The Best Hip Hop Music of 2013
It’s been an amazing year for hip hop music. Here are our picks for the best hip hop albums of 2013.
Best Hip Hop Albums
Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar’s debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city was released in October 2012 to critical and commercial success. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 242,000 copies in its first week. It was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). good kid, m.A.A.d city received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Lamar’s lyricism and storytelling abilities, and placed it on several year-end best Albums lists
J. Cole- Born Sinner
J. Cole’s second album, Born Sinner, was released on June 18, 2013. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 297,000 copies in its first week. It was Cole’s highest charting album at the time of its release. The album was met with positive reviews from critics. J. Cole won Best Hip Hop Album at the BET Hip Hop Awards in October 2013.
Drake- Nothing Was the Same
Drake’s third studio album, “Nothing Was the Same” was released on September 24, 2013. The album features guest appearances from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Big Sean.
“Nothing Was the Same” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 658,000 copies in its first week. The album received critical acclaim from music critics and was ranked as one of the best hip hop albums of 2013 by multiple publications.
Best Hip Hop Songs
There were a lot of great hip hop songs that came out in 2013. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few, but here are our picks for the best hip hop songs of 2013.
Kendrick Lamar- “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” was released in 2013, and is one of the best hip hop songs of all time. The song features a hypnotic beat and Lamar’s signature lyrical flow. The song is about staying positive in the face of haters and negativity. “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” is an anthem for anyone who has ever been told they can’t achieve their dreams.
J. Cole- “Power Trip”
“Power Trip” is a song by American hip hop recording artist J. Cole, released February 12, 2013, as the second single from his second studio albumBorn Sinner (2013). The song features fellow American rapper Miguel and is produced by Cole himself. It peaked at number 19 on the US BillboardHot 100.
Drake- “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
With “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” Drake delivers one of the best pop songs of the year, full stop. It’s a thrilling conclusion to an album that found him growing ever more comfortable with his place in the world, and the result is pure triumph. He’s always been good at making anthems, but this one feels like his defining statement.
Best Hip Hop Music Videos
There were a lot of great hip hop music videos released in 2013. It was hard to narrow it down to just a few, but here are what we think are the best of the best. From Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice” to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us,” these are the music videos that kept us entertained all year long.
Kendrick Lamar- “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” is one of the best hip hop music videos of 2013. The video was directed by Colin Tilley and features Kendrick Lamar rapping in a hall of mirrors. The video is visually stunning and the song is catchy and powerful.
J. Cole- “Power Trip”
“Power Trip” is a song by American hip hop recording artist J. Cole, released February 12, 2013, as the lead single from his second studio album Born Sinner (2013). The song features vocals from another American rapper Miguel. It was produced by Cole himself and released for digital download on iTunes. “Power Trip” peaked at number 19 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Cole’s second top 20 entry as a lead artist and Miguel’s third. The single was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[1] The accompanying music video for “Power Trip” was directed by Sheldon Candis and released on March 12, 2013.
Drake- “Hold On, We’re Going Home”
The music video for Drake’s song “Hold On, We’re Going Home” was released on August 7, 2013. The video was shot in black-and-white and was directed by Ethan Lader. It features cameos from A$AP Rocky, Diddy, and Stevie Wonder.
The video tells the story of a group of friends who are trying to save their friend from a group of criminals. There is a lot of action in the video, and it ends with a cliffhanger.
Critics praised the video for its stylishness and for its homage to 1980s crime dramas.
