16. “Down Bad”

DREAMVILLE RECORDS • REVENGE OF THE DREAMERS III

Much respect to the undisputed Record Label of the Year. I’ve long admired J. Cole’s commitment to building the Dreamville brand, and 2019 was definitely their official coming-out party. The social media-hyped Dreamers III recording sessions built anticipation for what promised to be a sonically eclectic — and electric — compilation, and the team did not disappoint, earning a nomination for Best Rap Album at next year’s Grammys.

With Cole himself expressing a desire earlier this year to collaborate more openly, it’s been cool watching him leverage his power into something tangible for his Dreamville roster, and for other up-and-coming artists too. I’ve always appreciated Cole’s sobriety, but this project and the run of features preceding Dreamers III clearly energized him, in a positive way: “All hail King Cole / first of his name, long may he reign.” With Dreamville as his burgeoning legacy, are we sure Lightskinned Jermaine didn’t win the decade?