Month: January 2019

This past year was one of the best years in recent memory for hip-hop, and my listening habits over the last 12 months certainly reflects that. Seriously, 2018 will be at least mentioned in conversations for hip hop’s best year ever (it’s not, but still really good).

This year in hip-hop we got it all: new albums from the all-time greats (Eminem, Lil Wayne, Nas), great albums from the next generation (Travis Scott, 21 Savage, BROCKHAMPTON), a Drake album (since he fits into neither category), a drip campaign from Chance the Rapper, and serious rap beef (remember MGK? that kid was wild). And there’s a lot in between. J. Cole cut through the noise to say something. Kendrick Lamar released a pseudo album disguised as a movie soundtrack. Meek Mill was freed. Man, what a year.

Because of hip-hop’s banner year this year, I figured that instead of just giving you four albums to listen to as I did in Books in 2018, I figured that I’d give you not just one full top ten, but two! One dedicated to hip-hop, the other for everything else. You’re welcome.

Best 2018 Hip-Hop

1. K.O.D by J. Cole
2. Kamikaze by Eminem
3. Carter V by Lil Wayne
4. Black Panther Soundtrack by Various Artists
5. Beerbongs & Bentleys by Post Malone
6. Scorpion by Drake
7. Championships by Meek Mill
8. Return of the Trill by Bun B
9. Daytona by Pusha T
10. FM! by Vince Staples

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order by artist)

• Everything is Love, The Carters
• iridescence by BROCKHAMPTON
• Bobby Tarantino II by Logic
• NASIR by Nas
• ASTROWORLD by Travis Scott
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse by Various Artists

Best 2018 Everything Else

1. Celeste (Original Soundtrack) by Lena Raine
2. A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships by The 1975
3. Birthplace by Novo Amor
4. Maniac (Netflix Original Soundtrack) by Dan Romer
5. FRIENDS KEEP SECRETS by benny blanco
6. Delta by Mumford & Sons
7. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
8. MANIA by Fall Out Boy
9. The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs by Wye Oak
10. album1 by San Holo

The Brownies

Artist of the Year: Lil’ Wayne

Best Cover: Heartless (RAK Studios) from Dermot Kennedy

Best Music of 2018 Without a Proper Album: Khalid

Best Remix: Remind Me to Forget by Miguel, Young Bombs

Breakout Artist: SOB x RBE

Derek’s Guilty Pleasure: Nice for What by Drake

Most Hype Generated in 2018 for a 2019 Album: Chance the Rapper

Worst Album from a Good Artist: Ye by Kanye West

I plan on writing an entirely independent post on my 2019 reading plan (and how in 2018 I started tracking my Reading List using Notion), but here’s a look at four books that I thoroughly enjoyed this past year.

• The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu. Literally the only reason that John Scalzi didn’t make #1 for me over this past year (see below) is the Remembrance of Earth’s Past series. It’s one my all-time favorites. Seriously the best collection of books I’ve read in a decade. All three books are intellectual epics spanning generations and locations, with thought-provoking ideas across all disciplines of how we organize human society: politics, economics, and science. It’s fascinating, and without ruining the series, I’d recommend that you run out and pick it up as soon as possible. Ball Lightning was really good as well, and I look forward to Supernova Era coming out later this year.
• Lock In by John Scalzi. Along with Cixin, Scalzi was one of my great discoveries this year. To be honest, it was a great year for me reading-wise, particularly on the science fiction front (N.K. Jemisin didn’t make this list of top 4!), and Scalzi emerged as a favorite. After finishing the sci-fi forward crime thriller that is Lock In, I immediately ran to Head On, it’s sequel. And recently I finished Unlocked, a novella set in the same universe. I guess I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that I’m reading everything the man has ever written, from Old Man’s War to The Collapsing Empire to his blog, Whatever. It’s worth it.
• The Monk of Mokha by Dave Eggers. For those that know me, you know I’m a coffee snob & addict. Seriously. Can’t enough. First name basis with the local baristas, I’ve been to international coffee farms, worked a counter, etc. Love the space. And this book, about the quest to bring Yemeni coffee to the world, was a fun read from a great writer. Made me appreciate the work of coffee entrepreneurs throughout the globe, as well as the value in legitimate fair trade, farmer-first economics when dealing with coffee.
• Chasing New Horizons by Alan Stern & David Grinspoon. Like many closeted nerds, I’m a space nut. I love it. For a while in my teens, I just knew I was going to be an aerospace engineer and work at JPL, APL, or NASA. While my career may have changed, my love for space never did. Picking up this book certainly reminded me of that, as I read the engineering and political challenges faced by the recent New Horizons probe in it’s quest to explore Pluto. Fascinating story. Plus, talk about a timely read! I finished this just a couple of days ago…right before the New Horizons spacecraft reached Ultima Thule, a Kuiper Belt object, which has now been explored for the first time!