2020 was a shitty year, and I hated it all, except for the music. PDX proved to me again that music is worth fighting for and believing in, especially when the stakes are the highest.

My favorite local records of the year were Omari Jazz's Dream Child and Parisalexa's 2 Real. Omari is a super-talented producer and beatmaker that crafts intricate and gorgeous melodies with crazy beats, for a sound that is dreamy and narcotic. Subscribing to his twitch channel this year was some of the best money I spent. It seems to me essential viewing if you are interested in production.

So I know that Parisalexa was living in Seattle when 2 Real was recorded and released, and that she just recently moved to PDX. So technically, probably not a Portland record, but I'm including it because I think Parisalexa's 2 Real is as big a leap for her as Aminé's Limbo was for him. Both are strong 2nd albums that put their respective artists on a national tier and in conversation with the best music of its kind being made anywhere. It's such a beautiful record and writes lovely melodies, I feel like Portland needs to get hip and claim her with pride.

[bryson, the alien] also killed it this year, with especially strong singles paired with L.A.-based space rockers Pioneer 11. Their single "'91 BULLS VS. PISTONS" was described by my favorite music journalist as "levitating in the robotic, futuristic, George Jetson stratosphere,” which I cannot improve upon in any way. It was pretty easily my favorite PDX single of the year. Another song "RÉGINE" had me muttering "clean hands, mask on / gimme six feet / walking down that street / got my wolf on a leash" all summer along with its weightless bounce. Another smart artist taking advantage of bandcamp with a yearly membership & exclusive merch. 

Hanif Collins is a Northeast Portland legend, and he released two projects this year as bandcamp exclusives. The MC formerly known as Luck-One paired up with local hero/producer Tope as HANiF The Barber, their record No Clout has some of the most brutally real album art I saw this year along with a really excellent run of songs, with wise lessons imparted over impeccable beats evoking summer nights and roller skate jams. He also collaborated with beatmaker Mike Mo on No Sympathy, spinning yearns over soul loops and modern trap beats.

One of the outstanding runs in recent PDX rap belongs to the year Milcmane had in 2020. For real, Blanco's year reminded me of Ichiro's rookie season, how every time he stepped in the box, you had to watch to see what was gonna happen. Same when MILC stepped in a booth. He started the year with a fantastic collab with producer Sxlxmxn (aka Stewart Villain) called Friends of Eddie Croyle, and the two recently released BIG BELLY BLANCO. He worked with emcee Dust as DEAD RAPPER CLUB over classic beats, then paired up with PDX native & shit-talker extraordinaire blangblanglang for my personal favorite, GOATMILC. The insane, coked-out action movie atmosphere of COCAINE COBRA with Lawz Spoken is neck-breakingly good, and COMPUTER CHIP with Ton Be Fresco has some of Milc's best bars of the year. In all, it's a run that reminds me of...

Old Grape God (a.k.a. Tronfucious or just Tron) undertook an artistic challenge to release an album a month last year. The Time Travel 444 series is a fascinating, loose, improvised set of collaborations with all kinds of different musicians from Portland and beyond. This year, he released isoulazn and CATHARTRITIS, the latter of which is in my opinion is one of his high water marks as an artist. It really felt like he pulled together everything he does really well, which in my opinion is one of the most unique lanes in modern music.

Jordan Fletcher's debut album first bandcamp single "8:46 Freestyle" was released in early June in response to George Floyd's murder by the police. His first full length Somewhere Off Alberta followed in August, and it was an introspective look into what it means to grow up Black in Portland. Jordan frequently performed at and participated in rallies and marches against police violence and in support of Black Lives Matter, and I would consider his contribution to Portland music in 2020 to be essential.

It was also an incredible year of releases from Rasheed Jamal, who put out two eps and a full length through bandcamp this year. The veteran MC from Arkansas has been dropping knowledge for years, and his music was something I returned to again and again this year for perspective and wisdom. 

Illest combination of album art and soundscape goes to Saltfeend for Skydrone, the perfect music for gazing out over a gorgeous alien vista on a faraway planet where none of this 2020 shit is happening.

Scooty had a really great release early in the year that I wish more people were listening to. Wait, Huh? was a really fun record was one of my favorite good mood records of the year, super catchy and bouncy. This one was also produced by Tope.

Buy music! From artists directly! Especially if they live in your city!