The past six months have been good for hip hop, in terms of both mixtapes and studio albums. Kendrick and Lupe are head and heels above everyone else so far, thanks to two very distinctive, conceptual albums, but the quality of songs being released indicates that the two emcees may see a heap of competition by the time 2016 rolls around. From interesting production, to straight-up rhyme-fests, these are the singles we think have stood out as the best this year. No artist (unless featuring) appears more than twice, otherwise I might as well copy and paste the tracklist to Tetsuo & Youth. This is part one, 20-11.
20. Problem Feat. T.I & Rich Homie Quan "Hennessy"
Problem and T.I have delivered two bangers this year (the other being the very club-ready In Motion) and they both stand out from most other southern mixtape cuts this year. Both emcees are full of character, bringing heavy styled flows to the hypnotic bass line. Tip paying homage to 2pac just reminds of how rubbery and adaptable his flow can be. Rich Homie Quan doesn't add much to this track, and thankfully there's a version floating around without him.
19. Meek Mill Feat. Big Sean & A$AP Ferg "B-Boy"
The energy all three bring to this track is infectious. It's style over substance of course, but each spit with such distinctive and entertaining flows, stomping over the trunk-rattling muffled bass with force. Fergie steals the show here, with a funky, unstructured verse that reminds us of the emcee's diversity.
18. Nicki Minaj Feat. Drake & Lil' Wayne "Truffle Butter"
Never mind the half-hearted verses from all three, THAT BEAT is on some magical, melt into your brain and stay there forever type greatness. There is also a mash up of freestyles over the beat from Ludacris, Ace Hood, and T.I HERE so you don't have to listen to Nicki and Wayne drag Drake down depressingly low.
17. Remi "Weirdos (From Planet HOB)"
Remi followed up the exceptional Raw x Infinity with a short, free mixtape, heralded by this single. The Melbourne rapper continued his slightly left-centre aesthetic here, bringing in some excellent production from Sensible J which interpolates one of Radiohead's most hypnotic singles ("Weird Fishes / Arpeggi") so Remi can give another strong performance.
16. A$ton Matthews Feat. Vince Staples "Chapo"
Two hungry emcees with very bright futures over one of the year's best productions. The only thing holding "Chapo" back is that it hasn't gotten the exposure it so deserves. Matthews is probably the best male latino rapper to emerge in the past few years, and then of course there's Vince Staples, who is well on his way to hip hop domination.
15. A$AP Rocky Feat. ScHoolboy Q "Electric Body"
Two of the biggest names of new-gen rap come together (yet again) over this impeccably produced banger, pulling in a wry Baltimore club classic and an ending psych-rock sample to add some excellent twists and turns to the hypnotic beat. Hell, they even sample a line from a random vine.
14. Earl Sweatshirt "Mantra"
Earl gets pretty dark on his latest album, so dark in fact that "Mantra" is one of the lightest tracks on there. It's ferocious and full of tension, Earl verbally assaulting fame and a previous relationship with a sharp focus that the other tracks lack.
13. OverDoz. Feat. Pharrel Williams "Last Kiss"
Vibrant AF. OverDoz. focuses on the dancefloor with this funky hip hop party. The group's hungry, diverse album earlier this year proved that they need to be in the spotlight a bit more, this track is them playfully stealing that spotlight, with the help of Pharrel Williams.
12. Drake "Know Yourself"
This dark, late-night thriller bounces between Drake's two strengths, at first giving us a slow-burn and then turning into an energetic ode to steady mobbing. Drake knows how far he has come now, and "Know Yourself" sticks out on an album full of confident songs rife bravado and Drizzy's signature swagger.
11. Jay Rock "Money Trees Deuce"
That steady, bouncy beat and smooth hook that made Kendrick's "Money Trees" such a standout from his 2012 masterpiece is faithfully mirrored here in the dreamy "Money Trees Deuce" by TDE heavy-hitter Jay Rock. This is Jay Rock really coming into his own, ready to take on the world right by Kendrick's side, grounding the thoughtful verses, production, and hook to make this is real winner.
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