Ransom

Though *Ransom* boasts appearances from some of the most distinctive voices in the modern rap arena, the fundamental ingredient of Mike Will Made-It’s music is the oozing, ominous bass tones. To that, he always adds a slightly disorienting flourish—a backward piano, a glimmer of computer noise, a scratched vocal—that sets him apart from the hordes. More importantly, his standards are superb. Though Mike Will emerged from the profligate mixtape scene, these 20 cuts are the best of the best. Each is a careful pairing of beat, voice, and hook. All the beats carry his signature, but no two sound exactly alike.

Although veterans like Nicki Minaj, Future, Big Sean, and Gucci Mane pop up on Mike WiLL Made It's Ransom, the 21-track mixtape is mainly a showcase for rookies (iLoveMakonnen, Young Thug) and aspiring stars, eager to stake their claim on Atlanta's storied hip-hop history.