Yearly Re-Up: The RefinedHype Holiday Newsletter Posted by Lucas G. on 12/20/13 | Filed under Weekly Re-Up

From posts discussing race to post discussing the growth of boobs, to a weekly podcast about all things hip-hop RefinedHype has truly done it all this year. We have been going crazy discussing everyone else's work, and all this talk about other people is great, but let's be honest; what we really care about is booty talking about ourselves. So now that everybody else is settled, its time for Nathan and I and Refinedhype Nation (but mostly Nathan and I) to get our time to shine. Today, the last day of 2013 (for us at least) feels like the perfect day to celebrate the year in RefinedHype, so we are devoting the last "Weekly Re-Up" to year that was on RefinedHype.

I was technically only here for they second half of the year, but in that six month it felt like we had a whole year of stuff to talk about. Sure we are writing about booty and making Drake jokes, but truthfully, Nathan and I bust our ass to bring you a site different from any other; and I think I speak for both of us when I say we are damn proud of it. This year we really made it a goal to get away from posting new songs like the gagillion other blogs. There is enough of those, but there aren't enough places where those in search of discussion, thought, and boobs can go to get there fix, and thats what we want to be. Of course we will share new music that strikes us regardless of if it's hip-hop or not (see the Meet... and Non Hip-Hop articles). Speaking of sharing music that isn't our wheelhouse, we started #NoRapHour where RefinedHype nation comes together on twitter to share some of your favorite stuff that isn't rap; have we mentioned lately that RefinedHype Nation is the shit?

This wouldn't be a Christmas newsletter without discussion two huge additions to RefinedHype. First up is the podcast. Nathan can blog the shit out of anything, we all know this, but this year we learned he can also talk the talk. As if your Friday wasn't good enough, every week to wrap-up the week in hype, Nate Dog would spit hot fire giving you nerds that extra ounce of nerdery. You can check out all the podcasts here, or on iTunes, and definitely be sure to check out the final, 2013 Rap Power Rankings Mega-Podcast With Justin Hunte. The other big addition to RefinedHype was the album streams. Whenever a new album drops (usually a week early) there is always a buzz, but nowhere to talk about it. So not only did we give y'all a playlist with albums like "Nothing Was The Same", "Sail Out EP", or "Because The Internet", but we also a gave you a place to talk about it. Streams have become a big part of RefinedHype and will be back in full force next year; Just imagine the comment section for "Oxymoron" or the Kendrick album! We are always looking to grow and find new, cool ways of bringing you content, and the streams and the podcast are two of the biggest, newest ways we are doing it. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, WE MADE DOPE T-SHIRTS!!!!!! The fashion world ain't that hard, Kanye.

Sure, new cool shit is great, but what you really come here for is some good old fashioned articles. Don't worry we had plenty of that this year. We wrote about Kanye alot-like here, here, and here, (told you it was alot)- wrote about the good in the world, and of course wrote about Booty and boobs (the highlight had to be this Pulitzer winning  piece right?).  And how could we forget these gems, some of our favorite pieces of the year in no particular order.

Rihanna's Boobs Saga
Strippers, DJ Premier & Horror Soundtracks: The Kendra Morris Interview
Chief Keef Makes Less Money Than Your Average Orthodontist
5 Years Later, In Defense of Kanye’s “808s & Heartbreak” Album
Did Kendrick Lamar Murder Pusha T on “Nosetalgia”?
Deaf Kid, M.A.A.D City: Matthew Maxey’s New Kendrick Lamar Cover & Interview
We Fixed It: What Rolling Stone Got Wrong on The Best Songs of 2013 List
Drake’s “Nothing Was the Same” Was the Album of 2013, Here’s Why…
An Insanely In Depth Breakdown of Big Sean x Kendrick x Jay Elec’s “Control”
J. Cole, Autism & The Struggle to Decide When Punchlines Go Too Far
Who’s the Most Under-Rated Rapper Alive?
Where Does Lil Wayne Belong on the All-Time Best Rappers List?
Kanye West’s “Yeezus” Leaked, Let’s Start Talking About It
RefinedHype Quote Quiz: Drake Or “The Notebook”?
The Death of Eminem, World’s Most Controversial Rapper

I could go on listing damn near every article because Nathan and I literally love everything we write; that is meant to be in the most humble way possible. While alot has changed and we have grown a shit ton, will will never stop working  bring you the best possible content we can. Before we can grow, however, we gotta relax for a few weeks. So we will see you in 2014, RefinedHype Nation. From the bottom of our rap nerd hears, thanks so much for rocking with us. So long as you all want to discuss this rap music of ours, hip-hop will never die. Happy Holidays y'all  and take us out Froggy!!!!!

Of course we couldn't leave you without some Booty, because we are RefinedHype after all. Peace.

RefinedHype has merged with The DJBooth. It's the same articles you loved on RefinedHype, new address. For more info, check out the official announcement.