2016 has proved to be a pretty good year for music, and the thing is, we are barely halfway through the year! With so much good music out and so much more to come, I decided to do a compilation article of the best albums of the year so far.
10. "Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World" (Lil Uzi)
Lil Uzi Vert prides himself on being different and that is visible with his "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" inspired album.The production on this album is one of the best I have heard in a long time. All of the tracks have such a crisp beat and a sound that isn't like anything else out right now. However, the beats go so hard sometimes that the lyrics can't match that level. Some songs connect with you, while others simply fall flat. That is the only problem in an otherwise flawlessly executed, fun album.
9. "Man About Town" (Mayer Hawthorne)
Mayer Hawthorne is a very underrated soul artist. "Man About Town" is just one album that shows the level of talent he has. Hawthorne has a very groovy, funky vibe that translates into strong, solid songs. He manages to fill that void in between old-fashioned soul and pop. His songs may not be hits, but only because he isn't pop enough to cross over into the mainstream world. Frankly, as long as he does not try to cross over, he can keep pushing out quality albums like this forever.
8. "Chapters" (Yuna)
Now this album right here is for fans of contemporary R&B. "Chapters" is an unexpected addition to the list of the year’s best albums so far. The Malaysian artist's voice and sound is reminiscent of Sade and gives off relaxed vibes to its listeners. Effortless in its design, its understated nature results in a bold artistic statement for Yuna.
7. "Genesis" (Domo Genesis)
The debut album from Odd Future member Domo Genesis does not disappoint. You get the usual drug references and goofy stuff Odd Future is known for. But then Domo raps about his family, his autistic brother, and his own soul searching and you realize that there is more than expected. Seeing that it's called Genesis, hopefully there is much more in store from this talented young man.
6. "Begin" (Lion Babe)
Another debut album by some up-and-comers, "Begin" is the quintessential carefree album. The thing that makes this album stand out is their fearlessness with experimenting with sounds. Lion Babe does a great job of amalgamating R&B, pop and electronic to create their own neo-soul sound.
5. "Malibu" (Anderson .Paak)
There are very few artists who come off as sincere as Anderson .Paak. "Malibu" gives insight into .Paak's life, giving the album a very personal feel. He talks about his mother being a farmer, his father being sent to prison, and what that meant for him growing up. His voice is warm and conversational, and each song has a very nice groove to it. All in all, "Malibu" is a sincere, soulful album, overflowing with honesty and humility.
4. "Lemonade" (Beyonce)
First things first, I would just like to apologize to all the members of the Beyhive for putting "Lemonade" only at number four on my list. Please do not come after me. That being said, "Lemonade" is a very well composed album. Beyonce does a masterful job of not simply telling a story, but also painting a picture of what she is going through. It's also nice to get an inside glimpse of what Beyonce really goes through.
3. "Coloring Book" (Chance the Rapper)
"Coloring Book" is one of the strongest rap albums released this year and also one of the strongest gospel albums too. Chance decided to use this album as an opportunity to not only defy rap norms, but to also have conversations with God, proving that rap can still dig deeper into its roots.
2. "ANTI" (Rihanna)
Personally, I don't really like Rihanna's music. It is usually overplayed and very subpar. That's why when a good friend of mine (Shout out Jabarri) told me to listen to this album, I was skeptical. I thought it would be just like everything else I have heard by her. However, on first listen, I was taken aback. "ANTI" is the first time I have heard Rihanna make music that is not trying to be commercial and therefore is her best album to date.
1. "The Life of Pablo" (Kanye West)
Definitely not Kanye's best album, but TLOP has so far proved to be the best album of 2016. Some have criticized the album for not being cohesive and being all over the place, but that's what adds to its greatness. The album offers a look into the mind of Kanye West and really shows how he thinks and feels about the issues in his life. Put that together with great features and amazing production, and you have the best album of 2016 so far.
