Editor’s Note: From Albumism’s inception back in 2016, we’ve remained unabashedly and unequivocally passionate about our mission of celebrating the world's love affairs with albums past, present and future.
But while our devotion to the album as an art form has remained steadfast, as evidenced by our deepening repository of individual album tributes and reviews, we’ve admittedly seldom taken the opportunity to explicitly articulate our reverence for the virtues of artists’ complete album repertoires as a whole.
Hence why we’ve decided to showcase what we believe to be the most dynamic discographies of all time in this recurring series. In doing so, we hope to better understand the broader creative context within which our most beloved individual albums exist, while acknowledging the full breadth of their creators’ artistry, career arcs, and overall contributions to the ever-evolving musical landscape.
We hope you enjoy this series and be sure to check here periodically for the latest installments.
CURREN$Y
Studio Albums: This Ain't No Mixtape (2009) | Jet Files (2009) | Pilot Talk (2010) | Pilot Talk II (2010) | Weekend at Burnie's (2011) | The Stoned Immaculate (2012) | Pilot Talk III (2015) | Canal Street Confidential (2015) | Back at Burnie's (2019) | Collection Agency (2021) | Still Stoned on Ocean (2021) | Pilot Talk IV (2021) | Collaborative Albums | Extended Plays | Mixtapes
Shante “Curren$y” Franklin is one of the smoothest artists to ever pick up a microphone. Armed with a cool, conversational Southern drawl, the New Orleans born emcee got his start as a member of the 504 Boyz with No Limit Records, and later was one of the first artists signed to Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money label. Though his solo career didn’t really start in earnest until his This Ain’t No Mixtape (2009), he spent the next decade-plus as one of hip-hop’s most prolific and consistent artists. I suspect the man lives in the studio.
As a founding member of the Jet Life collective, Curren$y has literally dozens of releases to his name, putting out full-lengths, EPs, collaborative endeavors/compilations, and “mixtapes” at a brisk clip. The quality ratio for the projects is fairly mind-boggling; I’d estimate that Curren$y has dropped close to 70 projects in the past 13 years, and all run between solid to extremely dope. Pilot Talk and Pilot Talk II, both produced nearly in their entirety by acclaimed beat-smith Ski Beatz and released through Dame Dash’s DD172 imprint, put him on the map back in 2010. Meanwhile, projects like Cover Coup (2011), a team-up with an ascendant Alchemist, ranks high among the best albums of the 2010s. In 2016, he released a project every month of the year; just about all of them were amazing.
Curren$y makes music for all seasons, but his best material is suited for warm weather days and nights, and is designed to be bumped in the ride, either in traffic or on open roads. His laid-back vocal tone meshes well with all types of musical backdrops, but he sounds the best when things are laid-back and mellow. Along with the aforementioned Ski Beatz and Alchemist, he’s recorded entire projects with other top-notch producers like Harry Fraud, Statik Selektah, DJ Fresh, Sledgren, and Purps. Each time, he brings out the best in whoever he works with, either behind the boards or in the vocal booth.
Curren$y doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. In 2020, he released another nine projects. The Outrunners and Director’s Cut, both team-ups with Harry Fraud, were two of the best releases of the year. His commitment to his craft and his ability to make it all seem so effortless are earning him legendary status.
Jesse’s 3 Favorite Curren$y Albums of All Time:
1. Covert Coup (Collaborative Album with The Alchemist) (2011)
2. Pilot Talk (2010)
3.The Legend of Harvard Blue (EP) (2016)
VISIT Curren$y’s Official Store (Jet Life Apparel)
LISTEN & WATCH: