What an interesting year it has been for hip-hop. The world’s most growing genre of music turned 50 this year. We have had albums released this year that we’ve had in rotation since the release date. We’ve seen a lot of our favorite rappers make us proud with their releases this year. I recently reached out to some of my chef friends in Atlanta to see which album was their favorite this year and why. Be sure to follow each chef on Instagram and be sure to take a listen to their favorite album of you haven’t already. Cheers to 2023 for some great albums.

Chef Chi (Dakari Akorede) is based in Atlanta and originally from Chicago. He’s a private chef and pit-master. He own’s the upcoming, Chicageaux BBQ Company. An e-commerce platform that will allow him to get specialty smoked meats straight to your front door. Click here to follow him on Instagram.

THE BIGGEST by BigXthaPlug is my favorite album releases in 2023. In my opinion, he came in the game with a completely different flow. He paid homage to some of the Texas greats. His flow and beats are unmatched. It made a great bbq album.

---

Chef Curtis Lamar has been feeding most of Atlanta for years. From his work in the past at Cheetah Lounge/Alluvia to now whipping the pots at 2 Chainz’ adult entertainment lounge, Candyland and being the owner of Lamar’s Bistro. Click here to follow him on Instagram.

It’s a tie between MICHAEL from Killer Mike and Welcome 2 Collegrove from 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne. MICHAEL gave me the lyrical assault rap that has been missing. Every song was a hit. Some of my favorites from that album are DOWN BY LAW, TALK’N THAT SHIT!, and SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS. Welcome 2 Collegrove gave the anthems of next summer. With that album, you could hear the evolution of 2chainz as a rapper. It’s lyrically his best album. Some of my favorites from that one are P.P.A., Oprah & Gale, and Presha.

---

Chef Maximilian Hines is of Atlanta cooks as a part of a collaborative group of Atlanta based minority chefs called Stolen Goods. Hines is also the executive chef at Breaker Breaker, a bar and grill on Wylie Street. Click here to follow him on Instagram.

My favorite rap album from this year is Quaranta by Danny Brown. It was an album I’ve been anticipating for some years and it did not let me down. It showed how he has evolved as an artist, but also he flipped a lot of the different styles and flows you found on his previous work . It was worth the wait.

---

Chef Pamela Antoinette of Atlanta is the owner of Pam’s Magic Cauldron. She specialize in smoked meats and can be found doing demos and cooking classes around Atlanta. Click here to follow her on Instagram.

My favorite rap album of 2023 is Black Thought’s latest, Glorious Game. Why? Black Thought!! He’s most rapper’s favorite rapper as there aren’t many that equal him lyrically. This album resonates with a range of listeners and not just old hip hop heads. It’s intelligent but not preachy or pretentious or boring for that matter. The production from El Michaels Affair is perfect. Head nodding, but also melodic.

---

Chef Rell is the owner of Love at First Bite. Offering catering services around Atlanta and the surrounding areas. Click here to follow him on Instagram.

Thanksgiving by Charles Palmer is my favorite rap album released in 2023. It feeds the soul. Sometimes you got to update your (MACK) and refresh it and catch up with your kind. If you feeling what I’m putting down. You get that southern Baptist inspiration as soon as it starts out. Then the trap drums sound like they were sent from God himself. Then everybody comes in with the vocals speaking that southern twang ya dig. It’s a great project and representation of where I’m from and that’s also my brother that produced it and put it together. Charles Palmer.