“Connect with us on
Instagram & Twitter @OldMilkMedia!”
It’s been a wild ride in Hip-Hop these last 10 years since Drake released his Grammy-winning “Take Care.” Since then his career has been a never-ending soap opera filled with #1 records, baby reveals, legendary rivalries, and a level of artistic dominance that few could ever even dream of. So what role will “Certified Lover Boy” play? Will it be his best project yet, or just another addition to albums in the “just not as good as ‘Take Care’” club?
Let me start off by saying that on the spectrum of fandom, I am a casual Carti fan who leans more to being a die-hard fan. I think Carti has carved out his own niche to include great beat selection paired with catchy lyrics and flows while still surprising fans with how melodic he can be at times. I think Carti is potentially one of the most underrated rappers despite his lack of traditional rap skills. This being said, I found myself massively disappointed in the product that was “Whole Lotta Red.”
The early ’80s serves as the starting point for Hip-Hop’s increased relevance, as the content and delivery would become more and more refined. Most notably GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” would change the landscape of what could be a Hip-Hop hit. The vivid lyrics depicting what it was like in the ghettos of all major cities, specifically for black people, make the song one of the most influential songs to this day. Through this grew the roots of protest that have proved to be one of the foundations of Hip-Hop that still stand strong to this day.
Because of the latest Black lives that have been stolen from us at the hands of the police, I found myself at a loss for what music I should play. The deafening silence from the artists, record labels, and fans within the Hip-Hop genre, during this time of protest against the exploitation of Black people, is unacceptable. The silence is especially troubling because one would assume that the many people who make money off of the telling of experiences that I, a Black man in America can relate to, would be able to relate to the horror any Black person faces in an interaction with law enforcement.
When I first listened to “Everything” I felt very underwhelmed. It felt arrogant, yet oddly reserved. I imagined this rapper chilling on a beach, unbothered by the world because who cares. But, I was so astoundingly underwhelmed I felt maybe I had missed something, and I had. I’m embarrassed to say that due to the chill beats I mistook the Brooklyn native for a Cali man. In my research, I found out he plays several instruments, produces his own stuff, and has been slowly blooming into one of the biggest indie stars for years under my nose.
Releasing in a fashion reserved only for the tier A list artists, Drizzy Drake has surprised fans by releasing a full project titled “Dark Lane Demo Tapes.” Drake getting so deep into his rapping bag on “Dark Lane Demo Tapes,” alludes to his upcoming album falling in line with previous R&B focused albums, similar to “Thank Me Later” or “Views.” Soon after “Dark Lane Demo Tapes” was released, Drake was already teasing a new track where he was singing softly on a hard bass.
If you go past the mainstream appeal of Drake’s new project “Dark Lane Demo Tapes,” and turn the corner at Lil Baby’s deluxe of his latest project, “My Turn” you’ll find a hidden gem with a vibe of the past from producer Hit-Boy, titled “The Chauncey Hollis Project.”
Going along with the theme of 2020, an event as unprecedented as any other, lost rapper Jay Electronica has finally blessed us with his debut solo project. The man basically went AWOL as soon as he popped, living the last decade as a myth in the rap community.
On G Herbo’s 4th studio album “PTSD,” the Chicago rapper talks about his upbringing in this type of environment, the impact of the gangbanging lifestyle on his mental health and the ways he attempted to overcome it.
With a plethora of shout outs, comparisons, and even business partnerships, basketball and Hip-Hop go hand in hand. This bond is best shown during NBA’s All-Star weekend, a weekend that is meant to celebrate basketball, bouncing around the biggest cities in America year to year, with a famous hometown Hip-Hop act usually serving as the ambassador for the whole weekend.
Behind the underappreciated Shady Records, Hip-Hop group Griselda consisting of Westside Gunn, Benny the Butcher and Conway The Machine, Buffalo has become a factory for classic Hip Hop vibes, hard-hitting drug dealer flows and a gangster approach to the modern fashion world that has been missing for a while now.
With the last decade ending in a few letdowns, the expectations for the potential drops of 2020 couldn’t be higher. We’re officially on the lookout for albums from Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Migos, and many more.
“Am I kinda desperate for doing this now? I don’t care, I don’t care, cause this album is so… rare.” These are the words Selena Gomez said with her chest as she was on her way to multiple stores such as Target and Walmart, to buy her own new album “Rare,” in a quest to beat Roddy Ricch’s “Excuse Me For Being Antisocial” for the number one spot on the Billboard 200.
This top ten list isn’t for rappers who’ve displayed dominance over just one summer, but for the rappers who on the impact of their presence and influence within Hip-Hop has molded it into the multifaceted genre that we know it to be.
When we look back at what the 2010s meant for Hip-Hop we would do a great disservice to not mention this decade as the rise of the producer. Here are the top 10 producers of the decade!
Looking at the 2010s we’ve seen the best artists deliver, and new artists raise the bar. Looking forward to my picks for the best 15 projects of the decade, I consider both albums and mixtapes, focusing on a project’s overall impact, as well as sales and critical response. More importantly, uniqueness is rewarded, while many believe the genre of Hip-Hop is a bit saturated, these albums have stood out by standing the test of time, and inspiring Hip-Hop and music fans alike. Without further ado.
Recently Billboard released their list for the Top R&B/Hip-Hop songs of the Decade to a large amount of backlash. Although Hip-Hop has become the dominant genre of America, that doesn’t mean that the most successful songs of the decade necessarily reflect that trend.
With so much content being pushed out by our household favorites, sometimes our appreciation for the great careers we’re witnessing can be lost.
Lizzo has made a name for herself making honest, relatable music, and being comfortable in her own skin. Both her and Meg Thee Stallion will look to have great sophomore years in 2020 after having complete control over the charts this year.
Minus the use of the word “urban” being used in place of terms like “ghetto” or “black,” the term urban isn’t an accurate depiction that describes where Hip-Hop fans reside
