If you know me as a music fan, then you would know that I hold Kendrick Lamar in extremely high regard. Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers is Kendrick’s fifth studio album, which set some pretty high expectations among his fans. It also marked his return to the music industry after staying dormant for close to 5 years (1,855 days to be specific). It isn't an understatement to say that this album changed my life– that's just how good it is. My personal favorite songs from these albums were Father Time, United In Grief, and Mother I Sober. |
I'm being completely serious here. This album was my breakthrough this year. I already knew that Metro Boomin was a great, acclaimed producer, but this album cemented his place as one of the best in the entire industry. The seamless transition, the amazing features, and the transcendental verses by rappers such as 21 Savage, Future, Young Thug, and Don Toliver make this one of the year’s best. Plus: Morgan Freeman was literally a feature. There's no recency bias behind putting it this high on the list–it's just that good. |
JID is an amazing rapper, with probably better flow than any other rapper on this list. When you first listen to the Forever Story, you quickly become enticed by JID's vivid telling of his own experiences growing up. The lyrics of every single song here are, respectfully, beautiful. Although it does not represent me as a person, I felt an emotional connection to the songs showcased in this album. My favorite song from here was Surround Sound. |
I don’t think that this was Beyonce’s best album by any means, but the way she presents herself within these songs just showcases her glamorous and continuous influence on the industry. Beyonce exhibits a strong social critique in this album, but at the same time, she also talks about some really random stuff (or stuff that requires a really in depth critique). Still, it’s Beyonce, so I’m obviously biased. |
I started listening to SZA last year when I heard the song Good Days. I was waiting with furious anticipation for December 8th, 2022. That was the day my life changed forever–The Release of SOS. This 23-song album put me through so much pain and sorrow in only a short amount of time. It was beautiful. Kill Bill and Ghost in the Machine basically moved me to tears. While this may be SOME recency bias, I still hold this album in high regard. |
Saba is possibly one of the greatest musicians of our generation. When I first heard his song photosynthesis a few years ago, I became enthralled with his music. I noticed that he had collaborated with other underground black artists such as Smino and Noname, so I decided to seek out more of his stuff. His newest album is probably one of the best from this year due to its ability to seamlessly link different genres together. |
Let me just start by saying: until recently, I had never listened to a Bad Bunny song. Due to the recommendations of my classmates, I decided to listen to one of his albums this year, and to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bad Bunny is one of the greatest artists of our generation and he deserves all of the praise that he gets. |
I’m going to be completely honest here: after listening to all of the Weeknd's features this year, I had very high expectations for him. I was playing this album all summer. That’s just how good it was. My favorite song from this album was Out of Time. |
It was kind of a given that this album would be on this list. Not only is it the most mainstream of any of the albums that appear on this list, but its production value is something to be marveled at. The fact of the matter is that Steve Lacy is continuing to shape his legacy as an amazing producer. My top 2 favorite songs from this album were “Static” and “Sunshine.” |
I'm going to be honest: I was severely disappointed with the release of Drake's last two albums. But all he had to do was get 21 Savage on a beat with him, and the album turned out to be fantastic. The only reason I put it this low is because every song cannot be considered a great one, such as Rich Flex. To me, it's a flex that this album was even able to make it out of the studio. |
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Honorable Mentions:
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Chase Jones
