Artists: Good & Bad 2018
The year of our Lord 2018 has been a roller coaster for the rap scene. We saw Hip-Hop reach new heights in terms of mainstream success, beef and the ever present social presence. Whether you liked it or not, the genre had a telling and impactful effect on everybody. Some artists got a chance to profit from it and have all-time great years, while others floundered and saw their star shine less as the year passed. So here I am, about to give you my very objective pick who had the best year and who had the worst year. Can't wait to see the controversy erupt at the end of this.
BEST
Honorable Mention: Royce da 5'9"
One of the most proficient lyrical albums in the past year coupled with strong singles and amazing guest verses is the description of The Book of Ryan. Royce da 5'9" put out an amazing album dealing with serious issues such as fatherhood, alcoholism and the state of the rap game today.
Drake
Last year, people felt ways when Drake lost his almost eight year stranglehold of the Billboard Hot 100, just to see him destroy this years list. For 29 solid weeks, Drake held the number 1 spot 'God's Plan', 'Nice For What' and 'In My Feelings'. With his megahit double-album, Scorpion, the Toronto native secured seven of the top 10 spots at a point, as well as having each of the 25 songs chart. Not to mention his many guest verses on titles such as 'Mia' with Bad Bunny, 'Look Alive' with Blocboy JB and 'SICKO MODE' by Travis Scott. To all who have been witness, this is dominance that is reminiscent of Michael Jackson, the Beatles and Julius Caesar.
Post Malone
The man named Post Malone had two albums (Stoney and Beerbongs & Bentley's) in the top ten in sales. A strong string of singles held steady in a very long year, including 'Psycho' and 'Better Now'. Critically acclaimed albums? Great songs? A few nominations at quite a few award shows? In the immortal words of the great Ice Cube: I gotta say it was a good day.
Cardi B
Who wasn't bumping to Cardi B this year? If you weren't doing it consciously, you probably had 'I Like It' stuck in your head all summer long. While her music career had a lot success this year with the release of her solo debut, Invasion of Privacy, her personal life seemed to always been in the public spotlight for good reason. She had a baby, Kulture, and we found out that she was married to Migos' Offset. Even though the end may have been a bit bumpier with the subsequent divorce claims, it has still been a professionally and personal best year for the best female rapper in the world.
WORST
Honorable Mention: Lil Yachty
What people expected would probably one of his best albums, if not the apex of his career turned into his worst album. Lil Yachty's album Nuthin' 2 Prove was lackluster and pitiful at best. It was tired and people got tired of him. People weren't feeling Yachty this year, in hopes that next year is better.
Kanye West
From lackluster projects, to game changing feuds and finally to very controversial political views, Kanye has had an interesting year. While the summer of Kanye saw amazing projects such as Teyana Taylor's K.T.S.E, Pusha T's Daytona and his own Kids See Ghosts, the other projects were far below their expectations and saw Kanye getting bodied in his own songs by guests, including Kid Cudi and T.I. As well, the Drake feud didn't help Kanye's stockin the game. Finally, his political and social views made waves in 2018, with ideas such as slavery was a choice and the elimination of the 13th amendment; it's been a tough year for Ye.
Nicki Minaj
Oh Nicki Minaj, what went wrong? It took four years to see the release of your Queen project, all to see it not be as successful as anyone hoped. While some of the songs were great, others were piss poor; your undeserved insecurities reeked of desperation. Where are you in the rap game? Not above Cardi at this point. Your current standing fell after you threw that shoe. It isn't something anyone should be proud of, and your Queen Podcast has been hours of you rambling about your supposed haters and how you feel displaced. Grow up Nicki, this is unbecoming of the all-time great rapper that you are.
Machine Gun Kelly
Whose grave was he digging in the 'Rap Devil' music video? It now seems that it was his own after the abismal year that he has had. Let's break it down: gets called out on Eminem's Kamikaze, responds with a great diss track just to get lyrically assassinated in 'Killshot', followed by getting exposed by the internet for being a fraud at a concert just to finish the year with a pitiful album named Binge. At least he was on Netflix's critically acclaimed movie Bird Box.
In the end, 2018 was a good year with a lot of artists who rose up to the occasion and a lot of artists who fell off the map. We all had different perspectives as to who had good years and who had bad years; that's fine. I believe - at least I hope - that Hip-Hop will have a year where no one takes a considerable loss like the people on this list did. We can hope.