10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2017 (So Far)

In February of this year, Big Sean released the highly anticipated follow up to the hype-beast favorite Dark Sky Paradise, and while the critical and commercial response may be somewhat underwhelming, he was still able to at least make another true mark on the scene this year.

The album follows the trend of Big Sean’s production and release schedule, relying on heavy bangers with innovative but familiar instrumentals and dead-pan delivery that can range from soft droll to rapid-fire rhymes that would even impress Twista fans.

Now while 2011’s Hall of Fame might be his most humble and exploratory project, I Decided is still a daring venture into even more unexplored territory in hip-hop, using relatively unseen imagery such as video game simulated videography with “Jump Out The Window” and trippy-dreamlike sequences in the video for the incredibly catchy “Moves” that features heavy use of metaphorical photography.

Much like the prior releases of Sean’s discography, the album’s release is primarily supported by the singles that came off this album, and this one in particular was another perfect example of his stylistically hype-filled releases.

This is what Sean is usually criticized and revered for, as his work ethic has provided him a template to create music, causing hardcore fans to sense the repetition, diminishing the impact of every release, whilst building a reputation for being able to release consistently.

Listen to this album in a car on the way to the club, or at work to hype you up, it is a really upbeat album that takes positive approaches to typical issues, something rather uncommon in mainstream hip-hop that proves that Big Sean is taking steps to keep his name on the list of top MC’s in the game.