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

8. Lushlife & CSLSX - "Ritualize"

Kanye West The Life Of Pablo
Western Vinyl

Philadelphia rhymesmith Lushlife has spent the bulk of his melding the indie rock and hip-hop worlds together, and it’s never been more apparent than on “Ritualize.”

Producer CSLSX keeps the sonic palate rich and varied throughout. “Ritualize” captures that loose feel of live instrumentation coupled with pristine production values to provide an ever-shifting sonic backdrop ranging from dangerous rock and roll (“Burt Reynolds (Desert Visions)”), to blissful psychedelia (“Hong Kong (Lady of Love)”).

Lushlife himself is a smooth, confident presence on the mic. Whether flying solo or going toe-to-toe with guests like Freeway and Killer Mike, he’s commanding without being overly abrasive, and versatile enough to never sound uncomfortable throughout this diverse collection of songs.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.