The Best Albums of 2024
It has been a great year for music. From genre debuts from all-time great artists to legendary hip-hop feuds, this year has set a new benchmark in terms of quality, success, and innovation. These are my top 20 ….eh… 21 albums of 2024.
#21 - Metro Boomin and Future - We Don't Trust You
I could not make this list without including this wonderful album. Metro and Future are hip-hops Jordan and Pippin. They complement each other so well, and the quality of this project reflects that. Never have I felt so cool hearing an album. If you haven’t heard of this project, take a moment to listen to the dynamic duo.
20 - Asher Roth and Heather Grey - Temporary Heaven
The ability to channel peace through music is one that we should not take for granted because not many artists can achieve it. If we’re being honest, it’s rare for a rapper to accomplish this feat. Asher Roth manages to capture the element of peace throughout this project, but he puts together one of the best displays of flowing this year.
19 - Magdalena Bay - Imaginal Disk
The second album from the musical duo is everything you would expect from talented artists with a bigger budget. Their sound is more refined, their songs hit a little better, their melodies are a bit catchier, and everything is pieced together for you to love them a little more.
18 - Kaytranada - Timeless
The DJ Khalid-ism of music has kinda hurt the idea of producers making their own album because most times it’s simply bastardized versions of samples and lackadaisical half-hearted verses from our favorite artists. However Kaytranada pieces together a project that’s wonderful, fun, and catchy. This project truly is timeless.
17 - Ravyn Lenae - Bird's Eye
Here’s a factual statement. Ravyn Lanae has never put out a bad project. She is far too good, far too talented, and far too creative. Bird’s Eye is a testament to this, where the songs are carefully crafted, beautiful, and full of the classic Lanae softness.
16 - Lupe Fiasco - Samurai
It’s truly been a while since I’ve enjoyed a Lupe album this much. Maybe The Cool was the project that caught my attention. However, with Samurai, I decided to give the Chicago emcee another try at one of those sink-or-swim crossroads of my fandom. He passed with flying colors. A lyrical display we haven’t seen since the last Lupe album, except this time it is actually interesting and fun. Who would have expected the concept of Amy Winehouse featuring in the film 8 Mile.
15 - Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft
Billie does not miss. For this project she manages to accomplish the album title with flawlessness, it hits you hard and soft. One underrated mechanic of Eilish’s artistry comes to life, her tracklisting brilliance. There’s no lull, and there’s no weird change of pace. That’s perhaps the best highlight of this project which is chalked full of highlights.
14 - Kali Uchis - Orquídeas
The beauty in a Kali Uchis album is that her projects flow so flawlessly that you become entranced in her singing, production, and vibrant audio presence. It’s captivating and throughout the 14 songs, the Latin album takes you on an audio rollercoaster where the language barrier no longer matters.
13 - Dirty Ol Men - Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
Let’s get this out of the way. The hip-hop collective is brilliant. If you need any clue as to why they are geniuses, look no further than this album, ten songs of the collective group putting bars and stories above all to craft one of the year’s best projects, chalked with words of wisdom littered with life lessons that you can take with you for well beyond this project’s shelf life.
12 - Tyler, The Creator - CHROMAKOPIA
Raw, open, honest, brilliant, and true. At least three of those words, I never thought would describe a Tyler album, but here we are. CHROMAKOPIA is Tyler’s Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. It’s him bearing his lyrical soul telling us about skeletons that we never would have guessed existed. It’s the album we never knew we wanted from Tyler, but thank goodness he released this masterpiece this year.
11 - Childish Gambino - Bando World and The New Stone
If this is the final Childish Gambino album, then I’m happy. This album is a collection of every sound of his career, whether it’s rapping, singing, funk, pure melodic, or a cozy beach vibe, Gambino captures every essence. We’re just happy to be on the receiving end of it.
10 - Tyla - Tyla
If you search the definition of musically infectious, Tyla’s debut album will appear. This project from the South African singer project pushes Afro-pop to a new level and crafts material that could allow her to go full Lauryn Hill if she wanted to. While we hope she does not go that route, she is one-for-one with classic albums.
9 - GloRilla - GLORIOUS
eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh eugh. Okay enough of that. Had it not been for Kendrick having an all-time year, we would easily crown GloRilla as the rapper of the year. She released two great albums, but for my money, GLORIOUS takes the cake. It’s fun, rough, cool, and there is something about her adlibs that I can’t get enough of. “Let Her Cook” has been on repeat.
8 - London Beck - Vengeance Be Mine
London Beck is as pure an artist as I have ever seen. Their talent is one of a kind, their voice is magical, and their lyrics are in-depth. When they elect to add levity, you laugh, and when it comes time to add some seriousness to a moment, you listen. Vengeance Be Mine is as close to a cinematic audioscape as we have had this year, and the execution is *chef's kiss.*
7 - Infinity Song's - "Metamorphosis Complete"
A four-part harmony of siblings who can create beautiful music without sacrificing ideas like humor or their gospel roots? Count me in. Metamorphosis Complete is a special project that we should all hear about and celebrate because of its creativity and execution. “Haters Anthem” should have been the TikTok sound of the year.
6 - Laufey- Bewitched: The Goddess Edition
An album chalked with love. Bewitched examines the idea within every aspect of the spectrum. Laufey has the voice for that, but her presence feels like a comforting hug from not just any lover but THEE love of your life. Bewitched can and should only be described as magical.
5 - Sammy Rae and The Friends - "Something for Everyone"
Something For Everyone was the album I looked forward to all year. It is so damn beautiful. It’s truly something for everyone. I wish I had the words to go more in-depth, but everything on this project makes me want to *violently screech.*
4 - Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us
Vampire Weekend album releases should be viewed with the same urgency as a tier below Beyonce. There are no bands capable of creating projects with the same ingenuity or crisp instrumentation as Vampire Weekend and this album is proof. It’s melodically colorful, matched with some seriously underrated singing by Ezra Koenig. Truly a 10/10 album.
3 - Claro - Charm
Had it not been for two legendary artists releasing albums this year, Charm would be the album of the year. It’s soothing in the best ways, and Claro, as a singer, is eye-wateringly beautiful. Having heard this album by pure luck, I can say with certainty that this is perhaps one of the best albums in the past few years. If you have not heard about this project, you are doing yourself a disservice.
2 - Kendrick Lamar - GNX
I fear that Kendrick managed to put crack into this album. An unexpected drop coming off a one-sided ass kickin' of Drake, Kendrick proved once again that his album releases should be a holiday. GNX is his most West Coast-defined project, and every minute of this album is special. It is not too far-fetched to call Kendrick a top-three emcee of all time. He has earned that right with this album.
1 - Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
There’s a difference between an album that makes you nod your head versus an album that makes you ugly-sob while hearing it for the 30th time. Cowboy Carter is the latter. Beyonce is music. I think it is time we accept that there is no genre where she doesn’t thrive. Within music, it’s quite regular that we have short attention spans with how long a project keeps us entertained. Cowboy Carter was released in March and has never left my eyes as the cream of the crop in terms of quality. It is everything you could want in a country album. Cowboy Carter is the album of the year.
