We've begun rolling out the year-end lists, looking back on what was such a productive 2016 for hip-hop music. But the year's not quite over, and there's been little time to reminisce as the onslaught of new music continues. Just today, new albums dropped from Kid Cudi, Gucci Mane aka East Atlanta Santa, and Tip, who's emerging as one of the game's top political spokesmen. And that's just a fraction of the dopeness that landed on the HNHH homepage this week. You're likely to find a few new gems in this week's Staff Picks, which, for the most part, is a showcase of the young artists who are forging their own creative movements, likely to do even bigger things in 2017.
First, let's have a shout-out to the producers. Young trap innovator Murda Beatz -- who hails from rural Ontario -- just put out a new mixtape, Keep God First, complete with an incredible list of guest features. We've selected a track with the inimitable ratchet soul man known as Ty Dolla $ign. Elsewhere, young Philadelphian Maaly Raw was able to land a signature "jawn" on the new Paranoia tape from Skeme, the Don Cannon protégé from out West in Inglewood.
On the female spectrum, we've got new material from Toronto singer Ebhoni as well as ultra-slick new raps from Little Simz, the pride of North London. The rest of the far-reaching playlist includes the opiate-fueled avant-garde stylings of Chicago's Lucki and K Camp's take on the London on da Track instrumental that made Drake and 21 Savage's buzzing collab such a banger.
Stream the playlist and check out each staff member's picks below.
Angus Walker: Little Simz "Picture Perfect"; Murda Beatz feat. Ty Dolla $ign "9 Times Out of 10"
Danny Schwarz: Lil Bibby feat. Meek Mill & PnB Rock "Some How Some Way"
Carver Low: GoldLink "Crew"; Skeme "The Maaly Raw Jawn"
Rose Lilah: Ebhoni "Killing Roses"
Trevor Smith: Lucki "Options"
Kevin Goddard: K Camp "Sneakin Freestyle"