Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of October 2022
Featuring the likes of Flohio, Westside Gunn, and Open Mike Eagle, this month’s best hip-hop is an eclectic and thoughtful range of new releases.
alternative hip-hop
The Noise of the World, Turning on Itself: Dälek’s ‘From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots’
From Filthy Tongue of Gods and Griots established Dälek as the finest underground, deconstructive hip-hop outfit that ever toured with heavy-metal heavyweights and held their own.
Boyfriend’s ‘Sugar & Spice’ Is a Bold and Varied Blend of Pop and Hip-Hop
Boyfriend’s Sugar & Spice is full of maximalist pop and hip-hop. It delights in obliterating traditional gender roles and celebrates anything-goes sexuality.
Sampa the Great Soars Aabove Her Whole Industry on ‘As Above, So Below’
On Sampa the Great’s As Above, So Below, she makes music with incredible clarity of purpose and affirms a sense of interconnected self and heritage.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of August 2022
August’s selection of the best hip-hop is an especially strong bunch, featuring long-awaited team-ups, debut masterclasses, and a previously-lost gem.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of June 2022
Following underwhelming releases by the genre’s big hitters, this month’s column dives underground in search of the best hip-hop gems.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of May 2022
An especially strong month in hip-hop saw the release of brilliant albums from, amongst others, Kendrick Lamar, Black Star, 700 Bliss, and Boldy James.
Kendrick Lamar Steps Off the Pedestal on ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’
On Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of March 2022
This month’s best hip-hop traverses the spectrum with the return of a legendary group, a dreamy jazz-rap collaboration, a UK drill upstart, and industrial rap metal.
10 Years Later, Odd Future’s ‘The OF Tape Vol.2’ Is a Cringeworthy, Captivating Curiosity
Over a decade after Odd Future permanently altered the rap landscape, the group’s gleefully offensive debut shines in certain places and falters in others.
Homeboy Sandman Stays Fly and Authentic on ‘There in Spirit’
Homeboy Sandman represents the hip-hop ethos with a sound that’s not in the contemporary mainstream but not a nostalgic throwback either. He’s pure hip-hop.
Hip-Hop Matters: The Best Hip-Hop of February 2022
Another packed month in hip-hop sees Saba drop a future classic, Cities Aviv create a psychedelic fantasia, and Willow Kayne make a compelling bid for stardom.