When rap titans collide, it’s always interesting to see how they intertwine. Clashing into each other’s universe to produce fresh pollen of music can go either way. Well, when Drake & 21 Savage released one of the most unexpected and anticipated bodies of work earlier this morning, the result was two Scorpion King’s (they are both born in the Scorpio constellation) renaissance of Rap would shake things up, and that they did. From a faux rollout, to the content in the music, the album has stirred different reactions and conversations. Remixd Mag had to comb through some of the most evolutionary (pushing what was already existent) and revolutionary (innovative and inventive) opuses Rap & Hip Hop has been able to etch out since the 10’s. We’ve tried to be fair and include every bone of rap from gangster(street) bellows, mafioso, rage rap, emo, backpack and all branches of Rap. Enjoy.
Bandana – Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
When it comes to five-star in every metric, this project is exactly that. Gibbs flexes his love for foreigns and f*cking platinum R&B stars on “Massage Seats”, intoxicates us in cocaine raps on “Half Manne Half Cocaine”, assembles some of the most potent samples on “Palmolive”, “Crime Pays”, and shows his cinematic edge with instrumentation from Madlib on cuts such as “Fake Names” to name some of the countless highlights on the flawless record. Easily one of the magnum opus offerings Hip Hop has to offer in its history, this project arraigned Gibbs as one of the most surgical emcees and lyricists in the Hip Hop lineage if you hand you considered him yet.
What A Time To Be Alive – Drake & Future
On the heels of Drake releasing arguably his best ever project to date, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late & on the other hand, Future with one of the most gritty and polished trap offerings in Dirty Sprite 2, for the first time the two villainy artists linked up on a full-length project. Previously the two gladiators had a somewhat rocky relationship after Drake failed to feature on the pair’s collaboration “Tony Montana” music video, but more than made up for it through this cultural master stroke. Both being touted among the greats if not the greatest at the time, at a particular pivot when Trap music was at its freshest to many’s ears, Aubrey and Pluto pounced with some of the hardest-hitting, braggadocio, and arrogant-eccentric rap ballads to this date. From getting texts from icon and mogul Michel Jordan on “Jumpman”, to their exorbitant lifestyle decisions on “Plastic Bag”, “Change Locations”, to their painful come-ups on “Live From The Gutter” the fitting glass diamonds on the cover paid maximum homage to what was perhaps the most grandeur project by two artists since what we are about to mention next.
Watch The Throne – Jay-Z & Ye
Practically the best pairing of a producer and a rapper combination we will ever see on the Hip Hop corner, their joint album was pure grandiose and flair of no match from anything at the time or till date. Hov who was coming off the back of his crescendo and record-breaking Blueprint 3 album paired with its world tour stadium-ready anthems, to Ye who was brimming with confidence from his contender for greatest album of all time in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy & Good Music Presents Cruel Summer compilation, no two rappers had the culture in their palm than these two heavyweights. The two would go on a crushing tour off an album that spawned major hit records that still ring in todays culture including “Niggas In Paris”, “Otis”, “HAM”, “No Church In The Wild” just to offboard the mainstream hits, but the album boasted some of the most pertinent themes in black music from decadence, class, black excellence and more. Today, rappers such as Drake, Rick Ross, Big Sean, Pusha T, Travis Scott, Future who are known for their creative ways of flexing their wealth and rewards of their labor can tip this record for paving the way of such tasteful bragging, especially by black successful rappers who used verticals such as fashion, architecture, fine art to show Hip Hop was well cognizant of the finer tastings life has to offer.
Distant Relatives – Nas & Damian Marley
Coincidentally enough, Harlem phenomenon Nasir Jones would go off to Jamaica in a hiatus stint after a string of sub-par albums (in his standards). His connection with Reggae legend Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley was the making of legends as the two hit it off and became a musical alliance that many had aspired for. Each track carried wells of substance, message, hope, knowledge and still redeemed some of the highest listenability and replay value. An ode to blackness, royalty, purpose, gratitude, this is a project that will be chiseled into the epochs as one of the greatest by two great statesmen in not only Hip Hop but Black Music in totality. From the insightful “Patience”, to the call to action riddim “Africa Must Wake Up”, to the acrobatic “As We Enter”, music gods must have been in alignment for this body of work.
Her Loss – Drake & 21 Savage
When it comes to hard-hitting, aggressive, visceral, and baleful music – a few names can sit on the same fence as UK born Glenwood-bred emcee, 21 Savage. The rapper known for his hilarious punchlines, laidback flow, crackling tone and emotionless delivery is at the apex of his powers having delivered platinum-selling songs & albums, a few number one records, and is now trading bar for bar with one of the greatest most commercially appealing artists of all time in Drake at the time of the projects’ release, the two brood intensely over sinister instrumentals. Her Loss finds Drake and 21 Savage bonding on producers that have equally grown to now dominate the Hip Hop soundscape in names like OZ, F1lthy, Vinylz, Tay Keith, 40, Earl On The Beat, Boi 1Da, Metro Boomin and a cast of names including Lil Yachty that have their fingerprints inky from the work they left all over this juggernaut project. Although a really reticent project without many highlights or standout moments, Drake and 21 choose to hide these enormous moments on the album with different slights to Megan Thee Stallion on CircoLoco, D.R.A.M, Kanye West, Ice Spice & many others. It’s still a hot topic of discussion today.
Kids See Ghosts – Ye & Kid Cudi
Since Ye discovered Cudi, the latter has been a cornerstone to the musical choices made by Ye ever since. The hum and melodic maestro Cudder has a unique tone and style that has influenced rappers such as A$AP Rocky & Travis Scott. On Kids See Ghosts, Ye confronts his demons face-forward with Cudi giving him the much needed backing he would need to get vulnerable. Tapping Yasin Bey and Pusha T for assistance on tracks such as “Reborn”, the project is among one of Hip Hop’s most riveting and mental health sensitized records because it normalizes mental health in a light Hip Hop is not necessarily adorned for. The combination of psychedelic, rock and hip hop comes to life on this jaunt and allows both emcees to delve deep into emotive states that are relatable to many. This will also go down as a classic based on the fact that Cudi & Ye have fallen out and vowed publicly to never work together again.
Honorary Mention:
Ferrari Boyz – Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame
“If it ain’t no paper, there’s no convo, See I ride scrapers y’all ride Volvos, But that’s my M.O., I go where you won’t go, I smoke what you can’t smoke, I’m rich and you flat broke” if this isn’t classic Gucci Mane, what is? On Ferrari Boyz, two Hip Hop icons trade bars over a slew of legendary Atlanta producers 808 Mafia. The record went on to pave the way for numerous Atlanta acts such as Future, 2 Chainz, Southside, and a galaxy of stars that laid their imprint on the culture in the 10’s.
