{"id":744,"date":"2024-12-30T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2024\/12\/best-albums-of-2024\/"},"modified":"2024-12-30T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-30T12:00:00","slug":"best-albums-of-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/2024\/12\/best-albums-of-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Albums of 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
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There\u2019s never a year quite like another. Same can be said for 2024, as we steer closer towards consumption headaches in the search for the best music of the year. In hip hop, we witnessed the greatest rap beef of the century since Nas vs Jay-Z with Drake vs Kendrick Lamar\u2014easily the biggest cultural music event of 2024 (yes, we\u2019re biased). TDE dominated the calendar with albums dropping throughout the twelve months. Future and Metro Boomin got to heavy work, while Young Thug was finally freed from prison. In the pop realm, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish and Charli XCX shepherded the flock, and UK rap underwent a transitional phase on the path to something greater to come.<\/p>\n

Amongst it all came plenty of outstanding releases. These are Mic Cheque\u2019s thirty best albums of 2024, alongside honourable mentions.<\/p>\n

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Honourable Mentions<\/h1>\n
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From left to right: <\/em>070 Shake \u2014 Petrichor<\/em>; Beabadoobee \u2014 This Is How Tomorrow Moves<\/em>; Boldy James & Conductor Williams \u2014 Across the Tracks<\/em>; Gunna \u2014 One of Wun<\/em>; Clairo \u2014 Charm<\/em>; Tyler, The Creator \u2014 Chromakopia<\/em>; Boldy James & Nicholas Craven \u2014 Penalty of Leadership<\/em>; Kaytranada \u2014 Timeless<\/em>; LL Cool J \u2014 THE FORCE<\/em>; Leon Thomas \u2014 MUTT<\/em>; Lupe Fiasco \u2014 Samurai<\/em>; MAVI \u2014 Shadowbox<\/em>; Rapsody \u2014 Please Don\u2019t Cry<\/em>; NewDad \u2014 MADRA<\/em>; Roc Marciano \u2014 Marciology<\/em>; SZA \u2014 Lana<\/em>; Tyla \u2014 TYLA<\/em><\/p>\n

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30. Charlotte Day Wilson, Cyan Blue<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Stone Woman Music \/ XL<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The most tender record of the year goes to Canadian singer Charlotte Day Wilson. Her knack for blending R&B with gospel and alternative is like a warm spring hug, and shines just as much as her last album, 2021\u2019s Alpha<\/em>. It\u2019s vulnerably poetic in its songwriting and nimble with the production, wrapped tightly by her bass-laced vocals.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cKiss & Tell\u201d, \u201cForever\u201d, \u201cI Don\u2019t Love You\u201d, \u201cCanopy\u201d<\/p>\n

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29. 310babii, Nights & Weekends<\/em><\/h1>\n
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HIGH IQ \/ EMPIRE<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An endless stream of West Coast rappers could make this list with the year they\u2019ve had. One newcomer that stood out the most was Inglewood\u2019s 310babii. At just the age of 17, he had hits like \u201cSoak City\u201d going viral. Nights & Weekends<\/em> is equally infectious from start to finish, packed with two-minute hedonistic bangers. \u201cWalk\u201d brings age-mate Luh Tyler to the shared stage, while \u201cRush\u201d and \u201cNo Matter What\u201d showcase the advantage of bare-boned production.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cSoak City\u201d, \u201cWalk\u201d, \u201cNo Matter What\u201d, \u201cRush\u201d<\/p>\n

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28. Boldy James & whothehelliscarlo, Hidden in Plain Sight<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Westside Bike Club<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Boldy James remained routinely busy this year. Of his four projects, it was the one dropped at the final hour that reigned supreme. Hidden in Plain Sight<\/em> is a seven-track spectacle in beatmaking and concept rapping. Bo\u2019s collab\u2019ed with names like Harry Fraud, Nicholas Craven and Conductor Williams, but it\u2019s local Detroiter Whothehelliscarlo who brought the best out of him in 2024. \u201cDirty Dancing\u201d compares moving around while cooking dope in the kitchen to its namesake. The title track recruits Conway the Machine and Styles P for a potential classic Boldy track. The only piece missing is a Benny the Butcher feature. Hidden in Plain Sight<\/em> is all killer, no filler.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cHidden in Plain Sight\u201d, \u201cDirty Dancing\u201d, \u201c1st & 15th\u201d, \u201cBig Wigs\u201d, \u201cBrick James\u201d<\/p>\n

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27. Rachel Chinouriri, What a Devastating Turn of Events<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Parlophone<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The long-awaited debut by British singer Rachel Chinouriri takes indie rock head-on while keeping the writing poignant. What a Devastating Turn of Events<\/em> addresses reality, whether that\u2019s anxiety, depression, romantic pitfalls, working class life, and losing relatives. It\u2019s all achieved while laying down infectious hooks on highlights such as \u201cThe Hills\u201d and \u201cAll I Ever Asked\u201d. With her debut album, Rachel Chinouriri advanced the stylistic possibilities for female Black British singers while maintaining a sense of identity throughout.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cAll I Ever Asked\u201d, \u201cThe Hills\u201d, \u201cNever Need Me\u201d, \u201cGarden of Eden\u201d<\/p>\n

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26. Roc Marciano & The Alchemist, The Skeleton Key<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Pimpire \/ Marci Enterprises<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Roc Marciano keeps is absurdly witty with his second full-length collaboration with The Alchemist. \u201cHer body thick like Tems, she might let me hit with the Timbs,\u201d he says on album highlight \u201cChopstick\u201d, a track of many that\u2019s filled with one-liners galore. Al\u2019s production is consistently ghastly, who knows exactly how to bring the best out of Marci\u2019s tortured genius. <\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cCryotherapy\u201d, \u201cChopstick\u201d, \u201cMystery God\u201d, \u201cStreet Magic\u201d<\/p>\n

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25. Charli XCX, BRAT<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Atlantic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2024 seemed fed up of typical pop. Enter Charli XCX, who\u2019s been offering her futuristic version of hyperpop for virtually a decade at this point. Experiment after experiment had her trickling behind early fame capitalised by tracks like \u201cFancy\u201d and \u201cBoom Clap\u201d. BRAT<\/em> is the product of the British singer finally earning her flowers to be heard worldwide. Sure, the herd that flocked over to its cultural shift became slightly annoying, but that didn\u2019t take away from an album that\u2019s chock-full of creative pop hits that dared to be different.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201c365\u201d, \u201cSympathy Is a Knife\u201d, \u201cVon Dutch\u201d, \u201cTalk Talk\u201d, \u201cGirl, So Confusing\u201d<\/p>\n

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24. Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Darkroom \/ Interscope<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the other side of 2024 pop was Billie Eilish, who opted to strip it back for her most touching offering to date. Backed by sweet strings, a trimmed tracklist and little desire to chase big hits, Hit Me Hard and Soft<\/em> puts Billie\u2019s vocal abilities on full show, as well as working on song structure where the five-minute cuts crescendo to powerful pay-offs. It\u2019s another brave pop album that offered risk beyond chart gratification.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cCHIIHIRO\u201d, \u201cBIRDS OF A FEATHER\u201d, \u201cWILDFLOWER\u201d<\/p>\n

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23. Westside Gunn, Still Praying<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Griselda<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Westside Gunn makes an improvement from his last full-length project by heading back to basics. Still Praying<\/em> is a compact offering with Westside\u2019s signature glittery production, wrestling references, and show-stopping features backed by elite hosting from DJ Drama. Highlights such as \u201cBeef Bar\u201d and \u201cLeSalle Station\u201d fit right in that refulgent pocket, while cuts like \u201cDuran Duran\u201d offer a darker contrast. A must-mention is deserved for Conway the Machine, Stove God Cooks and Rome Streetz, all whom deliver stellar verses with standout one-liners. It\u2019s no question that Westside Gunn comfortably remains the king of classy boom-bap.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cStill Praying\u201d, \u201cBeef Bar\u201d, \u201cMax Caster\u201d, \u201cUnderground King\u201d<\/p>\n

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22. Erika de Casier, Still<\/em><\/h1>\n
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4AD Ltd<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Erika de Casier keeps millennial R&B alive on Still<\/em>. Channelling the spirit of Aaliyah and Janet Jackson is no easy feat, but Still<\/em> earns those influences rather than taking them. It gets sultry on cuts like \u201cHome Alone\u201d and \u201cTest It\u201d, while incorporating jungle on \u201cLucky\u201d, and quiet storm, trip-hop and ballads elsewhere. In the new era of \u2018fuck my ex\u2019 R&B, Erika de Casier keeps the romance element alive with her confident writing and subject matter.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cHome Alone\u201d, \u201cTest It\u201d, \u201cLucky\u201d, \u201cToxic\u201d, \u201cMy Day Off\u201d<\/p>\n

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21. Ravyn Lenae, Bird\u2019s Eye<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Atlantic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lenae\u2019s second album accelerates her genre experiments. If it wasn\u2019t clear on HYPNOS<\/em>, she\u2019s more than an R&B singer. This time round, Bird\u2019s Eye<\/em> feels slightly more pop-leaning, balancing sticky hooks with vulnerable writing. At the helm of production is Dahi, a name who clearly can\u2019t be boxed into merely \u201chip hop producer\u201d no longer. These genre fusions coupled with Lenae\u2019s honeycombed vocals ensures Bird\u2019s Eye<\/em> isn\u2019t an album to sleep on. <\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cGenius\u201d, \u201cLove Is Blind\u201d, \u201cPilot\u201d, \u201cFrom Scratch\u201d<\/p>\n

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20. Action Bronson, Johann Sebastien Baklava the Doctor<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Baklava Industries<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you\u2019re tapped into the niche side of Hip Hop Twitter, you may have seen an image of Action Bronson paired with a speech bubble quoting personal yet absurd anecdotal tweets. If you hear Johann Sebastien<\/em>, or practically any of his albums, you\u2019ll realise just how accurate those tweets were. Bronson keeps you entertained with humorous bars over drumless Daringer and Alchemist loops. He makes it sound incredibly low-effort to the point where you nearly miss the genius of it all. Not listening to Johann Sebastien<\/em>\u2018s like going to the amusement park and skipping over the low-budget rides. The queue\u2019s small and<\/em> you\u2019ll have a very good time.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cNBA LEATHER ON NBC\u201d, \u201cSHADOW REALM\u201d, \u201cHOGAN\u201d, \u201cHIDEO NOMO\u201d, \u201cKOMPRESSOR\u201d<\/p>\n

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19. Lancey Foux, Len & Fimiguerrero, CONGLOMERATE<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Lizzy<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s been a largely forgettable year for mainstream UK rap. But emerging rapidly from the nation is the breakthrough of hyper-rap. It\u2019s a style Lancey Foux\u2019s been cultivating for years, albeit with influence from the American trap world. He joins forces with up-and-comers Len and Fimiguerrero on Conglomerate<\/em>, the trio exchanging duties across the album like a fast-paced game of pong. Busy beats meet humour on album highlight \u201cSpanish Guitar\u201d, a dizzying track that defies logic yet works all the same. \u201cAfter Life\u201d is an addictive blend of trap and afrobeats, while \u201cSilhouette\u201d takes a famous Sade sample tackled by the likes of Mobb Deep and Freddie Gibbs. In what was a lacklustre year for UK rap, Conglomerate<\/em> kept the spirit alive.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cSpanish Guitar\u201d, \u201cAfter Life\u201d, \u201cOsbatt\u201d, \u201cMidas Touch\u201d, \u201cAll My Cards\u201d, \u201cSilhouette\u201d<\/p>\n

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18. Kofi Stone, A Man After God\u2019s Own Heart<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Tru Community<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Kofi Stone\u2019s own words, his second studio album captures \u201clove, faith, and family<\/em>\u201c. He couldn\u2019t be more accurate, and thanks to those three elements grants a true diamond in the rough for UK rap in 2024. A traditional hip hop album, A Man After God\u2019s Own Heart<\/em> cooks up pure boom bap moments loaded with soul samples (\u201cMade for This\u201d. \u201cBlack Joy\u201d), soothing lo-fi rap (\u201cYou Deserve Love\u201d), while throwing in some Biggie-styled tracks for the cherry on top (\u201cKing David Flow\u201d, \u201cColors in My Mind\u201d). It\u2019s a grown-man effort that can stand tall as one of the best UK rap albums of the year. <\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cBlack Joy\u201d, \u201cMade for This\u201d, \u201cCloser\u201d, \u201cMay Sound Crazy\u201d, \u201cPeople\u201d<\/p>\n

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17. NxWorries, Why Lawd?<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Stones Throw<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Divorce albums often end up with a fabled reputation. Marvin Gaye\u2019s Here, My Dear<\/em>, Nas\u2019s Life Is Good<\/em>, Fleetwood Mac\u2019s Rumours<\/em>; all come with newfound inspiration, and things to get off the artist\u2019s chest. That inspiration\u2019s channelled into Anderson .Paak\u2019s and Knxlwedge\u2019s comeback record, the first NxWorries album in eight years. Aptly titled Why Lawd?<\/em>, it channels a very different spirit animal to Yes Lawd!<\/em>, resulting in a richer, denser album \u2014 and perhaps the best breakup album of the decade so far.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cMoveOn\u201d, \u201cKeepHer\u201d, \u201cDistractions\u201d, \u201cDaydreaming\u201d, \u201cFromHere\u201d, \u201cWalkOnBy\u201d, \u201cLookin\u201d<\/p>\n

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16. Jean Dawson, Glimmer of God<\/em><\/h1>\n
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P+<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is one hell of a sonic journey. If you thought Jean Dawson\u2019s previous work was ambitious, take all of it, put it in a blender along with Prince, Frank Ocean and The 1975, add a dash of crack, and out comes Glimmer of God<\/em>. Really, Glimmer of God<\/em> aims to be everything at once, and succeeds at it. Over 42 minutes, Dawson navigates synth-pop, rock, baroque, emo and alternative hip hop in jack-of-all-trades fashion. There\u2019s sudden switch-ups, magical outros, varied vocals and clear effort in sequencing. It treads the line of futurism and 80s nostalgia in a way that remains fresh and not parody. I\u2019d go as far as saying it\u2019s the sound Teezo Touchdown\u2019s been attempting since his breakthrough. But it\u2019s Jean Dawson who makes it possible.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cHouston\u201d, \u201cBlack Sugar\u201d, \u201c200 Cigarattes\u201d, \u201cYou\u2019re Bleeding Everywhere\u201d, \u201cBubba\u201d, \u201cThe Boy and the Swan\u201d<\/p>\n

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15. Joe James, BEAST LIVING<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Out of Office<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Joe James has all the fundamentals needed for an elite rapper. Great flow, wordplay and beat selection. He drops projects like they\u2019re throwaways, when in actuality they\u2019re consistently the best efforts out the country year by year. The ten-track BEAST LIVING<\/em> mixtape immerses you in London, namely through vivid tracks like \u201cSame Place\u201d and \u201cToo Long\u201d. His references, whether football-related or inner-city, are easily understood if you\u2019re from the same world as he is. Largely drumless on the production side, Joe can pull off that style just as well as his American counterparts. He\u2019s already a top 3 UK rapper at the moment; he\u2019s just one Alchemist placement away from worldwide stardom.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cSame Place\u201d, \u201cPsalms\u201d, \u201cBury What\u201d, \u201cSilence Speaks\u201d, \u201cToo Long\u201d<\/p>\n

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14. Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Top Dawg \/ Capitol<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The post-Kendrick Top Dawg era looked like it was in for a rough time. The label quickly put that to bed in 2024, getting straight to work with crafting their latest superstar\u2014Doechii. Alligator Bites Never Heal<\/em> is an appropriate embodiment of the term \u2018commercial mixtape\u2019. It\u2019s all original material, well-marketed, trialling various genres to see what resonates with fans the most. Her 2023 hit \u201cWhat It Is\u201d is nowhere to be seen, which shows the intent of her direction going forward. She\u2019s no boxed viral TikTok wonder, but rather a rapper who will<\/em> be taken seriously by the hip hop community. With Grammy nominations already under her belt, the debut Doechii album is in pole position as one of the most anticipated debuts to come.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cBULLFROG\u201d, \u201cNISSAN ALTIMA\u201d, \u201cBOILED PEANUTS\u201d, \u201cDENIAL IS A RIVER\u201d, \u201cCATFISH\u201d, \u201cDEATH ROLL\u201d<\/p>\n

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13. Mach-Hommy, #RICHAXXHAITIAN<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Mach-Hommy Inc.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Haiti huncho is beyond iconic at this point. His legacy as the underground\u2019s top export needs no extension. Yet #RICHAXXHAITIAN<\/em> may just be a top five album in his immeasurable catalogue. From a mere production standpoint, #RICHAXXHAITIAN<\/em> is captivating. To put it into perspective, \u201cSONJE\u201d is driven by a meandering Middle Eastern piano loop and the sound of a kettle boiling. The accordion on \u201cTHE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW\u201d is another oddly satisfying choice. Perhaps most questioning is the album\u2019s title track with Kaytranada and 03 Greedo, easily Mach-Hommy\u2019s most accessible song to date. It\u2019s brash, it\u2019s brazen, and masterfully underground.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cPOLITickle\u201d, \u201cPADON\u201d, \u201cEMPTY SPACES\u201d, \u201cCOPY COLD\u201d, \u201cANTONOMASIA\u201d, \u201cGORGON ZOE LAN\u201d, \u201c#RICHAXXHAITIAN\u201d<\/p>\n

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12. Ka, The Thief Next to Jesus<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Iron Works<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Released months before his untimely passing, Ka\u2019s final album is a poetic observation of religion, the state of hip hop, death and African-American identity. They\u2019re all topics that Ka has explored in previous work, but this time it\u2019s conceptualised through gospel samples and Biblical metaphors. Lines such as \u201cI plan my death before I plan submission\u201d and \u201cI hope it\u2019s borrowed time when my time come\u201d are spine-chilling in context, putting questions of existentialism on wax in a way that\u2019s both morbid but hopeful. It\u2019s a skill few rappers possess, especially in the capacity of a full-length album where every song is accented with Christianism. The Thief Next to Jesus<\/em> shows we don\u2019t have all the answers, we\u2019re just trying to survive.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cTested Testimony\u201d, \u201cLord Have Mercy\u201d, \u201cBread Wine Body Blood\u201d, \u201cCross You Bear\u201d, \u201cHymn and I\u201d, \u201cBeautiful\u201d<\/p>\n

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11. Clara La San, Made Mistakes<\/em><\/h1>\n
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CLS Music \/ AWAL<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bedroom pop\u2019s still alive on the evasive British singer\u2019s debut album. Bolstered by her viral hit \u201cIn This Darkness\u201d, Clara La San\u2019s momentum gained second wind after wiping her music from platforms and starting over after a hiatus. Made Mistakes<\/em> keeps the hit off the ten-song tracklist. It\u2019s a producer\u2019s sampling heaven, assisted by the sweetest voice you\u2019ll hear all year. Made Mistakes<\/em> quietly gets about its business, constantly understated yet never failing to grant an inescapable hook. It\u2019s the closest we\u2019ll get to that Weeknd Trilogy<\/em> energy, namely in cuts like \u201cAll I Wanna Do\u201d or the Echoes of Silence<\/em> essence in album closer \u201cMade Me Feel\u201d. While little\u2019s still known about the Manchester-born singer, it\u2019s clear she\u2019ll let the music do the talking for now.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cAnother Night\u201d, \u201cUpset With Ya\u201d, \u201cDon\u2019t Worry About It\u201d, \u201cMade Me Feel\u201d, \u201cRunnin\u201d<\/p>\n

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10. Vince Staples, Dark Times<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Blacksmith \/ Def Jam<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s a testament to Vince Staples\u2019 talent where he can make such short albums feel double the runtime, all through the power of substance. Dark Times<\/em> is Vince Staples at his most bleak, kept alive by the faintest light at the end of the tunnel. It\u2019s got storytelling and upbeat bops that\u2019s been attempted on previous albums, but it\u2019s refined to the bare necessities here. Just when you think Vince is getting into the thick of it, he holds back the full picture, as if he\u2019s afraid to share too much of his life to the listener. It\u2019s a relatable aspect to the album, and although can seem frustrating, is what makes Vince sound human in his own, masculine way.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201c\u00c8touf\u00e9e\u201d, \u201cLittle Homies\u201d, \u201cBlack&Blue\u201d, \u201cGovernment Cheese\u201d<\/p>\n

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9. Yeat, 2093<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Field Trip \/ Capitol<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In what was easily the most unexpected artistic pivot of the year, Yeat\u2019s musical ambitions went from \u201cThis song was already turnt, but here\u2019s a bell\u201d to \u201cTake me seriously.\u201d On his fourth studio effort, Yeat immerses the listener in a digital dystopian universe, which makes it in part conceptual. From a man that has come a long way since his viral breakthrough, Yeat shows growth to offer the listener a futuristic, dystopian listening experience led by some of the best production you\u2019ll hear in rap this year. His drawbacks still exist, but still manages to maintain his niche as an idiosyncratic vocalist. <\/p>\n

The kicker is the production \u2014 heavy synth leads combine with rage rap and electronica to create a new sound unique to 2093<\/em>. It\u2019s Blade Runner meets TRON in the sci-fi aesthetic the producers create. Raging bangers are in place with songs like \u201cPsycho CEO\u201d, the two-part \u201cMr. Inbetweenit\u201d, the epic \u201cAs We Speak\u201d and \u201cLyfestyle\u201d. 2093<\/em> can also be minimal & calm, adding range in the tracklist through songs like \u201cTell Me\u201d, \u201cBought the Earth\u201d and \u201cIf We Being Real\u201d.<\/p>\n

2093<\/em> is the album to show that rage rap can be conceptual and fulfilling.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cBreathe\u201d, \u201cAs We Speak\u201d, \u201cMr. Inbetweenit\u201d, \u201cIf We Being Real\u201d, \u201cLyfestyl\u00eb\u201d<\/p>\n

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8. JPEGMAFIA, I Lay Down My Life for You<\/em><\/h1>\n
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PEGGY \/ AWAL<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your average JPEGMAFIA album is like a Duracell bunny on drugs. This time round, the self-producing rapper\u2019s knack for experimenting shines further on I Lay Down My Life for You<\/em>, his most varied album to date. The metal elements are turned up a notch here, adding to the sheer chaos of cuts like \u201cSIN MIEDO\u201d and \u201cVulgar Display of Power\u201d. The disarraying \u201cJIHAD JOE\u201d is the \u2018Mayday\u2019 distress signal of the album, a routinely signature track from the rapper. However, the best part of I Lay Down My Life for You<\/em> is how it sheds the faux-edge of Peggy\u2019s music. It can no longer be interpreted as a gimmick. The last leg of the album helps make this case\u2014a serious, downtempo look into a new chapter of his artistry. In 41 minutes, we\u2019re provided with the Peggy we know and the Peggy we\u2019re meeting. Altogether, it\u2019s the most exciting offering of experimental hip hop all year.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cSIN MIEDO\u201d, \u201cEither On or Off the Drugs\u201d, \u201cExmilitary\u201d, \u201cJIHAD JOE\u201d, \u201cDon\u2019t Put Anything On the Bible\u201d<\/p>\n

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7. Mk.gee, Two Star & the Dream Police<\/em><\/h1>\n
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R&R Digital<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A 28-year old from New Jersey is DIY Artist of the Year. Mk.gee\u2019s lo-fi palette offers a warmth that convinces you that everything\u2019s going to be alright. With his guitar at the helm of the mission, Two Star & the Dream Police<\/em> expertly evokes emotion with its minimal grooves and distant vocals, granting infectious melodies that got \u2018classic\u2019 written all over them. \u201cI Want\u201d grants goosebumps before the first verse has even ended, while \u201cHow Many Miles\u201d puts a caps-lock on the poeticism of Mk.gee\u2019s songwriting. Two Star & the Dream Police<\/em> carries a unique allure, and a safe space for male vulnerability.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cI Want\u201d, \u201cHow Many Miles\u201d, \u201cAre You Looking Up\u201d, \u201cCandy\u201d, \u201cDNM\u201d, \u201cYou Got It\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

6. Future & Metro Boomin, We Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Wilburn Holding Co. \/ Boominati \/ Epic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em> was the Franz Ferdinand of 2024; a catalyst for opening Pandora\u2019s Box. In what was meant to be a long-awaited collaboration between one of trap\u2019s greatest rapper-producer duos managed to kicked off the greatest hip hop war of the century. But \u201cLike That\u201d aside, We Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em> stands tall as a complete exhibition of the genre the two practically own at this point. We Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em> unloads nocturnal bangers, feeding into Metro Boomin\u2019s signature minimal, nocturnal production style. To match the production intentions, Future\u2019s performances are also subdued, sometimes reduced to mere murmurs (\u201cGTA\u201d). It\u2019s these lifeless vocals that are an acquired taste, but serve to display the void Future feels emotionally while he brags about his riches.<\/p>\n

Tracks like \u201cClaustrophic\u201d and \u201cCinderella\u201d boast some of the album\u2019s best hooks, while the first verse of \u201cYoung Metro\u201d is one of the best verses of the year. The beat switches on \u201cMagic Don Juan\u201d and \u201cIce Attack\u201d take the album into overdrive. The Prodigy monologues and Mobb Deep sample on \u201cSeen It All\u201d add the hip hop element that oldheads would\u2019ve critiqued the album for lacking. We even get Future on a soul sample with \u201cEveryday Hustle\u201d. It\u2019s a diverse trap album that satisfies every itch you have.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cLike That\u201d, \u201cMagic Don Juan (Princess Diana)\u201d, \u201cClaustrophobic\u201d, \u201cYoung Metro\u201d, \u201cFried (She a Vibe)\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

5. Chief Keef, Almighty So 2<\/em><\/h1>\n
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43B<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Future and Metro put in a good shift, but it\u2019s Sosa who has the trap album of the year. Almighty So 2<\/em> could not be more in-your-face if it tried\u2014a relentless, 65-minute AK spraying with no remorse for who stands in its way. And it\u2019s all self-produced. Yes, Chief Keef produces nearly all of this blustering project. Almighty So 2<\/em> takes you back to the 2010s trap days. Think Lex Luger, Waka Flocka Flame, or even early Chief Keef himself, who\u2019s stayed comfortably in his lane since the age of 16. It\u2019s another career highlight for the Chicago martian, splitting speakers with tracks like \u201cJesus\u201d and \u201cNeph Nem\u201d. His delivery gets downright ridiculous on \u201cTony Montana Flow\u201d. Cuts like \u201c1,2,3\u201d and \u201cPrince Charming Flow\u201d prove Keef can maintain your attention for longer than 5 minutes.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a raw yet magisterial exhibition of vintage trap rap. It doesn\u2019t get much better than Almighty So 2<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cNeph Nem\u201d, \u201cJesus\u201d, \u201cPrince Charming\u201d, \u201cDrifting Away\u201d, \u201cTony Montana Flow\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

4. ScHoolboy Q, Blue Lips<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Top Dawg \/ Interscope<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ScHoolboy Q makes the five-year absence all worth it. Blue Lips<\/em> is an abrasive, all-in-your-face experience designed for the best of speakers. With no skips in sight, Q achieves the unlikely feat of a chaotic album with an orderly attitude. He outdoes himself in the production department, granting lush moments in \u201cNunu\u201d and \u201cBlueslides\u201d but also aggressive speaker-splitters in \u201cYeern 101\u201d and \u201cPig Feet\u201d. Nearly every track has a dichotomy going on where it balances the calm with the chaos, portraying two sides to Q from start to finish. It introduces AzChike to the stage, who\u2019s ending the year as hot rap property. There\u2019s further appearances from Ab-Soul, Rico Nasty and Freddie Gibbs. It\u2019s feverishly frantic, daring to put the heart back into mainstream hip hop. <\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cBlueslides\u201d, \u201cThank God 4 Me\u201d, \u201cYeern 101\u201d, \u201cBack n Love\u201d, \u201cLost Times\u201d, \u201cPig Feet\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

3. Ab-Soul, Soul Burger<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Top Dawg<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ab-Soul wasn\u2019t expected to drop this year, but we\u2019re glad he did. Soul Burger<\/em> offers a warm and fresh version of Ab-Soul, and a capable post-Kendrick TDE. Dedicated to his late friend DoeBurger, Soul sounds charged up in ways we haven\u2019t seen in years, equipped with sharp witty bars, stellar production, attention to hooks and some sweet features. As the name suggests, it\u2019s a fusion of Soulo\u2019s finest strengths. There\u2019s patties, lettuce and cheese as the songs, and buns to bring it all together for that cohesion. Every bite\u2019s savoured with no skips over its 15-song tracklist, equipped with some of the finest lyricism of recent times.<\/p>\n

On \u201c9 Mile\u201d he pays ode to the opening of Belly<\/em> and the climax of 8 Mile, <\/em>\u00a0depicting both the flashy and painful side of his life. \u201cAll That\u201d is a West Coast bop delivered in time for its 2024 renaissance. \u201cPaiday\u201d is a glitchy trap banger that shows Soul can do the lyrical, sampled tracks and the simplified, catchy ones too. Production highs turn up on \u201dSqueeze 1st<\/sup> 2\u201d and \u201cSaudi Sweats\u201d, while \u201dB.U.C.K.O. Jr\u201d exhibits peak Soulo lyricism. Lupe Fiasco drops Verse of the Year on the moving \u201cPeace\u201d, while Vince Staples and JID also drop pivotal verses.<\/p>\n

Soulo hasn\u2019t had it easy, both in his personal life and garnering widespread attention for his albums. But Soul Burger<\/em> feels like the album he\u2019s been trying to make for years. It\u2019s his best work since Control System<\/em>, and one of the best rap albums of 2024.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cAll That\u201d, \u201cPeace\u201d, \u201c9 Mile\u201d, \u201cPaiday\u201d, \u201cSqueeze 1st 2nd\u201d, \u201cSaudi Sweats\u201d, \u201cCalifornia Dream\u201d, \u201cCrazier\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

2. Future & Metro Boomin, We Still Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em><\/h1>\n
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Wilburn Holding Co. \/ Boominati \/ Epic<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a double-whammy from Future and Metro Boomin this year. A few weeks after We Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em> came their second joint album, switching up the vibe entirely to tap into their R&B and pop bag\u2014and it\u2019s better. There\u2019s a craft going on here, an intention to create something beyond hip hop. Equipped with Metro Boomin\u2019s venturing production, Future grants career highs that can go head to head with his best work. We Still Don\u2019t Trust You <\/em>is, in spirit, the sequel to 2017\u2019s HNDRXX. <\/em>Consistently, it\u2019s even better, dropping out the filler for sweet serenades from start to finish. Future\u2019s vocals are emotive over here, adding the heartful pain he\u2019s exerted on career highlights like \u201cCodeine Crazy\u201d and the Save Me<\/em> EP.<\/p>\n

What really takes We Still Don\u2019t Trust You<\/em> to the next level is its second disc. Disc 2 is a seven-track curbstomper, bringing the 2010s throwback style of Future & Metro Boomin \u2014 loud, aggressive trap thumpers. It sounds like a sequel to 2014\u2019s Monster<\/em>, and seemingly includes tracks recorded from that era. Future & Metro create a clear creative distinction between this disc and the other two albums. \u201cCrossed Out\u201d, \u201cCrazy Clientele\u201d and \u201cStreets Made Me a King\u201d can all compete with the best of Future songs, ridiculously addictive in their hooks and production. The song tags, beat styles, vocals and reverse effects all give prime mixtape energy \u2013 they knew what they were doing when crafting these six songs.<\/p>\n

Combine it all and you get Future and Metro putting their best foot forward. It\u2019s loaded with plenty of Future\u2019s best songs of his career, consistent with the visions of its two discs, and a reminder that the Atlantan legends still<\/em> don\u2019t trust you.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cStreets Made Me a King\u201d, \u201cOne Big Family\u201d, \u201cCrazy Clientele\u201d, \u201cCrossed Out\u201d, \u201cMile High Memories\u201d, \u201cJealous\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

1. Kendrick Lamar, GNX<\/a><\/em><\/h1>\n
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pgLang \/ Interscope<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every move by Kendrick Lamar in 2024 was unpredictable. You knew something was going to happen, you just didn\u2019t know when, or how. So it was more than fitting for the Compton czar to drop Album of the Year towards the end of the UK working day with the mere delivery of a tweet and Instagram clip. Before you even get to the music, there\u2019s that less-is-more approach in place, which is a Kendrick staple at this point. <\/p>\n

Some might say it\u2019s easy to give Kendrick Album of the Year. And in some regards that\u2019s understandable. What makes GNX<\/em> deserving of the title is its makeup; its ability to bestow peak levels of catchiness, range and confidence. It\u2019s more than winning the Drake beef. It\u2019s the risk of finally granting a concept-free album without the big-brained whiteboard theories. And above all, it\u2019s simply great hip hop music.<\/p>\n

GNX\u00a0<\/em>is a 12-track rescue mission to take back regional dominance, resulting in Lamar\u2019s best album since 2015\u2019s\u00a0To Pimp a Butterfly<\/em>. It\u2019s a victory lap for not just Kendrick in his beef with Drake, but for Los Angeles at large. The spirit of the beef lives within GNX<\/em>, however it refocuses the mission to cultural substance. We\u2019re granted Lamar\u2019s most replayable album, jam-packed with addictive production, tattooed hooks, humorous delivery, niche LAisms, features from rising LA rappers and conceptual storytelling, all assisted by A\/B album sequencing that goes from personal to regional track to track. Being Kendrick\u2019s shortest album to date works heavily in its favour,<\/em>\u00a0achieving the impossible feat of all twelve songs serving as highlights.<\/p>\n

With\u00a0GNX<\/em>, the West Coast renaissance is complete, erasing the outsider\u2019s party and starting his own one. 2024 goes down in hip hop history. Enemies were made. Records were etched. \u201cMustard\u201d was screamed. Kendrick Lamar was tripping in 2024 and we loved it.<\/p>\n

Best tracks: <\/strong>\u201cTV Off\u201d, \u201cReincarnated\u201d, \u201cHey Now\u201d, \u201cMan at the Garden\u201d, \u201cSquabble Up\u201d, \u201cPeekaboo\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s never a year quite like another. Same can be said for 2024, as we steer closer towards consumption headaches…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14044,"featured_media":931,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[10,9],"class_list":["post-744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-rss","tag-culture","tag-hip-hop"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14044"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/931"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westcoastaftershock.com\/wca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}