Top 10 Hip Hop Songs of 2014

10. Action Bronson - Easy Rider

Action Bronson does his thing. Dat guitar sample though!

9. 100s - Ten Freaky Hoes (feat. Redinho)

Feels like some vintage West Coast goodness.

8. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Shame (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)

This is about as smooth as it gets.

7. Young Jeezy - Seen It All (feat. Jay-Z)

A beat that is both beautiful and a banger at the same time.

6. Rich Gang - Tell Em (Lies) feat. Rich Homie Quan & Young Thug

The perfect marriage of a catchy beat with the unique and infectious rhyming styles of Young Thug.

5. Apollo Brown & Ras Kass - How To Kill God

As an atheist, the song title piqued my interest. Was not disappointed.

4. CunninLynguists - Urutora Kaiju (feat. Tonedeff)

Two cosmic beings (Phallaxor The Matter Lord and Zarcon Steele) battle each other in an epic track of intergalactic proportions.

3. Big K.R.I.T. - Mt. Olympus

Big K.R.I.T. really does "snap" on this one, and once the beat drops at around the 1 minute mark, it's on like Donkey Kong.

2. ScHoolboy Q - Man Of The Year

This is the track you put on when you want to feel like the "Man Of The Year".

1. T.I. - About the Money (feat. Young Thug)

The ultimate showcase of everything that's great about Young Thug, and the beat only elevates this song into the stratosphere.

Download: Top 10 Hip Hop Songs of 2014

Ghostface Killah & Apollo Brown - 12 Reasons To Die

I just heard the most amazing news this morning! According to Apollo Brown himself, "RZA's label Soul Temple hit [him] up to do a second official version of the new Ghostface Killah album. Coming in April." While Adrian Younge is producing the CD version of 12 Reasons To Die, Apollo Brown has been commissioned to produce the CASSETTE version of the album. I've always said that my ideal rapper/producer combo was Apollo Brown and Ghostface Killah, and now it's actually happening! This project has automatically become my most anticipated album of 2013. I can't wait!

Little Vic - This Is What It Sounds Like

If the "It" in the song's title is referring to heaven, then I agree. Producer Double Shots seems to capture all the joy and happiness in the world and uses it to craft a magical beat for Little Vic to spit his lyrics. Vic flows well over the beat, delivering some memorable lines ("I hang by myself, just like Saddam"), but I would love to get my hands on an instrumental version of this track. The beat is just that good. I'm not familiar with any of Double Shots other production work, but I imagine this track would be his crowning achievement.

Radio Los Santos

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the definitive console game for hip hop heads. From the intricate plot details to the time period in which the story takes place, the game is steeped in hip hop culture. The icing on the cake is the presence of a fictional radio station by the name of Radio Los Santos. I remember countless times playing the game where I would just hop into a car and drive around aimlessly, listening to Radio Los Santos. It is the one radio station that truly captures the essence of the game.

At the heart of San Andreas is the city of Los Santos, which is based on the real-life city of Los Angeles. The playlist of Radio Los Santos accurately reflects the music you would have heard on a West Coast hip hop station in 1992, the year in which the game is set. One thing you will notice about the playlist is an overwhelming presence of Dr. Dre, having had a hand in 8 out of the 16 tracks. This is not surprising as Dr. Dre had the Midas Touch in the early 90's, producing hit after hit after hit, and let's not even mention The Chronic. 2Pac, Ice Cube, N.W.A. and Cyprus Hill all make appearances, resulting in a rather brilliant compilation tape which you can download in it's entirety below.

Funk Volume

Funk Volume is a movement I am right behind. The jury is still out on what exactly DJ Hoppa brings to the table, but Hopsin, SwizZz, Jarren Benton and Dizzy Wright are four very talented emcees. When they all hop on a track together, it is a joy to behold.

First Date: Eminem & Kanye West

Most people would think that Eminem and Kanye West first crossed paths in 2009 on the Drake track "Forever", also featuring Lil Wayne. However, this is not strictly the case. Nine years prior, Eminem made an appearance on The Madd Rapper's album Tell 'Em Why U Madd. The track was titled "Stir Crazy", and the producer was none other than Kanye West. Eminem got his Slim Shady on, and Kanye's beat was the perfect vehicle for it. Here's hoping that Eminem gets another chance to spit fire over some fresh Kanye production in the near future.

When Skits Are Done Right .....

Dispersing skits throughout an album is a largely pointless exercise. For some reason, many hip hop artists seem to fancy themselves as stand-up comedians, yet the skits they plague their albums with are rarely amusing or entertaining. There is not a single album I have ever enjoyed where the skits enhanced my listening experience ..... except one.