Hip-Hop in 2012: A Year in Review Pt. 1 [By @Jordie_Mac]

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In my opinion, 2012 has been a very good year for hip-hop. We’ve had massive projects and massive singles from the leaders of the new school and the elder statesmen of the culture. We’ve had massive controversy to go along with it all. We’ve also not had a single hip-hop artist go platinum this year. Despite this though, I honestly think that we’ll look back on this year in five years time and appreciate how important it was for the next generation of our own hip-hop stars.

Sit with me for the next few minutes as I round up my personal highlights and lowlights of the previous twelve months.

Highlight of 2012

- The Emergence of the New-School of Producers. | Hit-Boy – “Fan”
If you were to make a playlist of your favourite tracks of 2012, how long would it take to reach a track where you didn’t hear one of the signature drops from Harry Fraud, Young Chop or Mike Will? Those three in particular have had a stellar twelve months crafting some of the biggest hits heard in clubs and radio alike. The entire projects stemming from these producers are also impressive too. Whilst it’s not exactly anything revolutionary, I’ve liked some of the projects in 2012 completely produced by one person; “Cigarette Boats”, “Rare Chandeliers” and “No Idols” being great examples. Away from the aforementioned though, Hit-Boy has had his breakout year too. No-one really needs to mention the massive singles under his belt already but the Hit-Story mixtape was rather surprising. His raps aren’t particularly great but there are definitely some heaters on there. Check out “Fan” above, shit is one of my favourite songs of the year, no question.

Lowlight of 2012

- Big Sean @ The HMV Institute, Birmingham
Man, I really wasn’t feeling this show. I guess the most annoying thing about the whole thing was the fact that Sean has hits under his belt which were seemingly all forgotten. No “High Rise”. No “Bullsh*ttin”. No “Made”. No “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me”. No “My Closet”, “Hometown Glory”, “Desire, Want and Need” or “Experimental”. Whilst I didn’t expect him to really perform ALL of those slightly older tracks, one or two would’ve definitely appeased the stronger Sean fans out there. The constant “When I say swerve, you say Boi” wasn’t really my speed either. I didn’t really sense any stage presence and the horrible attempt at an encore capped a pretty disappointing night. However…

Highlight of 2012

- Dom Kennedy @ XOYO, Camden.
I saw Watch the Throne this year. Everyone knows how much of a massive spectacle that was. This show right here though might go down as my favourite of all time though. I don’t really know why I enjoyed it as much as I did but I don’t think I’ve ever come away from a show feeling as content as this particular one. Dom came out to the UK and performed everything. He unexpectedly performed “The Ways” too which just so happens to be MY JOINT. Above all else, he let Kendrick’s verse ride out on “We Ball” and spent half an hour after the show dapping niggas and taking photos. His stage presence was surprisingly impressive, the energy in the place was good and the tickets were only £6. I don’t even need to say anything else. Dom did the damn thing.

Lowlight of 2012

- Meek Mill in 2012
Be completely honest right now and ask yourself this question. As the year draws to an end, would you put Dreamchasers 2 in your Top 5 mixtapes of the year? Thought not. Now ask yourself this, do you put Dreams and Nightmares in your Top Five albums of the year? Infact, fuck that. Does Dreams and Nightmares go anywhere near your Top TWENTY?

Didn’t think so.

Man, I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t blazing “Burn” all summer. I’d be lying if I said “Young Kings” hasn’t got significant rotation on my iPhone of late too. Really and truly though, I got lost amid the hype surrounding the massive DC2 release and all the trash talking on Twitter about how he’s going to go platinum first week. Come on man, the projects were lacklustre. “Young and Getting It” is an awful song. There are several duds on DC2 and a Hov’ verse on “Lay Up” couldn’t even get that shit poppin. Now you’re sending out ordinary diss tracks at Cassidy? A rapper from your home town?

Come correct in 2013 before people start to realise the mediocrity.

Highlight of 2012

- Jeremih in 2012 | Download “Late Nights with Jeremih”
I really don’t know why Def Jam aren’t pushing Jeremih to the forefront of the R&B scene. Dude has all the ingredients to make it back to the top. Really and truly Late Nights with Jeremih is potentially my favourite mixtape of 2012. Outside from his R&B mainstay though he has quietly crafted some DOPE hooks for some of the biggest hip-hop tracks this year. Guys seem to forget that he was originally on “Amen”. Big record. That “My Moment” record though? Absolute flames. “All That” on Game’s Jesus Piece? Complete fire. “R.N.F” on Chip’s London Boy with Tip? Straight heat. Not to mention all the crack on the mixtape. He’s had a stellar year.

Lowlight of 2012

- The Passing of Capital Steez
I’m going to admit straight off the bat that I’m not well versed in the Pro Era movement. I am not a massive Joey fan and I don’t know a great deal about their crew. This news touched me a little though. Steez went way too soon. Rest in Peace.

Highlight of 2012

- The Absence of Drake
Drake had a better 2012 than 75% of rappers in the game and he didn’t drop a single solo record. Think about that for a second. We did not hear a SINGLE Drake track in 2012. It’s amazing when you think about it because  it really feels like he hasn’t gone anywhere. He pretty much carried “No Lie”. He popped up on “Pop That” and washed everyone on the track. He did the exact same on “Fuckin Problems”. He only had 8 bars on “Us” yet killed it. He killed “Amen”. He killed that Bieber record on the low too. He probably came off the strongest on “Diced Pineapples” without even spitting a verse and he arguably had a Top 3 feature of the year in “Stay Schemin”. I haven’t even mentioned strong showings on the “We In This” Remix and “Poetic Justice” either. Imagine that I told you at the end of last year that we’re only going to hear ten Drake features in 2012 and no solo records. You would’ve probably laughed and said “yeah alright, cool” especially off the back of Take Care. That’s all we’ve had in 2012 though and to be honest, I kinda fuck with it.

I’ve previously spoken about how less is often more in this world and I think this is one of the better examples in the modern game. Take a moment to think what he’s done for a lot of niggas this year too. Meek needed “Amen” to get the ball rolling for Dreams and Nightmares. “Pop That” started French’s run. You really think “No Lie ” would’ve gone platinum and B.O.A.T.S. gone gold without Drizzy’s presence? You think “Fuckin Problems” would have as much appeal without Aubrey too? You can front on this nigga all you want but you can’t deny what he’s done in such a short space of time. That Club Paradise Tour was huge this summer and I personally think he’s got the edge on Life is Good for that Best Album grammy in the new year. Drizzy is winning and he ain’t even dropping shit. Clap for ‘im.

Favourite tracks and albums right around the corner.

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