

Proceed with caution, because Carti isn’t leaving the block anytime soon. Yeah, the Pi’erre Bourne-produced track was an earworm all by itself, but once Carti peppered the beat with his swagger, he milly-rocked his way into the hearts of the hip-hop world.

Playboi Carti’s unconventional rap style and penchant for funky ad-libs are what made “Magnolia” such a game-changer. Fortunately, he battled back in 2017 with his highest-charting single ever, “Unforgettable.” Anchored by Swae Lee’s delicate hook, “Unforgettable” nailed the Afrobeats sound that artists like Wizkid and Burna Boy have been importing for a few years now. Swae Lee, “Unforgettable”įrench Montana didn’t end 2016 at his best: MC4 leaked months early, thanks to a Target release mishap, throwing a major kink into his plans. Grizzley’s unfiltered approached won over rap luminary JAY-Z, who gushed about the MC’s authenticity during an August interview with RapRadar. “Thirty months ago n-as ain’t think that I was coming home/ Shout out to them n-as’ freaks that I been cumming on,” he spews at his foes. Though mumble rap permeated the hip-hop scene in 2017, Tee Grizzley elbowed his way into the discussion with his undeniable single “First Day Out.” From the onset, the bone-chilling record finds Grizzley reflecting about his cold nights behind bars - but halfway through the record, Grizzley’s level of aggression spikes, as the beat switches into a dark and ominous soundscape. The 20 Best Rap Albums of 2017: Critics' Picks
