2020 Projects List
2020 Projects List
Pandemic; Detroit; Hyper-pop/Hip-hop beginnings; Working on Dying Rise; Alchemist
2020 we spent the majority of the year indoors. No big deal. That’s just an average day for ya boy here. Lot of good music came out but the top of the mountain is pretty barren. Lotta people said 2020 was a weak year but I think hindsight will say otherwise. Quick refresh on the rules…
Trying to rank projects doesn’t work for me. Some days I wanna listen to “Die Lit” and others I wanna listen to “Reasonable Doubt.” Maybe the day I rank albums I’ll have “Daytona” at #7 and "Squidtastic” at #20. Could listen to these albums three years later and decide I like “Squidtastic” more. Thoughts and feelings change over time. If I have three different areas to place projects, it gives them a bit more flexibility to climb up and down. They’re not restricted to a number for eternity.
2020 Detroit/midwest scene cemented itself as the most fun rap in the country. New York drill started to stagnant until surf gang collective and other burrows started to take over. Lil Baby had a couple month run of being the biggest/best rapper in the world. Carti dropped on Christmas. That’s the real Santa. Nobody was outside to even enjoy the Uzi album. Shit was wack.
Without further ado, list.
Top Projects
Project - Artist // Sample Song // Project Links
Eternal Atake (Deluxe) - Lil Uzi Vert // Chrome Heart Tags // Spotify Apple Music
I hate long albums but I LOVE all 31 songs on this. One of my favorite projects of all time. So fun. So bubbly. I love cults 🥳. Honestly thought about ranking every song for this section but we gotta relax. Should we rank the leaks instead? Here’s the best leak lol. More Songs. Myron. Lotus. Leaders (Nav bonkers). POP (balenci balenci balenci balenci balenci balenci). Celebration Station. Bigger Than Life. Prices. Venetia.
The Life of Pi’erre 4 (Deluxe - ONLY the deluxe) - Pi’erre Bourne // Growing Pains // Spotify Apple Music
Okay. Sample Song. “Ain’t seen her in a minute man I feel like Nav 😩.” Golly. What a line. The run of songs from “Sossgirl” to “Growing Pains” is sequenced so well. The swelling of the bass at the end of “Sossboy” into the beginning instrumental of “Deja Vu” sounds incredible. You can feel the progression in your chest as the beat continues to stack and build. Once the bass is cut out from underneath it’s the ultimate release.
Fuck the World - Brent Faiyaz // Fuck the World (Summer in London) // Spotify Apple Music
The unabashed, other worldly levels of toxicity present here requires a multitude of radaway and rad-x pills just to endure a single run through this album. Levels that would make even Future envious. This the type of confident, cocky, narcissistic shit I need in my life. The chopped not slopped version of this might be better than the original (HIGH KEY) especially “Been Away.”
Barnacles - Sahbabii // Giraffes & Elephants // Spotify Apple Music
He talks bout sex the way I dream bout sex.
Honorable Mentions
Project - Artist // Sample Song // Project Links
Try Again - Ovrkast. // Face (feat. Navy Blue) // Spotify Apple Music
1988 - Knxwledge // don_tgottabe // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Lo&Behold - lojii // lo&behold // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
I Love You 2, Hook - Hook // Answer // Spotify Apple Music
Hook is so unbelievably talented and creative. Her style is brash and in your face. The flows. The way she uses her voice. Her beat selection. Whole package.
A Written Testimony - Jay Electronica // The Neverending Story // Spotify Apple Music
Jay Z is amazing throughout the entire project. Basically a collab album. On “The Blinding” Jay Elect’s like, “when I look inside the mirror all I see is flaws. When I look inside the mirror all I see is Mars” HARD. “Shiny Suit Theory” has one of my favorite Jay Z verses of all time.
Heat Check Vol. 2 - WiFiGawd & Tony Seltzer // Shining // Spotify Apple Music
They’re a match made in heaven. WiFiGawd layers his vocals so well, similar to Curren$y. More songs. Goners. Touchdown.
Attack of the Future Shocked, Flesh Covered, Meatbags of the 85 - $ilkmoney // Biscuits & Mouse Eggs, I Wanna Marry You // Spotify Apple Music
Alfredo - Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist // God Is Perfect // Spotify Apple Music
Savage Mode II - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin // Glock in My Lap // Spotify Apple Music
“Southside on the track uhhh yeahhh…. Honorable C-Note…. Metro Boomin want some more n****”
The Price of Tea in China - Boldy James & The Alchemist // Grey October (feat. Evidence) // Spotify Apple Music
DOG - Khalil Blu // runway talk (feat. MAVI) // Spotify Apple Music
Couple other songs. Franklin. Chewing Gum. Lol Play This When Ur Sad.
Whole Lotta Red (EP) - Mario Judah // Bih Yah // Spotify Apple Music
Listened to this a lot for a week straight. It’s ten minutes long. Beats are great. Inaudible speech patterns are great.
Manger on McNichols - Boldy James & Sterling Tolls // Mommy Dearest (A Eulogy) // Spotify Apple Music
Boldy’s gruff, deliberate rapping works in tandem with Sterling Tolls grandiose production to bring an emotional trip through Boldy’s early life. The bars were all written prior to 2010 and this shit just sat for years.
Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn) - Jay Electronica // Real Magic // YouTube
Another forgotten album that magically popped up. Honestly, if this dropped back in 2012, it would’ve been the greatest shit to me. It’s still an extremely beautiful project despite all its flaws (ie. rough mixing, transitions, etc.. it leaked which is why we even have it now lol). “Shiny Suit Theory” sounds SO much better within the context of this album than “A Written Testimony.”
Bad Kid from The 4 - Duwap Kaine // Da Feeling // Spotify Apple Music
Duwap immaculate. More songs. Gomb (Flip). Earl Sweatshirt.
Pluto x Baby Pluto (Deluxe) - Future & Lil Uzi Vert // Patek // Spotify Apple Music
Grew on me from late 2020 into 2021. Fun project. Not serious at all. I wish Uzi would’ve forced Future to refer to himself as some Naruto character lol. More songs. Heart In Pieces. Drankin N Smokin. Million Dollar Play. Plastic. Bankroll.
WUNNA (Deluxe) - Gunna // DOLLAZ ON MY HEAD (feat. Young Thug) // Spotify Apple Music
One of the worst album covers I’ve ever seen.
MAD SPACE - Akai Solo & iblss // Kingdom Koi // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
These Were Solid Too
Project - Artist // Sample Song // Project Links
Brolik - Sada Baby // WWF // Datpiff YouTube
He’s rapping his ass off on the sample song. Like crazy crazy.
13LOOD 1N + 13LOOD OUT MIXX - ZXLTRXN (Denzel Curry) // Evil Twin (feat. ZillaKami) [2:59 mark] // YouTube
Lost in the Sauce - Sauce Twinz // Big Drip Squad (feat. Sauce Gohan & Sada Baby) // Spotify Apple Music
They’re having so much fun. I nearly burst into tears from laughing at Sauce Walka’s verse on “Sauce Life” when he’s talking bout his diamonds blinding James Harden cause he’s sitting courtside but he needs him to still win the championship. The Paul Wall song is haaarrrdddddd.
Unlocked - Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats // So.Incredile.pkg // Spotify Apple Music YouTube
No Socks - Cash Kidd // See You (feat. Icewear Vezzo, Rio Da Yung OG, Lavier & Sterl Gotti) // Spotify Apple Music
12 AM in Atlanta 2 - 24hrs & DJ Drama // Candy Shop (feat. MadeinTYO) // Spotify Apple Music
Pray for Paris - Westside Gunn // 327 (feat. Joey Bada$$, Tyler, The Creator & Billie Essco) // Spotify Apple Music
This too. Claiborne Kick (feat. Boldy James)
Innocent Country 2 - Quelle Chris & Chris Keys // When You Fall… (feat. Nappy Nina, Fresh Daily & 5ILL) // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
THE GOAT - Polo G // Flex (feat. Juice WRLD) // Spotify Apple Music
Cold Water - Medhane // Na Fr // Spotify Apple Music
Lil Boat 3.5 - Lil Yachty // From Down Bad // Spotify Apple Music
He’s had a solid rap career. Way better than what most people think. More songs. Coffin. In My Stussy’s. Split/Whole Time. Range Rover Sports Truck. Whew’ Chile. Concrete Boys.
Shrines - Armand Hammer // Solarium // Spotify Apple Music
I Love You, Say It Back - KEY! // Boys Don’t Cry // Spotify Apple Music
New Mania - 88Glam // Nightcrawler // Spotify Apple Music
Eleventh Wind - Akai Solo // Still Sailing // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Best Western - Cashius Green // Check Inn // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Sample song starts out so menacingly. Sounds like it’s going to be Griselda af until the producer throws in an 808 pattern and the instrumental gains a ton of bounce. Interesting track.
CLAIRVOYANCE - Thouxanbanfauni // ULTRA VIOLET // Spotify Apple Music
“Ain’t going back to being broke, when I saw bands, then I saw hope…”
Trapped on Cleveland 3 - Lil Keed // Fox 5 // Spotify Apple Music
Mach’s Hard Lemonade - Mach Hommy // Marshmallow Test // Spotify Apple Music
Platinum Falcon Returns (EP) - Guapdad 4000 // Hairless Horsemen (Boogie) // Spotify Apple Music
Muthaland - Bbymutha // Cocaine Catwalk // Spotify Bandcamp
More songs. Not for Caucasians. Either Way.
Top - YoungBoy Never Broke Again // The Last Backyard… // Spotify Apple Music
Have to listen to “The Last Backyard…” and “Right Foot Creep” back to back every time. “Ooh (Backyardigans). I put a bitch on the news (Backyardigans). Ooh (Backyardigans)”
No Love Lost - Blxst // Be Alone // Spotify Apple Music
When It’s All Said And Done (EP) - Giveon // Still Your Best // Spotify Apple Music
This goofy fucker ended up releasing another ep and combined the two to make a full album in 2021.
Ride Alone, Fly Together - Akai Solo // Panther Lily // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Red Paint Reverend - ShooterGang Kony // Bussdown (feat. Teejay3k & Nef tha Pharoah) // Spotify Apple Music
Chilombo - Jhene Aiko // B.S. (feat. H.E.R.) // Spotify Apple Music
Love this song too. I’d graze grass for her.
Miles - Blu & Exile // True & Livin’ // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE - Westside Gunn // Ocean Prime (feat. Slick Rick & Busta Rhymes) // Spotify Apple Music
Weird album. There’s so many moments where I’m like, “man get westside tf off this song 😭”. Good songs ruined by Westside Gunn. All Praises. Liz Loves Luger. (P.S. Love the album artwork)
Anime, Trauma, & Divorce - Open Mike Eagle // Sweatpants Spiderman // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Positions - Ariana Grande // 34 + 35 // Spotify Apple Music
Never Forgotten - MadeinTYO // Sports Center (feat. Ty Dolla $ign & 24hrs) // Spotify Apple Music
Wtf is this album cover?????
EP! - JPEGMAFIA // BALD! REMIX (feat. Denzel Curry) // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Come Outside, We Not Gone Jump You - Father // Backbreaker // Spotify Apple Music
Chavo’s World - Chavo & Pi’erre Bourne // Countertops // Spotify Apple Music
Chavo’s easily the best rapper on Pi’erre’s label. The best song on this project is Michigan but there’s three versions out there with different variations to the beat. Pi’erre went berserk on that joint. Michigan (Music Video Edition) >>> Michigan (Single) >>> Michigan (Album Version). More songs. Wyfw. Cheap. Had a Feeling. Boolie.
Delinquent Duo - Shofu & Token Black // Squad Stay Lit (feat. Matt Houston) // Spotify Apple Music
Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Crater Speak) - Slauson Malone // My feet's tired (see page 108) // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
FlySiifu’s - Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin // Dollar Dr. Dream // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Redemption Arc (EP) - OmarCameUp // Quota // Spotify Apple Music
The listening party was so cute and fun.
Like Haijme - Akai Solo & Bstfrnd // Star Falls // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Bag Talk - Pink Siifu & YUNGMORPHEUS // Good Mourning (feat. YL) // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Garden - BookPaxkMooky // Movin’ Round // Spotify Apple Music
Spacey, reverberated beats coupled with lackadaisical flows is *chefs kiss.*
Couldn’t Wait to Tell You… - Liv.e // These Past Years…told by Lord Byron // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Forceswithyou - Clear Soul Forces // We Gets busy // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
After Hours - The Weeknd // Heartless // Spotify Apple Music
I was very torn between “amphetamine got my stummy feeling sickly” and “she a cold-hearted bih with no shame but her throat too fire”
Purple Moonlight Pages - R.A.P. Ferreira // Laundry // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
B4dalbum - SwaVay // Selena Gomez // Spotify Apple Music
Too Afraid to Dance - Chuck Strangers // Surrender (feat. Navy Blue) // Spotify Apple Music
Welcome to O’Block - King Von (RIP) // GTA // Spotify Apple Music
8 - UnoTheActivist // Ew // Spotify Apple Music
My Turn (Deluxe) - Lil Baby // We Paid (feat. 42 Dugg) // Spotify Apple Music
“We Paid” one of the best songs of 2020.
Beyond Bulletproof - Mozzy // So Lonely (feat. Shordie Shordie) // Spotify Apple Music
Teen Spirit - BigBabyGucci // Typical // Spotify Apple Music
One and Only - Sheff G // No Suburban, Pt. 2 // Spotify Apple Music
It Was Divine - Alina Baraz // Morocco (feat. 6LACK) // Spotify Apple Music
It Was Good Until It Wasn’t - Kehlani // Water // Spotify Apple Music
Hate The Club. Me too. Grieving. Me too.
Descendants of Cain - KA // My Brother’s Keeper // Spotify Apple Music
High Off Life - Future // Too Comfortable // Spotify Apple Music
ANNIVERSARY - Bryson Tiller // Sorrows // Spotify Apple Music
Forever, Ya Girl - KeiyaA // Do Yourself a Favor // Spotify Apple Music
Yellow Tape - Key Glock // Word on the Streets // Spotify Apple Music
Let the band play. Fun Memphis rap. Spun this a lot while working out.
Rap N Roll - DOM KENNEDY // Life (feat. 24hrs & Casey Veggies) // Spotify Apple Music
An absurd amount of references to nutting on various articles of clothing.
Bill Israel - Kodak Black // Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe // Spotify Apple Music
Had a dream once that I was riding a school bus and was humming the Sample Song to someone. Couldn’t figure out wtf the song was called. Next morning I woke up and played my Apple Music radio station and it was the first song to play. Spooky.
Emergency Tsunami - Nav // Do Ya Deed (feat. SahBabii) // Spotify Apple Music
Weezy & Nav = 👍
Is It Selfish If We Talk About Me Again - Kacy Hill // Just To Say // Spotify Apple Music
Just Cause Y’all Waited (Deluxe) - Lil Durk // 3 Headed Goat (feat. Lil Baby & Polo G) // Spotify Apple Music
The two months following the release of the Sample Song was when all three of them were the best rappers on earth. I also love “Turn Myself In” because he says, “I got five million followers, but I need five million dollars…” with so much desperation in his voice that this really might be the only way to fulfill any purpose in his life. Inspirational.
Teenage Fever - Kaash Paige // Jaded // Spotify Apple Music
London Class - Knucks // Fxcked Up (feat. Sam Wise) // Spotify Apple Music
RTJ4 - Run the Jewels // walking in the snow // Spotify Apple Music
Sell Sole II - Dej Loaf // Simply (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) // Spotify Apple Music
Stuck in the Sky - Maria Isabel // Where Does The Love Go? (feat. Yeek) // Spotify Apple Music
Rp’s and Plan B’s - Tony Shhnow & 10kdunkin // On Me // Spotify Apple Music
grae - Moses Sumney // Me in 20 Years // Spotify Apple Music
Thank You for Using GTL - Drakeo the Ruler & JoogSzn // Backflip or Sumn // Spotify Apple Music
Ajai - Kenny Segal & Serengeti // Company Softball // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
weight of the world - MIKE // coat of many colors // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
blp2020: “king of the night” - MIKE // Power! // Bandcamp
Fresh Veggies 2 - Casey Veggies & Rockie Fresh // Demeanor/Messy (Interlude) [feat. Curren$y & Church] // Spotify Apple Music
Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas // Please Don’t Make Me Cry // Spotify Apple Music
Kill Streak - Tony Shhnow // Waist Deep // Spotify Apple Music
Mafia Bidness - Shoreline Mafia // On the Low (feat. Kodak Black) // Spotify Apple Music
Second half of the album carries so hard. Shoutout Drakeo’s “Musty Freestyle”
Supply & Demand - Lord Apex & V Don // Life Goes On // Spotify Apple Music
As Above, So Below - Ankhlejohn // Code Naming (feat. Navy Blue) // Spotify Apple Music Bandcamp
Until I Return - Youngboy Never Broke Again // Around // Spotify Apple Music
Rich Slave - Young Dolph // Hold Up Hold Up Hold Up // Spotify Apple Music
Love Santana - Bktherula // Tweakin’ Together // Spotify Apple Music
Love her music. Atmospheric, spacey, and at times messy. “On Me” has one of the busiest synth melodies I’ve heard in recent memory.
PTSD - G Herbo // PTSD (feat. Lil Uzi Vert, Juice WRLD, & Chance the Rapper) // Spotify Apple Music
Suga - Megan Thee Stallion // B.I.T.C.H. // Spotify Apple Music
Chopped and screwed version of Savage is so tough.
Burden of Proof - Benny The Butcher // One Way Flight (feat. Freddie Gibbs) // Spotify Apple Music
Babyface Ray - For You (EP) // Paperwork Party // Spotify Apple Music
Elevated himself to be one of my favorite rappers. Here’s some features he did. Meg The Stallion. Remember Me. The Sit Down. Stay Wavy.
How Can I (EP) - 박혜진 Park Hye Jin // How Come // Spotify Apple Music
After Me - SoFaygo // Off the Map // Spotify Apple Music
Angelic 7 - SoFaygo // Hearse // Spotify Apple Music
Lil Tecca is a good producer.
34Corine - TiaCorine // 34 Faucet // Spotify Apple Music
Sample Song is smooth af. She rides that beat. CardoGotWings so talented.
Crashed My Car - Hook & Nedarb // Get Bacc // Spotify Apple Music
Sample Song contains her best adlib. “She’s a… rapper?” Love this song too.
Reasonable Drought - Stove God Cook // Rolls Royce Break Lights // Spotify Apple Music
City on My Back - Rio Da Yung OG // Window Shopper // Spotify Apple Music
Pablo - 18veno (RIP) // 1942 // Spotify Apple Music
Zaystreet - Young Scooter & Zaytoven // Pressure (feat. Young Dolph) // Spotify Apple Music
Rappers should all want to make an 8-12 track project with Zaytoven. Great Chief Keef verse on “Beat Cry.”