2020 has been anything but normal, especially in the music industry. Artists were faced with the challenge of making music that couldn’t be enjoyed in public settings. Some artists responded through tracks that forced us to reckon with the pandemic and ongoing fight for civil rights. I found comfort in projects that allowed me to forget about why I can only listen to them through the Bluetooth speaker on my dresser.
I have already written about some of my favorite albums this year — Pray for Paris, As Fate Would Have It, and Flow. These are five albums that helped me get through a year I thought would never end.
GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE — Elujay x J. Robb
Oakland native Elujay follows-up on his 2019 album Adojio, which showcased his ability as a neo-soul artist with the ability to tap into other genres. He collaborates with J. Robb, the equally talented producer with his own genre-bending style.
GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE finds Elujay and J. Robb together without sacrificing their talents. Through playful and sensual lyrics Elujay allows you a glimpse into his warm personality. J. Robb’s beats are uptempo and filled with rich baselines that pair perfectly with Elujay’s relaxed lyrical approach. Features from up-and-coming DC rappers Foggieraw and Cisero are natural fits that elevate the album’s organic sound.
Elujay and J. Robb effortlessly strike a synergy that makes GEMS IN THE CORNERSTORE easy to love. Its positive nature makes you nostalgic for a COVID-free summertime. It feels like a rooftop bar where the possibilities are endless, and the atmosphere is as warm as the weather. It’s refreshing and easygoing nature makes it easy to overlook just how talented the two are without essentially trying.
Rico Nasty — Nightmare Vacation
Rico Nasty entered rap spewing fire. The Maryland rapper burst onto the scene with an unmatched energy that pushed the boundaries of rap. She was among the first to blend rap with heavy metal, unlocking an anger rap has not seen in years.
Her latest album, Nightmare Vacation, continues on her tour of rage. Rico begins the album on edge as if she is one moment away from getting into a fight. “I’m the big bad wolf, come round her get your chain took,” she aggressively says on “Check Me Out.” Her unwavering scream towards the track’s end is strained but doesn’t come at the expense of her flow. She somehow finds the ability to stretch herself vocally through anger while maintaining rhythm and control.
The second half of Nightmare Vacation finds Rico experimenting. Her toying into friendlier topics doesn’t have the same replay value but shows her willingness to experiment and grow as an artist. Sadly, the conversation about women rappers is very limited. Far too often, many women rappers cannot be discussed without simply naming the women that came before them. We rarely look at their place in the genre as a whole. Rico Nasty’s contemporaries are other firebreathers like Busta Rhymes and DMX, who brought anger and energy to rap that challenged us for the better. Nightmare Vacation may not be one of the best albums of the year but deserves to be celebrated for Rico’s continued push into rap’s uncharted places.
bbymutha — Muthaland
Memphis rarely gets proper recognition for its contribution to rap. Three 6 Mafia gained a national following using the city’s unique style of gangsta rap. Memphis created their own sound known as horrorcore, with its use of synthesizers and samples from horror films. Their raw lyrics presented a grim look into life in Memphis. Bluff City also had women like Gangsta Boo, La Chat, and Princess Loko who received less notoriety but were equally impactful in building the city’s rap culture.
These women paved the way for Chattanooga native bbymutha. On her debut album, Muthaland, no topic is off-limits. She raps about everything from the women who jumped her as a young adult to the men in her past relationships. “He like girls who got a curfew, can’t wait for the universe to smoke you,” she passionately raps on “Roaches Don’t Die.”
Muthaland is bbymutha’s testimony. The project is vulnerable as she talks about the difficulties of motherhood, but is still rooted in the Tennessee traditions of old. “I can’t fuck with bitches who got hate all in they calendar,” she says on “Spooky Mutha Mansion.” At her core, bbymutha is comfortable in her skin and oozes confidence as an artist. Sadly, Muthaland may be bbymutha’s last album. This summer announced she would be giving up rap due to the emotional and mental stress it caused. If so, Muthaland is a great way to start and end a career.
Ice Cream Clones — ROMderful
I first discovered ROMderful this spring after listening to Epoch, a collaborative EP from London artists Emmavie and Alfa Mist. I continued listening to Emmavie’s soulful work and stumbled on a 2018 video of her on Crowdsourced. The short-lived Boiler Room show featured producers and artists creating beats in real-time using samples sent by fans.
Beside Emmavie sits ROMderful with a guitar strapped around his chest. After Emmavie lays down some piano chords, ROMderful quickly adds a house beat and complimenting base notes. He arranges the piano not by playing the instrument but manually placing them down on the beat-making software. Emmavie and ROMderful eventually make a beat and laugh as they sing about their love for pineapples.
Two years later, ROMderful dropped his second album, Ice Cream Clones. The EP is similar to the Crowdsourced video, lighthearted but filled with talent. He structures his tracks around hard-hitting percussion with funky synthesizers. Lyrically, the album is thick with positive affirmations that are needed now that mental peace is a rare commodity. “Sometimes you gotta put yourself first,” he softly sings on “WHOLE WORLD.” The third track “Blissful Ignorance” is a slow-paced groove about shutting out the noise and living in the moment. Ice Cream Clones offers head-nodding self-care when we need it most.
Mt Marci — Roc Marciano
Though not known to many, Roc Marci has been a force in underground rap years. The Long Island native has gained a loyal fanbase through his fierce storytelling. Mt. Marci is the latest project that finds him cockier than ever.
He spares no punches detailing a world in which everyone lives at his expense. “I just walked on water, you all witnessed,” he says on “Pimps Don’t Wear Rabbits.” He makes himself God’s equal often using humorous lines that showcase his love for the theatrical.
Mt. Marci’s greatness lies in its often opposing lyrical and rhythmic styles. The album features instrumentation that sounds like the cutscenes in Supa Fly. All the while, Roc contrasts the album’s smooth feel with lyrics that show no remorse. “We shot it out with niggas for twenty minutes, they figure we celebrating independence,” he says on Wicked Days. A decade into rapping Roc Marci is choosing to celebrate himself, whether the accolades come or not. The independent rapper is only getting better and more braggadocious with time.
