Music
20 Best Hip-Hop Mixtapes of 2017
Playboi Carti, Lil B, Kodie Shane and Trippie Redd highlight a standout year for underground rap mixtapes.
In every challenge there is opportunity. Over the last couple of years, the challenge for mixtape culture has been mainly existential: What exactly is a mixtape, and how can the format be preserved with the rise of "commercial mixtapes" and other encroaching interests?
Rather than contemplating possible answers, the mixtape world simply did what it's always done best: forged ahead at a breakneck pace, with little care for definitions and descriptions.
With Gucci, Young Thug, Future and other heavyweights shifting slightly away from mixtape culture, young rappers like Playboi Carti, Lil Pump, Trippie Redd and others seized the opportunity to use the mixtape format not only to reach their fans, but to also underscore the vitality of the mixtape for a whole new generation of rappers and listeners.
The result was a stunning, vibrant display of mostly youthful experimentation and precocious creativity, ranging from the gritty realism of YoungBoy Never Broke Again and the millennial-pink pop of Rico Nasty to the technical dexterity of Kur and the nuanced moodiness of Kodie Shane. Even Lil B, master of the mixtape, confounded everyone when he released his most accessible mixtape, which paradoxically made it his weirdest offering yet.
Check out our list of the 20 best hip-hop mixtapes released in 2017 below.
20. Antwon, "Sunnyvale Gardens"
With all the darkness that 2017 dumped on us, it was refreshing to hear a release like "Sunnyvale Gardens." Antwon's mixtape didn't distract us from the dread — it became an inspiring force, one pushed along by sparkling production from Kaytranada, DJ Lucas, Shlohmo and others. But, as crucial as the varied production is to the success of the mixtape as a whole, it’s Antwon's boisterous bellow that catapults this tape from typical to exceptional. His vocals snarl on tracks like "Shawty Wanna," reach ethereal heights on "Tonight" and rep a death grip of a delivery on standout cut "Party Boi."
19. Injury Reserve, "Drive It Like It's Stolen"
Injury Reserve killed it this year. With "Drive It Like It's Stolen," the Arizona trio garnered heaps of critical acclaim for their impossible mixture of experimentation and accessibility, resulting in a brief yet poignant tour of early-00s minimalism, 90s boom-bap and heyday independent hip-hop. Nearly everything on “Drive It Like It’s Stolen” feels like a hat-tip, from the subdued Novelist-like hook of "TenTenths" to the Odd Future-esque background shouts and major seventh chords of "Chin Up." But there is an indefinable, hungry spirit splayed throughout, one that suggests that these boys are only just getting started.
18. Mila J, "MILAULONGTIME"
Motown never came through on releasing Mila J's debut album, but with two independently released EPs and this excellent mixtape, there wasn't much to complain about this year. On "MILAULONGTIME," Mila J exercises a sultry confessionalism and sensual lilt that feel perfectly at home in I.Rich's dark, spacious production. Several of the songs reappear on the "Dopamine" EP, which was released soon after, but with an abbreviated tracklist and a free Valentine's Day drop, "MILAULONGTIME" still feels like a special gift for a special moment.
LISTEN: Mila J, "MILAULONGTIME"
17. Jonatan Leandoer127 (aka Yung Lean), "Katla"
Who knew we'd still be talking about Yung Lean over four years after "Ginseng Strip 2002" went viral? Against insurmountable odds in the intervening years, on both personal and professional levels, Jonatan Leandoer Håstad somehow persevered through critical pushback, and more importantly tragedy, emerging in 2017 as a serious artist to contend with. Released with no fanfare whatsoever, "Katla" is an oddball release, even for the young Swedish artist (now 21). It’s a beatless, heavily dramatized, ambient mixtape produced entirely by Palmistry. In the vein of Lil B's "Rain in England," "Katla" sees Jonatan summoning a renewed artistry within himself, resulting in a work that is both his most difficult and his boldest.
16. Adamn Killa, "I Am Adamn"
He might sound like he's always on the verge of weeping, but Adamn Killa shouldn't have much to cry about. "I Am Adamn" is a beautiful tape from this rising Chicago rapper, one that finds him exploring a softer side that expresses itself deep within immersive production from Shlohmo, Dolan Beats, Ryan Hemsworth, Brodinski and other French producers. Adamn isn’t interested in the violent cut-ups of his contemporaries or in sprinkling this release with requisite crossover tracks; this here is a cohesive, singular artistic statement through and through, an arrival that sounds way more natural and mature than it probably should.
15. Section Boyz, "Soundcheck"
With claustrophobic urgency and a cold minimalism, Section Boyz delivered a deadly mixtape straight outta South London with "Soundcheck." The six-MC crew takes a project started by early grime progenitors and attempts to get darker and nastier, with masterful mic-passing and an intuitive sense of dynamics that not only keeps the momentum going across 19 tracks, but retains an infectious energy that lingers between closed-eyed ecstasy and anxiety-induced unease. The tension is so palpable that we couldn't help but look over our shoulders every now and again while listening.
14. Starlito & Don Trip, "Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage)"
Just a month before Starlito & Don Trip dropped the third installment in their "Step Brothers" series, the severely underrated duo previewed their latest chops with a quick, in-and-out six-tracker titled "Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage)." The mixtape serves as a showcase for the extraordinary spitting skills of these two rappers, who complement each other here with a downright flawless combination of passion, pacing and dynamics. "Step Brothers (Karate In The Garage)" is a fiery reminder that chemistry and dexterity still go a long, long way, even in these times of nonsensical repetition and circular rhymes.
13. DJ Escrow, "Universal Soulja Vol. 1"
Stepping out from the Dean Blunt-led rap group Babyfather, DJ Escrow unexpectedly shared one of this year's most challenging releases, rap or otherwise. Much like his role as host on Babyfather's debut "BBF," Escrow adopts an omniscient presence throughout, incantation of words of wisdom and trailing thoughts with a thick patois and pseudo-philosophical charm — all of it "live and direct." But what makes this release an especially difficult listen is the production — that is, if you're comfortable calling aggressive noise "production." I mean that literally: Escrow freestyles over unrelenting harsh noise for the entire mixtape. No beats, no melodies — all fury, all fire. Even if we all only listened to it once, "Universal Soulja Vol. 1" wouldn’t be soon forgotten. What could possibly constitute volume 2 is anyone’s guess.
12. Young Dolph, "Gelato"
These days, the mixtape world is populated by young rappers chasing cheap thrills and party anthems, but Young Dolph held things down for the darker corners with "Gelato." Here, Young Dolph — who's not very young at all, these days — flaunts a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense cadence that pairs wonderfully with the tape's taut, clattering beat work. More than just an occasion for Dolph to navigate street references and general lewdness with a boss-like braggadocio, "Gelato" represents Memphis music at its most piercing and insistent. And, in the context of the current state of rap, it feels bizarrely comforting to dwell in such uneasy zones.
11. Chief Keef, "Thot Breaker"
No one saw this coming. Who knows if Chief Keef even saw it coming? But when "Thot Breaker" was released this year, the polarizing Chicago rapper suddenly became re-enlivened to a degree not heard since the artistic breakthrough that was 2013's "Almighty So." But the two releases couldn't be more different: While "Almighty So" pointed to a future of menace and brash experimentation, "Thot Breaker" is the future that Chief Keef's discography seemed to be ushered toward all along. On this tape, Sosa finds a way to resurrect the title of an unreleased mixtape that was originally about infidelity and reworks it into his most (pseudo-)romantic statement yet, one that establishes Keef as a true artist who has somehow, some way managed to stay relevant after all these years.
10. Kodie Shane, "Big Trouble Little Jupiter"
"Teenage Emotions," Lil Yachty's studio debut, didn't quite rally fans the way it probably should have, but Sailing Team and its various members kept things moving in 2017. One of the crew's best releases of the year came way back in January from Kodie Shane. On "Big Trouble Little Jupiter," the promising rapper reps a quiet yet ambitious mixtape that foregoes the bubbly synths and bright beats of her Sailing Team contemporaries in favor of something more nuanced, something more considered. If you’re searching for Lil Yachty-style positivity and major-key scrapiness, you can’t go wrong with, say, K$upreme's "Flex Muzik." But if you yearn for something unexpectedly deep and brooding, "Big Trouble Little Jupiter" is your best bet.
9. Kur, "180"
Looking for some tight, solid bars? Kur's "180" mixtape is your answer. The young Philly rapper steamrolls through 18 cuts with the complex, rapid-fire spit skills of a seasoned talent. But Kur's only 23 and his scorching inflections and exquisite tongue-twisters are given extended leg room to sprawl out and exhaust themselves. Except Kur never runs out of air — he sees each song through to the end, oftentimes letting his rhymes continually build up to breathless climaxes that seem to last forever. That he makes it all sound both so easy and so invigorating is his greatest trick of all.
8. Tay-K, "Santana World"
With controversy often comes hype, and in the case of Tay-K, his status as a hype figure — whether warranted or not — was cemented as soon as he uploaded "The Race," a straight-up banger written and recorded while on the lam. It'd be easy to chalk up the brouhaha to the built-in narrative — and it certainly does play a part in how and why we listen to Tay-K — but "Santana World" offers some of the most zoned-in rap of 2017, from the much-remixed "I Love My Choppa" to the downright incredible "Saran Pack." Tay-K's only 17, but his music already feels like its own thing, divorced from the trending Miami sound and decidedly different than Atlanta trap. Regardless of his fate and all the baggage that comes with him, Tay-K forced his way into the cultural conversation, with only the biggest skeptics thinking about questioning his talent.
7. YoungBoy Never Broke Again, "AI YoungBoy"
While much of the younger class of hip-hop thrives on hedonism and simulations of excess, YoungBoy Never Broke Again is clear-mindedly steering in his own lane. In 2017, the Baton Rouge 18-year-old doubled-down on his perceived street authenticity with three cold mixtapes, the second of which — "AI YoungBoy" — best maps out the gritty realism of his modus operandi. This is rap music for the serious listener, the one who couldn't look past the inherently fleeting nature of SoundCloud rappers. It’s like the difference between G Herbo and your typical Chicago drill rapper: relatively slight on the surface, but worlds away when you get down and dirty with it.
6. Rico Nasty, "Tales of Tacobella"
Rico Nasty's 2017 banger "Poppin" was on her "Sugar Trap 2" mixtape, but it was "Tales of Tacobella" from earlier this year that saw her boldly seeing a sound all the way through. On this tape, Rico inhabits her alter-ego, Tacobella, leading to a delicious rush of bubblegum bliss, with seams and jagged edges that remind us this is anything but a soulless pop confection. Unlike "Sugar Trap 2," which tempered pop with the viciousness of her Rico Nasty persona, "Tales of Tacobella" doesn’t pull any punches. It’s all punctuated hooks and insatiable melodies, with both a charming irreverence that permeates the pop like poison and a sneering delivery that makes sure we laugh about it. It is an uncanny balance that few could pull off, but Rico Nasty goes all in on this one, and it shows in millennial pinks and blues.
5. Tee Grizzley, "My Moment"
If a rapper starts their debut project with an extended a capella track, you know you're in for some serious skills. Tee Grizzley does as much on his mixtape, "My Moment," which piggybacks off the hype that began with his much-loved debut single "First Day Out" from 2016. Like that single, the lyrics on "My Moment" were written during his time in jail, which explains why Tee's lyrics have such weight to them. And as if impeccable rhyme schemes and his naturalistic flow aren’t enough, the Detroit artist can even sing a hook like a pro, particularly on outro track "Testimony." As comfortable on a Sonny Digital trap banger as a DJ Mustard slapper, Tee Grizzley is simply overflowing with talent — and he knows it, too: "I can do this sh*t with no effort," Tee spits. No wonder why LeBron and Jay-Z can't shut up about him.
4. Lil Pump, "Lil Pump"
No rapper this year so masterfully harnessed the potential of SoundCloud's streaming power than Lil Pump, but focusing on the 17-year-old's analytics belies his bottom-up influence on the actual sound of hip-hop. Some might decry the purported meme-like quality of his music, but what shows on his self-titled mixtape is simply Pump's uncanny ability to distill Miami aesthetics into a hook-heavy, addicting and electrifying sound that explodes with personality. Pump, Smokepurpp, et al. were paving paths before we even knew what was happening; our listicles, think pieces and social media shares were really just us playing catch-up the whole time.
3. Trippie Redd, "A Love Letter To You 2"
It's not often we're gifted an artist who possesses both a stunning flow and an astounding vocal range, which is why Trippie Redd is a rapper to hold on to. After a slew of EPs in 2016, the Ohio artist finally released his debut mixtape this year, followed shortly after by its superior follow-up, "A Love Letter To You 2." The tape showcases an unprecedented depth and an ever-modulating Trippie, whose vocals soar and wail into infinity. That this sequel managed to so thoroughly improve upon nearly every facet of his debut is a testament to this artist's speedy progression and hopefully indicative of the kind of trajectory we can expect from him. Already bending the underground into new shapes and exhibiting a shocking versatility as a guest artist, Trippie Redd has proved himself highly capable of contributing something genuinely exhilarating to an increasingly crowded pocket of the music world.
2. Lil B, "Black Ken"
Mythology has never been a problem for Lil B, because mythology defines Lil B. The BasedGod's very appeal hinges largely on his ability to make his mythology inextricable from his music. Over the last several years he's done it so successfully that the Bay Area rapper is perhaps the closest artist to legitimately actualizing a cult-like fanbase. And it's a beautiful thing, especially when what might be considered a left-field turn like "Black Ken" is actually his most conventional release in a larger musical context. The project is an elaborate sleight of hand, because in the context in which Lil B creates and then dutifully subverts, this superficially conventional release ended up ironically becoming one of his weirdest releases — another solid drop from one of rap's most singular, inspiring figures. How dare anyone jump him!
1. Playboi Carti, "Playboi Carti"
Playboi Carti might've dropped this album on 2017's worst day to release a project (the same day as Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN."), but no date could change the fact that "Playboi Carti" was one of the best debuts of recent years, mixtape or not. On 15 roomy, bare-bones tracks, the former Awful Records associate and current AWGE member pushes his narcotic delivery and circuitous repetition into unexpected zones, reaching beyond trite lyricism to get at something more elemental, more tangible.
Much has been made about Carti's relationship with producer Pi'erre Bourne, a magnetic rapper/producer duo that, if things keep moving forward, could go down in rap history alongside Gucci and Zaytoven, Future and Metro Boomin, Eric B and Rakim. The fit is a straight-up dream. But Carti's mixtape also features choice beats from the likes of Harry Fraud and Southside, with the especially gorgeous track "Flex" from KasimGotJuice and J. Cash Beatz. In the end, though, it was Pi'erre Bourne's "Magnolia" that truly defined not only this mixtape, but 2017 altogether. Song of the year, mixtape of the year. Here's hoping Carti keeps it minimal, hypnotic and forward-thinking.
