Which NJ Musician Reigned In 2021? See Patch's Pick

NEWARK, NJ — It only takes a few seconds for Mach-Hommy to declare on his heavily acclaimed album, "Pray For Haiti", that this will be the year he finally splurges on that python trench coat. If scaly outerwear is a signifier of a successful year, then rest assured, the deposit has likely been put down.

Mach-Hommy is an obscured-faced Newark rapper with roots connecting him to Port Au Prince, Haiti. A celebration of those roots delivered critical acclaim in 2021 with the aforementioned album, but his slick, monotone delivery has been a consistent presence in the hip-hop underground of the late-aughts.

A partnership with Griselda Records and Buffalo rapper and tastemaker Westside Gunn elevated that profile and sonic palate to the point of a breakthrough in 2021, however, cementing Championship Mach as New Jersey's artist of the year.

"Pray For Haiti" landed him on a number of year-end lists, and higher than previous works have placed him. Pitchfork placed the record at 20, NPR at 18, and five publications, including The Fader, Vulture and The Ringer placed it in the top 10.

The album marks a creative victory, adding remarkable consistency to the previously mysterious, often hard to pin down rapper.

"The Stellar Ray Theory" is among the standout tracks. Produced by Kansas City-based Conductor Williams, Hommy glides over jazzy instrumentation with a string of boasts — and perhaps advice — that sounds casual.

"Never was impressed with lyrical matters, my sh*t built upon the backs of pure facts and empirical data," he raps.

"Trouble on my mind, least I'm not in a bind with the things to which these deaf, dumb, blind rappers is confined/when they sh*t flops they'll be hitting Gunn line, cuz they know if, sun don't shine, then son don't shine...," he later adds.

It would have been a good year for the Newark rapper had he just released "Pray For Haiti". Instead, he added a second album, "Balens Cho", and a string of features and collaborations to round out the year.

"$payforhaiti" is an electronic record from the producer Kaytranada's "Intimidated" EP, which features Hommy rapping partially in Kreyol — the variation of Creole spoken in Haiti — while putting a spin on his album title. The collaboration with Kaytranada — who was born in Haiti — is also the Cash App tag for a trust fund he established for the country's education sector, according to Rolling Stone and Complex.

In perhaps his most expressive verse of the year, Hommy shines on "Margiela Split Toes" with Westside Gunn.

"This is championship Mach, we rhyme to the death, won the Fashion Rebel chip five times, screw the rest/wrote the blueprint, said pen the guidelines you accept," he raps, to close the track.

On "Self Luh", the send-off from his second album of the year, he sends listeners out on a message that is much needed after two years of COVID-19, and no real end in sight.

"Many of us on this planet moving at a foolish pace, take for granted how the body needs time to rejuvenate," he says.

Mach-Hommy may have been the standout in 2021, but he wasn't the only musician to have a big year. Here's what else was blasting through our speakers:

dltzk

If at any point this year you found yourself trying to understand the world of "digicore" — right now, included — New Jersey's dltzk (pronounced delete zeke) would be a good place to start.

"Frailty", released this year, ended up on Pitchfork's year-end list despite the record's most listened to track, "pretender", only compiling 79,000 thousand plays.

Still, the record is a worthwhile listen, and likely something to remember whenever you, and the rest of us, get to the bottom of one of Soundcloud's most interesting new scenes.

Coi Leray

The infectious, minimal hip-hop of Hackensack-raised rapper Coi Leray is built for the TikTok era.

"TWINNEM" is infectious, and represents the best of Leray's music thus far.

Mr. Chicken

Mr. Chicken is a living, breathing hook. There really isn't much to the songs he's released so far in the last two years, but almost all the short records have been earworms.

"Never Could" is no exception.

Cakes da Killa

The "Muvaland Vol. 2" EP shows all sides of Teaneck-born Cakes da Killa, who is as effective a rapper as a dance music curator. Pitchfork's description best fits the rapping style, a blend of "Lil' Kim's confident snarl and Busta Rhymes' full chested bravado."

The album is a collaboration with producer Proper Villains. Here's to hoping it's not the end of the promising partnership.

Did a New Jersey artist top your music playlists in 2021? Do you have a favorite musician hailing from the Garden State? Let us know in the comments below.