The more hip hop I listened to in recent weeks, the more necessary this follow-up post felt to me. A few months ago I was raving about the high quality rap that has dropped in 2021, but it turns out that didn’t even slow down a little bit heading into the Spring. In fact, great projects are only coming out more often now and it’s pretty freaking enjoyable as a hip hop head. With festivals being announced every day and the world slowly returning back to normalcy, I’m only expecting this steady stream of great rap to continue. Here are five more rap projects from the last couple of months that are constantly in rotation for me.
BROCKHAMPTON- ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE
The incomparable rap boyband is back with a big splash here on ROADRUNNER, an album that feels like the next phase in BROCKHAMPTON’s musical evolution. The project contains just about everything that made me become a fan back in 2017, and to me this is their most solid body of work since the Saturation series. It contains a few catchy pop tracks, but more than anything proudly displays the group’s love for hip-hop; Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA make appearances just on the album’s first two songs. No matter what direction it’s going in, everything on this album sounds like the band has sharpened what they already did well. Not only that, but there are moments where ROADRUNNER‘s emotional impact is staggering, namely Joba’s intensely tragic performances all over this record. He is the centerpiece that ties this album’s introspective moments together, contributing the most of any member here. As a whole, I feel this is one of the boys’ best efforts, despite being not as cohesive as other records of theirs. It’s a versatile showing, but also a concise and hard-hitting one that shows BROCKHAMPTON’s unflinching chemistry.
Benny the Butcher & Harry Fraud- The Plugs I Met 2
Benny the Butcher felt no need to slow down following a breakout moment with last year’s Burden of Proof album, which had features from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and Big Sean among others. Benny’s place in the mainstream rap world is only becoming more legit, as this new tape helps extend the hot streak he’s on. The Plugs I Met 2 is only nine songs in length, but still a large-scale effort that sounds fleshed out and cinematic thanks to Harry Fraud’s great production. Benny’s rapping is excellent as always, with his bars being a riveting combo of witty flexing and emotional reflections on his dark past. Despite all the success, there are moments where he gets quite introspective here and it’s always gripping to listen to. I have very little complaints; Benny the Butcher only continues to evolve with a project that is smooth yet still carries the grit of classic East Coast rap.
Bruiser Wolf- Dope Game Stupid
Bruiser Brigade, a Detroit-based hip-hop label fronted by Danny Brown, has been making noise this year. Danny has pushed the collective into notoriety more than ever before, with rappers Fat Ray, J.U.S., and Bruiser Wolf all putting out projects already in 2021. I’ve gotta focus on the latter here, because while those other tapes were solid, Wolf’s is easily one of the most unique rap experiences I’ve had in a while. This is primarily a result of his voice, which is so ridiculous and cartoony that it makes him difficult to take seriously. With repeated listens though, I was more and more drawn into Bruiser Wolf’s world. His lyrics, an array of hilarious punchlines and dark tales of drug-dealing, are only amplified by his comedic delivery; after getting used to the style I just can’t get enough of him. The production here can only be described as a soulful rendition of gangsta rap and it fits Wolf’s aesthetic very well. There won’t be another album this year that sounds anything like Dope Game Stupid, and it makes perfect sense that a rapper this absurd would be under the guidance of a voice like Danny Brown. All I can say is I want more of this; I’m still finding more and more to love about this album as time goes on.
Akai Solo & Navy Blue- True Sky
I may have only discovered Akai Solo’s music recently, but for years he has been associated with artists I greatly respect. From appearing on Armand Hammer’s last record to working with the great Navy Blue on this new project, the talented rapper has made some great connections. Navy Blue is a guy whose last album I gave a glowing review to, but on True Sky he is taking a producer role and letting Akai Solo’s voice be the main event. I’m grateful for this, because the dude is displaying both his writing chops and how attention-grabbing his delivery can be. Akai is so authentically himself on the mic and always wears emotions on his sleeve; his presence is a perfect complement for Navy’s minimal yet tasteful production style. This thing can get a little wonky at times too, as it seems like Navy Blue took this opportunity to bring out some of the strangest arrangements I’ve heard him put together. A sweet and unexpected collaboration for these two artists, True Sky is a pretty enjoyable slice of abstract rap.
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist- Haram
Anyone who keeps an ear to the underground knows that Armand Hammer is on fire at the moment, with their last two projects Paraffin and Shrines both being fantastic. The New York duo of Billy Woods and Elucid is consistently making hip hop that sounds like it’s from another galaxy both lyrically and instrumentally. It turns out that they’ve been dropping enough heat to catch the attention of legendary producer The Alchemist. In typical Alc fashion, he went ahead and worked with them for an entire collab album. Much like him and Freddie Gibbs last year, this is a dream pairing for plenty of rap fans. To no one’s surprise, this project lived up to its potential but it even exceeded my expectations a bit. I couldn’t even dream that The Alchemist could blend his production so well with Armand Hammer’s lyricism, but supplying the duo with layered and surreal beats came very easily to him. Billy Woods and Elucid creatively tailor their unconventional flows here to every one of the dark soundscapes Alchemist provides; it all makes Haram a harrowing rap listen unlike any else I will have this year.
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