2018 The Best Year In Hip Hop

This is the list of artists who released hip hop projects in 2018

Eminem   

Jay-z/Beyonce

Nas

Nipsey Hussle

J Cole

Pusha T

Drake

Lil Wayne

Nicki Minaj

Cardi B

Rae Sremmurd

Anderson Paak

Jay Rock

Black Panther Soundtrack

Dave East and Styles P

Mac Miller

Lupe Fiasco 

Ghostface Killah

 Ice Cube

Meek Mill

These are just the notables that I know and keep up with.  Most veterans, but there were alot of good projects by up and comers as well.   My standouts for the year, and I haven't filtered through them all, but I love Nipsey, Jay Rock,Meek Mill, Mac Miller, and Pusha T's album as album of the year candidate.  Alot of motivated artists, great projects and good hope for the future of those who remember the nostalgia of hip hop of yesteryear.

What is The Criteria To Be Hip Hops G.O.A.T.

What is The Criteria To Be Hip Hops G.O.A.T.

The argument that never stops, who is the greatest rapper of all time?  And how do we come to a conclusion?  Evaluating art is always opinion based.  I have my own criteria, and this is in no particular order.  Longevity, Originality, Flow, Marketability, Reach, Songwriting, Classic Albums, and Sales.  I believe there are so many that have an arguable claim to GOAT status, I'll review them occasionally in the near future, what is your criteria for being in the discussion of GOAT?

YOUNG MANS GAME

Young Mans Game

  Rap has always been a Young Mans Game.  When I was growing up the popular hip hop artists were Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Biggie, 2pac, Jay-Z.  Another era after had DMX, 50 cent, eminem, Kanye, T.I.  Now the top artists of today are Drake, Migos, Rae Shrummard, Gucci Mane is still holding it down, Travis Scott and 21 Savage.  There are a few others, but you get my drift. 

 Gone are the days of raw lyrics over soul samples, or hard piano stabs and funky baselines.  Now we have minor keys with 808s and hi hats.  This is officially the era of the digital home producer.  Access to fruity loops and logic and other programs has making music easy as 1,2,3.  The hooks sound like nursery rhymes again as easy as 1,2,3.  And I second the sentiment of a popular up and coming rapper who said the audience likes melody more than lyrics.  

All that being said, i'm not complaining because rap has always been a young mans game.  The popular rappers of my day were ranging anywhere from 15-28 years old.  The perspective of a man or woman in that age bracket will be different from a 35-40 year old.  I pick up what I like and hold on to it tight and discard the rest.  As a hip hop fan I've always been like that.  It was never about who was buzzing at the time with me, it was about who I connected with.  And having a stint as being in the thick of it, I know it's a business and I know certain songs are made, moves are made with a purpose of a bigger goal.  Entertainment of any kind is about taking advantage of your window of opportunity.  I didn't fully take advantage of mine for whatever reason, I know how hard it is to do, so I'm usually commending the artists that do, no matter what kind of music they do, what kind of gimmick they use, the end game is taking advantage of opportunity.

6 LONG YEARS

It's been 6 long years.  In that time frame I got a better job, quit music, started coaching high school basketball lost friends, got married and gained family.  It's hard to find your calling.  What is the purpose of being on earth? I'm still trying to figure out.  I love the feeling I get when music I make comes to fruition and people enjoy it.  

I love the feeling I get when I'm on the sidelines with my heart pumping yelling out instructions to my players.  I probably need a perfect blend between the 2.  I'm 36 and still trying to figure out life.  I just try to treat people well, mind my business and do what makes me happy.  Hopefully, everything else will fall into place after that, for me it always has.  GOD has always made a way for me, even at my lowest points he has made a way for me.  Even when I didn't deserve it.  

My music is currently on the top streaming sites which is a blessing, but now my goal is to empty my files and have everything put out there.  Life is short, this is my legacy at the end of the day, a door to my life, the why to my life, the window to the soul.  So, if nothing else if people really want to know me I have hundreds of songs explaining my truth.  It hurts when you put your heart into music and it falls upon deaf ears.  Now, this isn't always the case.  I have supporters that still play my music from 2010 I should be grateful for that.  But, I feel like I have a whole career after that, that has gone unnoticed.  J Cole said something to the affect of an "an artist just wants to be appreciated."  I fully agree with that.  As an artist you can get in your own head at times, and you just want to be validated.  I don't know if I will ever feel appreciated or validated.  Bitching and Moaning has never been my M.O. so, man up keep doing you and maybe just maybe one day people will see the genius in you.

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What's next for The Lakers?

The Lakers season is over.  The Thunder are young and primed to be contenders for years to come, so how do the Lakers with an aging core contend in the future with the upstarts? Here are some possible scenarios and hints for Mitch Kupchak.

To Make a Move You must have Assets

-Pau Gasol 7'0 with an array of skills...inside/outside threat...#2 option on 2 championship teams, still has alot of game...

why trade him? He's had 2 bad postseasons back to back

-Andrew Bynum 7'0 arguably the best big man in the game and only 24 years old...

why trade him? He does immature things, and doesn't always play motivated and hungry

-9 million dollar trade exception from the Lamar Odom trade

-Still have the Amnesty clause which Ron Artest seems the most viable option for that if they choose to use it

NOW to get to the getdown... Feasible options: Paul Milsap, Andre Igoudala , Rodney Stuckey , David Lee, Nick Young , J.R. Smith , Luis Scola, Kevin Martin, Kyle Lowry , Barbosa , David West , Nene , Dwight Howard

These are players to watch, I know the Lakers are...

R.I.P. DONNA SUMMER

I hear this song everyday at work...RIP #LEGEND