I asked some of my musician friends from Beirut, to list their 10 favorite albums of 2014…
Or the music they’ve listened to the most during the past year, regardless of date of release

FAREEQ EL ATRASH

John Imad Nasr

In no particular order:

– El P & Killer Mike: Run The Jewels 2
– Black Milk: If There’s A Hell Below
– Seun Kuti: Long Way To The Beginning
– Original soundtrack: Guardians Of The Galaxy Awesome Mix Vol.1
– Royce The 5’9” & DJ Premier: PRhyme
– Freddie Gibbs & Madlib: Piñata
– Satti : Food Idea EP
– The Roots: …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin
– El Rass & Munma: Adam, Darwin & The Penguin
– Wu Tang Clan: A Better Tomorrow

————-
Edd Abbas

10. Common: Nobody’s Smiling
Not your typical Common album, he uses a very serious attitude and a much darker approach than usual; the album is produced by NO I.D, who had previously worked on lots of singles but never on an entire album

9. The Roots: …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin
This is the follow-up to the concept album released last year, entitled “Undun”; not a bad sequel at all, it leaves you wanting more because of its short length, worth listening to

8. Flying Lotus: You’re Dead!
Fly Lo is always experimenting and trying to take it to another level; if you’re into TripHop, Experimental Hiphop and ambiant/electro music and all about new sounds, that’s your album

7. I Am Legion: I Am Legion
If you’re into Grime, heavy basslines and fast rhyming, this is one of those albums you should check out

6. Fashawn & The Alchemist: FASH-ionably Late
This is for Hip-Hop Heads; sick rhyming on top of beats by the one and only Alchemist, this is a must!

5. Jhene Aiko: Souled Out
A very soulful voice coming out of the new school, very smooth and chilled album; strictly for late nights!

4. Dilated Peoples: Directors Of Photography
Evidence, Rakaa and DJ Babu got back together after almost 7 years to hit us with a Bomb; whether you’re a fan or not, you gotta check this out

3. Mobb Deep: The Infamous Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep took us back to the 90’s with this album; if you grew up in the Golden era, this one is for you!

2. Step Brothers (The Alchemist & Evidence): Lord Steppington
This was album of the year for me as soon as it came out, until J-Cole’s album dropped; the long awaited collaboration between Hip-hop giants Evidence & Alchemist dropped early this year, and it was the only thing I was listening to for 3 months; this album is a must!

1. J-Cole: Forest Hills Drive
Best album you can get this year, from production to lyrical content; this album is J-Cole’s best work till now, hands down

———