2017 continues to be a year dominated by hip hop culture and rap music. In fact, rap has become the most-listened-to genre of music, eclipsing the decades of dominance of rock, r&b, pop, and country. Let’s look at the most critically-acclaimed and fan-favorite albums of the past year.
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Big Fish Theory, by Vince Staples
Released in mid-2017, this album peaked at number 16 on the Billboard 200 and offered a fresh, minimalist take on hip hop with lessened techno vibe and more syncopated dance beats. Staples, too, has been all over social media, a seeming iconoclast of a figure who’s unafraid to speak his mind. Top choices are “Big Fish,” “Bagbak,” and “Party People.”
Culture, by Migos
2017 began with the drop of this huge fan favorite, peaking at the top of the charts and introducing the trap sound to those who were still out of the loop. It’s the most successful commercial release of the year, with hits like “Bad and Boujee” and “T-Shirt” catapulting Migos to worldwide stardom.
4:44, by Jay-Z
This latest Jay-Z offering showcases a new side of the successful rapper, a sincere album that at points sound confessional and courageous and plainly honest and transparent in others. It’s a hip hop father’s album that cements the culture mogul’s place in rap history.
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DAMN, by Kendrick Lamar
DAMN is definitely the most intricate and most realized album of 2017. It rides a narrative that hops along various virtues and emotions, propelled by the hit first single “Humble.” Some would argue that it is K Dot’s or Kungfu Kenny’s most pop album to date (it is indeed very accessible) yet it doesn’t come across as compromising.
Hello, there. I’m Rick Casperand I’m a diamond gemologist. When I’m not busy with work, I unwind by listening to my favorite hip-hop albums, especially those from the ‘90s and early 2000s. For similar reads, visit this website.
