5 Hip Hop Albums to Relax To
It’s been a long day and when you get home, all you want is to kick back and take it easy. Fortunately for you, you have some of our relaxation syrup. You grab a Sprite and pour it up, mix in some AKA Lean, and sip it slowly. Once you start to feel the wave of peace and tranquility wash over you in a wave, you’ll want to foster that feeling.
What better way to get in the right mindset than by putting on an album? Music, as they say, is like a dream. As Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’ve put together a list of five of our favorite hip hop albums to help you get into the right mindset. What will make the list? Keep reading to find out.
Trying to Chill? You Should Listen To...
Aquemini by OutKast
Is there a better duo in hip hop than Andre 3000 and Big Boi? Sure, there are plenty of greats, but it’s hard to beat OutKast for thoughtful lyrics and good beats. Although some albums have been better received than others, most of what OutKast has put out has been incredible. Our pick for when you’re looking for an album to chill to, however, is 1998’s Aquemini.
A modern classic, Aquemini features standout tracks like “Rosa Parks,” “SpottieOttieDopaliscious,” and “Skew It on the Bar-B,” and it cemented OutKast as being among the best in hip hop in the late 90s.
Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar
Although he exploded onto the scene with good kid, m.A.A.d city and cemented his reputation for being the greatest in the game with To Pimp a Butterfly, K-Dot started out with Overly Dedicated (which was an amazing debut), but followed it up with the often overlooked Section.80.
Kung Fu Kenny even won a Pulitzer for his latest album, DAMN., but Section.80 marks an ideal album to chill to with highlights like “Hiiipower,” “Ronald Reagan Era,” and “Rigamortis.” If you’ve been sleeping on this album, pick it up and give it a spin, because it just might change your life.
Doris by Earl Sweatshirt
Earl Sweatshirt, the stage name of Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, is known for his monotone rapping style, making any his albums perfect for when you’re looking to relax. Doris is our pick for this list, however, because it is incredible from front to back. Guest appearances from RZA, Vince Staples, and Frank Ocean are highlights (as is the excellent verse on “Sasquatch” from Tyler, the Creator).
Highlights from Doris include the previously mentioned “Sasquatch,” as well as “20 Wave Caps” and “Chum.”
Past Cloaks by Chester Watson
If you’ve never heard of Chester Watson before, head over to his Bandcamp page and give “Wicked” a listen or two. Admittedly, this track isn’t likely to induce relaxation, but it’s a perfect introduction to Chester Watson and the rest of the album is much more laid back. Like Earl Sweatshirt, Watson employs a monotone delivery to great effect, and as one reviewer notes, there is a “heavy focus on multi-syllable rhymes both external and internal interwoven in broad, sometimes cryptic pieces of prose.”
Highlights from Past Cloaks include “Fantastic,” “Phantom,” “Purple Leaves,” and “Monotone Samurai.”
The Score by Fugees
It is downright impossible to not love a classic like The Score. Consistently rated as one of the greatest rap albums of all time, it reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 list when it came out in 1996. Perhaps the best thing about this album is that it’s hard to pick which member of Fugees is the standout on the album--a great problem to have! Between Pras, Wyclef, and Lauryn Hill, there are some really jaw dropping verses, but the best probably belongs to Lauryn Hill on the track “Zealots.”
“Fu-Gee-La,” “Ready or Not,” and “Killing Me Softly” all received quite a bit of radio play as well, but the truth is that the album is a joy to listen to front to back and Wyclef Jean himself notes that the album was made “calmly, almost unconsciously” at a “relaxed pace,” making it the ideal album to kick back with.
Grab Some Relaxation Syrup and Take It Easy
There are countless amazing hip hop albums out there, but when it comes to albums to relax with, these are our top five. When music alone won’t do the trick, you might need to make yourself a relaxation drink, and our relaxation syrup (combined with your favorite juice or soda) is the perfect way to do just that.
Specifically formulated to help your mind and body unwind, AKA Lean is totally drug-free and legal in all 50 states to adults ages 18 and older. Order AKA Lean today so you can spin a record, then pour up, mix in, and sip slow.
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Brandon Bova
Author