awesome MIX TAPE #2017
Rap might have overtaken pop music in the mainstream in 2017, but the year also marked a big return for soul and jazz. The two genres slipped seamlessly into the new sounds that made the year in music what it was; even influencing some of the better hip h
10 Khalid, American Teen With American Teen, Khalid firmly announced that he is here for the moment. In his soaring, tender voice and perfectly coiffed hi- top fade haircut, he represents a generation of millennials (and younger) in angst; young adolescents who, like him, are dealing with what he often sings about: the rollercoasters of romantic relationships and the struggles of growing up without knowing who you truly are. Every swoon he delivers and note he hits makes you realize why Khalid became a big deal in 2017.
9 Rapsody, Laila’s Wisdom Marlanna Evans, a.k.a. Rapsody, has long flown under the radar thanks to the popularity of more established female rappers such as Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea and now even Cardi B. The fact that those others have overshadowed her is slightly absurd, but also kind of fitting. Being underrated is part of her being, her brand – and she flourishes in that role. On Laila’s Wisdom, she gave us what she’d been slowly building toward: a rap album with echoes of Lauryn Hill, complete confidence and the announcement that she is (quietly) among rap’s best.
8 Benjamin Booker, Witness Listen to “Believe”, the best track on Benjamin Booker’s Witness, and you will hear influences of Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson and Ray LaMontagne. You will be taken to the depths of rock and soul and gospel, of blues music – all gloriously reconstructed in a punk-inspired new way. Booker’s beautiful, raspy voice is a pleasure to listen to, and Witness is a soothing combination of genres that should be heard by everyone.
7 Kamasi Washington, Harmony of Difference For those who say jazz is dead and have yet to hear saxophonist Kamasi Washington, here is your formal introduction. Harmony of Difference is only six tracks, a far cry from his nearly three-hour-long 2015 album The Epic. But it’s all Washington needs. He doesn’t settle into any one era of jazz, instead mixing influences from the 1960s and ’ 70s to resemble a sound that will make you remember John Coltrane.
6 Kelela, Take Me Apart Take Me Apart is a glorious exploration of Kelela’s new and old romantic relationships. It is an album that sounds like it was designed in a pop/R&B time machine, with influences from present and past lacing every track. You can play it in the club, in your bedroom or in the car. It will sound enchanting anywhere. On Take Me Apart, Kelela flexes a more mature version of herself that makes listeners even more eager for what’s coming next.
5 JAY- Z, 4:44 The most powerful moment on Hov’s 13th studio album comes on the titular track when he is at his most vulnerable. He emphatically apologizes and vows to be a better man for his wife and children. It’s representative of the album as a whole; one that sees JAY-Z, as in control of his powers as ever, reflecting on where his legacy stands in a version of America that is different from when he first began rapping.
4 BROCKHAMPTON, Saturation II There is no one even close in resemblance right now to BROCKHAMPTON. They are a group of 15 rappers/ producers/artists who are a self-proclaimed boy band. They’re creating something new to the rap world, and on Saturation II (Saturation, the less complete of the two albums, came out in early 2017) we see them come into their own. The production sounds completely different track to track, and will often lure you into a trance. Aggressive and poignant bars from all the lead rappers seem to constantly one- up each other. They rap about the lack of homosexuality in hip- hop, the rich- rapper persona and the entrenchment of rape culture in modern society – all with complete awareness. Add everything up, and Saturation II has the makings of a young rap classic.
3 Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Soul of a Woman Sharon Jones passed away last November, and Soul of a Woman was released posthumously this year. When she passed, a legend of soul music was lost. But with her final album, we were given one more example of everything she had to offer: a thunderingly funky voice, a music-making relic that would slot perfectly into any era and some tunes that will make you want to dance furiously. The fact that she’s gone now, and knowing that this was her final grandiose statement, makes Soul of A Woman all the more powerful.
2 SZA, CTRL In late November, after she had been nominated for five Grammy awards, SZA wrote in a post on Instagram about how terrified she felt to release CTRL. How she had begged for writers because she didn’t think her words would be appreciated by anyone. And finally, about how she felt her lack of talent made her suited for another profession. Those thoughts must seem wildly outrageous in retrospect. SZA charged into all of our hearts with CTRL. Her songwriting, her unique R&B sound and her extremely relatable takes on modern-day romances instantly made her debut album one that will be eternally respected.
1 Kendrick Lamar, DAMN. DAMN. might end up being the least lauded of Kendrick’s albums, even though it’s arguably his best. To Pimp a Butterfly was, culturally and politically, his most important work, while Good Kid, M. A. A. D City was his introduction to the mainstream scene through a series of bangers and a unique new voice. But DAMN. sees Kendrick at his most introspective, at the height of his storytelling prowess. Angry Kendrick, lustful Kendrick, confused Kendrick, kid Kendrick; we see it all through his pained and progressive eyes, with commanding beats accompanying every murderous bar.
Honorable Mentions Migos, Culture; Moses Sumney, Aromanticism; Big K. R. I.T., 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time; Syd, Fin; Moneybagg Yo and YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Fed Baby’s; Perfume Genius, No Shape; Miguel, War & Leisure; GoldLink, At What Cost; Fleet Foxes, Crack Up.