It’s that time of year again as I take our lovely readers here at Phenixx Gaming through my top albums of 2023. Thanks for following along the past few years with these articles, they’re truly a joy to share with you. Let’s dive into #20-16.

#20: Scaring the Hoes by JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown

The combination of two of the hip-hop scene’s most dynamic and alternative figures was bound to succeed. Upon release, the grimy, near-lo-fi production style of JPEGMAFIA was criticized as poorly mixed and produced. In reality, this approach, like other JPEG-produced projects, reflects a slew of ideas and influences colliding into one like combustion. At just over 36 minutes, few albums in 2023 make such an impact in such little time.

Scaring the Hoes mirrors the best elements of Danny Brown and JPEG’s stylings. Danny Brown in particular is given room to prove why he’s the prominent name in alternative rap. JPEG has done well for himself in recent years as well, developing a reputation for being just as effective on mic as he is behind the boards. For those seeking melody in their hip-hop music like the tracks that will get spun on pop radio, you’ll find something a little more nuanced here.

Collaborative albums often get shrugged off as fun projects rather than records that move either collaborator’s career forward. The inverse is true here, as Brown and JPEG utilize the album’s 14 tracks to preview what’s to come for both of the artists as well as explore some of the genre’s most prominent trends. Sharing lyrical lines, infusing bars with anime references and Kingdom Hearts mentions, and doing so over abrasive beats makes this a treat from start to finish.

“They wanna see me fall off, but they nuts bro/I keep the custos at the front door/Gotta line around the corner for this dope flow” – From “Garbage Pale Kids” (Danny Brown verse).

#19: 10,000 Gecs by 100 gecs

100 gecs is Hyperpop’s most questionable success story. For example, the group utilizes the THX sound effect from movie theater sound technology in the opening track of their 2023 record, 10,000 Gecs, to set a tone. You’ll never know what’s coming next on a 100 gecs record, except for the fact that the work of Laura Les and Dylan Brady will overstimulate and overperform expectations on every single track.

While the record arguably starts far stronger than it finishes, there are enough new ideas on this record to not make the group’s sophomore effort feel derivative of their breakout album, 1,000 Gecs. A healthy array of beat changes, sudden lyrical breakdowns, and vocal effects allow Brady and Les room to build on the hyperpop sounds they’ve helped make mainstream, at least in alternative circles. 

While the soundscapes the duo utilizes aren’t relaxing or low-tempo, there is a serenity to how meticulously the production of each song feels. There’s so much detail that five or six listens can evoke five or six completely different impressions of the album. There’s room to space out and bathe in the chaos, but there’s also ample opportunity to find gravitas in Brady’s production approach, eager as ever to impress and overwhelm at the same time.

“I smell the trees when I’m in Colorado/Interior gas station McDonald’s/I left my cellphone dead at the house/I see the stars when the sun goes down.” – From “757.”

#18: Barbie: The Album by Various Artists

Great movie soundtracks often define a film’s pop culture impression. More accurately, a great soundtrack can help keep a film in the conversation for longer. Barbie didn’t need help making the news or working toward box office success, but the soundtrack is a snapshot of pop music in 2023 in a really unique way. Across ballads and bangers, this record allows the film’s energy and duality of seeking fun and fulfillment to transcend the screen and into your headphones.

Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, and Ice Spice could have included their contributions to Barbie: The Album on their own solo records and have had bonafide hits ready to roll. Instead, they’re bundled on a 16-track record that works incredibly well to fuel the film’s background music but also compiles into a fantastic driving record. Spin the Barbie soundtrack for your party and pre-game needs and you’re ready to have the time of your life.

Notably, not every track on Barbie: The Album is up-tempo and a sure-fire way to get you ready for a night out. Billie Elish’s “What Was I Made For?” hits at the film’s most emotional beat and might just be the most impactful song of her young career. The message of the song explores the endless contradictions implicit in being a woman, reflecting amid an album that is as celebratory as it is complicated. Fitting for the film’s theme. 

“You can see my heartbeat tonight/I can take the heat, baby, best believe/That’s the moment I shine” – From “Dance The Night.”

#17: Michael by Killer Mike

Killer Mike rose to mainstream prominence with the hip-hop duo Run the Jewels, but his solo MC work has always been noteworthy. His latest record, Michael, explores different eras of his life as he performs a retrospective on his past, present, and future. Always political and critical of systems, Killer Mike utilizes his keen sense of socioeconomic pressures and privileges to find ways to meld together the man he was before fame and who he is now. 

This is his first solo record since 2012, and a lot has changed in Killer Mike’s life since then. Run the Jewels has headlined major festivals, he had his own Netflix series, and he’s brushed shoulders with politicians and community leaders in an effort to make a difference. An issue central to Killer Mike in 2023, that I believe actually deepens the album’s complexity, is the fact that he’s simultaneously seeking change but thriving off of the money and power he’s achieved. 

An easy criticism of the rapper is to say that his push for civic or social change is dwarfed by his newfound propensity to fall in line with hip-hop culture and its admiration for excess. Still, the actual lyrics and music on Michael are quality contributions to the rapper’s discography. With all of his contradictions and contributions, Killer Mike is a prolific figure that has shaped rap for the better in recent years. Whether that holds true in another decade rests more on his politics than his talents.

“Even in my days of whippin’ the hard/I’ll tell the devil that Black man is God/Keepin’ it player, just playin’ my part/Lean on my Demon and post in the park” – From “Down By Law.”

#16: Tomorrow’s Fire by Squirrel Flower

Squirrel Flower’s Ella Williams has released three albums since her debut in 2020. That’s an output that’s often accompanied by bloating and boredom, but like other indie rockers who have followed similar release patterns recently, her music is far from over-encumbering. In fact, Tomorrow’s Fire is her best release yet, allowing her lyrics and guitar talent to be center stage even more so than her past two records.

Some artists are hard to look away from live because they demand your full attention. That’s true for Squirrel Flower, but it also carries over to her studio work. The dreamy, otherworldly instrumentation of a Squirrel Flower track, coupled with Williams’ incredible lyricism, are a unique blend of serenity and struggle. There’s not a full-blown sad girl rock energy to Squirrel Flower’s music, but you’re also probably not playing this music at a party. 

Instead, Tomorrow’s Fire is best employed on a rainy morning or quiet afternoon, paired with a coffee and a sense that everything is either going to fall apart completely or be totally fine. The intent of Williams’ music is clear in every single track of this record and her past releases. Few artists have this control over their surroundings, nor the ability to depict the highs and lows of everyday life. For Squirrel Flower, it’s just one of many reasons to return to the music time and time again.

“When a plant is dying/It throws down seeds for growing/Not saying you’re dying/But I saw you throw them down.” – From “When a Plant is Dying.”

We’ll be back tomorrow with #15 – 11!

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