10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2016 (So Far)

10. Kanye West - "The Life Of Pablo"

Yes, Kanye West is obnoxious. You can decide whether that hinders your enjoyment of his music or not, and yes, it’s entirely possible that his outrageous media persona now overshadows the reason we know him in the first place: his music.

Regardless, “The Life of Pablo” is a clear step forward from 2013’s “Yeezus”. Messier than a night on the lash with Pete Doherty, there are times when “TLoP” is chaotic, vulgar, and downright shambolic.

At it’s best, however, this album is quite brilliant. “Real Friends” and the Madlib-produced “No More Parties in L.A.” stand with the very best of Kanye’s discography. The gospel-infused “Ultralight Beam” opens TLoP with a groundswell of sunshine and positivity, while the Weeknd-assisted “FML” is bleak, raw, and compelling.

The inconsistencies are what let it down. “Facts” is particularly egregious: in perhaps the most unoriginal, trend-hopping track of his career, Yeezy sounds like he’s trying to go with the flow, rather than set it.

Take “Pablo” for what it is, separate the highs from the lows, accept that he’s never going to make another “College Dropout” and you’ll find an enjoyable record.