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best-hip-hop-rb-mixtapes-eps-projects-week-december-23rd-download
Graphic: Evanka Williamson

Mixtape Monday: The Best of Mixtapes of 2019 featuring Kokoroko, Dibia$e, Nicole Bus, Quelle Chris + More

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Graphic: Evanka Williamson

Another year closes this Mixtape Monday. This week we take a look back at The Best of 2019.

This week’s roundup features over sixty projects from some of the dopest, most prolific artists and producers pushing the envelope. This year’s retrospective includes music from Kokoroko, Dibia$e, Nicole Bus, Quelle Chris, Fly Anakin x Big Kahuna OG, Waldo, Black Milk, 30/70 Collective, Hunnah, Femdot, Jazzbois, Kota The Friend, Wynne, Seba Kaapstad, The Stuyvesants and so many more.

READ: 10 Albums By Black Women That Defined The 2010s

After careful consideration, the artists chosen to represent this year in music are the best of what can only be described as a gigantic list of contenders. The final lineup could easily have hit the triple-digit mark if not for a bit of discipline on my part.

READ: Okayplayer's 19 Best Songs of 2019

Without further delay, here is a look back at a great year in music. Join me in looking ahead to 2020.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

KOKOROKO - KOKOROKO

London afrobeat collective KOKOROKO drop their self-titled, four-track EP ahead of their highly-anticipated forthcoming album.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

TRIUNE - Still Matter EP

Nahid Abunama-Elgadi, Josh Hey and Sigmund Washington combine as TRIUNE with their Paxico Records debut  Still Matter.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Brainorchestra. - From The 908

Elizabeth, New Jersey representative, and rap polymath Brainorchestra. drops the highly-anticipated album From The 908.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

14KT - For My Sanity

14KT makes a splash with his twelve-track “freedom project” titled For My Sanity, which boasts a heavy list of collaborators including Muhsinah, Jimetta Rose and Masego.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Ohbliv - Give Thanks

Richmond’s own Ohbliv follows a rack of Lewse Joints with the fourteen-track tape titled Give Thanks.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

SOL Development - The SOL of Black Folk

Oakland collective SOL Development offer their take on W.E.B. DuBoisThe Souls of Black Folk titled The SOL of Black Folk.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

30/70 Collective - Fluid Motion

Melbourne’s own 30/70 Collective follow the stellar 2017 album Elevate with a new album titled Fluid Motion.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

HARRiETT - Harriett

Damani Nkosi and Ill Camille combine to form HARRiETT with the arrival of their collaborative album of the same name.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Jazzbois - Jazzbois Goes Blunt

Budapest trio Jazzbois bring their hip-hop, jazz/funk signature to eleven lush tracks on the Blunt Shelter Records exclusive titled Jazzbois Goes Blunt.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Wynne - If I May...

Portland spitter Wynne presents her formidable debut mixtape If I May… featuring contributions from Mahalia, Syd, Hit-Boy, J.I.D. and more.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Grip - Snubnose

East Atlanta spitter Grip follows his standout 2017 debut album Porch with the thirteen-track street opus Snubnose.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Easalio - Fly

Richmond rap veteran Easalio follows the 2017 album Mood with his latest album simply titled Fly.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Mark De Clive-Lowe - CHURCH Sessions

Mark De Clive-Lowe returns with CHURCH Sessions featuring Kamau Daaood, Myele Manzanza, 14KT, Stro Elliot and more.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Amerigo Gazaway x Xiomara - 1990

Producer and Soul Mates Records founder Amerigo Gazaway teams with Bay Area singer Xiomara to drop an expertly crafted take on New Jack Swing titled 1990.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

ben hixon - Dearly Loved

Dallas’ own ben hixon follows the fourteenth installment of his 80s & Gospel series with an eight-track house music gem titled Dearly Loved.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Otxhello - Not Forever, Just For Now

Otxhello is the latest to make waves for Radio Juicy with the release of the lush Not Forever, Just For Now EP featuring Ox The Moron.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Black Milk - DiVE EP

Black Milk gets back to work on the highly-anticipated DiVE EP featuring BJ the Chicago Kid, MAHD and Phil Swish.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Kevin A - Tropic

Kevin A (fka Kevin Amar) spreads his sharp falsetto and experimental soul across eight tracks on the Tropic EP.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Rome Streetz - Noise Kandy 3

Rome Streetz drops the heavy-hitting Noise Kandy 3 album featuring production from Statik Selektah, Futurewave, Sadhugold and more.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Homeboy Sandman - Dusty

Homeboy Sandman drops his highly-anticipated Mello Music Group debut Dusty featuring appearances from Quelle Chris and Your Old Droog.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Jake Milliner - Bernie Says

South London’s own Jake Milliner marks his solo debut with the release of Bernie Says featuring Alfa Mist, Marcus Tenney, Bubblerap (of Hawkhouse) and 25.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Corey King - A Loveless Sunken Sun

Corey Kingalchemically transformed” his anxieties into seven expansive, electronic tracks on his latest project A Loveless Sunken Sun.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Nicole Bus - KAIROS

Dutch songstress Nicole Bus is on the mic and behind the boards where she teams with multi-platinum producer Needlz to deliver her debut album KAIROS.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Harleighblu x Bluestaeb - She

Singer Harleighblu and producer Bluestaeb follow singles “Present” and “Cake” with their thirteen-track collaborative album She.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Thijsenterprise - Smoetsie

Thijsenterprise explores love and lovemaking on the twenty-eight track, Stepbacks & Setbacks follow-up Smoetsie.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Josiah The Gift - RAW

New York spitter Josiah The Gift doesn’t mince words on the follow-up to The Jack Johnson EP titled RAW.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Devin Morrison - Bussin’

Devin Morrison single-handedly gives r&b a boost with the release of his gospel-inflected, eleven-track opus Bussin.’

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Dibia$e - Bonus Levels

Dibia$e’s Bonus Levels is a tip of the hat to vintage video game culture that utilizes 8-bit sound to induce nostalgia.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program - Down 2 Earth Vol. 4

Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program followed Dance of the Cosmos with the fourth installment of the Down 2 Earth series. Rest in space, Ras G.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

KOTA The Friend - FOTO

KOTA The Friend follows lead singles “Birdie” and “Backyard” with the nineteen-track album FOTO.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Seba Kaapstad - Thina

Swaziland and Deutschland connect as multi-national South African collective Seba Kaapstad apply their soulful signature to Thina.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

DUCKWRTH - The Falling Man

DUCKWRTH follows his 2017 XTRA UUGLY mixtape with The Falling Man EP featuring Rico Nasty, Terrace Martin, Mr. Carmack and more.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Emotional Oranges - The Juice Vol. 1 & 2

Enigmatic L.A. duo Emotional Oranges delivered twice in 2019 with The Juice Vol. 1 and 2. The latter was inspired by The Weeknd’s acclaimed Trilogy.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Teebs - Anicca

Five years since the release of Estara, Teebs makes his long-awaited return with the release of Anicca.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Waldo - Grove

Waldo puts on for Michigan with his new fourteen-track album Grove produced by frequent collaborators Sango and Savon.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

femdot. - 94 Camry Music

femdot. teams with Smino on the punchy, seven-track extended play titled 94 Camry Music.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

fleet.dreams - Baskets of Gold

fleet.dreams lends his progressive take on Motor City soul to seven spacious tracks on the percussive masterpiece Baskets of Gold.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

FloFilz - Transit

FloFilz drops a toast to the UK hip-hop scene with the release of Transit featuring Alfa Mist, Barney Artist, Biig Piig and K, Le Maestro.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Jansport J - fades. [Beat Tape]

Jansport J is back in the mix to follow heavylight. [Beat Tape] and sayless. [Beat Tape] with a new gem for instrumental enthusiasts titled fades.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Torb The Roach x Floppy MacSpace - Square Wave Adventures

Torb The Roach and Floppy MacSpace team to follow Tape Echo: Gold Floppies with the 8-bit video game inspired Square Wave Adventures.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

friendkerrek - The Lathe of Heaven

New Orleans producer friendkerrek takes a deep dive into found sounds and dusty loops with The Lathe of Heaven.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Nappy Nina - The Tree Act

Nappy Nina marries a righteous pen game with ace production and a few choice features on The Tree Act.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

TROX - Late 80’s Baby

Portland representative TROX makes his label debut for Fresh Selects with the highly-anticipated Late 80’s Baby beat tape.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Georgia Anne Muldrow - VWETO II

Georgia Anne Muldrow reprises the funked-up 2011 instrumental album VWETO with the arrival of VWETO II.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Hooks Arthur - What You Know May...

Hooks Arthur presents his third album of the year with the release of What You Know May… featuring Mondo Slade, Josiah The Gift and Zesto Q.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Quelle Chris - Guns

Quelle Chris questions just about everything across the masterful, thirteen-track album Guns.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Hunnah - Show You

Singer Hunnah pays tribute to her mother with the debut of her five-track Show You EP inspired, in part, by '90s r&b.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Lord Byron - ALL

Prolific DTX spitter Lord Byron follows 33 and Behold It’s Us with the seven-track ALL EP

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Jaw Gems - Dim Kingdom

Two years after Heat Weaver, Portland, Maine collective Jaw Gems light a path to guide listeners out of the Dim Kingdom.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Siaira Shawn - Tender

Siaira Shawn shares an introspective collection of dystopian love songs on her latest extended play titled Tender.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

JuJu Rogers - 40 Acres N Sum Mula

JuJu Rogers delivers his highly-anticipated third album with the arrival of 40 Acres N Sum Mula featuring SANÓ and Sampa The Great.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Fly Anakin x Big Kahuna OG - Holly Water

Fly Anakin and Big Kahuna OG follow the Big Fly series with their latest joint effort on behalf of Mutant Academy titled Holly Water.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Kiefer - Bridges

Kiefer channels his signature sound through a number of analog synths and intricate compositions across the six-track Bridges EP.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Libretto x Buscrates - Eternal Ridin

Libretto provides the words and Buscrates provides the tracks on the new collaborative album Eternal Ridin.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Mannywellz - META

Mannywellz paints a picture within a picture on META, which riffs on the music of his Nigerian roots through the lens minimal electronic and progressive soul.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Pivot Gang - You Can’t Sit With Us

Pivot Gang marks their debut with the arrival of You Can’t Sit With Us featuring production from daedaePIVOT, squeakPIVOT and Daoud.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

ewonee. - Fakie Flip

Ever prolific, ewonee. returns with Fakie Flip. The project is inspired by NYC’s legendary skate culture.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Sidewalk Kal - Black Identity Extremist

Back with his fourth project this year, Sidewalk Kal comes with the brash, experimental and slightly lofi Black Identity Extremist.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Space Monk - Spheres

Space Monk returns with Spheres featuring contributions from Fat Ron, Khadisma, Darian Momanaee and Black EU-IV.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Juga-Naut x Giallo Point - Back To The Grill Again

Nottingham’s own Juga-Naut is back to follow 2018’s Bon Vivant with Back To The Grill Again, featuring production from Giallo Point.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Tensei - Constellate

Midas Wells and Chris Kramer combine as Tensei to deliver Constellate. Their effervescent combination of spiritual jazz, soul, psych rock, electronic and boom-bap is a clinic in quality music.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

The Stuyvesants - Hot Like July

The Stuyvesants follow WRMX Remix Radio and their more recent project April with the seasonally appropriate Hot Like July.

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Artist

Tiana Khasi - Meghalaya

Tiana Khasi follows her debut single “Nuketown” with the seven-track Meghalaya EP produced by Sampology.

Karas Lamb writes and digs for tunes you haven’t heard yet. She wants to listen to your mixtape. Follow her on Twitter @karaslamb.