Ahmad and Vance sit down to break down 2025's most significant hip hop moments in part one of The Record Report's year wrap up. They tackle the Billboard landscape, Black music's dominance across the charts, and where artists like Drake and Wale stand as the year winds down.

The conversation moves through Kendrick Lamar's influence, the Grammy nominations that shaped the narrative, and the resurgence of women changing rap's trajectory. They dig into the industry's relationship with AI, celebrate legendary contributions to hip hop culture, and discuss the album rollouts that defined how we discover music in 2025. Plus: they're crowning "Lame of the Year" and want your vote.

Help us finish this episode: What was your biggest black culture moment in 2025? Which artist deserves recognition? What song or album changed your year? Comment below—your voice matters to The Record Report.

Welcome back to this episode of the Record Report.

This week, Ahmad and Vance break down D’Angelo’s timeless debut, Brown Sugar, picking their top three tracks and unpacking how the album became a pioneer for soul, funk, and alternative music.

From its hypnotic grooves to visceral storytelling, this episode dives into why “Brown Sugar” still hits different almost 30 years later.

Rest In Peace, D'Angelo.

🎧 Listen now:

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"Who tf is JJ Fad?"

The internet broke when Pitchfork dropped their Top 100 Hip-Hop Albums list - and we have THOUGHTS.

This week on The Record Report, we dissect one of the most controversial music ranking lists in recent memory. From Snoop Dogg's "Doggystyle" placement sparking outrage to the glaring Southern hip-hop representation issues, we break down what these lists get right, what they get catastrophically wrong, and why publications keep rage-baiting music fans.

The Pitchfork Problem: Why do music publications create lists designed to provoke rather than celebrate? We analyze the methodology behind controversial rankings and whether commercial success should matter in evaluating greatness.

Southern Hip-Hop Erasure: The chronic underrepresentation of Southern artists in "definitive" hip-hop lists and why this regional bias persists in music criticism.

Kanye's "Yeezus" Legacy: How this polarizing album became the blueprint for modern rage rap, influencing everyone from Travis Scott to Playboi Carti and reshaping hip-hop's sonic landscape.

Jay-Z's Placement Debate: Is Hov properly represented in hip-hop history? We examine his catalog's impact and whether critics undervalue his contributions.

The Glaring Omissions: From Mobb Deep's "The Infamous" to other timeless classics, we highlight the essential albums these lists consistently overlook.

Young Thug's Return: Breaking down Thugger's recent comeback, the cultural conversations around his legal battles, and what his story reveals about the current state of hip-hop.

Modern Hip-Hop Evolution:

• How streaming transformed music consumption and artist development
• The death and resurrection of regional sounds
• Why physical music sales might make a comeback
• The future of authenticity in hip-hop culture

Rap Feuds & Technology: From ghostwriting controversies to AI's influence on music creation, we examine how technology is transforming hip-hop's creative process and competitive landscape.

Gender Dynamics: The complex conversations around masculinity, representation, and power structures in contemporary hip-hop.

This episode delves into the albums, artists, and cultural forces that have shaped hip-hop's past, present, and future. Whether you agree with Pitchfork's list or think they got it completely wrong, this conversation will make you reconsider what "greatest" really means.

Keywords: Pitchfork hip-hop list, top 100 rap albums, Doggystyle Snoop Dogg, Kanye West Yeezus, Southern hip-hop, Mobb Deep The Infamous, Young Thug, hip-hop debate, music rankings, rap podcast, music criticism, hip-hop culture

Episode Highlights