Best of 2017: Lee’s Best Songs

December 30, 2017

1. Kendrick Lamar – FEAR.

Previewed briefly on “The Heart Part 4” with a different verse in true rough draft fashion, the top slot goes to Kendrick Lamar’s chilling FEAR. Whether it’s the rattling snake like sound in the left ear, Alchemist’s signature hard snare/intense sample production or Kendrick’s introspective verses it feels like the song Kendrick is most proud of in his career.

2. Quelle Chris – Calm Before Feat. Cavalier & Suzi Analogue

One of the best self-help rap albums ever made, Quelle Chris’s “Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More Often” was littered with ethos of self-love and dark honesty that made waves in the underground circle. It also included one of the best verses of the year courtesy of Jean Grae.

3. Westside DOOM – Gorilla Monsoon/2 Stings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzMihdh_ogw

A movement of grimy, dark, murky nostalgic NY Hip-Hop has been emerging since Roc Marciano’s 2010 Macberg album. If you miss that sort of sound then look no further than the Shady Records signee Westside Gunn from the Griselda Records team. He teamed up with the villain himself DOOM and two stellar tracks from a forthcoming collab project.

4. Loaded Lux Freestyles on Funk Flex – #FREESTYLES075

Well, what can you say. This is no surprise to battle rap fans. Wordplay, metaphors, wit, double entendres, punch-lines, schemes and everything many say is lacking in rap today are all here on display from one of the best wordsmiths alive. You won’t catch everything on the first few listens.

5. Rapsody – Knock on My Door

After years of being slept on, ‘Laila’s Wisdom’ made proved why most of your favourite rappers can’t hang with her on the mic. We all knew Rapsody could outrap many but this album proved just how much of a great artist she was and thankfully made listeners stop saying she was good ‘for a woman’ but one of the dopest rappers alive.

Jay-Z – The Story of O.J.

Kari Faux – Gotta Know Feat. Jerry Paper

Buy Muy Drugs – MFKZT

Thundercat – Uh Uh

Jonwayne –LIVE From The Fuck You

Homeshake – Getting Down Pt II (He’s Cooling Down)

The Blaze – Territory

PARTYNEXTDOOR – Peace of Mind

OverDoz. – District

J Dilla – DD.14

SZA – Doves in the Wind Feat. Kendrick Lamar

Mac DeMarco – On the Level

Karriem Riggins – Dirty Drum Warm Up

David Banner – Who Want It Feat. Black Thought

Tyler, the Creator – Pothole

Tanya Morgan – Cold Modelo

Vince Staples – Yeah Right

Sean Price – Negus Feat. DOOM & Ike Eyez

J.I.D – Somebody

Iman Omari – So Real Feat. Quelle Chris

King Krule – Dum Surfer

Big K.R.I.T. – Mixed Messages

Ariel Pink – I Wanna Be Young

Action Bronson – My Right Lung

The Cool Kids – The Moonlanding Feat. Hannibal Buress

Wiki – Leppy Coqui

Rick Ross – Santorini Greece

Syd – All About Me

Babyfather – Cypher

Mick Jenkins – Or More; The Anxious

Daniel Caesar – Neu Roses (Transgressor’s Song)

Frank Ocean – Biking (Solo)

Bonobo – Outlier

THA GOD FAHIM – Danbury Shakes Feat. Mach Hommy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7b3sQYxRZU

Words by Lee Fairweather

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