Monte Kiffin has been selected has the newest member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring Of Honor. He will be joining coaches John McKay, Jon Gruden, and Tony Dungy as well has some of his former defensive standout players that executed his innovative “Tampa Cover 2” defense.
In 1996 Monte Kiffin became the Buccaneers defensive coordinator along side Tony Dungy. The “Tampa Cover 2” defense is a 4-3 defensive alignment except the middle linebacker reads the QB with the hopes of an interception. With hall of fame players like Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch, and Warren Sapp, this scheme was picture perfecting making the Buccaneers one of the most successful defenses during his tenure capturing a Super Bowl championship with Jon Gruden running the offense.
When you think Tampa Bay Buccaneers you instantly think of our great defense during the super bowl run which is mainly due to coach Kiffin and his scheme. Despite coming up short all those years with Dungy at the helm the one constant was Kiffin and the defense and Bucs fans can’t wait to immortalize him in Raymond James.
Although the Vipers where not able to pull out the win against the Houston Roughnecks at home, the team finally broke their red zone curse.
From the start the over 17,000 Vipers Pit fan base that came out to support the team in the home opener. After the 0-2 start fans seemed energized and ready to strike. Taylor Cornelius felt the “We want Flowers” chants instantly and was switched out by the 3rd drive in favor of the former USF QB. Flowers isn’t the greatest passer in the world but he still has enough play making ability to stay in the pocket. His running ability keeps the defense on their toes, opposed to Cornelius who they don’t take seriously as a passer. Flowers scored the first offensive touchdown in team history with a seven yard run. However Cornelius was able to throw a touchdown pass to one of my favs Dan “The Threat” Williams one of the league leaders in receiving.
Despite the 34-27 loss this team looks better each week and are on the cusp of a win. Getting over their red zone curse took a weight off the team and fans. Other than a few plays the defense played well and was able to contain two of the leagues top players Houston QB P.J. Walker and WR Cam Philips for most of the game. I feel it would be best to start Flowers this week keeping the offense more, even if Murray is able to start. With the addition of CFL All Star S.J. Green and the return of No.1 pick Nick Truesdell hopefully we can pick up our first win at home against the DC Defenders this Sunday.
From a fan aspect it was a successful home opener. The team did little to hype up the event, at least not as much as teams like Seattle and St.Louis, but one of the highlights of my year was taking a picture in the giant snake mouth. Instantly I knew it was profile pic worthy. The amount of snake rattlers and hssssing sounds that filled Raymond James maybe next proud to be a Vipers fan. Win or lose I will always love and support the team, even though it’s week 4 and we still don’t have a solid QB. It wouldn’t be a Tampa Bay sports team without a few bonehead plays and an 0-3 record to start the inaugural season.
Well not the start I wanted to see for the inaugural season of the Tampa Bay Vipers but with the teams home opener Saturday at Raymond James the team looks to turn the season around against the run and shoot offense Houston Roughnecks.
Although things are looking grim for the Vipers sitting at 0-2, Saturday’s loss 17-9 to the Dragons in the first ever “Reptile Bowl” was not a total loss. Besides terrible QB play and boneheaded penalties, the team looked much better even scoring the first touchdown in team history off a 78 yard int return by Taravus McFadden. Nikita Whitlock on the defensive line also made some big plays even hitting the snake pose. Coach Jerry Granville is definitely holding up his end of the team.
Coach Trestman needs to focus on finishing drives.The team so far has not been able to score one touchdown on offense with nine trips to the end zone. Trestman’s indecisiveness at the QB position is killing this team. Although Flowers threw a costly int back upped into his own end zone I still feel the offense runs better with him at the helm. Taylor Cornelius had a nice drive at the end but he constantly over threw his receivers missing out on big plays.
Not having one singular person running the offense is messing up the chemistry between QB and WR. We have studs like Reece Horn, Nick Truesdell, and Daniel “The Threat” Williams all three of which can make a big play at any time. If Murray can’t get the job done next week Flowers should get the 1st team reps this week. Truesdell should be used has his security blanket allowing Williams and Horn to make big plays. An increase in the passing game will open up more holes for not only RB De’Veon Smith, but also Quinton Flowers to make a big play.
Hopefully being in front of the home crowd can hype the team up. Getting a win against Houston would be big, giving us moment to make a run for one of two East playoff spots. Can the Vipers shed their skin at home, this die hard fan can only hope.
Today the Buccaneers released a video hyping up the 2020 season. Images sprinkled throughout the video might be hinting at new uniforms coming soon, hopefully before the upcoming draft so our No.14 pick can show it off.
Since the 2009 season the team rocks the creamsicle unis with the Bucco Bruce helmets during at least one home game a year, usually during the “Ring Of Honor” game. But unfortunately over the past few seasons the throwbacks haven’t been seen. In the past the jerseys gained a lot of hate but with throwback culture at its height fans of all teams have come to appreciate the creamsicles. With that being said I feel the Bucs should take advantage and give the fans what they want, creamsicles!!!
I feel the right move would be to basically mash up the current uniforms with the throwbacks, using the orange and white color scheme while modernizing the look. Maybe keep Bucco Bruce in the past keeping the skull and flag design.
If the team does not go the throwback root, I would be down for maybe a Tampa Bay Bandits esque Red,Silver, and black color way. Although the team uses these colors now, I feel they have never executed them in what could potentially be a dope looking jersey.
The all red out jerseys the team currently uses twice a year are probably the best jerseys we have now, rather than the poorly designed home and always, however I do dig the hits of orange sprinkled throughout the home jerseys and the red ship.
Which ever way the Bucs go I am super excited for this upcoming season. The jersey announcement is just what the team and fans needed to spark what should be a playoff bound season for the team. I’d probably be sold on season tickets if they went with the creamsicles though, just saying.
A few years back I remember seeing #MLS2STPETE stuff flooding the down town area. I’ve never been a big soccer fan but the idea of the Tampa Bay Rowdies moving up from the USL Championship to the MLS could be just what the city needs to make the Tampa Bay Area soccers next hot bed. With plans of making the Rowdies home Al Lang Stadium into a 18,000 seat soccer specific stadium, it seemed like only a matter of time until the Rowdies would be named as the newest MLS expansion franchise. But that was a few years back and now it seems steamed has died down after Bill Edwards sold the team to the Rays in late 2018. With new expansion teams popping up in Miami, Austin, and Charlotte it seems the Tampa Bay Area might have missed out on major league soccer. But with the league sitting at a total of 30 teams the Rowdies and the Phoenix Rising might be the final two spots left to make up the league. With die hard supporters Ralph’s Mob might be able to build up steam and finally prove the Rowdies are ready for the big leagues.
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have a storied history in the Bay Area. The team originally played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) winning the Soccer Bowl championship in their inaugural season 1975. The team was able to hold an average of 20,000 fans for their first run at one point even averaging 28,000 fans during the 1980 season. Eventually the NASL fell apart leading to the end of the Rowdies, but that was not the end of pro soccer in the Bay Area.
With America’s hosting of the World Cup soccer fever was in the air leading to the creation of the MLS in 1993. Tampa Bay was given an inaugural franchise in the league the Tampa Bay Mutiny. The team was a flop from the start never, being able to gain ownership and having the lamest colors and crest in the league. The fans of Tampa had supported the Rowdies for years so why would they want to support this new trash team. Eventually the team folded in 2002, leaving a pro soccer drought for Tampa Bay fans until 2009.
In 2009 a ownership group showed interest in bringing an expansion team of the newly reborn NASL back to the Tampa Bay Area. Due to a licensing agreement the team was not able to use the “Tampa Bay Rowdies” name until 2012 rebranding themselves but still keeping the history and tradition of the original NASL team.
The two stars on the top of the logo represent the two soccer bowl championships in 1975 and 2012.
The 2012 season also saw the team win their second Soccer Bowl Championship against the Minnesota Stars which is now in the MLS under the name Minnesota FC. With players like team all time leading scorer Georgi Hristov upping the play on the field the team eventually moved up to the USL Championship the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. In their three seasons so far in the USL the team has made the playoffs twice and is looking to be contenders for USL Championship in the upcoming 2020 season.
The team currently plays at Al Lang Stadium on the waterfront of Down Town St.Petersburg. The prospect of a water front stadium intrigued the MLS with the only issue being its 7,000 seat capacity.
Bill Edwards proposed renovation of the stadium to a 18,000 seat soccer stadium seemed like the only thing keeping the Club out of MLS and in May 2017 a local referendum was passed authorizing the city of St.Petersburg to work our a deal with the team to make the dream of MLS soccer coming to St.Pete. But it seems like after the sale of the team to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 it seems the project has slowed down. Maybe out of spite because they can’t get a new baseball stadium funded with the city so why would they help bring a soccer one here. More me this is a missed opportunity on the part of the Rays. They should build of the Rowdies to show the Tampa Bay fans that they actually care about the area, instead of pissing us off by saying they are moving their team to Montreal.
With the referendum being approved I feel if the team puts up its end of the bargain the Rowdies could see a huge spike in fans. With lowered ticket prices and a new standing room only supporters section. There is no reason why the Rowdies can’t be in the MLS. Backed by two rapid fan bases on both sides of the Sky Way Bridge, the rowdies supporters Ralph’s Mob and the Skyway Casuals play a crucial role in bringing a face to the club and the fan base making Rowdies fans some of the most rabid soccer fans in the country.
On the St.Petersburg side Ralph’s Mob has been holding it down in their supporters section for years banging drums and waiving flags. The fan experience is really what helps connect the fans with the team. Both feed off each other’s energy win or lose.
If the Rays Ownership can get their act together and get the stadium renovated into one of the top soccer fields in the country I feel it would lure more fans out to the games. Once they get a whiff of the atmosphere and feed of the mob ties of Ralph’s Mob they may one day become members themselves expanding the love of soccer throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Finding a team local team I was passionate about was really all I needed to start getting into soccer and now that I support the Rowdies I am hooked. Let’s show the country what the city has to say and keep #MLS2STPETE alive.
With pro teams in 3 of the 4 major sports in American is it time for the Tampa Bay Area to finally get an NBA franchise. The area is the last major market in Florida not to have pro basketball. Teams like Orlando Magic and Miami Heat where born to rivals with Tampa.
The only pro basketball in the Tampa Bay Area is the Tampa Bay Titans out of the newly founded The Basketball League. This is a new upstart league but I would hardly even call it semi pro.
For team names I was thinking the Tampa Bay Tropics paying homage to the sunny weather and already built in fan base of the Will Ferrell film “Semi-Pro”. The Secondary logo could be similar to the Heat’s MH logo featuring a TB.
The second name I was thinking could be the Tampa Bay Gasporillas paying homage to the pirate history of Tampa Bay. The area could House a giant pirate ship, and after every 3-pointer a pirate “Argh” would go off.
A Tampa could come to Tampa one of two ways. Tampa could be given an expansion franchise by the league, or a current team could relocate to Tampa. If the New Orleans Pelicans were to relocate Zion Williamson could be the face of our franchise. We could even keep the Pelicans name since it’s the official bird of St.Petersburg.
Amalie Area is a possibility to play all the home games at with a future stadium maybe being built to house both the Rays and the Tropics. A majority of basketball fans are forced to either attend Heat or Magic games to get their NBA fix but with the Tropics in Tampa Bay they won’t have to travel an hour plus. I definitely think the Bay Area is ready for pro basketball and would be open to bringing basketball to the Bay Area. “Let’s get Tropical Tampa Bay!”
As I mentioned in my previous article on Toy Pizza, the company Unbox Industries out of Hong Kong is my favorite designer toy production company. Mainly due to their collaborations with Retroband and Fern Toy.
Little is known about the production company Fern Toy but they are by far my favorite designers in the game. Their first piece the FRN001 is the Angry Mother by Japanese artist Hiroki Tsukda is reminiscent of Ancient Mayan drawings. FRN002 the Mindseye Trooper comes in collaboration with UK sci-fi artist Will Sweeney with serval variants of the character. Finally FRN003 ZZAPS is a creation of the LA based company Brain Dead bring a sort of Adult Swim vibe to the line. As of now no word on what FRN004 will be.
The work that Unbox and Retorband have done was definitely brought to a new level last year with their Splatter House line of figures all sculpted by Retroband and The Last Zectron. Together the duo makes up one half of the Deadly Delivery collective. Along with Vilesore and David Arshawsky the Deadly Delivery team brought a new twist on the blind box or mystery box format with the “Who Goes There?” series. The line features a group of gruesome figures that one can get at random or if you buy a case you receive them all.
The group is now focused on a new wave of larger scale “ Who Goes There?” figures with the first being “GENESIIS” designed by Vilesore.
A major project that Unbox has been apart of the last few years is the “Unbox & Friends” project bringing together different designers from across the globe with Too Natthspong giving his mini take on various characters such as Retroband’s “Meats” who even got his own multicolored set.
With a whole new year of product up Unbox’s sleeve I am sure the collaborations will be even better than last years. We have Unbox and Friends Wave 3 as well whatever else is under wraps.
The Tampa Bay Tornadoes look to bring Arena Football back to the Bay Area. After the folding of the once 5 time Arena Bowl champion Tampa Bay Storm, the Bay Area as been missing an alternate to the standard NFL and XFL products. Although the AFL is not defunct as of 2019, a new league called the AAL ( American Arena League) has given Tampa Bay it’s newest franchise.
I recall the storm being pretty popular around the area, with their gear being sold at Champs Sports a sponsor of the AFL at the time. Everyone loves football and along with the Vipers I feel the area will be able to handle a new area football product in the area. Arena football has a different rule set than traditional football. The field is only 50 yards and a wall surrounds the perimeter, allowing for harder hits and a faster paced game.
The inaugural season for the Tornadoes will be played at the Florida Fair Grounds Expo Hall on Saturday Nights during the summer starting at 7 p.m. The 11 week regular season will pit the Tornadoes against some of the toughest competition in the AAL like the Pennsylvania Copperheads and the Maryland Warriors. Players in the league have prior experience in the AFL as well as other arena league the IFL (Indoor Football League). As of now the QB is Brion Carnes out of the University of Northern Iowa. The coaching staff features Stevie Thomas a former Storm and other former Arena League players and coaches giving the franchise a little experience. Team owner Alton Walker seems like he is up for the challenge of running a first class organization.
As of now season tickets start at $50 and that’s for the nose bleeds. I am definitely interested in wall seats so I can be as close to the action as possible. A cool perk of being a season ticket holder is the inaugural season ring each ticket holder receives adding to the fan experience. If the team can get a few good years under their belt who knows maybe they can advance to the IFL, brining even tougher competition to Tampa when the 2020 inaugural season kicks off 4/11 against the Warriors.
Tons of great projects have come out over the years, but for me these are the ones that had the most impact on my life and the ones I listened to the most.
Honorable Mention: Travis Scott-Astroworld
This was the first project for me that Travis was able to make an album flow on all levels. From beats, bars, features this album has it all. To the smash hit “Sicko Mode” to the Leo anthem “Yosemite”, I feel like “ASTROWORLD” will eventually be looked at as a project that elevated the genre of Trap.
Honorable Mention: XXXTENTACION- ?
This spot on the list for X is basically on here not only for his classic “?” album but also for his entire body of work. After being killed in 2018, a majority of the new X projects have been over produced and commercialized. I feel he would have eventually became more of a factor in the main stream but that hard edge lo-fi Florida sound that artists like X and Ski Mask put on the map. “?” shows all sides of the artist X was and was becoming. Songs like “ I Don’t Even Speak Spanish” have a different meaning to me now and X will always be a legend in my eyes.
Honorable Mention: Rick Ross- Teflon Don
Renzel Ravioli has always been one of my favorite artists, but his biggest stamp came on “Teflon Don”. Although Ross is pretty consistent with his projects, “Teflon Don” is the only one I can play all the way through. At the time it showed you could make a mainstream trap album with big budget production. Tracks like “Mc Hammer” and the immortal “BMF” today still stand as two of the biggest street anthems. “Free Mason” featuring Jay- Z was a statement that Rick Ross could stand alongside one of the greats.
20. Lil Peep- Hellboy
This spot is pretty much a career spot similar to X. “Hellboy” is essential Lil Peep and the project that made him my favorite rapper at one point, I’ll never forget the moment I heard he died on my way to work. Even though Peep is gone is impact on Hip Hop and the Emo Rap genre is undeniable. Tracks like “Cobain” and “Hellboy” were a daily ritual a few years back.
19. Casey Veggies- Life Changes
This is more of a nostalgic pick for me. I loved this tape so much I burned “She In My Car” “Whip It”, and “Love=Hate, Ulterior Motives” on a CD that I would bump during my SPC days. Casey is the definition of what modern day mainstream West Coast Music should be dope beats and even better flows. His last few projects “Organic” and “Live & Grow” have all been solid but I’m still looking for him to drop another classic like “Life Changes”.
18. Mac Miller- K.I.D.S.
The first time I heard “Nike’s On My Frey” with my friend John we were blown away. Even though the late Mac Miller never really made a project in this style again, focusing more on an experimental sound rather than traditional hip hop. I will always love Mac for this project with songs like “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza” and “Good Evening” and “Senior Skip Day” being nostalgic favorites for me.
17. Spaceghostpurp- BMW
Had to show Florida some love on this one. Basically the godfather of the Florida Underground sound, SGP’s BMW sounds like an island paradise in the middle of hell. From classics like “Whole Lotta Icee” to “Steelo Ice” this project makes me wish SGP didn’t alienate his whole crew basically making him a recluse in the rap game.
16. Wiz Khalifa- Kush & OJ
This is the definition of nostalgic classic for me. Songs like “Memorized” and “In The Cut” were played at pretty much every house party I went to during my high school days. If they made a soundtrack for my teenage years this is probably it. “The Statement” is another gem of this one. I will always check for Wiz because of this album, the OG version not that wack one on Apple Music.
15. Kanye West- Yeezus
I’ll never forget going to see Kanye for the Yeezus tour with my friend John so that’s why this album means a lot to me. I don’t play it as much today but I can still listen to it straight through. The experimental hip hop elements Kanye went for maybe ok for main stream artists take more chances with their music. Plus the zodiac references on “Guilt Trip” will always stick with me.
14. Ka- Honor Killed The Samurai.
I am new to Ka but after binge listening to him for about a month I had to put “Honor Killed The Samurai” on the list. It’s like if DOOM and GZA combined to make a dope MC. Ka’s ability to paint visual pictures with his words is highlighted on “That Cold And Lonely” which sounds like it could be off GZA’s classic “Liquid Swords”. The comparisons samurai life and street life come together with each track.
13. Westside Gunn- Supreme Blientele
Westside Gunn and Griselda have been running it for the past two years but on “Supreme Blientele” Westside finally dropped a Mafioso Rap classic that can stand alongside classics like Raekwon’s “Only Built For Cuban Links”. The street bars combined with wrestling snippets and references made this project a no brainer to be on the list.
12. Roc Marciano- Reloaded
One of my Top 5 rappers in the game right now. “Rosebudd’s Revenge 2: The Bitter Dose” could have made it in this spot as well it “Reloaded” is probably Roc’s hardest album, due to him focusing more on sample based production on his latter work. Tracks like “Flash Gordon”, “76”, and “Emeralds” are new boom bap classics. Roc Marci bars are on another level, honestly even better than Jay-Z.
11. Nipsey Hussle- Victory Lap
The culmination of his entire career, the late a Nipsey Hussle showed the West Coast is still here with street anthems like “ Status Symbol 3”. You get the business side and street side of Nip on “Victory Lap”. It’s sad that he is gone because who knows how many more classics he would have given us, especially of the recognition from this project.
10. Curren$y & The Alchemist- Covert Coup
Curren$y is one of the most consistent rappers in the game. From “Priest Andretti” to “New Jet City”, Curren$y has classics under the belt but my favorite has got to be his first collab album with The Alchemist. I remember sitting at my desktop when this dropped. “The Type” is one of my all time favorite songs but “007” is a close second. This also marks the Fetti collaboration with Freddie Gibbs on “Scottie Pippen”. Curren$y is mad under rated still to this day, but the Jet Life will always be on top.
9. Joey Bada$$- 1999
Nothing this decade sounds quite like “1999”. Joey was some how able to totally capture that 90s boom bap sound we all know and love. I’ll never forget the moment I saw the video for “Hardknock” and I was hooked instantly. The production from Dilla and DOOM fit perfectly for Joey but Pro Era in house producers did their thing on tracks like “FromdaTomb$”. “Killuminati” featuring the late Capital Steez will always be a favorite of mine with the dope production from Knxwledge. Joey Bada$$ has never been able to surpass this album, but he gave us that “Pinky & The Brain” snippet on “Word Domination” so I’m good.
8. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib- Bandana
I’ve always been a Gibbs fan since his XXL Cover days but once he paired up with Madlib he’s become a Top 5 rapper in the game for me. “Piñata” could have made it on the list but I feel “Bandana” is a better overall project. I loved bow trap influenced Madlib’s production was. MadGibbs are this generations Madvilllan. They supposedly have a part three in the pipeline.
7. Danny Brown- XXX
I’ve never heard anyone like Danny Brown before or since he dropped “XXX”. “Atrocity’s Exhibit “ is Danny at his peak, but I have more of a connection with “XXX”. I love how in your face the project is with tracks like “Lie4” and “Bruiser Brigade”. Danny also has that trippy vibe on tracks “Outer Space” which sounds like a sixties era TV shows intro music.
6. Blu- Her Favorite Colo(u)r
For me Blu has classic albums in two decades but his 2012 project “Her Favorite Colo(u)r” is an indie rap masterpiece. Using scenes from films like “Punch Drunk Love” in the way DOOM uses comic book scenes to tie an album together. From a beats standpoint I think Blu sounds even better on his own production. The best way I can put this album is a late 2000’s indie film but on eac
5. A$AP Rocky- LiveLoveA$AP
A Cloud Rap masterpiece! Tracks like “Wassup” and “Peso” are some of my favorite songs of all time. Although A$AP has shied away from his Cloud Rap roots I hope one day we can get a full collab project between him and either SGP or ClamsCasino, that would just make my life.
4. Xavier Wulf & Bones- Lame
Another Cloud Rap masterpiece and probably the most underrated project of the whole decade. These guys created the Underground Cloud Rap/ SoundCloud scene that everyone knows today. “Persian Palace” might be my favorite song of all time. Tracks like “Acid Man” and “Bloody Gown” are also stand outs. All I know is I will be shouting “I’ve got $87 for some LSD & Weed” for as long as I live.
3. Benny The Butcher- The Plugs I Met
The album that made Benny The Butcher my favorite rapper in the game. All I need is a 7 to 10 track project that’s just dope beats and gritty street bars. Benny gives me both of those things on each track I hear him on. He hasn’t even reached the heights I feel he can go, so I am pretty sure next decade will be treating me very well.
2. Kendrick Lamar- To Pimp A Butterfly
The one and two spots could have gone either way. Both projects are really special to me. It came out around the time one of my best friends passed away, with songs like “Aight “ really getting me through hard times. I can’t always listen to this because how dense it is but this is the bar all other rappers are trying to achieve.
1. Kanye West- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.
What hasn’t been said about this genre defining masterpiece from Kanye West. This project pushed Hip-Hop to heights it had never gone and still hasn’t reached yet. Despite Kanye’s recent output not reaching this bar, the impact his work has had on my life is great, and it mainly starts with this album.
This year was hit and miss as far as albums go. The Griselda crew definitely held it down,Freddie Gibbs & Madlib delivered, and Tyler reinvented himself. These are my Top 10 Albums of 2019.
10. Rod Wave- Ghetto Gospel
Had to keep it local and put my man Rod Wave on the list. His song “Get a Bag” is the Jit Camp anthem. On Ghetto Gospel Rod showed he could stand alongside prominent mainstream acts like Kevin Gates on one of my standout tracks “Cuban Links”. You can really feel the struggle in Rod’s lyrics and voice. It is great to finally see a artist St.Pete can get behind as our own.
9. Da$h & V Don- 5 Deadly Venoms
Naming your EP off of my favorite Shaw Bro’s Kung Fu flick had me sold from the jump. Da$h’s slick delivery meshes perfectly with V Dons grimey beats. Even the tracks released on the deluxe edition slide which is really rare to find. Songs “10x” and “Fangs” featuring Meechy Darko are the definite standouts with the latter being one of my favorite tracks of the year. I hope to see more collaborations between these two.
8. Roc Marciano- Marcielago
Roc Marciano already has one classic album with “Reloaded” but with “Marcielago” he adds another great album to his already stacked catalogue. He’s Jay Z if Jay Z didn’t go mainstream but with way better flows and bars. Definitely an unsung hero of this new boom bap renaissance, songs like “Richard Gear” are a hardcore hip hop fans wet dream. Producing pretty much the entire project except a few of The Alchemist beats, Roc definitely improved beat wise adding a few more drums then normal. Roc’s beat chops are top tier. The cold NY feel of “Ephesians” featuring KA is one of my favorite tracks on the album. KA had one of my favorite lines on the album with “ Seems the team had good genes, but wanted better denim.” This decade I hope Roc is able to get some more notoriety for being one of the best in the game.
7. Trippie Redd- A Love Letter to You 4
Trippie definitely held it down for the Cloud Rap and Emo Rap scenes with “ALLTY4”. To me this is his best produced album and when it comes to Trippie all I really need are good beats and dope flows, it doesn’t really matter what he’s saying. Some of his more heartfelt songs about love loss are done way better on this installment then previous which is shown on the track “Til The End Of Time”. Trippie also came through with some of the best tracks of the year with the Lil B dedicated “6 Kiss” featuring the late Juice WRLD and currently incarcerated YNW Melly. Next time Trippie comes to the Bay Area his performance of the Memphis rap inspired “Death” is a must. After the deaths of Peep, X, and Juice pretty much Ski and Trippie are the only ones left from the scene.
6. Smoke DZA & Benny The Butcher- Statue of Limitations.
When two of my favorite rappers randomly come together and drop a flawless short six track EP you know it’s going to be in heavy rotation. Dope beats and fire bars is really all I need in life and DZA and Benny definitely gave me that. Standout tracks “By Any Means” and “Bullets” featuring Conway start the EP of with a barrage of in your face bars. A majority if not all of the production was handled by the legend Pete Rock, who only a few years back released a collaborative album with DZA called “Don’t Smoke Rock” which I could also give my Jit Camp stamp of approval. The best thing I could say about this EP is “Thank God for Drup Rap”.
5. Tyler, The Creator- Igor
Not only was Tyler able to follow up “Flower Boy” but honestly I think he exceeded it. Nothing else right now sounds like this and that’s what makes it special. Some fans might be mad that it’s not hip hop enough but Tyler has always been on a Pharrell esque trajectory. Ear worm songs like “EARFQUAKE” and “I THINK” show that Tyler could take over the mainstream if he wanted to.
4. Griselda- WWCD
On their Shady Records debut Griselda was able to capture the magic that sets them apart from everyone else in hip hop right now. The hardest beats and the dopest bars. This album could have came out in 95 and it would in great next to Wu and Mobb Deep. Standout tracks for me where “Chef Dreds” and “Moselle”, the latter of which has one of my favorite beats of the year provided by Griselda in house producer Daringer. The beat sounds glass moving in water it’s that slick. So many stand out lines from the whole crew. 2020 is definitely going to be their year.
3. Young Thug- So Much Fun
With “So Much Fun” Thug proved he could deliver with a debut album that turned out to be his most complete project to date. Thug’s influence on the game was cemented on “So Much Fun” giving all the slimes anthems like “HOT” and “Light it Up” both of which went over great at his recent live show in Tampa. The production is a step above some of his mixtapes. Thugger and friends made the best party album of the year living up to its name.
2. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
I first heard about Freddie Gibbs when he was on the XXL Freshman Cover back in 2010, and since the he has grown to being one of my favorite artists of all time. From “Cold Day in Hell” to “You Only Live Twice” Gibbs has always been one of the best when it comes to heartfelt gangsta bars and insane flows. But when he joined up with Madlib on their 2015 classic “Piñata” that Gibbs started to cement his legacy. The question was could the duo follow it up with a sequel, and I’m happy to say “Bandana” delivers on that. “Half Manne Half Cocaine” is one of the hardest tracks I’ve heard in awhile, showing what Madlib can do with a trap beat. “Crime Pays” transports you into a blaxploitation films with a dope sample and Freddie’s smooth delivery. Apparently Madlib produced this entire album on his IPhone but I would have never known that. The beats on “Bandana” are a bit more abstract but Freddie still rides them all the same. Can’t wait to see if the duo drops a third album, after delivering another classic.
1. Benny The Butcher- The Plugs I Met
When I first heard this album around July 4th I knew it was going to be number one on my list. All I need is a 7-10 track album of straight dope beats and bars and that’s what Benny brings. Features from Pusha T and Black Thought validate Benny has someone on their level giving weight to the album. With production from always great Daringer and The Alchemist this project was basically made for me. “Sunday School” is the hardest song I’ve heard all year and “ I Took the Money to the Plug’s House” are two of the hardest tracks of the last decade. On “5 to 50” Benny showcases is storytelling ability ending the album off well. I would tell anyone to go out of their way to listen to this album, Benny is my favorite rapper in the game now because of this album.
