Every single year, I feel like I consume even more music than the year before. At this point, how is it even possible? Below is an unstable, constantly shifting list of what I enjoyed most this calendar year. All of these albums and EPs assisted with my two hour commute through Chicago traffic. Thank you, music, for making the world a better place.

It’s worth noting that 1) I included every artist once. So if they released a bunch of albums, they’re all thrown together in the same slot. Sloppy, I know, but if I didn’t do it that way, my top 10 would be nothing but DJ Muggs and Mach-Hommy albums.

2) I didn’t include any albums where I assisted/helped, which included Oatmello’s wonderful two projects, Sleepy Fish’s My Room Becomes the Sea, and Aviino’s Plush. Great projects. Shameless self-promo, yeah, yeah, but go listen.

01. DJ Muggs

Tuez-Les Tous (w. Mach-Hommy)

Hell’s Roof (w. Eto)

Medallo (w. Crimeapple)

Kill Em All (w. Mach-Hommy)

Dump Assassins (w. Tha God Fahim)

Members Only (w. Mayhem Lauren)

Personal favorite: “900K” (w. Mach-Hommy)

DJ Muggs is the MVP of the year. Tuez-Les Tous, my favorite of his six releases, is unstoppable. Muggs also produced Hell’s Kitchen with Eto, Dump Assassins with Tha God Fahim, Medallo with Crimeapple, Members Only with Mayhem Lauren. And oh yeah, another album by Mach-Hommy under the title Kill Em All. It’s the only album where you can hear a song with verses in both Spanish and Haitian Creole. In 2020, we need a Muggs and DOOM album.

02. Zelooperz

Dyn-o-mite

Wild Card

Personal favorite: “JayJay-Z”

Zelooperz popped back on my radar this year in a big way. I rediscovered this talented Detroit MC after hearing an Earl feature on “Easter Sunday”. While that song is worthy of applause, it’s an outlier on Dyn-o-mite, the only soulful and gospel-like track on a psychotic punch-in-the-face album. Some of the hottest rap songs of the year can be found on Dyn-o-mite. “Easter Sunday” sounds like a gasp of air before running through another brick wall. Oh yeah, Zelooperz released another album this year, Wild Card, and it stands just as tall. Someone give this man a medal. Bruiser.

03. Joe Nora

Fell into the Pool

Favorite Color, Rain (w. Karavelo)

Whale Watching EP

Personal favorite: “Fuji4000”

Producer Joe Nora had a stand-out year. He released one EP, two full-lengths, numerous loose singles, and numerous collaborations. His music was constantly popping up on my Spotify and it was always a cause for celebration. Nora released his aquatic debut full-length, Fell into the Pool (Inner Ocean Records), then followed it up with the drippy, collaborative album Favorite Color, Rain, alongside producer Karavelo (Effortless Records), then went on to close the year with the serene EP Whale Watching (Dust Collectors Records).

04. billy woods

Hiding Places (w. Kenny Segal)

Terror Management

Personal favorite: “Spongebob”

billy woods was relentless this year. Releasing two dense, consistent, brutal, poetic albums. First with Hiding Places, fully produced by Kenny Segal, then Terror Management. Apparently the two were recorded around the same time, despite the seven month release difference. Two acclaimed albums in the same year. To top it off, Kenny Segal released the instrumental versions for your next woke karaoke night.

05. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Bandana

Personal favorite: “Giannis” (w. Anderson .Paak)

The most hyped (and rightfully so) rap album of the year. Front to back heat. A level up from Pinata, and an insane follow-up to Gibbs’ 2018, where he released both Freddie and Fetti. Gibbs might be my favorite rapper alive. Makes me proud to be from Indiana. And the Tiny Desk to end the year is icing on the cake.

06. Beam

95

Personal favorite: “2x2” (but also “Unda Armor”)

Sheesh! 1-5 on this list (other than Bandana) contains a multitude of albums. Multiple projects and releases making for a larger catalog. Beam’s debut ‘EP’ stands on its own with the plethora of heavy hitters. The ten song project is energized, intense, electrified, bouncing off the walls. Switching up flows and styles like Danny Brown mixed with Cypress Hill mixed with Caribbean trap. Chasethemoney with the co-sign. Nothing sounded better in my car this year. Nothing.

07. Paul Moody & Kyle McEvoy

Empty & Honest EP

Personal favorite: “You’re Too Good to Me”

This EP blew my mind. Five songs fully produced by Kyle McEvoy showcasing Paul Moody, a young and inventive singer/songwriter from Chicago who now resides in Nashville. This EP led me to the separate 2019 single “Fly on My Margarita Glass”, and last year’s album, The Ghost Album, which, if that album came out this year, would be at the very top of this list. I can’t wait to hear what Paul Moody does next.

08. Mach-Hommy

Wap Konn Joj!

Personal favorite: “Eedeot Bwoy”

After exclusively releasing $100 albums in the past, ominous mystic MC Mach-Hommy thankfully dropped three albums in 2019 available on all streaming platforms. Two came produced by DJ Muggs (featured at the top of this list) and squeezed in between those releases was Wap Konn Joj!, which features “Eedeot Bwoy”, one of the best rap songs of the last few years.

09. Tree

Nothing IS Something (w. Vic Spencer)

We Grown NOW

The Wild End (w. Parallel Thought)

Personal favorite: “Double DD’s”

Tree went on a rampage this year. With three albums (and a delayed fourth on the way), he returned to the forefront of the underground hip-hop conversation. Releasing two solo albums and another album alongside Vic Spencer, Tree shined the entire calendar year. He was in storyteller mode, speaking truths and relaying wisdoms and tales. It’s a great journey to press play. The Tree discography has not only expanded, but improved.

10. Resavoir

Resavoir

Personal favorite: “LML”

This album does not have a genre. And neither do I. One of the few songs on the album with lyrics, “LML” remains in my head for days at a time. A kind of mantra to calm to me down. Featuring an assembly of Windy City musicians with Will Miller (of Whitney) front and center, Resavoir is jazz, soul, blues, hip-hop, modern classical. Resavoir is Chicago.

11. Boogie Belgique

Prelude to Machine

My favorite instrumental EP of the year. Trip-hop. Hip-hop. Vintage bounce. I first heard Boogie Belgique in Uruguay and, once I was back in Chicago, the artist released the song “Chicago”. It was meant to be. This one feels like tapdancing back in time.

12. Lord Apex

Smoke Sessions, Vol. 2

High Stakes, Low Ryder

Smoked out raps. Lofi hip-hop. Whatever you want to call it: Lord Apex brought the heat this year and both of his albums (including wild snippet-style tracks with producers Lester Nowhere and Okho) are worthy of applause. My favorite song, “Vintage Garms”, was even included as part of A Colors Show. A great year. Shout-out Too North and Radio Juicy.

13. Joey Pecoraro

Deep in a Dream of You

An immersive instrumental experience. Cinematic, vintage, forever daydreaming with an exposed heart and a wide smile. Joey Pecoraro’s music is like watching a feel-good animated short film that doesn’t exist. Deep in a Dream of You is the album I played after 20 minutes of browsing Spotify only to inevitably return to my comfort zone.

14. Obijuan

The King's Wishes (w. GRIMM Doza)

Konoha (w. Philanthrope)

Bush Mechanic (w. Don Carrera)

Velentine Zigolo (w. Too North)

A truly impressive year for rapper Obijuan. Releasing four projects with exclusive production, making for an always cohesive listening experience. While The King’s Wishes with GRIMM Doza seemed to have received the most commercial attention, Konoha with Philanthrope was my tape of the summer.

15. Mt Marcy

Reassemblage

Galapagos Loops

Like Watching the Super Bowl

Three Mt. Marcy projects this year! Reassemblage is a unique rundown of field recordings and soft bumps (a favorite). Galapagos Loops is lofi loops. And Like Watching the Super Bowl is full of soothing harp samples. Go outside for the afternoon and play all three.

16. Benny the Butcher

The Plugs I Met EP

One hell of a hip-hop EP. This one was played a lot this year. Featuring Pusha T, Black Thought, Conway the Machine, and more (Jadakiss!), this is a very strong project. Benny will drop something even more serious in 2020.

17. Nellie McKay

Bagatelles

Find another list with Nellie McKay squeezed between Benny the Butcher and Da$h. This album is a nice follow-up to McKay’s 2018 release Sister Orchid. Stripped down lounge bar songs. Perfect for a cocktail. Or a nap.

18. Da$h & Vdon

5 Deadly Venoms EP/LP

This EP is killer. Da$h has always been one of my favorites, and Vdon does not disappoint. Released initially as an EP, the project was re-released as an LP with a bonus track and accompanying instrumentals. Get that.

19. Qari & Green Sllime

Operation Hennessy

I used to be so wrapped up in Chicago hip-hop, but each year, it seems my list contains less and less Windy City rap. That being said, the collaborative tape between rapper Qari and producer Green Sllime is one for the books. It feels lost in time, wandering through Chicago with a sack of grass and a cocky grin.

20. Kyle McEvoy

Everything (w. L. Martin)

Bloom (w. Stan Forebee)

Twin

Late Night Conversations

Kyle McEvoy defined prolific in 2019. Releasing collaborative projects, compilations (see Sonder House below), and producing for vocalists like L. Martin and Paul Moody, McEvoy was constantly working. Not to mention his side project The Field Tapes. His calming guitar and somber, ambient backdrops soundtracked a great deal of my year this year.

21. L. Martin - Kicks EP / Kenosha EP / Everything (feat. above)

22. Sean Deaux - Vice City 3

23. Sonder House - Recollections 2 & 3

24. Valee - Runnin Rich EP

25. Santport & Rhoda - Inward Isles

26. Your Old Droog - It Wasn’t Even Close / Transportation / Jewelry

27. Kaina - Next to the Sun

28. Chester Watson - Nebulous EP

29. Iris Temple - The Ones We Love EP

30. Vdon, Willie the Kid, Eto - Heather Grey EP

31. Alaskan Tapes - Views from Sixteen Stories / Millions

32. Jiles - Fuck Jiles EP