Top EP’s of 2014

As all people who write about music do, I am writing a list of my favorite EP's of 2014. It’s difficult to listen to every single project that has been released, and I will be straight forward in saying that I haven’t.

I have however given considerable listen to many projects, and I will highlight my favorites. The listening period for this year is from December 25th, 2013-December 24th, 2014.


Honorable Mention:

Happy Belated - Chaz French

Mr. French recounts tales of homelessness and of his child in his 13 track project. At times it can be repetitive, but overall I enjoyed the project.




@MCTreeG EP - Tree

This was a nice release from the Windy City, Soul Trap representer. The instrumentals are nice, and Tree's voice is very interesting as he does this short effort.



Royalty: The Prequel - The Dream

"Drowning in this beautiful, but cold idea of love," Lake Michigan is the shining star on this 7 track project. The Dream has remained consistent in his years since his initial debut to fame.



Top 5 EP’s


5. Birds of Paradise - Daniel Caesar

January 2014 saw the release of this 3-track effort from Toronto singer, Daniel Caesar. While artists like PARTYnextDOOR and Majid Jordan were making a big splash onto the musical scene, this release slipped quietly onto the internet. The track which caught attention was Scream, a cover of The Wilhelm Scream by James Blake, but nearly overshadowed the other two tracks. The mellow vibe and instrumentation of Birds of Paradise leaves listeners yearning for more.




4. Week of K.R.I.T. - Big K.R.I.T.

It’s no secret that Justin Scott is a favorite of mine, and this release is one of the reasons I don’t try and hide it. Week of K.R.I.T., after conversation with some fellow fans, seemed to fall short of the expectations had for the Multi-Alumni representer. I agree, after his 2013 King Remembered In Time mixtape/free album, Week of K.R.I.T seemed like a weak response. That’s the danger of expectation, and after a re-listen, Week of K.R.I.T. is now one of the stronger EP releases of 2014. Everyday for a week, Krizzle released a brand new track for the masses, and it turned out to have every kind of feel. From lyrical with Conscious Effort, to hype with New Agenda, to introspective and celebratory with Egyptian Cotton. Week of K.R.I.T. should be reviewed again and praised for what it is.




3. Boarding Pass - DJ Shad & T. Lo

I stumbled into this release via The Dope House, and it’s intrigued me since. T. Lo, another
Canadian, has created with DJ Shad a fast paced rhyming royale over old school inspired instrumentals. T. Lo is new to me, but he laced each track. His flow was suitable for each track, and DJ Shad’s samples in the production seem to fit in a way I don’t often see.




2. Porno Music II: TSFR - Leather Corduroys

The front runners of the Save Money imprint are Chance The Rapper and Vic Mensa, but there is still other talent in the ranks. Joey Purp and Kami de Chukwu  have decided to join as one and have so released one of the hypest releases of 2014. Porno Music uses strange beats with alliteration in lyrics and fast paced flows. Essentially, this is a ride packed into 5 tracks. The lyrics are brash and at times obscure, but overall the project has a mood of overall hype. The project is highly recommended.





1. Praise Break - Daniel Caesar

This is by far my favorite EP of the year. Soulful, whispering and yelling at the same time tales of love and sadness, Praise Break is a great second act for the rising Toronto singer. The production is nearly flawless, weaving religiously tuned interludes around ballads of love. The skit Casablanca fits in perfectly with the next song, rightly entitled We'll Always Have Paris. Each one of these songs alone will fit well in the Top 10 songs of the year. The project has the feel of a short, beautiful album. I encourage all the check it out.