Coming off the heels of an extraordinary Hip Hop year, 2017 is shaping up to be a promising musical successor. Already, we’ve received releases from marquee artists, including: Drake, Future (twice), Big Sean, Migos, Joey Bada$$, and others. Middling artists burgeoning into mainstream threats, like Kodak Black, YFN Lucci, SiR, and Taylor Bennett, have deepened 2017’s enticement by commanding regional attention through an ostensible grassroots initiative. Considering that we’ve just broached mid-April, we’ve only begun to scratch this year’s musical potential—Kendrick is dropping this Friday…
With this influx of music, it’s easy to miss hidden gems from established talent, overlook releases from lesser knowns, or not even realize certain projects have dropped. The internet’s decreased barriers to entry have increased artistic elusiveness. Borrowing from 2016’s ample release strategy, 2017’s voluminous output presents opposing emotions: excitement from a furbished eclectic Hip Hop catalogue; frustration from not having enough time to consume it all. For music lovers, this double-edged musical sword can create headaches as quickly as it can impart joy. The struggle can be all too real—I feel your pain.
To modulate this overwhelming stress, I’ve compiled a collection of 2017’s best Hip Hop tracks. Check them out below, and enjoy. But hurry—Kendrick’s DAMN. is right around the corner.
"Hallucinating" by Future
"Selfish" by Future
"Groovy" by Future
"4422" by Sampha (off Drake's More Life)
"Sacrifices" by Drake featuring 2 Chainz and Young Thug
"Teenage Fever" by Drake
"Off The Land" by Kodak Black
"Top Off Benz" by Kodak Black featuring Young Thug
"Twenty 8" by Kodak Black
"Apple of My Eye" by Rick Ross featuring Raphael Saadiq
"Gotta Be More" by Nick Grant featuring BJ The Chicago Kid
"T-Shirt" by Migos
"Inspire Me" by Big Sean
"(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano" by Sampha
"I Swear" by Wyclef Jean featuring Young Thug
"W$ Boi" by SiR
"Walk On By" by Thundercat featuring Kendrick Lamar
"Cigarettes and Cush" by Stormzy featuring Kehlani
"New York Nights" by Taylor Bennett featuring Stro
"Grandma Hips" by Your Old Droog featuring Danny Brown
"Meditation" by GoldLink featuring Jazmine Sullivan and KAYTRANADA
"Marvin" by Raekwon featuring CeeLo Green
"Andrea" by Freddie Gibbs
"Way Up" by YFN Lucci
"Legendary" by Joey Bada$$ featuring J. Cole
"Biking" by Frank Ocean featuring Jay Z and Tyler, The Creator