2018 has been a rollercoaster of a year but I can honestly say we have been blessed with some of the most groundbreaking music in a while, seeing underground talent rising to the surface and delivering some music that has touched our core and made us relate. Here`s my top 5 albums of 2018.
5. Ella Mai - "Ella Mai"
I`ve been watching her grind for years now and to finally see her explode the way she did this year, was simply amazing as she is a great addition to the R&B scene and her musical approach is very transparent and allows people relate to her sound and not feel like it`s some manufactured type of shit that the industry spits out. Her self-title featured 16 tracks, it could`ve done without the Chris Brown collaboration though but overall the album saw her in her elements as her songwriting is stellar and hearing her and H.E.R on a track (Gut Feeling) together was everything as their vocals blended so beautifully and they managed to capture the rawness of the subject at hand.
The album was a great introduction to such a talented artist who`s gonna hopefully build on this project for her albums in the future and keep on showcasing the truth between heartache and love.
4. H.E.R.'s "I Used to Know Her"
R&B songstress H.E.R. delivered two stunning projects called "I Used To Know Her Prt 1 & Prt 2" which followed up her 2017 'H.E.R. Vol. 1 & 2' that put her on the map but these projects pushed her all the way out there and saw her fan base growing and shaping her sound by exploring different elements and ways of showcasing layers to her artistry from her sharp yet direct songwriting skills to her soothing and sultry vocals and also displaying her rapping skills.
On this album she takes on depression and drug abuse and the ups and downs of love, especially on "Against Me" which is hands down my favorite tracks as she talks about being in a toxic relationship, where the guy keeps on hurting her emotionally and she stays with him as she doesn`t see that she is worthy of more than what he is giving her, she gives me Lauryn Hill vibes: "The corners of a man’s mind is a place where vulnerability hide and intimacy is not the act of physical intertwined but it’s the isolation of two minds.That’s why he keeps his heart and his head separate, there’s only one he can connect with. The multiple names on a checklist, only calls when he’s desperate. I guess, it’s too much pressure to be respectful and honest, It’s too stressful to be keepin’ promises and I’m impatient. I’m too high maintenance, way too many expectations when, we’re just dating but I’m special, right?..." She also expressed a similar feeling on is also "I'm not okay", which expresses that she's holding onto a relationship that is not really working, that hit me to the core.
She is such a talented artist that is able to reach deep down inside you and reveal your truth and have you sit in it, till you deal with it and move on and heal.
3.Todrick Hall - "Forbidden"
Hall’s 2016 album Straight Outta Oz was simply amazing than he went on and top it with his album "FORBIDDEN" which was beautifully and creatively crafted and accompanied it with music videos for each song that came together to create a world that takes us back to the 1940’s and 1950’s and addresses topics such as racism, sexuality and turns the tables on white privilege by making them lower class - it might make some people uncomfortable but serves a much needed messages and makes people look at their lives and make some adjustments that allows them to free themselves from limiting thoughts.
The album might some heavy moments but it also feature some colourful and fun tracks “T.H.U.G. (Trade)”, “B”, “Dem Beats”, “Doll Hair”, “Play”, “Forever” and the title track“Forbidden” is simply outstanding, serving a message about standing in your truth and standing by your love even when people try to tear you down.
2.Janelle Monáe - "Dirty Computer"
"Dirty Computer" was nothing more than a beautiful masterpiece of an album that saw her draw from her idols Prince, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, and James Brown. It`s her most groundbreaking and strongest musical offering since her underrated debut album "The ArchAndroid", on this project she has truly come full circle as artist and as a black woman in this world, using her art to address so many topics that many people still view as taboo but she doesn`t care, it`s all about giving the voiceless a voice and reflect a beautiful that has it`s ups and downs but remain strong and pushes forward.
1.Cardi B - "Invasion of Privacy"
Cardi B proved many people wrong when she dropped her album "Invasion of Privacy" which was a solid offering from start to finish and featured so many layers to it and I love the fact she wanted to give the new generation something that holds so much weight to it and also showcased her roots so beautifully. Opening it with a cold track called "Get Up 10" that sets you up for a good ride as it was so raw and showed that she ain`t playing at all, she means business. She built on the track and throughout the album kept providing some quality tunes that showcased her growth and her confidence, what a great way to kick off her musical career.
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