Emcee Of The Year
Kendrick Lamar
How do you win emcee of the year without dropping an actual album? If you’re Kendrick Lamar, you deliver what was easily the most explosive verse of the year with his bars from Big Sean’s “Control (HOF).” Follow that up by calling Drake a “sensitive rapper” and tucking him back in his pajama clothes during the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, and the foundation is laid. So no, K.Dot didn’t drop an album, but he upped the ante on competitive emceeing and made a few scene-stealing cameos on projects from the likes of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Quadron and J. Cole. That’s enough to earn his second consecutive nod for this award.
RUNNERS UP
Eminem
After relapsing in 2009 and recovering in 2010, Marshall Mathers returned to “Slim Shady” form with an assist from Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin on Marshall Mathers LP 2. Despite a mixed critical reception, the self-proclaimed “Rap God” nearly went platinum in a week with a mix of stadium Rap and complex, multi-syllable bars.
Chance The Rapper
Yes, Chicago’s Chance The Rapper was that good. He’s as introspective as they come, visceral as the the track requires and gifted with the most versatile voice we’ve heard since Wyclef Jean was rapping and singing about Haitian Sicilians.
Producer Of The Year
Mike WiLL Made-It
His name is difficult to properly spell, but his production credits are embarrassingly easy to locate. In 2013, Mike WiLL Made-It achieved the kind of cross-genre output Timbaland, Teddy Riley and The Neptunes did before becoming household names. And since the Atlanta native is equally adept at crafting backdrops for Project Pat or Miley Cyrus, there’s every indication that his Interscope-backed Ear Drummas imprint will allow him the same type of career trajectory Timbo, Skateboard P and Teddy enjoyed. If you heard a chart-topping beat this year, it was most likely that Mike WiLL Made-It.
RUNNERS UP
Alchemist
Alan the Chemist picked up where he left off in 2012. Durag Dynasty’s 360 Waves, Boldy James’ My 1st Chemistry Set and an Albert Einstein project with Prodigy filled the void of a signature, solo set. All of the above were quality over quantity. And when you add in co-scoring the Grand Theft Auto V video game, Al made his mark again in 2013.
DJ Mustard
For years, the West Coast resorted to appropriating the Southern bounce as a means to establish a presence in clubs and on the charts. A stint in his friend Ty Dolla $ign’s crib changed that, as 2012 saw DJ Mustard usher in the era of ratchet-ness with hits like “Rack City” and “Toot It And Boot It.” In 2013, He added to his lengthy list of production credits by supplying beats for Kid Ink, B.o.B., R. Kelly and RiFF RaFF.
Rising Star Of The Year
Chance The Rapper
Chancelor Bennett, better known by his rap pseudonym Chance The Rapper and best known as the Rising Star Of The Year, has had much to boast about in 2013. His rapid rise began in April with the release of his second mixtape, “Acid Rap.” Little did he know, that by July, his free mixtape would make it’s way on to Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart after bootleg copies circulated on iTunes and Amazon. Fast-forward to December and you’ve got the Chi-town emcee releasing a track with fellow musician and mega-power pop prince Justin Bieber in “Confident.” Mixtape success, Billboard debut and a crossover collaboration all in eight months? Check. A star in the making knows no boundaries.
RUNNERS UP
Isaiah Rashad
It seems like it was just a few months ago that Tennessee native Isaiah Rashad broke into the scene and already had Rap fans hungry for new material. Wait, it was just in September when Top Dawg Entertainment officially announced him as their artist. Rashad may have few quality tracks under his belt, but a co-sign from one of the hottest West Coast labels helps too.
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright was inducted into the XXL “Freshman Class” of 2013 at the top of the year, pretty much predetermining musical success. Wright’s “The Golden Age” mixtape did so well, in fact, it hit number 39 on Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His label Funk Volume must have been thrilled. #StillMovin...
Album Of The Year Run T
he Jewels by Killer Mike & El-P as Run The Jewels
Killer Mike and El-P struck gold in 2012 with R.A.P. Musica>. We thought it was brash, simultaneously innovative, reverential and referential and an impossible act to follow. Then El-P stepped from behind the boards and joined “Mike Bigga” over his own postmodern, synth-powered b-boy backdrops, and the results were equally amazing. As its title suggests, Run The Jewelsa> wasn’t for shook ones. Mike kills elderly women’s dogs, El-Producto brags about keeping his church socks on during sexual escapades and special guest Prince Paul (as Chest Rockwell) just wants to slip some Molly in his date’s drink. And then have anal sex. It all adds up to another win for Killer Mike and El-P.
RUNNERS UP
Yeezus by Kanye West
Whether you thought the project was awesome or awful, one fact remains, Yeezus did not go quietly into the night. It’s is the opposite of unmemorable, opposite of conventional, opposite of mediocre. Kanye’s latest is audacious, ornery and courageous—pushing the boundaries of what’s traditionally accepted in Rap to the brink of breech while flipping frustration into sonic progression. In 2013, for better and worse, Yeezus stands on a moving mountain alone.
Watching Movies With The Sound Off by Mac Miller
Blue Slide Park may have introduced most of the general public to Mac Miller, but the man formerly known as “Easy Mac” reintroduced himself to Hip Hop with Watching Movies With The Sound Off. Mac moved geographically and spiritually, and he also moved units. He wasted no time entrenching himself in the Left Coast music scene—primarily through his work with Odd Future members Earl Sweatshirt and The Internet. He got high, went high concept and delved into the depths that come with losing loved ones while questioning the worth of celebrity culture. It was a huge step up for the kid who created “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza.”
Mixtape Of The Year
Acid Rap by Chance The Rapper
There’s a million reasons to love Acid Rap—the shifting soundscapes and dripping honesty, the perfectly placed guest appearances and social awareness, the quirky references to cigarettes (of all things). Along with Chance’s uncanny ability to organically embody the best of Golden Era icons Andre 3000, Eminem, Wyclef Jean, for example, Acid Rap triumphs because the artist who crafted it taps into all aspects of his human experience. Chance tackles complex real world issues like gun violence in Chicago with the same ease as his approach to marijuana smoke. To paraphrase his half-bar on “Acid Rain,” Chance is the truth, whether or not he chooses to rhyme.
RUNNERS UP
King Remembered In Time by Big K.R.I.T.
K.R.I.T.’s penchant for giving away album-quality projects for free continued in 2012. On King Remembered In Time, the Meridian, Mississippi emcee turned up with Future and Trinidad Jame$, meditated and questioned his fate, then re-asserted his dominance all on the same project. The crown remains intact.
She Got Game by Rapsody
Rapsody’s She Got Game set a new standard for mixtapes. Considering how much effort was put into this project, it was arguably an album of sorts for Rap. Sure, that’s been the new business model for Hip Hop, but let’s face it—most Hip Hop mixtapes are slapped together, handed out and then hit retail for the late bloomers. Rapsody dropped off this well thought out project with solid features and reinforced her position as one of Hip Hop’s burgeoning artists. If you’ve never heard, She Got Game, grab the deluxe version. You won’t be sorry.
Non-Hip Hop Album Of The Year
The 20/20 Experience (1 of 2) by Justin Timberlake
In January, Justin Timberlake tweeted, “I think I’M READY.” A few days later, we heard “Suit & Tie” featuring Jay Z. We didn’t know what else to expect. How could he top FutureSex/LoveSounds? With Timbaland on board, we knew we could expect quality sounds on The 20/20 Experience (1 of 2). After sitting with the album since March, it’s hard to deny the hits and dapper sounds streaming from the speakers. It was a long seven years since JT’s released an album. The people were ready too, at least the two million (and counting) who own a copy.
RUNNERS UP
Sail Out by Jhene Aiko
Producer No I.D. had a sharp eye for talent when he signed Jhene Aiko to Def Jam under his imprint, Atrium Records. Even though her debut EP Sail Out held features from Childish Gambino, Ab-Soul, Vince Staples and most notably, Kendrick Lamar, Jhene shined and showed she was ready for a much deserved spotlight.
Avalanche by Quadron
Quadron may not have put numbers on the boards like many of the others in this category but Avalanche didn’t sonically disappoint. With only one feature from HipHopDX’s Emcee Of The Year, Kendrick Lamar, the Danish duo continued to push the boundaries on the music they were known for. And we thank them.
Kendrick Lamar
How do you win emcee of the year without dropping an actual album? If you’re Kendrick Lamar, you deliver what was easily the most explosive verse of the year with his bars from Big Sean’s “Control (HOF).” Follow that up by calling Drake a “sensitive rapper” and tucking him back in his pajama clothes during the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, and the foundation is laid. So no, K.Dot didn’t drop an album, but he upped the ante on competitive emceeing and made a few scene-stealing cameos on projects from the likes of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Quadron and J. Cole. That’s enough to earn his second consecutive nod for this award.
RUNNERS UP
Eminem
After relapsing in 2009 and recovering in 2010, Marshall Mathers returned to “Slim Shady” form with an assist from Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin on Marshall Mathers LP 2. Despite a mixed critical reception, the self-proclaimed “Rap God” nearly went platinum in a week with a mix of stadium Rap and complex, multi-syllable bars.
Chance The Rapper
Yes, Chicago’s Chance The Rapper was that good. He’s as introspective as they come, visceral as the the track requires and gifted with the most versatile voice we’ve heard since Wyclef Jean was rapping and singing about Haitian Sicilians.
Producer Of The Year
Mike WiLL Made-It
His name is difficult to properly spell, but his production credits are embarrassingly easy to locate. In 2013, Mike WiLL Made-It achieved the kind of cross-genre output Timbaland, Teddy Riley and The Neptunes did before becoming household names. And since the Atlanta native is equally adept at crafting backdrops for Project Pat or Miley Cyrus, there’s every indication that his Interscope-backed Ear Drummas imprint will allow him the same type of career trajectory Timbo, Skateboard P and Teddy enjoyed. If you heard a chart-topping beat this year, it was most likely that Mike WiLL Made-It.
RUNNERS UP
Alchemist
Alan the Chemist picked up where he left off in 2012. Durag Dynasty’s 360 Waves, Boldy James’ My 1st Chemistry Set and an Albert Einstein project with Prodigy filled the void of a signature, solo set. All of the above were quality over quantity. And when you add in co-scoring the Grand Theft Auto V video game, Al made his mark again in 2013.
DJ Mustard
For years, the West Coast resorted to appropriating the Southern bounce as a means to establish a presence in clubs and on the charts. A stint in his friend Ty Dolla $ign’s crib changed that, as 2012 saw DJ Mustard usher in the era of ratchet-ness with hits like “Rack City” and “Toot It And Boot It.” In 2013, He added to his lengthy list of production credits by supplying beats for Kid Ink, B.o.B., R. Kelly and RiFF RaFF.
Rising Star Of The Year
Chance The Rapper
Chancelor Bennett, better known by his rap pseudonym Chance The Rapper and best known as the Rising Star Of The Year, has had much to boast about in 2013. His rapid rise began in April with the release of his second mixtape, “Acid Rap.” Little did he know, that by July, his free mixtape would make it’s way on to Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart after bootleg copies circulated on iTunes and Amazon. Fast-forward to December and you’ve got the Chi-town emcee releasing a track with fellow musician and mega-power pop prince Justin Bieber in “Confident.” Mixtape success, Billboard debut and a crossover collaboration all in eight months? Check. A star in the making knows no boundaries.
RUNNERS UP
Isaiah Rashad
It seems like it was just a few months ago that Tennessee native Isaiah Rashad broke into the scene and already had Rap fans hungry for new material. Wait, it was just in September when Top Dawg Entertainment officially announced him as their artist. Rashad may have few quality tracks under his belt, but a co-sign from one of the hottest West Coast labels helps too.
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright was inducted into the XXL “Freshman Class” of 2013 at the top of the year, pretty much predetermining musical success. Wright’s “The Golden Age” mixtape did so well, in fact, it hit number 39 on Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His label Funk Volume must have been thrilled. #StillMovin...
Album Of The Year Run T
he Jewels by Killer Mike & El-P as Run The Jewels
Killer Mike and El-P struck gold in 2012 with R.A.P. Musica>. We thought it was brash, simultaneously innovative, reverential and referential and an impossible act to follow. Then El-P stepped from behind the boards and joined “Mike Bigga” over his own postmodern, synth-powered b-boy backdrops, and the results were equally amazing. As its title suggests, Run The Jewelsa> wasn’t for shook ones. Mike kills elderly women’s dogs, El-Producto brags about keeping his church socks on during sexual escapades and special guest Prince Paul (as Chest Rockwell) just wants to slip some Molly in his date’s drink. And then have anal sex. It all adds up to another win for Killer Mike and El-P.
RUNNERS UP
Yeezus by Kanye West
Whether you thought the project was awesome or awful, one fact remains, Yeezus did not go quietly into the night. It’s is the opposite of unmemorable, opposite of conventional, opposite of mediocre. Kanye’s latest is audacious, ornery and courageous—pushing the boundaries of what’s traditionally accepted in Rap to the brink of breech while flipping frustration into sonic progression. In 2013, for better and worse, Yeezus stands on a moving mountain alone.
Watching Movies With The Sound Off by Mac Miller
Blue Slide Park may have introduced most of the general public to Mac Miller, but the man formerly known as “Easy Mac” reintroduced himself to Hip Hop with Watching Movies With The Sound Off. Mac moved geographically and spiritually, and he also moved units. He wasted no time entrenching himself in the Left Coast music scene—primarily through his work with Odd Future members Earl Sweatshirt and The Internet. He got high, went high concept and delved into the depths that come with losing loved ones while questioning the worth of celebrity culture. It was a huge step up for the kid who created “Kool Aid & Frozen Pizza.”
Mixtape Of The Year
Acid Rap by Chance The Rapper
There’s a million reasons to love Acid Rap—the shifting soundscapes and dripping honesty, the perfectly placed guest appearances and social awareness, the quirky references to cigarettes (of all things). Along with Chance’s uncanny ability to organically embody the best of Golden Era icons Andre 3000, Eminem, Wyclef Jean, for example, Acid Rap triumphs because the artist who crafted it taps into all aspects of his human experience. Chance tackles complex real world issues like gun violence in Chicago with the same ease as his approach to marijuana smoke. To paraphrase his half-bar on “Acid Rain,” Chance is the truth, whether or not he chooses to rhyme.
RUNNERS UP
King Remembered In Time by Big K.R.I.T.
K.R.I.T.’s penchant for giving away album-quality projects for free continued in 2012. On King Remembered In Time, the Meridian, Mississippi emcee turned up with Future and Trinidad Jame$, meditated and questioned his fate, then re-asserted his dominance all on the same project. The crown remains intact.
She Got Game by Rapsody
Rapsody’s She Got Game set a new standard for mixtapes. Considering how much effort was put into this project, it was arguably an album of sorts for Rap. Sure, that’s been the new business model for Hip Hop, but let’s face it—most Hip Hop mixtapes are slapped together, handed out and then hit retail for the late bloomers. Rapsody dropped off this well thought out project with solid features and reinforced her position as one of Hip Hop’s burgeoning artists. If you’ve never heard, She Got Game, grab the deluxe version. You won’t be sorry.
Non-Hip Hop Album Of The Year
The 20/20 Experience (1 of 2) by Justin Timberlake
In January, Justin Timberlake tweeted, “I think I’M READY.” A few days later, we heard “Suit & Tie” featuring Jay Z. We didn’t know what else to expect. How could he top FutureSex/LoveSounds? With Timbaland on board, we knew we could expect quality sounds on The 20/20 Experience (1 of 2). After sitting with the album since March, it’s hard to deny the hits and dapper sounds streaming from the speakers. It was a long seven years since JT’s released an album. The people were ready too, at least the two million (and counting) who own a copy.
RUNNERS UP
Sail Out by Jhene Aiko
Producer No I.D. had a sharp eye for talent when he signed Jhene Aiko to Def Jam under his imprint, Atrium Records. Even though her debut EP Sail Out held features from Childish Gambino, Ab-Soul, Vince Staples and most notably, Kendrick Lamar, Jhene shined and showed she was ready for a much deserved spotlight.
Avalanche by Quadron
Quadron may not have put numbers on the boards like many of the others in this category but Avalanche didn’t sonically disappoint. With only one feature from HipHopDX’s Emcee Of The Year, Kendrick Lamar, the Danish duo continued to push the boundaries on the music they were known for. And we thank them.
....I made it halfway thru before I 
,u might feel differently.
...I cant front on the production