Heading into mid July, hip-hop has delivered a healthy selection of summer bangers from some of your favorites as well as music from across the globe.
Here are Urban Knowledge's Top 5 summer albums
Jim Jones El Capo
Still hot from the success of 2018's Wasted Talent, and arguably one his best albums to date, Jim Jones blesses the summer with Heatmakerz delivering El Capo. Jim goes full speed with standouts For the Love of the Hustle with Trav and the heavy hitting Makes No Issues of IT. Jones couldnt be more comfortable in his zone than on the street anthem Cristal Occassions. It wouldnt be a true Jim Jones album without a dipset feature as Killa Cam appears on the sample laced Mama I Made it. Jones' lane is Harlem street anthem music and this packs plenty to get you through the heat.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib Bandana
Nobody could've guessed Freddie Gibbs and Madlib would make such a well blended combination pure hip-hop and street raps, until 2014 when we were gifted with Pinata. There is absolutley no one better at loops and chops than Madlib and Gibbs' heavy handed street energy seem to navigate this space effortlessly. Madlib goes right to work with the soul laced Freestyle Shi*t . This continues with his signature loops on Massage Seats, with Gibbs flexing his tales of smashing "platinum" R&B chicks. The duo bring in Killer Mike and Pusha T for big bars on the super smooth Palmolive. With so many layers to Bandana, this project could be one of the best this year.
Dreamville's Revenge of the Dreamers III
JCole's Dreamville imprint has produced an all-star lineup of creatives with the "Revenge of the Dreamers" series. ROTD III restores his collaborative energy, trading verses with a myriad of talented young artists. Atlanta's JID crushes the bouncy Down Bad along with EARTHGANG who makes several appearences. Cole lets the young guns eat on the majority of the project and you get a new element from each artist. The magic of the Dreamers project is in the organic energy they're able to conjure in concepts and execution. With songs like 1993, where the session is also a smoke session, you will not find a weak bar anywhere. With features from T.I. and Ari Lennox this one comes in at a heavy 18 tracks, but is the easily best compilation project of the summer.
Drake Omerta/Money in the Grave ft. Rick Ross
Drake moves in a space of success that few artists are able to reach. His most recent project titled,The Best in the World Pack, were predicated by the Championship run of the Toronto Raptors. The idea that he has these kinds of barrage heavy bars on deck is major flex. With lines like, "I wish that i was playing in a sport where we were getting rings/I wouldnt have space on either hand for anything" He knows hes winning where all your favorites arent. He enlists Rick Ross for Money in the Grave in which Rozay delivers his customary big boss rhymes, over a drill-esque beat. Drake is always good for a summer streamer these are definitly must haves.
Dave Psychodrama
This artist comes all the way from Streatham in West London. Making waves in the rising UK rap scene, artist Dave drops the powerful Psychodrama. Not to be confused with legendary Chicago super group Psychodrama, this project focuses on the traumas of personal growth and experience as a rising artist in the UK. Dave sets the tone early with the haunting keys on Black, describing the "black experience" and dealing with racial and social inequalities. His flow comes off sharp and with no hooks he's able to show his impressive lyrical ability in one steady stream of rhymes. The heavy concepts keep coming with songs like Environment entailing the pressures of fame and success. One of the major standouts is the emotional Lesley which covers the dangers and emotional stress of being in an abusive relationship.This project flows like a therapy session and while it wont be a daily, or even weekly summer streamer, its extremely well executed and is one of the best projects of this year.
What are some of your favorite albums so far this year?
Feel free to comment and let me know.
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