DIFFERENT KITCHEN’S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2014

I explained pretty well the criteria I used to do my year-end list back in 2012 but for those of you too lazy to click that link, this is not a list of the ‘best’, most commercially successful or most critically acclaimed albums. The only acclaim these albums have are that they are my favorites. There are plenty of ‘big’ or notable albums that I may have missed. Feel free to drop a comment on any such records that you think I should put an ear to.

As was the case the last time I did this list I can’t say I had a standout, favorite album of the year or that I could even really order these from most to least favorite so I’ve listed them alphabetically although if you put a gun to my head, I’ll admit that I have played & enjoyed the J.Cole album a helluva lot since it dropped a month ago, that the D’Angelo Black Messiah album was a blessing to finally get although I’m still living with it and think my judgement will continue to evolve on it as I play it more, that FKA Twigs LP1 & SZA‘s Z grew on me a lot after me being lukewarm on both on initial listens, that I think Big K.R.I.T.‘s Cadillactica is amazing and one for the ages after initially being ho-hum on that too and that the Stalley Ohio album is getting slept on in a lot of hip-hop quarters IMHO. Damon Albarn‘s Everyday Robots album still stands up as a great listen after being an out-the-gate winner for me at the beginning of the year while fellow Brits, Jungle dropped an incredible album and played what might be one of, it not the live show of the year for me.

Worst year ever in hip-hop history? Sorry, ASAP Yams, not by a long, long shot. Anyway, the list, flame away (note: album title links go either to full album streams or posts on the Kitchen about the album or artist):

2014 FAVORITE ALBUMS:
Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots
BIG K.R.I.T. – Cadillactica
Caribou – Our Love
J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah
FKA Twigs – LP1
Rochelle Jordan – 1021
Jungle – Jungle
Logic – Under Pressure
Machinedrum – Vapor City Archives
Mac Miller – Faces (mixtape)
Pharrell – G I R L
Run The Jewels – Run The Jewels 2
Skyzoo & Torae – Barrel Brothers
Stalley – Ohio
SZA – Z

Honorable Mentions/Other Mixtapes/EPs etc.:
August Alsina – Testimony
Common – Nobody’s Smiling
Emay – Sinner, Song-Writer EP
Flying Lotus – You’re Dead!
RL Grime – VOID
Havoc – 13 Reloaded
Majid Jordan – A Place Like This
Tory Lanez – Lost Cause (mixtape)
Jai Nitai Lotus – Acknowledgement (mixtape)
Merna – The Calling
K. Michelle – Anybody Wanna Buy A Heart?
M.O.P. – Street Certified
PRhyme – PRhyme
Progress – Night.Rhetoric EP
King Reign – Sincere
The Roots – …and then you shoot your cousin
SBTRKT – Wonder Where We Land?
Sean Leon – narcissus, THE DROWNING OF EGO
Theophilus London – Vibes
Vince Staples – Hell Can Wait EP
Tuku – Moonday Sessions: The Black Mixtape
Watch The Duck – Don’t Watch Me

Live Shows of the Year:
Jungle – Live at The Danforth Music Hall (Oct. 6)
Black Milk – Live at Tattoo (Oct. 23)
Stevie Wonder – Live at The Air Canada Centre (Nov. 26)
Sean Leon – Live at The Hoxton (Oct. 17)
Tory Lanez – Live at the Drake Underground (Oct. 19)

And of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a final, special shout-out to my own album release, the Different Kitchen presents This One Goes To Eleven… 11th anniversary compilation released back in August. If you haven’t listened to it yet and naturally, I highly recommend that you do, CLICK HERE.

[MP3] Kanye West Feat. Paul McCartney – Only One

In case you’ve been under a rock the last day or so, here goes Yeezy‘s collab in tribute to his daughter with Kim Kardashian, North West featuring Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles on keys. Apparently, he has no recollection of singing the song and thinks he was actually channeling his later mother, Donda West as she spoke to the granddaughter she never got to meet. This is also apparently, the first of several songs the two have worked on.

BUY Kanye West Feat. Paul McCartney – Only One on iTunes HERE

[via RR/HHNM]

[MP3 + Music Video] J.Nolan – Building Utopia

First single and video from #DK11 album alum, J.Nolan‘s forthcoming (on Jan. 12) release, The Humble Legends EP with Reese Jones which is available for pre-order now on his Bandcamp page HERE.

Previously on The Kitchen:

– J.Nolan – Deluxe Edition [MP3 + Interview]

[MP3] Skillz – 2014 Wrapup

You know it’s that time of the year when this track shows up. What y’all think of this year’s edition?

[MP3] In Case You Missed It: nwa.hollywooddreams.coffee – Three Brand New Tracks by Miguel

Dropped right before Christmas (and right after D’Angelo‘s surprise album release). Judging by these, his next album, should be as fire as Kaleidoscope Dreams was.

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