2013’s All-Stars

Made 2013 Their Bitch:

2013 missed some people entirely (where the fuck were you Weeknd?) but while some artists were busy slipping, some people took the year by storm.  Who did 2013 best?

5. Pusha T

King Push finally had the breakout year his solo career really needed.  While the production was not up to his considerable ability, you all couldn’t get enough of Wrath of Caine and My Name is My Name and when we weren’t talking about his releases, we were busy getting excited for 2014’s reunion of the Clipse.

4. Eminem

I didn’t give a shit.  But you guys did.  If any song made a bigger splash than “Rap God,” I managed to avoid it.  Also Marshall Mathers LP 2 came out and people bought a whole bunch of those.  So, um, congrats Eminem; I guess we care about you again.

3. Kendrick Lamar

Did anyone even notice that no one in TDE came out with shit this year?  I guess not since we were so busy comparing anything that was released to a Kendrick Lamar track and he was featured on everyone’s favorite album.

2. Kanye West

I feel like I shouldn’t have to explain this one.  You couldn’t go a week without hearing about Mr. West.  And it doesn’t hurt that he released the best mainstream project of the year by far– head and shoulders above the next album on the radio.

1. Jay-Z

He had a kid, sold a whole bunch of albums, is still married to what seems to be everyone’s dream girl, his album was a whole bunch of okay but that didn’t stop Samsung and the mass population from giving him all the money they could.

Luckiest SOB of 2013

You gotta love lucky rappers.  Whether it’s a deal they shouldn’t have gotten, a feature that made their shitty album palatable, or my personal favorite– a mass acceptance of their bullshit.

5. Vic Mensa

Yes, the boy can rap.  But he could rap in Kids These Days, too.  Wasn’t till your favorite rapper Chance took the main stage that everyone jumped on the Vic Mensa bandwagon.  And I ain’t mad at him; get that paper boo boo.

4. Young Dro

Made a comeback, of sorts.  People let “Is Lyrical Rap Back?” slide.  And somehow High Times was actually listenable so it looks like 2014 is going to Dro’s year.  Mostly he’s just lucky that we forgot “joing yoing yoing yoing”.

3. Kirko Bangz

They put this irrelevant nigga on the cover nearly a year after his short lived stint of relevancy next to actual rappers like Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and Logic.

2. Nipsey Hussle

People were #proudtopay for Crenshaw?  That’s lucky in itself but also Mr. Hussle is back.  In true Earl Sweatshirt form, it appears his 2 year long hiatus has not affected his career that much.

1. Isiah Rashard

Welcome to TDE Mr. Rashard.  This pretty much guarantees that you will be a big name in hip-hop.  Just like Travi$ Scott before you, I don’t think anyone knew your name until the signing, so congratulations sir.

Best Crew

Crews.  I love em.  These are the best in 2013, simple as that.

5. Da Mafia 6ix

Even sans Juicy J these guys still released one of the best album of 2013.

4. G.O.O.D. Music

Sure they are not the juggernauts that they used to be but Kanye and Pusha T had arguably the best years in their long careers, and Big Sean dropped a pretty solid album in his own right.

3. Odd Future

Every year they get better.  The old guard is terrified and they probably should be.  Earl Sweatshirt and Tyler, the Creator are geniuses.

2. Save Money

It was Chance’s year, and just like Pro Era it was Save Money’s year by extension.  Unlike Pro Era though, Save Money did not tragically lose their second in command, so they will probably have a much better follow up year than the Era did.

1. Beast Coast Movement

Yes, yes, yes I cheated a bit on this one.  But if there’s any stronger collection of rappers out than the super crew that is Beast Coast, I have never heard of them.

Coming for the Game in 2014

Maybe 2013 wasn’t their year.  2014 will be; they’re just too damn good at their job.

D-Why

The kid keeps getting better.  I think his problem is that he hasn’t discovered yet what he wants to be.  He is definitely part of the “But I’m Not a Rapper” clique.  Once he finds himself, it’ll be pretty much a lock for him

KYLE.

Beautiful Loser was one of the best releases from the west coast this year and I loved it.  He is still new and new is good.

Prof. K

Was I in love with Desk Art?  No, but he is mainstream perfect.  Smart, not too smart, not too black, and not too white.  I think his EP flopped because of lack of advertisement, but in the age of the internet it’s hard to make that mistake twice.  I would be willing to bet we see big things from the kid in the coming years.

Rapsody

This should’ve been her year.  And she still is the best female rapper out.  I caught about half of Angel Haze’s album before it was pulled and it had nothing on She’s Got Game.  Why female rap fans aren’t lining around the block for Rapsody’s albums, I will never know and you dudes need to fall in line, too.

Tayyib Ali

After his Visionary Music Group partner, Logic, took the rap game by storm, it’s about damn time that the Pennsylvania native made his splash