Hip-Hop Wired’s 10 Best Video Games of 2018

Hip-Hop Wired's 10 Best Video Games of 2018

Source: Future Publishing / Getty

2018 is coming to a close and if you’re a gamer the year has been a good one for you when it came to powering up your consoles and escaping reality for a few hours.

One could make the argument for 2018 being one of the best years in video game history. It’s been a while since we seen so many critically acclaimed titles hit consoles in one year keeping gamers in front of their 4K televisions regularly.

I’ve been gaming for a long time, and I can’t recall a time when there was just so many games to play with some of them launching in the same month. In this year alone we saw the return of Kratos, web swung through the streets of NYC as Spider-Man, got the Dragon Ball Fighter Z game we always wanted, returned to the Wild Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2, teamed up with Lara Croft to stop the apocalypse in Shadow of The Tomb Raider and so much more.

We decided to list our favorite 10 games from 2018, and no Fornite is not on it. While 2019 has some big titles to look forward to like *coughs* Resident Evil 2, and The Last of Us 2, this year has been one for the record books. Hit the gallery below to see which games got mad respect from us and which title got that number 1 spot.

Photo: Future Publishing / Getty

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Nipsey Hussle ft. Stacy Brathe “Victory Lap,” Troy Ave “Who I’m Becoming” & More | Daily Visuals 12.31.18

Rolling Loud Los Angeles 2018

Source: Scott Dudelson / Getty

On the low, Nipsey Hussle had one of the year’s best rap albums in Victory Lap and though he made more noise with his hand of God slap at the BET Awards, he’s still out to prove his music is what Y’all need to pay attention to.

Today. the LA rapper dropped the clip for the title track to his album in which he goes south of the border to Mexico to soak in the Central American sun while riding boats and posing next to the Aztec pyramids.

Back in Brooklyn, Troy Ave continues to make the most of his freedom as he blesses kids with school supplies and goes golfing in the visual to “Who I’m Becoming.”

Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from 8Ball & MJG, Fatboy SSE featuring Lil Tjay, and more.

NIPSEY HUSSLE FT. STACY BRATHE – “VICTORY LAP”

TROY AVE – “WHO I’M BECOMING”

8BALL & MJG – “TAKE A PICTURE”

FATBOY SSE FT. LIL TJAY – “STREET”

CUBAN DOLL – “F*CK BOY FREE”

POPCAAN FT. DAVIDO – “DUN RICH”

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Joe Budden & Charlamagne Tha God Teamup For Another Year End Recap

Bottles And Strikes: Miami Edition

Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty

It looks like Joe Budden and Charlamagne Tha God are going to start a new Hip-Hop tradition as the two have once again linked up for another installment of their end of the year recap, Pull Up.

For two hours and change, the pair touched on a bevy of 2018 topics including the king of R&B debate, Tekashi 6ix9ine, and their favorite rap albums of the year with Charlamagne voicing his displeasure with Lil Wayne’s long-anticipated release of The Carter V.

“I thought Lil Wayne’s project was too long, number 1 and number 2, he’s not talking about anything. Wayne is 37, 38-years-old. You’ve lived a long fruitful life, you’re a father… you’ve been to prison – you’re not telling us anything about yourself.” Well, he’s not wrong but Weezy fans might give him the business for that hot take. Wait till you hear his take on that highly anticipated Nas and Kanye West project.

Check out their conversation below and find out their thoughts on the most disappointing albums of the years, songs of the year and what they love about this generation of Hip-Hoppers.

Photo: Getty

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Machine Gun Kelly Takes One Last Shot at Eminem To End 2018

Machine Gun Kelly on The Breakfast Club

Source: Power 105 / Power 105

Just when it seemed like the beef between Machine Gun Kelly and Eminem was cooked, served and stored in the fridge, MGK decided to throw it back in the microwave to end 2018.

Taking to his Instagram page for one last swipe at Eminem, the Cleveland rapper posted a quick clip of his Slim Shady diss track “Rap Devil” accompanied with a caption that made his intentions clear.

“just to piss y’all off one more time before the years over. y’all still BIG mad. F*ck rap god Im the rap devil goodbye 2018.”

Instagram Photo

Kinda seems like MGK might be the one still salty about Eminem taking a shot at him on “Not Alike” but that’s just our assessment.

We doubt Eminem will respond to this but then again you never know what to expect from Em at any given moment. For all we know, he might decide to take another shot at MGK when he drops his next album in a few years.

Until then though it seems like Machine Gun Kelly has gotten the last word in an otherwise unexpected rap battle

Photo: WENN

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Watch: Cardi B Turns Up To Kanye West & Lil Pump’s “I Love It” On New Year’s Day ’19

Cardi B Video

New York rapper Cardi B is soaking in those 2019 vibes super early. The hip-hop star went to Instagram today (December 31) with footage of herself celebrating the New Year in Australia and turning up to Kanye West‘s “I Love It” smash.

The post Watch: Cardi B Turns Up To Kanye West & Lil Pump’s “I Love It” On New Year’s Day ’19 appeared first on SOHH.com.

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Skillz Reflects on 2018 on Annual ‘Rap Up’

Skillz is capping off the year right. On the last day of 2018, the Virginia rapper looks back with his annual “Rap Up,” which recaps the past year in music, entertainment, politics, and pop culture.

This time around, Skillz is joined by Lil Duval on the nearly five-minute track, which samples the comedian’s single “Smile (Living My Best Life).”

“Man, this past year was a trip,” says Skillz before referencing Will Smith joining Instagram, the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, and the “movie of the year,” Black Panther.

He goes on to rap about the birth of Chicago West and Stormi Webster, Nas and Kelis’ divorce, Bey-chella, the royal wedding, the #MeToo movement, and Meek Mill’s homecoming.

He also takes shots at Kanye West (“Your music got worse, your trolling got better”) and addresses rap’s biggest beefs, including Drake vs. Pusha-T, Eminem vs. Machine Gun Kelly, and Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj (“How the hell you throw a shoe in a Fashion Nova fit?”).

“The whole year was ugly,” says Skillz, who highlights Demi Lovato’s overdose, Mac Miller’s death, and Cardi B and Offset’s breakup (“He went on, so she had to cut Offset off”).

Plus, he brings up Jacquees’ recent claim to the R&B throne (“Jacquees, stop running your mouth / Your R&B stands for run your ass back in the house”), and declares Beyoncé the “King of R&B.”

“Y’all live your best life and keep doing your thing / This Mad Skillz, welcome to 2019,” says Skillz.

Source: Rap-Up.com

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“ I aint got no kind of love for a brotha who comes to the party with NO BUD”…. Dont be that…

“ I aint got no kind of love for a brotha who comes to the party with NO BUD”…. Dont be that person tonight ! 🚫 Stop by Dr. Greenthumb’s Sylmar and get your lungs right for 2019 !! 💨💨💨


Source: Cypress Hill On Facebook

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Lil Pump & Funk Flex Call Truce After Face-Off: “He Carried Himself Well & Took It Like A Gentleman”

Lil Pump

New York radio veteran Funk Flex and Lil Pump don’t have smoke for one another anymore. The duo have low-key met face-to-face and called a truce.

Funk Flex went to Instagram this past Sunday (December 30) to break the news to fans.

Earlier this year, Flex lumped Pump into his “wack list” with former rival Nicki Minaj.

The beef between these two dates back to February when Funk Flex went on one of his social media rants and called the “Gucci Gang” rapper wack. He also said Lil Yachty, G-Eazy, and Nicki Minaj all made the cut on the wack list. (The Source)

In September, Lil Pump and rap star Kanye West‘s “I Love It” almost immediately turned into the top streaming song in the country.

Kanye West and Lil Pump’s “I Love It” launches at No. 6 on the Hot 100, as its bows at No. 1 on Streaming Songs with 46.6 million first-week U.S. streams, with its profile boosted by the viral “I Love It” Challenge, in which, perhaps most prominently, James Corden, as well as fans of the song have mimicked West and Lil Pump’s supersized boxy wardrobes worn in the track’s official video. (Billboard)

The post Lil Pump & Funk Flex Call Truce After Face-Off: “He Carried Himself Well & Took It Like A Gentleman” appeared first on SOHH.com.

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21 Savage’s ‘I Am > I Was’ Debuts at No. 1

21 Savage is in full savage mode on the charts.

The Grammy-nominated rapper scores his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with his sophomore album I Am > I Was. The set, which was released on Dec. 21, debuts with 131,000 equivalent album units, of which 18,000 were in traditional album sales.

I Am > I Was, which features appearances from J. Cole, Post Malone, and Childish Gambino, marks Savage’s fourth entry on the Billboard 200. He previously charted with Without Warning, his collaborative album with Offset and Metro Boomin (No. 4), his debut solo album Issa Album (No. 2), and Savage Mode, his joint project with Metro Boomin (No. 23).

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie follows at No. 2 with Hoodie SZN, his highest-charting project yet. The rapper’s second full-length album earned 90,000 equivalent album units (6,000 in album sales). He previously visited the top 10 with his debut The Bigger Artist, which peaked at No. 4 in October 2017.

Kodak Black’s Dying to Live slides 1-9 in its second week (51,000), Meek Mill’s previous chart-topper Championships drops 2-6 (54,000), and Travis Scott’s Astroworld slips 6-10 (49,000).

Three holiday albums also return to the top 10 including Michael Bublé’s Christmas (No. 3, 75,000), Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song (No. 7, 52,000), and Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas, which reenters the top 10 for the first time since January 1995 at No. 8.

Billboard 200 Top 10

1. 21 SavageI Am > I Was – 131,000
2. A Boogie Wit Da HoodieHoodie SZN – 90,000
3. Michael Bublé – Christmas – 75,000
4. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born – 62,000
5. Various Artists – The Greatest Showman: Reimagined – 56,000
6. Meek MillChampionships – 54,000
7. Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song – 52,000
8. Mariah CareyMerry Christmas – 52,000
9. Kodak BlackDying to Live – 51,000
10. Travis ScottAstroworld – 49,000

Source: Rap-Up.com

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Evidence’s Weather Or Not Is Your Best Rap Album Of 2018

Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018’s Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence’s Weather Or Not bested Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition.

Notably, Ev’s third solo LP is the earliest release of 2018 that made the tourney’, which included Ambrosia For Heads‘ Top 15 albums of 2018 in addition to a Wild Card with write-in options (the winner of that was Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz’ Mona Lisa).

Big K.R.I.T.’s 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time Is Your Best Rap Album Of 2017. K.R.I.T. Speaks

While Evidence has already cemented an incredible 20-year-career across his role in Dilated Peoples, Stepbrothers, and an impressive solo catalog, W.O.N. reached a new plateau. In early 2017, the artist born Michael Perretta released the Alchemist-produced “Throw It All Away.” The somber video single saw Ev’ contemplating his life, discussing his relationship with money, and evaluating his career. That reflective mood would ultimately set the table for what built over the next nine months.

In the closing days of ’17, Ev’ dropped the Nottz-produced “Jim Dean” video single. A month later, the Rhymesayers Entertainment full-length release followed. The album addresses the cancer battle that Evidence’s partner Wendy was facing, who is also the mother to his son, Enzo. The highly-personal “By My Side Too” saw Ev’ pledging to be a great father, honoring his companion, and revealing why he may have seemed preoccupied to those not in the know. Sadly, Ev confirmed the passing of his partner several months after the album. Fans familiar with 2007’s The Weatherman can recall an all-too-similar heartfelt dedication to his late mother, “I Still Love You.”

Evidence’s New Video Is An Introspective Look Into One Of The Year’s Best Albums

However, at a full listen, Weather Or Not shows that Evidence refuses to be defined by loss or challenge. Instead, he celebrates the triumphs as an artist capable of claiming to be a fixture in the ’90s Underground Hip-Hop movement who still advances the culture without compromise. Moreover, Ev—who has worked with Kanye West, Everlast, B-Real, and plenty of others, asserts that he has been able to make a good living in Hip-Hop. Although the Rhymesayer may not get proper recognition for his arts, he embraces his place in the game, and raps, produces, and creates on the highest level of competition.

Twenty years after Dilated’s first 12″ singles, Evidence challenges his peers to do better. “Same vinyl crates, but I’m comin’ up with new flips / On my classics, like Karate Kid and Blue Chips / I don’t want to see my friends be broke or be bitter / I don’t want to see my heroes slangin’ verses on they Twitter / Everyone’s an imitation / Spitters copy G Rap, the rest are on some Drake sh*t,” he declares on the DJ Premier-produced “10,000 Hours.” The Rap survivor is unafraid to say what so many folks may be thinking. He shows his mind-state in Rap on “Love Is A Funny Thing.” “They say love is a funny thing / But what’s funny is the company that money brings / Every year my circle’s getting smaller / Not Ben Baller but never had a thin wallet / I got dollars in different forms of currency / I got problems, but ain’t nothing that worry me / And I ain’t saying that I’m worry-free, I’m just saying nothing’s fucking with me currently / Sh*t, I’m my own worst enemy / I make bread just to spend it like it’s 10 of me / It’s Evidence and people call me by my government / Call me for weed, but don’t call me for that other sh*t.

Evidence’s Latest Video Is A Trippy Journey Through His Brilliant Mind

Evidence involves a cast of guests, without losing the cohesive feel of a personal solo album. Longtime affiliates like Defari and Dilated band-mates DJ Babu and Rakaa are present. While 20 years ago, a Styles P and Evidence collaboration may have seemed like a far-reaching idea, the two lyricists sound great together, especially with Rapsody also in the mix. Ev’ also trades deft bars with Jonwayne, and lights the biggest stage to date for low-profile hardcore Hip-Hop sensation Mach-Hommy. Musically, the LP contains some of the most evocative Alchemist production in a truly incredible year for the other Stepbrother. Preemo and Nottz make their moments count, as Hip-Hop Heads can forever trust. Al’s homie Budgie as well as Twiz The Beatpro shine as well. Fresh off of producing a whole project for Defari in ’17, Evidence shows his versatility with three tracks of his own. Much of the album has come to video, including some incredible treatments by Jason Goldwatch and Ev’s own direction.

A show-piece within Weather Or Not is the Slug collaboration, “Powder Cocaine.” The song may be the intersection of the introspective and the more kick-back moments. “I be fine like powder cocaine / And that’s a hell of a drug, and that’s a hell of a saying / They need elephant trunks to get it off of the plate / I wanna better myself, they wanna dwell in the pain / I wanna better my health, no umbrella for rain / And that’s a hell of a bug, I wanna live in my dreams / Got an ocean in mind, they wanna settle for streams / I wanna settle for more / I wanna get knocked down so I could settle the score / Better than before as if that was possible / To shake the demons of my mother in the hospital,” raps Ev over one of Alchemist’s greatest beats of all time. The excerpt tackles the state of the art, self-improvement, and some of the most personal things the artist can reveal. Slug matches the energy with lines like: “I want knowledge of self and also everything else / But the gravity helps, yeah, reality’s real / When I finally fell, I told my family ‘Well, when a battery dies it goes to battery hell’ / Bent, intent, inflict a dent in the cement / Magnificent, brag like Sisyphus / Boast like the host with the most up-votes / I bought a spot in coach but got the bump-up hopes.” The song is catharsis from two peers who have helped shoulder a Hip-Hop movement, and still fight to pressing this incredible music to vinyl and CD.

Evidence & Krondon Show That L.A.’s Underground Vets Now Do It Big (Video)

Weather Or Not forecast a cloudy year in music, politics, society, and the personal lives of so many. However, the director of photography artfully put things in focus. This album played all year long with honesty, vulnerability, and the unwavering foundation of dope beats and rhymes.

Last night (December 30), the tournament to decide 2018’s Best Rap Album came to a close. Evidence’s Weather Or Not bested Royce 5’9’s Book Of Ryan, 63% to 37%. Thus, the veteran Los Angeles, California MC/producer takes home the top honors in the second annual month-long voter-decided competition.

Notably, Ev’s third solo LP is the earliest release of 2018 that made the tourney’, which included Ambrosia For Heads‘ Top 15 albums of 2018 in addition to a Wild Card with write-in options (the winner of that was Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz’ Mona Lisa).

Big K.R.I.T.’s 4eva Is A Mighty Long Time Is Your Best Rap Album Of 2017. K.R.I.T. Speaks

While Evidence has already cemented an incredible 20-year-career across his role in Dilated Peoples, Stepbrothers, and an impressive solo catalog, W.O.N. reached a new plateau. In early 2017, the artist born Michael Perretta released the Alchemist-produced “Throw It All Away.” The somber video single saw Ev’ contemplating his life, discussing his relationship with money, and evaluating his career. That reflective mood would ultimately set the table for what built over the next nine months.

In the closing days of ’17, Ev’ dropped the Nottz-produced “Jim Dean” video single. A month later, the Rhymesayers Entertainment full-length release followed. The album addresses the cancer battle that Evidence’s partner Wendy was facing, who is also the mother to his son, Enzo. The highly-personal “By My Side Too” saw Ev’ pledging to be a great father, honoring his companion, and revealing why he may have seemed preoccupied to those not in the know. Sadly, Ev confirmed the passing of his partner several months after the album. Fans familiar with 2007’s The Weatherman can recall an all-too-similar heartfelt dedication to his late mother, “I Still Love You.”

Evidence’s New Video Is An Introspective Look Into One Of The Year’s Best Albums

However, at a full listen, Weather Or Not shows that Evidence refuses to be defined by loss or challenge. Instead, he celebrates the triumphs as an artist capable of claiming to be a fixture in the ’90s Underground Hip-Hop movement who still advances the culture without compromise. Moreover, Ev—who has worked with Kanye West, Everlast, B-Real, and plenty of others, asserts that he has been able to make a good living in Hip-Hop. Although the Rhymesayer may not get proper recognition for his arts, he embraces his place in the game, and raps, produces, and creates on the highest level of competition.

Twenty years after Dilated’s first 12″ singles, Evidence challenges his peers to do better. “Same vinyl crates, but I’m comin’ up with new flips / On my classics, like Karate Kid and Blue Chips / I don’t want to see my friends be broke or be bitter / I don’t want to see my heroes slangin’ verses on they Twitter / Everyone’s an imitation / Spitters copy G Rap, the rest are on some Drake sh*t,” he declares on the DJ Premier-produced “10,000 Hours.” The Rap survivor is unafraid to say what so many folks may be thinking. He shows his mind-state in Rap on “Love Is A Funny Thing.” “They say love is a funny thing / But what’s funny is the company that money brings / Every year my circle’s getting smaller / Not Ben Baller but never had a thin wallet / I got dollars in different forms of currency / I got problems, but ain’t nothing that worry me / And I ain’t saying that I’m worry-free, I’m just saying nothing’s fucking with me currently / Sh*t, I’m my own worst enemy / I make bread just to spend it like it’s 10 of me / It’s Evidence and people call me by my government / Call me for weed, but don’t call me for that other sh*t.

Evidence’s Latest Video Is A Trippy Journey Through His Brilliant Mind

Evidence involves a cast of guests, without losing the cohesive feel of a personal solo album. Longtime affiliates like Defari and Dilated band-mates DJ Babu and Rakaa are present. While 20 years ago, a Styles P and Evidence collaboration may have seemed like a far-reaching idea, the two lyricists sound great together, especially with Rapsody also in the mix. Ev’ also trades deft bars with Jonwayne, and lights the biggest stage to date for low-profile hardcore Hip-Hop sensation Mach-Hommy. Musically, the LP contains some of the most evocative Alchemist production in a truly incredible year for the other Stepbrother. Preemo and Nottz make their moments count, as Hip-Hop Heads can forever trust. Al’s homie Budgie as well as Twiz The Beatpro shine as well. Fresh off of producing a whole project for Defari in ’17, Evidence shows his versatility with three tracks of his own. Much of the album has come to video, including some incredible treatments by Jason Goldwatch and Ev’s own direction.

A show-piece within Weather Or Not is the Slug collaboration, “Powder Cocaine.” The song may be the intersection of the introspective and the more kick-back moments. “I be fine like powder cocaine / And that’s a hell of a drug, and that’s a hell of a saying / They need elephant trunks to get it off of the plate / I wanna better myself, they wanna dwell in the pain / I wanna better my health, no umbrella for rain / And that’s a hell of a bug, I wanna live in my dreams / Got an ocean in mind, they wanna settle for streams / I wanna settle for more / I wanna get knocked down so I could settle the score / Better than before as if that was possible / To shake the demons of my mother in the hospital,” raps Ev over one of Alchemist’s greatest beats of all time. The excerpt tackles the state of the art, self-improvement, and some of the most personal things the artist can reveal. Slug matches the energy with lines like: “I want knowledge of self and also everything else / But the gravity helps, yeah, reality’s real / When I finally fell, I told my family ‘Well, when a battery dies it goes to battery hell’ / Bent, intent, inflict a dent in the cement / Magnificent, brag like Sisyphus / Boast like the host with the most up-votes / I bought a spot in coach but got the bump-up hopes.” The song is catharsis from two peers who have helped shoulder a Hip-Hop movement, and still fight to pressing this incredible music to vinyl and CD.

Evidence & Krondon Show That L.A.’s Underground Vets Now Do It Big (Video)

Weather Or Not forecast a cloudy year in music, politics, society, and the personal lives of so many. However, the director of photography artfully put things in focus. This album played all year long with honesty, vulnerability, and the unwavering foundation of dope beats and rhymes.

Source: AmbrosiaForHeads.com

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