As 2020 began, it was on pace to become one of the best years for music in a while with tons of mainstream artists hinting at and promoting their new projects. Of course with the COVID-19 Pandemic, artists couldn’t tour off of their albums, so the major labels and artists decided it would be best to hold back on their projects for the foreseeable future. Though 2020 was a great year for indie projects to get their chance to shine as well as artists creatively exploring music with their limitations during the lockdown, 2021 took all the delayed projects from 2020 and combined them with the standard year of releases creating a jam-packed year with so many projects releasing each week, it became a challenge to keep up and consume everything throughout the year. I wanted to make a list of my 100 favorite albums released this year (at least from what I was able to digest) and say a few words on why I think each deserved a spot of recognition as well as a track to recommend from each.

I wanted to start with some honorable mentions that didn’t crack the top 100, but deserved a shoutout nonetheless

Honorable Mentions

ABBA – Voyage

When you can take a 40-year hiatus and come back to make something as solid as Voyage, you deserve the same love you got 40 years ago.

VanJess – Homegrown

Infectious grooves from the R&B duo. It’s polished and it’s produced quite nicely.

Young Dolph & Key Glock – Dum and Dummer 2

I love the production here more than the first Dum and Dummer, and Young Dolph and Key Glock’s chemistry on this project is unbeatable. RIP Young Dolph.

Jany Green – Lost in Love

This is one of those albums you play loudly and you dance in your bedroom too. It’s short. It’s fun. I cannot wait to see what Jany Green does next.

James Blake – Friends That Break Your Heart

While weaker than his previous efforts, James Blake created a pretty and introspective R&B album with a great feature list.

Aminé – TWOPOINTFIVE

Just like ONEPOINTFIVE, TWOPOINTFIVE finds Aminé experimenting with different sounds outside of his major album just for fun. TWOPOINTFIVE seems to dive into a Hyperpop style sound, and it’s excellent high-speed party music.

Kareem Ali – Quantum Blackness

Kareem Ali releases so much decent music, but Quantum Blackness is a solid piece of House and Instrumental Hip Hop that was a great homework album for this year

Curren$y – All His Projects From This Year

Curren$y dropped 8 projects this year. They are all Curren$y flowing over solid production from a variety of producers. I wanted to shout out Pilot Talk 4 for being the best of them all.

The War on Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore

I wasn’t as huge on this project compared to other people, but Adam Granduciel’s new album is consistently solid.

Chavo & Pi’erre Bourne – Chavo’s World 2

Pi’erre Bourne’s production shines with Chavo on Chavo’s World 2 filled with bite-sized bangers.

Rhye – Home

Rhye’s newest project is just as sensual as their previous works as they continue to find beauty in the peace.

Westside Gunn – Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Sincerely Adolf / Side B

Both sides of Hitler Wears Hermes 8 is aggressive and packed with an insane guest list spanning from Jay Electronica, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Tyler, the Creator, AZ, Boldly James, and more.

Benny Sings – Music / Beat Tape II

Benny Sings’ Music showcases his creative songwriting while Beat Tape II showcases his unique production style with a ton of diverse features.

Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic

Two part-time oldies soul revivalists collide heads to create a groovy and uplifting Pop Soul record.

Rejjie Snow – Baw Baw Black Sheep

An easy and simple Jazz Rap record that feels like a nice Sunday morning.

Zachary’s Top 100 Albums of the Year

100. DJ Seinfeld – Mirror [Outsider House/Future Garage]

On his sophomore album, DJ Seinfeld builds a relaxing atmosphere filled with luscious melodies that make you feel nostalgic for moments you have yet to experience.

Try Out: Tell Me One More Time

99. Bruiser Wolf – Dope Game Stupid [Gangsta Rap]

Bruiser Wolf is what E-40 would be if he decided to do stand-up. With a unique vocal presence on each track and a fantastic beat selection, Bruiser Wolf’s debut album is just a great time.

Try Out: I’m a Instrument (feat. Danny Brown)

98. Max Richter – Voices 2 [Modern Classical]

In 2020, Max Richter released Voices, a beautiful arrangement of strings and piano accompanied by a reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Voices 2 builds on the themes and concepts of the first crafting rich instrumental pieces made for reflection and introspection.

Try Out: Mirrors

97. DJ Muggs & Rome Streetz – Death & The Magician / Ransom & Rome Streetz – Coup De Grâce [East Coast Hip Hop/Boom Bap]

Rome Streetz released four collaborative efforts in 2021, two being with producers DJ Muggs and Futurewave and the other two being with rappers Ankhlejohn and Ransom. Death & the Magician is an aggressive but soulful project showcasing Rome Streetz lyricism and charisma. Shoutout to Coup De Grâce with Ransom because their lyrical back and forth is solid.

Try Out: Zig Zag Zig (feat. Knowledge the Pirate)

96. Tierra Whack – Rap?/Pop?/R&B? [Rap/Pop/R&B]

Tierra Whack’s 3 EP run dives into her different strengths between genres and lets her creative song-writing flourish between the 9 tracks to create a diverse and unique experience. Though each EP touches on a different genre, the 3 EPs fit together nicely in one package.

Try Out: Millions

95. Pink Siifu – GUMBO’! [Abstract Hip Hop/Trap]

On GUMBO’!, Pink Siifu experiments by combining his standard abstract style with elements of Trap and Southern Hip Hop as well as grabbing a handful of R&B and Neo-Soul musicians along the way to create an 18 track album with songs that never overstay their welcome.

Try Out: Scurrrrd (feat. Big Rube, Nick Hakim, Georgia Anne Muldrow & Asal Hazel)

94. Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales [Contemporary R&B]

Jazmine Sullivan’s first solo effort since 2015 is a concept EP entirely based around the female experience utilizing interludes to bring up specific topics such as body-shaming and sexuality and using the songs that follow to flesh those ideas out. It’s also just filled with beautifully crafted R&B songs.

Try Out: On It (feat. Ari Lennox)

93. Parannoul – To See the Next Part of the Dream [Shoegaze]

Sometimes on an album, you cannot understand the lyrics, but you can feel the raw emotions in the vocal presence. On Parannoul’s sophomore album, he creates one of the best shoegaze albums since the 90s filled with passionate and noisy instrumentation throughout. The longer tracks like White Ceiling, Age of Fluctuation, and Youth Rebellion are fantastic at holding on to the same energy from the start of the track and never letting go. It is such a rich album.

Try Out: Age of Fluctuation

92. Kanye West – Donda [Trap/Pop Rap/Alternative R&B/Hip Hop]

Donda was one of the albums you just had to be there to witness unfold. With 3 unique listening parties in Atlanta and Chicago, the album’s changes and restructurings were embraced with the addition and removal of features and songs. Even after the album came out, tracks were updated removing artists like KayCyy and Chris Brown before releasing a deluxe with more songs and an entire restructuring of the tracklist. I do not know what the true Donda tracklist is supposed to be and what the real tracks even are with Pt 2s being featured on the deluxe, but among the mess is some of Kanye’s best work since his last mess, The Life of Pablo.

Try Out: Off the Grid

91. MIKE – Disco! [Abstract Hip Hop]

New York rapper MIKE is back after dropping one of my favorite projects of last year, Weight of the World. Disco! strives for a nostalgic and lo-fi feeling meshing MIKE’s standard Abstract Hip Hop sound with elements of Hypnagogic Pop and Vaporwave. Compared to his previous records, MIKE sounds more optimistic which creates a brighter and more uplifting project than his previous work.

Try Out: Crystal Ball

90. Ace Hashimoto – Play.Make.Believe. [Alternative R&B]

Brandun DeShay has been around the internet hip-hop scene for a while collaborating and producing for major acts such as SZA, Mac Miller, Chance the Rapper, Danny Brown, Curren$y, and more. After rebranding as Ace Hashimoto, he released his first full-length album, and I love his voice and the production throughout the album. Ace can create a nostalgic but modern sound with his self-produced album that is very similar to the sound found on Frank Ocean’s Nostalgia Ultra mixtape.

Try Out: Bad Habits (feat. Ta-Ra)

89. Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams [Bedroom Pop/Neo-Soul]

What sells me on Arlo Parks’ debut record is her ear for production. I am a sucker for albums with really good drum loops and Collapsed in Sunbeams is chalked full of them. Arlo Parks’ presence on the record is soothing and beautiful. I cannot wait to see what she can do next

Try Out: Black Dog

88. Sleepy Hallow – Still Sleep? (Deluxe) [Drill/Pop Rap]

The variety in Sleepy Hallow’s debut record is filled with drill beats containing unique samples (like the chicken wing song made popular on the DSi Flipnote application) and soothing pop tracks. The deluxe version includes more tracks and remixes that enhance the original songs such as Eli Fross’ verse on Basketball Dreams turning the short intro into a full-length track.

Try Out: Make You (Extended Version)

87. C. Tangana – El Madrileño [Latin R&B]

El Madrileño is a beautiful R&B album built around the love and appreciation for Latin American culture built with incredible production and melodies. The album is filled to the brim with features from legends such as José Feliciano and Pepe Blanco as well as newcomers like Omar Apollo and Ed Maverick.

Try Out: Tú me dejaste de querer (with Niño de Elche & La Húngara)

86. Topaz Jones – Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma [Pop Rap/Alternative R&B]

Topaz Jones makes a splash with his third full-length record. Combining neo-soul and rap, Jones creates groovy rhyme-infested tracks that keep you on your feet

Try Out: Who? (feat. Maxo & Phonte)

85. Durand Jones & The Indications – Private Space [Smooth Soul]

Durand Jones takes his band’s traditional soul sound and goes to the club creating a fantastic Disco record reminiscent of not only the Motown Sound but bands such as Kool & The Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire. Drummer Aaron Frazer gets a lot of shine on the project with his vocals after releasing his debut solo record Introducing… with Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound at the beginning of this year. Durand Jones and Aaron Fazer’s vocal performances contrast each other well and create a variety that was missing from the band’s first two projects.

Try Out: Witchoo

84. The Armed – Ultrapop [Noise Rock]

No one knows who The Armed are. Is it a guy? Is it a band? Who knows. I see Ultrapop as a pop record shoved into a meat-grinder taking the traditional melodies from pop but meshing that style with post-hardcore and noise rock. It’s heavy, it’s hard-hitting, and it’s very unique.

Try Out: Where Man Knows Want

83. Still Woozy – If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is [Bedroom Pop]

After years of singles, Still Woozy releases his debut record filled with a unique DIY indietronica sound. It is funky and groovy throughout and takes full advantage of modern production by adding layers on top of layers of vocal melodies and other elements. It’s one of my favorite uplifting albums from this year.

Try Out: Rocky

82. Mick Jenkins – Elephant in the Room [Conscious Hip Hop]

Mick Jenkins returns with his darkest and introspective album yet stripping back typical production by the hands of KAYTRANADA and BADBADNOTGOOD to look deeper into his personal issues like his father’s abandonment and larger social issues.

Try Out: Truffles

81. Japanese Breakfast – Jubilee [Indie Pop]

Another simply beautiful project from Japanese Breakfast. Michelle Zauner and co. craft a straightforward Indie Pop record with lovely melodies and songs throughout.

Try Out: Be Sweet

80. Kings of Convenience – Peace or Love [Indie Folk]

11 years later, Kings of Convenience return with a wonderful Indie Folk-Pop fusion record that lives up to the rest of their discography. The duo seems wiser than before and picks up right where they left off. 

Try Out: Fever

79. Dave – We’re All Alone in This Together [UK Hip Hop/Conscious Hip Hop]

Dave returns with another introspective and heavy-hitting project following his critically acclaimed PSYCHODRAMA in 2019. Pulling features all over the UK, this is Dave’s most collaborative effort yet with bangers such as Clash with Stormzy and the surprise posse cut In the Fire with Fredo, Giggs, Meekz, and Ghetts all dropping surprise verse on the 7-minute track and the emotional tracks such as Both Sides of a Smile with James Blake and ShaSimone detailing a troubled relationship and Heart Attack which dives into London’s problem with crime and violence.

Try Out:  Both Sides of a Smile (feat. James Blake)

78. Lucy Dacus – Home Video [Indie Rock]

Singer-Songwriter Lucy Dacus returns with her third album detailing her past and the troubles she’s been through. It’s more honest than her previous releases, but for this general thematic structure, I think it is fitting.

Try Out: First Time

77. Adele – 30 [Pop Soul]

One of the biggest faces in pop returns 5 years later with 30. In this project, Adele details her divorce and the struggles she has faced with it including her loneliness and anxiety with others. I truly did not expect this album to be as heart-crushing as it was. The track My Little Love is completely gut-wrenching so suddenly. 

Try Out: Easy on Me

76. Blu – The Color Blu(e) [Boom Bap]

Blu made a concept album around the color of blue. Every single song samples a song with the word blue in it. Conceptually, it is very tongue in cheek, but Blu pushes some interesting stories and tracks throughout like the closer Blu(e) World

Try Out: Blu(e) World

75. slowthai – TYRON [UK Hip Hop/Conscious Hip Hop]

Though TYRON has a runtime of 35 minutes, the 2 sides of the coin concept here is absolutely brilliant. The first half contains slowthai’s traditional heavy hitters with features from Skepta and A$AP Rocky while the second half features a more introspective look at life and the struggles Tyron has faced. It showcases both sides of slowthai’s personality and it’s done extremely well.

Try Out: nhs

74. Paris Texas – Boy Anonymous / Red Hand Akimbo [Experimental Hip-Hop/Pop Rap]

I discovered Paris Texas in February of this year through an Instagram ad for their song HEAVY METAL. I usually don’t find good music through Instagram ads, but the song intrigued me. Following their 3 singles, Paris Texas’ EP Boy Anonymous was released creating mostly short but electric songs throughout. The duo’s chemistry is fleshed out. The only issue I had is that they showcased something unique on HEAVY METAL and never went back to that sound throughout the Boy Anonymous EP. Months later, Red Hand Akimbo was released experimenting on the sound that made HEAVY METAL so great. There is nothing more I could ask for.

Try Out: FORCE OF HABIT

73. Bicep – Isles [Future Garage]

If we are being honest, the only reason I checked this album out was that it was the first cover art I noticed being animated on Apple Music, and I thought that was cool. The album ended up being a really solid Future Garage album ideal for a late-night study session. The atmosphere and ambient soundscape built throughout the tracks on this album were quite excellent. 

Try Out: Cazenove

72. Van Buren Records – Bad for Press [Hardcore Hip Hop]

On Bad for Press, the Van Buren Records collective showcases a lot of new voices coming out of Massachusetts combining their efforts to make a cohesive project together. The tracks feature several artists dropping hooks and verses throughout to display the group’s size and showcase each of their talents.

Try Out: BRAINDEAD

71. ZelooperZ – Van Gogh’s Left Ear [Experimental Hip Hop/Trap]

I have always seen ZelooperZ as a Post-Trap artist similar to how Joy Division is a Post-Punk band. It’s to describe what makes this album special to me, but it is worth a listen.

Try Out: Paranormal Snaptivity (feat. Qaudie Diesel & RXNephew)

70. Manchester Orchestra – The Million Masks of God [Indie Rock]

Not only was I looking forward to this album’s release, but my dad was excited for it too. I fell in love with A Black Mile to the Surface back in 2017, and I was excited to see Andy Hull and co. create another fantastic cohesive piece of music. The Million Masks of God is exactly that with its introspective lyrics layered over the melancholic guitars and other instruments utilized throughout the project.

Try Out: Bed Head

69. Mild High Club – Going Going Gone [Psychedelic Pop/Jazz Pop]

So many artists and bands decided that 2021 was the year to release their comeback album. Going Going Gone by Mild High Club takes their original Psychedelic Pop sound and looks into expanding it with elements of jazz and lounge music. It’s soothing and is exactly what I wanted from the band. It’s a refreshing continuation of their already perfected sound.

Try Out: Dionysian State

68. Model Home – Both Feet En Th Infinite [Experimental Hip-Hop/Hip House]

I’ve been a mild fan of NAPPYNAPPA with his dance-heavy hip hop tracks, but I didn’t even know Model Home existed. The album is filled with extended house and hip hop fused tracks that start at high energy and stay at high energy.

Try Out: Body Power

67. Saint Motel – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Art Pop/Dance Pop]

I kinda pushed aside the first two The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack EPs as decent little projects, but after the full-length album was released this year, I gained a new appreciation for the project. The way Saint Motel takes their traditional sound and builds on and experiments with it creates a really exciting album from the band.

Try Out: Sisters

66. Destin Conrad – COLORWAY [Alternative R&B]

I don’t know if a 14-minute project should count as an AOTY contender, but it’s my list! Destin Conrad makes a name for himself with beautiful and bite-sized R&B tracks. It’s addictive and enjoyable front to back

Try Out: Lazy (feat. SwaVay)

65. Zack Fox – Shut the F**k Up Talking to Me [Southern Hip Hop/Comedy Rap]

I think Zack Fox is a fantastic comedian and I have loved a majority of the songs he’s released since Square Up, but I would have never predicted for his debut album to be a fantastic showcase of a comedic rap album that does not have to focus on the comedy aspect the entire time. Zack Fox shows he appreciates the genre he’s in and throws in comedic zingers throughout the entire project.

Try Out: mind your business

64. Tha God Fahim – Dump Gawd: Stock Lord / Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 1 & 2 [Boom Bap]

I was never a big Tha God Fahim fan, but this year completely changed my mind. The Dump Gawd series is a fantastic collection of rhymes over incredible boom bap production. Tha God Fahim produced a majority of the project which is pretty dope he can carry the entire project on his own.

Try Out: Check Up (feat. Your Old Droog)

63. Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes – Music for Saxofone and Bass Guitar More Songs [Nu Jazz]

The original Music for Saxofone and Bass Guitar created a minimalist soundscape that utilized both Sam Gendel’s and Sam Wilkes’ talents. The sequel adds more songs with the same feeling as the first. I love reading with this album in the background. It’s so soothing.

Try Out: Welcome Vibe

62. Joyce Wrice – Overgrown [Contemporary R&B]

Joyce Wrice creates such an early 2000s throwback record with a bunch of unique modern production from River Tiber, Jay Price, Kaytranada, ESTA., and Mndsgn. Though the features on this are great, Joyce Wrice creates a breath of fresh air in the Contemporary R&B scene with her unique approach to a standard R&B album.

Try Out: On One (feat. Freddie Gibbs)

61. Fousheé – Time Machine [Neo-Soul]

Following her viral song Deep End, Fousheé releases her debut record with beautiful harmonies and melodies throughout. She calls on Lil Yachty and Steve Lacy to lend a helping hand and their contributions are incredible. Steve Lacy’s production on Candy Grapes alongside the extended outro done by Fousheé is fantastic

Try Out: Candy Grapes (feat. Steve Lacy)

60. SG Lewis – Times [Alternative R&B/Nu-Disco]

SG Lewis’ debut studio album takes all the elements from his 5 EPs and previous works to create a tightly-packed and exciting dance record creating a modernized disco record with features from the legendary Nile Rodgers, Rhye, Lucky Daye, Robyn, and several others to creating a unique soundscape for the albums 40-minute runtime.

Try Out: Impact (with Robyn & Channel Tres)

59. Disclosure – Never Enough / DJ-Kicks [House]

When Disclosure decides it is time to drop an EP, they make sure to release every song individually throughout the week as singles to build up the hype, and I fall for their trap every time. Like their last two EPs, the duo finds themselves experimenting with different sounds not found on their typical albums. Never Enough finds Disclosure creating a traditional house EP crammed with samples that have grooves that I cannot seem to get out of my head.

This year, Disclosure also finally did a DJ-Kicks mix showcasing all the different sides of the House genre. Being a big fan of both DJ-Kicks and Disclosure, this deserved a major shoutout.

Try Out: Happening

58. Armand Hammer & The Alchemist – Haram [Abstract Hip-Hop]

The Alchemist has been on an absolute win streak these past few years with his beautiful production, and Haram by Armand Hammer is no different. The duo consisting of Billy Woods and Elucid have both become well-known for their dark and depressive style of rap filled with introspective and cryptic wordplay. It’s quite difficult to follow along to every line throughout the album as it is filled with a plethora of allusions and references to literature and prominent figures in history, but you can feel the despair on the album.

Try Out: Chicharonnes (feat. Quelle Chris)

57. GoldLink – HARAM! [Experimental Hip-Hop]

GoldLink’s HARAM! may be hard to understand not from the cryptic lyrics, but the unique vocal performance exhibited throughout the majority of GoldLink’s fourth album. GoldLink takes the sounds of dance, afrobeat, and hip house utilized on his past projects and flips them on their heads pulling a large caliber of features from including PinkPantheress’ first feature work, Santigold, NLE Choppa, Flo Milli, Bibi Bourelly, Rich the Kid, and several others including up-and-coming UK Drill artists.

Try Out: Evian (feat. PinkPantheress, Rizloski & Rax)

56. Julien Baker – Little Oblivions [Indie Rock]

On her third album, Julien Baker creates a rich and passionate album stepping away from her traditional Singer-Songwriter style and expanding on more Indie Rock elements incorporating drums and more instrumentation than ever before. Though her topic and lyricism have stayed the same throughout her 3 projects, Julien Baker sees herself creating another fantastic and concise project that is a welcome fit to her discography.

Try Out: Faith Healer

55. Ka – A Martyr’s Reward [Abstract Hip-Hop]

New York’s Ka has built a small fanbase creating amazing stories in every song he writes just as a side hobby. Ka’s main job is being a captain of a New York City Fire Department district. A Martyr’s Reward is Ka’s most introspective and personal album yet taking his poetry and the struggles he faced with the fire department and revealing new stories to the listeners including the fact he was a firefighter during 9/11. It is absolutely beautiful.

Try Out: We Living / Martyr (feat. Navy Blue)

54. Navy Blue – Navy’s Reprise [Abstract Hip Hop]

Navy Blue has been on a solid streak over the past few years producing fantastic music for the likes of Mach-Hommy, MIKE, Ka, AKAI SOLO, Wiki, and more. Releasing one of my favorite albums last year, Song of Sage: Post Panic!, Sage Elsesser returns with Navy’s Reprise produced almost entirely by himself where he showcases some of the best songwriting and production I have heard in a while

Try Out: Ritual

53. Trippie Redd – Trip at Knight [Trap/Rage]

Trippie Redd held his own for a while with his A Love Letter to You series and Life’s a Trip, but since then he has seemed to lose the ability to make unique and interesting music. Trip at Knight is a breath of fresh air not only for Trippie Redd but for the trap genre with beats that mesh the Trap sound with Future Bass to create a fun and energetic album that brings some life to the genre. Pulling the biggest names from the SoundCloud era and some newcomers from Detroit and Chicago, Trippie Redd creates a dense party album that is special to himself and the genre.

Try Out: Holy Smoke (feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

52. Spellling – The Turning Wheel [Art Pop]

Spelling’s third album is an ethereal and beautiful pop record filled with extended songs that build a soundscape with melodies and instruments that soothe the ears. It’s fantastically composed and is extremely engaging throughout. Tia Cabral’s vocals throughout the project are quite stunning and lovely as well.

Try Out: Revolution

51. Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin – $mokebreak [Abstract Hip Hop]

Pink Siifu and Fly Anakin return as a duo for $mokebreak building on what made their first project together, FlySiffu’s, so wonderful. Grabbing a handful of collaborators including Fousheé, Chuck Strangers, MAVI, YUNGMORPHEUS, and more, $mokebreak is more collaborative than ever adding a nice flair to the same production that encapsulated the first album.

Try Out: Tha Divide (feat. ZelooperZ, Mavi & Koncept Jack$on)

50. L’Rain – Fatigue [Neo-Soul]

The avant-garde sounds of Fatigue build on what made L’Rain’s debut record so intriguing but includes more fleshed-out ideas and concepts. Tracks like Find It, Two Face, and Suck Teeth are atmospheric and nostalgic pieces that help build the surreal feel throughout the project. The fusion of electronic and soul is unique and keeps me wanting more.

Try Out: Two Face

49. Turnstile – Glow On [Alternative Rock/Hardcore Punk]

The production on this album is stunning. The way the band transitions to different sounds and elements but maintain the hardcore energy throughout is phenomenal. It feels like I am listening to a pop-punk record, but if the genre was not as generic as it is. This album is special.

Try Out: T.L.C. (Turnstile Love Connection)

48. Tyler, the Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST [Hardcore Hip Hop/Jazz Rap]

I was hoping Tyler was gonna go for this sound as he constantly hinted at it with his features post-IGOR with his collaborations on albums by Westside Gunn, Freddie Gibbs, Lil Yachty, GoldLink, Channel Tres, and more. With a massive feature list with artists such as 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Wayne, Lil Uzi Vert, Pharrell, Teezo Touchdown, Domo Genesis, and so many more, this album is just a victory lap for Tyler where he can finally look back on what he accomplished. The album is hosted by DJ Drama in tribute to classic Gangsta Grillz mixtapes that inspired Tyler’s early projects who similarly to those old mixtapes adds a nice flair to the project. The album was perfect for the summer.

Try Out: Hot Wind Blows (feat. Lil Wayne)

47. Magdalena Bay – Mercurial World [Electropop]

I don’t know if pop music is supposed to sound like this, but I don’t mind it one bit. Magdalena Bay’s debut album is a luscious and futuristic pop record that is not only produced tremendously, but Magdalena Bay’s vocal presence throughout the project is incredible in itself. It’s a beautiful listen that requires multiple listens to really understand all the elements compiled together on the project.

Try Out: Secrets (Your Fire)

46. Cassandra Jenkins – An Overview on Phenomenal Nature [Singer-Songwriter]

Cassandra Jenkins’ An Overview on Phenomenal Nature is a calming and introspective body of work that feels like it’s opening its arms out for you and is giving you a big hug. The album is warm and soothing even with the somber tones throughout. It’s just telling you that everything is going to be okay. It’s just fantastic.

Try Out: Hard Drive

45. St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home [Psychedelic Rock/Psychedelic Soul]

Annie Clark returns with the help of the always busy Jack Antonoff to make a wonderful 70s-inspired throwback record reminiscent of David Bowie and other major acts from the 70s. Her songwriting on this project is stronger than ever and she just sounds remarkable throughout. To me, the album sounds like it was recorded on reel-to-reel tape in an old studio filled with old instruments. I know that isn’t the case, but the warm tone throughout the project gives off that energy.

Try Out: The Melting of the Sun

44. Madlib – Sound Ancestors [Instrumental Hip Hop]

For the first time since Shades of Blue with Blue Note Recordings, Madlib creates an album that stands on its own. It isn’t a beat tape nor the instrumentals of an album à la Madvillainy Instrumentals. This is a standalone piece of work by Madlib with the only other hand on the project being Kieran Hebden better known as Four Tet who arranged and curated the project based on all the songs Madlib gave him. The songs here don’t feel like instrumentals waiting to be written over but reproductions and resamplings of old soul records similar to the classic J Dilla’s Donuts.

Try Out: Road of the Lonely Ones

43. Olivia Rodrigo – Sour [Pop]

I don’t know if I have ever seen a debut album by a pop star touch the world the way Olivia Rodrigo’s does. The way she crafts each song on the album is refreshing in the mainstream of pop music. She also experiments with a lot of different pop elements including folk, punk, rock, and singer-songwriter. The teenage angst on this project is something that so many artists try to reach, but fail. Here, it feels authentic. I think if this is what she can do on her debut record, Olivia Rodrigo has a long future ahead of herself making fantastic pop music. 

Try Out: Good 4 U

42. Cosmo Pyke – A Piper for Janet [Soul Jazz]

Cosmo Pyke’s second EP is such a powerfully crafted jazz-inspired soul record. I was a fan of his first EP especially with the song Chronic Sunshine, but this EP doubles down on the rock elements and it is so soothing to listen to. My first listen was outside a Starbucks in 50 degrees weather and I wouldn’t trade the feeling it gave me for anything else in the world.

Try Out: A Piper for Janet

41. Men I Trust – Untourable Album

Men I Trust’s sound is so unique, but it’s so them. Oncle Jazz was one of my favorite indie records from 2019, but the album felt over-bloated and a little lengthy. On this album, they trim the tracks down to make a cohesive project that contains the group’s soothing and mellow instrumentation while Emmanuelle Proulx adds her fantastic melodies on top.

Try Out: Tree Among Shrubs

40. John Mayer – Sob Rock [Soft Rock]

John Mayer decides to double down on the cheesiness for the 80s inspired Sob Rock. He pulls from a lot of the major Adult Contemporary artists from the time like Toto, and he does it perfectly. The day I heard the album, I went straight to Target and bought the album on vinyl, and now it’s an excellent part of my collection. The entire project is filled with awesome guitar licks and riffs, and John Mayer’s ability to create excellent songs 20 years into his career is phenomenal.

Try Out: Wild Blue

39. Brent Faiyaz – Do Not Listen [Alternative R&B]

Brent Faiyaz didn’t drop an album in 2021, but he dropped 2 EPs with one being with Sonder and the other being a dropbox link, 5 singles, and had 3 features with Meek Mill, Tyler, the Creator, and Baby Keem. His solo EP is 3 incredible songs with every song being another fantastic piece to his discography. The standout track is the 6-minute long Price of Fame which in its 2 parts builds up and switches the style halfway through. It’s jaw-dropping.

Try Out: Price of Fame

38. Grouper – Shade [Ambient/Folk]

Grouper returns with another peaceful and blissful project. Her standard lo-fi sound is somber and lonely but I cannot help but not feel relaxed when I turn the album on. It’s soothing.

Try Out: Unclean Mind

37. Sault – NINE [Neo-Soul]

The mysterious SAULT returned with a new project that was only available to stream for 99 days before being scrubbed off the internet. I was luckily able to get the project and hold onto it past the 99 days because it’s another impressive piece of soul from the group.

Try Out: You From London (feat. Little Simz)

36. Arca – KicK ii-iiiii [Electronic]

Arca’s KicK series is a rush of emotions. Each project utilizes a different genre but the same feeling to showcase her different strengths. KicK iii is my personal favorite which showcases Experimental Hip Hop fused with Deconstructed Club. All the projects are chaotic and heavy but keep you engaged all the way through.

Try Out: Ripples (from KiCK iii)

35. Mustafa – When Smoke Rises [Neo-Soul]

Mustafa’s debut record features production from James Blake, Jamie XX, and Frank Dukes and a feature from the always lovely Sampha. Mustafa discusses his life in Toronto and the violence that has filled the city and tributes a majority of the track to his friends. It is a beautiful but depressively powerful project. I am excited to see what he can do next.

Try Out: Air Forces

34. PinkPantheress – To Hell With It [Drum and Bass/Contemporary R&B]

PinkPantheress’ debut project is filled with ten condensed songs with only three crossing the 2-minute mark. The songs are fast-paced and fun while being bittersweet and telling their own stories. Her vocals throughout are sweet and unique, and I am completely in love with her music.

Try Out: Pain

33. Makaya McCraven – Deciphering the Message [Nu Jazz]

Makaya McCraven has become known for his unique way of taking recordings of jazz and creating unique tracks from those samples. Similar to Madlib’s Shades of Blue, Makaya McCraven gets full access to the Blue Note catalog to create a project using all the projects contained in it. He can build songs from the solos that are contained in those pieces to turn them into their songs. It turns the improvisation into melodies, and those melodies turn into songs.

Try Out: Frank’s Tune

32. Tha God Fahim & Your Old Droog – Tha Wolf on Wall St. / Tha YOD Fahim [Boom Bap]

Your Old Droog and Tha God Fahim come together to make two collaborative efforts. Tha Wolf on Wall St. is the better of the two which features smooth jazzy hip-hop production throughout sampling saxophones and other instruments to just give off a rich feeling to the entire project. I feel wealthy listening to this. This album is perfect for the cryptobros.

Try Out: All Bidness

31. Charlotte Day Wilson – Alpha [Neo-Soul]

CDW returns with her beautiful debut album merging her beautiful soulful sound with pop music. It is slow and warm but melancholy and lonely. I think Charlotte Day Wilson’s evolution from her earlier projects to this is strong growth. With help from BADBADNOTGOOD, Syd, and Daniel Caesar, Charlotte Day Wilson uses their contributions to build her short album to maximum efficiency.

Try Out: I Can Only Whisper (feat. BADBADNOTGOOD)

30. Drake – Certified Lover Boy / Scary Hours 2 [Hip Hop/Trap/Contemporary R&B]

Drake’s Certified Lover Boy is messy, but I love this album. I originally thought this was one of the worst albums of the year, but upon second listen, this is killer. It is filled with great production and great features, and Drake’s mix of R&B and Rap is dope. [I did a longer write-up for it I’ll probably publish one day]

Try Out: You Only Live Twice (feat. Rick Ross & Lil Wayne)

29. Earlly Mac & Sango – MearlGo 1-3 [Hip Hop/Trap]

I know Earlly Mac from his collaborations with Big Sean, and I know Sango from his production. I think them coming together was unexpected but works so well. I feel that all the MearlGo EPs function as a slowly releasing album, and I enjoy it all. Sango’s soulful production and Earlly Mac’s lazy flow combine to create a laid-back but exciting project together. I hope MearlGo 4 is not far away.

Try Out: MearlGo 4

28. AG Club – F**k Your Expectation Pt. 1 + Pt. 2 [Pop Rap/Trap]

Avant-Garde Club’s F**K Your Expectation reminds me of early Brockhampton but in reduced numbers. The five-person group is able to build these well-rounded songs with elements of R&B and Trap. I hope these guys get their shine in the future, they deserve it for their creativity.

Try Out: YouTube2MP3

27. Jungle – Loving in Stereo [Funk/Soul]

Jungle’s third project is their most positive and uplifting project yet with their disco-friendly production that just makes you want to dance no matter the location. I appreciate how the duo can keep creating earworms while each project feels slightly different than before.

Try Out: Romeo (feat. Bas)

26. Low – HEY WHAT [Experimental Rock]

O. M. G. Both the sound mixing and design on this album are absolutely incredible. The album in its entirety is soaked in reverb to create a very atmospheric listen. The entire album transitions into each other track after track, and if you know me, I am a sucker for that. The project is loud, but hypnotizing and mesmerizing throughout. The 45-minute runtime feels like 30, and it definitely rewards for multiple re-listens.

Try Out: Hey

25. Clairo – Sling [Contemporary Folk]

Just like St. Vincent, Clairo kidnaps Jack Antonoff and forces him to help create a fantastic warm, and peaceful album. Clairo trying something new compared to her previous style is welcomed on Sling and it shows how much her songwriting has grown from her earlier stuff like Pretty Girl and Flaming Hot Cheetos.

Try Out: Zinnias

24. Faye Webster- I Know I’m Funny haha [Alt-Country]

Atlanta Millionaires Club was another favorite of mine from 2019, and I Know I’m Funny haha continues using what makes that project so great with her bittersweet songwriting and her relatable loneliness which works well in the pandemic environment she wrote most of this album in. I love what she has continued to keep doing and this album is holding me over in my sad country desires.

Try Out: Rain Down

23. Fievel Is Glauque – God’s Trashmen Sent to Right the Mess [Jazz Pop]

Fievel Is Glauque’s debut album which was released on the first day of 2021 is incredibly written and is beautifully performed. I adore Marie-Amélie Clément-Bollée’s vocal performance on this album and Zach Phillips’ lo-fi jazz production pieces the puzzle together quite nicely. It’s creative, it’s unique, and it’s another bathtub favorite of mine. Laidback and blissful

Try Out: Rain Down

22. Dijon – Absolutely [Alternative R&B]

I do not know who needs to hear this album, but if you’ve fallen in love with Frank Ocean, this album is definitely gonna hold your appetite for some time. Dijon’s artistic creativity throughout this project knocked me off my feet on first listen. I was thinking this album was going to be decent/alright, but I was not expecting to be so emotionally touched throughout the whole thing. This album needs an instant listen.

Try Out: Big Mike’s

21. Boldy James & The Alchemist – Bo Jackson / Super Techmo Bo [Gangta Rap]

Boldy James and The Alchemist have been undefeated starting with My First Chemistry Set in 2013 to this year with the release of Bo Jackson and Super Techmo Bo. Boldly James seems to experiment with his lazy flow throughout this project creating hard-hitting vocal performances on tracks like Brickmile to Montana. I think that as much as The Price of Tea in China is such a dense listen, Bo Jackson is produced and written better than ever before, and both The Alchemist and Boldy James seem more comfortable than ever before on this project. Super Techmo Bo was released as a standalone project in December, and I think the tracks can be seen similarly as a continuation of the Bo Jackson story while still being unique and being able to stand by itself.

Try Out: Fake Flowers (feat. Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs)

20. Parcels – Day/Night [Soft Rock]

Parcel’s second album builds on what made their first album interesting, but in a way that keeps the project feeling fresh throughout. The album is split up into a Day side and Night side that splits up the happier upbeat track and the moodier stripped-backed songs on the second half. However, the project stays fun and interesting throughout, and I enjoy how energetic it is.

Try Out: Famous

19. Nas – Magic / King’s Disease II [East Coast Hip Hop]

Magic Update: As I was working on this AOTY list, Nas and Hit-Boy dropped a small 9 track album entitled Magic, and it is absolutely killer. This ranking was initially at 70, but I had to move it up to 19. King’s Disease II is fantastic, but Nas has released his best project since the first Lost Tapes from 2002. This is a raw hip-hop album that is just straight killer. God. This is Illmatic II, and they said it was just a project to hold the fans over… Nas sounds so hungry on this project. It’s fantastic.

Last year, Hit-Boy and Nas collided heads to create the Grammy-winning King’s Disease, a dissection of struggles in our society and relationships in them. King’s Disease II is a different take on the title of the album. Constantly throughout the album, Nas reflects on how death has been plaguing the world of hip-hop from overdoses to gang violence and reflects on how the world of hip-hop has changed but also stayed the same from the 90s.

Try Out: Dedicated

18. Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth [Neo-Soul]

Genesis Owusu’s debut album finds him experimenting with a plethora of genres looking to see what sticks. In return, he finds out that he’s fantastic at all of it, creating an album that blurs the genre of punk, hip-hop, r&b, and more to produce a varied but infectious debut album. The talent throughout this debut record is stunning and is a great listen.

Try Out: A Song About Fishing

17. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G_d’s Pee AT STATE’S END! [Post-Rock]

I love Godspeed You! Black Emperor to an extent that my high school graduation cap was me photoshopping a diploma in the Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven! cover art. The post-rock group’s newest album is another beautifully crafted long-play album spanning 4 tracks alternating between a 20-minute track to a 6-minute track. The pieces are these hypnotically gorgeous movements of Rock and Ambient that send the listener to another world.

Try Out: Job’s Lament (an excerpt from the first track)

16. Sam Gendel – Fresh Bread [Nu Jazz]

I didn’t think I would find myself listening to a nearly four-hour-long jazz record this year. I also did not think I would absolutely fall in love with the project. Sam Gendel might sound familiar from being a member of the humorous jazz duo of Clown Core or from his more serious and experimental works with Vampire Weekend, Mach-Hommy, Moses Sumney, Perfume Genius, and others, but I think he creates a lot of interesting solo work with his avant-garde saxophone style. This project experiments with a lot of modern jazz elements diving into electronic music and hip hop instrumentals, and I think that even with its massive runtime, the project still feels fresh throughout.

Try Out: Sometimes I Feel So Good 

15. Mach-Hommy – Balens Cho (Hot Candles) / Pray for Haiti [East Coast Hip Hop]

Mach-Hommy not only saw himself working with Westside Gunn again this year but released 2 fantastic albums. Balens Cho (Hot Candles) is a short but powerful project including some of my favorite songs from Mach yet. His lyricism is stronger than ever before, and he wears his love of Haitian culture on his sleeve which I think is amazing. Pray for Haiti is a more traditional Griselda release with appearances from Westside Gunn throughout. Gunn seems to step up on this album most likely due to just being next to a lyricist as good as Mach-Hommy. I think both albums are solid pieces of hip-hop.

Try Out: Self Luh

14. Wiki & Navy Blue – Half God / Wiki & NAH – Telephonebooth [East Coast Hip Hop]

I have always enjoyed Wiki since hearing him work with Earl Sweatshirt on IDLSIDGO, but have never found a solo release of his anything stunning. However, Half God entirely produced by Navy Blue is Wiki’s best work yet. Navy Blue and the whole Abstract Hip Hop movement he’s been producing has caused a lot of older and bigger acts to get involved like The Alchemist, Earl Sweatshirt, Armand Hammer, and Wiki (who has seen himself getting involved with artists like MIKE since 2017). Half God finds Wiki delivering wonderful introspective and passionate verse over some of my favorite production from this entire year. This album is an absolute beast and features Navy Blue on a verse as well as MIKE, Earl Sweatshirt, Jesse James, Remy Banks, and Duendita. Seeing Navy Blue and Wiki click together so well makes me excited for the future of sLUms and the network that surrounds them.

Try Out: Promises (feat. MIKE)

13. Roosevelt – Polydans [Synthpop]

Polydans is a perfect late-night driving album. Roosevelt is able to create a nostalgic synth-heavy pop record that feels like it was made in the 80s but remastered to fit into today’s music scene. The tracks have slick basslines and booming drums that keep me engaged and wanting to sing along. I played Mario Kart with some friends with this on in the background, and it made the experience so much better.

Try Out: Forget

12. The Alchemist – This Thing Of Ours 1 & 2 [Abstract Hip Hop]

The Alchemist has been in touch with the underground hip hop scene for years and these 2 short EPs are no different. With an incredible feature list of Earl Sweatshirt, Boldly James, Vince Staples, Danny Brown, and so many more fantastic acts, these EPs are addictively short and pack such a punch with only around 10 minutes on each project. The first EP is brighter and more of a daytime project while the second EP is the nighttime album with moodier and dark production. Both projects function as two sides of the same coin feeling like 1 is the A-Side and one is the B-Side. Each side is just as strong as the other and feels cohesively connected especially with the samples that intersperse both projects.

Try Out: Nobles (feat. Earl Sweatshirt & Navy Blue)

11. Injury Reserve – By the Time I Get to Phoenix [Experimental Hip Hop]

Injury Reserve’s second album is soul-crushing. After Groggs sadly passed away in 2020, this serves as a sendoff record for him where they commit to making the weird music he had always wanted to make. However, though the album features his vocals throughout the project is a dark and depressive adventure into grief and loss. The abstract nature of the project connects the misery these guys feel after losing their best friends and it’s a tough listen. As sonically complex as the project can feel at times, By the Time I Get to Phoenix is beautiful.

Try Out: Knees