APR
DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar
GENRE: HIP-HOP
The highly-anticipated follow-up release
to the game-changing To Pimp a Butterfly
(2015), DAMN. catapulted Lamar—who is
often called the best rapper alive—into the
world of the mainstream with the hit single
“HUMBLE.” His original fans are still
sticking around, too. Lyrically and musically
complex, Lamar uses DAMN. to explore and
manipulate the genre of rap to craft a truly
original piece of art.
MAY
Harry Styles by Harry Styles
GENRE: SOFT ROCK
Although it’s not surprising most One Direction
fans were heartbroken at the idea of Harry Styles
recording solo work, his album certainly found a
way to cheer them up. Styles used his newfound
independence to record rock influenced by all of
his favorites from the ‘60s and ‘70s onward. The
comfort this album exudes makes it obvious that
Styles was born to be a solo artist and that he’s
finally come into his own.
JUN
Ctrl by SZA
GENRE: R&B
The debut album by the alternative R&B singer, Ctrl was a
long-time coming. SZA’s debut was promised a release in 2015,
and after a lot of drama with her label, it finally came out two
years later to widespread critical acclaim. SZA noted that a lot of
freestyling was used in the making of this album, which explains
why it sounds so organic to her voice.
Melodrama by Lorde
GENRE: POP
After four years of waiting,
Lorde fans finally got what
they were looking for. The
follow-up to the
career-launching release
Pure Heroine, the
sophomore album by
the New Zealand native
explores a raw, mature, and confident side of the
singer. It focuses on the whirlwind of emotions that
came from the breakup of her long-term
relationship, but to be clear, this is not an album
about a man; it’s about what it means to be a woman.
4:44 by Jay-Z
GENRE: HIP-HOP
The king of Brooklyn made a
comeback with this album after a
long hiatus from making music.
Following the release of his wife
Beyonce’s Lemonade, which
not-very-subtly exposed Jay-Z for
infidelity, 4:44 highlights Jay-Z’s
redemption arc.
More Life by Drake
GENRE: HIP-HOP
It’s a playlist, not an album. At least,
that’s what Drake had to say about his
22-track-long release. Although some
critics of the format still disagree, it’s safe
to say this was one of the most influential
releases of the year with hits like “Fake
Love” and “Gyalchester,” among others.
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