release Date: Oct 27, 2016
Label: Saba Pivot
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Cam O’bi, Phoelix, daedaeCHAD, Joseph Chilliams, Ken Ross, Monte Booker, Flex Lennon, SqueakPIVOT, Cory Grindberg, Saba
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With this self-proclaimed “album for the dreamers,” Saba explores his experiences on the Westside of the Windy City as thoroughly as he explores his deepest aspirations. Tracks like “GPS” and “In Loving Memory” showcase a profound growth in the rapper’s writing process, one he likened to a Sudoku puzzle when we chopped it up this November.
Bas – Too High To Riot
Release Date: March 4, 2016
Label: Dreamville/Interscope
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 49
Production Credits: Ron Gilmore, Sounwave, Cam O’bi, The Hics, Ogee Handz + DikC, Cedric Brown, Subdaio, K-Quick, Jay Kurzweil
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The Queens lyricist’s balance of rhyme-cipher-ready chuptzah, ornate character, and formidable songwriting skills vindicate Dreamville fans that claim that crew’s success isn’t solely J. Cole-reliant. Bas is like a tax exemption that’s guaranteed money, too dope to jinx for his sophomore album. Clocking in at a lean 37 minutes, the project contains minimal room for a margin of experimental error and exhibits his staying power.
Skyzoo & Apollo Brown – The Easy Truth
Release Date: September 30, 2016
Label: Mello Music Group
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 24
Production Credits: Apollo Brown
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Just a reminder to all who spent considerable time this year slandering mumble rappers (and the color of their hair): you wasted months of your life if you were focusing on mumblers when albums like this one were dropping from the sky like boom bap manna. Mello Music Group > your memory of a perfect ’90s.
Rae Sremmurd – Sremmlife 2
Release Date: August 12, 2016
Label: EarDrummers/Interscope
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: 4
Production Credits: Mike WiLL Made-It, DJ Mustard, P-Nazty, Marz, The Sauce, Scooly, Resource, Shod, 30 Roc, Louie Ji, B. Smith
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If the season change from summer to autumn that resulted in both Rae Sremmurd and Gucci Mane’s first Billboard No. 1 song wasn’t indicator enough that you hit the snooze button on their sophomore stride, you probably were doing the Mannequin Challenge in real life.
2016 Most Slept-On Rap Album Of The Year: Apathy – Handshakes With Snakes
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Release Date: June 10, 2016
Label: Dirty Version Records
Highest Billboard 200 Chart Position: N/A
Production Credits: Apathy
Connecticut’s most storied underground rap stalwart stormed back with his renowned fusillade of bars and boom-bap beats to smack your dome if you dared to sleep on him. The album possesses enough self-reflection, maturity, and braggadocio to galvanize MCs into double checking the amount of ink in their pens. After 20 years of numerous nightmares and dreams manifested in the rap game, the Alien Tongue channels Jim Valvano prompting his listeners to never give up (minus the sappy tone).
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Check out more of DX’s year-end content below.
The 2016 HipHopDX Year-End Awards
The 20 Best Rap Albums Of 2016
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The Most Slept-On Rap Albums Of 2016
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The Steve Lobel “We Working” Artist Of The Year
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