Almost a year ago to date, Rhymesayers MCEvidence released his third studio album, Weather Or Not, featuring DJ Premier, Alchemist, Styles P, Rapsody, and his Dilated Peoples cohorts. Shortly after the drop, Ambrosia For Heads’ Editor-In-Chief, Jake Paine, joined Ev on a Manhattan hotel balcony to discuss the album in full.
In a clip from the interview, Paine asks Evidence about the role of fatherhood in his life, and how it affected his process in creating Weather Or Not.
“Somebody was pointing out to me earlier in an interview I had said many years ago where I had said that I think I will be able to outlast a lot of my friends ’cause I don’t have kids and I don’t have a wife. So, I’m just gonna keep on running forever. But here we go. Yeah, it’s taught me a lot. Probably been really the most pivotal couple years of my life. You know, I made this album previous to and then having my son, and then my son’s mother dealing with a sickness on top of all that. So, just to talk about his birth, with it being complete, I went from the highest high to the lowest low. So I made this song that goes on the end of the album, which my son is on, and I really didn’t mean for this to be a focal point of most interviews. But I realize that if I make the music, I’m going to have to talk about it. And so what was happening is I have my son and he was trying to breast feed and [they] found breast cancer in his mother. So these whole couple of years have just been like extreme highs and extreme lows. It definitely prohibited the normal workflow that I work in when I make an album.”
Evidence continues, “So in, “Throw It All Away,” I said ‘No son, but I fathered this verse.” She wasn’t even pregnant. That’s how long I’ve been working on some of these songs. So having my son is the biggest blessing. It’s given us more strength than anything. And at the same time, keeping him away from everything we’ve been going through has been a real challenge. And it’s been real. It’s forced me to do a little growing up. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The rest of the video can be seen in full on AFH TV, Ambrosia For Heads’ subscription video streaming service (30-day free trials are available). In the remainder of the interview, Evidence discusses in-depth the album that AFH’s readers named the Best of 2018. He talks about it being the final installment of his 4-part Weather series, working with Defari, how making the album was therapy for him, and more.
Almost a year ago to date, Rhymesayers MCEvidence released his third studio album, Weather Or Not, featuring DJ Premier, Alchemist, Styles P, Rapsody, and his Dilated Peoples cohorts. Shortly after the drop, Ambrosia For Heads’ Editor-In-Chief, Jake Paine, joined Ev on a Manhattan hotel balcony to discuss the album in full.
In a clip from the interview, Paine asks Evidence about the role of fatherhood in his life, and how it affected his process in creating Weather Or Not.
“Somebody was pointing out to me earlier in an interview I had said many years ago where I had said that I think I will be able to outlast a lot of my friends ’cause I don’t have kids and I don’t have a wife. So, I’m just gonna keep on running forever. But here we go. Yeah, it’s taught me a lot. Probably been really the most pivotal couple years of my life. You know, I made this album previous to and then having my son, and then my son’s mother dealing with a sickness on top of all that. So, just to talk about his birth, with it being complete, I went from the highest high to the lowest low. So I made this song that goes on the end of the album, which my son is on, and I really didn’t mean for this to be a focal point of most interviews. But I realize that if I make the music, I’m going to have to talk about it. And so what was happening is I have my son and he was trying to breast feed and [they] found breast cancer in his mother. So these whole couple of years have just been like extreme highs and extreme lows. It definitely prohibited the normal workflow that I work in when I make an album.”
Evidence continues, “So in, “Throw It All Away,” I said ‘No son, but I fathered this verse.” She wasn’t even pregnant. That’s how long I’ve been working on some of these songs. So having my son is the biggest blessing. It’s given us more strength than anything. And at the same time, keeping him away from everything we’ve been going through has been a real challenge. And it’s been real. It’s forced me to do a little growing up. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The rest of the video can be seen in full on AFH TV, Ambrosia For Heads’ subscription video streaming service (30-day free trials are available). In the remainder of the interview, Evidence discusses in-depth the album that AFH’s readers named the Best of 2018. He talks about it being the final installment of his 4-part Weather series, working with Defari, how making the album was therapy for him, and more.
Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018’s Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence’s Weather Or Not bested Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition.
While Evidence has already cemented an incredible 20-year-career across his role in Dilated Peoples, Stepbrothers, and an impressive solo catalog, W.O.N. reached a new plateau. In early 2017, the artist born Michael Perretta released the Alchemist-produced “Throw It All Away.” The somber video single saw Ev’ contemplating his life, discussing his relationship with money, and evaluating his career. That reflective mood would ultimately set the table for what built over the next nine months.
In the closing days of ’17, Ev’ dropped the Nottz-produced “Jim Dean” video single. A month later, the Rhymesayers Entertainment full-length release followed. The album addresses the cancer battle that Evidence’s partner Wendy was facing, who is also the mother to his son, Enzo. The highly-personal “By My Side Too” saw Ev’ pledging to be a great father, honoring his companion, and revealing why he may have seemed preoccupied to those not in the know. Sadly, Ev confirmed the passing of his partner several months after the album. Fans familiar with 2007’s The Weatherman can recall an all-too-similar heartfelt dedication to his late mother, “I Still Love You.”
However, at a full listen, Weather Or Not shows that Evidence refuses to be defined by loss or challenge. Instead, he celebrates the triumphs as an artist capable of claiming to be a fixture in the ’90s Underground Hip-Hop movement who still advances the culture without compromise. Moreover, Ev—who has worked with Kanye West, Everlast, B-Real, and plenty of others, asserts that he has been able to make a good living in Hip-Hop. Although the Rhymesayer may not get proper recognition for his arts, he embraces his place in the game, and raps, produces, and creates on the highest level of competition.
Twenty years after Dilated’s first 12″ singles, Evidence challenges his peers to do better. “Same vinyl crates, but I’m comin’ up with new flips / On my classics, like Karate Kid and Blue Chips / I don’t want to see my friends be broke or be bitter / I don’t want to see my heroes slangin’ verses on they Twitter / Everyone’s an imitation / Spitters copy G Rap, the rest are on some Drake sh*t,” he declares on the DJ Premier-produced “10,000 Hours.” The Rap survivor is unafraid to say what so many folks may be thinking. He shows his mind-state in Rap on “Love Is A Funny Thing.” “They say love is a funny thing / But what’s funny is the company that money brings / Every year my circle’s getting smaller / Not Ben Baller but never had a thin wallet / I got dollars in different forms of currency / I got problems, but ain’t nothing that worry me / And I ain’t saying that I’m worry-free, I’m just saying nothing’s fucking with me currently / Sh*t, I’m my own worst enemy / I make bread just to spend it like it’s 10 of me / It’s Evidence and people call me by my government / Call me for weed, but don’t call me for that other sh*t.”
Evidence involves a cast of guests, without losing the cohesive feel of a personal solo album. Longtime affiliates like Defari and Dilated band-mates DJ Babu and Rakaa are present. While 20 years ago, a Styles P and Evidence collaboration may have seemed like a far-reaching idea, the two lyricists sound great together, especially with Rapsody also in the mix. Ev’ also trades deft bars with Jonwayne, and lights the biggest stage to date for low-profile hardcore Hip-Hop sensation Mach-Hommy. Musically, the LP contains some of the most evocative Alchemist production in a truly incredible year for the other Stepbrother. Preemo and Nottz make their moments count, as Hip-Hop Heads can forever trust. Al’s homie Budgie as well as Twiz The Beatpro shine as well. Fresh off of producing a whole project for Defari in ’17, Evidence shows his versatility with three tracks of his own. Much of the album has come to video, including some incredible treatments by Jason Goldwatch and Ev’s own direction.
A show-piece within Weather Or Not is the Slug collaboration, “Powder Cocaine.” The song may be the intersection of the introspective and the more kick-back moments. “I be fine like powder cocaine / And that’s a hell of a drug, and that’s a hell of a saying / They need elephant trunks to get it off of the plate / I wanna better myself, they wanna dwell in the pain / I wanna better my health, no umbrella for rain / And that’s a hell of a bug, I wanna live in my dreams / Got an ocean in mind, they wanna settle for streams / I wanna settle for more / I wanna get knocked down so I could settle the score / Better than before as if that was possible / To shake the demons of my mother in the hospital,” raps Ev over one of Alchemist’s greatest beats of all time. The excerpt tackles the state of the art, self-improvement, and some of the most personal things the artist can reveal. Slug matches the energy with lines like: “I want knowledge of self and also everything else / But the gravity helps, yeah, reality’s real / When I finally fell, I told my family ‘Well, when a battery dies it goes to battery hell’ / Bent, intent, inflict a dent in the cement / Magnificent, brag like Sisyphus / Boast like the host with the most up-votes / I bought a spot in coach but got the bump-up hopes.” The song is catharsis from two peers who have helped shoulder a Hip-Hop movement, and still fight to pressing this incredible music to vinyl and CD.
Weather Or Not forecast a cloudy year in music, politics, society, and the personal lives of so many. However, the director of photography artfully put things in focus. This album played all year long with honesty, vulnerability, and the unwavering foundation of dope beats and rhymes.
Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018’s Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence’s Weather Or Not bested Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition.
While Evidence has already cemented an incredible 20-year-career across his role in Dilated Peoples, Stepbrothers, and an impressive solo catalog, W.O.N. reached a new plateau. In early 2017, the artist born Michael Perretta released the Alchemist-produced “Throw It All Away.” The somber video single saw Ev’ contemplating his life, discussing his relationship with money, and evaluating his career. That reflective mood would ultimately set the table for what built over the next nine months.
In the closing days of ’17, Ev’ dropped the Nottz-produced “Jim Dean” video single. A month later, the Rhymesayers Entertainment full-length release followed. The album addresses the cancer battle that Evidence’s partner Wendy was facing, who is also the mother to his son, Enzo. The highly-personal “By My Side Too” saw Ev’ pledging to be a great father, honoring his companion, and revealing why he may have seemed preoccupied to those not in the know. Sadly, Ev confirmed the passing of his partner several months after the album. Fans familiar with 2007’s The Weatherman can recall an all-too-similar heartfelt dedication to his late mother, “I Still Love You.”
However, at a full listen, Weather Or Not shows that Evidence refuses to be defined by loss or challenge. Instead, he celebrates the triumphs as an artist capable of claiming to be a fixture in the ’90s Underground Hip-Hop movement who still advances the culture without compromise. Moreover, Ev—who has worked with Kanye West, Everlast, B-Real, and plenty of others, asserts that he has been able to make a good living in Hip-Hop. Although the Rhymesayer may not get proper recognition for his arts, he embraces his place in the game, and raps, produces, and creates on the highest level of competition.
Twenty years after Dilated’s first 12″ singles, Evidence challenges his peers to do better. “Same vinyl crates, but I’m comin’ up with new flips / On my classics, like Karate Kid and Blue Chips / I don’t want to see my friends be broke or be bitter / I don’t want to see my heroes slangin’ verses on they Twitter / Everyone’s an imitation / Spitters copy G Rap, the rest are on some Drake sh*t,” he declares on the DJ Premier-produced “10,000 Hours.” The Rap survivor is unafraid to say what so many folks may be thinking. He shows his mind-state in Rap on “Love Is A Funny Thing.” “They say love is a funny thing / But what’s funny is the company that money brings / Every year my circle’s getting smaller / Not Ben Baller but never had a thin wallet / I got dollars in different forms of currency / I got problems, but ain’t nothing that worry me / And I ain’t saying that I’m worry-free, I’m just saying nothing’s fucking with me currently / Sh*t, I’m my own worst enemy / I make bread just to spend it like it’s 10 of me / It’s Evidence and people call me by my government / Call me for weed, but don’t call me for that other sh*t.”
Evidence involves a cast of guests, without losing the cohesive feel of a personal solo album. Longtime affiliates like Defari and Dilated band-mates DJ Babu and Rakaa are present. While 20 years ago, a Styles P and Evidence collaboration may have seemed like a far-reaching idea, the two lyricists sound great together, especially with Rapsody also in the mix. Ev’ also trades deft bars with Jonwayne, and lights the biggest stage to date for low-profile hardcore Hip-Hop sensation Mach-Hommy. Musically, the LP contains some of the most evocative Alchemist production in a truly incredible year for the other Stepbrother. Preemo and Nottz make their moments count, as Hip-Hop Heads can forever trust. Al’s homie Budgie as well as Twiz The Beatpro shine as well. Fresh off of producing a whole project for Defari in ’17, Evidence shows his versatility with three tracks of his own. Much of the album has come to video, including some incredible treatments by Jason Goldwatch and Ev’s own direction.
A show-piece within Weather Or Not is the Slug collaboration, “Powder Cocaine.” The song may be the intersection of the introspective and the more kick-back moments. “I be fine like powder cocaine / And that’s a hell of a drug, and that’s a hell of a saying / They need elephant trunks to get it off of the plate / I wanna better myself, they wanna dwell in the pain / I wanna better my health, no umbrella for rain / And that’s a hell of a bug, I wanna live in my dreams / Got an ocean in mind, they wanna settle for streams / I wanna settle for more / I wanna get knocked down so I could settle the score / Better than before as if that was possible / To shake the demons of my mother in the hospital,” raps Ev over one of Alchemist’s greatest beats of all time. The excerpt tackles the state of the art, self-improvement, and some of the most personal things the artist can reveal. Slug matches the energy with lines like: “I want knowledge of self and also everything else / But the gravity helps, yeah, reality’s real / When I finally fell, I told my family ‘Well, when a battery dies it goes to battery hell’ / Bent, intent, inflict a dent in the cement / Magnificent, brag like Sisyphus / Boast like the host with the most up-votes / I bought a spot in coach but got the bump-up hopes.” The song is catharsis from two peers who have helped shoulder a Hip-Hop movement, and still fight to pressing this incredible music to vinyl and CD.
Weather Or Not forecast a cloudy year in music, politics, society, and the personal lives of so many. However, the director of photography artfully put things in focus. This album played all year long with honesty, vulnerability, and the unwavering foundation of dope beats and rhymes.
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
The bracket-style competition among the final 16 albums has begun. Each weekday, albums will face off against one another. We will go from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 to the Final 4 to the Championship Finals, with one album emerging as the victor. After 14 battles, the championship round is between Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan and Evidence’s Weather Or Not. Now you must determine the Best Album Of 2018. Voting ends at 11:59 pm EST Sunday, December 30. Make sure your opinion is heard and gets counted (click on your album’s artwork in the box below, then click “vote”).
In a career filled with a variety of impactful releases, Royce 5’9’s most personal and complex offering arrived this year. Book Of Ryan has Royce reflecting on chapters of his childhood as he takes audit on his life as a proudly sober family-man. It’s easily his most intimate, introspective album to date, as he goes page by page through his past, exploring his father’s struggles with addiction on “Cocaine,” the physical abuse his family endured on “Power,” and even life’s loss of innocence on “Boblo Boat.” One of 2018’s longer albums at the top, it maintains a cohesive narrative that’s tied together with perfectly executed skits. Nickel Nine can paint vivid pictures with his words to put the listeners directly in the shoes of both his younger and present-day self. For Heads who are more used to Royce demolishing a beat first and asking questions later, he has a few competitive joints sprinkled between his story, reuniting Bad Meets Evil on the Eminem-assisted “Caterpillar” and recruiting Pusha-T, Jadakiss, and Fabolous for the hyped “Summer On Lock.”Book Of Ryan proves to be Royce’s best look into the mirror, and has him evolving beyond the killer MC he’s known as, and into a true artist that can resonate with his story. – Sypher
Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Heaven Studios/eOne Music Guests:Eminem, J. Cole, Pusha-T, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Logic, Boogie, Marsha Ambrosius, Robert Glasper, T-Pain, King Green, Ashley Sorrell, Agent Sasco, Melanie Rutherford, Chavis Chandler Producers:Mr. Porter, S1, AntMan Wonder, Boi-1da, Cool & Dre, DJ Khalil, 808-Ray, Epikh Pro, Frank Dukes, Fuse, !llmind, Key Wane, The Maven Boys, StreetRunner, Tarik Azzouz
In a year when many of the year’s splashiest releases were defined by brevity, Evidence delivered a robust, 16-track composition in Weather Or Not. The fourth solo LP from the Los Angeles, California MC marries the gracious with the glib, with themes of perseverance, accomplishment, sadness, integrity and mortality. With guest spots from Styles P, Rapsody and Khrysis on one song (“Love Is A Funny Thing”); heat from Alchemist, who hopped on “Sell Me This Pen” alongside Mach-Hommy; to fellow Dilated Peoples Rakaa and DJ Babu; and one of the year’s best guest verses, courtesy of Jonwayne on “To Make a Long Story Longer,” the album is stellar. Its brightest moments, though, shine through with Evidence performing solo. As he spits on the LP’s opener, “I’m at my best when I’m back into the factory,” he’s both boastful and merciful. On the title track, he’s cheekily self-referential and on the DJ Premier-laced “10,000 Hours,” in prideful stride. “Throw It All Away” may embody Weather Or Not‘s DNA most acutely: “Out the gate a bit late, but the champ is back / I need a third hand to wear my rings and hold plaques.” He saved the true poignancy for the album’s closer, however. On “By My Side Too,” he celebrates his late life partner—as she was battling Stage III breast cancer—as well as his son, who was born during the recording process for Weather Or Not. As he told Ambrosia For Heads earlier this year, “The reward of being an open book is way more tremendous. There’s a bigger purpose to it.” – Bonita
Released: January 26, 2018 Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment Guests: Rakaa, Alchemist, Slug, Defari, Rapsody, Styles P, Krondon, Jonwayne, Mach Hommy, Khrysis, Catero Producers: self, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, Budgie, Twiz The Beat Pro, Samiyam
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
The bracket-style competition among the final 16 albums has begun. Each weekday, albums will face off against one another. We will go from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 to the Final 4 to the Championship Finals, with one album emerging as the victor. After 14 battles, the championship round is between Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan and Evidence’s Weather Or Not. Now you must determine the Best Album Of 2018. Voting ends at 11:59 pm EST Sunday, December 30. Make sure your opinion is heard and gets counted (click on your album’s artwork in the box below, then click “vote”).
In a career filled with a variety of impactful releases, Royce 5’9’s most personal and complex offering arrived this year. Book Of Ryan has Royce reflecting on chapters of his childhood as he takes audit on his life as a proudly sober family-man. It’s easily his most intimate, introspective album to date, as he goes page by page through his past, exploring his father’s struggles with addiction on “Cocaine,” the physical abuse his family endured on “Power,” and even life’s loss of innocence on “Boblo Boat.” One of 2018’s longer albums at the top, it maintains a cohesive narrative that’s tied together with perfectly executed skits. Nickel Nine can paint vivid pictures with his words to put the listeners directly in the shoes of both his younger and present-day self. For Heads who are more used to Royce demolishing a beat first and asking questions later, he has a few competitive joints sprinkled between his story, reuniting Bad Meets Evil on the Eminem-assisted “Caterpillar” and recruiting Pusha-T, Jadakiss, and Fabolous for the hyped “Summer On Lock.”Book Of Ryan proves to be Royce’s best look into the mirror, and has him evolving beyond the killer MC he’s known as, and into a true artist that can resonate with his story. – Sypher
Released: May 4, 2018 Label: Heaven Studios/eOne Music Guests:Eminem, J. Cole, Pusha-T, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Logic, Boogie, Marsha Ambrosius, Robert Glasper, T-Pain, King Green, Ashley Sorrell, Agent Sasco, Melanie Rutherford, Chavis Chandler Producers:Mr. Porter, S1, AntMan Wonder, Boi-1da, Cool & Dre, DJ Khalil, 808-Ray, Epikh Pro, Frank Dukes, Fuse, !llmind, Key Wane, The Maven Boys, StreetRunner, Tarik Azzouz
In a year when many of the year’s splashiest releases were defined by brevity, Evidence delivered a robust, 16-track composition in Weather Or Not. The fourth solo LP from the Los Angeles, California MC marries the gracious with the glib, with themes of perseverance, accomplishment, sadness, integrity and mortality. With guest spots from Styles P, Rapsody and Khrysis on one song (“Love Is A Funny Thing”); heat from Alchemist, who hopped on “Sell Me This Pen” alongside Mach-Hommy; to fellow Dilated Peoples Rakaa and DJ Babu; and one of the year’s best guest verses, courtesy of Jonwayne on “To Make a Long Story Longer,” the album is stellar. Its brightest moments, though, shine through with Evidence performing solo. As he spits on the LP’s opener, “I’m at my best when I’m back into the factory,” he’s both boastful and merciful. On the title track, he’s cheekily self-referential and on the DJ Premier-laced “10,000 Hours,” in prideful stride. “Throw It All Away” may embody Weather Or Not‘s DNA most acutely: “Out the gate a bit late, but the champ is back / I need a third hand to wear my rings and hold plaques.” He saved the true poignancy for the album’s closer, however. On “By My Side Too,” he celebrates his late life partner—as she was battling Stage III breast cancer—as well as his son, who was born during the recording process for Weather Or Not. As he told Ambrosia For Heads earlier this year, “The reward of being an open book is way more tremendous. There’s a bigger purpose to it.” – Bonita
Released: January 26, 2018 Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment Guests: Rakaa, Alchemist, Slug, Defari, Rapsody, Styles P, Krondon, Jonwayne, Mach Hommy, Khrysis, Catero Producers: self, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, Budgie, Twiz The Beat Pro, Samiyam
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
The bracket-style competition among the final 16 albums has begun. Each weekday, albums will face off against one another. In each case, voting will close after 24 hours. We will go from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 to the Final 4 to the Championship Finals, with one album emerging as the victor. The second and last Final 4 matchup is between Evidence’s Weather Or Not and J. Cole’s KOD. Only one can reach the championship round. Make sure your opinion is heard and gets counted (click on your album’s artwork in the box below, then click “vote”).
Jermaine Cole has been displaying his self-exploration in plain sight for nearly 10 years now. Each album formulated by the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer has essentially been a verbal diary, meticulously detailing his pilgrimage through both the music industry and his understandings of existence. K.O.D., Cole’s fifth LP, finds him at his most enlightened, concerned, and transparent chapter to date. It bears a title serving as a triple entendre (Kids On Drugs, King Overdosed, Kill Our Demons) is cloaked in the severe dangers of addiction, ego, and greed. King Cole meets kiLL edward (an embodiment of his former stepfather) to sort through the effects of drug and alcohol dependency (“The Cut Off”), infidelity (“Kevin’s Heart”), the selfish pursuit of wealth (“ATM” & “Motiv8”), the inability to assess insecurities and ultimately face those personal demons (“FRIENDS”). What makes Cole’s decisive cautionary tale that is K.O.D. so powerful though, is that he seemingly comes to terms with his own self-inflicted shortcomings while simultaneously cautioning his peers and fans about the destruction of theirs. Without self-awareness, administered advice falls on deaf ears, and for an artist that has already hung their hat on unapologetic authenticity so intently, Cole finds even more strength in his sentiments throughout K.O.D. because of how mindful he is about the repercussions of his own tendencies. K.O.D. is both therapeutic and instructive in a time when honest leadership from a respected veteran was absolutely critical. Cole knew this, and K.O.D. is his grand contribution to the overall well-being of the music industry. Without vanity, Cole has demanded that all parties listen closely and choose wisely. – Michael Blair
Released: April 20, 2018 Label: Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Guest: kiLL edward Producers: self, Ibrahim Hamad, BLVK, Mark Pelli, Ron Gilmore, T-Minus
In a year when many of the year’s splashiest releases were defined by brevity, Evidence delivered a robust, 16-track composition in Weather Or Not. The fourth solo LP from the Los Angeles, California MC marries the gracious with the glib, with themes of perseverance, accomplishment, sadness, integrity and mortality. With guest spots from Styles P, Rapsody and Khrysis on one song (“Love Is A Funny Thing”); heat from Alchemist, who hopped on “Sell Me This Pen” alongside Mach-Hommy; to fellow Dilated Peoples Rakaa and DJ Babu; and one of the year’s best guest verses, courtesy of Jonwayne on “To Make a Long Story Longer,” the album is stellar. Its brightest moments, though, shine through with Evidence performing solo. As he spits on the LP’s opener, “I’m at my best when I’m back into the factory,” he’s both boastful and merciful. On the title track, he’s cheekily self-referential and on the DJ Premier-laced “10,000 Hours,” in prideful stride. “Throw It All Away” may embody Weather Or Not‘s DNA most acutely: “Out the gate a bit late, but the champ is back / I need a third hand to wear my rings and hold plaques.” He saved the true poignancy for the album’s closer, however. On “By My Side Too,” he celebrates his late life partner—as she was battling Stage III breast cancer—as well as his son, who was born during the recording process for Weather Or Not. As he told Ambrosia For Heads earlier this year, “The reward of being an open book is way more tremendous. There’s a bigger purpose to it.” – Bonita
Released: January 26, 2018 Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment Guests: Rakaa, Alchemist, Slug, Defari, Rapsody, Styles P, Krondon, Jonwayne, Mach Hommy, Khrysis, Catero Producers: self, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, Budgie, Twiz The Beat Pro, Samiyam
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
The bracket-style competition among the final 16 albums has begun. Each weekday, albums will face off against one another. In each case, voting will close after 24 hours. We will go from the Sweet 16 to the Elite 8 to the Final 4 to the Championship Finals, with one album emerging as the victor. The second and last Final 4 matchup is between Evidence’s Weather Or Not and J. Cole’s KOD. Only one can reach the championship round. Make sure your opinion is heard and gets counted (click on your album’s artwork in the box below, then click “vote”).
Jermaine Cole has been displaying his self-exploration in plain sight for nearly 10 years now. Each album formulated by the Fayetteville, North Carolina MC/producer has essentially been a verbal diary, meticulously detailing his pilgrimage through both the music industry and his understandings of existence. K.O.D., Cole’s fifth LP, finds him at his most enlightened, concerned, and transparent chapter to date. It bears a title serving as a triple entendre (Kids On Drugs, King Overdosed, Kill Our Demons) is cloaked in the severe dangers of addiction, ego, and greed. King Cole meets kiLL edward (an embodiment of his former stepfather) to sort through the effects of drug and alcohol dependency (“The Cut Off”), infidelity (“Kevin’s Heart”), the selfish pursuit of wealth (“ATM” & “Motiv8”), the inability to assess insecurities and ultimately face those personal demons (“FRIENDS”). What makes Cole’s decisive cautionary tale that is K.O.D. so powerful though, is that he seemingly comes to terms with his own self-inflicted shortcomings while simultaneously cautioning his peers and fans about the destruction of theirs. Without self-awareness, administered advice falls on deaf ears, and for an artist that has already hung their hat on unapologetic authenticity so intently, Cole finds even more strength in his sentiments throughout K.O.D. because of how mindful he is about the repercussions of his own tendencies. K.O.D. is both therapeutic and instructive in a time when honest leadership from a respected veteran was absolutely critical. Cole knew this, and K.O.D. is his grand contribution to the overall well-being of the music industry. Without vanity, Cole has demanded that all parties listen closely and choose wisely. – Michael Blair
Released: April 20, 2018 Label: Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Guest: kiLL edward Producers: self, Ibrahim Hamad, BLVK, Mark Pelli, Ron Gilmore, T-Minus
In a year when many of the year’s splashiest releases were defined by brevity, Evidence delivered a robust, 16-track composition in Weather Or Not. The fourth solo LP from the Los Angeles, California MC marries the gracious with the glib, with themes of perseverance, accomplishment, sadness, integrity and mortality. With guest spots from Styles P, Rapsody and Khrysis on one song (“Love Is A Funny Thing”); heat from Alchemist, who hopped on “Sell Me This Pen” alongside Mach-Hommy; to fellow Dilated Peoples Rakaa and DJ Babu; and one of the year’s best guest verses, courtesy of Jonwayne on “To Make a Long Story Longer,” the album is stellar. Its brightest moments, though, shine through with Evidence performing solo. As he spits on the LP’s opener, “I’m at my best when I’m back into the factory,” he’s both boastful and merciful. On the title track, he’s cheekily self-referential and on the DJ Premier-laced “10,000 Hours,” in prideful stride. “Throw It All Away” may embody Weather Or Not‘s DNA most acutely: “Out the gate a bit late, but the champ is back / I need a third hand to wear my rings and hold plaques.” He saved the true poignancy for the album’s closer, however. On “By My Side Too,” he celebrates his late life partner—as she was battling Stage III breast cancer—as well as his son, who was born during the recording process for Weather Or Not. As he told Ambrosia For Heads earlier this year, “The reward of being an open book is way more tremendous. There’s a bigger purpose to it.” – Bonita
Released: January 26, 2018 Label: Rhymesayers Entertainment Guests: Rakaa, Alchemist, Slug, Defari, Rapsody, Styles P, Krondon, Jonwayne, Mach Hommy, Khrysis, Catero Producers: self, Alchemist, DJ Premier, Nottz, Budgie, Twiz The Beat Pro, Samiyam
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
As 2018 comes to a close, Donald Glover may not only be one of the most brilliant people in entertainment, he is among the most influential. In an era where quantity rules and quality rises, Glover is prolific in a way that rivals few. In three songs, two music videos, another incredible season of Atlanta, one revealing interview, and some captivating moments in between, the 35-year-old creative force is setting a new bar on how to take Hip-Hop culture to the highest of places, rarely without some provocative constructive commentary on itself and the world watching it closely.
At the top of this year, Donald Glover was still collecting interest from his earlier work. 2016’s “Awaken My Love!” yielded five Grammy nominations including “Album Of The Year,” “Record Of The Year,” “Best Traditional R&B Performance,” “Best R&B Song,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.” That LP, which featured Glover singing, marked a pivot for him, as his previous releases focused more on his also acclaimed rapping. Donald’s first platinum release was a nod to the darker side of Parliament-Funkadelic while finding contemporary and relevant terrain. Standout single “Redbone” gives credit to two 1976 compositions, Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s “I’d Rather Be With You” along with Jaco Pastorius’ “Portrait Of Tracy.” However, the song is not merely a cool callback, but a sleeves-rolled-up approach at modern Groove. The single nearly broke the Top 10 with lyrics that are sexual and cerebral at the same time. It sounded great in Get Out, and chased that feeling for the next year. The composition is as dynamic and frantic as the times that spawned it.
On January 28, “Redbone” took home the Grammy for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for the single. While there, Glover performed a soulful rendition of one of the album’s standout tracks named “Terrified.” Towards the end of his display, he brought out JD McCray from Disney’s live-action The Lion King remake, due in 2019. Both actors will play “Simba,” with McCray taking the role of the younger version.
Just days before his win, Donald Glover cemented a centerpiece role at a major label. He inked a partnership between his mcDJ imprint and RCA Records. As a label positioning itself on the cutting-edge of new and authentic Urban Music (H.E.R., Bryson Tiller, Khalid, Buddy, etc.), Glover promised to be a decorated figurehead of the unconventional new sound permeating the mainstream.
Roughly a month after the Grammy’s, Donald premiered the second season of his hit FX series Atlanta. Days before the preview, Glover gave a rare and revealing interview to The New Yorker. While speaking about his success, he was not shy about how hard he had to fight and strategize to get his ideas in play. “The hardest part is surprising FX every time. They need that to feel that you’re an authentic Black person. I surprised them up front by telling them I wanted to make them money,” he said, at a time when the series was the most-watched comedy in the network’s history. A month later, Glover responded to reports that “his commitments” prevented him from properly taking on an FXX Deadpool series. He did not do so with a broad statement or a damning rant. He released script pages. The work balked at any speculation from the public or exec-gossip hearsay. Glover showed what he was up against, and why his creativity and execution was not to blame.
The interview explained that Glover is not a do-everything multi-talent as much as he is a student on a path of learning and mastery. Speaking about accepting a smaller than expected role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Glover explained why it was about opportunity more than ego. Meanwhile, “opportunity” in Glover’s case is not just a polite replacement word for money. “I learn so much. I learn how Marvel movies work, how to handle guest stars, how to make execs happy when they come on set. I gain some of your power. Only now I’m running out of places to learn, at least in America.” That process is part of a lineage that leads him to a leading Lion King part.
Season 2 of Atlanta raised stakes. Robbin’ Season displayed to the world that there is much more at play in a home invasion or mugging. Exploitation and life mirroring art were themes. Directed by longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, the “Teddy Perkins” episode (#6) is the longest in the show’s history. It captured its greatness and uniqueness too. Glover gave a captivating portrayal of a troubled fictional former child star “Teddy Perkins.” As “Darius” is taken hostage at gunpoint, the episode locks in on Theodore “Teddy” Perkins’ psychological pressures and traumas from early fame. It is an E! True Hollywood Story brought to screen cleverly, playing to the damaged child star archetype. Glover transformed entirely into character underneath makeup and prosthetics. Through his eyes and carefully crafted voice, “Teddy” becomes a simmering mass of repressed anger, pain, and violence. Something funny on paper becomes serious and raw.
Critics and peers felt what Glover’s series has done. Atlanta: Robbin’ Season was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards and took home three. The work was so good that some fans felt that the “Most Outstanding Comedy Series” slighted the show from the win it deserved. The “Teddy Perkins” episode was responsible for two of the awards.
Between the Emmy nominations and September awards this year, Donald Glover may have made his boldest statement. The night he hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live, he published something that eclipsed that mainstream look. The “This is America” music video showed the country the trouble that it is in. With the first 40 seconds feeling like a saccharine celebration of partying and capitalism, the video gets really real, really fast. The musician and actor merges his talents with an artful video that highlights the issues all around, and the distractions that take precedence. Gun control, police brutality, racism, religion, and more are allusions behind a catchy song disguised as another evanescent wave. Like J. Cole’s KOD, “This Is America” takes no prisoners in its take on the times. The symbolism has been linked to Jim Crow, Michael Jackson, and “The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse.” With over 445,000,000 views to date, “This is America” has been cited as one of the best music videos in 2018.
In the midst of playing “Lando Calrissian” in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Glover stayed on task with music and great videos. He released the EP Summer Pack that included the songs “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer.” The songs were a step beyond his Rap days and his Funk display, veering into a hybrid of Power Pop and R&B, but on Glover’s subversive terms.
While pleasing to listen to, the visual “Feels Like Summer” video may be even more soothing. It further reveals one of the most provocative artists of our time. Directed by Glover, Ivan Dixon, and Greg Sharp (with character design by Justin Richburg), the video turned the page from the jarring effect of “This Is America” to a pleasant utopia. Glover’s illustrated form takes a walk home, only to encounter a who’s who plethora of rappers, celebrities, and a beloved First Lady. Aside from some pranks, all are in harmony, doing things like chasing ice cream trucks, braiding hair, and skating. He addresses the issues of the day, young artists trolling, Kid Cudi’s depression, and Kanye West’s political malaise.
At a time when animated videos to songs can feel like cheap excuses for budget constrictions and cramped schedules, Donald blended an homage to Saturday morning cartoons with commentary on the Rap world as he sees it. In a year when a current Rap star was murdered, another overdosed on drugs, and another went behind bars, this video and melody can feel like a yearning for innocence. Just underneath the surface of this feel-good energy, the visual reaches darkness as Donald’s lyrics reference global warming, water scarcity, overpopulation, and species extinction. Musically and visually, it is not preaching or beating one over the head with its depth, but it is there for the taking if you want to look a little closer.
As 2018 closes, Donald Glover reached a new plateau with provocative art on several stages. There is plenty to come on all fronts. In August, Glover was spotted on set with Rihanna in Cuba filming Guava Island, which is directed by frequent collaborator Hiro Murai. The details surrounding Guava Island will remain a mystery until its official release. Gambino is currently on tour, where he released two previously recorded tracks exclusively to his fans that have attended his show. He also has an “Easter egg” cameo in the new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
As for 2019, the sky is far from the limit for Donald Glover. He is currently up for four nominations at the 2019 Grammy Awards including: “Record Of The Year,” “Song Of The Year,” “Best Rap/Sung Performance” and “Best Music Video” for “This is America.” As well as earning a nomination for “Best R&B Song” for “Feels Like Summer.” He is also slated to headline Coachella with Kanye West, and he stars alongside James Earl Jones and Beyonce as Simba in the 2019 Disney live action film The Lion Kingon July 19, 2019.
Three songs, one incredible season of television, a Star Wars role, and a video that dominated cultural and political discourse are just part of the profound impact Donald Glover had on Hip-Hop and America in 2018.
As 2018 comes to a close, Donald Glover may not only be one of the most brilliant people in entertainment, he is among the most influential. In an era where quantity rules and quality rises, Glover is prolific in a way that rivals few. In three songs, two music videos, another incredible season of Atlanta, one revealing interview, and some captivating moments in between, the 35-year-old creative force is setting a new bar on how to take Hip-Hop culture to the highest of places, rarely without some provocative constructive commentary on itself and the world watching it closely.
At the top of this year, Donald Glover was still collecting interest from his earlier work. 2016’s “Awaken My Love!” yielded five Grammy nominations including “Album Of The Year,” “Record Of The Year,” “Best Traditional R&B Performance,” “Best R&B Song,” and “Best Urban Contemporary Album.” That LP, which featured Glover singing, marked a pivot for him, as his previous releases focused more on his also acclaimed rapping. Donald’s first platinum release was a nod to the darker side of Parliament-Funkadelic while finding contemporary and relevant terrain. Standout single “Redbone” gives credit to two 1976 compositions, Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s “I’d Rather Be With You” along with Jaco Pastorius’ “Portrait Of Tracy.” However, the song is not merely a cool callback, but a sleeves-rolled-up approach at modern Groove. The single nearly broke the Top 10 with lyrics that are sexual and cerebral at the same time. It sounded great in Get Out, and chased that feeling for the next year. The composition is as dynamic and frantic as the times that spawned it.
On January 28, “Redbone” took home the Grammy for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for the single. While there, Glover performed a soulful rendition of one of the album’s standout tracks named “Terrified.” Towards the end of his display, he brought out JD McCray from Disney’s live-action The Lion King remake, due in 2019. Both actors will play “Simba,” with McCray taking the role of the younger version.
Just days before his win, Donald Glover cemented a centerpiece role at a major label. He inked a partnership between his mcDJ imprint and RCA Records. As a label positioning itself on the cutting-edge of new and authentic Urban Music (H.E.R., Bryson Tiller, Khalid, Buddy, etc.), Glover promised to be a decorated figurehead of the unconventional new sound permeating the mainstream.
Roughly a month after the Grammy’s, Donald premiered the second season of his hit FX series Atlanta. Days before the preview, Glover gave a rare and revealing interview to The New Yorker. While speaking about his success, he was not shy about how hard he had to fight and strategize to get his ideas in play. “The hardest part is surprising FX every time. They need that to feel that you’re an authentic Black person. I surprised them up front by telling them I wanted to make them money,” he said, at a time when the series was the most-watched comedy in the network’s history. A month later, Glover responded to reports that “his commitments” prevented him from properly taking on an FXX Deadpool series. He did not do so with a broad statement or a damning rant. He released script pages. The work balked at any speculation from the public or exec-gossip hearsay. Glover showed what he was up against, and why his creativity and execution was not to blame.
The interview explained that Glover is not a do-everything multi-talent as much as he is a student on a path of learning and mastery. Speaking about accepting a smaller than expected role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Glover explained why it was about opportunity more than ego. Meanwhile, “opportunity” in Glover’s case is not just a polite replacement word for money. “I learn so much. I learn how Marvel movies work, how to handle guest stars, how to make execs happy when they come on set. I gain some of your power. Only now I’m running out of places to learn, at least in America.” That process is part of a lineage that leads him to a leading Lion King part.
Season 2 of Atlanta raised stakes. Robbin’ Season displayed to the world that there is much more at play in a home invasion or mugging. Exploitation and life mirroring art were themes. Directed by longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, the “Teddy Perkins” episode (#6) is the longest in the show’s history. It captured its greatness and uniqueness too. Glover gave a captivating portrayal of a troubled fictional former child star “Teddy Perkins.” As “Darius” is taken hostage at gunpoint, the episode locks in on Theodore “Teddy” Perkins’ psychological pressures and traumas from early fame. It is an E! True Hollywood Story brought to screen cleverly, playing to the damaged child star archetype. Glover transformed entirely into character underneath makeup and prosthetics. Through his eyes and carefully crafted voice, “Teddy” becomes a simmering mass of repressed anger, pain, and violence. Something funny on paper becomes serious and raw.
Critics and peers felt what Glover’s series has done. Atlanta: Robbin’ Season was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards and took home three. The work was so good that some fans felt that the “Most Outstanding Comedy Series” slighted the show from the win it deserved. The “Teddy Perkins” episode was responsible for two of the awards.
Between the Emmy nominations and September awards this year, Donald Glover may have made his boldest statement. The night he hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live, he published something that eclipsed that mainstream look. The “This is America” music video showed the country the trouble that it is in. With the first 40 seconds feeling like a saccharine celebration of partying and capitalism, the video gets really real, really fast. The musician and actor merges his talents with an artful video that highlights the issues all around, and the distractions that take precedence. Gun control, police brutality, racism, religion, and more are allusions behind a catchy song disguised as another evanescent wave. Like J. Cole’s KOD, “This Is America” takes no prisoners in its take on the times. The symbolism has been linked to Jim Crow, Michael Jackson, and “The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse.” With over 445,000,000 views to date, “This is America” has been cited as one of the best music videos in 2018.
In the midst of playing “Lando Calrissian” in Solo: A Star Wars Story, Glover stayed on task with music and great videos. He released the EP Summer Pack that included the songs “Summertime Magic” and “Feels Like Summer.” The songs were a step beyond his Rap days and his Funk display, veering into a hybrid of Power Pop and R&B, but on Glover’s subversive terms.
While pleasing to listen to, the visual “Feels Like Summer” video may be even more soothing. It further reveals one of the most provocative artists of our time. Directed by Glover, Ivan Dixon, and Greg Sharp (with character design by Justin Richburg), the video turned the page from the jarring effect of “This Is America” to a pleasant utopia. Glover’s illustrated form takes a walk home, only to encounter a who’s who plethora of rappers, celebrities, and a beloved First Lady. Aside from some pranks, all are in harmony, doing things like chasing ice cream trucks, braiding hair, and skating. He addresses the issues of the day, young artists trolling, Kid Cudi’s depression, and Kanye West’s political malaise.
At a time when animated videos to songs can feel like cheap excuses for budget constrictions and cramped schedules, Donald blended an homage to Saturday morning cartoons with commentary on the Rap world as he sees it. In a year when a current Rap star was murdered, another overdosed on drugs, and another went behind bars, this video and melody can feel like a yearning for innocence. Just underneath the surface of this feel-good energy, the visual reaches darkness as Donald’s lyrics reference global warming, water scarcity, overpopulation, and species extinction. Musically and visually, it is not preaching or beating one over the head with its depth, but it is there for the taking if you want to look a little closer.
As 2018 closes, Donald Glover reached a new plateau with provocative art on several stages. There is plenty to come on all fronts. In August, Glover was spotted on set with Rihanna in Cuba filming Guava Island, which is directed by frequent collaborator Hiro Murai. The details surrounding Guava Island will remain a mystery until its official release. Gambino is currently on tour, where he released two previously recorded tracks exclusively to his fans that have attended his show. He also has an “Easter egg” cameo in the new Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
As for 2019, the sky is far from the limit for Donald Glover. He is currently up for four nominations at the 2019 Grammy Awards including: “Record Of The Year,” “Song Of The Year,” “Best Rap/Sung Performance” and “Best Music Video” for “This is America.” As well as earning a nomination for “Best R&B Song” for “Feels Like Summer.” He is also slated to headline Coachella with Kanye West, and he stars alongside James Earl Jones and Beyonce as Simba in the 2019 Disney live action film The Lion Kingon July 19, 2019.
Three songs, one incredible season of television, a Star Wars role, and a video that dominated cultural and political discourse are just part of the profound impact Donald Glover had on Hip-Hop and America in 2018.
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
Notably, Cole appears on Royce’s album. Black Thought’s second project of ’18 is the only one of the four that has a single producer. In that case, it was Salaam Remi. Cole’s Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope effort also marks the only major label effort to reach the Final 4.
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our Best Rap Albums Of 2018 list a living breathing conversation, that would ultimately lead to you, the readers, choosing which album is the best of the year. Throughout December, we will pit albums against one another, battle style, and your votes will determine the winners.
Notably, Cole appears on Royce’s album. Black Thought’s second project of ’18 is the only one of the four that has a single producer. In that case, it was Salaam Remi. Cole’s Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope effort also marks the only major label effort to reach the Final 4.
Black Milk – Fever Black Thought – Streams Of Thought, Vol. 2
Buddy – Harlan & Alondra Evidence – Weather Or Not J. Cole – K.O.D Jay Rock – Redemption Mac Miller – Swimming Masta Ace & Marco Polo – A Breukelen Story Nipsey Hussle – Victory Lap
Phonte – No News Is Good News
Pusha-T – DAYTONA
Royce 5’9 – Book Of Ryan
Saba – CARE FOR ME Travis Scott – ASTROWORLD Westside Gunn – Supreme Blientele
