Beats And Rhymes The Best In Hip Hop And Alternative R&B

Just like Indie Rock has been for the past few years, Hip Hop and R&B through critics and the popular media have taken a creative nosedive. For the most part, critics and the music listening populace have embraced a very party based mindset when it comes to these two genres. Everyone seems to be caught up with Trap within Hip Hop and R&B cliches when it comes to that genre. It was very hard coming up with a list of really good releases this year. I would say the top 10 of this list is essential listening. A masterpiece is hard to come by these days with this genre but if there ever was one for R&B this year it would definitely be Tirzah's minimalist distillation of the genre. In terms of a classic Hip Hop album, that would fall at the feet of Quelle Chris and Jean Grae's satirical hater influenced blasting of the very genre they are in. They HATE the industry and it shows. It's probably why Pitchfork by Conde Nast didn't honor it on their list. So after that very necessary rant, dig into the best Hip Hop and Alternative R&B of 2018!

1. Tirzah-Devotion(Domino)

2. Quelle Chris & Jean Grae-Everything's Fine(Mello Music Group)

3. Cupcakke-Ephorize(Self Released)

4. Death Grips-Year Of The Snitch(Third Worlds)

5. Eminem-Kamikaze(Aftermath)

6. Swamp Dogg-Love, Loss And Auto Tune(Joyful Noise)

7. Leikeli47-Acrylic(RCA)

8. JPEGMAFIA-Veteran(Deathbomb Arc)

9. Edan & Homeboy Sandman-Humble Pi(Stones Throw)

10. Kadhja Bonet-Childqueen(Fat Possum)

11. Alt-J-Reduxer(Infectious)

12. Cupcakke-Eden(Self Released)

13. Noname-Room 25(Self Released)

14. PRhyme-PRhyme 2(PRhyme)

15. Black Milk-Fever(Mass Appeal)

16. Cypress Hill-Elephants On Acid(BMG)

17. Dr. Octagon-Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation(Bulk)

18. Knife Knights-1 Time Mirage(Sub Pop)

19. Miss Red-K.O.(Pressure)

20. Czarface And MF Doom-Czarface Meets Metal Face(Silver Age)

21. Phonte-No News Is Good News(Foreign Exchange)

22. Ras G-Stargate Music(Leaving)

23. 700 Bliss-Spa 700 EP(Halcyon Veil)

24. Sons Of Kemet-Your Queen Is A Reptile(Impulse!)

25. Dabrye-Three/Three(Ghostly International)

26. Earl Sweatshirt-Some Rap Songs(Tan Cressida/Columbia)

27. Kamasi Washington-Heaven And Earth(Young Turks)

28. East Man-Red, White & Zero(Planet Mu)

29. Rejoicer-Energy Dreams(Stones Throw)

30. Sami Baha-Free For All(Planet Mu)

31. Shygirl-Cruel Practice EP(Nuxxe)

32. Vince Staples-FM!(Def Jam)

33. Young Fathers-Cocoa Sugar(Ninja Tune)

34. Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids-An Angel Fell(Strut)

35. Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge-The Midnight Hour(Get On Down)