With the decade ending right around the corner, it is time for my favorite albums of the 2010s. I made this list very challenging for myself, unlike other lists are 100 or 200 albums I am only doing ten. Another challenge I'm doing is one album per artist cause if I didn't do that it would be filled with Kendrick, Kanye, and Drake (Spoilers they are on the list). Without further ado here we go.
10. The Money Store by Death Grips (2012)
There is a lot to say about Death Grips but I rather not be here all day. I first heard of them which most people reading this have, was the melon man himself Anthony Fantano, and I remember listening to this thinking "is this a joke?". The genre-blending of hip-hop and industrial threw me off since I wasn't open to experimental music at the time but without this album or the lads, I wouldn't dive into that side of hip hop. Out of the entire Death Grips catalog, this is the most "easy listening", a digestible body of work and a solid introduction. I would also would MC Ride songwriting, awhile it's hard to understand what he's saying he does say some great shit. I know this isn't for everybody but this album is an experience, either bad or good. Tracks "Get Got, "Hustle Bones", and "I've Seen Footage" are my favorite tracks on "The Money Store" and overall the album is great and I'm always excited about what the group does next (need a new album soon.)
9. Monster by Future (2014)
I know this is technically a 'Mixtape" but I know this would be everyone's or at least one of their favorite mixtapes this decade. Before this mixtape dropped that was apart of the great 2014-2015 MVP NBA season that Future had, I wasn't a huge fan. He did have a couple of songs I enjoyed up to that point but rappers like him I wasn't fucking with. When Monster dropped, My opinion changed on Hendrixx. this was more a dark side but a more vulnerable side of Future and being executive produced by a young and upcoming Metro Boomin, it was a major plus. Catchy tunes like "Fetti" and "2PAC", more personal tracks like "Throw Away" and slow and moody songs the smash hit "Codeine Crazy". Future now is one of the biggest and hottest rappers out right now and glad we have someone like Future in the game, either we wanna be toxic as fuck or be on our sad shit, Future we will always be there for us, Future Hive stand up.
8. If You're Reading This, It's Too Late by Drake (2015)
Another one that's considered a "mixtape" but like I give a shit. Sure this project did have tons of controversies and debates about Drake having a ghostwriter but hey. this is easily his best work so? 2015 was Drake's year with this, the one-sided beef with Meek, and his collab album with Future, Even with the help of a ghostwriter Drake lyrically at his best and aggressive too as well. I knew a few people who really weren't the biggest Drake fans even agreed this was great. This is a rare case too where they weren't skippable songs and the minimal and dark production with a pop-rap and trap mix was a major highlight on here. In my opinion, sadly this project and year was Drake's peak and since after this he's been shaky with the release of singles and albums he has put out but he's one of the biggest artists this decade and numbers don't lie so I'm glad we have a project like this to go back to and reminisce the good ole times.
7. Pinata by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib (2014)
Madlib is regarded as one of the best producers of all times and it would be an honor for any rapper to work with him, So when it was announced he had a new collab album on the way I was so excited but with Freddie Gibbs? I was on the fence. Gangsta Gibbs was part of the 2010 XXL freshman list and he had a few mixtapes out before this was released but I wasn't checking for him like that, he did drop an EP with Madlib, it was cool but I wasn't convinced. Gibbs was fine but was the chemistry gonna be strong and can Gibbs be on top of his game? Well, Gibbs did win me over. The beats are obviously solid but Gibbs was very versatility with his flow and delivery and he gelled well with jazzy rap production Madlib is known to do and he held up on his own. I'm glad this was Gibbs's breakthrough album and he is getting more love now than what he did back then, plus glad they are still working together (Bandana great album btw). Favorite tracks here are "Real", "Deeper", "Robes", "Thuggin' Real" and "Harold's".
6. Rodeo by Travis Scott (2015)
Not sure if this classified as a "trap" album but then again the definition of trap music has changed with some people but yeah best trap album of the decade. Travis, I wouldn't say he would be my most improved rapper of the decade and sure he's not a great overall rapper but compares this to his first project, its night and day. Travis did a wonderful job at what he does, jacking other people sounds and make it his own with a twist (I am joking, kinda). I also enjoyed where we finally get some backstory about who Travis is as a person, and yeah he's not that interesting but something is better than nothing. What I love about this record is there is a lot of catchy tunes, "Antidote, "Oh My/Dis Side", "Apple Pie", "3500", "Flying High", and "Impossible" was stuck in my head for quite some time. "Maria I'm Drunk" is easily the best song on the album and with features from Thug, Bieber, Kanye, Quavo, and Chief Keef with the very artsy and beautiful trap production. Travis has since after this has had a few bumps in his road but I am happy in a sense we have people like Travis out there who are these producers rappers who know how to craft a good hit with the right artist (looking at you Khaled).
5. Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown (2016)
I mean it was the first perfect ten albums I wrote about here so of course it was gonna be on this list. Awhile "XXX" was a great album, I give this one the slight edge, mainly for the experimental production that the man himself said it cost an arm and leg to get the samples cleared but a lot of sad undertones in the lyrics really made me think "wow Danny going through some shit". "Ain't It Funny" is the perfect example what the main theme of the entire project, awhile the sound of the album is great and when you dig deeper, it gets fucking dark. ""Golddust", "Really Doe", "Lost", and "When It Rain" are the main highlights of this album. If I could say one thing about Danny Brown run this decade, it was near perfect with "Old" being the only album of his that didn't live up to the rest of his catalog. Glad Danny is in a better place and can't wait to see what he does next.
4. A Crow Looked At Me by Mount Eerie (2017)
The only non-hip-hop/R&B record here and I didn't wanna hear this, not because it was bad or anything, just the whole backstory of this album is heart-wrenching. Phil Elverum aka Mount Eerie's entire concept here was about his wife getting cancer four months after their birth of their child and passing away in the summer of 2016. He took inspiration from a poem and wrote about the experience of her battling cancer, passing away, and his own grief. What made me love this album was him singing in more of a spoken-word style poetry tone and very minimal production, he said in interviews he mostly record the entire album in the room where she passed on in and reason for the minimal production was he wanted this album quickly. Album does have the "DIY" sound to it where he also he mainly record with a laptop, one acoustic guitar, and one mic and in a way, it fits perfectly with the whole tone of the record. It was one of those albums you have to experience for yourself and the saddest album I've heard all decade.
3. Blonde by Frank Ocean (2016)
As the saying goes "patience is a virtue", man this whole rollout for this album was chaotic and to hold back your frustration "when will this fucking drop?!" with this album. I do have to shout out and give an honorable mention to Frank's video album "Endless" cause not only it was a great album but finessing Dej Jam with that album to get out of his contract by live-streaming himself building a staircase. Frank took risks on "Blonde" with more minimal, psychedelic, and hazy production that didn't have that commercial upbeat pop sound that "Channel Orange" had. Frank experience with autotune, a talkbox and pitched his vocals on tracks like "Nikes", "Close to You", and "Self Control", songs like "Ivy" "Seigfried" and "Pretty Sweet" had the sounds of indie rock but chaotic sounding especially with "Pretty Sweet", it was a mind fuck with the first listen. The last three tracks of "Blonde" are Frank's more fragile moments of the album and you can tell in his voice and lyrics. The skits on here are a bit hit or miss on this project but in a way, they blend together from when tracks transition into the next and the whole album feels like it is being played in acts. Frank has become a voice for this generation and we not even sure what he does next but patience is key.
2. To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar (2015)
This was a tough one for me, I love "Good Kidd, Madd City" and I also love "To Pimp a Butterfly", it was like picking your favorite child but I have to give this one the slight edge. "GKMC" was like you were listening to an oscar movie/origin story of your favorite superhero but "TPAB" was like a Broadway play and I enjoyed the experience with this one a lot more. Kendrick took a risk to dive into jazz, funk, and soul and yeah first listen it threw me off but each listens and diving more into the concept I appreciate and love what he did with this piece of art. Kendrick dove into political and personal themes with the songs and some were creative like "These Wall" where the first half is about getting into them sugar walls and flips into about being locked up and how it ties it just works. "U' is easily my favorite song not only on this but this decade too. Kendrick talking about how he's now famous but with all the shit going in his neighbor and not being there had Kendrick had the lowest point in his life and the way vocals are like cracking and he's drunk as fuck helps the track and it is a very heavy song. "King Kunta" and "Wesley Theory" with the old school funk sound that reminds of Suga Free to aggressive and hard-hitting tracks like "Hood Politics" and "The Blacker The Berry" were highlights also "i" being a live version of the track and the poem he would read at the end of tracks to being connected at the last song with an interview with Tupac?! GENIUS. Album genius enough said.
1. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (2010)
Kanye's magnum opus. Kanye was going through a lot of shit at the time but exiling himself off to Hawaii, teaming up with his best friends and artists he wanted to work with, and the self-awareness of his douchebaggery and being vulnerable, it was the perfect combo. What makes this album great is Kanye took a seat back a bit awhile he did stand out in some tracks, he let the other artists shine and the way he constructed with the production and the artists itself with the posse cuts "So Appalled", the way he got all those singers together on "All of the Lights", Rick Ross delivering his best verse on "Devil in a New Dress" and the opening line of his first and third verse on "Hell of a Life" became a reality. This album was a great way to kick off the decade but it also helped a lot of careers, Pusha T had a resurgence and his solo career took off, Nicki became one of the female rappers and inspired other females out there, for better or worse and this album inspired up and comers like Cudi, Drake and Kendrick. Kanye had tons and I mean TONS of drama and chaos this decade with his rollouts and antics he did but with Kanye, it's just a normal day and we thank him for giving us this rare piece of art.
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