Through out the year, 2016 has given us more good music than I could have possibly imagined. Pretty much every top-tier talent in the game gave us a release, and all very unpredictable – which seemed to be a reoccurring theme.
Kanye West went gospel, Drake went dance hall, Khaled was head coach of the hip-hop all-stars and Beyoncé publicly went right at her husband, having the world wonder who Becky “with the good hair” is.
In the now or never climate of today’s hip-hop, we also experienced an entirely new wave of music that has stirred up many conversations from the likes of Lil Yachty, Kodak Black, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Dicky, 21 Savage and others. All of these “new wave” artists were part of this years 2016 XXL Freshman Class, which has arguably been on the decline.
With the release of so many albums that were so multifaceted and full of personality – what is for sure is, 2016 was one of my favorite years in hip-hop to date.
— Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums 2016 —
Views – Drake
- Hype
- Still Here
- Controlla
- One Dance
- Child’s Play
The Life of Pablo – Kanye West
- Ultra Light Beam
- Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
- Pt. 2
- 30 Hours
- Real Friends
4 Your Eyez Only – J. Cole
- Immortal
- Change
- Neighbors
- Foldin Clothes
- She’s Mine, Pt. 2
Major Key – DJ Khaled
- I Got The Keys (feat. Jay Z & Future)
- For Free (feat. Drake)
- Nas Album Done (feat. Nas)
- Work For It (feat. Big Sean, Gucci Mane & 2 Chainz)
- Tourist (feat. Travis Scott & Lil Wayne)
SremmLife 2 – Rae Sremmurd
- By Chance
- Look Alive
- Black Beatles
- Swang
DC4 – Meek Mill
- Blessed Up
- Litty (feat. Tory Lanez)
- Froze (feat. Lil Uzi Vert & Nicki Minaj)
- The Difference (feat. Quavo)
- Offended (feat. Young Thug & 21 Savage)
- Way Up (feat. Tracy T)
Coloring Book – Chance The Rapper
- All We Got (feat. Kanye West & Chicago Children’s Choir)
- No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
- Mixtape (feat. Young Thug & Lil Yachty)
- Angels (feat. Saba)
- Smoke Break (feat. Future)
Campaign – Ty Dolla $ign
- ??? (Where) [feat. Migos]
- 3 Wayz (feat. Travis Scott)
- Zaddy
- Watching (feat. Meek Mill)
Still Brazy – YG
- Who Shot Me?
- Word Is Bond (feat. Slim 400)
- Twist My Fingaz
- Why You Always Hatin (feat. Drake)
- FDT (feat. Nipsey Hussle)
Birds in the Trap Sing Mcknight – Travis Scott
- way back
- through the late night
- biebs in the trap
- sweet sweet
- pick up the phone
- lose
