third year running, roll up, roll up, and get your rap on 
starting early but just giving everyone time to have a good think. Once you’ve got an idea, come and post your ranked list (up to 10 albums) which I’ll get collated and in early January we can crown the DiS Rap Champion of the Calendar Year
for now though just use the tread to chat about your favs, overlooked highlights, things you need to go back to - all good, all easy
last year’s thread and results below
got really no idea of my list this year tbh. Partly feels like a less vintage year but also like i’ve just been less on top of checking things out, keeping track of them etc
so … loads to go back to basically!
Ooooooooh shit, here we go 
Going to be some late entries for me, Chromakopia definitely in there, and the expanded version of this which dropped today is fucking rad
Enjoyed albums by:
Chief Keef
Roc Marciano
Tyler, The Creator
Freddie Gibbs,
Mach-Hommy
J.U.S
Nx Worries
School Boy Q
ELUCID
MIKE
RAP Ferreira
JPEGMAFIA
Looking at this list there is either not many good rappers coming through or I’m just out of touch, probably the latter.
J.U.S the only artist on that list that doesn’t feel really old to me
Here’s my list. Given the news, Ka has to be my number 1. Nickelus F ‘Mmcht’ is excellent - that has probably got the most play.
Here’s my list. Not in order yet - just add things as and when I remember.
Reissues/lost albums that I liked
Science of Life - BX To New Jeru (Reissue)
Adagio! – Str8 Off The DAT
Greer – Ill Visions
The Troubleneck Brothers – Love/Hate
Trigger Tha Gambler – Life Is A 50/50 Gamble
Liked a lot
Ka - Thief Next To Jesus
Roc Marciano - Marciology
Nickelus F - Mmcht
Lee Scott - To Tame a Dead Horse
Lee Scott - La Scala
Chuck Strangers - A Forsaken Lover’s Plea
YL & Starker - Diamond Collection
Crimeapple & Preservation - El León
Cavalier - Different Type Time
Mach-Hommy - #RICHAXXHAITIAN
Mike Shabb - Sewaside III
Kurious - Majician
Boldy James & Conductor Williams - Across the Tracks
Previous Industries - Service Merchandise
Rahiem Supreme & Poisun - Phenomenon Worldwide
AJ Suede and Wolftone - Permafrost Discoveries
Cavalier & Quelle Chris - Death Tape 2
Stove God Cooks - Stop Callin’ Me, I’m Cookin’
Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia
Cavalier and Child Actor - CINE
Nappy Nina - Nothing Is My Favourite Thing
Liked
Heems, Lapgan - LAFANDAR
Phil & Lungs - Carrot Season
Godfather Don - Thesis
Your Old Droog - Movie
Westside Gunn - Still Praying
Conductor Williams - Conductor We Have a Problem 3
LL Cool J - The Force
Estee Nack & Futurewave - STONE TEMPLE PYREX
Raz Fresco & Daniel Son - NORTHSIDE
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura, “The First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap”
Scottie & Farma G - Nothing Changed Except Everything
MAVI - Shadowbox
Unknown T - Blood Diamond
Nicholas Craven & Boldy James - Penalty of Leadership
Armand Hammer - BLK LBL
Raheem Supreme & Dough Networkz - Grandmaster Raski
MIKE & Tony Seltzer - Pinball
Navy Blue - Memoirs in Armour
TESLA’S GHOST - Automatic Writing
Al.Divino - Have A Bad Day
Lukas and Real Bad Man - Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace.
Sidewaalk Kal - Bruuuuuuhhhhhhhh
Rome Streetz and Daringer - Hatton Garden Holdup
Played once, thought it was decent, never went back
Shabazz Palaces - Exotic Birds of Prey
Ankhlejohn - Pride of a Man
Ol Burger Beats - 74: Out of Time
Godfather Don - Ill Tone Generator
Bruiser Wolf - My Story Got Stories
CRIMEAPPLE - LETHIMCOOK
Godfather Don - Ill Tone Generator (EP)
Shear & Child Actor - Sunscreen (EP)
Al.Divino - Firewater
Benny - Everybody Can’t Go
_thesmoothcat & Wino Willy
Right, can’t see this changing. The new R.A.P. Ferreira may be the best, but I doubt I’ll think that within 10 days, so here we go…
Young Miko - att.
Roc Marciano - MARCIOLOGY
Freddie Gibbs - You Only Die 1nce
Previous Industries - Service Merchandise
MIKE - Pinball
Gangrene - Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
R.A.P. Ferreira - the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap
Future - We Don’t Trust You/MIXTAPE PLUTO
YUNGMORPHEUS - WAKING UP AND CHOOSING VIOLENCE
Kurious - Majician
phiik & Lungs - Carrot Season
Common - The Auditorium Vol. 1
Bisk - FITL2: Fire, Burn, Flames
Lukah - Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace.
LL Cool J - The Force
Nappy Nina - NOTHING IS MY FAVORITE THING
Heems - Lafandar
N. Hardem - MAL DE ALTURA
E L U C I D - REVELATOR
Cakes Da Killa - Black Sheep
OG Keemo - Fieber
Megan Thee Stallion - Megan
Your Old Droog - Movie
Blu - Los Angeles
Cavalier - CINE/Different Type Time
Think i’ve missed a few. Whoops. Although none that will bother the top 10.
Just played the two Death Tapes today for the first time, this new one’s quite good. Wish they’d stick it on streaming, not sure why they’re guarding it so much. Wanna put some of these tracks in playlists.
I really enjoyed both - first one edges it. That sample from the 80s Kit Kat advert - bonkers. They make a great duo.
I guess they probably made a decent amount of money off them by selling direct from their website? It is annoying regarding playlists - another reason to make the switch to Apple Music!
Kind of related, and don’t want to derail the thread, but this was interesting from Brother Ali.
Listening to the ShrapKnel album from this year. Not sure why I’ve never really given them a chance as i’m a couple of tracks in and it’s sounding really good. Helps that Controller 7’s beats are always great.
Here’s my list. Number 1 is locked in, the rest are somewhat interchangeable.
Really liked (Top 10)
1 Ka - Thief Next To Jesus
I’m usually something of an emotional husk when artists I love pass, but this one really got me. Probably because it still felt like he could still release something that would top everything else in his discography. Also - in spite of his sound - such a youthful approach, with things like his NY pop up events where he’d connect with fans. Such a unique artist - a truly awful loss.
–
2 Chuck Strangers - A Forsaken Lovers Plea
Another artist whose solo stuff I have liked but never loved til this year. He’s an excellent producer, but the album also has a sprinkling of Alchemist and Animoss beats. Whole thing has a melancholy vibe but it’s a really beautifully crafted album.
–
3 Cavalier and Child Actor - CINE
I read that Different Type Time was brought to Backwoodz as a ready-made project, and whilst I liked it, this feels like it has billy woods hand in its curation and it just works better for me. Child Actor a master - has a knack of creating beats that somehow sound woozily familiar, like half-remembered TV show theme music. Reminds me of the feeling I used to get from certain Olde English Spelling Bee albums.
–
4 Nappy Nina - Nothing Is My Favourite Thing
Have always checked Nappy Nina’s music, nothing has ever really stuck until this. Production so bright and much catchier than her previous stuff.
–
5 Nickelus F - Mmcht
Nobody else into this? I loved it. One of my most played album this year. He has a great ear for beats - would love him to team up with Lil Ugly Mane again.
–
6 Lee Scott - To Tame a Dead Horse & La Scala
Just love this guy. He’s so funny.
When I hear you rap
I feel like a dad and you’re messin’ with the thermostat
You need to turn it back, I’m tryna see me breath in ere
The coldest in the northern hemisphere
–
7 Roc Marciano - Marciology & Skeleton Key
The Alchemist collab felt more like an EP and dropped out of rotation quite quickly, but was a nice companion piece to Marciology which has so much gold on it. A whole album with him and Animoss in 2025 would be amazing.
–
8 Mach-Hommy - #RICHAXXHAITIAN
Not my favourite Mach album, but he’s such an interesting artist and this felt a big year for him As the late, great Ka said “witty and gritty usually never blends, but Mach done did it”.
–
9 YL & Starker - Diamond Collection
These guys are such a killer combo. YL so smooth, Starker on some Saafir type shit. An abstract take on classic east coast rap. It just works for me.
–
10 MC from the crater award
Kurious - Majician
Heard an interview with him and he says he stopped trying to overthink things and just went with a vibes-based approach for this. Clearly worked. Recaptures the energy and humour of A Constipated Monkey. Way better than I expected.
–
Bonus - Favourite reissue
Scienz of Life - BX To New Jeru (Reissue)
Nice compilation of some of their mid 90s Fondle ‘Em material. Timeless.
The rest…
Liked a lot
Raz Fresco and Muggs - The Eternal Now
Crimeapple & Preservation - El León
Cavalier - Different Type Time
Bisk & Dylantheinfamous - FITL2: Fire, Burn, Flames
Mike Shabb - Sewaside III
Blackchai & August Fanon - OTHERWISE A BLUR
Heems, Lapgan - LAFANDAR
Boldy James & Conductor Williams - Across the Tracks
Previous Industries - Service Merchandise
AJ Suede and Wolftone - Permafrost Discoveries
Cavalier & Quelle Chris - Death Tape 2
Stove God Cooks - Stop Callin’ Me, I’m Cookin’
J.U.S. - Lord of the streams part 2 “Curse in the Castle”
J.U.S. - 3rd Shift
Liked
Tyler, the Creator - Chromakopia
Phiik & Lungs - Carrot Season
Kenny Segal & K-The-I??? - Genuine Dexterity
Godfather Don - Thesis
Your Old Droog - Movie
Westside Gunn - Still Praying
Conductor Williams - Conductor We Have a Problem 3
LL Cool J - The Force
Estee Nack & Futurewave - STONE TEMPLE PYREX
Raz Fresco & Daniel Son - NORTHSIDE
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura, “The First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap”
Scottie & Farma G - Nothing Changed Except Everything
MAVI - Shadowbox
Unknown T - Blood Diamond
Nicholas Craven & Boldy James - Penalty of Leadership
Armand Hammer - BLK LBL
Kendrick Lamar - GNX
Raheem Supreme & Dough Networkz - Grandmaster Raski
MIKE & Tony Seltzer - Pinball
Navy Blue - Memoirs in Armour
TESLA’S GHOST - Automatic Writing
Al.Divino - Have A Bad Day
Lukas and Real Bad Man - Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace.
Sidewaalk Kal - Bruuuuuuhhhhhhhh
Rome Streetz and Daringer - Hatton Garden Holdup
Played once, thought it was decent, never went back
Shabazz Palaces - Exotic Birds of Prey
Ankhlejohn - Pride of a Man
Ol Burger Beats - 74: Out of Time
Godfather Don - Ill Tone Generator
Bruiser Wolf - My Story Got Stories
CRIMEAPPLE - LETHIMCOOK
Shear & Child Actor - Sunscreen (EP)
Al.Divino - Firewater
Benny - Everybody Can’t Go
_thesmoothcat & Wino Willy
Reissues that I liked a lot
Adagio! – Str8 Off The DAT
Greer – Ill Visions
The Troubleneck Brothers – Love/Hate
Trigger Tha Gambler – Life Is A 50/50 Gamble
Sat in the bath listening to the MAVI album. Why is that only in ‘liked’?
Ffs. Lists are annoying.
the unordered honourable mentions (these would all be filed under ‘liked’ in the patented chairman ranking system):
boldy james & nicholas craven - penalty of leadership
aj suede - opta mystic
mike & tony seltzer- pinball
chuck strangers - a forsaken lover’s plea
midnight sons - money has no owners
cavalier - different type time
papo2004 & subjxct 5 - we don’t miss
mach-hommy - #richaxxhaitian
vince staples - dark times
boldy james & conductor williams - across the tracks
previous industries - service merchandise
larussell & p-lo - majorly independent
babytron & certified trapper - mario & luigi
nacho picasso & televangel - jesse’s revenge
starlito - imposter syndrome
denzel curry - king of the mischievous south 2
juicy j - ravenite social club
ll cool j - the force
ahnklejohn - pride of a man
sidewaalk kal - bruuuuuuhhhhhhhh
mutant academy - keep holly alive
papo2oo4 & subjxct 5 - mr 3000
gabe 'nandez - false profit
maxo kream - personification
boldy james & harry fraud - the bricktionary
kendrick - gnx
larussell & cam cortez - from vallejo with love
akai solo - dreamdropdragon
roc marciano & the alchemist - the skeleton key
playlist of my favourite tracks if anyone is interested in that kind of thing
it’s in order so… it gets worse as you listen to it. hmm, not thought that through have i
I’m a hip-hop noob, to the degree that I was hearing over half of these rappers for the first time this year, so a lot of the list above is based on instinct. Anyway, I enjoyed picking up recommendations from the Friday new releases threads and listening to plenty of hip-hop in 2024.
Better just post this or I’ll never get around to it. Been a pretty good year though, IMO! Think I found more great rap from other sub-genres apart dad rap that I’ve been into that I’ve been into the last few years (even if that still very much forms the core).
50 AKAI SOLO: DREAMDROPDRAGON
49 Rapsody – Please Don’t Cry
48 Godfather Don – Thesis
47 ANKJLEJON – Pride of Man
46 Dos Monos – Dos Atomos
45 Crimeapple & Preservation – El Leon
44 Tyler the Creator - Cromakopia
43 Juicy J - Ravenite Social Club
42 Bruiser Wolf - My $tory Got $tories
41 Cupcakke – Dauntless Manifesto
40 Redman – Muddy Waters Too
39 Future – We Don’t Trust You
38 Mike – Pinball
37 Chuck Strangers - A Forsaken Lover’s Plea
36 ØKSE - ØKSE
35 Common and Pete Rock – Auditorium Vol 1
34 Freddie Gibbs - You Only Die 1nce
33 Mickey Diamond – Super Shredder
32 Moh Baretta – Show Your Work
31 LustSickPuppy – Carousel From Hell
30 Previous Industries - Service Merchandise
29 Klwn Cat and Sunmundi – Lived and Born
28 Midnight Sons – Money Has No Owners
27 Kurious – Majician
26 Saheem – SahBabii
25 BbyMutha – Sleep Paralysis
24 John Glacier – Like A Ribbon
23 J.U.S. - 3rd Shift
22 Cavalier & Child Actor – CINE
21 Roc Marciano & The Alchemist - The Skeleton Key
20 Lupe Fiasco – Samurai
19 Nappy Nina & Swarvy - Nothing Is My Favorite Thing
18 Boldy James and Conductor Williams – Across the Tracks
17 Heems – Lafandar
16 LL Cool J – The Force
15 Denzel Curry – King of the Mischievous South 2
14 Schoolboy Q – Blue lips
13 Roc Marciano – Marciology
12 Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal
11 Chief Keef – Almighty So
10 ShrapKnel & Controller 7 - Nobody Planning to Leave
9 Kenny Segal & K-The-I??? - Genuine Dexterity
8 Mavi – Shadowbox
7 Mach Hommy – Richaxxhaitian
6 454 - Casts of a Dreamer
5 Bladee – Cold Visions
4 Kendrick Lamar – GNX
3 Elucid – Revelator
2 Nichelus F – MMCHT
1 Ka – A Thief Next to Jesus
1: Jawnino: 40
2: skaiwater: #gigi
3: Mach-Hommy: Richaxxhaitian
4: Pa Salieu: Afrikan Alien
5: Bladee: Cold Visions
6: Ka: The Thief Next To Jesus
7: Chief Keef: Almighty So 2
8: Loe Shimmy: Zombieland 2
9: J.U.S. & Squadda B: 3rd Shift
10: xaviersobased: Keep It Going Xav
I actually really like all of those 10 records. And a lot of surprises for me. skaiwater record is magic. Exactly the kind of thing I love & never heard of her til list season. Pa Salieu massively slept on, he’s incredible. Didn’t count Doris because wasn’t sure what that was - these are all proper rap records - but that is superb, would make my overall list on another day.
Found a lot of the big hitters really disappointing. Kendrick is pretty good. Roc is obviously great but I know exactly what his records are going to sound like. Couldn’t get into Schoolboy Q.
Liking the lists so far, despite listening to lots of Hip-Hop/Rap this year (as always) there’s still albums appearing on these lists I’ve not listened to and/or heard of & want to check out in the new year.
I’m trying to get my list done before the weekend.