You two may not have noticed this, but aside from that annoying break from April to mid-May where I lost the data on my computer (which I'm still pissed about - I hold grudges like a goddamn champion), HHID has been going hard all year long. Especially after I returned: I've kept its two-posts-a-week schedule pretty admirably, I should say. So, obviously, it's time for me to take another sanity vacation, and what better time to do it than as we segue into a new year?
As usual, thank you both for continuing to support the blog, which, while not exactly at its peak performance (that happened quite a while ago), I still think is better than ever, at least when it comes to the content in the reviews and the responses they draw. I crossed the one-thousand-posts threshold this year, which is just crazy for me, since this was all originally intended to be a side project to keep my writing skills up to par while I worked on other things. Still, my main goal here is to keep at this until I at least finish what I started: I also hope to clarify exactly what it is I plan to "finish" sometime in the new year.
I don't plan on being away for very long, but the state of hip hop in 2014 has made it difficult for me to give that much of a shit about newer albums, and as for all of the older ones I tend to write about, well, I have to go dig them out before I can say anything about them. I encourage everyone to leave your thoughts and votes for your favorite hip hop moments of the year below: as usual, I will refrain from doing any kind of actual list, since I don't really believe in those things, even though I love reading everyone else's. What can I say? It's who I am.
(Run The Jewels 2, by the way.)
See you in the new year,
Max
What a fucking waste
ReplyDeleteAs I have been saying all year, Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo is my number 1. RTJ 2 is a close second. Those albums have stuff on my all time list, and are still in my rotation.
ReplyDeleteNothing else is even near those two IMO.
Biggest disappointment: NehruvianDoom, and best "mainstream" album is Oxymoron.
Albums
ReplyDelete1. Your Old Droog
2. Ghostface Killah - 36 Seasons
3. Diamond D - The Diam Piece
4. Apollo Brown & Planet Asia - Abrasions
5. Skyzoo + Torae - Barrel Brothers
Singles
1. BadBadNotGood ft. Ghostface & Elzhi - Gunshowers
2. Action Bronson - Easy Rider
3. Your Old Droog - Gunsmoke Cologne
4. 50 Cent - Hold On
5. White Crows - Kick Rocks
Yeah, it's not been a vintage year for hip-hop, after we were kinda spoiled in 2013 (Action Bronson, Ugly Heroes, Czarface, 12 Reasons to Die, Joey Bada$$, Kid Tsunami, Roc Marci, RTJ etc etc).
But let's face it, there were still some dope beats out there - you just had to look a little harder than usual - and this blog I'm sure has helped many do exactly that, respect, Max!
My personal faves listed above, peaceful new year y'all...
I thought it was a pretty good year for Hip Hop, but I guess I'm an outlier there.
ReplyDelete1. Cocaine Piñata - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib
2. Run the Jewels 2 - Run the Jewels
3. Good Morning Vietnam 3: The Phoenix Program - MF Grimm & Drasar Monumental
I've been reading since pretty much the start of this, thanks for all the time put in to writing these reviews - I for one really enjoy them, even if I disagree with a lot of them!
ReplyDelete2014 wasn't great, but I enjoyed the Cormega album particularly which I notice you still (in italics) haven't reviewed....
Happy New Year!
Onyx - #Wakedafucup
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great 2015, enjoy the time off, looking forward to reading new reviews afterwards. Peace.
ReplyDeleteI love you Max! And I promised you a reader review about 6 months ago, and I've slacked. I'm about halfway through it. One day I will get it to you, and you won't know it was me because I'm anonymous. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI doubt this comment will receive much support here, but Open Mike Eagle, Hurt Everybody, and Rich Gang had the three best releases this year.
ReplyDeleteSorry for being late!! Max, I fucking loved this year!!! RTJ2, 36 Seasons, Shut Up And Rap, PRhyme, (blasphemy alert!) A Better Tomorrow, #Wakedafucup, Oxymoron, These Days..., Mega Philosophy, Blasphemy. Just to name a few.
ReplyDeleteStill surprised you haven't reviewed any KMD stuff ! Nevertheless, sleep well, my son.
ReplyDeleteWe need a Barrel Brothers review brah.
ReplyDeleteEspecially after I returned: I've kept its two-posts-a-week schedule pretty admirably, I should say.
ReplyDelete-------
Man, whatever, we need good thoughts on good albums. Happy New Year and all the best greetings from Sevastopol. kormega.
I don't care what anyone says, A$AP Rocky is the best rapper in the game. Fuck everyone else right now
ReplyDeleteArmy of the Pharaohs will save your musical taste's life.
DeleteAOTP is so overrated lol get outta here. Army of the Pharoahs is unoriginal, just wannabe lyrical battle raps with random references to shit they probably read in history/religious textbooks from their respective high schools
DeleteThat Multiply joint is fire
DeleteI suppose A$AP Rocky's the real smart guy in hip hop huh?
Delete@Anonymous. Yep. Been saying it, but LiveLoveASAP is the strongest rap project I've heard in probably a decade. It's become one of my all-time favorite albums. The whole aesthetic behind that album is nuts.
DeleteI know this is against protocol Max, but what are your thoughts on the two mixtapes eXquire just dropped?
ReplyDeletedude when you coming back i need something to read on my work break
ReplyDeleteTetsuo &Youth. That is all.
ReplyDeleteyou should review the wu syndicate cd. it is actually pretty solid and more worthy than some of the c team wu tang shit you have posted about in the past.
ReplyDeleteKinda pissed me off how most people forgot about Barrel Brothers at the end of the year. It was one of the best hip-hop releases in recent memory.
ReplyDeletecheeks
Deleteok,,,,
ReplyDeleteNot meaning to be pushy or anything, I'm just curious... Are you planning on continuing Ice Cube soon? Would love to hear your thoughts on the War & Peace albums.
ReplyDeleteAs-salami balony my humble brother.