Awards And Accolades – Hip Hop Dependency

January 28, 2023February 12, 2023 stefanoneder 2022

50 Best Songs Of 2022

Lists of this magnitude are tough to do and I take a great deal of pride in crafting. I think the first ten to fifteen are easy to distinguish and then after, I think the places can be somewhat become interchangeable. All great tracks, where the pecking order becomes less discernible. So many artists could have been included multiple times on this list, but then we lose depth. Artists like Mickey Diamond and Jay Royale could have had multiple entries. As it stands only one emcee, Ransom, got two tracks selected for this list.

In the end, this is a testament to the strength of hip hop in 2022. We can agree to disagree on many points but maybe you will find something dope you hadn’t heard or a new artist to support. This is my hope.

Thanks for your time and readership!

-Stef aka thathiphopguy

Song	Artist	Notes
#1 – Done	M-Dot & Apollo Brown	This is the track that sets the tone for the entire year and this is what M-Dot and Apollo Brown typify: Hard work and talent!
#2 – Unruly	Vandal & Nottz	A song that gets caught in the head and does not let go. It is a personal anthem.
#3 – Power Nap	Nicholas Craven & Boldy James	Boldy and Craven is a beautiful union and nobody makes me crave a little rest like this cut. Beautiful music.
#4 – A Most Dreadful Symphony	Ransom & V Don	This song’s whole vibe gives me chills.
#5 – Chain Gretzky	Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost	No song went harder than this in 2022.
#6 – War I Bring	Sherm LaRock & Midaz	No song went harder than this in 2022…except above
#7 – Area 57 (ft. Skyzoo)	J57	Dope rhymes. Fluid flows. A Change Up. Perfect.
#8 – Qtna	Defcee & Boathouse	From the best album of 2022, you would expect a Top 10 song.
#9 – Highly Favored (ft. Bub Styles & Mickey Diamond)	Ty Farris & Slim One	It’s raw hip hop with a fantastic producer and three consummate emcees.
#10 – Linchpins (ft. Prince Po)	Guilty Simpson	The strings are glorious and the rhymes abound.
#11 – Everywhere I Go (ft. Muja Messiah, Guilty Simpson, and Copywrite)	Dub Sonata	The connections and cohesion on this joint are unparalleled. So clever!
#12 – Paint Pictures (J.Rocc Remix)	XP The Marxman	Hip-Hop holds true to it’s purest form on this joint.
#13 – The Most Exalted	IAMGAWD	Pen game is strong with this one. Glorious.
#14 – 3x	Madhattan & NV	Pied Piper type smooth. Follow the flute and dope flow.
#15 – Sal’s Pizza	38 Spesh & Harry Fraud	Spesh and Fraud are an elite combination, and you can hear it here.
#16 – Why Bitch	Starvin B & DustyVibes	Starvin B is a regular on these lists and this year is no different.
#17 – No Time To Waste (ft. Jadakiss)	Apathy & Stu Bangas	If you love sick lyricism this is the joint for you.
#18 – Cancel Myself	Ren Thomas & Brutal Caesar	You make a mockery of hip hop so Thomas and Caesar make a mockery of you.
#19 – Immortals (ft. Casual)	Lunar Heights	Great track and the Casual cameo is spot on.
#20 – Keeper Of The Flame	Mooch & Oh Jay	Smooth track and crisp flow.
#21 – Gunsmithz (ft. Phat Kat, Asun Eastwood, Recognize Ali)	Ol’ Man 80zzz	Another track in 2022 that knocks harder than most.
#22 – Stuck In Our Ways (ft. Rigz, MAV, Mooch)	Real Bad Man	It’s Da Cloth!!! Flames!
#23 – Carlito & Kleinfeld	Jay Royale & Kool G Rap	It’s that certified street shit featuring a legend with one of today’s strongest.
#24 – Bone Tomahawk	Spit Gemz	This is an intro to Gemz project and packs a lot of heat in a minute’s time.
#25 – Fire Slingers (ft. Snak The Ripper)	N.B.S.	Yeah. This track stays true to the namesake. They are spitting flames on here.
#26 – Scud Missle	Planet Asia & Snowgoons	Legends unite to give you this heat rock. These guys are at the pinnacle of their craft.
#27 – Roar Of The Lions	El Gant	Another track that just “feels” like hip hop. It gets you hype to be a fan.
#28 – Slay	Johaz & Nottz	Nottz does it again this time taking you to church with Johaz.
#29 – Dis Could Be Bad	MAV	It could be bad, but MAV is oh so good.
#30 – Raekwon’s Table	Ullnevano & God Sense Beats	Not all are worthy to sit at Raekwon’s Table. But these artists show and prove.
#31 – Lo Pan	Teek Hall	Teek Hall is name you should know and when this song gets caught in your head, you’ll remember.
#32 – Hans Gruber (ft. Lil Fame)	Wais P & Pete Twist	Bruce Willis may not approve but the hip hop community agrees this is a banger.
#33 – Diamond Backs (ft. Daniel Son)	Maze Overlay	Northside and AZ link up over some Farma heat.
#34 – Compromised	Ransom	Ransom is too talented to not make this list twice.
#35 – Guerrero (ft. Westside Gunn)	Benny the Butcher	The power and talent of Griselda is undeniable. This joint feels like it was actually made in a lab.
#36 – Triple Threat (ft. RIM & Frankky Smaccz)	Eddie Kaine	Flamethrower bars over some production from the talented Hobgoblin.
#37 – Both Sides	The Tangiers	Every time this cut comes on, my head nods instantly. Drops heavy.
#38 – One Bridge (ft. Fashawn & K-Prez)	Snowgoons	The organ that drives this track is the perfect set up. And the emcees give such great energy!
#39 – Bars After Bars	Fatt Father & DJ Jewels Baby	The Wu-Tang flip is insane and the bars and flow speak for themselves.
#40 – Museum Piece (ft. Torae)	Napoleon Da Legend & Just Music Beats	This song has the necessary hype and talent equivalent to make the list. Lyricism for days.
#41 – Hamster Wheel	Locksmith	One of the most authentic artists in hip hop delivers a virtuoso performance.
#42 – Tyrant	Shabaam Sahdeeq & John Jigg$	Two of my favorites link up for some lyrical gold here.
#43 – Dudesovadere (ft. Dro Pesci)	Mic Handz	This project is full of bangers and needs to be heard. This is just one of those harbody tracks.
#44 – Too Convinced	Nelson Dialect & BigBob	This joint is just so melodic. It honestly should be higher on this list but what’s done is done. Incredible track.
#45 – Queens Gambit	Shaz Illyork & Buon Anni	So good to hear Illyork over these banging beats from Buon Anni.
#46 – Big Coffins (ft. Mickey Diamond and Pro Dillinger)	Snotty	It’s The Umbrella posse cut that bodies the competition.
#47 – Bill and Fame (ft. Tone Spliff)	The Bad Seed	A tribute of sorts to M.O.P. and no one is more set to do it properly than Seed!
#48 – Riot	Daniel Son x Futurewave x 36 Cypher	Yes. This joint could easily cause a riot. Everything is intense on this cut.
#49 – It’s Like That (ft. DJ Grazzhoppa)	Supreme Cerebral	Supreme Cerebral slays tracks and he takes this rock infused beat and wreaks havoc.
#50 – Gawds Wrath Massacre (ft. Don Streat x Rico Blox x J Fliz x Jae Hussle x Street Da Villain)	Slik Jack & Kng Bondalero)	I needed to set off the list with this ill posse cut because this beat by Bondalero is an anthem.

January 2, 2023February 12, 2023 stefanoneder 2022, Awards And Accolades

10 Best Albums Of 2022

There are many ways to go about crafting a list. I think some people go out of their way to create the most eclectic list of music that they honestly would never give replay value to. There are others who would make such a large list that it winds up showcasing the average with the great. And no list will do everyone justice and so this list was crafted with the ten albums I feel that demonstrated the best melding of talent comprised of ten songs or more in one platter. Did elite lyricsm live within an ill beat? Can you replay this album indiscriminately and still appreciate the value? THESE were my requirements. With that being said I had 400 albums to sift through for the year and this is the top 5% of that collection. So, without further ado.

#1 – The number one album of my musical journey this year is For All Debts Public And Private from the duo of Defcee and Boathouse. I can revisit this album time and time again and find something different to love all over again, while appreciating the familiar. The production from Boathouse strikes every chord imaginable creating a boom bap powerhouse. And Defcee…wow. There is such a cleverness with his rhyme schemes, and he delivers each bar with such and strength and commitment it just sticks to your ears. So many quotable lines on this project. The whole thing is a tireless listen. It never grows old. It is the “go to” project for 2022 and set for many listens to come.

#2 – If the list was bigger, you would see the names, Mickey Diamond and Big Ghost littered all over it with other amazing projects. As it stands, there is no joint that knocked harder in 2022 than Gucci Ghost. The skill level embodied in this release is insurmountable. Big Ghost makes this album slap in unheard of ways. He could literally define the term “banger” with this one. And I don’t think anyone brings as much confidence and persona to the mic right now more than Mickey Diamond. He has the natural gift and the ferocity to deliver that is unmatched in today’s music scene.

#3 – A late entry but clear contender, is Ransom and V Don’s project, Chaos Is My Ladder. This album is riveting in both its sonic instrumentation and its delivery of hard hitting and introspective lyricism. Ransom is hip hop’s philosopher’s stone. He drops more than just lyrics but thought-provoking moments bar by hard hitting bar. And he does so in keeping the moments gritty and not being over the top. He doesn’t fly over your head but keeps your finger pressed on the rewind button which is a true gift. This pairing is a true blessing for hip hop.

Most temporary homies will teach you permanent lessons

#4 – Lebron James loves it. Kevin Durant loves it. And we here at HipHopDependency love it as well! 38 Spesh has proved year after year just what a talented artist he is, either with the mic or behind the boards. And here we have him blessing the former over some premium production from none other than Harry Fraud. Beyond Belief is a showcase of distinction. These two artists have a sound that simply cannot be replicated. Spesh has that unique cadence, voice, and style that plays beautiful with Fraud’s haunting rock infused hip hop. There’s so much to love here and you can see it play to all audiences.

#5 – Surprise! I know you don’t know about this one but Fatt Father and DJ Jewels Baby cooked you up something special with Grindset Vol 2. Fatt Father has this way where his lines fly like darts and resonate with the listener. He combines topics of being a father, self-improvement, and also showing that he is not man to be trifled with. He can handle any topic and any beat, speaking of which DJ Jewels Baby brings a diversity of fire for our emcee to spit on. He’s got the whole repertoire on display here with hard hitting beats and impeccable sample usage. This project is extremely relatable touching on topics that we can all feel. Please don’t sleep on this joint.

#6 – Waterr and Vanderslice crafted a really great sound with their new album, Life Is More Than White Bricks. This project has so much soul entrusted to it. Vanderslice really brought plenty of depth to the music, using lots of different instrumentation and giving each song a ‘musical’ place in the album. There is such a melodic quality about this album that differentiates itself from other releases this year. And Waterr has always been impressive on the microphone. He has that sound that stands alone, and cuts through the music effortlessly, and allows his lyrics and message to be hear with clarity.

#7 – Casual and DEAD Perry are up next for this talented yet dark and twisted musical journey The Art Of Reanimation. Perry really just does a masterful job of bending sound giving each song a deep, rich, and yet dark tone. It’s boom bap with a shadowy twist and I absolutely love what he did sonically. And lyrically, Casual is razor sharp. His rhyme schemes and wordplay are not just as good as they were in 1992, but actually I think he’s better. And you can’t say that about so many. I think this album, released earlier this year, needs to get considerable credit for breaking quite a few molds.

#8 – There were quite a few dope producer albums that dropped in 2022 but I don’t think anyone served up a more delectable platter than Reckonize Real on his album Subterrane an Obscura. There is such a great mix of sounds here that range from subdued and haunting to that boom bap slap. And you have a superb selection of emcees solicited for their rhyme skills. And each emcee and beat complement each other perfectly. Nothing sounds forced or out of place which I think is incredibly hard to do on a producer album, because out of sixteen tracks you would think something would be amiss. Not here. This is a complete release and a highlight of the year.

#9 – It’s the splendid union of soul with producer Nicholas Craven and emcee Boldy James. Both artists contributed alot of time and talent to 2022 but together they crafted the most soulful, yet slick album of the year with Fair Exchange No Robbery. Craven’s use of honing the perfect sample and creating a complete vibe in rhythm is on full display. This sound provides the perfect home for Boldy James, as his flow sounds completely at home over this production. His wordplay just cascading over this production with beautiful results. And that track, Power Nap, is simply one of my favorite tracks ever. Brilliant.

#10 – So when I think of who’s got next in hip hop, the first name that came to mind in 2022 was Maze Overlay. And when you hear his project, Aztecaz, produced by Farma you will understand why. Maze has some gritty lyricism and really great flow. Much like one of his guest spots on the album, Daniel Son, he always seems to be in the pocket. Perfect timing with a quick turn of phrase with at times an even melodic tone as he dips in and out of the chorus and into verses. And this is the best I have heard Farma in the last couple of years. These beats prove equally as gritty as the emcee and the perfect complement. He uses this somber guitar element a few times throughout the album that is really effective. Also, a perfect amount of dope guest spots to make this album the sure shot.

January 1, 2022January 1, 2022 stefanoneder 2021

Top 5 EPs (2021)

This is the toughest arena to choose because this is the era of the quick hitter (which I like). Projects with 5-9 tracks seem to dominate the indie hip hop scene. And that’s how I am defining this category, 5 to 9 tracks constitutes extended play, anything more, you have an album, anything less, you have a maxi single. So let’s get it moving on this very competitive category. Here are my Top Five extended plays for 2021.

#5

Daniel Son x Slim One – Bloodlust

I am not sure how many people have heard this project as it hasn’t been released on major DSPs. So it may be a hidden jewel. Slim One has showcased amazing production talent time and again, and from the main attraction to the interludes he crafts some brilliant music. Likewise Daniel Son, has been a stalwart emcee for a few years now, bodying everything in sight. These two proved to be a formidable duo in 2021 and worth the extra effort to hear this joint.

#4

AM Early Morning & Nightstalker – LNEM III

AM Early Morning and Nightstalker put together a true vibe with their recent EP, L.N.E.M III. From the jump you get this smokey jazz club vibe injected with all the hip hop elements we come to love. I think the artists did an incredible job giving these tracks a dope consistency in sound throughout while keeping the listener engaged. It’s jazzy, it’s bluesy, and it can at times be sobering. But the bottom line is it’s unique and a sure shot listen for years to come.

#3

Spit Gemz – Pardon My Poetry

This is the shortest endeavor on this list, but Spit Gemz has a tendency to deliver alot of lyricism and talent in any given amount of time. And he delivers with such intensity you just can’t ignore him. He commands that attention. With joints like Shoot The Fair One and Maury’s Wigs he drops more gems here than most can in a full length album.

#2

Wounded Buffalo Beats – Wounded

This represents the sole, ‘production based’ EP on this list. And Wounded made it for good reason! This joint knocks from start to finish. It’s ridiculous in it’s quality of dope production, guest emcees, and quality bars. When all of the aforementioned are taken into account, you have one of the dopest projects in 2021. Favorite tracks? I think they are all five of five to be honest. Each as dope as the next. But The Victor by Ruste Juxx is truly insane.

#1

Ransom – Se7en

Ransom steals the show in the extended play category with his tribute to the seven deadly sins. By now everyone knows that his talent level is ridiculous. He has surpassed so many bars (literally) and as an artist he seemingly has no ceiling. And here he takes on each sin, and gives it depth and personality like no one else could. This project is my favorite as it is more tightly woven than any project this year. My favorite sins? Gluttony and Wrath.

January 4, 2019May 5, 2019 stefanoneder 2018

Hip Hop Dependency: Best Albums Of 2018

Well, here we are! Our Top 10 albums from 2018. I literally listened to hundreds of projects this year so giving you a top ten was no easy task considering not only the number of albums but also the quality. And these lists are always prone to spark debate and conversation, but that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? I simply wanted to shine a light on my favorite joints this year and in part give my definitive salute as a fan to these artists and their body of work. Here we go…Enjoy!!

Continue reading “Hip Hop Dependency: Best Albums Of 2018” →

January 1, 2019May 5, 2019 stefanoneder 2018, Interviews

2018 Hip Hop Dependency Artist Of The Year: Recognize Ali

Rec1

It’s been five years since we actually did and end of the year segment where we lauded particular artists and albums for their efforts. 2018 has felt like the right time and place to bring that back our Artist Of The Year accolade. Recognize Ali embodies the dope movement we saw this past year. He put out five albums, all of which are dope, none of which are identical. They are distinctive in sound and all offer something great to hip-hop fans of all walks. He was also probably featured more times than anyone else this year on projects from others. In short, his immense talent matched an unrelenting work ethic that was matched by few others this year.

It is when talent and work ethic reach such high levels that we feel compelled to do something special to share that unique gift with our audience. So please listen to the man’s music…pass the word along to others and read this interview he so graciously granted us. It’s a great read! We’ve also included a few of our favorite Recognize Ali cutz for your listening pleasure at the end. Enjoy!

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December 28, 2018May 5, 2019 stefanoneder 2018, Recommendations

2018: Best EPs

So here is a list of my favorite EPs from 2018. I easily could have extended this list to 25 projects and been really comfortable about that. However, I really wanted to showcase what I consider to be the best projects in a year where there was so much greatness to consider. In the end, there were no votes, judges, or etcetera. This was simply a matter of personal preference. I hope you enjoy these projects as much as I did.

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January 5, 2014January 6, 2014 stefanoneder 2013

Top 50 Songs (2013)

Disclaimer: It is hard and challenging to pick 50 tracks from the thousands upon thousands that dropped this year. It is merely an attempt to list my favorite cuts of 2012. Click the links to listen to the song! I think it’s a great list. There were a lot of great songs crafted this year and I know I left off some good ones. I listened to 5,000+ tracks from 2012 alone this year, so as an artist, if you made this list you know you are on the forefront of my iTunes!

1. Said Before – Goldini Bagwell

2. Rhyme Of The Year – Nino Bless

3. Believers – Mayday

4. Outlive, Outshine – Theo3

5. War – Stryfe and Marc Byrd

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January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 stefanoneder 2013

Artist Of The Year: Nutso (2013)

It is an honor and a privilege to present to you the Hip Hop Dependency Artist Of The Year for 2013: Nutso (Twitter, Facebook, Website, YouTube). I have been a huge fan of Nutso for a long time but this was a banner year for him. He really went above and beyond what the rest of the pack is doing. There are A LOT of talented artists, but very few have the work ethic and the drive that Nutso does. In 2013, he released dope project after dope project and he has no intentions of stopping that pace in 2014.

It’s one thing to be dope. It’s entirely another thing to be relentless. Nutso is both. He is constantly creating with a slew of different producers and finding new avenues to push the envelope of his music. All the while he builds on the foundation that is New York Boom-Bap.

So without further ado, I bring you words from the man himself, as he graciously agreed to answer a few questions from HHD. Be sure to check his older projects along with his current ones, and prepare for the future!:

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January 1, 2014January 1, 2014 stefanoneder 2013, Producer's Spotlight

Producer Of The Year: Alterbeats (2013)

HHD has never done a Producer Of The Year accolade in our previous two years of existence but this award is warranted in 2013. No one is responsible for more ill beats in my iTunes collection from this past year than producer extraordinaire, Alterbeats (Twitter, Website, Facebook, YouTube). He has made bangers for some of my favorite artists along with crafting his album, Class Struggle. He is one of the hardest working producers in the game, and emcees know that if they need some heat, they can check in with this Parisian Producer. Be sure to check out Alterbeats’ projects and song credits. You can check many of them by checking this LINK. So please congratulate Alterbeats on this inaugural award on any of his social networks and be sure to check some of his favorite hand picked tracks below:

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December 31, 2013December 31, 2013 stefanoneder 2013

Top 10 Albums (2013)

More than any year previous, I have toiled and contemplated this list. In particular, deciding on a pecking order proved to be most difficult but this is what I have come up with. Feel free to disagree. The list was assembled based upon the usual criteria of production, lyricism, flow, song arrangement, and the ever popular, but lost ingredient…CREATIVITY.

1. Tenacity x Fratello Beatz – ABnormal Deciding on the number one album of the year was really difficult but ABnormal kept on coming up in the discussion and I could not diminish it’s value. This album oozes creativity and is loaded with great tracks. Tenacity’s lyricism and songwriting ability prove to be impeccable, while Fratello Beatz creates the perfect soundscape. Review.

2. Stryfe x Marc Byrd – The Last Resorts Producer Marc Byrd really outdid himself on this album. The rock infused production made this album knock. Stryfe continues to make a name for himself with his sharp lyricism and witty wordplay. There are a grip of tracks that absolutely bang. The fact that I didn’t give this a full review was a big mistake. Awesome album.

3. Jermiside x Danny Diggs – Quiet As Kept Jermiside and Diggs personify smooth introspection with this release. It is simultaneously laid back and engaging. Review.

4. The Aztext – Four The Aztext keep a record of making great music and they consistently make these end of the year lists. Four is a remarkable album for it’s creative concepts and flavor. These guys just get it. And if you give this album a listen, you too may here it. Review.

5. Demigodz – KiLLmatic This is the one album on the list that made it for it’s pure ‘knockability’. When I first heard this album, I was blown away with Apathy’s production. I think it’s one of the best produced albums of the year. There are too many dope tracks on this album to ignore. Review.

6. One Dae – Daes & Times This was just released last month but I have given it enough listens to consider it one of this year’s best releases. One Dae has a lost of microphone charisma and the production on the album is vastly superior to a far number of albums released this year. Review.

7. Mayday – Believers Many people have a hard time categorizing (or pigeon holing) Mayday. Sometimes they wear that ominous tag of ‘alternative hip hop’. Bull shit. This album is hip hop heavy that is layered in soul and funk elements with a dash of rock. But it’s still hip hop to me and really good hip hop. I wore out the front half of this album it was so good (not to detract from the latter half).

8. Natti – Still Motion Here’s another album that I never gave it’s due. Natti’s Still Motion is comprised of some really good music. It is heavily produced by Deacon The Villain and KNO of Cunninlynguists and those guys know how to make albums. After I heard track #2, Another Galaxy, I was sold. Great album!

9. Swollen Members – Beautiful Death Machine Go ahead and remain incredulous, but this is the best Swollen Members’ album since Balance. And nobody can turn a phrase like Previal and Madchild. They are on their own shit. The production is on point and unlike many of their previous albums, there is a certain level of focus in the tracks and arrangement. There was no deviation. I appreciated that. Review.

10. Jus Daze – Walk Twice As Hard Jus Daze is the most introspective artist on the list. Walk Twice As Hard is a not only a musical journey, but also an extremely personal one. You can really appreciate the care that Daze took in creating the album. Review.