As 2013 draws to a close, our contributors have been compiling their favourite moments of the year. Here are Ben’s. Check out the projects and make sure to cop them if you’re into them!

10. Piff Gang – PG13
This project plays like watching a movie on gas, smoking until you’re unsure of whether or not your eyes are open or closed. Great production and dope lines from London’s freshest vibe connoisseurs. PIZZY.

09. Vince Staples – Stolen Youth
“Reporting live from delusion,” Staples says to kickstart one of the strongest efforts of the year. Entirely produced by Larry Fisherman (Mac Miller), Stolen Youth has help from Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q, and Da$h, who is always welcome. Don’t sleep.

08. Moby – Innocents
People rest on Moby, but I listen to Moby and rest. Every night. Innocents is a return to Sleepy Town. Similar to Wait for Me or 18, Innocents is yet another Sandman classic from my favorite bald alien.

07. Alexander Spit – Mansions 2
The best beat tape of the year. A perfect follow-up to last year’s near flawless Mansions, the sequel is more concise and thumping. “Pullover Hoodies” is the beat of the century.

06. Blue Sky Black Death – Glaciers
Slow your role and turn into an ice sculpture. This album is an experience unlike anything else that came out this year. Shoegaze on lean. A movie about your spirit leaving your body in slow motion.

05. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience
Coming out of his musical hibernation, JT created a sprawling masterpiece about love, drugs, and more love. Part 2 was good, but Part 1 was sublime. With help from James Fauntleroy and Timbaland, JT regained his title as the current king of pop. Sorry, Bieber.

04. Freddie Gibbs – ESGN
ESGN is the only 2013 album representing Indiana. Gangsta Gibbs goes back to the basics with this one. Back to selling mixtapes out of trunks. Gibbs recruited all of his eastside Gary boys and dropped the hardest rap album of the year. Lex Luger is jealous.

03. John Legend – Love in the Future
John Legend loves love. Everyone knows that. On his newest album, a sixteen track lovelogue (you can use it), he slows it down and spreads the gospel, one throwback (Kanye assistant produced) track at a time.

02. Lucki Eck$ – Alternative Trap
Lucki killed the game at sixteen. Slowly gaining buzz within Chicago as well as worldwide, Alternative Trap started something outstanding. Next year has even more promise for the now 17-year-old rapper. Alternative Trap is one hell of a debut and certainly my most played project of the year. Those beats. Damn.

01. Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap
Hard to touch. Enough tongue-twisters and genre-bending tracks to create its own category. Try to keep up.