Hip hop labels have kind of fallen off.
Back in the day (even though I wasn’t alive), you had to be signed to a label. A label brings industry connections, money, studio time, among other amenities, all necessary for an up-and-comer with raw talent. Legendary rappers like Biggie and Eminem, and even modern stars like JID, all got their start by signing with a record label that helped them release a debut album.
However, time has shown that labels can be toxic, suffocating artists’ creative freedom or derailing their career with shady record deals. Because of this, the collaborative nature of labels has really taken a hit. Albums used to have labelmate features on multiple songs, sometimes even having members produce for each other, adding another layer of chemistry that was cool to see. Griselda, Jackboys, and Opium are three of the biggest modern labels that I think have been doing a solid job, however their releases have stagnated, and they are not the forces that they used to be.
Enter 10k Global, a label that’s filling the void. Founded by Brooklyn rapper MIKE, 10k might just be another rap label, but what’s special about the group is the synergy between the members, the constant collaboration, and the tireless output. There’s almost 15 members in the group, with projects from half of them dropping within the last year. MIKE is getting pretty big, doing a Tiny Desk concert with NPR last year. However, a lot of the artists on the label go under the radar and deserve more hype. Everything I’ve heard so far has been fire in one way or another, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down.
The 10k catalog is full of gems, with each album having a unique sound yet still feeling connected to the others. This comes from the in-house production and collaboration done with a lot of the artists (the most active members either produce or feature on each other’s albums). Some projects stick out more than others, and provide a good entry point to the label. I made a list of 5 albums that I think are cream of the crop (no artist repeats, of course).
Here’s the list:
MIKE – Burning Desire
I only wanted to put one MIKE album on the list to let the other members shine, and, honestly, a lot of his albums could occupy this spot.
His sound has evolved greatly since starting out, transitioning from wailing soul sample chops to a more psychedelic sound, all while keeping the same raw honesty and lo-fi charm. Burning Desire is at the midpoint of this, combining elements of classic hip hop and electronic to create something that transitions between smooth, abrasive, joyful, and melancholy, all in just a few tracks. There’s a handful of features, and the list is pretty stacked. There’s the usual crew of rappers that collab with 10k, with the addition of the Bay Area rapper Larry June. However, MIKE brings in artists from outside of the realm of hip hop; Lila Ramani, a founder of the band Crumb, and UK musicians mark william lewis and Venna. MIKE handles all of the production under his alias, dj blackpower.
There are some songs that take time to click, but every song takes super interesting risks, challenging the boundaries of hip hop. I can’t believe some of the beats on this project, and how well MIKE and company are able to handle their abstract nature so well.
Everytime I give this a listen, I find a new favorite song from it. I highly recommend, especially as a good starting point for MIKE in general. The cover is sick as hell, too–like most 10k album art.
Release date: October 13, 2023
Duration: 24 songs (50:42 minute runtime)
Features: Earl Sweatshirt, Fashionspitta, Liv.e, Venna, El Cousteau, Niontay, Larry June, Lila Ramani, mark william lewis
Fav tracks: Golden Hour, U think Maybe?, REAL LOVE, Snake Charm, Dambe, African Sex Freak Fantasy, Zap!
Sideshow – Tigray Funk
Tigray Funk is the latest installment from 10k as of writing this (by the time this article comes out, there will be a new MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt album that dropped), and is one of my favorites from 2026 so far. Sideshow’s been dropping albums since the start of the decade, but this quadruple album is his longest and most ambitious to date.
Most of the songs are short in length, and the project covers a lot of topics and sounds in just over an hour. Tracks range from soulful sample ballads to jittery, frenetic trap beats with smooth flows. Sound effects and samples are layered throughout, making for a seamless, immersive listen. Fellow 10k members Anysia Kym (production) and Niontay (feature verse) help out, with other frequent collaborators Tony Seltzer and Earl Sweatshirt lending a helping hand as well.
Solid album, great to put on repeat, especially with a wide variety in sounds on the project. Still, the album has a cohesive vibe, leaning into a lot of new school, chaotic beats, which I really like.
Release date: February 27, 2026
Duration: 32 songs (1 hour, 2 minute runtime)
Features: SEXWORKS, Kelow LaTesha, El Cousteau, Niontay
Fav tracks: SIGNS + SYMBOLS, I AM DA CAPTAIN, LIFE AS VIOLENT AS YOU MAKE IT, INTERNATIONAL SODA CLUB
SALIMATA – The Happening
I first heard about SALIMATA in 2025 with her song “SWEETTHANG,” which I really liked. I assumed she was a newer artist because I had never heard of her, but she’s been signed with 10k for years now, having released a few projects with them.
The Happening is her most recent, having been released in December of 2025. This album is awesome. Like every 10k album, The Happening is genre-fluid, taking inspiration from a ton of sources like funk, RnB, and jazz rap, with a few electronic songs here and there. The samples on this are tastefully done as well, making for a project that has a sense of similarity that still feels fresh.
The sounds are great, and are right in line with the eclectic 10k style. However, what really caught my attention was her rapping ability, and how she’s able to navigate the various genres. Her flow’s smooth, reminding me a bit of Doechii, but SALIMATA takes it a step further, rapping like the rent’s due on every track. I like how she switches up her cadence, making sure there’s never a boring moment throughout the 30 minute runtime.
With The Happening under her belt, and fresh off a performance for A COLORS SHOW, I’m super excited to see what comes next.
Release date: Dec 12, 2025
Duration: 14 songs (28:02 minute runtime)
Features: Kelly Moonstone, Peyton
Fav tracks: SWEETTHANG, Fergie, Jackpot, Foil, Let’s Talk About It
Niontay – Soulja Hate Repellant
Niontay is probably the most “trap”-oriented rapper on the label, relying mostly on beats with booming bass with drums. Out of everyone, he was the easiest for me to get into, and I’ve been spamming his music all semester. He dropped multiple projects last year, my favorite being the mixtape Soulja Hate Repellant, which was released in December.
I didn’t think much of it when it came out, probably because it was released during finals week and I was busy with other stuff. However, when I took a closer listen, it entered my rotation pretty quickly. What I like about Niontay is that his music is super fun, and Soulja Hate Repellant sounds like a night of go-karting with the fellas. It’s all wrapped nicely in a 30 minute package, making for a quick listen.
The beats on this are all super unique, integrating the sounds of plugg and cloud rap, and encapsulating the sounds coming from the burgeoning rap scenes in Florida and Detroit. These sounds can be pretty abrasive and different, coupled with Niontay’s lazy flow (I played this for my brother and he was not a fan…), but it’s very refreshing compared to the oversaturation of trap and rage beats on the market today. I love that plugg rap is coming back, with Niontay at the forefront, and SHR pushes the genre to more raw and energetic heights.
The feature list is very solid, mainly with the list of in-demand underground producers on the project, like Surf Gang, Dylvinci, and Tony Seltzer. Florida rapper/DJ 454 oversees the album as a host (kind of like DJ Drama on Call Me if You Get Lost), adding his jarring GATORFACE producer tags throughout the tape. Earl Sweatshirt also gives a great verse on “Cressidaway!/TPGeek”, one of my favorites of the album, showing that he’s more than just a conscious rapper that belongs on boom bap beats.
Overall, a very fun album pushing forward a unique style of rap.
Release date: December 12, 2025
Duration: 12 songs (30:07 minute runtime)
Features: Lerado Khalil, Earl Sweatshirt, Sunny
Fav tracks: Free Luigi, Rockoutcentury, Cressidaway!/TPGeek, soulja hate/Mr.Havemyway X Mr.Beatdaroad
Anysia Kym – Truest
Anysia Kym is a DJ/producer/artist based in Brooklyn, and is one of the more interesting artists I’ve stumbled upon in the past few years. I know this is a list of “rap” albums, but this album is still great, and it shows the range of the label.
The first song I heard from her was the crowd favorite “Test Your Patience,” a dreamy garage track, and I thought it was pretty cool, but it didn’t draw me in enough to check out the whole album. I gave it another chance last year, and, holy shit, this blew me away.
Truest is short, only 22 mins, but it hits all the right notes. Mixing elements of dance, jungle, and liquid drum-and-bass, it honestly has a song for every kind of vibe, with chill bangers that sound like frutiger aero (I can’t think of a better way to describe it) to hardcore songs that could hang at any DJ set.
Kym handles most of the production, with one of the songs being produced by Na-Kel Smith (the dude who played Ray in Mid90’s, who also makes music), and it tracks. Everything sounds very cohesive, and it makes for a fun listen and a great entry point to the more electronic, digital-sounding side of 10k.
She’s dropped a few projects since, which have been dope, but I think the versatility of Truest is unmatched, making it one of my favorites off the label.
Release date: March 21, 2024
Duration: 9 songs (22:47 minute runtime)
Features: MIKE
Fav tracks: Hesitations… (Intro), Test Your Patience, Amplitude
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