
Best Rap Albums of 2023 So Far + Verses, Songs, MVPs, Features of Year | Ep. 157
Explicit content warning
07/08/23 • 235 min
We bring you a behemoth of an episode breaking down hip hop in the year 2023 (so far) 🍿 We bring the ruckus with some awesome convos with some equally awesome people, this week we have:
Rohan from The Rap Music Plug Podcast, beat maker and writer, SonRaw, and our very own Boom Bap Crusader, Ray Ridge. Enjoy this smorgasbord of nerdy rap chat, as well as Kam’s Top 40 albums of the year so far below...
- Maps by billy woods + Kenny Segal
- Beware of the Monkey by MIKE
- Notorious Dump Legends: Volume 2 by Mach-Hommy + The God Fahim
- From Whence It Came by YUNGMORPHEUS
- To What End by Oddisee
- Parthian Shots by AJ Suede + Televangel
- Let’s Start Here by Lil’ Yachty
- MICHAEL by Killer Mike
- Glorious Game by Black Thought + El Michels Affair
- The Great Escape by Alchemist + Larry June
- Indiana Jones by Boldy James + RichGains
- Neutral Milc Motel: Extended Stay by Milc + Televangel
- Conductor We Have a Problem by Conductor Williams
- Rise & Shine by Jay Nice + Dough Networkz
- Nothing Bigger Than The Program by Roc Marciano + Jay Worthy
- Ritual by Stik Figa + The Expert
- The Devil’s Playground by MidaZ the Beast
- Champagne for Breakfast by Meyhem Lauren, DJ Muggs + Madlib
- Mourning Due by Nappy Nina
- Won’t He Do It by Conway the Machine
- Serpent by Kool Keith + Real Bad Man
- Ignorant Art by Ayo Shamir + Fabeyon + J.Arr
- Pangea by Gabe Nandez
- So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously by Atmosphere
- Gunsmoke by 38 Spesh
- It Means a Lot by Brainorchestra
- Painting Houses by Spanish Ran + Ufo Ev
- Hand Painted Realities by Knowitall + Barton100
- Ways of Knowing by Navy Blue
- Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA + Danny Brown
- Art of the Craft by JustVIBEZ
- The Structural Dynamics of Flow by Alaska Atoms + Steel Tipped Dove
- Die Wurzel by Neak
- Pookey: Stick Figa Finds Himself by Stick Figa + DJ Sean P
- Mind of a Saint by Skyzoo
- College Park by Logic
- Fullmetal Kaiju by Kill Bill: The Rapper
- Another Planet 4 by Phik
- F65 by IDK
- Glockoma 2 by Key Flock
Show Notes
- Least hip hop thing in the last 24 hours? (00:00)
- Great Escape - Larry June and Alchemist (12:22)
- To What End - Oddisee (24:31)
- Gunsmoke - 38 Spesh (37:32)
- He Left Nothing for the Swim Back - SKECH185 + Jeff Markey (48:59)
- From Whence It Came by YUNGMORPHEUS (1:08:24)
- Kilómetros - Crimeapple (1:20:55)
- 'Til I'm Dead - RXK Nephew (1:25:55)
- Parthian Shots by AJ Suede + Televangel (1:32:07)
- Notorious Dump Legends: Volume 2 by Mach-Hommy + The God Fahim (1:40:42)
- Glorious Game by Black Thought + El Michels Affair (1:51:11)
- Leather Blvd. - B. Cool-Aid + Pink Siifu + Ahwlee (1:56:37)
- To See a Sunset - Kota the Friend + Statik Selektah (2:05:31)
- Beware of the Monkey by MIKE (2:14:29)
- Round Trip - Statik Selektah (2:24:27)
- Scaring The Hoes - JPEGMafia + Danny Brown (2:31:32)
- Maps by billy woods and Kenny Segal (2:41:28)
- Verses of the Year (3:19:31)
- Songs of the Year (3:27:24)
- Artwork of the Year (3:39:21)
- Feature of the Year (3:43:11)
Now, remember to check our our EPIC 3-Album Run series: https://www.crate808.com/3album-runs
You can listen to The Rap Music Plug Podcast at http://rmpp.squarespace.com | Follow the show @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter/Insta/Threads
🤩 Don’t forget to hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons on YouTube to be notified of new episodes - https://bit.ly/2U76bba 🔔
🚨 Join Our Patreon: patreon.com/crate808 🚨
Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘One Beer’ https://bit.ly/3HuhgHP 🍺
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
Why I Love J Dilla’s ’Shake it Down’ and ‘Nag Champa’ https://bit.ly/30xjXaF 🍩
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘Figaro’ https://bit.ly/3lXu6Fo 🎶
‘Bulletproof Wallets’ album rev...
We bring you a behemoth of an episode breaking down hip hop in the year 2023 (so far) 🍿 We bring the ruckus with some awesome convos with some equally awesome people, this week we have:
Rohan from The Rap Music Plug Podcast, beat maker and writer, SonRaw, and our very own Boom Bap Crusader, Ray Ridge. Enjoy this smorgasbord of nerdy rap chat, as well as Kam’s Top 40 albums of the year so far below...
- Maps by billy woods + Kenny Segal
- Beware of the Monkey by MIKE
- Notorious Dump Legends: Volume 2 by Mach-Hommy + The God Fahim
- From Whence It Came by YUNGMORPHEUS
- To What End by Oddisee
- Parthian Shots by AJ Suede + Televangel
- Let’s Start Here by Lil’ Yachty
- MICHAEL by Killer Mike
- Glorious Game by Black Thought + El Michels Affair
- The Great Escape by Alchemist + Larry June
- Indiana Jones by Boldy James + RichGains
- Neutral Milc Motel: Extended Stay by Milc + Televangel
- Conductor We Have a Problem by Conductor Williams
- Rise & Shine by Jay Nice + Dough Networkz
- Nothing Bigger Than The Program by Roc Marciano + Jay Worthy
- Ritual by Stik Figa + The Expert
- The Devil’s Playground by MidaZ the Beast
- Champagne for Breakfast by Meyhem Lauren, DJ Muggs + Madlib
- Mourning Due by Nappy Nina
- Won’t He Do It by Conway the Machine
- Serpent by Kool Keith + Real Bad Man
- Ignorant Art by Ayo Shamir + Fabeyon + J.Arr
- Pangea by Gabe Nandez
- So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously by Atmosphere
- Gunsmoke by 38 Spesh
- It Means a Lot by Brainorchestra
- Painting Houses by Spanish Ran + Ufo Ev
- Hand Painted Realities by Knowitall + Barton100
- Ways of Knowing by Navy Blue
- Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA + Danny Brown
- Art of the Craft by JustVIBEZ
- The Structural Dynamics of Flow by Alaska Atoms + Steel Tipped Dove
- Die Wurzel by Neak
- Pookey: Stick Figa Finds Himself by Stick Figa + DJ Sean P
- Mind of a Saint by Skyzoo
- College Park by Logic
- Fullmetal Kaiju by Kill Bill: The Rapper
- Another Planet 4 by Phik
- F65 by IDK
- Glockoma 2 by Key Flock
Show Notes
- Least hip hop thing in the last 24 hours? (00:00)
- Great Escape - Larry June and Alchemist (12:22)
- To What End - Oddisee (24:31)
- Gunsmoke - 38 Spesh (37:32)
- He Left Nothing for the Swim Back - SKECH185 + Jeff Markey (48:59)
- From Whence It Came by YUNGMORPHEUS (1:08:24)
- Kilómetros - Crimeapple (1:20:55)
- 'Til I'm Dead - RXK Nephew (1:25:55)
- Parthian Shots by AJ Suede + Televangel (1:32:07)
- Notorious Dump Legends: Volume 2 by Mach-Hommy + The God Fahim (1:40:42)
- Glorious Game by Black Thought + El Michels Affair (1:51:11)
- Leather Blvd. - B. Cool-Aid + Pink Siifu + Ahwlee (1:56:37)
- To See a Sunset - Kota the Friend + Statik Selektah (2:05:31)
- Beware of the Monkey by MIKE (2:14:29)
- Round Trip - Statik Selektah (2:24:27)
- Scaring The Hoes - JPEGMafia + Danny Brown (2:31:32)
- Maps by billy woods and Kenny Segal (2:41:28)
- Verses of the Year (3:19:31)
- Songs of the Year (3:27:24)
- Artwork of the Year (3:39:21)
- Feature of the Year (3:43:11)
Now, remember to check our our EPIC 3-Album Run series: https://www.crate808.com/3album-runs
You can listen to The Rap Music Plug Podcast at http://rmpp.squarespace.com | Follow the show @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter/Insta/Threads
🤩 Don’t forget to hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons on YouTube to be notified of new episodes - https://bit.ly/2U76bba 🔔
🚨 Join Our Patreon: patreon.com/crate808 🚨
Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘One Beer’ https://bit.ly/3HuhgHP 🍺
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
Why I Love J Dilla’s ’Shake it Down’ and ‘Nag Champa’ https://bit.ly/30xjXaF 🍩
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘Figaro’ https://bit.ly/3lXu6Fo 🎶
‘Bulletproof Wallets’ album rev...
Previous Episode

90s Rap Classics for Aliens ft. Busta Rhymes, Biggie, EPMD, Def Squad | Ep. 156
Yes people, we’re back talking about which 90s rap songs we’d play to an alien to define hip hop. 👽 This one ran deep with some HUGE love for Busta, Del the Funky Homosapien, EPMD and hidden gems from Biggie 👀
Alien playlist in full: https://www.crate808.com/alien-playlist
Our 3-Album Run series: https://www.crate808.com/3album-runs
Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
🤩 Don’t forget to hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons on YouTube to be notified of new episodes - https://bit.ly/2U76bba 🔔
Show Notes
- Least hip hop thing in the last 24 hours? (00:00)
- Puff Daddy - All About the Benjamins (16:47)
- EPMD - Da Joint (27:38)
- Def Squad - Y’all Niggas Ain’t Ready (34:22)
- The Notorious B.I.G., Coolio, Big Mike, Buckshot, Redman, Ill Al Skratch, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Busta Rhymes - Points (38:09)
- Busta - Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check (46:00)
- Del the Funky Homosapien - Thank Youse (57:52)
- Ultramagnetic MCs - Bring it Down to Earth (1:15:00)
- Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks on Me (1:17:06)
- Group Home - Living’ Proof (1:26:09)
- Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick Cool Like Dat (1:27:42)
🚨 Join Our Patreon: patreon.com/crate808 🚨
Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘One Beer’ https://bit.ly/3HuhgHP 🍺
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
Why I Love J Dilla’s ’Shake it Down’ and ‘Nag Champa’ https://bit.ly/30xjXaF 🍩
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘Figaro’ https://bit.ly/3lXu6Fo 🎶
‘Bulletproof Wallets’ album review https://bit.ly/3mLV7vI 💰
Masta Ace’s ‘SlaughtaHouse’ review https://bit.ly/3KuRftm 🔪
Blahzay Blahzay ‘Blah Blah Blah’ review https://bit.ly/3ImFkvd 🗣
‘Fishscale’ + ‘More Fish’ reviews https://bit.ly/3pjYkUF 🐟
Why I Love J Dilla’s ‘Hold Tight (Remix)’ https://bit.ly/37QNq38 🎶
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘No Snakes Alive’ as King Geedorah https://bit.ly/38yxJxl 🐍
Da Lench Mob’s ‘Guerillas in tha Mist’ review https://bit.ly/3tQiesy 💥
Funkdoobiest's 'Brothas Doobie' review https://bit.ly/3nLs0J9 💨
Be sure to check out our merch - jump on https://www.crate808.com/new-merch to buy a tee or a hoody (or have a look at our Instagram shop), and help support the pod please. It all goes back into the pot for us to try make even more great content for you! 🙌
Catch all our Spotify playlists here...
Crate 808 Bangers: https://spoti.fi/3WjrSAj
Slept-On DJ Premier Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3iw4yun
Slept-On Wu-Tang Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/32QtAQG
Sample Corner Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3eYfhMd
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uSa552
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crate808
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crate_808
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crate808
Website: https://www.crate808.com
Next Episode

Could Raekwon Have Been as Big as Jay-Z? OB4CL 2 Review (Patreon Clip)
FULL 2 HOUR+ EPISODE 📲 https://tinyurl.com/2ofpm3d4
When EXACTLY did Raekwon the Chef become truly great? That’s just one of many, many topics we cover on this gargantuan review of ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II’. We also dig into Rae’s magic mixtape era, as we continue our Wu-Tang Clan Chronicles series. Get primed for over two hours of pure Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and general Wu rap chat 🍿🐝
Joining us are bonafide hip hop aficionados MidaZ the Beast, Tokyo Cigar and Dan O 🤩
More Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
🤩 Don’t forget to hit the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons on YouTube to be notified of new episodes - https://bit.ly/2U76bba 🔔
🚨 Join Our Patreon: patreon.com/crate808 🚨
Exclusive Episodes:
Ranking the top 36 Ghostface Killah songs https://bit.ly/3s98hoE 👻
Raekwon’s ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...’ album review https://bit.ly/41ftVbs 💎
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘One Beer’ https://bit.ly/3HuhgHP 🍺
Ghostface Killa’s ‘Ironman’ album review https://bit.ly/30DW7Ko 🐝
Why I Love J Dilla’s ’Shake it Down’ and ‘Nag Champa’ https://bit.ly/30xjXaF 🍩
‘Supreme Clientele’ album review https://bit.ly/3FP2CZM 👐
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘Figaro’ https://bit.ly/3lXu6Fo 🎶
‘Bulletproof Wallets’ album review https://bit.ly/3mLV7vI 💰
Masta Ace’s ‘SlaughtaHouse’ review https://bit.ly/3KuRftm 🔪
Blahzay Blahzay ‘Blah Blah Blah’ review https://bit.ly/3ImFkvd 🗣
‘Fishscale’ + ‘More Fish’ reviews https://bit.ly/3pjYkUF 🐟
Why I Love J Dilla’s ‘Hold Tight (Remix)’ https://bit.ly/37QNq38 🎶
Why I Love MF DOOM’s ‘No Snakes Alive’ as King Geedorah https://bit.ly/38yxJxl 🐍
Da Lench Mob’s ‘Guerillas in tha Mist’ review https://bit.ly/3tQiesy 💥
Funkdoobiest's 'Brothas Doobie' review https://bit.ly/3nLs0J9 💨
Be sure to check out our merch - jump on https://www.crate808.com/new-merch to buy a tee or a hoody (or have a look at our Instagram shop), and help support the pod please. It all goes back into the pot for us to try make even more great content for you! 🙌
Catch all our Spotify playlists here...
Crate 808 Bangers: https://spoti.fi/3WjrSAj
Slept-On DJ Premier Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3iw4yun
Slept-On Wu-Tang Bangers Playlist: https://spoti.fi/32QtAQG
Sample Corner Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3eYfhMd
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3uSa552
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crate808
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crate_808
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crate808
Website: https://www.crate808.com
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Featured in these lists
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/the-crate-808-podcast-112764/best-rap-albums-of-2023-so-far-verses-songs-mvps-features-of-year-ep-1-31498979"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to best rap albums of 2023 so far + verses, songs, mvps, features of year | ep. 157 on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy