In 2014, Isaiah Rashad left critics and listeners amazed with his impressive work on Cilvia Demo. The EP-turned-album was our first official taste of what this young artist out of Chattanooga, Tennessee was made of. He’s been fairly quiet since that release and fans are craving his new music more than ever. It looks like things are sure to change soon. Isaiah recently tweeted out that he has turned in a project to the CEO of TDE, Anthony Tiffith. Isaiah has been perfecting his craft on the mic so there shouldn’t be an issue for Mr. Tiffith to approve of the project. The mystery within it all is that we are not sure if the project is a mixtape, EP, or full-length album. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all unfolds. In the meantime, check out his tweet below. 

just turned in this project to @dangerookipawaa .. look like we might be jammin out in a minute huh..

— sun (@isaiahrashad) August 31, 2015

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Photo By: Cody York

While some would say that we had a pretty lackluster year when it comes to hip hop albums, a point could be made that we saw some new legends solidify themselves as such. Beloved emcee J. Cole delivered big on his latest album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, which is the most recent of all the albums on this list. People have labeled it as “boring” and “just another J. Cole album,” but other fans, including myself, believe that it is exactly the type of album the culture needed. It’s positive, real and above all it’s honest.

Now, Jermaine definitely gave us a great album, but he’s not the only one who delivered on their studio effort this year—in fact, he doesn’t even hold the top spot.

5. Thelonious Martin, Wünderkid

Chicago is home to a litany of tremendous emcees, but one could definitely argue that there is just as much talent on the production front. One of the standouts from Chi-town is Thelonious Martin, who reaffirmed his quality as a producer with his wonderful, recently-released album titled Wünderkid. It’s well-done cover to cover, especially because of features from many including Mac Miller, Michael Christmas and Joey Purp—but it’s the sample-based, eclectic production that shines most on this joint. Overall, it’s an easy listen that’s hard to not enjoy.

4. Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia Demo

If you knew who Isaiah Rashad was before signing with TDE, congrats. Rashad only had a handful of singles (and a fan-made mixtape) out before earlier this year, and just by listening to those it’s easy to see why Dave Free and co. pounced on the Chattanooga rhyme slinger. His debut project to the world came in the form of Cilvia Demo, a southern-inspired, 14-track project. It displayed Rashad’s ability to deliver intricate, metaphor-driven verses as well as create harmonies and write hooks that are infectious and enjoyable. It’s a great introduction to the 20-something artist, and I’m excited for more.

3. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Cocaine Piñata

Freddie Gibbs and legendary producer Madlib seem like an unlikely pair, but even the oddest of couples can make something great. Well, that something great came in the form of Cocaine Piñata, which some would argue as the year’s best hip hop album. While it narrowly missed the top of my ranking, it is a very entertaining and quality album from the two. Gibbs’ hard-as-rock, gritty lines mixed with Madlib’s signature production makes for one hell of a concoction, and was one of the best rapper-producer collab albums to be released in recent years.

2. J. Cole, 2014 Forest Hills Drive

J. Cole is one of the most respected and well-received artists of this generation, and solidified his legacy with his latest album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. This was a prime example of quality, true hip-hop by one of the best to do it today. It has elements of story telling mixed with intricate wordplay, all over some pretty smooth production. It’s sold over 350,000 units so far, and surely going to keep thriving into the new year. It does lack a certain “wow” factor, but overall it’s a deep album that requires multiple listens—there’s layers to this album, you really have to peel ’em back to truly capture each message Cole is relaying.

1. Run The Jewels, Run The Jewels 2

Illustration by Nick Gavin

Killer Mike and El-P followed up their critically-acclaimed album Run The Jewels with the sequel, aptly titled Run The Jewels 2. The off-the-wall lyrics combined with the superb, crisp production really makes this album what it is. The chemistry between the emcees also really adds to the album’s overall value, and makes it a fun, satirical ride that most any hip-hop fan could enjoy. Together they form a pair that is unmatched by most factions in today’s generation, and that is going to take them very far.

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A Compton classic. An unlikely rapper/producer pairing. Two long-awaited projects from veteran members of hip-hop’s hottest crew, and a strong debut from their eager label mate. While Kendrick Lamar crafts his anticipated sophomore LP, Kanye West fraternizes with major clothing lines, and Jay Z travels the world with some groupie, a series of celebrated up-and-coming artists have taken over the first half of 2014, keeping fans’ interests afloat with quality, ambitious releases. Picking favorites from crop of phenomenal productions from diverse young artists and seasoned veterans alike wasn’t easy, but after putting it to a vote amongst the RESPECT. staff, here are our top ten albums–in no particular order–of 2014 so far:

YG – My Krazy Life

In the music industry, you get one chance and one chance only to debut your voice, your flow, your sound. Once that chance is taken, there is no going back. Most artists believe that they are able to bounce back from a bad first impression, but rapper YG is smarter than that. And, not to mention, much more strategic. YG’s debut album, My Krazy Life, left very little to the imagination and gave all listeners the inside scoop to his life. The good, the bad and the ugly all found a home in My Krazy Life.  The honesty drew fans in and they couldn’t get enough of YG and his ability to craft an amazing story based off of his life experiences. Between the production from DJ Mustard and the lyrics, YG created one of the hottest albums of 2014.

Best Tracks: “Sorry Momma”, “Me and My Bitch”

– Jasmina T. Cuevas

Mac Miller – Faces

The man of many personalities, Mac Miller, dropped his latest mixtape, Faces, on Mother’s Day. Last year Mac impressed critics with his studio LP Watching Movies With the Sound Off, and this tape did not fail to follow suit. Although Faces is nearly 90-minutes long, Mac takes you on an enjoyable journey full of tales of love, depression, drugs, and self-reflection. There are also fun tracks, such as “Thumbalina” and “Insomniak.” Hell, he even surprised the world with a Mike Jones feature. Mac is getting better with every new release, proving to doubters that he isn’t just a fun, cheesy rapper who only makes party music. 

Best Tracks: “Insomniak” ft. Rick Ross, “Inside Outside”

– Jesse Lyles

Ab-Soul – These Days…

Ab-Soul took his lyric-driven hip-hop eccentricities to new levels with his third studio LP These Days…, which blends catchy melodies, dense bars, and gleeful spontaneity in a way that keeps listeners on their toes throughout its nearly 90-minute runtime. The density of Soulo‘s lyrics–which touch on everything from race and religion to sex and “THC through TSA”–are matched by intricate, layered production from a variety of skilled producers. And, like the ambitiously scattered production, These Days… features a variety of guests from all walks of the hip-hop world, including Lupe Fiasco, Action Bronson, Danny Brown and a virtual who’s who of the ever-intriguing TDE collective. Whether or not fans can discuss These Days…with the same reverence as Soulo‘s excellent 2012 LP Control System remains in question, but there is certainly no doubt Ab-Soul is one of hip-hop’s best and brightest young talents.

Best Tracks: “Tree of Life”, “Stigmata” ft. Action Bronson & Asaad

– Sam Griffen

ScHoolboy Q – Oxymoron

Oxymoron is in fact just that–an oxymoron–and in more ways than one. In one aspect, it isn’t the hype, club-banging, radio-heavy album most assumed ScHoolboy Q would debut to the mainstream world with. Instead, TDE teased us with a clever, oh-so-gangster album which just so happened to gain attention in the club with singles such as “Man Of The Year” and “What They Want” featuring club-single “gawd” 2 Chainz. Earlier releases like “Collard Greens” and “Break The Bank” can still be heard in midday radio mixes and seen on video streams on VH1 and MTV. Now, we’re grooving with the gangster Q to his “Studio” single which features BJ The Chicago Kid and has started getting played everywhere. Take a walk in ScHoolboy’s shoes as he does everything “bad” all for the good of his beloved Joy.

Best Tracks: “Studio” ft. BJ The Chicago Kid, “Collard Greens” ft. Kendrick Lamar

– Atiera J.

Future – Honest

After the surprising success of his debut album, Pluto, Future went from regional champion to national commodity– appearing on tracks with everyone from Miley Cyrus to Young Thug over the last two years, and popping up on every out-of-this-world hook on the warmer side of Mars. But as anticipation grew for the follow-up, so did the concerns. As the singles leaked out, none seemed to truly stick. Then came the exact release date, almost exactly two years from the day Pluto dropped into orbit, and, finally, “Move That Dope” and “I Won.”

With two certified bangers – and hits – on the airwaves, Honest hit stores and all tension was released. The album is concise, with a run time under an hour, and star-studded (guests include: Kanye, Andre 3000, Drake, Pharrell, and, of course, producer Mike Will Made It) but at the core we’re left with one, multifaceted central character – Future. And we get to see every side of him here. There’s the street hustler in “Move That Dope,” plus the loverman guiding us through the “Turn on the Lights Pt. 2”-ish feel of “I Won” (which includes Kanye at his most frat-bro-in-love moment, probably ever), but there’s also there’s also the pillow talk promising on “I Be You” and the two different forms of brashness of “My Momma” and the title track. Once you add in the fade-in, fade-out Drake appearance on “Never Satisfied” and, arguably the best song of 2014, “Benz Friendz” what you have is proof of this: Future’s a bonafide rap star and here to stay.

Best Tracks: “Benz Friendz” ft. Andre 3000, “I Won” ft. Kanye West

– Justin Rockhold

Vince Staples – Shyne Coldchain II

As astoundingly good as he is, it’s hard to blame you if you’ve been sleeping on Vince Staples. His drawling, almost drooling sneer of a voice and his bulky, if sometimes unstructured, flow fly below many radars on the first go around. Almost lazy-sounding at a first glimpse, Staples‘ music reaps huge rewards if you just give him a moment more of your time and attention. The Long Beach shooter has a golden gift for bleak, brutal storytelling and stunning, dead-eyed shit talk. His best project to date, Shyne Coldchain II is stuffed full of vivid, harrowing vignettes of Vince’s upbringing that rival any and all storytellers and poets in hip-hop.

The ten song tape begins with a piercing, storm-forboding sample from the legendary No I.D., being battered around by a dazed Vince, who drops dozens of haymaker nihilist gems. “Shells they burning long as hell is burning, I’ll murder God / If he was tryna fuck up my paper, nigga that’s all I got,” he raps on the first verse. “Seen blacks ain’t crack, so they gave us that / give us hope, then take us back,” he spits in the second. On the chorus, he just hums like a kid dragging a twig across a fence—“dun da dun, dun da dun.” He’s numb to the pain, and further, the morbid cycle has become the only institution to which he pledges allegiance, and so he does so with murderous abandon.

SCVII sees Vince growing up a scarred and warped young mind, with present-day Vince capturing his past ache and confusion with gut-checking crispness. “As a kid, all I wanted was to kill a man,” he raps on album highlight “Nate,” a song of trauma so painfully rendered that it alone is worth essays. While what that line tells us about Vince as a kid is shocking, what we learn (from the surrounding songs) about that wish’s ripple-effect is perhaps the tape’s true centerpiece. “My mama cried the day I got put on the hood / Never wished for better days, only wished a nigga would,” Vince says, staring down a Southern California-sized gun barrel without blinking. Nothing about Vince Staples or Shyne Coldchain reaches—every bar and beat, even at their grimmest moments, come as easy as breathing, as calmly as Vince reaches for his pistol. Teddy Roosevelt famously said to “walk softly and carry a big stick,” and Vince Staples has mastered each end of that advice to a chilling degree.

Best Tracks: “Nate”

– Ben Sherak

Kid Cudi – Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon

Take a ride in a space ship to the moon and beyond with Kid Cudi‘s Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon. With soft and sultry singles such as “Balmain Jeans” featuring the smooth vocals of Raphael Saadiq as well as party-potential songs like the title track, “Satellite Flight”, Cudi gives us versatility and a whirl of emotions per usual. “Too Bad I Have To Destroy You Now” and “Internal Bleeding” keep us in space as Cudi draws us even further into his emotional world, all the while displaying his brilliant production skills. Satellite Flight is the long awaited journey of a release that Kid Cudi fans have been needing since 2013’s Indicud.

Best Tracks: “Balmain Jeans” ft. Raphael Saadiq, “Too Bad I Have To Destroy You Now”

– Atiera J.

The Roots – …and then you shoot your cousin

The Roots have pulled off quite a feat. While becoming more recognizable than ever thanks to their Jimmy Fallon gig, they’ve managed to go the complete opposite direction with their music. The normal route would be to capitalize on their newfound mainstream visibility and begin making more accessible, radio-friendly music, but the Roots are far from normal. Instead of going after the charts, ?uestlove et. al began crafting shorter, darker, bleaker projects. …and then you shoot your cousin follows up their “concept” album Undun, and takes the structure to its maximal point. Where Undun maintained a fairly straight-forward structure, &TYSYC turns it on its head.

We have sparse lyrics, more melodies, and some jarring, industrial instrumentals. Even though the album clocks in at a brief 30 minutes, the listener does not feel cheated. The music is dense and the lyric-driven songs on the album require attention. “Never” and “When the People Cheer” are paranoid, frightened records that introduce the theme of overarching darkness the band has been playing with more and more since How I Got Over. “The Dark” is aggressive, with an absolutely killer verse from Dice Raw, as he spits, “Crossed that bitch, then I got that bitch/Now all I want from her’s an abortion/My mind filled with distortion, my eyelids say caution/Yeah I sold crack to get my soul back, they say it’s gonna cost a fortune.” Not one to be outdone, though, Black Thought delivers his most graphic and poignant verse as the album reaches its bleakest point on “The Unraveling.” “What did the thief say unto the hanging man?/‘Here come the hounds, lay your burdens down in advance.’”

The Roots seem to have no interest in returning to fuller, longer albums, and there is no need for them to even attempt to do so. Where Undun tripped up with its ambitious concept, &TYSYC delivers in spades with focus and economical execution. It’s dark, it’s short, but it’s spectacular.

Best Tracks: “Never”, “When the People Cheer”

– Kevin Ahmadi

 Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Pinata

In what is certainly hip-hop’s oddest success story of the year, gruff-voiced Indiana MC Freddie Gibbs linked up with everyone’s favorite sample wizard Madlib for Pinata, a 17-track gauntlet of street rhymes and spastic production. Madlib uses the same jarring beat changes and ADHD-infused sample selection that made Madvillainy, his oft-celebrated collaboration with MF Doom, such a masterpiece. Gangsta Gibbs’ raw, gritty lyrics are delivered with an intensity that can keep up the pace with the production. Fashioned as “a gangster Blacksploitation film on wax,” Pinata is Madlib and Gibbs wearing their hearts on their sleeves–pure, unadulterated samples layered over raw, unabridged lyrics describing a life of crime, thrills and pain. Now let’s get these two working together more often.

Best Tracks: “Deeper”, “High” ft. Danny Brown

– Sam Griffen

Isaiah Rashad – Cilvia Demo

When thinking about Top Dawg Entertainment, it’s easy to focus on the headliners like Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and nothing else. However, bubbling underneath the surface are artists like SZA — hell, even TDE co-president Punch spits sometimes. Another artist teetering on the verge of stardom is Isaiah Rashad. His Cilvia Demo was quietly released in January and quickly became a fan favorite.

At times, Isaiah has a delivery reminiscent of Kendrick Lamar but with more of a southern flair and perhaps‎ a chip on his shoulder. His songs run the gamut of crunk trunk-rattlers to introspective thought provokers and everywhere in between.

Isaiah Rashad and the aforementioned SZA make a formidable duo and it’s no coincidence that Cilvia Demo‘s standout songs pair the artists together. “West Savannah” is a slow-rolling ode to young-but-misunderstood love and “Heavenly Father”  is a somber look at both the world around him and in the mirror. The closing “Shot You Down” assures us that Isaiah can hold his own alongside the bigger dawgs of TDE‎. All in all, the future appears to be bright for Rashad and if he keeps dropping stellar projects like Cilvia Demo, he won’t have to be “Modest” for much longer.

Best Tracks: “West Savannah” ft. SZA, “Heavenly Father”

– Emanuel Wallace

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Words by Robin Johnson & Ben Sherak

It’s a wrap for the first seven months of 2014 and that means it’s time to acknowledge the songs that were most impactful, catchy, interesting, fun, original, and well-crafted. We’ve rounded up the cream of the crop for one list: The 15 Best Songs of 2014 (So Far).

15. Future – “Move That Dope” Featuring Pusha T & Pharrell (Honest)

Of all the entries on this list, “Move That Dope” is most indicative of hip-hop radio’s status quio, but if that includes vivid writers like Pusha, innovative weirdos like Future, and all-around talents like Pharrell, the radio just might be a great place to love hip-hop. Future, breaking drunk-robot form, uses a human voice to deliver inhuman, confounding flows that challenge the listener in teh ebst of ways. Pusha continues to expertly poeticize his Kanye-sized attitude (“Wearin’ designer shit that I misspell”) and Pharrell smoothly slides out of the producer’s chair long enough to deliver a wrap-around-the-beat double-time finishing move.

14. Chance The Rapper – “Home Studio” (No Album)

“Home Studio” is the only bonafide rap record that Chance released this year, but it’s packed with enough giddy wit to last an album. Chance packed this jolt of celebration with line after line of swift lyricism: “You gon’ set a bad example for the average bear / You a Yogi, you should idle while in child position,” “Just don’t count your sheep before they hatch, your chicken ‘fore your eggs, or eat your dinner ‘fore you say your prayer,” “Beat the tortoise by a hair (hare) in a old ’44 Taurus on a spare with a wax finish,” This song is just bursting at the seams with wit.

13. Alex Wiley – “Vibrations” (Village Party)

Village Party, strange young Chicagoan Alex Wiley‘s second release in two years, was a record of astounding melody, innovation, and ADD. It was catchy and piercing at almost every turn, and neither adjective could be more fitting for the tape’s biggest standout, “Vibrations.” Wiley summarizes his attitude and mission statement nicely here–”I just do my own thing, OK, and hope it all works out,” before burning the house down with one of his typically head-spinning double times and tearing into a hook that’s at once passionate and party-ready. This track even does auto-tune well.

12.  Drake – “Trophies” (Young Money: Rise Of An Empire)

If Drake wasn’t acting out skits on SNL, he was either hosting the ESPY’s, gearing up for a tour with Lil Wayne or dropping some very dope guest verses. This single from the Young Money compilation album was so clearly its highlight that it’s hard to imagine it as being on that album. There are few better examples of Drake’s all-around dominance than this record.

11.  Isaiah Rashad – “Heavenly Father” Featuring SZA (Cilvia Demo)

Just signed last year, Isaiah Rashad has already proven to be on the level of TDE’s previous rap artists. “Heavenly Father” is sheer poetry at heart and his EP, Cilvia Demo, proved that despite being only 23, his soul is well beyond his years. Isaiah Rashad deserved his spot on the 2014 XXL Freshman List as well as to be voted on this list, twice.

10. Mac Miller – “Erica’s House” Featuring Treejay (No Album)

The funniest song of the year’s thusfar also one of the best. Mac Miller, cozying to his role as the rap game’s increasingly trippy former-bro cousin, raps like he’s bored with the acid he just took. He’s self aware, he’s absurdist, he’s hilarious: “Let’s go to Syria and have a war / Stop fuckin’ calling me Macklemore / That’s not my name, well kinda…it’s kind of my name” he drools on the intro. “I love like a folk singer and fuck like a crack addict,” he croaks in the first verse. “Still having sex with blind people / They say my pussy smell like pine needles / Bust a nut in the poultry section at John Eagle / Look a chicken in the face like, bitch, I’ma eat you,” he proclaims proudly in the third. Mac Miller has become some strange Odd Future-Madvillain hybrid, with a sprinkle of a calmer Eminem, and we’re all the better for it.

9. Imagine Dragons – “Radioactive” (Remix) Featuring Kendrick Lamar (No Album)

The fact that Kendrick appears on this list two (and a half) times without having released a solo song this year is a testament to his sway, not only over trends and fans, but over the quality of any record he touches. A greater testament to that: the fact that Imagine Dragons‘ “Radioactive” is a more or less a moderate/solid Coldplay song, that, molded by King Midas Kendrick’s hands, is suddenly the 9th best hip-hop song of the year. Introduced during the chill-inducing Grammy performance, K.Dot’s frantic, poetic closing statement on the Dragons’ hit is a moment that stays with you long after the record is off. The verse is sort of a “Control” aimed at his demons and the surrounding universe, and the results are something that bleeds far deeper and more powerfully than a mere boast.

8.  Common – “Kingdom” Featuring Vince Staples (Nobody’s Smiling)

Ten studio albums in and Common still has it. Linking back up with his main producer, No I.D.,  “Kingdom” carries a triumphant melody and a much needed message towards Chicago’s gun violence.

7. Big K.R.I.T. – “Mt. Olympus” (Cadillactica)

When K.R.I.T. released “Mt. Olympus,” he kicked down the door and came straight for the jugular. The Mississippi country boy just wants to be heard and K.R.I.T. takes the opportunity to snap on this one. His upcoming album, Cadillactica is set to be released later this year and when it does, hopefully the world will be listening.

6. Schoolboy Q – “Prescription/ Oxymoron” (Oxymoron)

Not only was Oxymoron amongst the most celebrated albums of the year, but Q also brought gangsta rap back to the forefront. He showed us just how disturbing it is be an Oxycodon addict and then, to turn the narrative on its head, showed us what it’s like to sell it right after. Chilling details coupled with production handled by TDE’s in-house producers Digi+Phonics makes this one of the best tracks of the year so far.

5. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Real” (Piñata)

Madlib‘s never sounded angrier. Not that he actually raps here–it’s entirely Freddie‘s show, and more on that later–instead, the rollicking first beat for “Real” is the most animalistic, beast-on-a-hunt feeling beat that the perma-stoned West Coaster has ever produced. Even the second instrumental on the two part assault, while sounding like vintage Beat Konducta, still packs a serious whollop, with a kick drum like a cannonball. Meanwhile, Gangsta Gibbs lets off one of the most passionate and thorough disses in recent memory (in history?). Most people quote the vivid tales that Freddie lays out as plain evidence against Jeezy (“You ain’t take security, so we ain’t take a seat,”) but what really makes this record special (aside from Freddie and ‘Lib’s pure ferociousness) is how Fred shows us that the beef is tied to true emotion, that it was born of a friendship–“I looked up to you, put that on my mama.” That cuts deep.

4. The Roots – “When The People Cheer” Featuring Greg Porn and Modesty Lycan (…And Then You Shoot Your Cousin)

The Roots really can do no wrong. They are veterans in the game and their music always comes with stellar production and a meaningful message. Taking a conceptual approach to every song on the album, “When The People Cheer” sets the tone of the album hitting on anti-rap themes and community stereotypes of seeking guidance in the wrong places. Between Greg Porn and Black Thought’s verses, it’s nearly too much poetry for one song, which is why it landed in the top 5.

 3. Rick Ross – “Sanctified” Featuring Big Sean and Kanye West (Mastermind)

Ross, Big Sean and Ye’ swap hooks and verses in between sips of sanctified refreshments, all the while sporting DONDA apparel for this one. This is Ross’s song, but Ye takes the most time at the podium to address the critics and to justify his rants.  Ye hasn’t dropped the follow up to his Yeezus album yet, but he did manage to take over someone else’s song and steal the number 3 spot on this list.

2. SZA – “Babylon” Featuring Kendrick Lamar (Z)

SZA is holding her own as TDE’s first female signee while representing the label’s more eclectic side. Her EP, Z, as stated by Kendrick Lamar, is laced with hidden messages and “Babylon” is one of the deeper songs that has a dual meaning. SZA sings about a complex love/hate relationship in a spiritual context. Kendrick Lamar’s clever wordplay adds more meaning to thought, sending the emotional roller-coaster ride out of control. TDE has clearly taken over this list, and for good reason.

1. Young Jeezy – “Seen It All” Featuring Jay Z (Seen It All: The Autobiography)

Young Jeezy prides himself on authenticity. In fact, he’s one of the realest rappers out here (unless you’re asking Freddie Gibbs). Before rapping, drug dealing was Jeezy’s means of survival and the testimonial track “Seen It All” gives us his truthful encounter of selling white. Hov takes us back to his Reasonable Doubt days as he recounts his vision of pushing keys through Marcy Projects. Originally made for Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail, the single will be featured on Young Jeezy’s upcoming studio album Seen It All: The Autobiography. It’s no doubt why “Seen It All” is number one–it’s the G-code standard for sifting out rap counterfeits.

Runners Up:

Alex Wiley – “Forever” Featuring Mick Jenkins
Ratking – “Canal”
YG – “Really Been” Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – “Uno”
Drake – “Days In The East”

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Top Dawg Entertainment had a banner year in 2013. They capped off 2012 with Kendrick Lamar’s prodigious release and rode the tidal wave of success all the way to a platinum album and even into this year’s Grammy’s. While good kid, m.A.A.d city didn’t earn anything that night other than a sanctimonious text message, the cultural impact of the album helped catapult the whole Black Hippy and TDE squad into the limelight. However, there were plenty of quality releases to come out of Top Dawg’s house prior to October 2012 that deserve to be talked about, as well. With Schoolboy Q’s Oxymoron finally arriving on iTunes (and those big brick and mortar things in the real world), we thought it would be appropriate to take a retrospective on the past releases of the label. Kendrick may be running ahead of the pack, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the label is lagging behind. TDE has been eatin’ for years. [Ed. Note: This list is meant to examine official albums over projects initially given away for free, thus omitting such releases as Kendrick Lamar’s Overly Dedicated and Jay Rock’s Black Friday.]

 9) Setbacks

Schoolboy Q will be the first to tell you he didn’t always dream of becoming a rapper. In fact, he noted that the concept behind Setbacks was to talk about all the reasons why he can’t rap. From drugs to women, Schoolboy had plenty of distractions and rap was only a means to an end. Given this, one would assume the album would more or less suck, but it’s quite impressive, especially considering all the aforementioned circumstances. Q had a long way to go to improve his mic skills, but the material was already in place for a promising career.

8) Longterm Mentality

Ab-Soul said he wanted Longterm Mentality to capture his life and his aspirations in the music business. While his debut was not meant to be a continuation of his Longterm mixtapes, it was still an all-encompassing idea of the themes presented in the previous two works. Songs like “Almost There” demonstrate Ab’s sacrifices and ambition to make it big in the game. While the album was understandably a little raw and underdeveloped, it was clear that Ab-Soul had plenty of potential and a lot more to say.

7) Cilvia Demo

Isaiah Rashad initially planned for Cilvia Demo to be exclusively verses, with each song averaging around 90 seconds. After continued studio time, the project morphed into an official EP (although even that can be debated given its LP length). Rashad seamlessly blends harmonizing, rapping and melodies into a dreamy 14-track sequence. Vices, demons, insecurities and hopes are all explored here, and are mostly handled exclusively by Rashad with minimal features, making for an even more impressive debut.

6) Control System

Ab-Soul may be the “weirdo” of the Black Hippy crew, but he comes alive through his music. His independent sophomore effort demonstrated plenty of growth for one year’s time. While Longterm Mentality focused inward, Ab turned his pen outward on Control System and broadened his subject matter to society and politics. He continued to self-analyze as well, except this time it was with far more polished beats and flows.

5) Habits & Contradictions

A year following Setbacks, Schoolboy Q had grown into a far more confident rapper. He showcased a better understanding of song structure, with a hit record in “Hands on the Wheel,” while demonstrating rarely-seen vulnerability on ‘Blessed.” Furthermore, he became infinitely more menacing and haunting on “Oxy Music” and “Nightmare on Figg Street.” The makings of Oxymoron were already in place here.

4) Oxymoron

After a few false starts, Q’s major label debut arrived to critical praise. The missteps of Setbacks and Habits & Contradictions were mostly absent on Oxymoron and we instead received a focused body of work. Furthering the introspection from his previous album, Q delved deeper into his drugs problems on “Prescription,” easily his most personal record to date. Records like “Gangsta” and “Fuck LA” showcased the aggressive side of Schoolboy that made him a TDE favorite and he even tacked on some crossover potentials such as ‘Studio” for good measure. The South Central spitter also proved he could mostly stand on his own two feet, limiting the Black Hippy features and going for self. While Oxymoron may not have been the crowned jewel of the Top Dawg catalog, it was by far Schoolboy Q’s best body of work.

3) Section.80

Kendrick had been around for a while by the time Section.80 rolled in, but it was this album that put the Compton native on the mainstream map (and caught the ear of Dr. Dre). Kendrick’s penchant for anthemic hooks was fully developed by this point, and he flexed those abilities with tracks like “Fuck Your Ethnicity” and “HiiiPower.” While there were plenty of attention grabbers such as those, it was Kendrick’s heart that kept people listening. “Tammy’s Song” and “Keisha’s Song” showed the depth that the Black Hippy capo had and his potential for crafting timeless music.

2) Follow Me Home

Following Jay Rock home was an exhausting ordeal. The Watts rapper had unsuccessful stints at both Asylum and Warner Records before finally signing to Tech N9ne’s Strange Music in 2010. Rock would then spend a while on the road and deliver his Black Friday mixtape before finally dropping his debut album in July 2011. While Follow Me Home was not a commercial success, it was critically praised for its classic West Coast lyrics and booming production. Songs like “Elbows” and “Just Like Me” demonstrated Rock’s knowledge for the importance of powerful hooks, while “Code Red” and “Bout That” delivered a menacing feel for his core audience. The album bleeds with vintage West Coast gangsterism yet sets itself apart with fresh flows ideas.

1) good kid, m.A.A.d city

No surprise here. When it came out to unanimous critical praise in October 2012, Kendrick Lamar said the only thing keeping good kid, m.A.A.d city from classic status was time. Well, it has been over a year and the album is still as good as ever, if not better. GKMC is a fully-conceived, thought-out story, the likes of which we rarely get in hip-hop. Not only does the album require your full attention in order to understand the narrative, but it also has some jams on there for you to vibe to. “Backseat Freestyle” and “m.A.A.d city” are high octane tracks that demand movement when being played, while “Money Trees” and ‘Poetic Justice” soothe your soul. Add to that moving records like “Sing About Me” and you have the recipe for a masterpiece.

Where does Oxymoron fit in to TDE’s catalog now that its available? Let us know.

The post Ranking TDE’s Albums From Worst to Best appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

TDE’s Isaiah Rashad is on fire. Not only is Isaiah‘s EP, Cilvia Demo, heating up the internet with rave reviews from numerous music enthusiasts, but this young, raw talent also knows how to spit a hot freestyle verse.  Watch Isaiah hop on the mic during a recent visit to RapFix Live below.

The post Video: Isaiah Rashad Spits Fire on RapFix appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.