The 10 Best Albums of 2024

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As a music enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of sounds that today’s artists weave, I must say that this year’s album releases have truly been a feast for my ears. Each artist on this list has showcased an impressive level of growth and artistic exploration, pushing boundaries and experimenting with various genres.

2024 stood out as an extraordinary year in the realm of music for me. Across all genres, there was an impressive array of albums that ranged from fresh debuts, eagerly anticipated comebacks, to unexpected surprises.

At the top of the year, Mk.gee made himself a household name with his debut studio album Two Star & The Dream Police followed up by ScHoolboy Q’s first album in five years BLUE LIPS. BROCKHAMPTON’s Matt Champion introduced himself as a solo artist with his first solo project Mika’s Laundry, with RM welcoming the warm weather with his Right Place, Wrong Person.

Brat ruled the summer, drawing in long-time Charli XCX fans as well as newcomers who embraced the dance album’s self-titled visual style. During this season, Billie Eilish also dropped her album “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT”, and Doechii concluded August with the release of her critically acclaimed debut studio album “Alligator Bites Never Heal“.

As the fourth quarter wound down, it was my turn to be blown away by GloRilla’s long-awaited debut album. To top it off, surprise drops from Tyler the Creator and Kendrick Lamar dropped like bombs, their albums CHROMAKOPIA and GNX becoming the standout, most-played LPs of the entire year for me.

While standout projects were aplenty, we narrowed it down to the top 10 best albums of 2024.

CHROMAKOPIA – Tyler, the Creator

As a die-hard fan, let me tell you, Tyler, the Creator blew us all away with his unexpected drop of CHROMAKOPIA this year, despite his initial claim about not releasing new music in 2024. This masterpiece serves as the sequel to CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST, and it features a star-studded lineup including GloRilla, Doechii, Thundercat, Teezo Touchdown, Donald Glover, Lil Wayne, ScHoolboy Q, and many more.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii 

When Doechii recently chatted with TopMob, she revealed that 2024 would be “the year of the surprising.” True to her word, The Swamp Princess has left a lasting impression on this year and the broader cultural landscape, releasing one of the most impactful and skillfully crafted projects: “Alligator Bites Never Heal“. This project serves as a tribute to her South Florida upbringing, with Doechii showcasing how her Everglades childhood continues to shape her artistic style and unique creative perspective. Driven by her clever lyricism and infused with smooth, swampy beats and production, the mixtape followed the rapper’s “Swamp Session” songwriting series, seamlessly weaving double entendres and making triple entendres seem effortless. Spanning 47 minutes, this immersive project tells a consistent story, but each of its 19 tracks offers something fresh and unique. Primarily a solo effort, the LP’s most notable highlights include the catchy “BULLFROG,” the amusing “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” and the popular track “NISSAN ALTIMA.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

Two Star & The Dream Police – Mk.gee

By 2024, Mk.gee was just a name mistakenly pronounced in the credits, often overshadowed by the more famous artists he collaborated with on their music. However, this year saw a significant shift when he unveiled his first studio album titled “Two Star & The Dream Police“, an album that received widespread acclaim across genres. This album has resonated with hip-hop enthusiasts, indie music lovers, and classic rock fans, not only establishing Mk.gee in the mainstream but also placing him at the heart of cultural awareness. As a result, the relatively unknown New Jersey musician has appeared on late-night shows, magazine covers, and headlined world tours. The album’s abstract, atmospheric vibe connects its 12 songs, with impressive, layered production and themes of love, loss, and longing woven throughout.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

GLORIOUS – GloRilla

2024 proved to be an exceptional year for GloRilla, with her debut album garnering significant acclaim. Whether you view this project as a comeback or an addition to her discography, there’s no disputing its impact. The album masterfully blends the influential musical backdrop of Memphis and GloRilla’s personal spiritual beliefs and values. This fusion is accentuated by some of rap’s most infectious hooks, such as her opening verse on “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” featuring Sexyy Red, or the recurring “EUGH EUGH” ad-lib used by the Memphis Grizzlies DJ during every NBA score. The song “TGIF” even catches Rihanna rapping alongside her beau A$AP Rocky. Emotions like joy, introspection, and confidence pervade the album, and its production work serves as a fitting finale, making it an album that listeners are likely to keep on repeat.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

GNX represents the pinnacle of an extraordinary year for supporters of Kendrick Lamar. This unexpected album dropped several months following his and Drake’s exchange of diss tracks (with their feud escalating to a legal petition from Drake), serving as Lamar’s follow-up to 2022’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Unlike its predecessor, which tackled personal issues like infidelity and trauma, this release seems more like a triumphant lap for the rapper amidst his involvement in rap feuds. Kendrick Lamar is renowned for producing projects that compel us to delve into our own subconscious depths; however, in this case, he’s picking up and appreciating the flowers that have been at his feet for years. As he repeats on “man at the garden,” almost like a personal motto: “I deserve it all.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

Mika’s Laundry – Matt Champion

Matt Champion unveiled his first solo project this year titled “Mika’s Laundry“. This audiovisual universe, characterized by its vibrant green hues, offers a kaleidoscopic experience where virtually anything, sonically and visually, is up for exploration. Known as a member of BROCKHAMPTON, Champion has made an impressive mark with this studio debut, distinguished by its eclectic soundscape and intense, distorted production.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

Brat – Charli XCX

Few albums have seized the cultural moment and color trends as powerfully as the groundbreaking Brat. This year, Charli XCX, the architect of Brat, fully realized her Party Girl persona, delivering one of the most compelling, grip-tight electronic albums not just of 2024, but the 21st century. Brands have been swayed by its vibrant lime-green hue, and listeners enticed to embrace the album’s style, donning white tank tops, sunglasses, and yesterday’s hairdos. The album’s danceable beats and pulsating production make Charli not only self-assured but more open than ever, touching on themes such as motherhood, female friendships, and coping with loss. The impact of Brat extended beyond the summer season, with Charli embarking on one of the most unforgettable tours of the year (SWEAT alongside collaborator Troye Sivan) and a complete remix album. Even as winter arrives, we’re still grooving to that…

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish’s third studio album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” showcases a focus on experimental soundscapes. After a three-year hiatus, her first complete album is again produced entirely by her brother FINNEAS, demonstrating their continued musical synergy. Now in her early twenties, Eilish has transcended her tumultuous adolescent fame and writes lyrics that are even more introspective, dealing with topics such as sexuality, gender identity, body image issues, and self-acceptance. She tackles these subjects across a diverse range of FINNEAS’ productions, which span pop, techno, house, soft rock, synth-pop, bossa nova, and trip-hop, allowing her to create songs that are reflective yet also nurture her artistic growth. Billie Eilish has already etched herself into pop culture before reaching her twenties, suggesting she’s ready to break free from expectations and define her own path in music.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

Right Place, Wrong Person – RM

Experiencing RM solely through BTS might leave you with a narrow perspective. Listening to his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person“, could certainly broaden that view. This 11-track collection offers a captivating glimpse into the world of Kim Nam-joon, as he traverses diverse musical landscapes over its 35 minutes – from psychedelic to progressive jazz, soul/R&B, rock-rap, pop, indie pop, and classic hip-hop. The variety might seem extensive, but rest assured, the album maintains a unified feel throughout, showcasing RM’s thoughtful approach to music. With “Right Place, Wrong Person“, Kim Nam-joon demonstrates no boundaries to his artistic expression.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music

BLUE LIPS – ScHoolboy Q

Schoolboy Q’s sixth album stands out as one of his most emotionally impactful projects yet. Titled BLUE LIPS, this release marks Q’s return since 2019’s CrasH Talk. This album serves as a testament to Q’s sonic influence, with assistance from fellow Top Dawg Entertainment artists such as Ab-Soul, Devin Malik, Rico Nasty, Freddie Gibbs, Childish Major, AzChike, Lance Skiiiwalker and Jozzy. BLUE LIPS is a demonstration of maturity, with Q taking the lead on the most profound tracks, while strategically enlisting his close collaborators to contribute where necessary. Comprising 18 songs, BLUE LIPS – named for the term “speechless, often due to shock or intense emotion” – strikes a perfect balance in length, neither dragging on nor falling short, leaving listeners feeling just as speechless as its definition suggests.

Listen: Spotify | Apple Music 

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2024-12-05 16:56