2020 Favourites: Hip Hop (1/5)

Despite having consistently dropped solo projects multiple times a year since 2016, this album seemed to throw Westside Gunn at a broader audience, with features from Tyler, the Creator, Freddie Gibbs & Wale. Inspired by his attendance at Paris Fashion Week, where one of his songs started playing during Virgil Abloh’s show, the majority of this album was recorded in the three days at the end of the trip. Amongst Gunn’s instantly recognisable voice, bold ad-libs, and glistening production, this is one of the strongest hip hip albums released this year for me!

Coming in at the 18 minute mark, this short-but-sweet project is brimming with charisma and energy, coming from such a creative pair of artists. The tracks are presented as if they are a set of leaks from Kenny’s computer, and the whole project comes with an epic short film, both of which are a pleasure to listen to and watch.

Between GANG and the longer album EDNA that Headie One released later on this year, the former is much more of a stand out project for me. It toys with experimental beats and vocal manipulation, combining this with vulnerable and hard-hitting verses, solidifying Headie One as capable of mastering more than just drill.

For a debut album, this is so impressive and makes me excited to see how Lex develops in the future. An introspective yet confident reflection into her origins as a Nigerian woman who was brought up in London, this home-grown album was recorded at home and produced by Lex and her friends. A UK talent worth giving some attention!

The brilliant chemistry between these two artists, both remarkably consistent in terms of the quality of what they release into the world, allowed them to craft an exciting, poignant, witty and sharp album – never a dull moment throughout.

An artist hailing from Tottenham, this short album showcases Oscar’s creative potential. I found Oscar #Worldpeace through his feature on The Streets’ release this year, with Mike Skinner’s appearance on Oscar’s project being a highlight. A lot of the lyrical focus centes around his wife and new-born son, with a mix of R&B as well as more grime-leaning beats: he himself said “I wanted to make something my friends & family can play”. Overall I think this project is just a snippet of what Oscar is capable of.

Of course, I had to close this post with Mac Miller. Stripped back and exposed, this project gives the listener an insight into the mind of Mac, however dark. Not entirely fitting into the category of ‘rap’, the tracks are filled with plenty of singing and more low-key instrumentals, providing a complementary listen to Mac’s previous and more upbeat release, Swimming. It is a posthumous album that his family knew he would have wanted to world to hear, encompassing his mental health journey as well as tinges of optimism.