Oftentimes, we need hindsight to truly appreciate something, whether it be a particular moment in our lives or the year that was. Music is no different.
With albums being dropped month after month by amazing artist after amazing artist, sometimes we need to refresh our memory on the year that was. One of the best events at doing this is the Grammys, which pays tribute to many legends who have passed away and honoring those cementing legacies right in front of our very eyes. From the powerful vocals of Adele, to the funky, introspective power of Kendrick Lamar, 2015 was quite the year in music. It was also quite the year for hip-hop.
Last year saw many up-and-coming artists cement their names amongst the masses with rookie and sophomore albums that lit a fuse under the ever-changing seat of hip-hop. Trap rap rose to another level with Future's third album "DS2," only to then collaborate with Drizzy Drake on "What A Time To Be Alive," which included bangers like "Jumpman." Big Sean also produced his third studio album with features from Kanye and Drake. Dr. Dre came out of the woods with one of his best projects to date, "Compton," featuring collaborations that mirrored a who's who in hip-hop past and present. A quartet of young rappers – Travis Scott, Ty Dolla $ign, Joey Bada$$ and Vince Staples – all released their first studio albums. Drake dropped a mixtape. Earl Sweatshirt and Action Bronson released their highly anticipated sophomore albums. ASAP Rocky, Fetty Wap, Rae Sremmurd, Meek Mill, and Young Thug had new music too. Of course, Kendrick Lamar came out with the tantalizing, thought provoking, and Grammy award-winning "To Pimp a Butterfly." Feel free to re-read that.
Most people didn't even have time to catch that much music, but what a year it was. That's the beauty of hindsight. I even forgot how much music came out. Just typing this I forgot about Chance the Rapper's work on "Surf." But the reason I'm starting with 2015, which was an unbelievable year, is because 2016 might be even better. Now, when it comes down to it, there will not be the mass quantity of music this year that were bestowed upon us a year ago. But between projects that have come out, those confirmed to be coming out and those that are rumored to come, 2015 might be put to shame.
So far in 2016, and we're just halfway through April, hip-hop has hit the ground running faster than it took Kanye to diss Taylor Swift on "The Life of Pablo." Aside from the heavily anticipated seventh album from Mr. West, we've already been pleasantly surprised by another album from Future, "Evol," and even more so by an untitled album from Kendrick Lamar, which hums to the drum of "To Pimp a Butterfly," beautifully orchestrating blues, rhymes and soul. Wiz Khalifa and Young Thug dropped albums right before Valentine's Day and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis returned to hip-hop with "This Unruly "Mess I've Made."
Much like in 2015, 2016 is bringing with it a variety of hip-hop. In the month since those releases, Dreamville's Bas came out with his second studio album, 2 Chainz dropped his third album, a collaboration with Lil Wayne, and the highly anticipated album of Flatbush Zombies hit stores and streaming services. And T.I. returned to our living rooms with another album. That's all in just three months. From the gospel resonance of "TLOP" to 2 Chainz's loud bangers, rap's biggest names have already taken center stage with plenty of new material. But it's not what's been released already, but what could come, and is rumored to come, that could make this a year to remember.
Just in the month of April we have been given Drake's latest project, "Views From the 6," which has already supported the lightning rod hit Summer Sixteen. And then we got ASAP Ferg's second studio album, "Always Strive and Prosper." Chance the Rapper, after blowing up even more, if that's even possible, after his role on Kanye's "Ultralight Beam and Waves," is releasing his latest work this month as well. That just about does it for confirmed projects, which honestly is enough to cap this as a classic, all-time year in April. But just wait for the rumored projects on the way.
Here are the list of rappers currently working on albums or who have said one is on the way: Travis Scott – who has already collaborated with the Weeknd, Lupe Fiasco has three rumored new projects, Vic Mensa and his debut album, Nas, Action Bronson, and of course, the biggest rumor of all, a shared project from Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. The last one is surely what could send 2016 into the history books, as two of hip-hop's greatest stay behind microphones and studio doors, as a rumored album whispers through the grape vine.
Let's look at the evidence. Kendrick performed at a Cole concert shown on the latter's HBO documentary series, and the two released "Black Friday" tracks rapping over each other's songs. Kendrick appeared on "Born Sinner." But then again there are also rumors about touring and scheduling conflicts. We shall see. Cross your fingers and toes and anything you can cross without sending yourself to the ER.
Without even getting J. Cole and Kendrick together this year, we already have most of the biggest names dropping: Kanye, Kendrick, Drake and Chance. Just those four in one year would be plenty, let alone J. Cole and more Kendrick too. Future and many other popular figures have come out with music already, and who knows who's cooking up something mean that we haven't caught wind of yet. Vic Mensa has been on a tear with hot singles like "U Mad," "No Chill" and "Danger." Not to mention Ice Cube is coming to Coachella, most likely with some old friends and maybe a hologram or two.
Last year was a great year in hip-hop, but besides Kendrick, it didn't have the same type of high-level projects from the Mount Rushmore of rap to back it up. This year we're getting all that and more: legends, young, past and present. Buckle up and blast that bass.
Annenberg Media