Jun 11, 2016

Rappers Who Have Owned 2016

Rap has treated us well so far in 2016. We have seen releases from many major artists along with a lot of up and coming rappers making a name for themselves. Join me as I count down the best names in rap this year.

5. Future



It's late night January 16th, I'm at a party sitting on the couch watching the NFL Playoffs. I casually scroll through Twitter when I then see a tweet about a Future project being released at 12 AM. This was huge after not hearing anything from Nayvadius since September when he and Drake released WATTBA.

11 hours later, Purple Reign surfaces online. There was a lot of mixed reactions when the tape first dropped, from myself included. As time passed, the tape grew on me and I saw that it did with others. Purple Reign is Future trying to reinvent himself. He is trying to switch up his style and evolve and it worked out great.

Only two months later, he then announces that he will be dropping EVOL. This tape also brought many mixed reactions as Future did not bring nothing new to the table minus Program, Low Life, and Lie to Me. Lil Haiti Baby is still one of the best rap songs of 2016 but the production on the rest of the album felt stagnant. The production coming from Metro has grown old, at least the production he has been giving Future. Metro is a very versatile producer if you look at his catalog. EVOL still is a hit or miss for a lot of fans but I have now seen many come around and have grown to love the project.

Dating back to 2014, Future has been upon a pedestal in rap and has kept himself there coming into 2016.

4. Young Thug



Thug released I'm Up in February and Slime Season 3 in March. At first, I thought I'm Up was very mediocre. It resonated with me the same way Purple Reign did. I liked Slime Season 3 much better but as time went on, I'm Up grew on me in ways I could not have imagined. King Troup is undeniably one of the best rap songs of 2016.

Thug has held the reigns of being one of the hottest names in rap for the past year. In 2016, he has done numerous features that have been great. There is still no one rapping like Thug right now.

3. Kevin Gates



Kevin Gates dropped ISLAH in January and in June, it is still one of my most played albums. Kevin Gates can craft together a hook like no other. Much like Young Thug, there are not many people rapping like Kevin Gates. His aggressive, heart on his sleeve demeanor has made him one of the best rappers in 2016.

With his label not allowing him to release another album until early 2017, he took to Twitter to announce the sequel to Murder 4 Hire. After many weeks of waiting, it finally dropped. It is not his best work to date as his hook writing felt a little lazier than what we are used to but the rapping itself was textbook Gates. I am expecting Gates to give us something else before the end of 2016 as well.

2. Kodak Black



Kodak Black has the highest ceiling of anyone in rap right now. The amount of potential this kid has is unreal. He remained quiet in 2016 up until today other than dropping one of the best verses of the year (See here: News or Smthn Freestyle)

Freshly turning just 19, he drops his fourth mixtape, Lil B.I.G. Pac, on June 11th (Today). I can already tell you that I have played this mixtape at least 10 times through already. As of right now, he is incarcerated and there is no word on when he will be released from prison but all we can hope is that it will be soon.

1. Boosie



In just 6 months, dating back to January, Boosie has dropped 4 albums this year. All of them have been phenomenal. I was never able to listen to Boosie until this year. He dropped In My Feelings (Goin Thru It) and I became a fan right there and then.

In My Feelings details the hardships he was going through after his diagnosis of cancer. Some say he may have milked the whole situation a little but I can easily look past that due to the quality of the music. The final track on In My Feelings, "I Know They Gon Miss Me," is one of the saddest rap songs I have ever heard. It made me tear up the first time listening to it.

I don't know what else Boosie has planned for 2016 but whatever it may be, I'll be waiting.


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Jun 12, 2016

Genghis thread-banned for going wayyyyyyyyyy off topic and abusing SHUDEYE

 

Jun 11, 2016

Gates -
Luca Brasi 1 & 2
By Any Means
ISLAH
Stranger Than Fiction

Kodak -
Heart of the Projects
Institution
Lil BIG Pac
Project Baby

 

Jun 11, 2016

Out of the selected I'll have to go with Gates. I still need to listen to Kodak that will come in due time tho.

Chance's mixtape and his verse on ULB was awesome this year I'd have him up there personally.

 

Jun 11, 2016

I liked Coloring Book but don't think he deserved to be on this list

 

Jun 11, 2016

Gotta say Gates.

Thug gonna take over with HiTunes though

 

Jun 11, 2016

Agree with this list not so strong on boosie though.

You're gonna be adding Tory Lanez to that list, now that we know he's going to release an album this summer

 

Jun 11, 2016

Gates. Two projects in one year, the former being otherworldly while the latter is still d--- great despite its minor flaws (which even then are outweighed by them baaaars). Quality wise he's at the top rn.

Kodaks a close second for me. I like & listen to him shittons more than Gates but still feel Gates output this year edges his out.