1. Kendrick Lamar, “To Pimp a Butterfly”
The album should be nicknamed, “Gramophone Sweeper” when the world watched the No. 1 album achieve 11 Grammy Award nominations for the upcoming awards show. The album has easily debuted at the very top of many publications’ Best Albums of 2015 lists, including lists on Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vice, Spin and Billboard.
"Twenty years ago, a conscious rap record wouldn’t have penetrated the mainstream in the way Kendrick Lamar did with To Pimp A Butterfly. His sense of timing is impeccable,” Billboard wrote. “In the midst of rampant cases of police brutality and racial tension across America, he spews raw, aggressive bars while possibly cutting a rug.” Welcome to the big leagues Lamar, we hope to see “These Walls,” you’ve built up grow higher and higher in coming years.
2. Adele, “25”
This charming, young British lady was much missed in her four-year absence and her third album was more than well-received. In it’s short month and a half in the year of 2015, the album shattered records, selling 3.38 million records in the U.S. during its debut week alone. “25” has easily surfed along at No. 1 on Billboard’s 200 charts for its fifth straight week. Within the album we see a much more matured Adele that is no longer suffering treacherous heartache, but rather finding her place in her new adulthood lifestyle. With smiles cheek to cheek on her fans, like every year she has released an album, 2015 was a smashing hit for Adele.
3. Drake, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late”
Confidence is key when coming to terms with the fact that you are nothing other than a “Legend.” The rapper’s fourth mixtape debuted on top and even broke Spotify’s first-week streaming record with over 17.3 million streams in the first three days. His past albums showed more of a sense of vulnerability within the young rapper, but his fans seemed happy to see a darker, heartless side of Drake. While it has always been obvious he has thought highly of himself, this album nicely positioned himself up with the greats. And after listening in, you have the assurance that he is there to stay.
4. D’Angelo and the Vanguard, “Black Messiah”
Soul singers have a hard time making their way in today’s music industry and after a lengthy 14 year absence from the scene, we were afraid D’Angelo would never return. But in perfect timing, the dark and fierce “Black Messiah” was released in the wake of the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri. The album was among the year’s most highly anticipated albums and debuted on top at No. 5 on Billboard’s 200 charts. The album’s socially relevant lyrics were critically praised, giving “Black Messiah” an obvious spot on this year’s top albums List.
5. The Weeknd, “Beauty Behind the Madness”
Sex, love, prostitutes, ballads, drugs and then a splash of the modern day Michael Jackson. What’s not to love? Sounds like the perfect music cocktail, all mixed and shaken together, to create The Weeknd’s most recent and highly anticipated album, "Beauty Behind the Madness.” The breakout star of 2015 is an understatement for R&B singer, Abel Tesfaye who has managed to take the music genre to the next level. The album debuted as No. 1 on Billboard’s 200 charts and was well received among the public, receiving many prestigious nominations for the upcoming Grammy Awards. It is safe to say that the Millennial generation has found their King of R&B and Pop.
