As 2021 comes to a close, there has been a plethora of high-quality Hip-Hop and R&B records to recognize and cherish for years to come. Whether it was the resurgence of hyper lyrical, boom-bap Tyler, The Creator, or the tantalizing anticipation and eventual delivery of An Evening With Silk Sonic, two of music’s biggest genres came through swinging with cerebral aggression on all fronts. Before embracing the next frontier of musical output that will accompany 2022, it’s only appropriate that we take a moment to acknowledge the best and brightest to stem from this year’s palette of Hip-Hop and R&B. Here we go!
The Off-Season – J.Cole
Originating from an insatiable desire to avoid the sense of complacency that many artists experience after a considerable amount of time in the industry, Jermaine Cole seeks to remind the world of why he’s not only one of the greatest of his generation but arguably, of all time. Thinly veiled under a collection of only 12 tracks, Cole hosts his own master class on sublime lyrical delivery and adept wordplay. From the very start of the record to its finale, the North Carolina native demonstrates that he’s reached a level of mastery at his craft that warrants nothing but respect and admiration. After being known for years as the artist that “GoEs pLatiNum WiTh nO feAtUrEs,” he decides to break his solo run by finally embracing collaboration on this record.
Teaming up with a carefully prescribed selection of his contemporaries which include NC rap-croon newcomer Morray and “A-Lot” collaborator 21 Savage, Cole defies the false impression that he’s averse to teamwork on his albums. Without hesitation, The Off-Season can easily contend with being his magnum opus. Although many would say his resume dictates “legendary” stature, this record solidifies Cole’s legacy beyond any inkling of doubt.
Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler, The Creator
Ostensibly veering away from the sound and ambiance of his critically acclaimed, Grammy-award winning record IGOR, Tyler subverts expectations proving once again that his versatility cannot be placed in a box. Backed by iconic 00s Hip-Hop DJ Drama across the board, Tyler not only pays homage to the alchemy of the “Gangsta Grillz” mixtape era but he returns to form as the super lyrical version of his earlier prowess. In lieu of the wacky, foolhardy iteration we’ve grown to love over the years, L.A.’s favorite wild card returns with a newfound sense of maturity and a fresh dose of vigor.
From the soul-infused sampling of H-Town’s “Back Seat (With No Sheets)” coupled with Ty Dolla’s $ign’s raspy vocals on “WUSYANAME” to the moonless, grungy feel of “LUMBERJACK,” he plays with an eclectic mix of R&B and Hip-Hop influences and sounds. In terms of energy, Tyler is evidently focused and overjoyed with life and his current tier of success. With this being said, he fully endorses the fact that he cannot afford to be too comfortable. Given the undeniable quality of this body of work, Tyler was resolute about making a big splash on this year’s canon of music. With a record worthy of Top Five of 2021 contention, he achieves his goal.
LP! – JPEGMAFIA
Whether you call it experimental rap, glitch-hop, or digi-pop, one thing is for certain: nobody is making music like JPEGMAFIA. LP! is just as charged and confrontational as any Peggy project, balancing his erudite sense of humor with a myriad of influences. Peggy’s contempt for those who’ve crossed him has always played a prominent role in his art, though his sharp-toothed aggression spews more venom this time around. On “REBOUND!,” his thundering voice screams “Why would I pray for your health? / Baby, I pray for myself,” adding fuel to the glitchy fire. As a producer, JPEGMAFIA is one of the most profound samplers of this generation. One moment he’s sampling an Arn Anderson wrestling monologue and the next he’s interpolating Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time.”
Interestingly enough, Peggy actually released two different versions of this album. The “Online” version appears for the masses on streaming services, while the “Offline” version appears on Youtube and Bandcamp. For the diehard fans, the “Offline” version features several uncleared samples and extended variations of songs. Preference aside, LP! continues to show why JPEGMAFIA is one of the most interesting artists in music right now. His unmistakable combination of rapping, singing, producing, mixing, and mastering his own work is second to none. Peggy just continues to get stronger, leaving us eagerly waiting in the wings for what’s to come.
An Evening With Silk Sonic – Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak
Upon taking into consideration all the records that have been dubbed “highly anticipated,” there is arguably not another body of work this year that fits the bill more than An Evening With Silk Sonic. Since releasing their starry, seductive cut “Leave The Door Open” back in March, all eyes have been on Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. If the awe and astonishment from them merely coming together to form Silk Sonic wasn’t enough, the concept of them creating a project together truly took the music world by storm. After months of relative silence aside from occasional performances and sparse single releases, the duo finally released their debut album and it surely doesn’t disappoint.
In a matter of only nine masterfully crafted tracks, Silk Sonic delivers a modern-day collection of 70s psychedelic funk and soul. In this effort, they reinvigorate the mainstream appeal of these two genres almost instantaneously, giving them a fresh wind and new life. Fluctuating between lovey-dovey bops and up-tempo jams, the record is electric and effervescent from start to finish. As a duo, Mars and .Paak complement each other effortlessly and very seldom does it feel forced. Biting off just as much as they could chew, An Evening With Silk Sonic has great potential to be one of the best duo R&B records of not only this year but arguably, of all time.
Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan
Is there an album more universally loved than Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales? As her first full-length project since 2015’s Reality Show, Heaux Tales serves as a sort-of re-introduction for the Philadelphia singer-songwriter. The project is both expansive and inclusive, contending on everything to be lost and gained through sex and love. Heaux Tales features eight songs held together by spoken-word interludes from different women. The work is remarkably cohesive, contrasting desire with the messy reality of navigating love in 2021. The production is strikingly minimalist, utilizing simple yet timeless soundscapes in order to allow the messaging of agency to shine through. Not to be understated are Sullivan’s powerful vocals that, whether in the background or leading the charge, are alluring in their conversational ease. We’ve seen this project land atop several major rankings for 2021’s album of the year, and rightfully so.
Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies – Snoh Aalegra
With a proven reputation for cultivating sultry, arresting ballads analogous to R&B legends like Sade and Amy Winehouse, Aalegra expands her range and repertoire further with the advent of this record. Upon light observation of certain pockets in Temporary Highs, she deliberately dumbs down on her soul-based idiosyncrasies to tap into new, uncharted territory. Under the helm of first-class producers such as The Neptunes, No I.D, Tyler, The Creator, Sevn, Snoh assumes an exodus from the mellow and understood nature of her previous catalog to the self-assured and assertive aura that accompanies her evolution. We see her growth manifest on tracks like “NEON PEACH” with Tyler, The Creator, “JUST LIKE THAT,” and “IN YOUR EYES” as she croons over more of an uncommon palette.
On the other hand, she doesn’t completely abandon her more familiar vocal stylings. This trend still exists on tracks like “WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT,” “EVERYTHING” and “TANGERINE DREAM.” On this record, Aalegra doubles down on herself and her talent, taking a major leap of faith in the process. Given the level of versatility, she not only shoots for but executes on, Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies has wielded more than enough quality to bolster Aalegra’s allure and take it to the next level.
The House Is Burning – Isaiah Rashad
Arriving five years after his breakthrough album The Sun’s Tirade, Isaiah Rashad returns with newfound poise on The House Is Burning. The project pays homage to Southern hip-hop, particularly on tracks like “RIP Young” and “Lay Wit Ya” with Memphis’ Duke Deuce. However, the heart of the project can be found in the tracks that embrace R&B. Particularly, the Kenny Beats-produced track “Score” with 6lack and fellow TDE artist SZA as they describe what they look for in a ride or die and the lengths they would travel for that person.
However, these lighter moments are not without harrowing darkness. On the title track, Rashad gives an update on his personal wellness, allowing the listener to realize exactly why the house is burning. Isaiah has openly discussed his prior addictions to alcohol and Xanax, something he admits contributed to his decision to live outside the public lens. At its core, THIB feels as though we’re getting an inside look at the jumbled yet vibrant brain of a genius. Isaiah Rashad clearly takes his time when crafting the perfect project, and we couldn’t be more satisfied with the final result.
Still Over It – Summer Walker
In the two years that have elapsed since the release of her well-received debut record Over It, the Atlanta-bred songstress has experienced quite a bit in her personal life: a botched record deal, the birth of her child, and the publicized split between her and prominent rap producer London On da Track. This body of work was not only for the purposes of creating music, this album is a healing session and serves as her cathartic canvas. On it, she illustrates the imprint of cynicism she has with love and grieves over her recent spells of romantic discontent.
However, on the same token, there is an ever-present motif of hope and optimism sprinkled across the record, proving that the pain is temporary and that “this too shall pass.” Some of its highlights include “No Love” with SZA, “Unloyal” with Ari Lennox, “Constant Bulls**t,” “Ex For A Reason,” and more. Still Over It can be likened to a modern-day version of Mary J. Blige’s 1994 classic My Life. Considering the vast collection of R&B records that came out this year, this is one by far executed on its anticipation.
Keep Doing What You’re Doing, Don’t Worry – For Peets Sake
We reviewed this project back in September, and it’s only grown on us in the months since. Keep Doing What You’re Doing, Don’t Worry is an ode to Peets’ late father. Peets, now a father himself, reflects on the wise words of his dad and how they’ve influenced his life. On tracks like “Your Grandfather Was,” Peets relays this guidance to his newborn child. Peets packs a lifetime of lessons into the brief twenty-minute LP. Every bar holds weight, each verse heavy with introspection and praise for his best friend.
Producer Sum Total provides the perfect score, creating a beautiful hip-hop soundscape that lets Peets run wild. KDWYD is a love letter that doubles as a guidebook, with Peets’ dad setting the perfect example for the father he wishes to be. It’s rare you come across an album filled with such raw love and emotion. KDWYD is an album we can all learn from. How to Love. How to Grieve. How to Grow. How to Live.
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – Little Simz
“Simz the artist or Simbi the person?” asks Little Simz on the masterful opening track of her fourth album. Throughout the project, the UK rapper born Simbiatu Ajikawo grapples with a growing rift between her public persona and private self. Simz questions the constant pursuit of everyday validation as she tries to work out who Little Simz is and where she stands. The instrumentation throughout the album is glorious, with cascading drums and swathes of strings and horns nestled perfectly with Simz’s potent lyrics. Her words are more conversation than sermon, often making some of her more stardom-centric issues seem eerily relatable. It’s understandable why she’s garnered acclaim from artists like Kendrick Lamar and Lauryn Hill. SIMBI is a luxurious, confrontational, and deeply moving body of work. What Simz pulled off on this record narratively, instrumentally, and conceptually is truly a feat that cannot be overstated.
Two Point Five – Aminé
Known for his humor-infused quirks and quick-witted lyrics, idiosyncratic Portland native Aminé adds yet another fun-filled project to his colorful discography. Only a year after dropping his second studio album Limbo, the 27-year-old gregarious rap star doubles down with the release of this mixtape. Over 12 easy-going tracks, Aminé embodies the adage of not taking oneself too seriously on this record. From start to finish, every track encapsulates what Aminé has stood for since the onset of his career: playful, poignant, lyrically gifted, and hilarious af. Some highlights on this record include “OKWME,” “Dididumduhduh,” and “Van Gogh.” Although this record is technically not an album per se, it deserves to be on this list because of how effortless he makes being a remarkably clever and funny rhymer look.
Studying Abroad: Extended Stay – Masego
Ever since the release of his critically acclaimed debut project: “Lady Lady,” Micah Davis, more famously known as Masego, has transitioned from being an underground sensation to a salient force in contemporary R&B seemingly overnight. While he’s blazed a sublime track record from the features he’s held with other artists, it’s been quite some time since we’ve heard him on a solo project. With the first iteration of his second project Studying Abroad, Masego showcases his unbound versatility as an artist with a six-track mosaic of smooth, shapeshifting, quintessential R&B tracks. On Studying Abroad: An Extended Stay, he adds a few more tracks such as the soul-caressing “Bliss Abroad” with Shelea and the TrapHouseJazz rendition of his massive hit “Mystery Lady,” which dropped in late 2020. Taking into account the addition of five more tracks, Masego truly doesn’t miss on this record.
Pray for Haiti – Mach-Hommy
Is there any artist who had a more productive year than Mach-Hommy? We easily could’ve filled this list with three other Mach-Hommy projects from this year (Balens Cho [Hot Candles], DUCK CZN: Chinese Algebra, Bulletproof Luh), but none was stronger than Pray for Haiti. Hommy’s bars are razor-sharp, putting on a hip-hop clinic with Westside Gunn. His verses seemingly traverse time, one moment rapping from a perspective of adolescence and the next from the eyes of ancestors dating back generations. Pray for Haiti is, bluntly, a love letter to Haiti, as Hommy interpolates Haitian Creole dialect throughout the 16 song project. His dictation and slang shifts based on the mood or beat of the topic at hand, whether it be ritualistic healing practices, thousand-dollar brunches, or coveting Gore-Tex. Pray for Haiti is both ambitious and definitive, a delicate collage cementing Mach-Hommy as one of the best MC’s out right now.
Chomp 2 – Russ
With as much unsolicited vitriol and pure hate as he’s been faced with over his career, one would think Russ would just give up and turn in the towel. As the self-proclaimed “wolf” of the Hip-Hop industry, his talent and unrelenting drive simply won’t allow him to succumb to the banter of lame naysayers. And for that, avid fans of sheer bars and wavy, soul-clinching instrumentation should be grateful. Coming off the high praise and acclaim that stemmed from the release of Chomp, Chomp 2 picks up right where it left off except with more verve and polish.
Swelling with his signature brand of braggadocio, Russ paints a portrait of luxury and decadence. Teaming up with an ensemble of some of Hip-Hop greatest “bar-for-bar” specialists, Russ plays for keeps illuminating that he can hold his own in a room of well-established heavy hitters. Distancing from being the sole orchestrator of his sonic production, he teams up with a range of his contemporaries (Boi-1da, 9th Wonder, Hit-Boy) to deliver an eclectic, tasteful assortment of tracks. Despite being a late entry, Russ’s glare shines brighter than ever before. An argument can easily be made that Chomp 2 deserves a spot in the top five contention for best Hip-Hop albums of the year.
Donda – Kanye West
The tenth solo album from Ye had a stranglehold on the culture for nearly two months. It seemed as though you couldn’t so much as open Instagram or Twitter without being bombarded with rumors of a new listening party or added features. When Donda finally saw the light of day, we received an opus that felt long, messy, and littered with excess. In all honesty, Donda is an album that could’ve been a masterpiece under the careful guidance of Rick Rubin, but something about its chaotic nature makes it ever-so-fitting for 2021.
At its core, Donda is an album of moments. Whether it be the buildup on “Heaven and Hell,” the piano on “Come to Life,” or the transcendent Don Toliver chorus on “Moon,” certain musical moments on Donda are some of the best in Ye’s esteemed career. Standout performances from Fivio Foreign (“Off the Grid”) and Andre 3000 (“Life of the Party”) are easy candidates for Verse of the Year, showing once again how Ye is always able to bring the best out of his guests. Donda gives us all of Ye’s skills on full display, from rapping (“Off the Grid”), to sample flipping (“Believe What I Say”), to crafting melody (“Up From the Ashes”). With all its imperfections, there’s something perfect about Ye’s ode to his mother.
We hope you enjoyed our favorite projects of 2021. As usual, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! Lastly, How “Griselda” is Keeping the Spirit of Street Rap Alive In 2021.
