You want a tough as nails release for 2025? Well I am going to give it to you, and the proof lies over head. The Guillotine from The Umbrella’s own Substance810 and Big Trip is certified bulletproof release! This project (of which I have listened to three times) is one of the best releases under The Umbrella banner. It is one of the best releases of 2025, and each song hits as hard as the last. But if I had to pick a joint…Medusa, produced by Hobgoblin, might be it. The piano keys, the vocal sample, and these drums are menacing. But not soooo menacing that you can’t hear the cold ferocity in these emcees’ bars. Damn. So good.
Substance810 & Clypto – Gargoyles (ft. O The Great & DJ Grazzhoppa)
If this song doesn’t get you hype about the new album from Substance810 and Clypto, I don’t know what quite would do the trick. This joint is a smash! The production got’s some street Phantom Of The Opera organ vibes going and with DJ Grazzhoppa on the cut, this joint is a direct hit, don’t miss! Love the ODB sample mixed in, and then the smooth yet sharp deliveries from Substance810 and O the Great really compliment not only the track but each other. Love this joint!
Check the album, Wise Words, out now!
Substance810 & Observe Since ’98 – Nothins The Same (Video)
Substance810 has been grinding harder than anyone in the last couple of years, and here we have a taste of the third in the trilogy, The Lion’s Share 3: Pride Of The Lion. Substance810 and Observe Since ’98 have created a sound unto itself. And on Nothins the Same, you hear this epic sound as the duo who have put in the time, effort, and grind from the those rainy days to sunnier times. Much respect for what both of these artists continue to contribute time and time again.
Top 25 Songs Of 2023
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.
- Waterr & Lupara - Whenever The Drama Comes (ft. Defcee): I obviously thought alot about the top joint in 2023 and landed here. First, Bohemia Lynch crafts a beautiful production that is in perfect sync for the emcees who drop both exceptional and thought provoking lyricism. And Waterr’s chorus was the perfect bridge to it all.
- Paradime – The Reign: While this joint was not on his actual album but on a single, it still held the highest of places for me musically this year. The music, lyricism, and chorus were all top notch, and resonated with me since it dropped. Just a dope body of work.
- DJ Access & Meeco (ft. Dice Payne) – Honestly: Speaking of a song that can get stuck in your head over and over again. This is a head nodder and a half, and Dice Payne’s has so much style in his flow and lyricism.
- Nef & Bobby J From Rockaway (ft. Hush) 718213 Interlude: This was a favorite from the jump. This flip is incredible and brings such energy. The verbal exchange with this production is just special.
- DJ J Hart – Brookland (ft. RIM and Eddie Kaine): - Speaking of exchanges…there is NO BETTER collaboration than RIM and Kaine. None. And DJ J Hart sets off this duo with a banger. Not since Smooth and Trigga. This is a flamethrower.
- Speaker Bullies – Bad Rap: - I could have gone with a couple of songs from this album, but Praise and Supastition brought so much energy and dopeness on this one. It had to be this one in my mind. Great album by the way.
- Maze Overlay - Atonement: Powerful song. This is just something that spoke to me which is what music is supposed to do. The whole feeling of redemption and making a path forward is more than relatable.
- DJ Akil & Starvin B – Aliens: This is a straight hip hop joint right here. It’s boom bap in it’s purest form with a Dragnet appeal. I dare you to try and stop your head from nodding.
- Supastition – Cold Blood: This is another one I can feel to my core. And Supastition may be one of the most relatable emcees who has ever done it. He conveys his and thoughts in the dopest of fashions and allows his story to speak to yours.
- Will4Prez & Hobgoblin – The League: This is the most slept on artist of the year. No doubt in my mind. And he is verbal flame thrower! These bars I will put up against anyone. And Hobgoblin is one of the dopest producers.
- Living Legends – If I Was Car: The Legends were back collectively in 2023 and what a blessing for hip hop fans everywhere. There’s a reason they have “legend” in the name. The creativity of this track coupled with the funk makes this track, well….fun…!
- J. Rawls & Cas Metah – Seven Kings: Yes this is the best posse cut of the year. Rawls laces the perfect beat for so many talented emcees to rock over. And EVERYONE on this track demolishes. So much talent condensed into five minutes can’t be ignored.
- Mickey Diamond – Tex Avery: I could have put five Mickey Diamond tracks on this list. In my mind, he rules the roost in hip hop right now. He delivers dope music after dope music, but this song knocked the hardest to me! “One Eye Open….Fetty Wap”
- RJ Payne – The Rack: Putting this next to Tex Avery is no accident…that plus this song from RJ Payne and Cartune Beatz are too tough for the competition. I listened to this relentlessly. Payne’s pen game is next level.
- Kahlee & XP The Marxman - Don’t Take It Personal: A union of west coast talent proves to be a problem on with this single. Dope production with Tone Spliff on the cut makes this such a memorable hip hop joint!
- Planetary – Ruin Ya Life: The Outerspace veteran delivered a great solo album, and showcases a career built on talent. He’s still razor sharp with his wordplay.
- Substance810 & Hobgoblin – Untimely Demise: Off of one of the better albums in 2023, this joint again puts talent on full display. This production by Hobgoblin is fantastic and brings the best out of Substance810. This joint is vicious.
- 38 Spesh – Dark & Grim: Short but ominous describes this joint. Very few possess the talent that Spesh does. Production and emceeing are at the upper echelons. And even though this joint is short, it’s potent.
- Real Bad Man & Blu – The Golden Rule (ft. CL Smooth): So much talent on this track. Real Bad Man is an incredible producer and not mentioned enough. And these artists really blend and shine.
- Spit Gemz – Abbadon: Nobody drops it with more intensity than Spit Gemz. He delivers every bar like he was taking head shots. Such great mic presence.
- Skyzoo & The Other Guys – Straight Drop: Who is smoother than Skyzoo on the mic? Who? When I think of microphon charisma, this is where I turn and The Other Guys know exactly how to do smoooooth.
- Boot Camp Click – Wotcha Call Strength: Not very many groups in hip hop can stand with the talent in the Boot Camp Click, and they decided to let you all know in 2023 that they still deliver in ferocious fashion. Message delivered.
- Eddie Kaine & BP Infinite – Forever: I know you feel this. BP is another producer more people should give dues to. This guy concocts memorable production. Listen to this vocal loop! And Kaine demonstrates that he’s on his “shit forever”. Love this joint.
- DJ Low Cut – Last Day (ft. Daniel Son): Low Cut is back and brought in the incomparable Daniel Son to assassinate some epic production. These two artists once again prove to be a force on this one.
- Boldy James & Chanhays – Strange World: Last track for this list was not easy but I think Boldy and Chanhays aced it with this song. Harmonious. Beautiful. And meaningful. You can’t miss.
Single You Out: The Umbrella – Shifty
The Umbrella is taking over. Of this there is no doubt and I love the fact the collective did a single under the name. Substance810, Pro Dillinger, Snotty and Josiah The Gift rock over some superlative production from Mosbeats. I love the beat flip that occurs on Josiah’s verse. But on the whole, these artists ALWAYS bring that A-Game. It’s so time for The Umbrella to release that ‘family album’. So much talent in this group. Each artist brings something to the table. Love that.
Substance810 – Danger Zone (ft. Mickey Diamond & Jamil Honesty) (Video)
Alright, The Umbrella has done taken over the game for at least the last couple of years, but maybe flying under the radar is Substance810. His pen game deserves maximum recognition and his flow is clearly on par with the best. To top that off, the man has MULTIPLE projects from 2023 that knock with ferocity, and his latest, Makin Waves 2, very well might be the best. It’s deep in dopeness. Lots of tracks on this one, so you get money’s worth on quality and quantity. And here you listen to him deliver top notch bars along with Mickey Diamond and Jamil Honesty over some JR Swfitz production.
Single You Out: Substance810 & Observe Since ’98 – Dividends
Substance810 and Observe Since ’98 link back for another project, The Lions Share 2: Gold Shillings. That project is dropping next Friday, but if you want and early listen, they have a listening party that you can RSVP for tonight on bandcamp.
Meanwhile, this one of the first two cuts released in in full and in advance of the project and Dividends builds that anticiaption properly. Observe cooks up a dark and haunting production, and Substance810 gives you the lion’s roar with an unrelenting verse. They ace it.
Hip Hop Dependency 