The Ten Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2019: Part Two
Concluding our list of our favourite Hip hop albums this year, here are five more releases that shined brightest in 2019, including fifteen honourable mentions.
Gang Starr, "One Of The Best Yet"
Though Guru died in 2010, DJ Premier avoided the usual pitfalls of posthumous releases, unexpectedly dropping a consistent body of work and against the odds, it reinvigorated the group's discography without resting on nostalgia. A suitably rugged farewell to the late great Guru and an emotional addition to the pioneering group's legendary career.
Released: November 1st
Label: To The Top / Gang Starr Enteprises
Guests: M.O.P, Q-Tip, Group Home, Royce Da 5'9, Jeru The Damaja, J. Cole, Ne-Yo, Nitty Scott, Talib Kweli, Big Shug, Freddie Foxxx.
Producers: DJ Premier
Griselda Records, "W.W.C.D (What Would Chinegun Do?)
The first major group release from tireless, hardcore rap technicians Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher and Conway The Machine, remained making the case for the Buffalo based rappers as vicious, creative and vastly undefeated. "What Would Chine Gun Do" was a restatement of their core principles, recited in the hallowed style of street scripture.
Released: November 29th.
Label: Griselda / Shady / Interscope / Universal Records
Guests: Raekwon, Novel, Tiona Deniece, 50 Cent, Eminem, Keisha Plum, Bro A.A. Rashid
Producers: Daringer, Beat Butcha
Little Brother, "May The Lord Watch"
Little Brother returned for their first album in nine years (second without 9th Wonder) and turned a comeback story into more of a claim to their legacy. Featuring throwback production and lyricism reminiscent of the best of their earlier work, Rapper Pooh and Phonte delivered one of the years most consistent bodies of work with a true brotherhood shining through.
Released: August 20th.
Label: Imagine Nation/For Members Only/Empire
Guests: None
Producers: Khrysis, Nottz, Focus, Black Milk, King Michael Coy, Blaaq Gold, Phonte, Abjo, Zo!, Devin Morrison
Your Old Droog, "Transportation"
Your Old Droog's second album this year delivered a fresh concept during the decline of the LP in the streaming age. The Long, Graffiti lined road to this album was poured into the projects creation with each track seeping into their own journey and decent into New York City.
Released: June 14th
Label: Self released
Guests: Wiki, Quelle Chris,
Producers: Skywlkr, The Purist, Mono En Stereo, Oh No, Mongoloid Banks, Quelle Chris
Black Moon, "Rise Of Da Moon"
The timeliness of ‘Rise Of Da Moon’ can’t be understated , nor could it have been predicted. Similar to Little Brother, Black Moon came through with a comeback album that stayed loyal to the values they have long supported. For their first album in 16 years, Buckshot, 5 ft and Da Beatminerz stuck to their formula with an album that reminded us what made them 90's Brooklyn Boom Bap titans.
Released: October 18th
Label: Duckdown
Guests: General Steele, Method Man, Smif-N-Wessun, Rockness Monsta, Tek
Producers: Da Beatminerz
Honourable Mentions
Quelle Chris, "Guns"
Junior Disprol, "Def Valley"
Danny Brown, "UknowhatImsayin'"
Blu & Oh No, "A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night"
Smif-N-Wessun, "The All"
Your Old Droog, "It Wasn't Even Close"
Shark & DJ Alkemy, "A Big Fish In A Bigger Pond"
Roc Marciano, "Marcielago"
Dirty Alex, "D.A."
Apollo Brown, "Sincerely, Detroit"
DJ Muggs & Crimeapple, "Medallo"
Murs & 9th Wonder, "The Iliad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over"
Smoke DZA & Benny The Butcher, "Statue Of Limitations"
People Under The Stairs, "Sincerely, The P"
Written by Luke "Menace" Bailey
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