Best of 2017 Hip Hop

HIPHOP - not in specfic order - but pretty damn close.

Check this Spotify list - 3+ hours of tracks from these and many others - including singles from favorites not listed here.

OC + Apathy Perestroika Dirty Version – My best of. Hands down Aps rapid delivery of complex bar structures contrasted with OC's laid back, casual style plays beautifully. Ap made 90% of the beats - find samples and quotes and that continually support the Perestroika theme. It's a genius boom bap album. Plus, guests like Slaine on "Tomorrow is Gone" with all telling 3 stories of their Northeastern homes is genuine. The opener is the best, an unstoppable banger, killer beat with AP's nastiest verse. But songs like "Whats It All About" addresses society's and personal stress over a seductive piano solidiofy the sincerity of this project. Peppered with classic Boom bap like "Soviet Official" (a soulful head nod) , "stompcrushkillmode" w/ Celph, and "Covey Leader to Raven" just as bragadocious gold. "Winter Winds" is relelntless with Ap's verse and the vocal loop for the verse and ODB sample in the hopok.

Slaine + Termanology AntiHero Brick/ST records: ..probably #2 for real. vicious lyrical ability by both and multiple syllable schemes. When you have been doing this for as long as these two - as skilled as these two - you cultivate killer support: Preemo beat with Bun B and Everlast; Evidence beat; Statik beat with Madchild + DJ Revolution; and that's tracks 2, 3, and 4. Other names include beats by more Statik, Willy Loman, Psycho Les, Arcitype, and DC the Midi Alien; MCs include Chris Rivers ("Bringing Much Terror" - Oooohhh!!!! pure banger), Ill Bill, Nems, Ea$y Money, and Ras Kass. But Again here you get mind bending wordplay of Slaine and Term on top of their vivid storytelling.

Blu + Exile In the Beginning: Before the Heavens FatBeats

Classic, funky, west coast hip hop – sample driven and bluesy. Multiple instruments sampled here, piano, strings, and horns. Blu embodies smart lyrics passed through sick flows. His lyrics are descriptive (with a phrase like "takes more than water for a flower to grow" while still talking drugs and guns in community; so not hippie shit. Just insightful. Gives mad respect to old school). Great to here new Compton stories what aren't rehashed from what we grew up with. "On the Radio" is a classic jam that will get you nostalgic while appreciating a fresh breath. 

Sean Price Imperius Rex My favorite rapper. riP! At first i didn't deep dive because it felt like a posthumous release, kinda clunky. I still think a few songs in the middle with avg guests and beats i would drop; but considering sentimentality and P’s bars, i have been rocking this frequently! Beats by Nottz, Stu Bangas, 4th Disciple, Alchemist and Marco Polo. plus some new dudes.

MC Eiht + Brenk Sinatra + DJ Premier – which way iz west Year Round Records

We have all waited for this for years, it was disappointing to hear it would not be all preemo beats (feels like this happens.) But I was a huge fan of the Brenk EP Keep It Hood. So here he get hood legend, Eiht, banging over dope beats with great guests like Bumpy, WC, DAZ, Chill (CMW), and the greatest surprise, Lady of Rage murdering her 16. Amazing LP here.

Planet Asia + Apollo Brown Anchovies Mello Music Group - Apollo reinvents himself while still concocting tracks with his formula. Samples galore but this exhibits a minimalist approach from Apollo; sparse elements as the foundation is perfect for PA's flow. Planet Sia is in my top 10 - and i never tire of his lyrics even as he bangs out 2-3 LPs each year. "The Aura" is sublime. "Panties" is the jam. "Deep in the Casket" kills. Fly Shit.

Kool G Rap + MOSS Return of the Don Clockwork -smooth '70s soul with a GOAT top5 telling gangsta stories.  

Muggs + Mayhem Gems from the Equinox Soul Assassins -spooky, dark; classic Muggs with killer bars by Mayhem. I have loved every Muggs collabo and this solidifies the legacy.

KOSS Born to Live Slice of Spice …obviously. Ad for this read: “I just use turntables, vinyl and an MPC, That's it." Belgium producer with a soul drenched touch. Guest include Masta Ace, Keith Murray, Blaq Poet, Craig G, Ruste Juxx, and Torae. even more.

Pawz One Pick Your Poison Pawz One Music / Dopeshit Music -  actual guitar bass and drums here - playing funky tunes with energy and punch. "Wish You Weren't Here" is great specimen, add his Pawz bard, a redman sample for the hook and ill scratches. Love hearing Mykill Myers on a track - so cool. "Front to Back" bangs as the album's opener. Loved Pawz' Face the Facts and Def by Stereo. The dopeness here is pushing the boundary like 90s Too $hort, MC Breed, and even NWA. Remember real instrumentation? Goats? Roots? (discounting intro, interlude, outro) There are 12 tracks only 5 have guests. So Pawz shows he can carry an LP. But when gets the guests.... hot damn. Shabaam Sahdeeq (jazz soaked trumpet and guitar), El Da Sensei, King Magnetic + Cheif Kamachi, Talib Kweli + Main Flow, and the Myers track - which is a rollicking funk fest with horns and piano over the best and a sick hook with Das Efx and Artifacts' sample. 

M-Dot Ego and The Enemy EMS Produuctions - Boston vet delivers the full package here. Check my review here. 

Blacastan + Stu Bangaz The Uncanny Adventures of Watson & Holmes Brick Records / Brutal Music - whether on his relentless mixtapes - Master Builder Patr II - or Blac Sabbath or on AOTP or DGZ - Blacastan stands out with storytelling, bars, and personality. Having a consistent producer on an entire LP helps this cohesive project. Great follow up to the first installment. Stu's style of MPC chop and loop sampling gets heads to respect his game.

Your Old Droog Packs oooohhh, I love his laid back style; smokey and jazzy. His EP hooked me. This full length begins with a bold track, "GKAC". It's brilliant. Then "Bangledesh" and "Grandma Hips" back to back - is way too fonky. Dude can rap.

Edo G Freedom 5th & Union - The lord of Boston just keeps doing Edo; nasty flow and social commentary with multis. Great beats. I'll buy everything this man ever releases. 

Roc Marciano Rosebudd’s Revenge Marci / Fat Beats 15 tracks - only 2 guest verses. Roc has been doing this! From The UN to his solo work like Reloaded, Marcberg and Marci Beacoup, his unique style - like he needs a translator and demands repeated listens - he creates worlds and one of the most original styles. Plus, his beats are ridiculous - matching his sparse and minimal wordsmithing. No one here is a super name, but he exploits each opportunity to spit straight fire.

King Magnetic Everything Happens 4 a Reason King Mag Music - AOTP and solo vet from Philly, comes with a captivating album. Not the best rapper, but King has bars and killer beats which are thick and funky. Sampling the trinity, horns, keys, strings. This is east coast boom bap for 2018. This road dawg's subjects are heartfelt, down to earth, while still being hard.

Thirstin Howl III Skillmatic (self) 2018. Are you kidding me? TH III returns with a full on classic. You have to adjust to his flow and delivery style -  but beats bang and he’s entertaining as fuck.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: not in order

Fokis Underground with Commercial Appeal

Madchild The Darkest Hour

Rock Rockness AP

Ruste Juxx International Juxxe – grimy and gritty – boom bap – all collabos with varied MCs from the world)

Masta Killa Loyalty is Royalty

Heavy Metal Kings Black God White Devil - Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz return with metal themed tracks putting Goretex on most tracks. 

Skyzoo The Peddler Themes

Showbiz + AG Take It Back

WuTang The Saga Continues 

Raekwon The Wild  *"Can't You See" is top5 single of this year.

Wordsworth Our World Today

Nutso REDSunday

Local Mu12 comp Everday People

Milano Constantine The Way We Were

Alpha Faktion Creative Control

PMD Business Mentality

Phat Kat + DJ Dister The S.O.S. Project

EHPC Best Of 2017 Oi Punk

It is in a relative order but i am not (again) scrutinizing the top 5 or whatever. These are all killer records. I definitely did not get to hear all the resurgence in real Oi! had to offer. Bet we try. I  think our list is solid.

PUNK/OI LPs:
Fuerza Bruta Verdugo Foreign Legion Chicago youths took the over world (literally - with shows in Europe) with their first LP. This bastard piece of wax sold out in minutes, instantly demanding a second press - which then sold out. Great shows in NYC and Minnesota and Chicago assert their brash fast style of gritty Oi the respect it des\erves. Sung en espanol. amazing debut.

Templars Deus Vult Randale/Pirates Press The Lords of the Sword return with a collection (of unreleased tracks) of their signature sound recorded over the prior decade. Cool vinyl packages and a flexi companion helped this fucker sell quickly. I had thought we would only hear from the mighty Templars on split 7"s . But thank christ the vaulted these tracks and gave us a proper LP. Fantastic.

Short Days s/t Destructure/No Glory Records beauty of an LP coming from Lille, France. Find on bandcamp and download for free. It's the one with cover art from Jim Jarmusch's Mystery Train. Melodic punk with a tough back beat; like sped up French Oi. Produced just enough... Many repeated listens. Solid back catalog too. Stellar work.

DDC Unite and Conquer Rebellion big sound, superb production. These dudes definitely stepped it up considering I have enjoyed there prior EPs and splits. The guitars have a metallic crunch; add that to robust drums, and the songs are fast and tight. You get riffs, leads and catchy parts with gang vox. Adult lyrics push this beyond any token tropes of the scene.

Concealed Blade s/t Beach Impediment - played this frequently. noisy and rough - fast tunes.

Roadside Bombs Rise Up Pirates Press - catchy and passionate Cali punk. Loved it. One of this year's best. "War on Love" and "45" are brilliant (catch those 7"s for some added vinyl love). Also peep "Nowhere CA", title track, and "Don't Bother"

Duffys Cut Killers on the Dance Floor Oi The Boat - sweaty mod, max R n B, punk Oi! whatever. Another brazen record that gets you moving. Love this.

Sweet FA Mission Accomplished Rebellion Records - stripped down Us Oi! like the late 80s/early 90s. Side project here, members of Legion 76 and Thunder and Glory. I fell in love with this one quickly.

Victory SOS Pirates Press Records, Longshot Music, Oi! The Boat Records, Rebellion Records

Tops of 2017.  Hard charging Oi!, they keep the speed of their other releases

The Abductors Coming Home Arrest Records - They pull back on the Negative Approach style but remain angry and tough. They had some more writing and musicality to their rambunctious cynicism. Good mix of CT hardcore and punk. Working class venting, done quite well.

Concrete Elite Iron Rose Rebellion / Longshot - I have been a fan since day one. They kill live. Their records are great. Little bit weird on the death metal growl for vocals, but once you adjust you realize these cats have stepped it up again. Best material to date.

The Struggle Endless Pirates Press - Experience and grit from members of Major Accident, Gimp Fist, and Crashed Out give us a smarter, mature Oi album. Very listenable, solid Oi Rock and Roll from elder statesmen.

(Not OI PUNK):

Cloak/Dagger I Want Everything Self Release - One of my favorite bands return. Not sure why it's self-released but thank christ they got this burner out. Taut, frantic paranoid punk.

Exit Order Seed of Hysteria Side Two - ex-vox of Leather Daddy, this sonic chaos is played searing and sincerely. Packs a punch!

Piss Test s/t Dirt Cult - dark and twangy, some twisted pop hooks but mostly just ominous punk a la Night Birds, Adolescents, OFF!.

Career Suicide Machine Response Deranged Records - look who's back! suprise punk hardcore fast and dirty from these Canadian fuckers. Blazing record.

Moral Panic Moral Panic Slovenly Records - Punk rock n roll. Greasy and low-fi, snotty and catchy. Grab it.

HON MENs:
Razorcut Common Enemy Longshot / Contra
Al and Brod deliver another solid LP - with two ladies in the band. Strong Australian Oi here.

Toxpack Schall & Rausch Napalm Record – they brought a grand sound through stellar songwriting and big production. Interview here. It’s a metal album by skinheads

Grade 2 Break the Routine Contra - hadn't quite listened to their prior stuff, just seemed like young punk. I was wrong. This is clean and crisp production, but also these dudes have grown older and better; mature and thoughtful songwriting and stellar musicianship. Powerful punk even if a little polished. Spain.

Gimp Fist Never Give Up On You Sunny Bastards - not quite uo there with the classics of theirs - but they announced they were done and we've gotten two LPs since. Still solid songwriting (a la Cock Sparrer) for these guys. Always something to like.

Lillingtons Stella Sapiente Fat Wreck Chords - Wow. Way beyond the years of simple (intentional) Ramones mimicry. This has mood and atmosphere driven by new angular guitar lines. Dark and some Joy Division influence. Follow me here... Parallel to third Tiger Army in that bring in new influences to their prior routine adherence to said sound. After repeated listens for a review, this album grew and grew on me. I genuinely enjoy it. Spooky; lyrics of secret societies and conspiracies. I was watching a lot of X-Files this fall when this dropped between Halloween and waiting for season 11.  And some great fast tunes too. try "K6" "Night Visions" "They Live" "Night Crawlers"

OLD GUYS: i don't know if they're 'top' but it's good to here from tall these guys.
GBH Momentum Hellcat; Varukers Damned & Defiant (2016 had new Discharge End of Days)

PUNK /OI EPs

Legion 76 Banners Fall Contra/Longshot - my top EP from the year.  Straight genuine Oi! that is passionate and well written.

RIXE Bapteme Au Feu La Vida En Mus - 3rd 7". rough and tumbly trio (w/Victor from Lions Law). brutal.

Shipwrecked s/t 7” Pretty Shitty Town - one could argue this hc, but whatever. It's mid-paced and there are strong guitar lines and melodies. Well, two songs are and then a tough ass Boston Hardcore (1982 style)  track. Amazing new shit from a phenomenal band. I hope Klas and co. give us more soon.

Battle Ruins 3 Song Cassette (self) - No Brainer. 3 new tracks from the best show of 2017. Soundtrack to annihilation. 

Epic Problem False Hopes Brass Neck Records moving beyong their Leatherface worship, they add to two of my favorite releases of the last decade (All Broken and Lines). Solemn punk that just chips at your soul. Catchy writing but meloncholy sound. Tugs at you. Loved it.

Junto Live To Tell Contra, Longshot - Back to this many times. 4 tracks from these Seattle guys. 

Lions law / Stars and Stripes Heritage Contra, Longshot - was a favorite; Lions Law covering "The Power & The Glory" and SnS doing "Heritage. plus additional track from each. brilliant.

RAS Pas Le Temps De Regretter Contra / Dirty Punks Classic French band reborn. tight.

Cliches Divide and Rule Randale Always will be on my lists. love these swedes.

Litige Fuite En Avant Destructure Records (Syndrome 81 / urban savage) blazing french oi/punk from Lyon. Female vocalist over jangly basslines and punchy drums. good riffs and leads. Time changes add some drama. 8 tracks on bandcamp

Petite II self *listen to podcast 010 to get my opinions. buy on bandcamp. 

45 Adapters They Call it Justice Pirates Press - title track is a+ plus two more. little shaky on the production but seeing it live made me realize how much i love it.

HON MEN:
Anvil Strike Tales from Border City Crowd Control Media
Unruly Boys 7” Crowd Control Media
Bromure A La Roquette Une Vie Pour Rien Vinyles – great French oi with Sax – surprise: Victor from Lions Law!,
Burden repress 7”, No escape 2016- cd; vinyl 2017

EHPC Best of 2017 Hardcore

EHPC Best of 2017: Hardcore. *(Metal sub genres and punk and Oi! and hip hop to follow)

Here is SPOTIFY list including much more than what is here

Instead of a pure "Best Of" or "Top 25" etc... Here are a bunch of great records that came and me (us - Mark Leighton ( @Mark_Spots_The_X on IG ) in 2017. Killer shit. Audio discussion - what the kids call a podcast will be up soon on emptyhandspodcast

No Particular order. I'm not straining over should Incendiary be 4 or 6 over Forced Order. Do that yourselves.

HARDCORE:

Backtrack Bad to My World Bridge 9 

Ricky and the boys return with ill NYHC. Check my interview 

Break Away Cross my Heart React! RVA SXE simple and sweet

Forced Order Last Crusade Triple B metallic chug that sears

Incendiary Thousand Mile Stare Closed Casket Activities check my interview

No Turning Back No Time to Waste Take Control Records Euro stalwarts come back again!

Firewalker 12” Pop Wig Boston hardcore, low tuned and evil. Heavy and dark. Short fast loud

Sect No Cure for Death Southern Lord Records ... Scott Crouse and Chris Colohan team up for dirty crust 'core. My review at New Noise

Wolfbrigade Run With the Hunted Southern Lord D-Beat Swedes deliver again

All Pigs Must Die Hostage Animal Southern Lord phenomenal record by these chaps - grit. variety.

Kohti Tuhoa Hajota ja hallitse Southern Lord Finnish punky D-Beat on Southern Lord – CVLT Nation did a bit on them here. I had gotten the promo and dug instantly.

Open City s/t LP + City of Ash 7” self released / new Dan Yemin, female vox; noisey, chaotic fast, good bass-lines, guitars and dope time changes.

HON MEN HC LPs: 

Walk the Plank Cemetery Vacation Say-10 fast passionate - uncanny Paint It Black worship My review at New Noise; 

Western Addiction Tremulous Fat Wreck Chords - their first LP was cool, but i stay away from Fat Wreck Chords. Nine Years later these dudes pack a punch. This is smart and intense and confrontational; catchy but dirty.

Park Sparrows s/t self ...fast and sullen; RVA punk  bandcamp for $1 

Brick By Brick Thin the Herd Fast Break! - Ray Chaos' 2nd LP with this Upstate NY beatdown band. Tough as nails.

HC EPs: * i bought every one on here. I love 2017!

Free Ex Tenebris Triple B - We loved when it came out…Vocalist Pat Flynn (have Heart) and 3 more Have heart and a criss-cross of members from Clear, Fiddleheads, NYC Headhunters, Give, Line Of Sight, Mindset, Sweet Jesus, Verse. They have created something honest and intense, quite different. Review here

But actually Triple B could get a spotlight for this year: 

Terror The Walls Will Fall, 

Freedom Never Had A Choice, 

Abuse of Power When Then Becomes Now,  

These above three all make the list. But Triple B also did:

No Warning cassette, Foreseen EP before LP, Buried Alive demos LP, Unified Right EP, Violence to Fade EP, the mentioned Forced Order LP, and Faze and Candy too.

Miracle Drug How Much Is Enough War - Again very different and cool with 90s style. Smart songwriting from older dudes with a a love for DC. my interview here

Fireburn Don’t Stop the Youth Closed Casket Activities - Flawless record. Bad Barins love from an ex-Brain and Todd fucking Youth; plus Knife Fight drummer and Todd Jones. Damn.

Rat Cage Caged Like Rats La Vida Es Un Mus ‎ugly and nasty fastcore.

Combatant 7” Sick Plot not like you - angry, old school '82 love.

Drug Control Stabbed New Age Records from DC and they play that. Crazed fast core.

DC Disorder Naive to a World Youngblood Records killer youth crew from a legendary label.

Aggression Pact Instant Execution 7” - Boston banger. chaotic ugly and fast

Memory Loss Exile Vinyl Conflict (cassette; bandcamp) - crusty dirty angry

Exit Unit 7” Deep Six Records – Ex-INFEST and Lack of Interest

Faithless HC cassette *its great even though it was recorded in 2008/2014

Primal Rite Sensory Link to Pain Revelation - heavy but still wicked hardcore + ex-scalped. Not the dive bombs. Heavy, metallic, frantic

HON MEN EPs:

Insist Here and Now - Manchester UK SXE, old school, heavy Youth Crew. 4 tracks on React!; 

Unjust Transparency QCHC killer angry sxe 7”; 

xFirm Standing Lawx Unashamed Carry the Weight - like Judge, Undertow, Strife, Mouthpiece. Really good; SXE UK Band (CTW is a UK label) band name from Chorus of Disapproval song –  style. Energetic and well produced; 

DEMOS: 

Undone (NWOBHC), Innocent boston d-beat, 

Imposter demo - Quality Control bandcamp. Low tuned. heavy UK82 hardcore 

Screw demo - DC Core - like 86 Mentality,

Stand Point demo QCHQ – cassette;  loves Uniform Choice; 

Payday Second To None QCHQ  (2^nd demo; Clevo love – London SXE);  

Tetro Pugnale – incredible Italian Oi hardcore (Blitz/86 Mentality – LP in 2018!!!) all cassettes

MISC Demos/EPs:

Powerage demo 2017 – i saw on youtube. Dirty bass! Grimy thrashy hardcore. Heavy. French powerviolence

if you miss '90s metallic SXE hardcore – which I love – a la Earth Crisis, One King Down, Morning Again and Culture… or all that Euro stuff – check out:

xElegyx demo - 4 songs of metallic sxe hc with Female vocals;

Inclination demo Straight and Alert - Midwest Straight Edge. Metallic 90's love. dark.

xServitudex Path to Amnesty – killer. This is more metal, low vocals with the djent screech tempo – very Seventh Dagger roster ish, violent;

Ecostrike Time is now CTW - This is the best of these. The best produced and written. Good '90s feel without being too metal. Ecostrike has way better writing; very OKD 

*(Carry the Weight also has put out Blind Authority, New Morality, Secterian Violence, Poison Planet, Red Death (CASS) good eps; also Culture, Coke Bust, and Race Traitor re-issues)