Artist of 2013

Using an extraordinarily scientific grading method known as none yo damn business I present to you the first of my end-of-the-year lists.  Artist of the Year goes to the ten MCs that more than anyone else created significant buzz while dropping some of the best music we’ve seen since the early 90s. 

Save your time section:

If you’re here to see Kendrick Lamar, Drake, or Eminem, leave now.  They didn’t make the list.  Kendrick didn’t release any music in 2013 but some features and a cypher verse.  Admittedly they were hot fire, but I will not be giving artist of the year to a guy who only remains relevant because you all keep putting his name in every comment section of every song on Youtube.  There will be no Eminem because MMLP2 wasn’t that good. (period) end of sentence, statement, and conversation.  Drake didn’t make the list because… well do I even have to bother?

10. Earl Sweatshirt

Was Doris as good as I wanted it to be? No, but neither was Kobe when he returned.  Doris was still amazing and Earl is still one of the smartest rappers you will ever listen to, and Kobe remains a top 3 two guard.  So kudos on your return from exile and if we can praise him for anything it is Hive, cause that shit was absolutely incredible.

9. Blu

Yes you don’t listen to him.  Yes, he is sure to make the “Criminally Unbumped List.” No he didn’t have the buzz of 8-1 but let’s be honest 2013 was a great year to be Blu.  No it wasn’t 2007 but he released some modern classics.  What else is new? Nothing.

8. The Underachievers

Beast Coast, Beast Coast, Beast Coast.  And Indigoism was just… wow.  If you drop one of the best albums to come from the East Coast in any year you’re bound to make my list.  It certainly doesn’t help if you are one of the most original duos since Das Racist.

7. Flatbush Zombies

If you’re not addicted to Meech and BetterOffDEAD I can’t help you and I have nothing to say to you.

6. Statik Selektah

I would like to direct your attention to exhibit A: Extended Play, which proved that it wasn’t impossible to make a good DJ tape and in fact it was just that DJ Drama, Mustard, Funkmaster Flex, and Khaled fucking sucked at it.  And next I would like to direct your attention to Exhibit B: The Proposal.  The Witness is yours.

5. Billy Woods

Okay sure it’s more likely you haven’t heard of Mr. Woods than that you have.  But Armand Hammer released two of great projects and well we all know I loved Dour Candy so regardless of whether you have heard of him his ability to be one of the top 5 MCs out right now solidifies his position on this list.

4. Childish Gambino

Love him or hate him, his name spent more time in your mouth than Maggie Simpson’s pacifier and when Because the Internet dropped you cried yourself to sleep.

3. Joey Bada$$

Pro Era is taking over and I’m more than very okay with that.  Would 2013 have looked different if Capital STEEZ had been fucking up your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper? Yes.  But his partner in crime put in the most work so that you would never forget either of their names.

2. Kanye West

The only person more talked about was Miley Cyrus.  Plus Yeezus was skraight incrediblé; so there you have it. Kanye West is your number 2 artist of the year.

1. Chance the Rapper

This should have been clear to anyone that read a blog, end-of-year list, album review, comment section,or really just talked to anyone who listens to rap music.  Chance had a very similar year to Joey did last year– dropped one incredible mixtape, and in doing so put his crew and his city back on the map.