2015 Best of the Rest; A Niles P. Joint

 

As What’s The Movement gets closer and closer to our Album of the Year extravaganza, I have the arduous yet fun task of looking back at all of the dope ass music that came out in 2015.  Since my own personal criteria for AOTY dictates that only hip hop LPs can be included, that leaves a few EPs, official mixtapes, and other projects on the outside looking in.  So I decided to make a list before the AOTY list.  I wanna be clear and say that THIS IS NOT AN HONORABLE MENTIONS LIST.  While there was a ton of quality hip hip to be heard, not everyone can realistically get a trophy.  But instead, I can write about the stuff that didn’t fit my top 10 criteria but was still a great listen.  Projects are listed in no particular order.

iSweatergawd by Jean Grae - I’m not sure if she’s in the twilight of her rap career or nah, but either way Jean’s musical stylings age like a fine wine.  Produced by Quelle Chris, the EP is only six tracks long but tackles everything from love to loss.  Of course Jeannie has her trademark humor and even has a posse cut feat. Tanya Morgan

The Nehruvian EP by Bishop Nehru - Fresh off of a joint album with DOOM, Bishy Bish drops an EP which functions as a starter set for anyone who was curious about his music.  Dude can’t even legally drink but raps/produces excellently.  No wonder Nas signed him for his Mass Appeal label.

GEMS from the Cubicle by Lyric Jones - Jones comes through with her second EP in as many years, only with a little more of an edge.  Dirty Diggs laces her with sample-laden beats on a project that has an Office Space theme, dialogue clips and all.

More Than A Game by SoulFULL - This is a project that I was lowkey mad I couldn't review since Rams beat me to it.  Franklin, NJ’s finest waxes nostalgic and spits over some dope beats from yesteryear.  This was a quickie joint of sorts but was still wildly entertaining.

CMPLX by Chelsea Reject - This falls into official mixtape territory as we get what some have labeled “holistic raps” from one of the new young Brooklyn elite.  Earthy yet accessible, Reject gets a Duck Down co-sign and proves she’s ready to move from AAA ball to the big leagues.

Solace by Earl Sweatshirt - Technically this is one 10 minute long track but it’s like multiple tracks rolled into one, alternating between instrumental and three separate verses.  The Odd Future alum basically makes an avant garde project on wax that perfectly captures the haze of depression.

Griselda Ghost by Westside Gunn & Conway - Elegant NYC grime is back on this project that has been produced by internet persona Big Ghost.  This shit is the musical epitome of taking the razorblade out from under your tongue so you can eat a filet mignon.  Championship combination.

Eight Million Stories by Maffew Ragazino - Speaking of the Big Apple, the Brownsville native crafts a retro-sounding EP that reads like a love letter to the greatest city on earth.  I feel like this one was way too slept on when it came out, so I recommend rectifying that by giving it a listen now.

Surf by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - OK so technically this is a full album by Chance The Rapper & friends (and by friends I mean a ton of guests in addition to his group.)  I put it here because it’s not strictly rap but it’s just so fun, whether giving 80’s pop vibes or instrumentals.  Replay value is crazy on this one.

Words Paint Pictures by Rapper Big Pooh - The former Little Brother emcee does the impossible and captures the Black American experience in seven tracks and two remixes.  Apollo Brown provides soulful instrumentals that are incredibly fitting for such a timely project.

P.O.M.E. by MostDope - On the local scene, Asbury Park native son MostDope put out a great debut mixtape and managed to become the best emcee in his city immediately.  Whether it’s original beats or already established ones, dude can rhyme over anything.  He’s just scratching the surface of his potential.

Sailing Gear Series by Benny Francs - This dude put out a loosie every other week as a part of a series inspired by 90s sportswear (think Tommy/Nautica.)  Collected in one place, they form like Voltron and make a smooth debut project.  Francs will go the traditional route next and release one cohesive mixtape at once but this was a novel idea for an intro to the game.

Songs in the Key of Price by Sean Price - We lost a titan in the game when Sean Price passed away on August 8th.  At the time he was preparing for the release of his official mixtape.  The 8 track version is dope but the 30 track version plays like an old school mixtape.  PF Cuttin does an excellent job blending all of the tracks together into one seamless medley.  This would be excellent as a career outro but P was always working and has some things in the vault.  Thanks to a good relationship between Duck Down and his widow Bernadette (rap unfortunately has been littered with stories of posthumous power struggles and thankfully this isn’t the case here) we’ll get more Sean Price material in the future.  R.I.P. Ruck.

  Now this list is incredible as far as music goes.  Think of it as one of those appetizer platters at a restaurant where you get a little of everything before the main course.  It also should be noted that Cin and Keys Era had projects that are scheduled to drop after this article is published that could possibly be worthy of spots on this list.  While not in time for that, expect articles on both of those projects individually.  I hope you check out everything on this list if you haven’t already.  Be on the lookout for my AOTY list soon.

Listen: Caretaker (extended version) - @ONLY1DRAM featuring @SZA

It's safe to say it's been an eventful week for VA native, D.R.A.M.

Yeah, I feel I got jacked for my record...But I’m GOOD.

— D.R.A.M. not DRAM (@ONLY1DRAM) October 20, 2015

To keep it a buck, I agree with D.R.A.M. The first time I heard Drake's record, Hotline Bling on the radio I thought it was just a cover of the former's hit song Cha Cha. Instead of really debating the issue he got back to work in studio to make an extended version of Caretaker. We first heard it on the Chance the Rapper/Donnie Trumpet & Social Experiment collaboration project Surf which I reviewed awhile back. This time he enlists the talent of Jersey native, SZA. She blesses the remix of this lovely in a response to D.R.A.M. He then adds some new riffs and runs vocally that is similar to the live performance. This is the first single off his upcoming mixtape Gahdamn! which is slated to drop next week. Listen to the extended mix of Caretaker below.

D.R.A.M. at Trillectro '15

Editorial Review: #Surf - @DonnieTrumpet & @ChancetheRapper (by @RamseySaidWHAT)

It took a lot out of me to write this, I know how much Queen loves Chance but I had to review this one. Maybe next time honey.

Alright how do I even begin? Surf as of right this moment is number one in my AOTY rankings. We're a little more than halfway through the year. I know it might indeed be too soon but it's just something about this one. Through and through the mesh of Donnie Trumpet, Social Experiment, and Chance the Rapper bless our ears with sheer greatness. It's like a combination of live band like The Roots and Chance's quirky uniqueness. I would make a different comparison but his voice, spoken word, and flow style is so unique. Although the project is feature heavy it is near perfection. No artist upstaged another. Besides features aren't always too bad, word to Niles and Statik Seletktah They spoke their two cents and got too it. Speaking of two cents, they released it for free on iTunes. Let's get to it.

Track one, Miracle. Choral vocals fade in from the back to the foreground. I can't think of a different word than eerie to describe the melody sang by Raury. Don't get used to it because the beat stops and Chance enters with spoken word. The beat follows soon and turns it to a rap. We can expect more surprise as the album takes off. All in all, nice introduction.

Slip Slide follows up next. The song begins with noise as we band nerds call it. The trumpet takes over the melody. Busta Rhymes surprises everyone thanking Chance for giving him the opportunity to spit and stand up (or try to, I had to make a pun). No diss at all because Busta delivers and reminds us why he's a legend and far from past his prime. There is no plateau for this man. B.O.B also makes an appearance. They spit about trying not to slip and slide and fall into the tendencies of the rest of the industry. I was ultimately surprised it wasn't Akon on the hook but Macea of the O'My's serenading us all. Slip Slide ends really smooth and transitions nicely into Warm Enough. Noname Gypsy and Chance the Rapper trade back and forth with bars about love. "Who are you to love me and not call me by my name." Gypsy blesses us with vocals on the hook and then it happened.

"Is that J. Cole?!" yell me and my cousin during our first listen on an Atlantic City road trip. He follows suit with the love rant and if I had to crown a winner it'd have to be the lady. Maybe they just love better than we. Debatable but back to the topic. Nothing Came to Me serves as an interlude of sorts. Donnie Trumpet keeps it simple. I guess no title for the track came to name and he reminded us that this is indeed a jazz album first, then hip-hop. Beautiful trumpet solo.

Nothing Came To Me. A new Silent Film from Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment https://t.co/DnnTMuUuJE

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) January 29, 2015

Surf returns to a joyful mood with the next track, Wanna Be Cool. Chancellor is joined by Jeremih singing. "I don't wanna be cool. I just wanna be me." The next surprise is Big Sean and Super Duper Kyle rapping about staying true to themselves. Fun but importantly preached by the singer/rapper quartet. The album feel takes another turn when Windows begins. Chance the Rapper is joined by BJ the Chicago Kid and Raury. They croon not to look up to them. I still swear I hear Mali Music and his singing habits in this song. I could be wrong but I swear it's him even if he's not listed in the credits. Nonetheless, it's easily my favorite song that is still on repeat as I type. Caretaker has another interlude feeling. Not too lengthy as D.R.A.M sings about taking good care of his lover, even if she is a groupie. The song samples Find My Way Back, the old Jaheim jam. I even hear hints of Can You Handle it by Usher. At least that's what it suggests. Gents you can put this in your "Get the drawers" mix, thank me later.

Just Wait begins with Donnie and Social Experiment just going ham for no reason at all. Eff it that's why. After their jam session ends, Chance the "singer" returns preaching patience. Familiar provides the biggest surprise feature on the album. Musically the song is so funky and Chance paves the way with a really dope flow and hook. Fellow Chicago native King Louie makes an appearance but what baffled the hell out of me was Quavo from Migos laying a verse down. It doesn't matter if you don't like jazz this album is really for everyone. Trust me, I hit the Whip, Cook, and Nay-Nay, a lot to this jam. Crossover music at it's finest. Following Familiar is SMTHNTHTIWNT which features Saba. This project has shown Chicago a lot of love indeed. The production is really distorted where the chi-town emcee spits a nice little verse. Not exactly whack but in comparison with the rest of the project this song can be overlooked. Go which features Jesse Boykins III, Mike Golden, and Joey Purp. The mood drastically changes back upbeat. Jesse Boykins III joins singers from Social Experiment to sing a fun hook. Mike Golden lays down vocals with the first verse. Joey Purp follows up with some bars of his own. Hook, verse, hook, bridge, verse hook, outro. The format to this song is perfect, point blank. Questions featuring Jamila Woods is next. I originally thought this was actually Dej Loaf. I love the percussion and jam session. The song is short but sweet. Not much else to say.

Something Came to Me seems like a response to the earlier song, Nothing Came to Me. Donnie lends his horn with another trumpet solo. It leads into Rememory with finesse. Chance the Rapper takes the role of the man in a bad divorce. He tells his regret and worry for the children. Ady Suleiman assists with a falsetto of sorts on the hook. Really dramatic groaning voice fits the mood of the song perfect, when out of nowhere Sara Bellum appears. Yes that's right the queen, Erykah Badu herself lends her jazzy motherly vocals to console the hurting Chancellor. Jamila Woods makes another appearance on the next song, Sunday Candy. She really gets her chance to show her own talent this time around. So many gospel characteristics blend well with the live band sound. The hook is reminiscent to Genesis chapter six if you have a bible handy. Chance's verse added hip-hop to the crossover. Fuego. The projects wraps up with Pass the Vibes. Eric Butler sings over a catchy instrumental. It's very touristy. Maybe I created that word but it's like you could hear that tune on a Caribbean vacation commercial if you catch my drift (get it? Drift? Surf? It's my last chance at a pun).

All jokes aside Surf is a great project. As of now this might be my favorite thus far this year. As Niles said in his Statik Selektah review, this year is quite the competition for album of the year. We've seen strong showings from hip-hop and the year is only half over. This year I think the staff will have a much more diverse showing than the previous year. It's albums like Surf that make this possible. Perhaps it was really feature heavy but the surprises made the album that much sweeter. Chance the Rapper served as Social Experiment's Black Thought. Assists from heavy hitters, legends, and up-and-comers made this sweeter than your high school sweetheart's cute bestie. Donnie Trumpet, Social Experiment, and Chance the Rapper's Surf gets 4.7 of 5 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale. You can stream the project below via DatPiff. Enjoy the vibes. I need yall to feel this.