From December 18 to December 24 HipHopDX’s editorial staff and st@ble of freelance contributors will update this page with our picks for the categories and winners that made 2013 memorable. We salute the winners and runners up who made 2013 the banner year that it was. And we hope our picks make you argue and reflect while being entertained during what we hope is a safe and holiday season.
This Year's Schedule
Day 1 - Wednesday Dec 18
Emcee of the Year
Producer of the Year
Rising Star of the Year
Day 2 - Thursday Dec 19
Album of the Year
Mixtape of the Year
Non Hip Hop Album of the Year
Day 3 - Friday Dec 20
Verse of the Year
Video of the Year
Beat of the Year
Day 4 - Saturday Dec 21
Interview of the Year
Story of the Year
Trend We'd Like to See Die
Trend We'd Like to See Continue
Day 5 - Sunday Dec 22
Slept On Album of the Year
Slept On Artist of the Year
Comeback of the Year
Day 6 - Monday Dec 23
Most Disappointing Album of the Year
Freestyle of the Year
Collaboration of the Year
Day 7 - Tuesday Dec 24
Readers' Choice Album of the Year
Instagram of the Year
Tweet of the Year
Emcee Of The Year
Kendrick Lamar
How do you win emcee of the year without dropping an actual album? If you’re Kendrick Lamar, you deliver what was easily the most explosive verse of the year with his bars from Big Sean’s “Control (HOF).” Follow that up by calling Drake a “sensitive rapper” and tucking him back in his pajama clothes during the BET Hip Hop Awards Cypher, and the foundation is laid. So no, K.Dot didn’t drop an album, but he upped the ante on competitive emceeing and made a few scene-stealing cameos on projects from the likes of Eminem, Tech N9ne, Quadron and J. Cole. That’s enough to earn his second consecutive nod for this award.
RUNNERS UP
Eminem
After relapsing in 2009 and recovering in 2010, Marshall Mathers returned to “Slim Shady” form with an a##ist from Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin on Marshall Mathers LP 2. Despite a mixed critical reception, the self-proclaimed “Rap God” nearly went platinum in a week with a mix of stadium Rap and complex, multi-syllable bars.
Chance The Rapper
Yes, Chicago’s Chance The Rapper was that good. He’s as introspective as they come, visceral as the the track requires and gifted with the most versatile voice we’ve heard since Wyclef Jean was rapping and singing about Haitian Sicilians.
Producer Of The Year
Mike WiLL Made-It
His name is difficult to properly spell, but his production credits are embarra##ingly easy to locate. In 2013, Mike WiLL Made-It achieved the kind of cross-genre output Timbaland, Teddy Riley and The Neptunes did before becoming household names. And since the Atlanta native is equally adept at crafting backdrops for Project Pat or Miley Cyrus, there’s every indication that his Interscope-backed Ear Drummas imprint will allow him the same type of career trajectory Timbo, Skateboard P and Teddy enjoyed. If you heard a chart-topping beat this year, it was most likely that Mike WiLL Made-It.
RUNNERS UP
Alchemist
Alan the Chemist picked up where he left off in 2012. Durag Dyn@sty’s 360 Waves, Boldy James’ My 1st Chemistry Set and an Albert Einstein project with Prodigy filled the void of a signature, solo set. All of the above were quality over quantity. And when you add in co-scoring the Grand Theft Auto V video game, Al made his mark again in 2013.
DJ Mustard
For years, the West Coast resorted to appropriating the Southern bounce as a means to est@blish a presence in clubs and on the charts. A stint in his friend Ty Dolla $ign’s crib changed that, as 2012 saw DJ Mustard usher in the era of ratchet-ness with hits like “Rack City” and “Toot It And Boot It.” In 2013, He added to his lengthy list of production credits by supplying beats for Kid Ink, B.o.B., R. Kelly and RiFF RaFF.
Rising Star Of The Year
Chance The Rapper
Chancelor Bennett, better known by his rap pseudonym Chance The Rapper and best known as the Rising Star Of The Year, has had much to boast about in 2013. His rapid rise began in April with the release of his second mixtape, “Acid Rap.” Little did he know, that by July, his free mixtape would make it’s way on to Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart after bootleg copies circulated on iTunes and Amazon. Fast-forward to December and you’ve got the Chi-town emcee releasing a track with fellow musician and mega-power pop prince Justin Bieber in “Confident.” Mixtape success, Billboard debut and a crossover collaboration all in eight months? Check. A star in the making knows no boundaries.
RUNNERS UP
Isaiah Rashad
It seems like it was just a few months ago that Tennessee native Isaiah Rashad broke into the scene and already had Rap fans hungry for new material. Wait, it was just in September when Top Dawg Entertainment officially announced him as their artist. Rashad may have few quality tracks under his belt, but a co-sign from one of the hottest West Coast labels helps too.
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright was inducted into the XXL “Freshman Cla##” of 2013 at the top of the year, pretty much predetermining musical success. Wright’s “The Golden Age” mixtape did so well, in fact, it hit number 39 on Billboard magazine’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His label Funk Volume must have been thrilled. #StillMovin...
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