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pvpxrswvg · 7 years

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Top 25 Albums of 2017

While I guess this blog is on hiatus again I really wanted to create a new top albums list for 2017, to serve as both a reminder of the great music that came out this year and as a time capsule of my initial reaction.

I think the most interesting part of 2017 was that it was the year of the internet. 2016 seemed like a huge transitional year for hip-hop, as guys like Lil Yachty, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, Rob Stone, Amine, 21 Savage, D.R.A.M, Young M.A and Desiigner all broke out with hits. While names like Drake, Gucci Mane, and Kendrick were still around, for the most part, we were learning a new name with each huge song.

Now, for the most part, we've completely moved on. Just about all of the above names have had an album flop in the past 18 months, and apart from 21 Savage and maaaybe Lil Uzi Vert, it seems like the above list has lost all of its star power.

But with the old generation gone, in came a new generation of louder and more progressive SoundCloud rappers. The SoundCloud generation doesn't look like it's going anywhere, but 2017 had XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Lil Peep, Lil Xan, Ski Mask the Slump God, Smokepurrp and Trippie Redd all breaking out. I don't think we'll ever see an explosion like that ever again.

2017 was also the year where the internet's first boyband broke out, as suburban kids from all across the world discovered their new favourite band.

This list will follow the same format as last year, which is 25-11 in alphabetical order and then the final 10 counted down.

25-11:

2 Chainz – Pretty Girls Like Trap Music

I wrote a review on 2 Chainz in 2016, which was pretty scathing to say the least. While at the time I wondered if I would ever be able to enjoy a 2 Chainz project, all doubts are now gone as Pretty Girls Like Trap Music is actually really fire. While the mixing on this is absolutely terrible and there's quite a drop off after 4 AM, the entire album has a great vibe and the first four tracks are all tremendous. If Mike Dean had done a better job straddling the line between lo-fi and off-puttingly lo-fi, then this easily could have cracked the top 10.

21 Savage – Issa Album

Firstly, this album was incredibly disappointing. Luckily I'm a huge stan for 21's style, so that and tracks like Whole Lot and Numb mean that despite it being nowhere near the quality of Savage Mode, it's still one of the 25 best albums of the year.

21 Savage, Offset and Metro Boomin – Without Warning

If I had more time with this album this easily could have been higher, as this was probably the hardest cut from the top-10. I reviewed this fairly recently and not a lot has changed about my opinion.

Freddie Gibbs – You Only Live 2wice

While not the best album in Freddie Gibbs' discography, an average release from Gibbs is still better than 90% of hip-hop albums. With deep subtle beats, this album is mostly Gibbs slapping and showing that he still has it, which is as great as it sounds.

G-Worthy – G-Worthy

This EP was locked into my top-25 list as soon as I heard the first 10 seconds of Ain't Trippin, which still might be the smoothest beat that I've ever heard. I've reviewed this fairly recently and Cardo is still that legend.

Gucci Mane – El Gato The Human Glacier

2017 was an incredibly disappointing year for Gucci, which might be a result of my expectations being too high considering that he has two albums featured on this list. However, similar to Drop Top Wop, El Gato The Human Glacier is a very low-effort release that relies on the synergy between Gucci Mane and his producer. In 2016, Gucci Mane was on an absolute hit parade, while in 2017 apart from I Get The Bag, which is for all intents and purposes a Migos track, Gucci didn't really deliver any memorable hits.

Jay-Z – 4:44

I've never really been the biggest fan of Jay-Z, but 4:44 kind of blew me away as it is almost the complete opposite of what Jay-Z has been his whole career. While the storytelling and rapping is mostly the same as it ever was, I don't think Jay-Z has had a sound this subtle since Reasonable Doubt. I think what I've realized is that if instead of making hit after hit, had Jay-Z been an underground Rhymesayers MC I would have been a much bigger fan.

Lil Peep – Come Over When You're Sober, Pt. 1

While most people don't give Lil Peep the credit he deserves on this record, writing it off as a bad Bones/$uicideboys imitation, I think Lil Peep does that sound better than either of those artists. While this release isn't that great, Benz Truck is legitimately a song of the year candidate and the overall sound created on this release is tremendous.

Lil Pump – Lil Pump

I reviewed this and nothing has changed. If you don't like it you don't get it.

LNDN DRGS & P on the Boards – P on the DRGS

I haven't been coming back to this release too much since I reviewed it in January, but I still have an incredible soft-spot for the future-funk style production featured on this release.

Oddisee – The Iceberg

Like Really might be my favorite Oddisee Song, by a really large margin as well. While Oddisee has always been a great rapper and an even better producer, Like Really was the first song he made that I ever felt like coming back to, which made me appreciate The Iceberg a lot more than any other non-instrumental Oddisee release.

Tyler, The Creator – Flower Boy

Part of me wants to write this off as overrated and not include it, but the production on this release is so fucking good. I've never really liked Tyler as a rapper or songwriter, but all of the sounds on this album are so bright and lush.

The Underachievers - Renaissance

Not the best Underachievers record, but it's more consistent spitting by one of the most underrated groups in hip-hop. The highlight of the record is the Ronny J produced Crescendo.

Vince Staples – Big Fish Theory

This is the second year in a row I'm keeping Vince Staples out of the top-10 out of pure spite. I was so excited for this album after BagBak, but I guess Vince Staples isn't interested in being the goat rapper any more.

XXXTentacion – 17

As mentioned above, 2017 was for all intents and purposes the year of Soundcloud rap, which XXXTentacion was well and truly the face of. I know everyone hates XXXTtentacion, I kind of hate him too, but this release and tracks like Revenge are actually good and worth celebrating.

10. Future – FUTURE

I think I'm the only person who likes this album. While apparently this is supposed to be bad, it's an hour of consistent trap from an artist who has perfected his sound. In general, I don't understand what people want from Future, as while Monster is obviously a fucking classic, I don't see what makes this a worse release than something like DS2. People complain about a lack of stand out tracks but Poppin' Tags, Flip and Draco are all incredibly strong. That Mask Off track is pretty good too.

9. Big K.R.I.T – 4eva is a Mighty Long Time

I reviewed this fairly recently and I think I'll let that review speak for itself.

8. Playboi Carti – Playboi Carti

There's something strangely alluring about this record that I can't put my finger on. Carti on this record exudes this irresistible style and his simple yet unique sound does a great job holding up over the 46-minute long record. I don't have any future expectations for Carti as this record, as well as Magnolia on its own, seems like lightning in a bottle.

7. Gucci Mane & Metro Boomin – Drop Top Wop

Gucci Mane and Metro Boomin might be the most can't miss duo in the entire rap game. This release could have been three hours long and it still would have featured in my top-10. While apart from Met Gala this record doesn't reach any significant highs, the vibe that Gucci and Metro created has made this Gucci's most consistent and arguably best release.

6. Migos – Culture

I wish I could put this album higher. Culture coming out was just like this huge fucking event. Bad and Boujee is going to stand forever as their biggest hit and everything else in the lead up to this album made it seem destined to be a classic. Unfortunately, I just don't think the Migos style is capable of creating a classic. That's not to say this isn't really good, there isn't a dull track on this release and T-Shirt, Bad and Boujee, Deadz, What The Price, Slippery and Kelly Price are all really strong tracks.

5. Kendrick Lamar – Damn.

This album is good. Really good. That Easter Weekend when it came out might be the most memorable album release of all time. However, what it all comes down to is that while this album is really, really, strong, there's not a single track on here that I'd put in my Kendrick Lamar top-15. Even writing this I can't even think of what the strongest track on here is. While there's nothing on here that's lower than a 6/10, we're talking about an artist with multiple 10/10 tracks and ultimately Damn just isn't as strong as the rest of his discography.

4. Denzel Curry – 13

While only 13 minutes, this is so strong to the point where I don't care. Had this been 40 minutes we'd be talking about a genuine album of the decade contender. Denzel on this continues to be the best spitter in the rap game and the beats that he is rapping over are all insane. Zeltron 6 Billion is my song of the year as well, as Denzel over that Lil Ugly Mane beat is the most perfect thing that I've heard in ages.

3. Brockhampton – Saturation II

2. Brockhampton – Saturation III

1. Brockhampton – Saturation I

I had to go with this as the top three. When I think back on 2017, all I'm going to think about is Brockhampton. Kevin Abstract is an absolute genius and he is surrounded by a ridiculous amount of talent. I'm not exactly sure what else I can say about these three albums.

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