Published on July 19th, 2016 | by AWKWORD
0AWKWORD Chooses Top 50 Rap Songs of June
- Young Lito and Troy Ave’s off-key singalong, “I Love This Game”
- The soulful “Don’t Forget ‘Em” remix from OLD Kanye and his former Chi-town collaborator Consequence
- The rock-influenced song of protest “Say When” from THEY.
- Skyzoo’s genius response to Jay-Z’s “Friend or Foe ’98”
- Some non-violent rap confrontation from Diabolic and Talib Kweli, as well as Hus Kingpin and Rozewood talking to their (former) friends from Griselda
- The triumphant return of YC the Cynic, as Kemba (2 tracks)
- A bold effort from Vic Mensa, with Le1f, Lil B, Halsey and Malik Yusef
- More work from my “I Am” cohorts in Nigeria and Zambia, Modenine and Holstar
- New, classic ILL BILL
- My song of the month, the “1st” remix from Torii Wolf and DJ Premier, featuring Dilated Peoples
- De La Soul ft. Snoop Dogg – “Pain”
- Russ – “DiMaggio” [prod. by Russ]
- Young Lito ft. Troy Ave – “I Love This Game” [prod. by Robbie Nova & Yankee]
- Consequence & Kanye West – “Don’t Forget ‘Em (Remix)” [prod. by Kanye West]
- JAQUEBEATZ – “N.A.S.A.” [prod. by JAQEBEATZ]
- THEY. – “Say When”
- APSPDR+ ft. SZA, Nemo Achida & Moruf – “Bed (Reenacted)” [prod. by APSPDR+]
- KoS [Ghana] – “Certainly” [prod. by Bliz]
- Torii Wolf ft. Dilated Peoples (Evidence & Rakaa Iriscience) – “1st (Remix)” [prod. by DJ Premier]
- Vic Mensa ft. Le1f, Halsey, Lil B & Malik Yusef – “Free Love” [prod. by Papi Beatz]
- Kutt Calhoun ft. The Jokerr – “Alive” [prod. by DJ Pain 1]
- Modenine [Nigeria] ft. Maka [Nigeria] – “No Matter What” [prod. by Black Intelligence [Nigeria]]
- Holstar [Zambia] ft. Jane Jonazi [Zambia] – “Nipempako” [prod. by Kati [Zambia]]
- Jon Connor ft. Ali Vegas – “It’s Gonna Come (Remix)” [prod. by Jon Connor]
- Reek Da Villian – “Trouble Waters” [prod. by Sarah Jay]
- Donte Peace – “D.R.U.G.S.” [prod. by MaxTrax]
- Hussle Crowe – “B.L.A.C.K. Unity” [prod. by Ear 2 Tha Beat]
- Kemba (FKA YC the Cynic) – “Already” [prod. by Frank Drake]
- Kemba – “The New Black Theory” [prod. by Frank Drake]
- Napoleon Da Legend – “Time is the Enemy” [prod. by Quantic]
- Thelonious Martin ft. Joey Purp – “Bomaye” [prod. by Thelonious Martin]
- DMX – “Blood Red” [prod. by Divine Bars]
- Bishop Lamont ft. Ryu & Apathy – “Un-American” [prod. by Paul Cabbin]
- ILL BILL – “Make Them Die Slowly” [prod. by DJ Skizz]
- Superanfor (Colombia) ft. Planet Asia – “Respeta”
- Diabolic – “IneKwelity” (Talib Kweli Diss) [prod. by Junior Makhno]
- Talib Kweli – “You Tried It” (Diabolic Diss) [prod. by J. Rawls]
- MindsOne (KON Sci, Tronic, Noumenon & Slim Deluxe) & DJ Iron – “Follow The Light” [prod. by DJ Iron]
- Ugly Heroes (Verbal Kent, Red Pill & Apollo Brown) – “Today Right Now” [prod. by Apollo Brown]
- A-F-R-O & Marco Polo ft. Shylow – “Long Time Coming” [prod. by Marco Polo]
- MC White Owl – “Pickle Juice” [prod. by Jakk Wonders (South Africa)]
- Kuna (Italy) ft. K-Squeez – “So Cold” [prod. by Kuna]
- Oun-P ft. Styles P – “Fake Niggas” [prod. by The Cratez]
- Troy S.L.U.G.S. – “Under the Street Light”
- Aaron Cohen – “Off The Ground” [prod. by Kemal]
- Kembe X – “Excellence” [prod. by Hippie Sabotage]
- Black El ft. Black Josh – “Getaway” [prod. by Durkin]
- Gensu Dean & Denmark Vessey – “The Meek” [prod. by Gensu Dean]
- Maffew Ragazino – “Snowing in Jerusalem” [prod. by Sebb Bash]
- Cousin Stizz – “500 Horses” [prod. by Lil Rich]
- Napoleon Da Legend – “Fist of the North Star” [prod. by The Alchemist]
- PhybaOptikz ft. Daniel Son & SmooVth – “Fools Gold” [prod. by Giallo Point]
- WestSide Gunn ft. WestSide Pootie – “SummerSlam 88” [prod. by Your Old Droog]
- Ras Beats ft. Roc Marciano – “Wit No Pressure” [prod. by Ras Beats]
- Killer Ben & DirtyDiggs ft. Phil the Agony & Roc Marciano – “Cristal” [prod. by DirtyDiggs]
- Planet Asia – “SciThug” [prod. by BudaMonk]
- Big Twins ft. Planet Asia – “Last Man Standing” [prod. by Twiz the Beat Pro]
- Big Twins ft. Rozewood & Hus Kingpin – “Power” [prod. by Twiz the Beat Pro]
- Hus Kingpin & Rozewood – “Love Day”
- Skyzoo – “Friend or Foe Pt. 3”