Best rap albums of 2012

[Blockhead]

At first listen (peeping a few videos of both artists) Tree seems like he's okay but I'm not 100% sure just yet and Lil' Ugly Mane , while kinda entertaining, doesn't really grab me much. But for the help, broz. I will investigate further.

[drizzle]

don't fuck around with random Tree videos and whatnot, just listen to a full tree project that he actually produced himself. i'll be very surprised if you can't at least appreciate his production style on Sunday School

[Echo Leader]

3. SL Jones & Burn One - Paraphernalia

I knew I forgot something. This album fucking rules. Put that in my list.

On a somewhat related note: how are we differentiating between "mixtape" and "album?"

[B. Ware tha Siniq]

3. SL Jones & Burn One - Paraphernalia

I knew I forgot something. This album fucking rules. Put that in my list.

On a somewhat related note: how are we differentiating between "mixtape" and "album?"

who knows anymore. I stopped trying at this point really. I'd say if it has original production it's an album, if they rapped over other people's beats it's a mixtape. So much shit is free these days that you can't really use that as an indicator anymore.

[Echo Leader]

Lil' Ugly Mane , while kinda entertaining, doesn't really grab me much.

From a strictly "entertainment" viewpoint, Mista Thug Isolation is definitely one of the best of the year. I don't know if you've ever listened to any old Memphis underground tapes, but this guy captures the vibe & spirit of those records entirely, albeit in a (mostly?) tongue-in-cheek kind of way.

"Bitch, I'm morose & lugubrious" >>>>>

[unclebengi]

1. billy woods- History Will Absolve Me
2. Ka- Grief Pedigree
3. Roc Marciano- Reloaded
4. Kendrick Lamar- Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City
5. Nacho Picasso- Exalted
6. Aesop Rock- Skelethon
7. Open Mike Eagle- 4NML HSPTL
8. Schoolboy Q- Habits & Contradictions
9. Homeboy Sandman- First of a Living Breed
10. Killer Mike- R.A.P. Music

I also considered Serengeti- C.A.R., Ray West- Luv NY, EL-P- C4C, Nacho Picasso- Lord of the Fly, and PremRock- Mark's Wild Years

Surprised the Nacho/BSBD albums aren't getting more love, replay value is through the roof on both.

[sleazy_j]

Lil' Ugly Mane , while kinda entertaining, doesn't really grab me much.

From a strictly "entertainment" viewpoint, Mista Thug Isolation is definitely one of the best of the year. I don't know if you've ever listened to any old Memphis underground tapes, but this guy captures the vibe & spirit of those records entirely, albeit in a (mostly?) tongue-in-cheek kind of way.

"Bitch, I'm morose & lugubrious" >>>>>

annnd:
**fun trivia. MISTA THUG ISOLATION WAS RECORDED ON A 2004 TOSHIBA SATELLITE WITH THE SCREEN BROKEN HOOKED UP TO 1997 GATEWAY 2000 MONITOR. REAL LIFE**
[with Fruity Loops]


my lame lists.

Lil Ugly Mane - Mista Thug Isolation / Criminal Hypnosis - Unreleased Shit
KA - Grief Pedigree
Billy Woods - History Will Absolve Me
Worldwide - As The World Turns
Homeboy Sandman - First Of A Living Breed
Curren$y - Priest Andretti
JGRXXN - FVCK MAINSTREAM
Roc Marciano - Reloaded
Action Bronson and Alchemist
TREE - Sunday School / The Lit
Killer Mike / El-P
Meyhem Lauren - Respect The Fly Shit
Aesop Rock - Skelethon
Mr MFN eXquire - Power & Passion EP

some honorable mentions and or albums i never fully listened to:
Dark Time Sunshine - ANX
Ratking - Wiki93
DJ Paul - Person Of Interest
Apollo Brown & OC - Trophies
Big KRIT - 4Eva N A Day
Doughbeezy - Blue Magic
Killa Kyleon & Mouse - Welcome To The Fish Fry
Ethelwulf - The Wolf Gang Rodolphe
Hit-Boy - HITstory
all that I Self Devine stuff we already forgot about
The Foodchain - Brunch

[InnercityGriot]

Ruminate upon this.

1. Billy Woods-History Will Absolve Me
2. Roc Marciano- Reloaded
3. Lil Ugly Mane- Mista Thug Isolation
4. Metro Zu- Zuology
5. Kendrick Lamar- Good kid, Maad city
6. Tree- Sunday School
7. Ka- Grief Pedigree

Other albums may have contained a few bangers but did not live up to a complete package worthy of the pretentious appellation/connotations associated with an "album". These records, when played, can drive one to introspection, emotions, hype, and occasionally, a desire to masturbate. Sleep not, lest ye be judged as vanilla, akin to wafer or Joe Budden songs.

As an aside, I'm curious why people are feeling that Future- Pluto fecal matter so hard as to be dropping its name in album of the year threads. I've given it a few chances, and it feels very, very basic.

[ackbar]

i can see why some people couldn't get into lil ugly mane.. his raps are not up to par w/ his beats. i respect what he's doing tho & he's definitely found his niche

[alpha]

man I need to catch up. havent heard future, or the billy woods album.

[Hair of the Dog]

killer mike - rap music
kendrick lamar - gkmc
aesop rock - skelethon
oddisee - people hear what they see
homeboy sandman - first of a living breed
dark time sunshine - anx
blu & exile - give me my flowers bitch
ka - grief pedigree
big krit - live from the underground
action bronson & alchemist - rare chandeliers

still have to listen to reloaded but I'm not as big of a fan as the average poster here

[ackbar]

As an aside, I'm curious why people are feeling that Future- Pluto fecal matter so hard as to be dropping its name in album of the year threads. I've given it a few chances, and it feels very, very basic.

excellent production w/ a cohesive sound. great utilization of the autotune effect. all the contemporary rap trends (drug use, strippers, etc) done well. it's basically like a tough atlanta version of a drake album
and this is one of the best singles of the year, period:

[BARRY LURKIN]

I've given it a few chances, and it feels very, very basic.

excellent production w/ a cohesive sound. great utilization of the autotune effect.

USE O AUTOTUNE WAS INTERESTING BUT HAVE GIVEN IT ALL A FEW SHOTS OVER THE YEAR AND ASIDE FROM THE LIGHTS, DESERVE IT, PARADISE STREAK (AND MEBBE THE R KELLY TRACK) THE PRODUCTION SEEMED VERY BACKGROUNDY. BIG RUBE INTRO GAVE MOI A TINGLE, THOUGH.

[stype_ones]

Reloaded
Rare Chandeliers
Life is Good
Blue Chips
Grief Pedigree
Good Kid Maad City

[Philaflava]

Taking this time out to say if somebody can pm me a link to Roc Marci Marcberg Deluxe w/instrumentals I'll give them MP3x access.

[Echo Leader]

DJ Paul - Person Of Interest

How was this? The last thing I listened to was Scale-a-Ton, which was half-meh.

[B. Ware tha Siniq]

I've given it a few chances, and it feels very, very basic.

excellent production w/ a cohesive sound. great utilization of the autotune effect.

USE O AUTOTUNE WAS INTERESTING BUT HAVE GIVEN IT ALL A FEW SHOTS OVER THE YEAR AND ASIDE FROM THE LIGHTS, DESERVE IT, PARADISE STREAK (AND MEBBE THE R KELLY TRACK) THE PRODUCTION SEEMED VERY BACKGROUNDY. BIG RUBE INTRO GAVE MOI A TINGLE, THOUGH.

Mike Will Made It strongly disagrees with this assertion

although youtube really doesn't do that beat justice.

[Gyangsta 4 Life]

1. Future needs to rap more and reserve the singing for hooks and then hopefully disappear by 2014.

2. Mike Will is nice, which reminds me that this happened and is fantastic and reinforces what I said above:



3. Blockhead, I really don't know shit about Ugly Mane, but before you write him off completely, listen to this. Skip straight to the 3:45 mark. I guarantee you will like it.

[vaporized2]

Messy Marv & Young Doe - AM To The PM
DJ Fresh - Make The Song Cry Pt.5

[sleazy_j]

DJ Paul - Person Of Interest

How was this? The last thing I listened to was Scale-a-Ton, which was half-meh.

definitely way better than Scale-A-Ton; i couldn't make it halfway through that one.
there's probably 5 or 6 really good tracks on this new one.
"Trap Back Jumpin", "I'm Dat Raw", "Get 'Em Done", "W.I.L.L" are the best, with the most replay value.
Four songs out of 28 is a lousy ratio though, especially when going for "album of the year".

[DLG]

Roc Marciano
Schoolboy
Ugly Mane
Aesop
Ka
Kendrick

[LameAim]

That Roc Marciano album is that good?

[Tired & Broke]

That Roc Marciano album is that good?

yessir dont sleep homey

My top 10 (no order)
KA - Grief Pedigree
Roc Marciano - Reloaded
Apollo Brown & Guilt Simpson - Dice Game
Ab-Soul - Control System
Kendrick Lamar - Good Kidd M.A.A.D. City
Smoke DZA - Rugby Thompson
Meyhem Lauren - Respect The Fly Shit
Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire - Man In The High Castle
Denmark Vessey - I Rather Be Makin' Bread EP

[Escobar305]

Good Kid Maad City
Pluto
H&C
Pluto
Dont Be Safe
Pluto
RAP Music
Pluto
Moena Lisa
Pluto
Ice Cold Perm
Pluto
First Of A Living Breed
Pluto
Sorry To Bother You
Pluto
Control System
Pluto



PEACE

you forgot pluto

btw when does superfuture drop?

[Spartan]

Does Russian Roulette count?

[COOLEHMAGAZINE]

KA- Grief Pedigree
Billy Woods- HWAM
Roc Marcy- Reloaded
Aesop Rock- Skelethon
Killer Mike- R.A.P. Music
Curren$y- Stoned Immaculate
Nas- Life Is Good
Nacho PIcasso- Lord Of The Fly


Still working my way through Rare Chandeliers, Mark's WIld Years, this Tree stuff, and seeing where that fits in with SGP, OME and a couple others on the edges.

[Gregg Popabitch]

Not including any instrumental albums like Fly Lo, Clams, araaabmuzik, BSBD, etc., this is my top 10:

Good Kid Mad City
Reloaded
R.A.P. Music

Grief Pedigree
Cancer 4 Cure
Life Is Good
History Will Absolve Me
Rare Chandeliers
Habits & Contradictions
Babyfaced Killa

I need to get up on this Tree cat, huh?

[Dat_Triflin_Ass_Dude]

As an aside, I'm curious why people are feeling that Future- Pluto fecal matter so hard as to be dropping its name in album of the year threads. I've given it a few chances, and it feels very, very basic.

excellent production w/ a cohesive sound. great utilization of the autotune effect. all the contemporary rap trends (drug use, strippers, etc) done well. it's basically like a tough atlanta version of a drake album
and this is one of the best singles of the year, period:

there is no great utilization of the autotune effect outside of zapp & roger. but that's just me, homie

[ackbar]

the fact you think zapp used autotune sums up your position nicely

[Echo Leader]

the fact you think zapp used autotune sums up your position nicely

Ack, what did you think about the Joe Blow/Young Bossi record? Album of the year material, or not quite? Personally thought it was a cut above.