New 2015 Music: Hip Hop
Check out the latest and greatest in hip hop from the past year. From Kendrick Lamar to J. Cole, see what 2015 had to offer in the realm of hip hop music.
New Releases
Check out the newest Hip Hop music of 2015! This year’s music features a mix of both veteran and up-and-coming artists.
Kendrick Lamar- “To Pimp a Butterfly”
Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” was released on March 15th, 2015 and is Kendrick’s third studio album. The album features 16 tracks in total with Kendrick rapping about social and political issues such as race, police brutality and capitalism. “To Pimp a Butterfly” was praised by critics for its warm production, technical mastery and ambitious lyrics.
J. Cole- “2014 Forest Hills Drive”
J. Cole returns with his third studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The album is named after the street address of his childhood home in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he recorded the majority of the album. 2014 Forest Hills Drive is a deeply personal and introspective album that sees Cole exploring his upbringing and his relationships with family and friends. The album was preceded by the singles “No Role Modelz” and “Apparently”.
Big Sean- “Dark Sky Paradise”
Big Sean- “Dark Sky Paradise”
Release date: February 24, 2015
Label: GOOD Music, Def Jam Recordings
Producers: Mike Will Made-It, Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, Key Wane, Vinylz, Westside McFly, Earl & Cole, DJ Khaled (exec.)
Singles: “Blessings”, “I Don’t Fuck with You”, “All Your Fault”, “Play No Games”
Dark Sky Paradise is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist Big Sean. It was released on February 24, 2015, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, John Legend, Ariana Grande and PARTYNEXTDOOR among others. Dark Sky Paradise received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart.
Notable Mention
One of the most popular genres of music, hip hop has taken the world by storm. It’s no surprise, then, that there are a number of new artists making waves in the hip hop scene. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the new artists making a name for themselves in 2015.
A$AP Rocky- “At. Long. Last. A$AP”
A$AP Rocky’s “At. Long. Last. A$AP” is notable not just as one of the year’s best hip-hop albums, but as one of the best albums, period. It’s a kaleidoscopic record that touches on virtually every genre imaginable, yet never feels disjointed or overwhelming. Rocky’s flow is effortless, and his ear for beats is impeccable — this is an album that’s guaranteed to get better with each listen.
Wale- “The Album About Nothing”
Wale’s new album, “The Album About Nothing” is one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2015. Wale is known for his clever lyrics and catchy beats, and this album is sure to deliver both. Featuring guest appearances from J. Cole, Usher, and Jeremih, “The Album About Nothing” is sure to be a hit with hip hop fans all over the world.
Drake- “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late”
If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is the fourth commercial mixtape by Canadian hip hop recording artist Drake. It was released on February 13, 2015, by Cash Money Records and Republic Records. Recording sessions took place during 2014 and 2015, with the production thathandled by Boi-1da, Mike Zombie, prominently featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR throughout the album. The mixtape was released as a surprise release on iTunes with no prior announcement or promotion.
The album debuted at number one on both the US Billboard 200 and the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 535,000 copies in its first week in the United States and Nielsen SoundScan’s highest debut of 2015 so far. As of June 2015, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late has sold over 1 million copies domestically. It received generally positive reviews from critics and was ranked as one of the best albums of 2015 by multiple publications.
Up and Comers
A lot of new music comes out every year, and it can be hard to keep up with it all. Hip hop is a particularly popular genre, and there are always new artists coming onto the scene. In this article, we will be taking a look at some of the new hip hop artists who are making a name for themselves in 2015.
Vince Staples- “Summertime ’06”
If Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city is the magnum opus of the hip-hop coming-of-age story, then Vince Staples’ Summertime ’06 is its evil twin. Where Kendrick’s debut album looked at his upbringing in Compton with hope and possibility, Staples’ double album defines life in Long Beach as a violent, dreary grind where the only way out is either through gangs or death.
It’s a bleak listen, to be sure, but one that’s also filled with some of the most inventive production and smartest lyricism in recent memory. On tracks like “Lift Me Up,” “Norf Norf” and “Dopeman,” Staples spits rhymes with the so much precision and speed that it’s hard to keep up, but he also knows how to take a step back and let the music breathe, as on the gorgeous “Senorita” and “Summertime.”
Whether he’s rapping about the ills of gang life or simply trying to survive day-to-day existence in one of America’s most dangerous cities, Vince Staples paints a picture of contemporary urban life that’s as uncomfortably real as it is vital listening.
Travi$ Scott- “Rodeo”
If Yeezus was the Chicago-bred, G.O.O.D. Music producer’s commercial breakthrough, then Rodeo is his thesis statement. The son of a professional bull rider, Travi$ Scott knows a thing or two about the rodeo circuit (and by extension, the rap game). His debut album is a relentless ride through the rapper’s psyche, with trap bangers (“3500”), soulful laments (“Maria I’m Drunk”), and club anthems (“Antidote”) all fair game. It’s experimental and experimentalist, but also thorougly pop—a combination that has made him one of music’s most intriguing rising talents.
Chance the Rapper- “Surf”
Chance the Rapper exploded on to the scene in 2013 with his breakout mixtape Acid Rap. Since then, he’s become one of the most talked about artists in hip hop. His singles “Smoke Again” and “Paranoia” were both huge hits, and his most recent mixtape Surf has only added to his growing legend.
With his unique style and ability to appeal to both underground and mainstream audiences, Chance is definitely one of the artists to watch in 2015.
