Repeat Prescription #2: Hip Hop in 2024
This 33 track playlist features some of my favourite hip hop tunes of 2024
This isn’t going to be an ordered end-of-year round-up. I’ve already done two of those in the last few weeks:
It won’t be a lengthy reflection on the year in hip hop either. December is almost over and I’m ready to pack away the remnants of 2024 and focus my attention on a new year of music. But before I sign off for the year, I really do want to share one last playlist.
This year, I’ve made a more concerted effort to stay on top of new hip-hop releases. My kids have started listening to a lot of classic hip hop, and I want to be able to point them in the direction of some new artists they might enjoy—or at the very least, some new tracks from old favourites.
This playlist is a trimmed-down version of one I’ve been adding to throughout the year. It features plenty of hip hop legends (Ka, Da Beatminerz, Masta Ace), some of the genre's major stars (Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Tyler, The Creator), and some up-and-coming talents (Revival Season, Nuse Tyrant). I’ve tried to mix it up in terms of styles, tempos, and lyrical themes. It’s not a “Best of 2024” playlist, but it’s not a million miles off what mine would look like.
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS
I’m not going to write about every single track, but I do want to draw your attention to a few of my favourites.
REVIVAL SEASON - “Pump”
Atlanta’s Revival Season are one of my favourite discoveries of the year. “Pump” is one of many high energy bangers on The Golden Age of Self-Snitching, a glorious crossover record that evokes both Outkast and the Beastie Boys.
SKYZOO - “Community Service (feat. JRose)”
Skyzoo’s Keep Me Company arrived a little too late for End-of-Year consideration, but it would undoubtedly have featured in my top 50. I loved last year’s The Mind of a Saint, but the consistent and highly skilled MC/lyricist has raised the bar yet again.
PREVIOUS INDUSTRIES - “Showbiz”
Previous Industries are three seasoned Chicago-born, LA-based MCs — Open Eagle Mike, Video Dave, and STILL RIFT — and this year’s Service Merchandise is their first full-length effort as a group. The trio’s easy chemistry is evident from opening track “Showbiz”.
JPEGMAFIA - “either on or off the drugs”
After making waves last year with his Danny Brown collaboration SCARING THE HOES, JPEGMAFIA returned with another highly acclaimed album in 2024. I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU didn’t quite make my Top 50, but it wasn’t far off.
DA BEATMINERZ - “My Year feat. De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, Rasheed Chappell, Corey Glover”
Legendary Brooklyn production team Da Beatminerz recruited an all-star cast for this wonderfully nostalgic cut. Nothing about “My Year” screams 2024, but talent like this will always be relevant.
THE COMPLETE PLAYLIST
So here it is: 33 tracks and 112 minutes of beats and rhymes.
thank you so much for getting me into revival season, which in turn got a ton of other people into revival season via a Tik tok video I made. I got a bunch of messages from people telling me they bought their record!