Man this year has flown by. Started doing this every month in February and haven’t looked back since. Last month wasn’t a full article, but like I promised, I’m back for November. There’s been so many times on this website where I’ve just gotten the random inspiration/energy to write articles at like 1 or 2 a.m. So naturally, here we are, at 1:08 on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I’m always, and will always be, thankful for music. It’s what keeps me sane and adds that extra splash of happiness in to my life. Enough talk, let’s get into it.
1. Bryson Tiller – presents ft. Kiana Ledé
How many times do I have to explain this? Bryson Tiller is one of my top five favorite artists of all time. He has yet to miss. And he will continue to assert his presence on my music rotation. It’s funny because both “Sorrows” and “Keep Doing What You’re Doing” are going viral on TikTok but those two have been my songs since he dropped “Anniversary” last October. “A Different Christmas” is a great project to listen to before he eventually drops “Serenity”. Whenever that will be, we can only wait and see.
2. Silk Sonic – Put On A Smile
This song makes you want to get up and dance, but the lyrics are actually depressing as hell.
“Tryna fight these tears from cryin’, but Lord knows I’m dyin’, dyin’… Tryna put on a smile”
The music on this album is incredible. Bruno Mars never misses and Anderson .Paak versatility from being able to flow perfectly on the beat to killing it on the drums is mesmerizing. There are a few classic songs on this project, but “Put On A Smile” is the cherry on top for me.
3. Lil Durk – Lion Eyes
Like my guy Snordatdude said, we are in the “prime Durk” era right now. From “Just Cause Y’all Waited 2”, to “The Voice” & “The Voice of the Heroes”, Lil Durk has not missed. Lion Eyes is another incredible song added to his catalogue. I just pray that for his own mental he doesn’t lose anyone else close to him.
“I missed the one’s that’s now deceased that I knew since the diapers”
Durk is at the top of the rap game mountain right now. Coming off the tour with Lil Baby and dropped both “Lion Eyes” and “Pissed Me Off” recently, it seems if he’s gearing for another album release. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing from him regarding a new project very soon.
4. Summer Walker – Playing Games (Extended Version) ft. Bryson Tiller
To everyone that is a Summer Walker fan, make sure y’all get ready for her next album. Because it’s going to be even better than both “Over It” and “Still Over It”. She got this man name tattooed on her damn forehead. God bless her soul because I don’t even be knowing what the hell is going on. Besides all that, this song is beautiful and Bryson’s part got me floating. “Songs I’m Listening To” is a very honest series. There is no shame in my game, if there is a song that I am playing constantly I will put it in my article. Regardless of who and what it is. Shout out to Summer Walker though, getting her first #1 album on Billboard with “Still Over It”.
5. Travis Scott – MAFIA
First off I just want to say Rest In Peace to all the victims of what happened at AstroWorld Festival. What took place should’ve never happened and it hurts my heart to hear that innocent people lost their lives because of that horribly organized event, among other things. It’s sad to have this great music overshadowed by something that never should’ve happened in the first place. Who knows if we’ll ever see Travis on stage again, or even in public for that matter. He’s facing a lot of lawsuits right now so we’ll have to wait and see. J Cole absolutely did this thing on this song even though he didn’t have a verse. His presence on just the end alone is what made the whole song for me. Once again, Rest In Peace to all the people who lost their lives at AstroWorld Festival. Please don’t disrespect these people’s memory by using their deaths to fuel your conspiracy theories about this being a “sacrifice”. The families of the victims don’t deserve to hear that kind of bs.
6. YoungBoy Never Broke Again – In Control
There’s not much that needs to be said about this selection right here. I’m happy to see YB free and am looking forward to a project sometime in the near future. We just got his first single out of jail today and I loved it, so it can only go up from here.
7. Tory Lanez – Lady of Namek
I’m really about to get cancelled for this article my goodness. However, I can’t lie about what’s in the rotation. And as of November 24th, 2021, Tory Lanez has a spot in my top 10 favorite albums of the year. And he hasn’t even dropped his second album yet, “Alone at Prom“, on December 1st. This man hopped on an 80’s pop beat and absolutely killed it.
“So can we… play with the stars tonight? Can we make them all align?”
Regardless of what’s going on with him and his legal situation (which I really hope his claims of innocence are true), you can’t sit here and deny that this man is talented. And in eight days the music video has garnered 6.6 million views on YouTube, so he must not really be that canceled. We’ll see how Ashton Rain comes with “Alone at Prom”.
![Dum and Dummer 2 [LP] [PA] - Best Buy](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/3526/35262824_so.jpg)
8. Young Dolph & Key Glock – Penguins
Rest In Peace to Young Dolph. Prayers up to his family and loved ones. I wouldn’t say I was the biggest Young Dolph fan before his unfortunate passing, but if you keep up with the rap industry and you weren’t at least aware of Dolph’s influence you’d be lying to yourself. A Memphis legend. “100 Shots” and “In Charlotte” will never leave my playlist.
9. Key Glock – Something Bout Me
Shout out to my guy Zion for putting me on to this song when it dropped. I love the Memphis sound in general from Glock to NLE Choppa & Moneybagg Yo. Once again, RIP to Dolph and hopefully Key Glock able to come back mentally and stay safe.
10. Rod Wave – By Your Side
This right here is literally a top five Rod Wave song of all time. This man is the GOAT. When I went to his concert this past October it was just an incredible experience. He sound exactly the same on stage as he do in the studio, just showcasing his insane abilities. I was front row singing every damn word. He can take his time on whatever he has coming next, knowing he just blessed us with this heavenly song.
“I got inside my bag and got out my feelings“
The constant in this world is the music. The music is one thing that I keep looking forward to. Just know one thing. When Kendrick Lamar decides to drop his album the world will quite literally come to a stop. This man will definitely do over 800K units in first week sales without a doubt. Grammy nominations came out yesterday and a lot of great artists have made their way into the nominations like Baby Keem, Jack Harlow and Giveon. Through all the chaos, we move. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
