K CYA 2K17. As we officially usher in 2018, we asked some of our rapper-friends and your favorite artists to share their personal favorite albums from the past year. Consider it a part two to last week's holiday feature, surrounding Christmas and New Year's Eve resolutions. Our only caveat for each artist's response was that they pick an album that did not belong to them (makes sense, amirite?), however shout out Juicy J for ignoring that rule.
Some of the answers below may come as a surprise, while others may not -- despite 21 Savage's menacing persona, he's often caught on Instagram stories and Snapchat crooning along to some classic r'n'b music, so his answer is no surprise (plus, that album was amazing...scroll down).
Take a look at what Shy Glizzy, Harry Fraud, Zaytoven, CyHi The Prynce and more had to say about their favorite album of 2017 below.
Here's to hoping we get many more dope releases in 2018!!
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"Raekwon's [The Wild], that album is still #1 to me, it's all I listen to. It's the most played record in my iTunes, and I lose a computer every year."
CyHi The Prynce
"Jay- Z 4:44 -- it’s always great hearing what Jay has to say."
Hustle Gang
London Jae
"Ed Sheeran Divide. Because it takes you on a journey through what seems to be his life. It’s like listening to a story in music form."
Tokyo Jetz
"Kodak Black Project Baby 2. I’m still on Project Baby 2 because the entire album goes super hard, shout-out to Florida!"
"Favorite Album right now is Mozzy, 1 Up Top, because it relates to our lives and tells true stories."
Denzel Curry
"Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. album was my favorite album this for that reverse factor. You think the album is great already off 1st listen, but when you figure out the story is in reverse it’s even more crazy. The ending is the beginning."
A$AP Twelvyy
"Snoh aalegra Feels. The albums super refreshing a great balance of emotion it holds truth to the album title."
Tory Lanez
"XXXTENTACION 17 album. I think the sound was authentic and it was true to itself, and I appreciate music that is true."
Young Nudy
"[21 Savage] ISSA, cuz thats my brother"
Juicy J
"Highly Intoxicated. I had fun making this album felt like 1996."
Shy Glizzy
"Favorite album has to be my brotha, 30 Glizzy's "YC Wit Me." He dropped that in August, that's just good music. He ain't here no more, but I always got it on repeat."
21 Savage
"SZA, Ctrl. Cuz that shit hard, I love R&B, and usually the 90s stuff but SZA went crazy."
Harry Fraud
"Favorite album...damn. My favorite album to bump in 2017, rap-wise that I really bump is probably Tribe, the Tribe album that came out earlier. But I also make a lot of playlists so my playlist right now has Tribe, ASAP Mob, Playboi Carti, D'Angelo...it definitely has some Tame Impala, some old Nirvana. I like that. I like to listen in an eclectic way. But man, that Tribe album...I swear. I was driving out to the Hamptons, I made I sure I didn't listen to anything...I didn't wanna hear anything. I put it on and when Phife came on I had to shed a tear. I was just like 'Damn, he sounds so good. He sounds like Phife on this."
- Kendrick Lamar [DAMN.]
- Rick Ross [Rather You Than Me]
- Skooly [BAcCWArdFeELiNgS]
- Mine [Pretty Girls Like Trap Music]
Big K.R.I.T.
"I've been listening to Broken Land by Kenneth Whalum a lot this year. It's got a vibe and a sound to it that resonates with me. It's def a standout album for me this year."
Zaytoven
"Travis Greene's Crossover: Live From Music City was my favorite album this past year. It was the energy and whole feel of the project that I liked. I'm always making trap music so playing Gospel whenever I'm not really working helps to recharge my spirit and this album did that."