Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder may seem an odd choice in this category, since it hasn't had many new releases in 2016 (excellent and oddly slept-on LPs by Jameszoo and JP Moregun notwithstanding). But as anyone who attended the experimental hip-hop/electronic/jazz/whatever imprint's recent, triumphant showcase at the Hollywood Bowl can attest, it's just the calm before the storm. New signee and funk godfather George Clinton has already confirmed he'll release his next album on Brainfeeder, and the label also appears to have new material in the works from Taylor McFerrin and Thundercat. Kamasi Washington reportedly is helping Brainfeeder expand its jazz roster. Then there's WOKE, the “supergroup” featuring FlyLo, Thundercat and Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces, who have “like nine songs kind of floating around,” Lotus told Pitchfork last year. It all points to Brainfeeder being set to dominate the conversation in 2017 — even more so than it already does.

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