The Music of 2024
Top 10 Albums
Album/Rank:
#10- Muddy Waters Too by Redman
Standout Track:
”Lite it Up” (ft. Mr. Funke/Heather B/Rah Digga/Vin Rock/Treach/Shaquille O’Neal/Nikki D/DoItAll/Lady Luck/Queen Latifah/El Da Sensei/Hakim Green)
Why Though:
Every year there is an album that taps right into that part of my brain that yearns for artists, formats, and production I used to like when I was in like grade 8. Redman did that for me this year word to the posse cut brimming with New Jersey royalty.
Album/Rank:
#9- You Only Die 1nce by Freddie Gibbs
Standout Track:
”Cosmo Freestyle”
Why Though:
Again I’m forced to just admit, I think Freddie is a great rapper. I initially wanted to say You Only Die 1nce is just great bars song after song. But, Freddie keeps things interesting the way he weaves his flows throughout the production on the album. Gibbs has the official, it’s a vibe, album of 2024 for me.
Album/Rank:
#8- Cowboy Carter by Beyoncé
Standout Track:
”Spaghetii” (ft. Shaboozey & Linda Martell)
Why Though:
Because “genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they?” There should be no debate about Beyoncé’s talent at this point. It’s interesting to listen to her challenge herself and the listener on this album. Even on the song I chose as the standout we have multiple genres all in under 3 minutes and still have time to hear Beyoncé reference Thanos. I almost picked “II Most Wanted” but I just can’t stomach who the duet is with despite their great vocals… see, even the listener is challenged on this album!
Album/Rank:
#7- Glorious by GloRilla
Standout Track:
”TGIF”
Why Though:
Plain and simple GloRilla didn’t miss this year. Even when I thought it was a shame “Yeah Glo!” wasn’t on Glorious, Glo proved she was going to have HITS that hype me up all throughout her album. Not for nothing, she also killed her guest verses. What a time to be a GloRilla fan!
Album/Rank:
#6- Soul Burger by Ab-Soul
Standout Track:
”Crazier” (ft. JID)
Why Though:
There is a vulnerability that Ab pulls off on this album that still comes off like a flex. I don’t mean like it’s cool he went through what he went through. I mean it like he is properly harnessing his hardships to overcome and grow stronger. He’s not the first to do it but he certainly stood out this year for me.
Album/Rank:
#5- Dark Times by Vince Staples
Standout Track:
”Black&Blue”
Why Though:
I’ve always enjoyed the production on a Vince album. I even find myself oddly drawn to his flow while also not agreeing with a lot of what he says in songs and interviews. This year in particular. But this year he put out something so soulful and sad, in the way I appreciate, that I had no choice but to ignore him praising a Pennsylvania singer he thought was doing more for the culture than his peer from Compton.
Album/Rank:
#4- Blue Lips by ScHoolBoy Q
Standout Track:
”Yeern 101”
Why Though:
Yeah man! I get it now. It took me awhile to get into the groove but Blue Lips IS THE GOODS. It got knocked out of the top three because I didn’t love some of the beat switches (or lack of rapping over certain beats). I was so excited to hear my 2nd favourite Black Hippy go off on some of the intro beats only to have the rug pulled out from under me. BUT, that’s how good the album is that he still delivered when on the other beats.
Album/Rank:
#3- Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
Standout Track:
”NISSAN ALTIMA”
Why Though:
A lot of the praise I had for Muddy Waters Too appliess here too. The difference, being, Doechii is a new artist so there is a breath of fresh air infused into the nostalgia grab. Doechii is a STAR. She can rap, she can get melodic, and she pays homage in very creative ways with her music and intonation. The album does lose steam near the end, but it is a small price to pay to be in the presence of such creativity and talent.
Album/Rank:
#2- GNX by Kendrick Lamar
Standout Track:
”Squabble Up”
Why Though:
Today GNX is the second best album of the year for me but it was probably 1st yesterday and could be again hours after you’ve read this. Just like “TV Off” was the stand out minutes before I started to write this entry. The point is It is great to unpack this album while having great music to just nod your head to as well. It’s an album that sticks with you and grows with you which is far too rare these days.
Album/Rank:
#1- Chromokopia by Tyler, The Creator
Standout Track:
”Sticky” (ft. GloRilla/Sexyy Red/Lil Wayne)
Why Though:
The themes of identity and hiding who you really are come back to the surface on Tyler’s new album and I’m here for it! I used to be a true hater when it came to Odd Future and Tyler, The Creator specifically so I’ve truly enjoyed this run he’s gone on that seems to be explaining why he was acting out in the beginning. Even if it’s all made up, it is, conceptually, still a satisfying arc and the music is FIRE! Even the way people have broken down how Tyler made “Sticky” a particularly BLACK song is rewarding before you extend that analysis to the full album.
Singles
Song/Rank:
#10- “Sushi Glory Hole” by The Lonely Island
Why Though:
This is not a joke. I didn’t think I was going to get more Lonely Island, then this came across my FYP and I thought it was funny, and technically sound… so classic Lonely Island to make things a bit brighter.
Song/Rank
#9- “Lithonia” by Childish Gambino
Why Though:
I wish I liked “the last Childish Gambino” album but I just didn’t. Luckily for me, I adored Mr. and Mrs. Smith so the year wasn’t a complete bust for this Childish Gambino/Donald Glover fan. This song, however, really did work for me and I still revisit it to this day.
Song/Rank
#8- “Blick (Remix)” by ScarLip (ft. NLE Choppa)
Why Though:
I don’t have a smart reason for liking this song. ScarLip’s vocals mixed with this beat just get my hyped and there’s nothing else to do but celebrate it on my best of list this year!
Song/Rank:
#7- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
Why Though
Thanks, Queen Bey, for introducing me to Shaboozey. And, thank you Shaboozey for bringing J-Kwon out when you performed this on BET. If you haven’t noticed, I appreciate people who musically remind me of my early teenage years and this was a case of reinterpreting it in a different genre which makes it even more creative.
Song/Rank
#6- “Little Foot Big Foot” by Childish Gambino ft. Young Nudy
Why Though:
He did it again! He made another “This is America” and made a great video to accompany it. I know this is a reissue of an old song but the addition of Young Nudy makes it fair game to place on this year’s list.
Song/Rank
#5- “Yeah Glo!” by Glorilla
Why Though:
I told you “Yeah Glo!” really was THAT SONG earlier in this post. So, of course, it’s one of my favourite singles of 2024. The confidence on this song is intoxicating.
Song/Rank
#4- “Family Matters” by Drake
Why Though:
We can all agree that Drake lost. Like really bad. However, his response to Euphoria (and a bunch of other shots from the likes of Rick Ross and A$AP Rocky) was a solid effort. It’s what made the beef feel interesting. I thought he actually addressed things well and brought up some good points. It was a good couple of hours for people who were rooting for a Toronto win.
Song/Rank
#3- “Like That” by Metro Boomin x Future (ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Why Though:
You know why this is here! For years those who knew, knew that something was coming and Kung Fu Kenny. I first caught it on “King Kunta” but this song was undeniable. Finally Kendrick took a solid shot on this song starting one of the most fun (and important to me) hip hop beefs in a long time.
Song/Rank
#2- “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar
Why Though:
This Mustard beat is S-Tier and the song is such a great troll. In the moment, people kept saying Kendrick couldn’t make a hit so he did and made sure that hit was going to have some of the more catchy disses to Drake. He did a “Back to Back” on Drake as a victory lap. Stroke of genius.
Song/Rank
#1- “Euphoria” by Kendrick Lamar
Why Though:
People are still, somehow, sleeping on the genius that is “Euphoria.” Kendrick laid out exactly how the beef would go. Boogeyman tings!
-YG