Its almost Thanksgiving and that means its time to count everything you’re thankful for this year. 2017 has been another great year for music, so its only right to look back on it and count all the blessings rappers gave us. Here is my list of 10 songs I’m thankful dropped in 2017:
1. Live Up To My Name – BAKA NOT NICE (Prod. By French Connect, Chapo, and Alex Lustig)
2017 showed us OVO has another superstar in the making with Baka Not Nice. This song is one of the many reasons why, as he delivers a straight hit over Chapo, French Connect, and Alex Lustig fire beat. There’s so many quotables in this track that no matter who you are once this track comes on you’ll be feeling yourself for 3 straight minutes
2. Bank Account – 21 Savage (Prod. By 21 Savage)
All thanks to 21 for this track, he gave us the ultimate “when the direct deposit hits” anthem. Whether you’re a janitor or rotting in corporate America when it’s payday you got 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 m’s figuratively or hypothetically in your bank account for that day.
3. Met Gala – Gucci Mane Feat. Offset (Prod. By CUBeatz, Southside, & Metro Boomin)
2017 was Gucci, Metros and Offset’s year. When you get them on one track you got to be thankful and count your blessings.
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4. Netflix & Dusse – Smino (Prod. by Monte Booker)
When Smino’s verse got left off Living Single with Big Sean it was blow to his fans and left them wondering why. However, Smino didn’t forget about it and came back with this track centered around his left off verse and adding one of the catchiest hooks of the year. This song gets better each listen, as he and Monte Booker serve up fan favorite; even resulting in him throwing after parties on tour around this theme. Not to mention the dope video, Netflix & Dusse was truly the gift that keeps on giving in 2017.
5. When I Get Rich – L.A. Van Gogh (Prod. By L.A. VanGogh, Rob Lyrical, IKON)
L.A. has been on fire in 2017 dropping many tracks including his new project “Everything is Subjective”. This track served as a highlight; as he shares his thoughts on what he would do when he gets rich from buying luxury items, taking a care of his family, to even buying a cloud to make sure it doesn’t come out when the sun’s out. This is one of the most fun and inspirational tracks of 2017 and has myself dreaming about what I’ll do with my money when I secure the bag. **Spoiler Alert: I would buy the bulls and get Gar/Pax all the way out of Chicago**
6. Element – Kendrick Lamar (Prod. By James Blake, Sounwave, and Ricci Riera)
Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper alive right now and it’s not even close. Element shows Kdot at his best, rapping as aggressively as ever and even taking shots at wack rappers. He also gives quotables like “I don’t do it for the gram, I do it for Compton”; these are the messages we need right now with everybody out here doing anything for likes. #KendrickforPresident. Also s/o the gods James blake, Sounwave, and Ricci Riera for the incredible beat.
7. Marcy Me -JAY-Z (Prod. By No I.D.)
We were blessed in 2017 to have the resurgence of JAY-Z when he dropped the critically acclaimed 4:44. This song in particular is one I’m thankful for, as it sees him returning back to his roots over No I.D’s amazing beat and reminding us why he’s one of the greatest ever.
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8. Karma – Saga Feat. Freddie Gibbs (Prod. By Thelonious Martin)
2017 had an abundance of collab projects to choose from and one of the best was from Brooklyn rapper Saga and Chicago producer Thelonious Martin. Their project “Molotov” gave rap every great element it’s known for from the beats, bars, and wordplay all on point mixed into one. One of their standout tracks off it featured Freddie Gibbs, who up to this point had not been heard from since he was freed from jail in Europe. Its good to hear him back better than ever and alongside Saga and Thelonious made for a track that has been in rotation all year.
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9. Land Of The Free – Joey Bada$$ (Prod. By Kirk Knight & Adam Pallin)
Joey Bada$$ solidified his superstardom in 2017 dropping his project All-Amerikkan Bada$$. A majority of the album had many positive messages to share, as well as subjects impacting America on a daily basis. No song stays truer to this than “Land Of The Free” where Joey tackles racism and discrimination that unfortunately affects many americans everyday. He took this negative and made it into a dope track, one that I am thankful for while we have a wack president who hates on Big Ballers and Marshawn Lynch in office.
10a. Good To Be Home – Bump J (Prod. By Cardo)
One of the top things I’m thankful for in 2017 is the return of Bump J to Chicago and the city embracing him with open arms. The sky’s the limit from here and it will be exciting to see what else he has in store for us. If “Good To Be Home” was any indication, the takeover is just beginning.
10b. goonsquad – Femdot (Prod. By Charles Lauste)
This Femdot song has to be accompanied here because he gave us the anthem to play when Bump J got freed and I got show my thanks for that.
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