In a landscape dominated by album discussion, EPs seldom get the praise they deserve. Such a reality is especially tragic in a year like 2024, wherein we have been blessed with dozens of outstanding EPs from artists across the musical spectrum. From abstract hip hop to indie rock, fantastic projects have been released in all corners of the of the music scene. In this list, I’ll lay out my five favourite EPs of 2024, but to begin, here are a few honourable mentions.
klwn cat & tau – CYCLEBREAKER
Back in January, CYCLEBREAKER was the first 2024 project I heard, and almost a year on, it still holds up as a tremendous example of abstract hip hop. The fusion of underground talents klwn cat and tau, this EP sees the pair embrace the unusual, with tau maintaining a meticulous, mesmerising flow over a barrage of warped instrumentals from klwn cat.
IDK Young J. – MRAM 1.5
In six concise tracks, IDK Young J. sums up his versatility as an MC, flowing effortlessly over beats grimy, jazzy, and soulful. His husky-voiced delivery gives the rapper a commanding presence, spilling his emotions out over every densely-layered instrumental. From the boom bap throwback “Lakeside In Louisiana” to the dreamy compression of “Treaty of Versailles”, every track is a gem.
Mo Iqbal – Heaven On Earth
Built on a foundation of Bollywood samples, Heaven On Earth is a musical tribute to the Kashmir Valley, a sonic exploration of the complex conflict, and an empowering statement of Mo Iqbal as an artist. Through instrumentals alone, Iqbal creates one of the densest efforts of 2024, interweaving political messages and personal touches through a set of hypnotic hip hop beats.
Thought Provokah – Expensive Thrifts
A testament to Thought Provokah’s abilities as a storyteller, Expensive Thrifts sees the rapper take on the persona of Knap Jones, a lonesome man whose daily wanderings find him playing records and getting high. Through his vivid lyrics and sharp ear for beats, Provokah turns the EP into a fully immersive narrative, packed with clever double entendre and witty song concepts.
5. D2x – THE HUNGER ERA
A year on from Hotel 1105, THE HUNGER ERA is D2x’s most impactful effort yet – an eclectic EP capturing all the colour, ferocity, and heart of the Midwest rap scene. Across its seven tracks, D2x outlines his motivations as a rapper and his limitless drive to succeed, proving he will achieve every aspiration thanks to his relentless performance front to back. The passion in x’s voice is enough to put him up there with the best rappers of 2024, illustrating every triumph and struggle with the raw emotion to hook the listener on every word. Gorgeously produced with stellar verses all over, THE HUNGER ERA is a phenomenal taste of what makes D2x so special.
4. Sara Rae – Passenger Side
The debut EP from Sara Rae is a bright, colourful journey into the Scottish indie scene, littered with glittering guitar work and impassioned vocals. Rae’s lyrics range from elegant romance to subdued melancholy, belting her voice over a rush of splintering drums and vibrant guitar. Every track swells into an infectious anthem at the chorus, with Rae flexing her skills as a songwriter to give every song an equally impactful apex. For a debut EP, Passenger Side is brimming with personality, showcasing the limitless soul, grit, and power of Sara Rae.
3. Maruja – Connla’s Well
An abrasive blend of post-rock, punk, noise, and jazz, Connla’s Well is a brutal highlight in the ever-expanding catalogue of Maruja. The band can effortlessly segue from a nightmarish clamour of drums to a languid saxophone solo, only to dive back into the chaos moments later. Connla’s Well is an unpredictable splatter of sounds equally intricate and messy, striking a delicate balance between instrumental precision and unabashed calamity. Lead singer Harry Wilkinson provides a source of solace in amongst the din, whose fast-paced, breathy vocals feed into the explosive atmosphere the EP offers.
2. bar italia – The Tw*ts
Rather than an evolution, The Tw*ts feels like a continuation of the woozy brand of indie rock London trio bar italia showcased last year with Tracey Denim and The Twits. Their compressed, whispered vocals enchant the listener as a spiral of haunting guitar and jittery percussion circle around them. The band have incredible chemistry, working in unison to drive the unhinged energy and vibrant soundscape of every tune. In just over 11 minutes, The Tw*ts offers a bitesize entry point into bar italia, a band whose catalogue grows more impressive each year.
1. xhef & pty – XHEFFREY
No EP in 2024 has enthralled me quite like XHEFFREY. A nightmarish collaboration between rapper xhef and producer pty, the project sees the duo conjure up a world of unsettling horror, blending elements of boom bap with abstract hip hop and horrorcore. As animated as ever, xhef masters every instrumental with a rambling, paranoia-driven delivery and a sharp pen game sprinkled with brutal and violent imagery. Producer pty matches the rapper’s bloodthirsty approach with a platter of foreboding beats, ranging from the manic jazz of title-track “XHEFFREY” to the dizzying sample loops of “BAM BAM”. Above all else, what makes pty’s production hit hard is the percussion. Every song is driven by a raging drum pattern, adding venom to every bar from xhef and intensity to every cyclone of chopped samples. A tight 16 minutes, XHEFFREY is a flash of hip hop mayhem – an abrasive highlight in both artists’ catalogues showing full dedication to style and concept. On a thematic level, few EPs this year are as cohesive as XHEFFREY, and that’s not even mentioning the undeniable quality of all six tracks.
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