IUR Jetto - “Oh Boy (feat. Babyface Ray & Icewear Vezzo)”
Dawyonn - “Back Home”
Kankan - “X & Oxy (feat. Yeah)”
Stunnaman02 - “Big Steppin”
Smino - “Rice & Gravy”
Key! - “I Know”
Headie One - “Siberia (feat. Burna Boy)”
Larry June - “Intercepted (feat. Money Man)”
Shy Glizzy - “Ay Ay Ay (feat. 3 Glizzy)”
Moneymade Eli - “Ah Ah”
DB.Boutabag - “Mac Dre”
p4rkr - “and most importantly, have fun”
Monaleo - “Beating Down Yo Block”
Babytron & RMC Mike - “Dookie Season”
vamp leek - “Homicidal . Suicidal - Live”
Chief Keefe - Something I’m Best At”
Icewear Vezzo - “5 Mill”
Gabe ‘Nandez - “223”
6 Dogs - “When I Was a Baby”
Slayter & ABG Neal - “Royce”
Big Wan & Lil Trav - “Designer Drugs”
The chaos and absurdity of the beat on “Comfort of my Car”–my #1 rap pick–always brings to mind my continuing, frantic attempt at navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. But DJ Lucas sounds in control; undaunted, exuberant, hopeful? Makes me feel good. The only times I really remember forgetting about the pandemic involved smoking weed and listening to Lucas and Papo2oo4′s Dirty Designer. Babyface Ray, Yeat, and Veeze seem to be the best rappers right now, although Veeze didn’t release much this year. Mach-Hommy’s record was phenomenal. Big Wan in the 50th spot because it seems so senseless to “rank” his music. So much death this year, but his hit me harder than most.
NOT RAP
kmoe - “gloves”
A. G. Cook & Charli XCX - “Xcxoplex”
Pictureplane - “Avalance”
Caroline Polachek - “Bunny Is A Rider”
Blackwinterwells - “Omen”
dltzk - “52 blue mondays”
Erika de Casier - “Busy”
DJ Seinfeld - “Walking With Ur Smile”
PinkPantheress - “Last Valentines”
Linkin Park - “One Step Closer (100 Gecs Reanimation)”
Aventura & Bad Bunny - “Volvi”
Doja Cat - “Need to Know”
CIZA - Bank Notification (feat. DJ Maphorisa & Madumane)”
BR DA TIJUCA & MC Kevin o Chris - “Senta e Nao Para”
Club Eat - “Sticky”
RANDOM OLDER SHIT I FUCKED WITH
1. Vistoso Bosses - “Delirious” 3. Bad Boy Chiller Crew - “Don’t Watch That” 3. Sophie - “Reason Why” 4. Serani - “No Games” 5. Jacka - “Inhale The Dirt (feat. Kazi)” 6. Sophie B. Hawkins - “As I Lay Me Down” 7. Dramarama - “Anything, Anything” 8. Johnny J - “Love’s the Way” 9. laura les - “dumb pics” 10. Rich Kids - “100 Dollar Autograph (feat. Young Thug)” 11. UNIT KAI - “departure (feat. accounta)” 12. Arthur Russell - “A Little Lost” 13. Lil Keke - “Ballin in the Mix (Chopped and Screwed)” 14. Kid Trash - “The Music Tried to Play Me” 15. Jonny L - “Ooh I Like It - Original Sin” 16. Prefab Spout - “Bonny” 17. Luca Lozana & Mr. Ho - “2UBU (snare drum sound mix)” 18. Loose Ends - “Stay A Little While, Child” 19. TKZEE - “Mr. and Mrs. Fake (feat. Gwyza)” 20. Love Inc. - “You’re A Superstar”
Chicken P continues to lead the pack as the most established and charismatic rapper in the city. Strictly For The Streets wasn’t quite the follow-up I was hoping for after his near-flawless 2019 release Billy, but Chicken more than made up for it with a constant string of phenomenal loosiesandguestverses. His raps are effortless, verses concise and captivating, and the Master P-influenced “WAAAAAAAAAAAAH” is ad-lib perfection.
RichieWitDaHitz solidified his position as one of the most exciting producers out, especially when teamed with co-producer Melo and the 18-year-old slap virtuoso Big Wan. My favorite Milwaukee track of 2019 was their collaboration “Fast Lane Lifestyle” and my 2020 list is topped by the dazzling “Can’t Stop.”
An undeniable banger, Quality Control-signed Lakeyah’s “Big FlexHer” has more views on YouTube than every other song on the list combined. Chicken makes a cameo in the music video, but I’d really love to see him get a feature on her next smash.
The Mari Boy pick doesn’t quite do justice to him and his impact in 2020, but this is a list of my favorites and I spent much of the year floating through the city to Mari’s ethereal ShittyBoyz collaboration “STK.” The actual standout, however, was probably “Aflac” (or “Palm Angels” or “Rich As Shit”).
Bris was a few months dead when I first discovered his music. I didn’t know he was killed and was ready to listen to new music from him as new videos kept coming up as if he was alive and kicking.
He was probably the most talented among the new crop of Cali rappers, even though as far as I know he never even released a solo album (his two proper tapes are collabs). But his singles and features (especially later ones when he found his own style) are already enough to leave a proper legacy.
One of the things you notice watching his vids is how he wasn’t about that fancy stuff (I’m talking gold and all that). Even though I’m sure he was getting that rap check by then.
What makes him stand out is not that he was sticking to the streets (probably all Cali rappers never break with the streets in their attitude) but that he was a great lyricist who could work with a line as good as with a hook or a bar. He was going for metaphors like a true poet. He wasn’t a ‘realist’ in his lyrics but he was real.
