Listen: Flexicution - @Logic301

Young Sinatra is back at it again (with the white vans).

Not really sure if the DMV native is up to a follow up of The Incredible True Story or not but it's always nice to have new material from Logic. Flexicution keeps us up with bars and that bounce we're used to hearing from the kid. He takes on a braggadocios mood that almost has a Drizzy feel until he adopts his old flow. Just my analysis. Make your own after the break.

WTM Presents The 5th Annual Hip-Hop Album of the Year 2015 Edition

I could talk about how amazing 2015 was for hip-hop all day. For the most part the staff picks summed that up on it's own.

Spoiler Alert: Fetty Wap didn't Make @WatsTheMovement #AOTY2015 List. I count him as R&B since he sings waaaay better than he raps.

— JC (@RamseySaidWHAT) January 8, 2016

Lots of debuts of new artists. Lots of genre bending music. If you're wondering why your favorite artist isn't on this list remember we rate this list on lyrics, production, flow, popularity, sales and uniqueness. Your favorite didn't do all of those (or it was a mixtape) as well as these did. There's no denying everyone on this list encompasses all aspects of the criteria. . All in all these lists are opinionated at the end of the day. I still did my best to remove self from the equation. I preach all the time there is a difference between the best and your favorite. Either way it's subjective. I hope this sparks conversation (not controversy) but I present to you, What's The Movement's 5th Annual, Hip-Hop Album of the Year: The 2015 Edition.

Number Five: The Incredible True Story - Logic

Picking a number five is probably the hardest thing ever. To deny so many great albums like The Documentary 2 from The Game, Summertime '06 from Vince Staples, Dark Sky Paradise from Big Sean, and more from this list pains me. It really does. However my pick last year got a nomination and rounds out our top five. Logic's sequel to Under Pressure is the album to really open ears everywhere. His first got everyone's attention and now everyone is listening. Chronologically the album paints a great tale of Tom, Kai, and their AI, Thalia (from the last album) and their journey to Paradise. The skits are funny but have their deep moments. Although his debut got a higher rank, musically this album was much better. That really says a lot about how much better 2015 was than 2014. The singles Like Whoa and Young Jesus featuring Big Lenbo are still in rotation. I also really like City of Stars. He combats being a kid that looks white but is really mulatto and how that effects him, the people around him, and the industry itself. I guess we could call it a response to J. Cole's Fire Squad verse. "I didn't talk about my race on the whole first album. But black vs white bullsh*t was the still the outcome." Deep stuff, deep album. Read my original review here.

Number Four: B4DA$$ - Joey Bada$$

The official debut album of Joey Bada$$ makes our list at number four. Lots and lots of growth since we first heard from the 20 year-old from Brooklyn. I enjoyed this album a lot. Probably the best way to kick off a new year. To still make it on this list from January to December is no small feat. This is the oldest album on the list so to remain relevant this long is impressive. I enjoyed Paper Trail$ which is a rework of his collab with DJ Premier, Unorthodox. Like Me is my favorite song on the album. Everything was perfect. It was produced by the legendary J. Dilla, and features the talents of BJ the Chicago Kid on the hook. I also enjoyed Teach Me featuring Kiesza. It takes a spin from the normal sound we are used to hearing from Joey. I still listen to Christ Conscious in the gym too. Song is too gritty and the beat and delivery is fire. Read the original review here.

Number Three: The Album About Nothing - Wale

I could go on and on about this album. This was probably my favorite album to listen to this year. It was refreshing having the old Wale back and for good. The continuation of the About Nothing series brought joy to the heart of his core fans. I'm sure it was a lot of pressure eased after he released it. Lots of people could say he fell off (including myself) post-MMG. I'd say I was wrong. All and all I enjoy the direction he is headed. TAAN served as a new debut to what Wale could (and probably should/want to) be. Lyrically he showed how clever he was, and the use of Jerry Seinfeld on the skits was golden. The singles were great especially The Matrimony featuring the talents of Usher on the hook. Beautiful song I think our generation may even dance to at our weddings. Other songs that stood out were The Need to Know featuring SZA and The Bloom featuring Stokley Williams. You can check out what I had to say in my original review earlier this year.

Number Two: Surf - Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment

In May I knew this was definitely going to be in the conversation of Album of The Year. It was dropped as a surprise. No singles and Free99 on iTunes. Surf was like a feel good version of The Roots as Queen and I say. Chance serves as the Black Thought to Donnie T and the Sox. I said my words on it in July and they stand true today. Replay value is still important and I can still listen to every song on here. Every song is a surprise, you never know who could feature on here next. J. Cole, Erykah Badu, Jeremih, Busta Rhymes, Quavo, Big Sean and many many more make appearances. Some people played Chocolate Factory at their cookouts this summer, I played Surf. Read the original review here.

Number One: To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Since Good Kid m.A.A.d city dropped the world has been saying one name as far as hip-hop goes, Kendrick Lamar. In my opinion the general public handed him the game on a silver platter as if the way was paved for him. Frankly that train of thought was wrong. Countless features on hit songs, dropping an instant classic in GKMC, and the verse heard round the world in Control has garnered the public's respect. Overrated? Possibly, but it wasn't a question if TPAB was the best album of the year. The question was finding an album that was better. When all was said and done there wasn't.

To Pimp a Butterfly was our unanimous pick this year. It was so complex Issah AND Niles both wrote reviews. It contained elements of Jazz and Funk to compliment his music. We saw that in his work with George Clinton and frequent collaborators Thundercat, Bilal, and Anna Wise. Kendrick also kept true to his west side roots and made G-Funk songs like Institutionalized that include the talents of Snoop Dogg while still preaching the good fight. I was surprised no one from the TDE stable made an appearance on this album. The singles were cool. His lead single I was dope because he changed it to sound like a live performance on the album version. He always has a twist to his radio edit and his album version like he did on Swimming Pools from the previous project. He also dropped videos for King Kunta, These Walls, and more. u was super super deep to my heart. I understood what it was like to self evaluate and climb from a state of depression so that hit home for me. Climbing out of the funk was important and Alright was just the song to do it. Song order was perfect here. It's no question in my mind that Alright was the best song this year, don't argue with me. "If I got you and if you got me and if God got us then we gone be alllllriiight!" You can't help but be excited listening to that at any venue whether it's your dorm, the club, shoot even at church. Kendrick wrapped up the album in the most amazing way with a posthumous interview with his predecessor, Tupac Shakur. The song was titled Mortal Man and featured James Fauntleroy.

I didn't think this was going to be a sequel to GKMC. Beforehand I figured the album was going to touch on where he's grown as a man. Kendrick has an amazing ability to spark the minds of his listeners to think. Not necessarily relate and agree but to formulate thoughts of our own. Like Cole before him he performed a song in tribute to those lost from Police Brutality before the album on Colbert Report. You can see that in our preview. I think the album was very timely. Really important in the stage we are and where this country is headed. I used to wonder how he could talk about money, cars, clothes, hoes, God, and history in the same sentence. It makes sense now. . TPAB gets 4.77 of 5 stars on the Ramsey Rating Scale. With that being said King Kendrick has successfully won repeat AOTY's on What's The Movement. What's to come this 2016? It doesn't matter as long as the music continues to get better. Keep listening my friends.

Staff Picks AOTY 2015 - @Natural_Nation

So first let me start off by saying that I find lists a bit silly. A majority of the time it's an inaccurate depiction of a vast sample size. I've heard a sliver of all of the music released this year and yet I'm supposed to judge who's music is better than the other. So I can only rate the work of rappers that I've heard.

Number 5: Barter 6, Young Thug/ Sremm Life, Rae Sremmurd

Yeah I'm cheating, but I can't help it. The Barter 6 and Young Thug are my guilty pleasures for 2015. I actually listened to the Barter 6 more than any other album this year.. I'll admit I didn't expect much from him at all. I summed him up to a two to three song fad. But honestly the overall production of the album was really dope. I blasted this album in my car all summer, all fall, and it's still hanging on. But, there’s really no denying the success of the shrimp boys. SremmLife is mainly making my list due to its popularity, it was too big to ignore. This is not an album you listen to if you want to be blown away by lyrical content. But the style of rap that we've heard in 2015 puts this album near the top and for many people in the top 3. I happened to absolutely hate the last song. I thought it was a lame attempt to appeal to the masses but that aside it was the party album of the year. When it comes to these two I am honestly not able to separate my bias so I’ll let you choose for me.

Number 4: If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late

Drake has yet to disappoint when it comes to music, almost since the beginning of his career.  Whether it’s mixtapes, singles, albums, the man is currently one of the greatest. Period. And this is coming from an individual who has always found him to be a crybaby. The amount of music Drake has showered his fans with this past year was unmatched. It started to get to the point where it was hard for me to keep track of what he released and who's song he was featured on. The man single handedly made a word famous. How many of ya’ll ( outside of the south) knew what a woe was before Drake?...I’ll wait. Don’t lie, most of ya’ll thought it was a ho with a 'W'. This is the album all Drake fans will refer to when he decides to tone it down and sing a few more melodies again. It was an album you could bump in your car. It was Drake unapologetic, a man who spit with conviction and gumption. He definitely poked out his chest with this one. 

Number 3: The Incredible True Story

The thing I love and appreciate about Logic is that (so far) he always comes with great production, flow, and content. He is successful at creating exactly what an album should sound like; a collective body of music that flows from beginning to end.  This album was a story. On this sophomore project we again hear familiar references to Quentin Tarantino and Frank Sinatra. We also get insight on his issues with the way he is viewed in the rap industry based off of his race. Logic is solid and anyone who says otherwise is childish. The sample near the end on track 18 spoke to me immediately. The way the album phased out alone snatches the third spot from Drake.

"But its absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don’t like, and to teach our children to follow in the same track...therefore it’s so important to consider the question: What do i desire?"

Number 2: Dark Sky Paradise

Dark Sky Paradise!!! Let us address the thoroughness of this one. Big Sean once again brought his A game with the creation of his 3rd album. This is one of those artists where  took me a while to appreciate them. I remember hearing his voice on the radio allll the time. I was always asking, "who is that?”  Sure enough, every time I didn't know who the artist was, it was Big Sean. Eventually it got to the point where all I could hear was his voice and I had his music on repeat. Dark Sky Paradise is definitely some of  the best collection of work I have heard from him so far. It's awesome to see and hear the progression of his music up to this point. He's working hard and it shows in his music. And I don't care what anyone says, Paradise was one of the best rap songs of 2015. It will probably go down as one of the best songs in his career. The album does not disappoint in any area. I wouldn't feel right giving this spot to anyone else but Big Sean, not even Logic.

Number 1: To Pimp A Butterfly

Okay, I mean I guess this may be an argument to some people but uh...not to me. Kendrick Lamar grabs the #1 spot without question. To Pimp A Butterfly claims the throne because it was an instant classic...in hip-hop history. This album easily joins the likes of other great rap albums like The Chronic, Life After Death, All Eyez on Me, Aquemini, etc. etc. etc.. It's going to be timeless and for that, it automatically becomes best rap album of 2015. This is the product of a creative mind not stuck in the boundaries of the "2015 sound". This is what happens when you study your craft, pay homage to the oldies, and approach with a listening ear not consumed by ego and pride. The progression of the album was genius. The features were perfect and the musical influence of the album flowed from beginning to end. It was the only piece of artwork I listened to all year.... and I don't really see how he could top this album. If he retired now he would already have two of the best rap albums in the past 3 years. One of the greatest in my generation, album of the year goes to King Kendrick.

Honorable mentions

Travis Scott: Rodeo

Lupe Fiasco: Tetsuo & Youth

Wale: Album About Nothing

Editorial Review: The Incredible True Story - @Logic301 (written by: @RamseySaidWHAT)

I imagine the goal of all TRUE artists is success in the mainstream  without such a mainstream sound, remaining true to yourself and making money doing it. After a stellar debut and now with this sophomore album, I think Logic might be content with his work.

I wasn't particularly sold on reviewing this album until I heard it. Logic got my nod for AOTY (album of the year) 2014 and in the 4th quarter of this year, I was impressed by the lead singles Like Woah, and Young Jesus that were included in my preview of the album. Like Woah had a sing/rap feel reminiscent of the style Kendrick performed the hook of i, his own lead single. Young Jesus provided the spectacular flows and bars we already expected from the Maryland spitter. It was the assist from Big Lenbo that stole the show. When I first heard his voice I thought it was a sample of an old Big Pun song. His style is very similar and he delivered with flare.

My Incredible True Story was better than the first, thus his nomination for AOTY back to back. It was as the title suggests, a story. The project wasn't a collection of songs but an entire narrative about a couple of guys in a spaceship trying to find paradise in the year 2093. The gents decide to listen to oldies (at least for them) and that's how the album begins. Logic is super clever for that one. The skits and scenes between and at the end of songs are funny and really support the story. The transitions between the songs were mixed well my favorite being Young Jesus into Intermission. Two different styles of boom bap percussion but fits like a puzzle piece.

Logic took a few risks on this album. Some worked better than others but the effort is dope. I Am The Greatest was a swing and miss at a trap beat. I did like the sample and use of the Greatest Ever, Muhammad Ali's interviews. Lord Willing and City of Stars were a good follow up and shot in the dark themselves. Logic rapped on both but he really did take the time to work on his vocals in song. He does well singing the hook on Lord Willing but it's City of Stars where I was super impressed. It had a Kayne, 808's, Say You Will feel to me. Another one of my favorite jams was Paradise with Jesse Boykins III lending his voice on the hook. The album ends on a super deep note. I expected the journey to Paradise to be them finding a inhabitable planet that wasn't the Earth that they destroyed long ago. Scary to think it could be a reality one day. Lucidity - Scene skit is where they really explain their tale. They told a tragedy that original music hasn't been created since they left the Earth. Their pursuit of Paradise was actually a place inside our own minds where we can be free.

The buzz around this album was a lot better than the first. All the major radio shows had him in for an interview. On The Breakfast Club he broke down  the album and its premise. Out on LA's Power 106 he even wowed the eyes and ears freestyling off the top and solving a Rubik's cube at the same time, B*tches love Rubik's cubes huh?



The Incredible True Story took a cool element letting the A.I. system (and it's upgrade), Thalia, make another appearance from the first album, Under Pressure. All in all this album was definitely better than the last and there was a lot of growth as an artist. I love that he took chances. Some things worked, some not so much. At least, he knows now for his next. The buzz is incredible. This time last year I think most of us asked "Who's Logic?" Next year the question will be "Where's Logic?" No number rating on this until it's that time of the year. Listen for yourself after the break.

@Logic301 Preview - The Incredible True Story

Aside from the RattPack, Maryland native Logic has pretty much been slept on by just about everybody.

I first came about Logic when Wale gave him a Twitter cosign along with fellow DMV spitter Phil Ade.  Young Sinatra is coming off a huge success with Under Pressure last year, Logic looks to continue his winning trends with his sophomore studio album The Incredible True Story. Under Pressure didn't necessarily sell well but the public was very receptive of it. iTunes rated it the best hip-hop album of 2014 and it also got the Editor's nod last year for WTM. Logic is also member of the 2013 XXL Freshman class. In my opinion they are the most successful and talented group to come out thusfar so being chosen among his peers that year says a lot about your skills as an emcee and artist overall. The Incredible True Story is slated to release November 13th and can be pre-ordered on iTunes now. To date he's only released two singles, Young Jesus featuring Big Lenbo and Like Woah; both come with your pre-order. Listen to both tracks below and look out for Psychological coming very soon.