We are back. We have reached my favorite article of the year. The article where I dive deep into the music that I have listened to over the past 12 months. This is my sixth year in a row doing this article and all I can say is thank you to everyone that has been along for the ride. Hopefully I’m able to do this for another six years.
What I can say about this article is that somehow the number of albums I review every year seem to get smaller and smaller. I don’t know if that’s because I’m getting older and not being able to listen to as many albums, or my attention span is cooked and I can’t sit through all the music that drops.
If you’ve been here for a while, you know my rule. If I didn’t listen to the album all the way through at least two times, it’s not going to be ranked. So Tyler, The Creator’s “CHROMAKOPIA” will not be on here. And Lil Uzi Vert’s, “Eternal Atake 2” will also not be on here.
Not because I don’t respect them as artists or don’t like their music. It’s just the simple fact that I didn’t give either a full listen.
I hope everyone enjoys the article regardless. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my favorite albums of 2024. Let’s get into it.
YSN FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2024
20. Vory – EROS (April 5th)
Vory lands his third album on the YSN album lists (12th in 2022 & 14th in 2020) with “EROS”. Vory’s sound is one that is unique to him, especially with his voice and how he pairs that with his production choices.
Taking inspiration from his upbringing in both Houston & Louisville, Vory is able to piece those two together for a sound that is easy to listen to.
“You helped me realize it ain’t this
Say, I don’t know if love is this”
He was able to get frequent collaborator Mariah the Scientist as a feature on here, and I think their song together was the standout of the project.
While I still think his self-titled project will always be my favorite of his, “EROS” is still a nicely put together EP that I would recommend everyone to listen to.
“Do you ever think before you say sometimes?
Do you ever sin before you pray sometimes?”
Favorite Songs:
- Drake Shit ft. Mariah the Scientist
- Love You 2
- Angels
- 4am in Los Angeles
- Why Lie?
19. NoCap – Before I Disappear (June 27th)
This man really said, “Shawty say she love mе, it’s irrelevant like Bow Wow. Thinking ’bout my futurе like Ciara but I’m higher than a Seahawk”. I knew from that moment he was greatness personified.
I kind of accidentally started listening to NoCap around maybe 2020 while I was at VCU. I think I naturally just was listening to the music my friends were playing and it was either Terrell or Walter that was playing a lot of NoCap in the apartment.
If you ask anyone that listens to NoCap to tell you what stands out about him, it’s an easy answer. It has to be the punchlines that will go over 9/10 people’s heads. It’s funny because there was a two-month span after he dropped this album where I listened to NoCap and Rylo Rodriguez every day without fail.
“Take me back to Greece or back to Sweden if I get caught up”
Favorite Songs:
- Greece or Sweden ft. Rylo Rodriguez
- Celean ft. Quavo
- Champain
- Invoice ft. Rylo Rodriguez
- Baby Drake
18. Cash Cobain – PLAY CASH COBAIN (August 23rd)
One thing for sure, two things for certain, it was most definitely a slizzy summer in 2024. Cash Cobain’s sound (called “sexy drill” by some) took over on TikTok, which ended up translating to real records being sold for the producer/rapper from New York.
“Yeah, I’m always out, but I’m into you
Why the Slizzy god had to send me you?”
Cash has worked with probably every major artist in the industry at this point, but a lot of it is with his producing work. Central Cee, Drake, Don Toliver & J. Cole are just to name a few.
Cash was able to start the “slizzy” movement in 2023, but it picked up its real momentum during this past summer. With hits like “rump punch” & “fisherrr” playing at every party/club imaginable.
People’s main critique about Cash is that he raps about the same thing in every song. But my counter to that point will always be, if it works why try to fix it? No matter what the song is about, Cash’s production and flow will always outshine the lyrics.
“Marni, Marni
I don’t wanna talk ’bout Marni”
I think the success to Cash’s formula is his woman fanbase. I think not only in rap, but with music in general, if you get the girls really behind your music you are bound to see success. And with Cash, he always has his friends, also known as the Slizettes, with him in every freestyle & music video.
All in all, this is definitely not the last we’re going to see of Cash Cobain.
Favorite Songs:
- fisherrr ft. Bay Swag
- dunk contest
- rump punch
- slizzyhunchodon ft. Quavo & Don Toliver
- slizzy poetry pt. 2 (interlude)
17. Tems – Born in the Wild (June 6th)
One of the most soothing & calm voices in all of music, Tems went above and beyond for everyone to hear her voice on this project.
Tems adresses many things on this album but the one that stands out is talking about her struggle adjusting to her newfound fame.
It’s a common theme for artists that have recently hit the mainstream to reflect on how different their life was before they made it, and it’s sometimes a somber feeling. On the song “burning” she’s in a sense talking to herself, telling herself not to “burn” in the fire of fame.
“Don’t you rush into these games
These games will kill you”
Tems has one of my favorite voices in the world, so I hope to hear from her more soon. But in the meantime, I’ll be hitting the play button on this album.
Favorite Songs:
- Burning
- Me & U
- Love Me JeJe
- Wickedest
- Get it Right ft. Asake
16. Karri – Late Nite Slider Music – EP (December 6th)
Karri is an artist that reps Oakland and the Bay Area to the fullest and his unique sound is a great representation. I don’t want to put him in a box, I think he’s too good of an artist for that, but if you want to listen to a sound similar to him I would give Nobu Woods a listen.
Karri has been on my radar for over a year now due to his song, “only u” that got some traction on TikTok. I had that on my “HOURS” playlist on Apple Music, but I never listened to a full album of is.
The reason? He didn’t have a full-length project out on streaming services.
Around December 7th or 8th, his TikTok came around on my for you page once again (probably because I liked so much of his stuff last year). And on the video, he was promoting this EP, so I figured I’d give it a listen.
“I know it’s your only goal
To break my heart, but I can’t fold”
Both are incredible artists that know how to find their pockets in great production. Shout out to the Bay Area, I would love to see Kehlani or H.E.R get on a song with Karri.
The title of the EP is a perfect description of the type of songs that are on here. In my rulebook, you can never properly grade a song/album until you give it the car test. I implore you do the same with this project right here. Big shout out to Karri for an incredible piece of music.
“I got your back for life
And you ain’t ever gotta ask me twice”
Favorite Songs:
- 415 to the 6
- Impromptu
- Oakland Pt. 2
- Upperhand
- Late Nite Slider Music
15. Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign – VULTURES 1 (February 9th)
First and foremost, shout out to Google for having a cleaner version of this album cover.
With Kanye West, at least post-Yeezus, you never know what you’re going to get. Whether you’re going to get a crazy tweeting spree before the album drops or 80,000 post-release edits, it’s always going to be something eye-opening.
“Friday night, let’s all get paid!”
Long gone is the guy who made, “Graduation” and that’s okay. When you start stacking up the years of experience, you’re going to develops new habits, new interests and new sounds.
That’s what I always try to tell the fans that are always searching for nostalgia in their favorite artists’ music. The bar you set for them in your own head is never going to be eclipsed, because you will never listen to them or experience them for the first time again.
Kanye West is an older artist now, with different priorities and problems (see his highly publicized divorce from Kim Kardashian for reference). At this point, whatever music he puts out is going to be something that he enjoys listening to himself.
He is free from his own mental prison. He is free from the record labels trying to control him and paint negative images of him (not that I agree with everything this man does because sometimes he is definitely on some wild s***) and I think that shows in the music.
“Who’s not entertained by my pain?
Who ain’t cash a check off my name?
When my campaign turned to cam-pain
I burned eight billion to takе off my chains”
He doesn’t care if it sounds good to us and he definitely doesn’t need the money. So why not just put away the lyricist spectacles, and just enjoy the music while you can.
Favorite Songs:
- FUK SUMN ft. Playboi Carti & Travis Scott
- BURN
- VULTURES ft. Lil Durk & Bump J
- CARNIVAL ft. Playboi Carti & Rich The Kid
- PAID
14. 21 Savage – american dream (January 12th)
I had a moment last week where I realized how long both 21 Savage and Lil Uzi Vert have been at the top of the music game.
All the way from “No Heart” to “a lot” & now to songs like “Slidin” and “prove it”. For the amount of great music he’s given us, I would say that he’s a little under-appreciated.
“All familiar faces at the table when we toastin'”
21 has spent years of his music career talking about his previous run-ins with the law, loss of his brothers due to violence & his mother’s struggles after immigrating to the US from England. He talks about how he tries to escape those harmful voices that still try to stray him from the golden path that he himself carved.
From all those challenges, a rose grew from the concrete, and the “savage” rapper we all know grew to a megastar. Dropping a collaborative album with Drake & then going on tour with him and also winning a couple of Grammy Awards. And now on this album he talks about enjoying the fruits of his labor while trying to give advice to the youth that he wishes he had.
On a human level, I’m happy to see 21 fight through all those hardships he had and now he can sit back, spend time with his kids, and enjoy his life to the fullest.
On this album it almost feels like 21 is coming to terms with his pain, and instead of running from it, he’s letting the audience know that in order to truly process it you have to face it head on.
Favorite Songs:
- dark days ft. Mariah the Scientist
- red sky ft. Tommy Newport & Mikky Ekko
- all of me
- redrum
- sneaky
13. Nemzzz – DO NOT DISTURB (March 15th)
Speaking of TikTok success, Nemzzz has seen a crazy surge in this past year with his music. Just to make myself clear, I don’t say that to diminish his talent or ability, it’s a compliment to his marketing and how well he’s been able to take advantage of his opportunity.
I view Nemzzz a bit similar to Central Cee’s come up in the industry with how well he was able to market himself after success on social media. The Manchester-born rapper also went overseas with a collab with German superstar Luciano & also recruited Lil Yachty for the hit “IT’S US”.
The reality is, a Nemzzz track in the background of a football (the real futbol) edit is gold in today’s world. I mean, this guy made a Sade sample on a drill track sound incredible. Honestly, now that I’m thinking about it, you’d have to work hard to make Sade not sound great but the impressive thing is how perfectly both sounds come together.
Both Nemzzz and Cench keep teasing a collab on both of their next projects. If I see Nemzzz on Cench’s album coming out in January (called Can’t Rush Greatness), my car speakers will not be anywhere near ready.
Favorite Songs:
- MONEY AND VIBES
- PTSD
- L’s
- IT’S US ft. Lil Yachty
- DND
12. Future & Metro Boomin – WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU (April 12th)
I mean… it’s Future & Metro Boomin. How could you really go wrong?
“Forever’s not long enough
If it’s endless, what we doin’?”
Sadly, I think with all the Drake vs Metro Boomin/Future & Kendrick beef, the two Future & Metro projects didn’t get the appreciation it should’ve gotten.
It’s been over a decade that these two have been batting over .400 from the plate on every collaboration they have. This wasn’t Future’s first time releasing two projects in a short span of time (he released his self-titled album & HNDRXX on back-to-back weeks).
I think the first of the two projects was a big flex album. Future was talking his talk throughout the whole project with songs like, “Like That” and “Claustrophobic”. However on “WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU”, he brought the slower songs like “Drink N Dance” and “All to Myself”.
He was vulnerable on some of the tracks just like he was on “HNDRXX” with songs like “Damage” and “Use Me”.
“You don’t look down on me, girl, when I’m cryin’
You made me wanna live when I felt like dyin’ (You made me wanna live)”
When you’ve been making hits since the first Obama administration, it’s expected that you’ll deliver on each project you make.
As of right now, that idea is still ringing true. Shout out to both Future & Metro for giving us such great music all of these years.
Favorite Songs:
- Drink N Dance
- All to Myself ft. The Weeknd
- Out Of My Hands
- One Big Family
- We Still Don’t Trust You ft. The Weeknd
11. J. Cole – Might Delete Later (April 5th)
Man… if only he kept “7 Minute Drill” on here. Everyone would’ve been talking about this project way differently.
Despite that, y’all know there is nothing that this man needs to prove to anyone. Just like Future, when you’ve got over a decade on your resumé, you’re expected to deliver. And I haven’t heard a project from Jermaine that didn’t meet the standard that he most likely sets for himself.
“Yeah, said I was finished but I’m on another two summers
Hall of famer, hungrier than all the newcomers”
The talk of “The Fall Off” has only gotten highlighted more and more in Cole’s music as the years go by, and fans are rightly sitting on the edge of their seat waiting for any sliver of a release date or track list.
And with the release of the deluxe version of the classic “2014 Forest Hills Drive”, I think Cole is gearing up for exactly that.
At this point in his career Cole is making sure that no one forgets the level of his pen, no matter how many years he has in the game.
I don’t care what anyone says about J. Cole backing out of the beef, we’re all going to tune in to everything he drops no matter what.
Favorite Songs:
- Trae The Truth in Ibiza
- H.Y.B ft. Bas & Central Cee
- Crocodile Tearz
- 3001
- Sticks N Stonez
10. Chris Brown – 11:11 [Deluxe] (April 11th)
After reaching the top five in last year’s album of the year article, the self-proclaimed “country boy from Tappahannock” returned with the deluxe version of the 2023 “11:11” album.
From the beginning of this album, you know what Chris Brown’s vibe is going to be for the whole project. Not even from the first song in general, but from the first line on “Bruce Lee”.
If you’ve been reading my articles for a while, you know that it is almost impossible for Chris Brown to make a bad project in my eyes. And I think this just proved that theory once again.
A big complaint with Breezy is that his recent albums are way too heavy and filled with a lot of filler tracks. The original release of “11:11” was 22 tracks (compared to the 45 tracks he put on his 2017 release “Heartbreak On A Full Moon”) and the deluxe was only 13 tracks.
I don’t know if he heard the rumblings on social media about that, but I think he chose the length for both the original release and the deluxe perfectly. And there are big-time hits on both projects. “Angel Numbers / Ten Toes” was just certified gold in November and “Residuals” from the deluxe helped him break a three-way tie for third place for the most #1’s on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart.
“Do we build it up, build it up
Just to let it wash away?”
All in all, Chris Brown really doesn’t have to make any of this music. His catalog can still stand alone and help him sell out arenas annually. He also owns all of his masters, so he’s earning every single penny that his music generates. He’s just doing this for the love of the game at this point.
And I thank him for it.
Favorite Songs:
- Residuals
- Bruce Lee
- Run Away ft. Bryson Tiller
- Delusional
- Hmmm ft. Davido
9. SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA (December 20th)
See now why couldn’t this be a whole separate album? I feel like it would’ve been a better marketing angle and her fans could lay off her in the comments talking about “we need a new album”. However, we’re here to talk about the music not the marketing.
In both of my SZA reviews on this website, there has been a couple of common themes that lie within her music. In both of her albums, she discusses how insecurities and fear of loneliness cloud her mind.
For example, on “Normal Girl” she talks about how she just wishes she could be the girl that makes her dad proud & on “Kill Bill” she literally says she’d rather be dead or in jail than be alone.
In what some can view as a leap of faith, SZA addresses these claims with the first lines of “LANA”. Telling herself that she’s ready to face the music and accept that she needs to grow as a person, even if that means leaving some scars.
“No more hiding
I wanna feel sun on my skin
Even if it burns or blinds me
I wanna be purified within”
When you look at SZA’s discography, you’ll see how she’s truly struggled to find herself throughout all this fame and stardom. It’s almost like without noticing, she’s trying to put herself in a box that could be looked at as more “acceptable” to other people.
She talks about this on “Scorsese Baby Daddy” where she again insinuates that she doesn’t know to “be a lady”. Another callback to the same line I referenced earlier on “Normal Girl”.
“One day, I’ll understand all that it takes to be a lady”
And while it may be sad to hear that she’s going through all this stuff about self-image, expectation & fame, it may be what’s bringing her fans closer and closer to her. I’ve always said, the best music is the music you can feel spiritually in your soul. When you’re going through the same type of struggles.
She’s making great music, as always, but I do hope she is actually able to find happiness. Whether it’s through her music or through something else, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Favorite Songs:
- Saturn
- 30 For 30
- Drive
- Diamond Boy (DTM)
- Scorsese Baby Daddy
8. Ayra Starr – The Year I Turned 21 (May 31st)
When Ayra Starr came out with her debut project, “19 & Dangerous” in 2021, she was still relatively new to the industry. At least on a global scale, she might’ve not been known to the general public over in America.
But nowadays, Ayra Starr is a household name. With appearances on big songs like “Santa” with Rauw Alejandro, “Girl Next Door” with Tyla and “Big FU” with Lil Dark and David Guetta, she is officially on the mainstream map.
Now I get to enjoy the fruits of my labor, because this is the part of the yearly article where I can put excerpts from previous articles about the albums I’m listing. So here’s an excerpt from one of my “Songs I’m listening to” articles on Ayra Starr and speficially, the song “1942” ft. Milar.
Ayra Starr naming this album “The Year I Turned 21” made it clear that this was going to be a pretty personal album.
She starts off this song talking about how hard she has worked to get to where she is now and how she wants to keep going despite her already “having it all”.
“Might have it all, but I’ma need some more
Time passes fast, already gone”
She talks about something that many other artists have touched on before, the fear of it all going away. However, she doesn’t want to let these thoughts of negativity and overthinking take over.
“Scared that maybе one day I might lose it all
Can’t let thе negativity to win the brawl”
You can read the rest of that article at this link below.
Favorite Songs:
- Commas
- 21
- Rhythm & Blues
- 1942 ft. Milar
- Last Heartbreak Song ft. GIVĒON
7. Rod Wave – Last Lap (October 11th)
In several songs throughout this career Rod Wave has talked about his “Uncle Dee”, who he says saved him and lead him down this music path.
Uncle Dee was not only a big figure in Rod’s life on a personal level, but he was also his manager. Uncle Dee unfortunately passed away on July 3rd of this year, and Rod talked about how it affected him on the album.
“What’s happening Unc’? I know you looking down smiling at me
I pray that you found some peace and you’re finally happy
But I can’t sleep, dawg, I cry every f****** night
This’ll probably the hardest chapter of my f****** life”
Just like how I said earlier, your favorite music is the music you can personally relate to. Which is why I never understand the Rod Wave slander. Everyone in their life has either lost someone close to them or been through a rough relationship.
Why do you think Rod’s fanbase goes so hard for him? It’s because he makes them feel seen through all of their struggles. There’s actually several lines in “Keep it G” from his last album where fans talk about how much Rod means to them and how he helps them.
“N**** bring every emotion out your body
It, it helps
It helps me get through it”
Whether this is really the “last lap” for him or not, I hope he truly knows how much impact his music has had on this generation. Someone who’s been helping people get through so much, despite going through his own trials and tribulations.
Favorite Songs:
- Last Lap
- 25
- Mike
- IRan
- Passport Junkie
6. Don Toliver – HARDSTONE PYSCHO (June 14th)
After what I felt was an extremely underrated album in, “Love Sick”, Don Toliver went into his rage rap era with “HARDSTONE PYSCHO”. He had been teasing this album for a while after previewing songs like “TORE UP” on the Rolling Loud stage in California.
“Got two girls in the cut
And I don’t know what to do
I fell in love with, mm
Fell in love with you”
I think this album depicts exactly what Don was feeling and also exactly how he marketed it. In every promo video (and the cover) Donny has been riding a chopper with his “Hardstone Crew” and repping some biker pants with a leather jacket. If you want that feeling personified, all you have to do is press play on “TORE UP”.
“It’s hard to tell the truth in a life of sin
I guess I really loved, I guess I really did”
Ever since he came on to the scene with “CAN’T SAY”, it’s been a consistent stream of hits. And not only commercial hits, but just good sounding music in general. When we all first heard his voice, it was so unique and new. And many artists that have gotten recognition recently have had that same sort of impact (4batz, ian & Teezo Touchdown), but they haven’t had the consistency in quality like Donny has.
One of my favorite cuts from this album is, “DEEP IN THE WATER”, where he gives the listener some insight on the journey that he and Kali Uchis went through with her pregnancy and their relationship.
The Cactus Jack label has given us a lot of greatness in the short span of its existence so far. Sheck Wes & SoFaygo may be fading away into artist purgatory (I still love both of them, but I’m just being honest), but we can always count on Don Toliver to give us great music no matter what.
Favorite Songs:
- NEW DROP
- DEEP IN THE WATER
- GLOCK
- ATTITUDE ft. Charlie Wilson & Cash Cobain
- BACKSTREETS ft. Teezo Touchdown
5. Bryson Tiller – Bryson Tiller (April 5th)
We have officially made it to the top five! Now… let’s get down to the *nacho libre voice* nitty grittyyyy.
It’s always a bit more special when you’re able to see an album performed live while you’re in the front row. It’s always going to be way more special when that album is by your favorite artist of all time.
This album was special man. Really special. And the fact that it’s sitting here at number five on my list just goes to show you how great the music was this year.
Here’s what I wrote about the song, “Random Access Memory (RAM)” on my review in May.
When you take a look at the album cover you see kind of a futuristic looking Bryson Tiller, which he alluded to in some of his album promo videos.
RAM in a computer is the short-term memory where the data is stored in order for a computer to run programs and open files. Even the opening line of “storage full, reminds me I took too many pictures with you” are an exact representation of the song title.
He’s dealing with his breakup, but putting it in terms with a computer. His second verse is honestly some of the best wordplay and rapping he’s ever done. I’ll break it down line by line.
“Don’t know myself, can’t function with this malware” = doesn’t know who he is after a breakup and the malware (bad virus in a computer) is the heartbreak that he is experiencing
“I’m at functions by myself, my friends just left out of here” = He’s talking about being at parties by himself in sorrow, but also functions within a computer
“Said, “Call if you need help,” think I need Captcha. ‘Causе I can’t tell the differеnce between me and these computers.” = Captcha, is the program used to determine whether a user is a robot or a human being when making a transaction or logging into an account. The link to him is that he feels like he’s working so much that he feels like a robot in his own life.
“Spent all of my cache here, I’m out of my mind. Spent all of my time drinkin’ tonight” = The “cache” & “cash” double entendre. Cache is basically something that temporarily stores data in a computer system.
“Hopin’ that you might come out and find me. I need access, remind me” = He’s calling out to his ex that he wants them to come out and find him, but then he goes back to the title of the track (Random Access Memory) saying that he wants to be with them right now and he needs a reminder of how their love once felt.
Favorite Songs:
- Random Access Memory (RAM) ft. Clara La San
- Find My Way
- Attention
- Ciao!
- CALYPSO
4. Future & Metro Boomin – WE DON’T TRUST YOU (March 22nd)
This album singlehandedly changed the course of music. Now before you think I’m overreacting, let me explain why.
Future & Metro Boomin started to tease this project on March 8th when Metro posted the album trailer on his Instagram. Little did we all know, 14 days later, a certain rapper from Compton would hop on one of the songs and change the trajectory of not only the year in music, but history in general.
Kendrick hops on “Like That”, talking about how he felt disrespected listening to Drake & J. Cole’s “First Person Shooter”, where Cole implied that the two of them (along with Kendrick) were atop raps big three. Kendricks immediate response was to hit back with aggression and he did so on an album with two other artists who, unbeknownst to us until that moment, were all in the middle of their own beefs with Drake.
“F*** sneak dissin’, first-person shooter, I hope they came with three switches”
That single line, along with the “‘fore all your dogs getting buried” line at the end of his verse, led to the whole diss-track exchange between the two megastars. Now obviously, this was an incredible moment to be apart of as a listener and lover of rap music in general. But, you’re still probably wondering why it “changed the course of music” forever.
Months after the last diss track had been released, it was announced that Drake was suing both Spotify and Universal Music Group (who Drake has ties with, licensing his music through Republic Records, which is a division of UMG). The lawsuit alleges that both UMG and Spotify falsified the popularity of Kendrick’s well-known diss track “Not Like Us”.
This is so big in history, due to the fact that Drake (the music industry’s golden child), is turning his back on the label and going after the biggest figure in the whole industry in Lucien Grange. A wild saga that all started because of a verse from the fourth track on this album.
Regardless of the beef, this album was incredible. Metro Boomin, winner of the YSN album of the year in 2022 with “Heroes & Villains”, and Future together can never go wrong on any music they work on together.
Now, the marketing and album rollout wasn’t as cool as “Heroes & Villains” was, but that honestly wasn’t even need. I mean, that six song run at the beginning of this project is a GENERATIONAL run.
All hits, no misses. Those four words can perfectly describe these two and the catalog they’ve built together.
Favorite Songs:
- Type Shit ft. Travis Scott & Playboi Carti
- Ice Attack
- Young Metro ft. The Weeknd
- Claustrophobic
- Like That ft. Kendrick Lamar
3. Gunna – One of Wun (May 10th)
This, for me, is Gunna’s best ever body of work. For the second year in a row he put out an incredible album despite all the hate he was getting in his comments and mentions on social media. Regardless of all of that, the core Gunna fans have stuck by his side and it shows at his sold out dates (pun intended).
And it’s for a good reason too, because the music just keeps getting better and better. And his range was shown on this album like no other.
Here is what I wrote on my review published in June about my favorite song on the album, “time reveals, be careful what you wish for”.
The line directly after that is something I want to connect to my favorite song on the album, “time reveals, be careful what you wish for“.
“Don’t mind giving advice, but I can’t sell a dream”
He’s telling the listener that there’s no way that you’re going to reach this level of fame and fortune without any trouble.
He has been through the hardest of hardships, and has managed to come out on top. However, he wasn’t able to fight through those battles unscathed, and on this song he addresses it all.
As the song goes on, he starts talking about how problems can stack up the more successful you get.
Gunna is still feeling the repercussions of what happened to him and how he almost watched the life he worked so hard for slip away. He’s telling the listener to “be careful what you wish for”, because he knows what that comes with and how he himself is struggling to deal with the “rich problems”.
Which all brings it back to his album last year, “a Gift & a Curse”. He is still navigating through life with both the gift (a talented artist) and the curse (fame & fortune).
And that is why this song means so much to not only the album, but to Gunna himself and what has happened over the past two years. He encapsulates the last year and a half for Gunna the person, not the artist.
Favorite Songs:
- time reveals, be careful what you wish for
- on one tonight
- one of wun
- collage
- back in the a
2. Kendrick Lamar – GNX (November 22nd)
It was close. And when I say close, I mean really close. Maybe I didn’t have enough time to digest this as I did with my number one album, but either way we are at the point in this list where every album is a 9/10 or higher.
Here’s an excerpt of my review that I posted earlier this month.
I think what Kendrick has always cared about, from the moment Snoop Dogg hailed him as the new King of the West Coast, is his legacy. On “man at the garden” he talks about wanting his respect and that “he deserves it all“, because he knows the work it took to get to this point.
In Mr. Morale, Kendrick discussed what he dealt with in his life all the way from childhood to when he became this big artist. Mental and physical abuse in his upbringing, temptations of adultery & prideful sins were all themes that were present in the introspective album we all know as, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”.
Now we look at GNX. GNX, named after the Buick Grand National eXperimental, is an album that represents what Kendrick has been able to accomplish & what his character represents.
“Top used to record me back when it was poor me
And now we at the round table for what assures me”
On “Not Like Us”, Kendrick made it known that it is something special to represent not only LA, but the West Coast as a whole.
He then doubled-down by making several LA anthems on this album and reiterating his stance on who’s in front at the race to the top in the music industry.
“Tell ’em Kendrick did it, ayy, who showed you how to run a blitz?
Tell ’em Kendrick did it, who put the West back in front of shit?”
And I think that’s what makes this album so special. To start on attack mode with a song like, “wacced out murals” and then to end on song like “gloria” goes to show you both sides of Kendrick’s artistry and personality.
Favorite Songs:
- luther ft. SZA
- heart pt. 6
- squabble up
- reincarnated
- gloria ft. SZA
MY 2024 ALBUM OF THE YEAR
1. PARTYNEXTDOOR – P4 (April 26th)
My mom reads these articles. You’re out your damn mind if you think I’m going to be putting the original album cover on here.
The fourth installment of his self-titled series came with high expectations and delivered greatly. After a four year-hiatus, the unsung hero of the OVO hit factory had his fans (including myself) waiting on any new music.
And the thing with this album was that it aged like fine wine. The replay value stayed throughout the year, the best songs were all over social media & it kept its place amongst the best as a lot of music’s elite also dropped their album.
By now, y’all know the drill, if I wrote a review on it (which is already in-depth in itself) then I deserve to just copy and paste on to my album of the year article.
Here is what I wrote about the true toxicity of Party’s music that is showcased in this album.
The topic of toxicity within the music industry is spoken about a whole lot. And the artists who display it best are Future, Drake, Brent Faiyaz and Party. And Party took it to a whole other level on this album.
First, it starts with the skit that ends the track “F o r C e r t a i n”. Party is out with presumably his girl and she asks him what he’s about to do after she said she’s going home. He then proceeds to tell her that he wants to “hit a few more spots”. In what I’m assuming is a stunned response, she replies with “Okay, I guess I’ll see you when you get home“.
And now it’s time to highlight the song that I really want to talk about. And that is “S o r r y, B u t I’ m O u t s i d e“.
As we transition right into, “S o r r y, B u t I’ m O u t s i d e” Party INSTANTLY acknowledges and apologizes for his decision to continue the night out without his girl.
“I shouldn’t even be outside
I got somebody inside waitin’ on me”
And that’s not the only part in this song that stands out to me. As a matter of fact, it’s the two lines that follow the previous ones that I just quoted.
“And I’m playin’ with their emotions, motions (Motions)
Sorry, but I’m outside tonight”
With Party’s music, compared to the others mentioned previously, the toxicity takes on a different tone. It almost seems as if he knows what he’s doing is wrong, but he won’t even consider listening to that voice in his head. Instead, he just continues to do what he wants anyway. Not caring or even thinking about any possible consequences.
Which leads to the conversation had at the end of the song between Party and his girl. She proceeds to tell him that he’s wasting her time and that he’s not taking her seriously. She then goes on to say that they both aren’t getting any younger and they need to get real quick.
Now you might be thinking, “maybe he’ll actually change his mind after hearing that and try to change his ways.” And while that might be the way it should go in real life, this is Party we are talking about. And this man is on toxic timing 24/7.
Throughout this whole period of his girl questioning him, his responses are full of “what are you talking about?” and “what are you tryna say?”
And the nail in the coffin is the ULTIMATE toxic line. Like when I heard this I started to laugh because of how audacious it was.
“Are you, are you talking to someone else?”
This man constantly acknowledged his wrongdoings throughout the song and then when she actually called him out on it, he acted like he didn’t know what she was saying and then immediately accused her of cheating. Absolutely hilarious.
Favorite Songs:
- M a k e I t T o T h e M o r n i n g
- N o C h i l l
- S o r r y B u t I’ m O u t s i d e
- R e a l W o m a n
- C h e e r s
And there we have it. My 2024 album of the year rankings have now come to a close. This is my sixth year in a row doing these album rankings and it’s genuinely one of my favorite things to do every year. I hate the cold, but every time it starts to get cold I know that we’re just getting that much closer to my favorite article of the year.
Personally it has been a great year for me. I was able to travel with my brother and two of my best friends in Greece and I was able to go see Liverpool play at Anfield, which was at the top of my bucket list.
2025 is going to be another great year. Not only for me, but for music as well. The Weeknd, Roddy Ricch and Central Cee have all confirmed album releases for early 2025. And along with those three, J. Cole & Lil Baby are also expected to drop.
Thank you to all the people that have inspired me to keep going. Thank you to all the people that have been consistently reading my articles and sending me messages. I just hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I hope you accomplished your goals that you had for 2024. And if you didn’t, that’s why we have the beauty of tomorrow. Let’s get after it and keep getting better.
May 2025 bring nothing but blessings towards you and your loved ones. Keep your energy, happiness & money protected.
In the words of a legend from Marcy Projects.
What More Can I Say?
Thank you for tuning in. For the last time in 2024, this is YSN, signing out.
