Killer Mike gave a fiery speech to accept the award for Album of the Year at the BET Awards on Sunday night. In doing so, he reflected on his arrest at the latest Grammy Awards, which were also held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Donald Glover presented him with the honor and welcomed him to the stage.
“Technically, I was not supposed to be here,” Mike said after grabbing the award. “I was put in handcuffs, and I was marched out of this building. But I wanna tell you, look at God because I’m back, baby, I’m back. I wanna tell Black people that it’s because of BET I’m back, not ’cause of no white person. … A Black man runs this business, a Black company puts this show on, and they got my Black ass back in here. Thank you.”
Killer Mike Wins Album Of The Year For “Michael” During BET Awards
From there, he discussed the upcoming election and encouraged attendees to participate in voting down ballot this year. “They’re gonna tell you who we vote for is important and it is,” he said “Who we vote for on the big stage is important, but it’s more important that you know who your city council person is, who your prosecutor is, and if you don’t like the people who are running, run your Black ass to the polls and run yourself.” Check out the full speech below.
Killer Mike Accepts Album Of The Year
Other nominees in the Album of the Year category included Drake, 21 Savage, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Gunna, and Victoria Monet. At the aforementioned Grammys ceremony, Mike took home Best Rap Album. Be on the lookout for further updates on Killer Mike on HotNewHipHop.
SZA had another solid outing at the Grammys this past weekend, taking home three awards. The Missouri-born R&B superstar won Best R&B Song for “Snooze,” and Best Urban Contemporary Album for SOS. Additionally, SZA would snag the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for “Ghosts in the Machine” with Phoebe Bridgers. However, there is one trophy that every artist wants to add to their collection. That would be the Album Of The Year. SZA was going up against some stiff competition. Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, and of course Taylor Swift.
Expectedly, Taylor and her Swifties were able to celebrate another win as she took home the honors. While it might be a little disappointing for SZA, she is moving on from it. In fact, she has no ill will toward the Recording Academy or anyone else. TMZ even said that SZA and Taylor were chopping it up and enjoying each other’s company at the award show.
SZA has tons to be proud of and she recognized that in an Instagram dump from the iconic ceremony. She took the time to thank her fans, the Recording Academy, and everyone involved for her accomplishments. She writes, “Yesterday was an absolute fever dream!! Thank you so much @recordingacademy for having me I’m so grateful to God my family my ancestors. My friends. My label and my incredible TEAM!! I couldn’t have done any of this without YALLS PRAYERS AND PATIENCE I love y’all!” SZA continues, “Thank you to every single person that forged this album out of thin air with me. Thank you to every person playing my s*** zooming me up the charts over and over and over again. Thank you for Putting me in rooms, conversations and stages I never dreamed of Only way from up is higher #ASE”
What are your thoughts on SZA’s Instagram photo dump from the Grammys? Do you think she is going about not winning the Album Of The Year the right way? Should she have won the award over Taylor Swift, why or why not? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your hottest takes in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding SZA. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
Taylor Swift was easily one of the biggest stars at the Grammys last night. Overall, it was a big night for her as she was nominated for a plethora of awards. In fact, one award that she was up for was Album of the Year. Her project Midnights was filled with hits and while not everyone is a fan, it certainly made its mark. In the end, the album proved to be a winner as Celine Dion came out and presented Swift with her fourth AOTY award. It was a huge moment, especially considering Dion’s recent struggles.
For those who may not know, the Quebecois legend has stiff-person syndrome. This is a terrible disease that can effect a person’s motor function. There were reports that Dion was having some real trouble with moving around. Consequently, many were surprised to see her at the Grammys. After the show, Swift got to take a picture with Dion and it was all very heartwarming. Unfortunately, it was Swift’s reaction to winning Album of the Year that had the internet coming after her.
In the clip above, Swift took the Grammy and didn’t really acknowledge Celine’s presence. Nor did she mention the artist in her speech. This subsequently led to all sorts of tweets dissing T-Swift, and some of them can be found below. There was lots of talk about how Swift was “disrespectful” to a legend. However, some of her fans were quick to point out that she was just overwhelmed in the moment. Additionally, the photo she took with Celine afterward just showcases that she does, in fact, acknowledge the legendary singer.
Taylor Swift Catches Flack For Being “Disrespectful”
Let us know what you thought about this interaction, in the comments section below. Do you agree with the haters, or is this just a case of Taylor Swift Derangement Syndrome? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming releases.
JAY-Z criticized the Recording Academy while accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award at the 2024 Grammys on Sunday night. In doing so, he complained about Beyonce being the most decorated artist in Grammy history yet never winning Album of the Year. Taking the stage, he brought his daughter, Blue Ivy, with him.
“I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year,” he said. “So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work. Think about that. The most Grammys; never won Album of the Year. That doesn’t work.”
JAY continued: “Obviously, it’s subjective because it’s music. It’s opinion-based. Some of you are going to go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed– some of you don’t belong in the category. When I get nervous, I tell the truth. But outside of that, we gotta keep showing up. Forget the Grammys for a second, just in life. Just in life, you gotta keep showing up. You gotta just keep showing up until they give you those accolades you feel you deserve until they call you chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time. You feel me? Thank you.” Beyonce has competed for Album of the Year six times throughout her career but has never won. Check out JAY-Z’s full acceptance speech below.
JAY-Z Voices Support For Beyonce
After departing the stage, he celebrated the win by taking a drink out of his Grammy Award. Other winners at the ceremony included Killer Mike, Lil Durk, Victoria Monet, and more. Be on the lookout for further updates on JAY-Z and the 2024 Grammys on HotNewHipHop.
Hip Hop billionaire Jay-Z took the time during his acceptance of his Dr. Dre Global Impact Award last night at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards to slam the Recording Academy for not giving his wife Beyonce Knowles album of the year.
He spoke on Beyonce being snubbed for Album of the Year, saying, “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than anyone, but has never won Album of the Year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work.”
Following the heartfelt acceptance speech, Mr. Carter poured himself a shot of Armand de Brignac champagne into his phonograph and threw it back to the delight of the crowd.
Yes, Beyonce is Hov’s wife, but his insight into the winner selection process by the Academy wasn’t too far off the mark. Beyonce has 32 Grammy Awards, which is more than any other artist in the history of the award show. Additionally, Jay and Bey are tied for the most nominations for the coveted phonograph, with both of them boasting an incredible 88 nominations each. Jay himself has earned 24 Grammy awards, with six of those awards being Album of the Year.
Overall, there were a ton of incredible projects that could be considered the best rap albums of 2023. However, this year, we have decided to narrow our list to 25. It is a nice coincidence that this list is being released on Christmas, December 25th. Coincidences aside, choosing the albums for this list was no easy task. A lot of great stuff came out from all corners of the hip-hop world. Whether you like Southern rap, trap, experimental hip-hop, boom bap, or even jazz, there was a lot to be excited about. Having said that, let’s get right into our list, starting with some Honorable Mentions.
Honorable Mentions
Paris Texas – MID AIR
Paris Texas are able to merge rap and punk in a way that is truly interesting. Their musical chops are phenomenal and they know how to craft something catchy yet blood-pumping. If you aren’t familiar with the group, you need to change that, immediately. This album was a pleasant surprise that you need to listen to right away.
Boldy James – Indiana Jones
Boldy James has been at it for a while, and with each new project, he is able to give us something phenomenal. Overall, Indiana Jones was yet another example of this. The artist had a busy 2023, and we imagine his 2024 will be similar. We’re just glad he gave us highlights like this.
Bas – We Only Talk About Real Sh*t When We’re F*cked Up
Bas is an artist who has never been afraid to take risks and be the artist he wants to be. On We Only Talk About Real Sh*t When We’re F*cked Up, Bas gives us an album packed with political messages and uplifting bars. There are phenomenal features here, including more than a few from none other than J. Cole. Overall, this is an album that is well worth your time.
McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?
McKinley Dixon is an artist who merges genres and is able to craft a sound that is truly unique. Overall, his album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? is another project that can be described as a nice surprise. It is one that takes you on a musical journey and offers insight into who Dixon is as an artist. This is an album you should absolutely be giving a chance. You may just come away a fan.
25. Gunna – a gift & a curse
In a notable departure from industry norms, Gunna made it clear with a gift & a curse that he’s not afraid to be the lone wolf. Despite a year of trials and tribulations including battling snitching allegations and jail time … essentially with the entire internet against him, Gunna harbored those feelings and materialized it to create some of his best work to-date. Unfazed by the prevailing industry sentiment, he meticulously crafted and told his story. Across a comprehensive 15-track span, Gunna dives into his legal entanglements, incarceration, subsequent release, and the ramifications that came within both the industry and his fanbase.
A gift & a curse stands out not only for its incredible production, but also for its notable absence of features. The deliberate solo journey allows Gunna to take center stage, showcasing his versatility as an artist. He offers his raw and unfiltered perspective on the challenges faced by the YSL collective and labelmate Young Thug. This bold move adds depth to the album, weaving a narrative that extends beyond the beats and melodies. In fact, the album recently received Gold certification from the RIAA. The recognition comes on the heels of chart-topping hits like “fukumean.” Overall, he skillfully converted his misfortune into a compelling narrative, showcasing a remarkable ability for storytelling that struck a chord with audiences.
Doja Cat made a lot of enemies in 2023. She made a total 180 after her eye-raising actions and comments online. Because of this people started to think she was losing it mentally and she became a villain in a way. However, Doja was unbothered as she continued to stray away from the radio-friendly pop-rap material that so many adored her for. Scarlet, her fourth album, took a more focused approach topically. Even though you do have more easy-going cuts like “Paint The Town Red,” and “Agora Hills,” she wanted to get into her rapping bag. Honestly, it was the right decision. “F*** The Girls (FTG)” and “97,” for example, showcased how entertaining she is in this mode. This album is essentially a big middle finger to all of the doubters, and we were here for it.
– Zachary Horvath
23. Ken Carson – A Great Chaos
Ken Carson is an interesting artist with a co-sign from one of rap music’s most reclusive acts. Of course, that recluse is none other than Playboi Carti. Carti’s Opium label boasts some massive artists, and Carson has proven to be the standout. With A Great Chaos, Carson cements himself as a Carti protege. However, if Carti is for Gen Z, then Carson is the Gen Alpha equivalent. An artist whose beats are viral TikTok sounds that somehow transcend some of the cringe-worthy qualities that come with such a platform.
There is something hypnotic about this album. Overall, it is an album filled with wild production and the vocals to match. Sure, Carson’s bars are rudimentary, but they are easy to sing along with. He has a knack for catchy vocal lines and bars that will get stuck in your head for days and even weeks on end. This is an album for the youth. Not everyone is going to get it, but that’s okay. It’s a project that does a good job of encapsulating a certain subgenre within hip-hop right now, and it deserves some spotlight.
– Alex Cole
22. Nas – Magic 2
In July of this year, Nas provided his fans with Magic 2, the eagerly-anticipated sequel to his 2021 album Magic. Once again enlisting Hit-Boy for the LP, the 50-year-old NYC native flexes his prolificacy, inviting listeners back to a familiarly ominous soundscape while continuing to play with new styles and sounds. His signature storytelling prowess remains on full display, serving as a reminder that his decades-long career has only worked to expand his skills and capacity. Despite an abundance of releases, Nas managed to introduce new elements and sounds to the project, which he followed up with Magic 3 in September.
– Caroline Fisher
21. Bad Bunny – Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana
When artists go global, some of that early magic of their come-up can be lost, whether sonically or when it comes to connecting with their OG fanbase. Bad Bunny, though, displayed no such issues while returning to his roots on nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana. Rather than continue his kitchen sink approach to reggaetón and Latine music that made him a superstar, he delivered what he promised “pa’ las babies” on his last album– his biggest yet– Un Verano Sin Ti: a Latine trap throwback. By honing in on his desires and channeling his thoughts on fame, he gave his die-hards an endlessly replayable, focused, and absolute blast of a record.
Despite the years since he’s fully immersed himself in Latine trap, Benito’s still got it. He has some hilarious wordplay and descriptions throughout, some heartfelt moments (especially the opening cut), charismatic vocal performances in every lane, and some stank-face-inducing bars. The features all do a fantastic job, from rising exponents to Boricua legends, and Bad Bunny and his production team (Tainy, MAG, La Paciencia, and so on) find a wealth of variety and curious sounds within this trap backdrop. There’s even a “Codeine Crazy” sample, and also a couple of reggaetón and pop songs to engagingly break up the theme. nadie sabe is some of El Conejo Malo’s best material to date, with innovations into darker sounds and a refreshing revisit of what made us fall in love with him to begin with. Otro como él nace en el próximo siglo.
Westside Gunn dropped his fifth and final album, And Then You Pray For Me, in October of this year. The project sees the Buffalo native take a theatrical approach to traditional Griselda grime, and serves as a follow-up to his 2020 effort, Pray for Paris. The LP features an array of guest artists, including Jeezy, Rick Ross, and Ty Dolla Sign, as well as frequent collaborators Conway the Machine and Benny The Butcher. He strikes a balance between grandiosity and sincerity, falling back on his signature sound while still incorporating enough new elements for the album to stand out in his discography.
– Caroline Fisher
19. Yeat – Afterlyfe
Yeat has been one of the more unique artists of the last couple of years. He burst onto the scene with wild flows and incomprehensible lyrics. Overall, he was an underground darling who eventually found his way to the mainstream. Most chronically offline people only know him from Drake’s “IDGAF.” However, he is worth checking out in his entirety. Afterlyfe is a very good example of this. While it may not have the same cult following as his previous work, this is easily his best foray into becoming “established.” Everything here still has that signature Yeat sound, except now it is a lot more refined.
A big difference between this album and some of Yeat’s others is that this one sees Yeat taking on various alter egos. He raps from shifting perspectives and it directly changes his inflections and overall voice. Not to mention, on songs like “Nun I’d Change,” he gives us cyberpunk aesthetics that go over extremely well. His sound is futuristic and it is one that fans have resonated with. Now that his producer BNYX has also found stardom, they will surely be a dynamic duo for years to come.
– Alex Cole
18. Larry June & The Alchemist – The Great Escape
Larry June has been prolifically releasing material for years now but he seemed to achieve a bit of a breakthrough moment on The Great Escape. Following hype from his 2022 album Spaceships on the Blade he had the chance to work with legendary producer The Alchemist and leaned into his most patient and relaxed stylings. His reserved demeanor is a great accompaniment for Alc’s brightest vibes spinning vintage keys into short irresistible loops for Larry to rap over.
Also worth mentioning is the impressive roster of collaborators the pair manage to pull. Sporting features from Action Bronson, Big Sean, Ty Dolla $ign, Slum Village, Boldly James, Evidence, Wiz Khalifa, Jay Worthy, Joey Bada$$, and Curren$y Great Escape achieves an impressive amount of sonic variety throughout. The rapper and producer do an excellent job at blending not only their own styles but also the impressive caliber of guests, into something cohesively smooth and infectious.
– Lavender Alexandria
17. Young Nudy – Gumbo
Young Nudy is an artist who has always delivered consistently solid projects. Overall, he has a great reputation in the Atlanta rap game. With co-signs from Pi’erre Bourne and 21 Savage, Nudy has given us great tracks and cohesive albums. In 2023, he did that yet again with Gumbo. The album art here depicts all sorts of foods, and that is exactly what you get with the song titles. Every single song is named after a food or food item. It’s a fun concept and in execution, it just works.
Nudy has a monotone flow that is typically placed over ethereal production that transports you to another planet. That is especially true of Gumbo and its hit tracks. For instance, “Peaches & Eggplants” with 21 Savage was an immediate viral hit. From Nudy’s nonchalant yet threatening aura to 21’s signature flows, this track was a standout. Moreover, it even got a remix from Latto and Sexyy Red. The rest of the album is fantastic as well and serves as a reminder of the growth Nudy has given us as an artist over the past few years.
– Alex Cole
16. Killer Mike – Michael
This year, Killer Mike unveiled his first solo album in over a decade, Michael. Boasting various high-profile features from the likes of Andre 3000, Ty Dolla Sign, Young Thug, and more, it’s put the Atlanta-born performer in the running for three Grammys. Listeners hear him unpack and examine his upbringing, leaning sonically into influences of gospel, soul, funk, and blues. Killer Mike calls the project his musical “come home moment,” serving as something of a prequel to the rest of his discography. He takes an introspective approach to tackling themes of religion, loss, triumph, and Blackness, marking a pivotal milestone in his career.
– Caroline Fisher
15. Sexyy Red – Hood Hottest Princess
What more can be said about Sexyy Red at this point? The rapper is on tour right now and she is selling out crowds, all while pregnant. It’s been an impressive year for her and a lot of it boils down to the sheer success of Hood Hottest Princess. Simply put, this is an album full of bangers. The three big singles to come out of this album are “Hellcats SRTs,” “SkeeYee,” and “Pound Town.” Overall, these are some of the hardest tracks to drop this year. While some will nitpick the bars or say Sexyy Red is the downfall of hip-hop, it’s important to pause for a second and assess the music fairly.
Listen to any song off of Hood Hottest Princess and you will hear and MC oozing with charisma. Everything Sexyy raps is delivered with extreme confidence. It makes for hilarious bars and imagery that you just don’t get from other rappers. Her place in the game is unique and Hood Hottest Princess reaffirms that. Of all of the albums to drop in this specific lane, this is by far the best. Sexyy Red has an opportunity to become a superstar and while some don’t like it, the people have already spoken. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
– Alex Cole
14. Travis Scott – Utopia
One of the most eagerly-awaited hip-hop albums in the past five years, Travis Scott’s UTOPIA exceedingly delivers on the sonic front. While the Houston rapper is not a lyrical miracle, his flows and melodies keep you interested. There are plenty of standout tracks like “MODERN JAM,” the more introspective “MY EYES,” and the earworm that is “I KNOW ?” are a few to name. The main talking point is how much Travis borrows and maybe even bites from Kanye West’s YEEZUS. A few of the songs here were even Donda throwaways. There is some validity, but he had a hand during those recording sessions in 2013. It is not an original sound, but Travis manages to put his spin on it. He created some grand soundscapes with this record, and it was refreshing to see him go in a different direction nonetheless.
– Zachary Horvath
13. Talib Kweli & Madlib – Liberation 2
Talib Kweli and Madlib‘s latest effort, Liberation 2, may not have been heard by nearly as many fans as it should have, but the project remains one of the best of 2023. Released as a sequel to their 2007 collaboration, it’s only available to stream on Luminary, a subscription-based podcast network. Across Liberation 2’s 16 tracks, Kweli and Madlib work with Pink Siifu, Q-Tip, and Westside Gunn, among others, even landing a posthumous feature from Mac Miller and a collaboration with Seun Kuti, the son of Fela Kuti. It’s a long-awaited reunion for the ever-busy duo, who have been putting out albums with everyone but each other over the last 16 years.
– Cole Blake
12. Genesis Owusu – Struggler
Who knew that an album about a cockroach trying not to get stomped by God could be so vibrant, potent, and fun? Such is the balancing act that Genesis Owusu masters on STRUGGLER, which is equally groovy, downtrodden, hopeful, and powerful. The musical influences here certainly point to that versatility: soulful guitar, cavernous drums, dense synths, and a unique fusion of soul, hip-hop, rock, funk, alternative, and so much more. In comparison to his last album Smiling with No Teeth, this project is a little more consistent and fusional in its musical style rather than assorted. As such, the Australian artist portrays themes of identity, exploitation, absurdism, resistance, and perseverance with more clarity and intent.
In fact, during an interview with CD 92.9 FM, Genesis Owusus explained how he felt like this album came forth as a fiction inspired by work like Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis rather than him documenting his own experience, which makes this project that much more exploratory and narrative. His verses still exude a lot of charisma, humor, and passion despite the largely conflict-centered themes that he touches on. It’s a very propulsive approach, with rock jams, anthemic choruses, and darker moments of tension broken up by bright spots of catchy melodies and sweet instrumentation. Overall, there’s just as much to chew on sonically as there is lyrically on here, and you’ll find something new about each aspect with every listen. Of all the genre-fusing albums this year, STRUGGLER is among the most idiosyncratic.
– Gabriel Bras Nevares
11. Danny Brown – Quaranta
If you’re making a list of the most dominant, definitive, and dexterous rappers of 2023, Danny Brown has a stronger case than the very large majority of MCs. Leading the way in that regard is his new album Quaranta, a sequel to 2011’s XXX that chronicles what he’s learned and gone through since then. The Detroit spitter has a lot to mourn, celebrate, and break down, whether it’s aging within the rap game and life as a whole, his addiction struggles, or his ability to connect with others. On this project, he tackles it all with blunt honesty, more versatility than ever before, down-to-earth focus, and a still-persistent drive to do it better than anyone else. That last quality is what sets it apart from other albums about age, death, legacy, and personal growth.
Furthermore, the 42-year-old may have released experimental and abrasive material before, but this is easily his strongest left hook in his entire career. He swaps out his beloved yelpy performances for measured verses for most of this LP, and rides more grounded, psychedelic, quiet, and woozily low-key beats. With this renewed restraint, Danny Brown makes his perspective impossible to tune out on every song, even when he’s getting wilder. All this makes Quaranta a cathartic, vulnerable, and expertly assembled must-listen from this year, and one of its most important releases. It’s certainly the most important in the Bruiser Brigade boss’s run so far, a ride that he’s looking forward to enjoying fruitfully with a newfound peace.
– Gabriel Bras Nevares
10. Mick Jenkins – The Patience
Mick Jenkins’ new album doesn’t stick around for very long, but it doesn’t need to. His signature hard-hitting style is present from the very first moments on the album and it maintains that presence throughout the half hour of material presented. Along the way a quartet of similarly intense rappers contribute to the absolute bar-fest. Freddie Gibbs, Benny The Butcher, JID, and Vic Mensa all contribute to an impressive caliber of performance throughout.
In particular Mick delivers some of his most impressive lyrical performances to date across the album. In an opening verse of the standout track “Sitting Ducks” he spins a word-bending series of bars around an icy thumping instrumental that matches his intensity. With relatively short songs across the album Mick and his collaborators show their focus. The lack of many notable hooks or much of any downtime between verses presents a tightly packed saga of rap excellence.
– Lavender Alexandria
9. Key Glock – Glockoma 2
Key Glock’s Glockoma 2 album showcases the determination and drive of the Memphis rapper. The album debuted at a No. 13 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart, and serves as a follow-up to his 2018 mixtape Glockoma. Throughout the 15-track project, Key Glock delivers hard-hitting bars. In addition, he notably mourns the loss of his close friend and one of the most influential people in his career, Young Dolph. This resilience fuels his output, maintaining his apparent productivity throughout the project.
It delivers a compelling mix of distinctive Memphis rap vibes, which his fans appreciate. A supporting tour for the project was announced, amplifying the anticipated impact with scheduled dates from March to April earlier this year. Key Glock strategically unveiled details, including the track listing, on social media, building anticipation leading up to the album’s release. Additionally, he expanded it by adding a deluxe edition, which was also well-received by the masses.
– Tallie Spencer
8. Black Thought & El Michels – Glorious Game
Black Thought is on one of the most impressive runs in all of rap music. The Roots’ rapper started the decade with the final chapter of his impressive Streams Of Thought series and pivoted to something that’s somehow even more impressive. Last year’s Cheat Codes saw him crossing paths with superproducer Danger Mouse and the two made a project that lives up to its name. So it’s no surprise that Black Thought came back with something excellent this year, but it’s may still come as a surprise JUST how good Glorious Game is.
Teaming up with jazz and soul group El Michels Affair is a match made in absolute heaven. Over vintage cinematic soul and warm inviting jazz instrumentals, Black Thought simply has to do his thing as one of rap’s definitive veterans. What he delivers is a series of meditations built around the wisdom and perspective he’s grown over decades of writing and performing. With his pen game as sharp as ever and a handful of dynamic vocal features on board throughout the record they craft a patient, meditative, and deeply rewarding sonic experience with Glorious Game.
– Lavender Alexandria
7. Billy Woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
Rapper billy woods and producer Kenny Segal first teamed up in 2019 for their collab album Hiding Places. While the project was acclaimed by fans and critics alike, both artists have grown so much in such a short time that their second collaboration felt somehow overdue. But on Maps the gloves are fully off. Neither artist has ever been shy about their artistic direction or sonic ambitions, but they wander further than ever before together.
Sporting features from underground rap sensations like Danny Brown, Quelle Chris, Aesop Rock, and woods’ Armand Hammer partner E L U C I D, Maps is a living and breathing experimental rap affair. On some tracks here billy reaches for some of the most emotional and exasperated vocals he’s ever recorded. Then on the very next song Kenny spins an obscure sample or irresistible interpolation into a beat that sounds unlike anything he’s ever made before. That dueling creative spirit makes this album refreshingly varied and an entirely different listening experience every time.
– Lavender Alexandria
6. MIKE – Burning Desire
MIKE has been on a steady climb through the underground hip-hop scene for years at this point, having honed his craft through various collaborations with veteran artists like Earl Sweatshirt, Wiki, and more, as well as hosting his annual Young World festival at Bed-Stuy’s Herbert Von King Park. In turn, he was more prepared than ever to release a project as rich and sprawling as the 25-song, Burning Desire. Across its 50-minute runtime, MIKE flexes his always impressive lyrical chops over some of the most animated beats he’s rapped over yet. Highlights in that vein include “Zap!” and “African Sex Freak Fantasy,” but it’s not the only lane in which MIKE works on Burning Desire. On the “plz don’t cut my wings,” and “Let’s Have a Ball,” for instance, his emotional candor takes center stage.
– Cole Blake
5. Veeze – GANGER
Detroit rapper Veeze has had one of the most incredible years of any artist. Overall, this is mainly thanks to his album Ganger which was a hit from the jump. Singles like GOMD and the ensuing Lil Uzi Vert remix certainly helped bolster the album’s cache. However, it was Veeze himself who ended up wowing fans with his incredible charisma and his off-the-wall beat selection. Diving into this project, you get hit with the tripped-out psychedelic sounds of “Not A Drill.” The artist raps over this production with a sense of despair masked by his clever bars and monotone delivery.
As the project continues, that despair comes back thematically as Veeze drops a plethora of bars about being high out of his mind. He is entrenching himself in chaos but he plays it off with the hilarious bars that consistently have you doing a double take. The production of every single song is magical and it helps convey the emotions and actions that are being dealt with on the record. It is a cohesive project without really trying to be. Ganger is a deeply emotional work of art that plays itself off as a fun party record. This is incredibly hard to do but Veeze pulls it off seamlessly. Of all the records to release this year, one could make the argument that Ganger is by far the rawest.
– Alex Cole
4. Noname – Sundial
The time between Noname’s 2018 album Room 25 and the release of Sundial was often turbulent for the rapper. She dealt with a public spat with J. Cole that resulted in a short but absolutely crushing diss track, a surprise performance at Coachella that saw her facing allegations of hypocrisy, and multiple new album teases and promises that ultimately didn’t lead anywhere. Through all of that turbulence she emerged with yet another album that nobody else in the world was capable of making.
While Noname continues to deliver her unstoppable wit and pinpoint cultural observations, everyone basically expected that level of perfection from her at this point. Where she surprises is in just how personal and vulnerable she’s able to get across the album. Though she’s never been shy about sharing her feelings, the self-examination of her own fame and her role in the very institutions she seeks to dismantle make for an intellectually challenging listen that disguises itself as utterly infectious hip-hop.
– Lavender Alexandria
3. Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
The lengths billy woods and Elucid are going to in consistently improving upon their work as Armand Hammer is astounding. With We Buy Diabetic Test Strips, the two New York underground veterans rap over gritty production that sounds as apocalyptic as the world they describe. Somehow, they weave through flows about social collapse, personal struggle, and more over textured beats that sound, at times, like stuffing the sounds of the city in a car crusher, and at others, like the score to a nightmarish jaunt down forgotten streets. “Trauma Mic” might be the best song on the album, with its metallic and disorienting beat, it feels like extracting the physical violence of everyday life into the sonic backdrop for lyrics about the paranoid and isolated souls that populate it. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips is a new high for two of the best artists in the game.
– Cole Blake
2. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – Voir Dire
No other album this year is as much of a raw, no-frills, personal, and skilled distillation of what makes hip-hop such a compelling art form. VOIR DIRE is quite the compact, cohesive, and calculated affair; whether you listen to the Gala or streaming version, it’s a handful of short tracks without much in the way of structure. Instead, Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist allow the craft and care of their verses and beats, respectively, to take center stage, plus some vocal samples to bring us from one song to the next. When it comes to the instrumentals, Uncle Al shines as one of 2023’s best producers (as usual) thanks to creative time signatures, a lo-fi sound, gorgeous melodies that range from warmly comforting to coldly stark, out-of-the-box sample flips, and a consistent sonic tenderness throughout.
Meanwhile, the L.A. wordsmith makes mountains out of molehills here, turning his anecdotes and lived experiences into relatable, heart-wrenching, and emotionally vivid narratives. Few MCs have this much talent for delivering blunt and descriptive phrasing about their growth, values, lessons learned, and about how they truly feel. Truth is a consistent muse here, as the album’s title implies: the simple but expertly composed greatness of The Alchemist’s production complements Earl Sweatshirt’s vulnerable, often ambivalent, sometimes defeated, but always fearless truths about his emotions, career, and relationships. The fact that it’s so enjoyable, masterfully rapped, and perfectly sequenced is the foundation that they anchor their thoughts, dreams, plots, and schemes into. VOIR DIRE, then, is free to explore feeling, and that journey is one that this duo invites you to join them on.
– Gabriel Bras Nevares
1. Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA – Scaring The Hoes
JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown are an obvious match made in heaven. Combining their mutual propensity for using irreverent humor as a weapon to hit listeners with politically charged criticism and densely candid lyrics, Scaring The Hoes sees Peggy and Brown playing a game of boy-like one-upmanship to reach new heights in their respective careers and often out-shock one another while doing so. In just his first bars into the album, Peggy is rapping about Iron Sheik, Kyle Rittenhouse, and more, while Brown jumps in with his characteristically furious and zany personality at full speed ahead. Both artists need to be on full tilt throughout the tracklist to match Peggy’s cacophonous production of cannonading drums, intertwined with overlapping vocal samples, and more. Scaring The Hoes boasts two of hip-hop’s most eccentric personalities turned up to 10, making it an easy choice for one of the best albums of the year.
Jim Jones has declared For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition his best album of the year. Jones gave his answer at last month’s ComplexCon. “That extendo clip that Drake just dropped got real spooky on n-ggas,” Jones explained. However, he also gave props to Too Good To Be True and Utopia. The six-song deluxe EP recently helped push the Drake product back to the top of the Billboard album charts. Despite the success of the album, last week only marked its second week at No. 1. It displaced Stray Kids’ ROCK-STAR, which tumbled to No. 7.
Furthermore, For All The Dogs has also reached platinum certification in recent weeks. However, the RIAA has yet to confirm this. For All The Dogs was able to hold off another resurgence from 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which spent another week at No. 2. Ironically, the first track of Drake’s EP shouts out Taylor Swift. “Taylor Swift the only n-gga that I ever rated. Only one could make me drop the album just a little later. Rest of y’all, I treat you like you never made it,” Drake raps on “Red Button”.
However, Jones doesn’t have love for everyone. In early November, Jones appeared to go after New Orleans rapper Dee-1. “I don’t care about what [Dee-1] said. That boy don’t know me. I know his trick. He using my name for fame. It’s all good … I do more in one month for people than he’ll ever do in his whole life. I really give back to the people, I don’t care about none of the rhetoric he talking about,” Jones said. His comments came after Dee had called him out.
Despite this, Dee-1 appeared unfazed. “Jim Jones, I love you; Meek Mill, I love you; Rick Ross, I love you. The world wants it to become something negative and unhealthy, but let’s make sure we use this as an opportunity to educate and to communicate… And if that means we can be friends at the end of this — cool. If we can’t ever be friends — cool, all good. Just go be a better man of God and I’ma try to be the best man of God I can be, and it’s gucci,” Dee-1 said in response.
Following the recent announcement of nominees, music’s biggest night is now just a couple of months away. The 2024 Grammys ceremony is set to happen on February 4, 2024, and it is highly anticipated by all. The Grammy for Album of the Year is inarguably the most prestigious award presented annually by the Recording Academy. The most recent awardee in the category is Harry Styles for his critically acclaimed third album Harry’s House.
The eight albums selected are outstanding, having earned praise since their release. However, this award also will be shared by the primary artist and their collaborators. Therefore, featured artists, producers, songwriters, mastering engineers, and recording engineers or mixers of the winning album will be credited as winners as well. However, unlike before, the condition is that they be credited on at least 20% of the album’s playing time. Here are the nominees for Album of the Year for the 2024 Grammys.
Janelle Monáe’s fourth studio album, The Age Of Pleasure,is a beautiful mesh of R&B, soul, reggae, and afrobeat. The album was released on June 9, 2023, and received an outstanding reception. Additionally, it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200 chart and is Monae’s fourth consecutive top-20 album. It features lyrics from Barrington Levy, Jayla Hickmon, Ophlin Russell, and Taylor Parks, among others.
Production credits go to Roman GianArthur, Nana Kwabena, Nate Wonder, and Sensei Bueno, as well as Monáe herself. Furthermore, Sean Combs served as executive producer, while mixing and mastering were handled by Dave Kutch and Mick Guzauski, among others. Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 appear as featured artists on the opening track, “Float.” Doechii, Grace Jones, CKay, Amaarae, Nia Long, and Sister Nancy also feature on tracks throughout the album. The Age Of Pleasure is Monáe’s second album to be nominated in the Album of the Year category.
Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd – Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey released her ninth album, and the alternative pop project has earned the singer her second nomination in this category. Del Rey is up for a total of five awards at the 2024 Grammys. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd was largely produced by Del Rey and Jack Antonoff. However, it also features production from Drew Erickson and Nick Waterhouse, among others. Furthermore, while Del Rey provided lyrics on all 16 tracks, she was assisted by several writers.
They include Antonoff, Erickson, Sam Dew, Brian Fennell, and Benji Lysaght among others. The album features guest appearances from Father John Misty, Bleachers, Tommy Genesis, and SYML. Additionally, Jon Batiste appears on “Jon Batiste Interlude,” as well as the Grammy-nominated single “Candy Necklaces.” The album was mixed and mastered by Antonoff, Laura Sisk, Dean Reid, and Ruairi O’Flaherty, among others.
Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus
In 2023, Miley Cyrus dominated charts and radio with her smash hit single, “Flowers.” The project that houses the song is now up for Album Of The Year at the 2024 Grammys. Endless Summer Vacation, Cyrus’ eighth album, was released on March 10, 2023. It features several prominent producers, including Mike Will Made-It, Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson, Greg Kurstin, and more. Brandi Carlile and Sia are the only featured artists, appearing on “Thousand Miles” and “Muddy Feet,” respectively. While Cyrus provided lyrics on all 14 tracks, several other writers also helped out as well. Some of them are Ian Kirkpatrick, Caitlyn Smith, David Frank, and Thomas Hull. Furthermore, the album was engineered by Brian Rajaratnam, Piece Eatah, and Stacy Jones among others. Finally, the mastering was handled by Joe LaPorta.
Guts – Olivia Rodrigo
Following her critically acclaimed debut album, Olivia Rodrigo released Guts on September 8, 2023. Her sophomore project, Guts debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart, and houses the Hot 100 number-one single, “Vampire.” Dan Nigro has sole production credits on most of the tracks. However, Ryan Linvill co-produced “Logical” and “The Grudge,” while Ian Kirkpatrick and Alexander 23 have credits on “Get Him Back.” While Rodrigo and Nigro have writing credits on all the tracks on Guts, they were assisted on two songs. Julia Michaels lent her pen to “Logical” and Amy Allen co-wrote “Pretty Isn’t Pretty.” The nomination of Guts for Album of the Year is also Rodrigo’s second consecutive nod in the category. She could finally take home the gold at the 2024 Grammys.
Midnights – Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift described Midnights as the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout her life. Swift’s tenth studio album was released on October 21, 2022, to widespread critical acclaim. The standard edition of the album contains 13 tracks. However, the Target Exclusive Lavender Edition, 3am Edition, and Til Dawn Edition contain 16, 20 and 23 tracks, respectively. Midnights was almost entirely written and produced by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. Additional production credits go to Aaron Dessner, Keanu Beats, Braxton Cook, Sounwave, and Jahaan Sweet. Furthermore, there are only two guest appearances on the album. Lana Del Rey features on “Snow on the Beach,” and Ice Spice on the Grammy-nominated remix of “Karma.” Finally, Midnights was mixed and mastered by Serban Ghenea and Randy Merrill respectively.
The supergroup Boygenius was formed in 2018 by three of indie music’s finest. Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus first released music as Boygenius in 2018. Their first project in five years, The Record was released as their debut album on March 31, 2023. It peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 chart, and topped the Rock Albums chart as well. All three members of Boygenius have production credits on the album, and the songs were entirely written by them. Additionally, The Record is devoid of guest features. Boygenius received an impressive seven nods for the 2024 Grammys.
SOS – SZA
SZA is the artist with the most nominations for next year’s ceremony and was evidently in her bag when she created SOS. The highly anticipated follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut album CTRL, SOS has exceeded all expectations. It comes as no surprise that it was nominated in this category. Unarguably, the album is one of the biggest threats on this lineup, especially considering the year it’s had. Guest appearances include Travis Scott, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Don Toliver. Additionally, Phoebe Bridgers features on the Grammy-nominated “Ghost In The Machine.” Babyface, Carter Lang, Benny Blanco, and Jay Versace among many others, have production credits on SOS. This is SZA’s first-ever nomination in the Album of the Year category.
Jon Batiste took home five statuettes at the 2023 Grammys, one of which was for Album of the Year. At the 2024 Grammys, he could win a second consecutive award in the category with World Music Radio. His seventh studio album was released on August 18, 2023. The 21-track album features guest appearances from several artists, including Lil Wayne, Leigh-Ann, Fireboy DML, and NewJeans among others. Additionally, production credits go to Jon Bellion, Braxton Cook, Zach Dawes, and TenRoc, among many others. Besides Batiste himself, the writing credits on World Music Radio are shared by several other songwriters. Some of these writers are Harold Lilly, Andre Lindal, Stefan Johnson, Dwayne Carter, Nija Charles, and Nick Waterhouse.
The 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards took place last night (October 10) at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Plenty of of the genre’s hottest artists were up to win some major awards. One category that everyone would like to win is the coveted Album of the Year honor. The albums that were nominated are as follows: GloRilla’s Anyways, Life’s Great…, Coi Leray’s COI,DJ Khaled’s GOD DID, Metro Boomin’s HEROES & VILLAINS,Jack Harlow’s Jackman., Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape and Megan Thee Stallion’s Traumazine. However, we did not mention one more. That would be Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss.
The duo would be selected as the winners of this prestigious award. To some, it might be a tad bit shocking, though. You can make the argument for Metro Boomin’s project. So many hits landed on it and it is when his takeover started. While the radio-friendly hits were not what Jack Harlow was shooting for, it might be the most lyrically dense and consistently thematic record out of all the nominees. However, you cannot deny that Drake and 21 Savage did their thing (pun intended) with Her Loss.
It was a commercial success, with XXL saying it sold 404,000 units first week. To put that in perspective, Metro’s sold 185,000. Furthermore, the amount of major songs here is ridiculous. “Rich Flex” took the internet by storm for better or worse. Then you also have “Major Distribution,” “P***y & Millions,” “Circo Loco,” and more. For the icing on the cake, it has never left the Billboard 200 Chart. It is at 48 weeks and counting and is in the top 25 still.
What are your initial thoughts on Drake and 21 Savage’s album Her Loss winning Album of the Year at the BET Hip-Hop Awards? Do you think this project was deserving of the honor over the other options? Which track is your favorite off of this collaborative effort? We would like to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Drake, 21 Savage, and the rest of the music world.