2023 Retrospective
The Jordan Year
As another year in the book ends, so too does another chapter in hip-hop history. There was plenty to love and hate, and just as I do every year, I take the first week or so of January to go back over everything music-related the following year. Closure may only exist in movies and shows, but that won’t stop me from trying to get the same from this post. Settling on lingering opinions about songs and albums I’ve been on the fence about, and seeing how things stacked up to years prior. For me, 22’ had a decent amount of releases, but most of them consisted of projects that were about the middle of the pack. Not too bad but not exceptional, and there are albums I haven’t gone back to. This year, however, had fewer albums with more quality.
In terms of music and development, this was a filler year. There were plenty of moments but not to the extent from years prior. In peak years, there are a few select drops and artists that have the focus of the genre. This year was missing that. But there was still a lot of progression and unexpected surprises.
Firstly, Kendrick proved that he could disappear for 5 years and still win a Grammy for a complete body of work; and let’s be honest with ourselves, the awards only matter when our choices win. He and Keem made their presence felt with one song, personally raising expectations of a collab album from The Hillbillies. One of the most prolific of surprises from the year came in the form of Drake and J. Cole collabing not once but TWICE for the first time in 10 years. The last time was the release of Jodeci Freestyle back in 2010. This generation has given what others were not able to do with delivering dream collabs of the biggest artists, but some don’t live up to the hype. That was not the case with First Person Shooter and Evil Ways. The two even announced a collab Tour Big As The What that starts in the coming months. This would be like JAY-Z and Nas working together and then touring together in the 2000s, which is a shame that we never got to see after they squashed their beef. Speaking of Cole, he yet again stepped into the role that has fit him since back in 2018 as the feature killer. It’s a role that he never shied away from and left countless bodies scattered throughout the year without a solo release. From the aforementioned First Person Shooter Mode and Evil Ways with Drake, he also left his mark on The Secret Recipe with Lil Yachty, All My Life with Lil Durk, and 3 features on fellow Dreamville and Queens (represent) native Bas’s album WOTARSWWFU, to name a few. A master of his craft has almost become an understatement when defining Cole at this stage in his career.
The most significant aspect of the year was the 50th Birthday of Hip-Hop. It was only right that some of the most significant artists of the genre had their moments this year. Andre 3000 emerged from the woodwork, and with a flute created with said wood, he released his first new release in 17 years. Though not a hip-hop album, seeing the greats return in any shape and form is a blessing. Speaking of legends, 50 Cent went on a celebration tour for the 20th anniversary of Get Rich or Die Trying bringing out a plethora of guests from Eminem to Cole and Fat Joe and Method Man. The legend Scarface had a moment on the Tiny Desk Concert series showing why he is one of the greatest yet still somehow underrated artists of his time. The God MC, Nasir Jones, put out the final stamps to mark the end of a historic run with producer Hit-Boy for the King’s Disease and Magic Saga with Magic 2 and 3. He also put on his one-night show in Madison Square Garden which not just celebrated the run, but Nas’ career as a whole. A gift from the rap gods that only a select few are lucky to undergo (see our breakdown of that night on the site).
After years of stepping back, Travis Scott dropped one of the best releases of the year, his first album in 5 years, returning with UTOPIA. A rage and haze-infused world with dark melodies and aggression alike, doing what only Travis does. In trying to move past the controversy from ASTROFEST he ended the year with the start of the CIRCUS MAXIMUS tour, almost a metaphor for moving on.
The underground was not exempt from development. JPEGMAFIA proved why he is one of the most unique and prolific figures in all of rap, collaborating with legendary Danny Brown for STOP SCARING THE HOES, one of the best releases (if not THE best release), only adding to his growth. He might not care about being the stadium show artist, but every person who does not know JPEG and what he encapsulates, is a discredit to all the work and ingenuity the man puts into his craft. Alchemist yet again had his handprint on some of the best beats of the year. Earl Sweatshirt and Alchemist FINALLY connected to bring us an entire album, after years of begging and internet scouring from fans to see the two underground legends come together musically.
Lil Yachty made waves that reverberated throughout the year and proved that his sound and creative direction are far above a plethora of artists, regardless of whether you like his music. From his Let’s Start Here album, to the handful of singles like Secret Recipe, STRIKE, SLIDE, and SOLO STEPPIN CRETE BOY, to his credits on For All The Dogs, Yachty has carried his “reinvention” from 2022 into this year and has become more of a vocal and prominent figure in the genre. And Ice Spice had damn near one out of every three people this year knowing verbatim “He say that I'm good enough, grabbin' my duh-duh-duh, Thinkin' 'bout shit that I shouldn't have,” whether you want to admit it or not.
This year may not stand out overall as the greatest year in hip-hop. It was significant nonetheless. 50 years of a genre that has had a chokehold on pop culture and society as a whole since DJ Kool Herc started that party back in 1973. The development and reach of hip-hop this year is a testament to what the genre is as a whole. Always growing and advancing, whether it be piece by piece, or leaps and bounds. There will always be plenty to love and plenty to hate, but being a fan is easier than it ever has been. Some may say it’s all about copying trends while some may see it as too much diversity in sound, straying away from its roots. At the end of the day, it’s all hip-hop, and that’s what it’s all about, the culture. There will always be plenty to love and plenty to hate.
Not only was this an important year for hip-hop. 2023 brought forth the birth of this website, a fusion of music from music lovers to express themselves and talk about one of the most important things in their life; Alloy NY. I want to take this time to thank everyone who read a post, liked a photo, or left a comment. To everyone who supported it means the world to not just me, but everyone who has helped make this site what it is. We did more than I ever imagined we could in one year. In 2024, it will only continue.
Speaking of hate, nothing gets the blood boiling like a listicle of “Top Albums” and “Top Songs” of the year, and I can’t think of a better way to conclude this recap of 2023 than with exactly that.
Honorable Mentions:
Hall & Nash 2 - Hall & Nash & The Alchemist
Coming out at the very end of the year Alchemist adds another notch to his belt with a collaboration of the duo comprised of Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine in the sequel to one of Griselda’s first projects and one of the best on top of that. This is one Griselda fans have been waiting for and this short but sweet album, though released so late, jumped ahead of a bunch of projects to come out in 2023. Fork in the Pot with ScHoolboy Q and Fuck & Get High became immediate favorite releases of the year.
MICHAEL - Killer Mike
In his first solo release since 2012 Killer Mike does what he does best as an elite lyricist in this flag-in-the-ground release. He is an artist who will never get enough credit or respect that he deserves from casual fans. But he has always delivered personable and masterfully crafted lyricism and doesn’t need to be released under RTJ for it to be good. Though too heavily crowded with features for my taste, there is still a lot to take away from this project and exactly why it gets the honorable mention on this list.
10. Young Thug - BUSINESS IS BUSINESS (Metro’s Version)
Thug is in legal purgatory at the moment, on trial for his RICO case but that hasn’t sealed the gates on him releasing music. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS is perhaps Thug’s most consistent and easily digestible album of his career. Given the circumstances there is a lot of expectations that come when an artist in his position releases an album. This album was the biggest surprise of the year for me in terms of overall quality. Coherent tracks with real personal reflection mixed in with the usual sound Thug has established up to this point. But there is a level of seriousness. Aside from the unintentionally hilarious lyrics of Hellcat Kenny which is just in a league of its own. This album shows that when focused, Thug can put together something substantial.
Favorite Songs - Mad Dog, Jonesboro, Uncle M, Oh U Went ft. Drake, Parade on Cleveland ft. Drake,
9. The Patience ft. Mick Jenkins
Mick Jenkins has been one of the most overlooked artists to come out in the 2010s but he has put out consistently good projects since his immaculate “The Waters” mixtape. The Patience flew under the radar for me at first but has been the perfect nightcap since the first listen. Mick knows the scope and sound he wants without being repetitive. The features from JID and Benny the Butcher on this album are some of the best features of the year. This album is the perfect night escape and has infectious beats that you can’t help but nod your head to.
Favorite Tracks - Michelin Star, Sitting Ducks ft. Benny the Butcher, Smoke Break-Dance ft. JID, 007, Mop
8. Faith Is A Rock - MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist
Alchemist is at a point in his career where he has proven and has been recognized, as one of the greatest producers to ever compose a beat. Each time he announces a complete collaboration with an artist ears peek up. His work with Conway the Machine, Earl Sweatshirt, Roc Marciano, and (my personal favorite) Boldly James is proof enough. The man could work with a twelve-year-old rapper and make it sound better than anyone else could. This time around with prominent underground rappers MIKE and Wiki is no exception. This is one I was not expecting but became possibly the biggest sleeper of the year. He has a way of matching the sounds of any rapper perfectly, and with 2 unique voices, it isn’t an easy task. But somehow he did it. MIKE and Wiki complement each other perfectly on this album over some of the smoothest beats and samples of the year. It might be one of the most complete projects of the year. 10 tracks and nothing more and nothing less. For me the ideal length of a project. Bledsoe and Memory Loss are some of my favorite songs from the year. Perfect for any nighttime play and deserves every bit of attention it gets, and more.
Favorite Tracks - Mayors A Cop, Bledsoe, Thug Anthem, Memory Loss, One More
7. Westside Gunn - And Then You Pray For Me
Westside Gunn has been delivering some of the most masterfully produced tracks that make you want to wrap a brick in a $20,000 outfit since he started making waves a decade ago. The farther he’s progressed, the more the artistry has flourished, culminating in Gunn becoming one of the best curators of sound we have seen. This is “supposedly” the last album from the Buffalo native and this album is the ultimate culmination of every type of song the man has put together since HWH1. There is something here for every type of Griselda fan with a plethora of features that can deliver the task at hand. Even the artwork, put together by the late great Virgil, represents this album perfectly. Though some tracks might not have been what I was looking for, the ones that do have a different level of addiction that only Westside can supply.
Favorite Tracks - Mamas PrimeTime ft. JID, Conway the Machine & Cartier A Williams, JD Wrist ft. Stove God Cooks & Estee Nack, KITCHEN LIGHTS ft. Stove God Cooks, FLYGOD2x, Babylon Blis ft. Stove God Cooks
6. Nas - Magic 3
Consistency and quality are the first words that come to mind when thinking of this point of Nas’ career since joining Hit-Boi in 2020 with the first King’s Disease. Theres a reason it helped deliver Nas his first Grammy win. The final chapter of the duo is exactly what you expect. Magic 3 is a celebration of the work they have done together within this saga; equivalent to a runner celebrating on the final lap of the race, while one lap ahead of everyone else. They know what they’ve brought to the culture with these releases, and understanding how important it is for Nas at this point in his career is insurmountable. It doesn’t do anything different. Magic 3 is about the quality more than anything else. They’ve said that this will be the last one, and we’ll have to wait and see if they stay true to their word. But one thing for certain is, this is the perfect way to close the book.
Favorite Tracks, I Love This Feeling, Based on True Events, Sitting With My Thoughts, Blue Bentley, Jodeci Member, 1-800-Nas&Hit, & Speechless Pt.2
5. Drake - For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition
Drake is at a point in his career where he has his established system. Since Scorpion, you know the type of songs you will get on a Drake album. Yet, no matter what anyone says, he still finds a way to make the formula sound better the more focused he is. Since Her Loss, there seems to be a fire ignited in the 6ix God and he came through with an album that is the ultimate encapsulation of Drake at this stage in his career. The initial release, and the follow-up Scary Hours Edition of For All The Dogs, has songs that no other album this year could. Yes, he has the songs we all have labels for “the RNB song,” “the 3-minute rapping song,” and “the ‘Hype’ song.” But this one is different from Scorpion and CLB. The features with Cole and the creative direction with Yachty. Is it Drake’s greatest album? No. But that doesn’t mean this is nothing. Drake will always have that sound from here on, it’s about the delivery of the whole product. And with this one, he presented some solid that some who have been in his position have struggled with.
Favorite Tracks - First Person Shooter ft. J. Cole, IDGAF ft. Yeat, What Would Pluto Do, Polar Opposites, Stories About My Brother, Away From Home, Another Late Night ft. Lil Yachty, 8am in Charlotte, All the Parties ft. Chief Keef, Red Button, Evil Ways ft. J. Cole
4. Travis Scott - UTOPIA
Topping ASTROWORLD is not going to be an easy task. Travis had to bring a complete body of work to get close to the bar he stationed at such a high level. One of the biggest releases of the year and Travis did what Travis does. Bringing together some of the biggest names into a concoction of dark and trap-infused-muddied waters. Addicting melodies and incredibly aggressive and atmospheric tracks that many have tried to copy. Whether it be the booming and MELTDOWN with Drake, comprised of scathing lyrics. Or the infectious TELEKINESIS with Future and SZA. Not to mention the face scrunching and abrasive LOST FOREVER with Westside Gunn. Travis could not settle for less on this album, and that’s why it sits so high on this list.
Favorite Tracks - I KNOW ?, MODERN JAM ft. TEEZO TOUCHDOWN, MELTDOWN ft. Drake, LOST FOREVER ft. Westside Gunn, TELEKINESIS ft. Future & SZA, PARASAIL ft. Yung Lean & Dave Chappelle
3. JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown - STOP SCARING THE HOES
JPEGMAFIA has become one of my favorite rappers of all time since 2019. He continues to bring a creative route that he walks all alone. The further along he walks he seems to only get better. When this album was announced I wasn’t sure how him and Danny would sound together. The result? One of the best collab albums the genre, maybe even music, has ever seen. Danny’s uniqueness of his voice matched with his slick delivery over beats that seem to come from the deepest segments of a digital world is uncanny on this project. JPEG is one of the most original artists we have seen in a long time, just as Danny was when he first burt on to the scene. The production on this album has some of the best instrumentals and switchups you will ever find. God willing we get a second album from the duo in the future.
Favorite Tracks - Steppa Pig. Garbage Pale Kids, Kingdom Hearts Key ft. redveil, Burfict!, Orange Juice Jones
2. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist - VOIR DIE
One of my most anticipated albums of the year and one of my most played, second only to one. Earl’s development over the years has been something to behold. He has grown into an artist unparalleled. The fusion of production from one of the 5 greatest producers of all time, The Alchemist hit all the marks for me. Earl is at his best when he has a focused sound with tracks that leave as quickly as they arrive. Earl seems to have found himself with his self-improvement and since SICK! he has been a different artist without sacrificing what makes him Earl. Expectations are never easy to match when these two join forces. For me, I got exactly what I wanted, the atmosphere of this album was what I needed.
Favorite Tracks - All The Small Things, Heat Check, Mancala ft. Vince Staples, Sirius Blac, & My Brother, The Wind
1. Navy Blue - Ways of Knowing
With no surprise to myself, Navy Blue’s debut album was, to me, the best album of the year. It delivered everything I wanted and more. The introspection, deep sincerity, and honesty intertwined with some of the most compact lyrics, this album met every expectation. With every release, Navy Blue proves why he is the self-proclaimed “Truest” as he only seems to get better. Filled with one-off bars that sound like personal statements, speaking to the inherent wanting to be a better person that’s a part of all of us. Hip-Hop is in a good space so long as Navy Blue is still part of it.
Favorite Tracks - Shadow’s Shield, Kill Switch, Chosen, The One, Life’s Terms ft. Zeroh & Pillars.
Top Songs of 2023
The Hillbillies - Kendrick & Baby Keem
Trust Issues - Boldly James & ChanHays
I Love This Feeling - Nas
Stories About My Brother - Drake
8AM in Charlotte - Drake
Evil Ways - Drake ft. J. Cole
LOST FOREVER - Travis Scott ft. Westside Gunn
Away From Home - Drake
All The Small Things - Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist
Kingdom Hearts Keys - JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown ft. redveil
SLIDE - Lil Yachty
Bëttr 0ff - Yeat
SOLO STEPPIN CRETE BOY - Lil Yachty
DOGTOOTH - Tyler, The Creator
Life’s Terms - Navy Blue ft. Zeroh
Chosen - Navy Blue
Shadow’s Shield Navy Blue
Memory Loss - MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist
730k - Boldly James & ChanHays
Questions - Jack Harlow
Oh U Went - Young Thug ft. Drake
Making the Band - Earl Sweatshirt
TELEKINESIS - Travis Scott ft. Future & SZA