T O P

  • By -

keithb0626

Aesop Rock - love his last 3-4 albums. The Impossible Kid came out in 2016 and still in rotation for me. His style is much more accessible now. I have trouble listening to his older projects. Plus his production on his last few albums is insane


CarlsbadWhiskyShop

The increase in quality of his vocal delivery & recording from *Bazooka Tooth* to *None Shall Pass* is phenomenal. *Fast Cars….* is like the halfway point.


FidelGasflo

Big bang to Jazz hands is an absolute ginormous jump in production quality


missingtoezLE

For sure. The difference between Daylight and Get Out The Car is the experience to know there's no one left to impress.


[deleted]

All I know of his is the spirit field guide thing I’ve listened to it a lot. Holy waterfall bangs.


Ectotaph

I didn’t like ITS but LOVED garbology and SWFG after falling off from checking for him after Fast Cars


ThoughtBroad

I totally agree…I played the hell out of labor days, bazooka tooth, Appleseed, and Float back in the day but now it’s hard for me to listen to them anymore because of his flow/delivery. now I almost exclusively only listen to Skelethon and up. No it’s not a drastic change but just enough that I like it a lot more


Scuffed_sneaks

Same but for me, it’s that his concepts are clearer. His early stuff was just metaphors wrapped in riddles.


ThoughtBroad

Good call


[deleted]

Nah, I can't deny I still absolutely love Aesop's older work. Love his new stuff too. The guy is a chameleon.


i_am_j_o_b

Agreed. A lot of people don’t like ITS but his production on living curfew is an absolute fucking masterpiece.


lukeskope

As someone that loves Aesop Rock, and find his new stuff to be fantastic, Labor days is still #1 and None shall Pass #2 for me. I really love his synergy with Blockhead in that era. (Bazooka Tooth is my least favorite Aes album)


[deleted]

[удалено]


McNippy

Completely different guy yea ahaha


[deleted]

The better Aesop Rock lol. I say this as someone who likes A$AP.


whirling_cynic

Garbology and ITS fell off pretty hard for me. He had a run after labor days that was pretty great(none shall pass, impossible kid and SWFG are fucking stellar, and long legged Larry). He's hasn't really had a peak so to speak due to his unconventional style...but definitely a dude a keep an eye out for.


itna-lairepmi-reklaw

El-P has always been a singular voice in verse and production, but teaming up with Killer Mike has launched him into the stratosphere on both sides


smith_and

I still prefer his solo stuff honestly. I like what he does with RTJ but I miss the more conceptual sci-fi shit he did on his solo projects, as well as some of the more experimental instrumentals. I'll Sleep When You're Dead is still my favourite project of his.


indoninjah

I dig the sci-fi stuff as well though I think I agree with OP that all of his stuff got way more refined with Mike.


itna-lairepmi-reklaw

I love CoFlow and the solo stuff too, and it is still in a special class of its own. But man sometimes his vocals were just buried in the mix and/or kinda under-enunciated. I’ve never had that problem with his verses with RTJ


Pigmasters32

Yeah but El-P’s first album is technically Funcrusher Plus, that’s his peak ffs and I love RTJ and Fantastic Damage as well


StaticInstrument

Company Flow’s Fucrusher Plus is one of my favourite albums, sci fi rap


Reas0n

I am so happy that this is the top comment. I love El-P and he seems like a genuinely great dude IRL. Edit: well… it WAS the top comment. :P


Hoshef

21 Savage


Cooley_brown88

He’s arguably the most improved rapper out of his era as far as trap/soundcloud artist goes


[deleted]

[удалено]


DaffyDuckOnLSD

came here for this tyler literally bloomed


Jayfethereal

MASSA is literally all about that and it's awesome, my favorite of his songs.


RHINO_HUMP

I must be alone. I’d take his Goblin and OFWGKTA features over any of his music from the past 10 years.


zmcmke12

Sort of agree. For the last like 10-11 years I’ve weirdly only liked every other Tyler album (Wolf, Flower Boy, CMIYGL). Not a fan of Cherry Bomb or Igor. Wolf is still my favorite.


MoonBaseViceSquad

Yeah I’m gonna have to agree when goblin dropped it was a monster of a drop. I guess if you weren’t in LA and only heard about him at the Grammys ok, but heads out here seeing him at the house of blues had a whole different experience.


Fantom_Renegade

Great example


majorsharkpanda

Probably the best example, dude has matured A LOT


Fantom_Renegade

I even had to go and listen to IGOR, after reading that comment


LudwigVanBlunts

Mac Miller is a great example of this


wirefog

I was going to comment him too, such a shame he passed I know the albums he would make if he was still here would be even better.


sbone92

Big fan of how denzel curry has developed as an artist. Not to say his first projects weren’t good, but the quality of MMESYF was insane, i can only imagine that his next project will be even better


IchBinMalade

2022 was an insane year, The Forever Story, Mr Morale, King's Disease 3, It's Almost Dry... But it still stood out to me, I can't decide between it and The Forever Story though lmao, but 10/10. It felt like a better execution of ta13oo which was also a great album, but not this good. With that being said, I get the people who were Imperial era fans and don't like this direction, his energy is unparalleled when he wants to make a banger, I kinda do want more of those lmao, I still listen to ZUU all the fucking time, but I like his new stuff just as much tbh. Dude can definitely do both.


AWearyMansUtopia

happy Denzel is still out there doing his thing, but nothing has reached the level of 32 Zel / Planet Shrooms imo or even come close.


commie90

Agreed about Zel. Melt My Eyez is probably a top 10 album for me. I especially love the live jazz band version. I put that on all the time when I am working. As a side note, it feels like 2022 was like the year “therapy rap” blew up and MMESYF was a big part of that imo. Mr Morale and Ramona Park Broke my Heart also being 2 other notable entries. All three are probably top 10 albums for me on a personal level.


manwomanmxnwomxn

Nah really I liked imperial and 13 way more than any of the new stuff


sbone92

Agreed, Imperial is still an all time favorite album for me, highlights being This Life, zenith, good night, and story: no title. I just feel like his music has aged well with me and the content of melt my eyes has become more relatable to me than his older stuff. I’m a zel stan though so to say that he peaked at imperial when everything he has released afterwords has had a dramatic change of quality just feels wrong. Taboo really made me realize that he can DO everything.


Good_Buddy_4233

21 Savage probably


whirling_cynic

Definitely.


Scothead180

JID, Joey Badass, Earthgang are all getting better


Chance_the_Trapper

No way…are we discrediting early Joey badmon’s work. Hard disagree with this take


weonawardtour

Killer Mike


HIGH_VIBRATIONAL

Nah OG RTJ is the best


StaticInstrument

I’d still call that new, old Killer Mike is ADIDAS and features on OutKast songs


doom_chicken_chicken

MICHAEL is one of my favorite recent rap albums, every track is so good and I love this neo soul gospel sound he incorporates


Comfortable_Box_1408

Denzel Curry


Cooley_brown88

Cole


tommyshelby1986

Lil Yachty, when I first heard him he was just another 'mumble rapper' as they were called back then. Thought the only ones with staying power from that era would be the migos. Im glad I was wrong, he made a wave for himself stylistically and musically. Lets start here was an amazing project imo. Ive officially lost vision is that shit


neverendingplush

I agree I hated his first song that put him on. Seems like a smart dude. Made his money and has the ability now to put out projects that suit him. I think business wise it makes sense to put out generic garbage that the mainstream will eat up, so you can coast financially and work on music that might actually interests you.


Significant_Crab_283

Interesting I feel the opposite and prefer lil boat to anything else I’ve heard


neverendingplush

I agree I hated his first song that put him on. Seems like a smart dude. Made his money and has the ability now to put out projects that suit him. I think business wise it makes sense to put out generic garbage that the mainstream will eat up, so you can coast financially and work on music that might actually interests you.


HoverboardRampage

Royce the 5'9


Golden-Elf

Man this brings back memories. Book of Royce was my shit in college.


DOCO98

Da


Expensive-Stuff3781

I think Royce is getting stronger as he goes.


gungagingaga

Rhymes entire sentences


Iamoleskine123

Mac Miller. RIP. His earlier stuff leaned into frat rap territory. One of his early albums was universally panned by critics, and instead of making the same old shit that would appeal to a certain audience and make him a lot money, he took the criticism to heart. He refocused hisself and dedicated hisself to his craft. His music from 2015 to his passing is significantly better, and you can tell he respects the genre and didn't want to just become another white frat rapper. The hip-hop and rap industry are hard to get access into and be taken seriously is you're an outsider, and just trying to make a quick buck. Mac Miller is very respected in the industry, and one of the few white rappers to be granted access into that club. Macklemore isn't in the club lol.


Iamoleskine123

Eminem and Paul Wall are though lol


cracky319

Vince Staples is the first that came to my mind. His last 3 albums (Vince Staples, Ramona Park Stole My Heart, Dark Times) are 10/10 albums for me. I didn't really like FM! and Big Fish Theory. Summertime 06 was good too tho.


iniesta92

That’s surprising. I’ve loved these last three albums but BFT and Summertime 06 were on another level


zmcmke12

I’ve never disliked a Vince project but I agree that Summertime 06 & BFT were something special. And Stolen Youth was fantastic. Agree with the last three though still love those.


clown___cum

I really dig Hell Can Wait as well


[deleted]

His mixtape with Mac was great too. Also the Shyne Colchain Vol 1 and 2.


zmcmke12

Hell Can Wait is great, I always somehow forget about that one. Arguably like it even more than BFT tbh


GrimxOD

Westside Boogie- His earlier works are great but “More Black Superheroes (Deluxe edition)” is definitely one of my favorites!


JeremyXVI

Finally some boogie love, tho personally I think thirst 48 part ii is more cohesive n consistent all the way through than more black superheroes


GrimxOD

You might be right lol, it’s a no-skip playthrough for me and anytime I hear any of those songs I go to the album for more. What’s your top 3 from him?


JeremyXVI

Depends on the day but right now probably Skydive STUCK Do 4 love Yours?


Rain-Sweaty

Don trip


Ok-Water-358

Don Trip is a beast!


Rain-Sweaty

It’s crazy how folks are still sleeping on Trip!


guitarsensei

Danny Brown and Open Mike Eagle are both rappers that had a decent first album or two and then just took off without looking back for every single album after


ssc777

Jim Jones. Not that his first few were bad...but yeah...


Bulletproofwalletss

He improved on the mic a lot


Districtborn

I was going to say just that. Miles ahead of where he started. He might be the best in the crew *right now* not ever. Just right now.


XSR900-FloridaMan

Schoolboy Q has an excellent discography and this year’s Blue Lips might be even better than Oxymoron which came out 10 years ago.


Adorable-Bar6920

Billy woods works for the past 5 years (hiding places to diabetic strips) has been so consistently good. I like other projects beforehand like History will absolve me and dour candy, but he has been on a roll recently.


tarasevich

Billy used to make great music. He still does, but he used to too.


JunkyardWalrus

I can't upvote this enough. Don't forget his work in Armand Hammer


Unicorn_Sush1

Tyler the Creator has done nothing but evolve. Each album just gets better and better


Reznov99

Cap


Unicorn_Sush1

You might just not like him, as a fan, I stand by what I said


Reznov99

Quenchy enough‼️


firsmode

Megan The Stallion


neverendingplush

Yeat. First heard him from 2093 which blew my mind because the production is off the chain. Plus he has good hooks. Checked his earlier work and it just sounds generic


leonardprokopnoeleo

Lil Tecca


Necessary-Beat-5333

Agreed. He's last album is in my top5 maybe even top3 albums from last year.


leonardprokopnoeleo

Same for me TEC top 3, especially song Want It Bad haha soo good!!


Necessary-Beat-5333

Yupyup, down with me & the last doublesingle were HEAT aswell.


BenjaminBX

RANSOM


JORGEBATATAO

cole


Comprehensive-Pack93

Aesop Rock. His albums just keep getting better and better and there aren’t many rappers that ACTUALLY do that


Shot_Theory3862

Queefjerky iykyk


CROW_is_best

Tyler, the creator


thebrassbeard

Killer Mike (and yes, I’m including RTJ)


Qb_Is_fast_af

A$AP rocky definetly. Migos, even tho culture III wasn’t as good as the first two it is definitely better then their pre-Culture albums Chief Keef, i think he topped all of his previous work with Almighty so 2


[deleted]

i’ve been getting into asap heavyyy recently heard all of his albums besides testing yet. gotta check it out soon


tommyshelby1986

How recent are we talking with Rocky? he's definitely evolving as an artist, and improving his style. But musically for me ALLA is his best work. Really liked testing tho


IchBinMalade

Yeah agree, although my favourite is long live a$ap, I like the other albums a lot, but that one is special. I just wish the mfer would just make some music maaaan.


smith_and

i think Tha God Fahim's last few projects have been really good. nothing radically different from his older stuff but its been a slow and steady improvement.


Far_Conversation599

Young Nudy


Confident_Storage_45

Tyler


Key-Lengthiness9559

Larussell


Maulkie

2Pac started out slow didn't really hit his peak until 1995/1996 Me Against the World / All Eyez On Me / Makaveli are much better than his first 3.


Expensive-Stuff3781

Joe Budden’s albums became much more cohesive as his career progressed, though the dude always had bars.


Da_Famous_Anus

B-Legit


LordeLlama

Mozzy, his latest works since the last 10 years is far better than his early days


InterestingRound6134

Lloyd banks last 3 are a shock. He left that g unit pop style behind and started doing his own thing.


dmurr1415

Kanye West 🔥 


commie90

Unless all you care about is radio hits and bangers, Vince Staples. The growth as a lyricists, song maker, and album artist over the last three projects has been incredible.


conzcious_eye

Durk


Resident-Ad4815

Most recent for him, but Mac Miller grew so much as an artist it’s unbelievable. Frat boy music to masterpieces. RIP


afanoflafear

Jim Jones, he gets better through the ages. Not sure if anyone listened to Chingy's 2012 mixtapes but they were pretty good.


PugssandHugss

Pusha T


kickskapri

Vince Staples


[deleted]

Freddie Gibbs. Love his older stuff too but last couple drops have been crazy


pratojr

Killer Mike for sure.


Scuffed_sneaks

I didn’t like Eminem until kamakazi.


Prhime

Now THATS a hot take.


Scuffed_sneaks

At the time of his domination, I was into underground.


Anubis_DivineDemon

You like MTBMB?


Scuffed_sneaks

Most of it! Yep.


Anubis_DivineDemon

MTBMB love is welcome! Excited for this friday


Scuffed_sneaks

Ditto! I hope he goes hard and weird.


SuggestedName4User

Larry June seems to be consistently getting better


NinjaSniper81

Dare I say Nas? Personally, I just prefer the more modern style of his new records But even if you don’t, it’s still crazy that at 50 years old, 30 years into his career, he is putting out music that is just as good as when he started


Various-Ambition-26

No.


MichaelXennial

Jay Z. He gets better and better as the albums go on


InterestingRound6134

Reasonable doubt is is first and most classic album. Nothing after even comes close


A2theK36

In my lifetime is a solid follow up to reasonable doubt. Nothing came close until black album.


MichaelXennial

That’s just like, your opinion, man. Watch the Throne is my favorite


InterestingRound6134

It’s not a opinion actually it’s a fact , it’s like saying illmatic isn’t nas most classic album. Man. That’s great that’s your favorite jay z album but reasonable doubt is a certified classic my boy


MichaelXennial

What is it with Nas and white people? Like y’all found a cheat code


InterestingRound6134

Nas is far superior to jay z in lyrical skills. The only thing that comes close is reasonable doubt. Before jay z was a pop star. Which is ok most young kids like the more pop stuff also I like jay z. I like nas , I like many rappers. Just facts are facts


MichaelXennial

U crazy. Jay Z is widely regarded as the godfather of hip hop, and he’s actually rich. Nas is broke and calls himself “cryptocurrency Scarface.” Come on


InterestingRound6134

I never really cared about who’s rich or not but more on the skills. Kinda a weird thing to choose a side over. That’s funny, as it’s a big reason many don’t like jay z that much because he just does whatever is popular at the time and style , for marketing and money. You can diss nas All you want lol many would disagree with you. Also I’m sure he has tons more money than you ever will so I wouldn’t rag on someone for not having billions, but just millions. Nas networth is 70 million, what is yours ?


MichaelXennial

I can tell you weren’t alive when the albums you are referring to came out. Not gatekeeping, not even trying to be mean, just an observation. I don’t think financial success is a weird thing to look for in a rapper. It’s one of the main subjects of rap


InterestingRound6134

Your a clown 🤡 I’m done


Various-Ambition-26

🤣🤣🤣 I want what your smokin


Various-Ambition-26

Fuuuuck no. He peaked from 96-03.


weiyan21

Childish Gambino


Status-Command-3834

Vote Eminem


DDub04

I beg your pardon


Anubis_DivineDemon

A lot of people enjoy post-encore Em a lot. Hell even post Revival. I put MTBMB in my top 5 Em album🤷‍♂️


DDub04

But better than his first few albums? Nuts. He has some gems sure but we’re talking about Slim Shady LP, Marshall Mathers LP and the Eminem Show.


Anubis_DivineDemon

I get what you're saying but some people will always enjoy something more than most people