New video from Eddie Kaine and RIM off of their brand new album, Welcome To Stuyville. That’s definitely something you should have checked out by now. No one has better chemistry on the mic than Kaine and RIM. And on the track, Chop House, you get a melodic laid back approach to that talent over some eassssssy production from none other than Camoflauge Monk.
The album has a lot of different paces and sounds so make sure you check that out.
Sometimes life and circumstances force you to age a little more quickly, hence we have 13 Going On 30 from Eddie Kaine and BP’s album from last year, House Of Kaine. Kaine and Smaccz spit on some ‘coming of age stories’ over a sublime beat from BP.
Chemistry is a theme this week in the music that we are promoting and who displays better chemistry than Rim and Eddie Kaine? The emcee know how to trade bars and verses seamlessly and honestly no one is really on their level. Bhramabull produces this along along with the entire 5 Dolla Holla release with Rim. Definitely high octane joint, and if you clash with these artists, best believe it just won’t be a fender bender.
I think I have probably about 4,000 hip hop songs added to my library in 2023 so it’s no small feat to narrow it down to the Top 25 for the year, hence my time in taking to create this list. I could spend an eon trying to make a longer and more inclusive list. But the songs mentioned below were “no-doubters”. I play them over and over in a world where new music is released daily. This list is personal, but they are obvious recommendations of music I know that you would love and enjoy. It’s also a tribute to artists making this remarkable music. So have at it. I have also put a short blurb as to why the joint was favored and enjoyed along with links to the artist and music where applicable. Here are my favorite independent hip hop joints of 2023 in their respective order.
Yeah, I am telling you…Eddie Kaine and BP is a stroooooooong tandem. And I love this track, Back Against The Wall, off of their new album, House Of Kaine. The sound is dark and Kaine releases his angst on the world
Been feeling dangerous lately / Back against the wall / Ain’t nobody going to escape me / It’s fucked up for y’all / N$%#as should have run for safety / Gave you guys a minute, y’all was out here looking shaky…
This is a power house. I copped the album and will listen to it today, but I guarantee this is a must cop for 2023…can’t you hear it?
Eddie Kaine and producer BP have some fire for you, when their new album, House Of Kaine, which drops on October 27th. This is a great union. In my mind, these are two of the most skilled in their profession, and vastly unheralded for their talents. And to have them combine on this project seems like fate.
No Permission has the tandem taking what they are due with a touch of soul, and not asking for any of it. And not to be left out of this write up is Kaine’s long time affiliate, RIM, who is known for his own turn of phrase.
Don’t sleep!
Eddie Kaine and Finn have linked up for a new project, Quincy Street Blues. And Leave It To Me is a video single from that project. And as the song goes, it not Kaine, than who’s going to do it? You can count on him as an artist, and even doubly slow over some mellow good vibes from Finn.
This is song is in going in instant rotation. The exchange between Eddie Kaine and RIM is reminisicent of that Smoothe and Trigga Broken Language joint which has long been the gold standard of bar exchanges. But Kaine and RIM have such chemistry on the mic, and they make this seamless. And DJ J Hart laces an iconic production that really embodies that chemistry. One of the dopest tracks this year.
Apparently this is going to drop On DJ J Hart’s Green EP dropping in the Fall which all the sudden feels too far.
Here’s a sizzler from O Dawg and Passport Rav’s latest EP, Rogue Rage, featuring the strong bars of Eddie Kaine and RIM. The title track, from a production stand point, has this ‘ethereal’ quality about it, but don’t get it twisted, this joint knocks. And when you hear this pen game, there is left no doubt. These artists share the way they go about their daily business in the illest of fashions.
I haven’t checked the EP yet but I am definitely going to cop off of the strength of this one!
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. |
Hip Hop Dependency 