RUNNER UPS
Big K.R.I.T. - K.R.I.T. (King Remembered In Time)
He let everyone know of his royalty in 2013 with his highly anticipated mixtape and shows all over the country, Big K.R.I.T. put on yet again for the south showing that they are not just "bamas," as J. Cole put into perspective of some people's views in other regions of the country. K.R.I.T. however does not abhor his country side he absorbs the criticism and negative comments and converts them into the lyrics that makes the same critics eat their words. A very nice project from the Underground King.
Casey Veggies - Life Changes
In it's own category Life Changes is feel good music. This is definitely a tape that you can just vibe to and enjoy the beats and dope rhymes. This is nothing but West coast music. Casey Veggies has received praises and respected as a up and coming rapper from numerous veterans in the game most notably being Mr. Shawn Carter. Casey Veggies does not disappoint with his latest.
Curren$y - New Jet City
The success of this mixtape should speak for itself. New Jet City did so well that Curren$y is preparing to re-release it for retail in stores. This audio dope, as he so frequently refers to his music as, had very well put together tracks and features. Never has he been disinclined from consistently putting out music, the New Orleans native meet quantity with quality. Fans from all over loved this piece from Spitta and praised him for what should have been an album but gave away for free.
Dizzy Wright - The Golden Age
To sum this mixtape up in three words, an overlooked message. Dizzy Wright has gained a lot of support since his emergence a couple of years ago. As a freshmen of this year's XXL Freshmen class, Dizzy dropped his long awaited mixtape The Golden Age. Laced with messages to the young people of this generation of encouragement to do better for themselves and not care about what the social norms are, TGA conveyed these scripts with nothing but style. If the younger generation not only listened to this mixtape but actually thought about and adhered to some of what Diz was saying, this mixtape could do a great deal for the culture.
Joey Bada$$ - Summer Knights
The 18 year-old phenom dropped another first-class piece of work this year off of his continuing success with Pro Era's Peep the aPROcalypse. With the huge success of the Dj Premier produced track "Unorthodox," it's no wonder this tape helped soar to one of the most talked about projects of the year. Other tracks like "95 Til Infinity" and "Alowha" assisted as singles to keep Summer Knights in circulation.
Nipsey Hussle - Crenshaw
History was made and a Forbes record was set for "Quality Street Music," as Dj Drama continuously states in all of his Gangsta Grillz volumes. Nipsey Hussle not only made a $100,000+ off of a mixtape he showed artists that they don't need the record companies to make it on the big stage. I was more than pleased with my purchased copy of Crenshaw. This might as well had been an album. Before I ever listened to Nip, I thought he was just another "Money, bitches, and hoes" type rapper. That is not the case with the West Side native. Whether you purchase it or download it, you are bound to enjoy this mixtape.
Flatbush Zombies - BetterOffDEAD
A heavily slept on mixtape. A lot of people do not know about Flatbush Zombies. I admit I just stumbled upon them this year when A$AP mentioned them in an interview. Flatbush Zombies are apart of the Beast Coast movement with Pro Era and A$AP Mob. These three young MC's have my respect solely off of this mixtape. They spit hard and don't hold back. Their unorthodox flows captivate listeners as they effortlessly ride the tracks with relentless bars.
HOTTEST MIXTAPE
RAPSODY - She Got Game
2013's winner. A ball playing femme fatale MC stamped her name in the game with this Gangsta Grillz mixtape. Rapsody graced us with the true meaning of hip-hop with some super-powered features from Raekwon, Nipsey Hussle, Jay Electronica, Ab-Soul, and others in her 16 track masterpiece. But do not get it twisted, the features did not make the mixtape. As 9th Wonder's protegé expect nothing but superior lyrics and flows. Today in hip-hop there is an even more scarce amount of female MC's/rappers that actually have skill, so with a mixtape of this caliber is pretty much unheard of. Rapsody is no doubt the top female in the game and I don't see her getting knocked off by anyone, not even an army of barbie's and harrejutah's.
Salute to all the artists that dropped dope mix tapes this year!
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