With 2019 well and truly underway, we thought it would be a good idea to look back at some of our favourite albums of 2018. Overall, 2018 was a fantastic year for Hip Hop, easily surpassing that of 2017 (which was an amazing year in its own right). In no particular order, here were some of the highlights... (In our opinion)
6 Minute Read
Kids See Ghosts - Kids See Ghosts
The third installment (out of 4) of Kanye produced albums came on 8th June 2018. This project saw the highly anticipated return of Kid Cudi. With both Kanye and Cudi previously going through struggles with mental health, this project was at minimum, going to be interesting. Even without that in consideration, this album is a masterpiece, with 7 un-skippable tracks, clever features, and Kanye pushing boundaries both sonically and instrumentally, I will never forget this album.
With a run time of roughly 24 minutes, you can easily get through the album a few times a day and not be bored, which is what I did for the first month of its release. I highly recommend that you listen to, if not the full album, the song titled 'Reborn', it is simply one the greatest songs of the year, if not the past decade. - Joe
"I'm so, I'm so Reborn, Keep Moving Forward."
Star Track: Reborn
Travis Scott - Astroworld
The Houston born rapper Travis Scott, dropped his highly-anticipated, third-studio album 'Astroworld', at the back-end of the, already impressive, musical summer that we had the pleasure to witness. For me, this project definitely should be considered for the 'Album of the Year' award. It managed to knock Drake's Scorpion from the top spot on the Billboard 200 and sold over 500,000 units in the first week of its release.
Furthermore, Astroworld is in an elite group of projects that managed to hold its place at number one for more than a week. To top it all off, it has been nominated for three different Grammy Awards, including 'Best Rap Album'. The main reason why Astroworld has received so much credit is for its overall completeness. When listening to the album from start to finish, it almost feels as if you have been taken on a dreamlike adventure, through some sort of mystical forest.
The quality of art Travis has produced here is magnificent. This project has been over three years in the making, and it has been well worth the wait. From 'Stop trying to be God', to 'NC-17', there is a song to match every mood. You can never get bored of this album, no matter how many times you listen to it. - Amil
The quality of art Travis has produced here is magnificent. This project has been over three years in the making, and it has been well worth the wait. From 'Stop trying to be God', to 'NC-17', there is a song to match every mood. You can never get bored of this album, no matter how many times you listen to it. - Amil
Star Track - Yosemite
Mac Miller - Swimming
Another one of the contenders for album of the year 2018 was Bhad Bhabies '15'. Jokes, Mac Millers 'Swimming' was easily one of the standout projects of 2018. Mac was an incredible artist, with many changing and developing styles over the years, but this one on 'Swimming' really connected with me. Apart from the album being filled with nice flows and catchy songs, you can genuinely feel the pain of a man going through an extremely difficult time in his life. 
Even though on a couple of songs we don't even here Mac rapping as such, he still manages to make every track a near 10/10. This album is creative, inventive and very unique.The fact that Mac passed away in September 2018 makes it a more touching album, even despite that, 'Swimming' would still be one of the best albums of 2018. I'd definitely recommend songs such as; 'Ladders', 'What's the Use' and 'Jet Fuel'.
RIP Mac Miller, a great guy who mirrored his personality through his music. - Reece
Star Track - Jet Fuel
Eminem - Kamikaze
"I just add it to the fuel of my rocket pack, 'till I'm ready to respond and I'mma launch it at 'em, idiotic from the fuckin' embryonic sac, to the body bag, I'll be back, and when I am, I'll be at your fuckin' throat like Chloraseptic"
Eminem kept to his word with his 10th studio album 'Kamikaze'. This album was a breath of fresh air for most hip hop fans in general, and caused waves that breached further than just hip hop. Eminem sold the most out of any artist in 2018, selling an incredible 755,027 units. 'Kamikaze' is a retaliation album, similar to the 'Marshall Mathers LP' in its focuses (responding to critics), except this time he defends himself against all those who slandered his 2017, lackluster, 'Revival' album. He also takes aim at the new wave of 'mumble rappers' who are so prominent these days in the music scene. Songs like 'The Ringer', 'Not Alike', and 'Fall' pack many punches, some to the general public, and some to well known people in the hip hop community (e.g. Joe Budden,MGK, Lil Pump and so on).
"I just add it to the fuel of my rocket pack, 'till I'm ready to respond and I'mma launch it at 'em, idiotic from the fuckin' embryonic sac, to the body bag, I'll be back, and when I am, I'll be at your fuckin' throat like Chloraseptic"
Eminem kept to his word with his 10th studio album 'Kamikaze'. This album was a breath of fresh air for most hip hop fans in general, and caused waves that breached further than just hip hop. Eminem sold the most out of any artist in 2018, selling an incredible 755,027 units. 'Kamikaze' is a retaliation album, similar to the 'Marshall Mathers LP' in its focuses (responding to critics), except this time he defends himself against all those who slandered his 2017, lackluster, 'Revival' album. He also takes aim at the new wave of 'mumble rappers' who are so prominent these days in the music scene. Songs like 'The Ringer', 'Not Alike', and 'Fall' pack many punches, some to the general public, and some to well known people in the hip hop community (e.g. Joe Budden,MGK, Lil Pump and so on).
I think Em listened to some of his critiques from 'Revival', on 'Kamikaze' he uses much more trendier producers and feature artists, an example of this is his feature with Joyner Lucas, which resulted in the Grammy nominated song 'Lucky You'. With rapid fire flows, he completely spazzes out over these modern trap beats. He uses phenomenal wordplay throughout the album, for example, "By the time your reign (rain) is over, you'll hardly be missed (mist)".
However, it's the anger in his words which compels me the most on this project, which really brings the album to life.
Overall, it's a great album, bitch-slapping all of his haters from the year before. - Tom
Star Track - Good Guy
Overall, it's a great album, bitch-slapping all of his haters from the year before. - Tom
Star Track - Good Guy
Earl Sweatshirt - Some Rap Songs
After 3 long years, Earl Sweatshirt blessed us with a 15 track, 24 minute album that seamlessly filled the Earl-shaped hole in fans hearts. This record effortlessly weaves between between feelings of optimism and regret, playfulness and depth, wit and depression. All in all this is a career solidifying album and as the title sums up so bluntly; just some rap songs.
It's no secret that Earl has struggled with mental health issues as of late - cancelling his last tour, siting depression and anxiety as the reason for this. Therefore, it came as no surprise that these themes featured prominently throughout the album. Earl looks back at his struggles with drug abuse, stating, "bad acid did damage to my mental" on the track 'December 24'. Earl also lost his father in 2018, South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who Earl admitted he was never too close to. His father once stated in an interview that he had never listened to his sons music and seemed to denounce modern hip hop saying, "I really don't think it's about anything of relevance, socially, other than young people saying they're hurt". Some months after the passing of his father, Earl became more present on social media, appearing healed and hopeful to some degree - something his fans had not seen in some time. So, the build up to this record was an interesting one filled with anticipation and it was hard to pinpoint the direction Earl would take the album.
As it turned out, the Some Rap Songs almost exactly represented these events. He spoke of his mental health in tracks like 'Nowhere2go' saying "I think... I spent most of my life depressed, only thing on my mind was death". This is a harsh unremitting look at look at his depressed mind state, but the use of the past tense suggests hope and optimism, perhaps he is out of his slump. In terms of addressing the passing of his father, Earl dedicates a whole track to his parents; 'Playing Possum' is an emotional song, featuring excerpts from his father's poetry and a speech by his mother. This appears to be Earl embracing his parents who he has openly had a rocky relationship with in the past.
As for the rest of the track list, it is a vibrant, coarse look into Earls career- showing us he can spit, produce and best of all, tell a story through his work. It shows us that he has done a lot of growing up since 2015, yet retained his child-like wit that put him where he is in the first place. This record is an avant-garde, brash an exposing existential stare into Earl's life... It will no doubt be remembered as an influential record, whether that's for Earl personally, or the rap game in general. - Owen.
Star Track - December 24
Here is a list of honourable mentions we really enjoyed but didn't quite make the list. Apologies if your favourite album didn't get a mention. What a year it has been for Hip Hop.
After 3 long years, Earl Sweatshirt blessed us with a 15 track, 24 minute album that seamlessly filled the Earl-shaped hole in fans hearts. This record effortlessly weaves between between feelings of optimism and regret, playfulness and depth, wit and depression. All in all this is a career solidifying album and as the title sums up so bluntly; just some rap songs.
It's no secret that Earl has struggled with mental health issues as of late - cancelling his last tour, siting depression and anxiety as the reason for this. Therefore, it came as no surprise that these themes featured prominently throughout the album. Earl looks back at his struggles with drug abuse, stating, "bad acid did damage to my mental" on the track 'December 24'. Earl also lost his father in 2018, South African poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who Earl admitted he was never too close to. His father once stated in an interview that he had never listened to his sons music and seemed to denounce modern hip hop saying, "I really don't think it's about anything of relevance, socially, other than young people saying they're hurt". Some months after the passing of his father, Earl became more present on social media, appearing healed and hopeful to some degree - something his fans had not seen in some time. So, the build up to this record was an interesting one filled with anticipation and it was hard to pinpoint the direction Earl would take the album.
As for the rest of the track list, it is a vibrant, coarse look into Earls career- showing us he can spit, produce and best of all, tell a story through his work. It shows us that he has done a lot of growing up since 2015, yet retained his child-like wit that put him where he is in the first place. This record is an avant-garde, brash an exposing existential stare into Earl's life... It will no doubt be remembered as an influential record, whether that's for Earl personally, or the rap game in general. - Owen.
Star Track - December 24
Here is a list of honourable mentions we really enjoyed but didn't quite make the list. Apologies if your favourite album didn't get a mention. What a year it has been for Hip Hop.
- J.Cole - KOD
- Pusha T - Daytona
- Royce da 5'9 - Book of Ryan
- Action Bronson - White Bronco
- Kanye West - Ye
- Post Malone - Beerbongs & Bentleys
- Denzel Curry - TA13OO
- Lil Wayne - Tha Carter V
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