(ThyBlackMan.com) Hip Hop in 2015 has been an interesting year as far as the aspect of the art. Kendrick Lamar dropped To Pimp A Butterfly that pushed his musical limitations and was well received by critics/music fans/connoisseurs. Drake furthered the Toronto Sound with If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and Future and Meek Mill kept the trunks rattling with their releases of DS2 and Dreams Worth More Than Money. But as always, sometimes there are records that are really, really good in their own right but hasn’t gotten their proper acclaim or praise. Typically, it’s due to other records coming out at the same time, breaking news headlines of fellow rappers or just the artist making a record that strayed from the pop lanes and top streaming charts. With that said, here are 5 slept on records that aren’t getting their just due and why they should get more spins.
1. Tyler, The Creator Cherry Bomb
Tyler has matured a lot since the days Odd Future ran rampant in the hip hop scene, but so many rap fans usually won’t give the talented rapper/producer a chance to see the growth he’s channeled as that rapper/producer. Cherry Bomb has Tyler going in lyrical and musical depths that show maturity; rapping about a variety of social/humanity issues while thinking more as a musician than beat maker. He even crafted songs with Stevie Wonder as inspiration. Although it’s a departure from previous works, it could be considered his best album to date overall.
2. Wale, The Album about Nothing.
Learning from the reception of his last album The Gifted, TAAN has 
Wale more comfortable with his role as “the weird one” on Maybach Music. His singles “The Matrimony” and “The Body” put the D.C rapper in a space where he could create a radio single without feeling the raft of accusations about him attempting to change his style. Album cuts like “The Success,” the conscious J. Cole collaboration “The Pessimist” and “The White Shoes” which expands on the insecurity of people makes the album worth a listen. Women, social issues and shoes = Wale.
3. Snoop Dogg- Bush
Yes, this is more of a Snoop funk-inspired album. But the collaboration between him and Pharrell showed their chemistry runs deeper than the classic records of “Beautiful” and “Drop it Like it’s Hot.” Pharrell matched his funk with Snoop’s psychedelic crooning, to conceive an album that did the classic groovy sounds of the 70’s justice. Songs such as “R U A Freak” and “California Roll” gives the BUSH the grown and sexy penchant that Snoop and P we’re going for.
4. ASAP Rocky At.Long.Last.ASAP
Entertainment Weekly’s review of the album spoke at length of Flacko’s apparent affection of depression rap. They’re correct and ALLA further pushes his dark sound with more subject matter (ASAP Yams death) to back it up. Although it is dark, it’s also his most assertive and flexible project; collaborations with UGK, Kanye West, M.I.A and even Rod Stewart has the Harlem rapper comfortable with his direction and music.
5. Lupe Fiasco Tetsou & Youth
Luke Fiasco never gets the proper credit for releasing one of the best albums of the year. Same for this year, in which was primarily overshadowed by the release of J. Cole’s 2014 Forest Hill Drive, and subsequent releases by Drake If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late And Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly. Only hardcore Lu fans stand by the under-appreciated brilliance of Tetsou & Youth which is an injustice: tracks such as “Mural” flashes brilliance in each minute of the eight minute track, while “Little Death” mixes the world of religion and politics as he pieces together the mistreatment of humanity and animals.
