Weekly updates:

Music

No Country for Old (Rap) Men: The Eight Greatest CRC-Approved Rap Albums of 2016

Robbie runs through the albums that probably won't show up on anyone else's Best Of 2016 list

Posted by

Weekly updates


This year has seen some adjustments to the roster of Conservative Rap Coalition-approved rappers, as previous stalwarts such as Ghostface and Raekwon have been superseded by Conway and Westside Gunn, but for the most part it’s simply a matter of matching reliable rapper dudes with the right beats. I was going to wait until the new LOX album dropped before I composed this list, but from what I’ve heard they’ve decided to tear up their CRC passes in favour of pandering to the sound of the times. Here’s a look at the albums that were worthy of more than two listens this year.

01. Agallah - Bo: The Legend of the Water Dragon

My most played album of 2016 (although that’s partly due to the fact that it was released at the start of the year), Ag strikes a perfect balance between beat variation and subject matter without falling into the trap of getting carried away with any abstract concepts. The strength of these sort of rapper/producer albums is the consistency in tone and the luxury of being able to tailor the beats to the raps. Bonus points for sticking to the nautical theme as well.

02. Ka - Honor Killed The Samurai

Following on from the masterful Days With Dr. Yen Lo LP from 2015, Ka continued to refine his craft and keep fickle rap elitists satisfied with his best album to date. Sadly we’re yet to see the promised Iron Age album from Ka and Roc Marciano (aka Metal Clergy), but based on past form it will be well worth the wait when they decide to unleash it on an unsuspecting public.

03. Westside Gunn - Hitler Wears Hermes 4

Flygodd was good, but this effort pipped it at the post, largely due to the incredible opening number ‘The Cow’, where Conway weaves the most heartfelt and powerful verse of the year as he recounts a near-death experience and coping with the lasting injuries that resulted from a gunshot wound to the head.

04. DJ Rude One - ONEderful

A wonderfully restrained producer compilation boasting vocals from Roc Marcy, the Griselda gang, Droog and 2016 tribute to Mobb Deep’s lost classic, ‘Cop Hell’, courtesy of J-Zone and the legendary Chief Chinchilla.

05. DJ Skizz - Cruise Control

While his 2013 compilation BQE had its moments, Skizz’s ability to coax the most out of guests has improved dramatically over the last couple of years, allowing him to put the likes of Milano, Hus Kingpin, Roc Marcy, and Big Twins to good use. To be honest, I’d have included this record even if it was terrible, just for the fact that it sports a Big Noyd feature in 2016.

06. The Game - 1992

Jayceon has always worn his influences proudly on his (heavily tattooed) sleeve, so it makes sense that an album of him re-interpreting LA rap standards and classic breaks would be fairly enjoyable during a year in which nineties nostalgia of all kinds reached fever-pitch.

07. Curren$y and Alchemist - The Carrollton Heist

Included purely on the strength of ‘Cartridge’, which features the most addictive zone-out music of the year and a wonderfully droll Jadakiss-referencing hook. Spitta has never made much of an impression of me with his brand of Stoner Rap, but it just goes to show that the right beat can make anybody shine like my son ‘cos they act like one. Can’t recall how the rest of the tape goes but I’ll give ’em the benefit of the doubt.

08. Conway - 50 Round Drum mixtape

A collection of all the essential Conway material from the last couple of years for those of us who were a little late to the Griselda party. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive of violent, anti-social rap over non-progressive beats this year if you require music that will turn even the warmest of hearts as cold as iced-down medallions.