En 2016, Colin Kaepernick s’agenouille pendant l’hymne national pour protester contre les violences policières. Le geste, largement relayé, devient un symbole de résistance que le rap s’approprie massivement, amplifiant le message dans ses textes, clips et performances.
Kanye West présente « The Life of Pablo », œuvre fragmentée mais influente, entre gospel et chaos digital. Chance The Rapper impose les mixtapes comme des objets artistiques sérieux avec « Coloring Book ». Le rap se fait plus spirituel, mais aussi plus éclaté et libre que jamais.
Voici un TOP40 des albums rap marquants de cette année :
A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service (2016)
Aesop Rock – The Impossible Kid (2016)
Anderson .Paak – Malibu (2016)
Apathy – Handshakes With Snakes (2016)
Apollo Brown & Skyzoo – The Easy Truth (2016)
Atmosphere – Fishing Blues (2016)
Childish Gambino – Awaken, My Love! (2016)
Code Nine & Purpose – Below Sumerian Skies (2016)
Common – Black America Again (2016)
Craig G – I Rap And Go Home (2016)
CZARFACE – A Fistful Of Peril (2016)
Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition (2016)
De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody (2016)
Denzel Curry – Imperial (2016)
ELUCID – Save Yourself (2016)
Elzhi – Lead Poison (2016)
Havoc & The Alchemist – The Silent Partner (2016)
Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade (2016)
Kanye West – The Life Of Pablo (2016)
Kool Keith – Feature Magnetic (2016)
Lil Uzi Vert – Lil Uzi Vert vs. The World (2016)
Lil Yachty – Lil Boat (2016)
Masta Ace – The Falling Season (2016)
Mikey D – Day Of D’struction (2016)
Open Mike Eagle & Paul White – Hella Personal Film Festival (2016)
REKS – The Greatest X (2016)
Royce 5’9″ – Layers (2016)
Run The Jewels (El-P & Killer Mike) – Run The Jewels 3 (2016)
Ryu – Tanks For The Memories (2016)
ScHoolboy Q – The Blank Face LP (2016)
Sick Jacken – Psychodelic (2016)
Smoke DZA & Pete Rock – Don’t Smoke Rock (2016)
The Game – 1992 (2016)
The Weeknd – Starboy (2016)
Tiff The Gift – It Gets Greater Later (2016)
UG – Portals (2016)
Ugly Heroes (Apollo Brown, Red Pill & Verbal Kent) – Everything In Between (2016)
Vinnie Paz – The Cornerstone Of The Corner Store (2016)
Westside Gunn – FLYGOD (2016)
Willie Green – Doc Savage (2016)
