***Best of the 1st Quarter***
Over three months into 2021 and we are still living with so many of the challenges that carried over from 2020. Yes, even with a light gradually glowing more visible from the end of the tunnel, COVID still looms large over all of our lives, and many of the broader issues facing our world (racism, violence, sexism) will likely remain glaring problems that impact our days for the foreseeable future.
But as I have stated many times in the past, with great adversity comes great art, and the first quarter of the new year has already brought us quality music in abundance. With the year still so young we may not have even conceived who or what will impact rap music the most in 2021, but I can say with confidence that the projects below would represent some of the best that the genre has to offer in any given year.
My picks for the best projects & songs released in Q1 of 2021 (1/1 - 3/31) are....
Death & The Magician by Rome Streetz & DJ Muggs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r2AYxN20ZI
Haram by Armand Hammer
https://armandhammer.bandcamp.com/track/falling-out-the-sky-featuring-earl-sweatshirt
Double Down by Nappy Nina & JWords
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Z0PBThw0M
End of the Earth by Mavi
https://soundcloud.com/mavi704/sets/end-of-the-earth
With The Shifts by Maassai
https://maassai.bandcamp.com/track/the-shifts-feat-akai-solo
SOUL TRAP by Tree
https://mctreeg.bandcamp.com/track/nothing-like-the-sun-feat-roc-marciano
The Fraud Department by Jim Jones & Harry Fraud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuvDOsGnHPY
If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed by Conway the Machine & Big Ghost LTD.
https://bigghostlimited.bandcamp.com/track/kill-all-rats-ft-ransom-rome-streetz
Hindsight by Breez Brewin & Juggaknots
https://juggaknots.bandcamp.com/track/mentore-ft-dj-spinna
A Stream of Consciousness by Jay NiCE & Machacha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o79Xex1G6Gc
$mokebreak EP / FlySiifu’s (Deluxe) by Fly Anakin & Pink Siifu
https://ronee.bandcamp.com/track/oatmeal-feat-chuck-strangers-prod-chuck-strangers
Prophecy Is My Present by Asun Eastwood & TheTwinning
https://twinning.bandcamp.com/track/underrated-feat-don-smith-family-gang-black
taurus_EP by lojii
https://lojii.bandcamp.com/album/taurus-ep
Portishus by Hus Kingpin
https://www.stereogum.com/2113831/stream-hus-kingpins-portishead-inspired-album-portishus/music/
Stray From The Pack by Kev Brown & J Scienide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjS6oTZTTeM
Call Me G.T. by G.T.
https://soundcloud.com/officialgtmusic/chasing-cash
phantom of paradise. by Remy Banks
https://remybanks.bandcamp.com/track/triboro-feat-exquire-wiki-scratches-by-a-trak
Krazy Man by Drego
https://soundcloud.com/tr4620-bandgang/drego-dis-dat?in=tr4620-bandgang/sets/drego-krazy-man
100 Miles & Walk’in by Rx Papi
https://soundcloud.com/rxpapi/sets/100-miles-walkin
Drench Em (Deluxe) by 26AR
https://soundcloud.com/user-565572130/sets/drench-em-deluxe
SEVENTY-FIFTH & AMSTERDAM SIDE B LOST IN NYC by jaH-Monte Ogbon
https://kingcallis.bandcamp.com/album/seventy-fifth-amsterdam-side-b-lost-in-nyc
GOD GOKU JAY-Z by J.U.S
https://bruiserbrigaderecords.bandcamp.com/track/brown-noise-ft-danny-brown-prod-black-noi-e
1997 by Chester Watson
https://chesterwatson.bandcamp.com/album/1997
Amongst Wolves by SmooVth & Giallo Point
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WXUKV5-EHc
Collection Agency by Curren$y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9zobjG2jbs
Dope Game Stupid by Bruiser Wolf
https://bruiserbrigaderecords.bandcamp.com/album/dope-game-stupid
PANAGNL4E, VOL. 3 by Los & Nutty
https://soundcloud.com/ssradioo/sets/los-x-nutty-panagnl4e-vol-3
XENOPHON by THERAVADA
https://its2000.bandcamp.com/track/terminal-window-ft-marlo-demore-prod-theravada
UNLOCKED 1.5 by Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9hvQGWskUA
Thumbing Thru Foliage by YUNGMORPHEUS & ewonee
https://yungmorpheus.bandcamp.com/track/table-for-one-feat-obijuan
Rammellzee by DJ Muggs & Flee Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpfHIS2z-D8
Seismograph by SKUNKZ
https://franksvinylrecords.bandcamp.com/album/seismograph
Tha YOD Fahim by Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim
https://yourolddroog.bandcamp.com/track/slam-dunk-contest-ft-pharaohe-monch
Nino Green by Kaimbr & Sean Born
https://ninogreen7.bandcamp.com/album/nino-green
Psychological Cheat Sheet part 2 by Vic Spencer & August Fanon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvDKP8Mm44w
Heist New York by Heist Life (Ty Da Dale, Sauce Heist & Baby Maine)
https://heistlife.bandcamp.com/releases
Next Question Please (LP) by jaH-Monte Ogbon
https://kingcallis.bandcamp.com/album/next-question-please-lp
XL Middleton & Delmar Xavier VII by XL Middleton
https://soundcloud.com/xlmiddleton/sets/xl-middleton-delmar-xavier
***SONGS***:
Scary Hours 2 by Drake
https://soundcloud.com/octobersveryown/sets/scary-hours-2-1
“Let It Roll Interlude” by IAMNOBODI feat. Phonte & BeMyFiasco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVA1hXEnwnE
“Furious Styles” - Illa Styles feat. Nickelus F
https://illastyles.bandcamp.com/track/furious-styles-ft-nickelus-f
“Break Soul” by 7xvethegenius
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfMyCL8aD34
“DARTGUNZ” by Chuck Strangers
https://soundcloud.com/chuckstrangers/dartgunz-produced-by-samiyam
“Faygo Baby” by Kipp Stone & Chuck Strangers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHCDGh5aM7o
“Last Man Standing” - Smoke DZA, Nym Lo, Numbers, Cory Gunz & 183rd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmhWtjbMcGc
“10″ - by Drakeo the Ruler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIRJoQFyS6c
“Last Day Out” by Rio Da Yung OG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB51CUUod1w
“What It Feels Like” - Nipsey Hussle feat. JAY-Z
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12e4v-XlCmk
“Glory” - Tek feat. Rome Streetz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9QK-NbnO8
“Gunz ‘n Razerz” - Planet Asia & DirtyDiggs feat. Rome Streetz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c80oGyl7rf8
"CLOUDZ” - Mother Nature feat. Sir Michael Rocks
https://soundcloud.com/mothernaturebarz/cloudz
“Overall” by Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnFQ5v7I29U
“Real Niggas Don’t Rap” - by Babyface Ray
https://soundcloud.com/miababyfaceray/real-niggas-dont-rap
“American Terrorist” by RXKNephew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nignmGXUr24
“Marcus Smart” - Peter Rosenberg feat. Flee Lord & Stove God Cook$
https://soundcloud.com/peterrosenberg-music/marcus-smart
“Gordon Ramsay Freestyle” by Remble
https://soundcloud.com/remble2/gordon-ramsay-freestyle-prod-by-laudiano
“Gang Signs” - Freddie Gibbs feat. ScHoolboy Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WnXMMOkubA
“Trophy Wife” - Vel the Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h05FxkM9PrY
“TV Boy” - Westside Gunn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3zdZ8v_DvM
Honorable Mention: Felecia Sun by Rim, Duke Nukem by Duke Deuce, #MINIMANSIONDUST VOL. 5 by Estee Nack & Friends, Ree Louis by Henny L.O., Nino Green by Kaimbr & Sean Born, A Magnificent Day For An Exorcism by Pharoahe Monch, Block Work by ElCamino, Santa Barbara by Fat Ray, LordMobb Vol. 1 by Flee Lord & LordMobb, Shiesty Season by Pooh Shiesty, LVNDR by Codenine, YDFWC? by Crimeapple, Dum and Dummer 2 by Young Dolph & Key Glock, bob's son: R.A.P. Ferreira in the garden level cafe of the scallops hotel by R.A.P. Ferreira
