

switched gears to vulnerably open up about the holes in his lifestyle despite his growing fame on “Workin Out.” He then boasts the ultimate versatility on the J. Cole, exchanging bristling rhymes over ChaseTheMoney production for “Off Deez.” J.I.D.

The ATL native goes toe-to-toe with Dreamville honcho J.
#Best hip hop rap 2016 mac#
The 28-year-old successfully delivered the long-awaited sequel to his fan-favorite Dicaprio mixtape that dropped back in early 2015, which featured some post-production and arrangement by the late Mac Miller prior to his tragic passing in September. J.I.D.’s slow burn to prominence has allowed him to continuously sharpen his rapping ability while becoming one of the most unique storytellers the genre has to offer. FM! is sure to appease the energetic youth that packed out his Coachella set, but also should earn the approval of rap’s OGs - hardly a common occurrence these days. In an era where the playlist dominates, the 25-year-old goes against the grain with a concise body of work meant to be played front-to-back, where features from a range of secretive guests (Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign, Kehlani, Earl Sweatshirt) show up throughout the 22 minutes of airtime. morning show Big Boy’s Neighborhood leading the way), to make the effort a total West Coast affair. The shrewd Long Beach native returns with more ingenuity, crafting his third LP in the style of a radio show (with elements of L.A. Vince Staples goes back-to-back after landing the futuristic Big Fish Theory on this very list in 2017. What this album does best is bring listeners into YG’s world, and there’s enough to love about it to keep them there. The sound of 2018’s Stay Dangerous is defined by longtime collaborator Mustard, meaning everything is in its bouncy, West Coast place, while YG busts out his rolodex to coax attention-grabbing guest turns from Quavo on the old-school “SLAY,” and 2 Chainz on the star-studded single “Big Bank,” along with Nicki Minaj and Big Sean. Over the past three years, YG has discovered his ideal lane and gotten down to the nitty gritty work of honing and sharpening his craft within it. On “Cocaine,” Royce painfully reflects about his father’s drug addiction, while also addressing his own fears as a man on the blissful “Outside.” Though Royce relishes his title of elite lyricist, on Book of Ryan, he shines brighter as an intrepid soul unafraid of embracing his muddy past. While his lyrical dexterity remains unmatched (“Godspeed”) it’s his unrelenting honesty that cuts the deepest throughout this 22-track endeavor. Known for his exemplary wordplay, the criminally underrated Royce Da 5’9” crafted his most complete album with Book of Ryan in March. Walk along with us as we dish out our top 20 rap albums from an unforgettable 2018. Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks
