In the end, Marci Beaucoup is a nice victory lap that falls just short of Reloaded.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures preserves the gift of a true diamond in the rough.

The release of his third studio album GO:OD AM showcases maturity beyond Miller’s years, the result of which is a cohesive project that is as cohesive as it is profound.

First Of A Living Breed is another powerful entry into the Good Sun's discography.

Packs is a noteworthy set loaded with supremely smart twists that capture the continuing evolution of a ferociously talented MC.

Admiringly, it’s taken him his entire career to get to this point and a project like this finds him breaking out of the box he’s occupied since arriving on the scene.

Still Over It puts Walker into an elite tier of R&B artists who are able to balance personal vendettas and artistic execution. She pulls no punches, commanding attention through her ability to integrate her drama into tracks through beautiful storytelling.

Tyler, the Creator still achieves an engrossing dystopian vision of Hip Hop that refuses to compromise to what fans and industry critics demand of him.

Whatever adolescent deficiencies Mac Miller dealt with throughout his prodigious rise as Rostrum’s second brain child, Watching Movies With The Sound Off genuinely keeps him grounded for a calculated performance that will earn him the respect he’s craved since his Easy Mac days.

As an album and summation of why so many people have revered Jay Electronica for so long, A Written Testimony was absolutely worth the wait. Let’s just hope the next one arrives sometime this decade.

A solid effort that is up there with the best of the year but it definitely sets the stage for the emcee who made Follow Me Home and many feel could be the second best in the set to Kendrick to make the jump to great when sophomore time comes around.

There is still enough variety in styles that make it a successful conjuring. And, once there, the free-form melting pot of production and vocals continues to satisfy.

It all adds up to a quality album that manages not to take itself too seriously without resorting to being dumb.

With Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean is prepared to leave his mark.

Much like with W.A.R. and Desire, P.T.S.D. seeks to accomplish more than just keep Pharoahe’s spot on the criminally-underrated lists warm; instead, it makes a case for placing him among the Chuck Ds and Ice Cubes as one of Hip Hop’s sharpest social voices.

Ego Death is an album both suited specifically for the social media age of music listeners but simultaneously rich and permeated with the traditions of the soul and R&B music of the past.

Maintaining its cohesion while avoiding monotony, Nudy’s latest is at once chill and animated — an extravagant adventure that’s as controlled as it is fun.

The album captures a swath of moods and tastes, and Black Milk’s lyrics are both imaginative and well-executed. The production is on the money, and he continues to make big strides lyrically.

While not without its flaws (the “Bad” remix was unnecessary, and probably done simply for the big name feature), those questioning the direction Wale was going post MMG affiliation will more than likely be pleased with The Gifted.

Not surprisingly, Kweli truly shines on the politically motivated tracks when he’s able to rap about things he’s passionate about.

No sole record matches the adept level of musicianship exemplified in her breakout hit “Big Ole Freak,” but Fever’s dedication to eschewing pop-leaning material wins big with the everyday people, strippers and strip club aficionados.

The final product is a solid debut that shows enough of Sean's skill and personality to keep listeners stay tuned, with the room for growth for higher expectations next time around.

When he ends the album with “Cold Ass Nigga,” the most demonstrably aggressive verse on the album, you realize Shadow of a Doubt isn’t Gibbs flipping to go pop, but a man secure enough in the foundation he has laid to take a leap of faith.

This 23-year-old may have been searching for answers, but that journey allowed him to find one of this year's most outstanding albums with Section.80.

He’s let the high filter out more of the revelation, and it sounds like a more accessible piece of entertainment than his last. It’s not the call to arms some expected, but Ab-Soul is as convincingly conspicuous as he’s ever been.

Continuing to build her movement brick by brick, A Curious Tale Of Trials + Persons finds the artist Little Simz flexing her superego while exposing the all too human frailties of Simbi Ajikawo. Proof positive she’s unafraid to stretch her musical limitations.

Skyzoo's sincerity as a rapper is shot through A Dream Deferred, but the album has a seamless musical charm.

Musically, he is maturing before our very eyes.