It might be hard to believe but 2017 is just about in the books.

It feels like just yesterday we were listening to The Storm for the very first time and yet, here we are nine N9ne albums later, looking back at a year that brought so many highlights from video game placements to a sold-out show at Red Rocks, to Elton John, to, most importantly, the crazy amount of great music that was released.

Considering the epic year, we wanted to break down some highlights, maybe its something you missed–as small as a dope line–or maybe it’s something so big we had to talk about again; its the 2017 rewind.

Following Ubi’s Metallica-inspired bars, next up, we’re highlighting the creative chemistry between JL and ¡MAYDAY!.

Though JL was no stranger to Strange entering 2017, it was the year that would set the tone for things to come with the release of his debut album DIBKIS. 

Naturally, JL stayed true to his KC roots, grabbing features from Tech, Joey Cool, Krizz, and other KC natives like Suli4Q and Nave Monjo. Today however, we’re highlighting his work with the guys from Miami.

@maydaymusic X @jlbhood = Viiiiiiiiiiiiibes

A post shared by wrekonize (@wrekonize) on Aug 16, 2016 at 8:54pm PDT

In just one year, JL and ¡MAYDAY! connected on three excellent tracks, DIBKIS‘ “Password” (produced by ¡MAYDAY!) and “Done to Me” featuring Wrekonize and produced by Bernz, and Search Party‘s “Have Someone”.

“I love they way they work and write. They really gave me a strong outside view of myself and my music. After I had that experience with them I started to write whole lot more stuff like that. They are great guys and I love working with them, hopefully we do a lot more songs together.” – JL on ¡MAYDAY!

It’s not just the fact that they collaborated on three dope songs, but what those collaborations did for each artist.

As stated above, For JL, working with ¡MAYDAY! opened up his writing. The relationship-driven cut (a ¡MAYDAY! staple) “Done To Me,” is an example of that. Opening up his writing, connecting on a more emotional, personal side, the effort served as a great change of pace on DIBKIS’ high-octane, virulent atmosphere.

On the flip side, “Have Someone,” while still relationship was driven, had a more gritty, sinister feel than the rest of Search Party due in large part to JL’s influence.

In the middle is “Password,” where ¡MAYDAY!’s color blends with JL’s edge to create a style that is both uptempo and charismatic but melts your face off.

Often times, with collaborations, one artist must venture into the other artist’s lane in order fit the track. What makes ¡MAYDAY! and JL’s joint ventures so exciting, however, is how perfectly they meet in the middle, complimenting each other’s differences.

2017 was the start of a great creative relationship between new face on the label and one of the label’s most battle-tested, but the real reason it’s a highlight is not for what it meant this year, but what it means for the years to come.