The most underrated albums of 2020

 



Here are my tp ten most underrated albums of 2020:



Okay, this album has made it to a few best of lists. I still think this project is under rated though. In a year dominated by Lizzo, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, Millie carved her own lane in the same style of music and made it completely her own. Her style, while simple is insanely quotable and catchy. None of the song on this project sound the same, making it one of the best albums to blast and piss your neighbors off with.



I completely wrote of 070 Shake when her career started, I will be the first to admit that. I didn't like what she was doing with the culture vulture queen herself YesJulz. Now, it looks like she's gone her own way and has created an entire cerebral experience for her fans. Filled with vintage samples, violins, synths and stripped back drums, 070 Shake makes you feel like your falling down a cybernetic rabbit hole. It makes me feel like I'm in the show Devs and that makes me extremely excited to see what's next for her.



This duo is arguably my favorite rap group next to Freddie Gibbs and Madlib and Run the Jewels. An ode to Miles Davis, this project explores the artist's roots through the underground scene. It's also an examination of black culture in America and all of the violence and hardship that comes with it. Sonically, this sounds like a straight up jazz album, the beats are so smooth that it can relax even the most high strung music junkie. While its length (95 minutes) can seem like a daunting listen, none of the tracks on this project feel like filler and you can feel their passion in every minute of it. If you like lyrically dense music - check this album out.



An absolute shock to the system, this project is the definition of punk rap. It's raw, pissed off and memorable. Filled with industrial beats, fiery lyrics and an anti-everything message - this album is perfect for raging against the system. Named after a stereotype given to black men with something to say, Angry Blackmen have something to say. This project is as savage as rap can get about politics in America.



Big Sean is back. That's all I can really say to sum up this project. It could just be me but it seemed like Sean was going through an insane slump since his third album. Detroit 2 brings it back to the days when Sean was releasing mixtapes and setting the blog world on fire with his unique delivery and taste in beats. Not to mention it has stories from Dave Chapelle and Erykah Badu - which normally I hate but this time it's a nice break from the tight production of this album.



This project came out of nowhere for me and turned me onto two of rap's most promising new artists. El Camino and 38 Spesh come together for a joint project that some have compared to old school 50 Cent. While I don't like comparing new rappers to older rappers - this project is certainly producing a good amount of excitement in the underground rap cycle.



In all of the best of lists I've seen this year, this album popped up maybe once or twice. It's mind boggling because I felt like this album breathed new life into TDE and got fans excited for what's next for Reason and the group. This album is packed with slick lyrics, vivid story telling and addictive beats that made me blow out two pairs of earbuds from listening to it so much.



This album absolutely slaps. Saint Lyor is the kind of artist with a unique voice and style that's so strong you can feel it through your earbuds. The only downside is that this project released the same weekend that Jay Electronica's long awaited debut album came out so it was eclipsed and didn't get the love it deserved.



There's no question that Westside Gunn is the hardest working rapper out. He's released so many projects in such a short amount of time, I actually stopped downloading them because there were so many. That being said, this album I feel flew under the radar because of Conway and Benny's albums. It's a shame because this project had Eminem behind it and almost the same amount of star power as FKTG and Burden of Proof. Griselda is by far the best rap group out, check this project before he releases another one.



This is damn near the closest thing to modern success story in music you'll see this year. Tokyo's Revenge was homeless, then suddenly one of his songs TOOK OFF on Tik Tok and now one of the most promising new faces of emo/trap rap is emerging. With just seven songs, 7VEN is filled with loud, angsty beats and an even louder and angstier artist. Revenge even attracted the likes of another star Kid Laroi and Jasiah for this project. If you like emo rap than this needs to be in your playlist.

Let me know what you think,

Lux

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