As 2023 has come to a close, it’s nice to look back and reflect on the year. This has been a major year when it comes to politics, sports, and the economy, but many have seemed to overlook the major shift music has taken in the past few years, with the rise of short form content platforms making it easier for new artists and songs to be found by listeners. This has allowed for the rapid growth of many artists, such as Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, and Steve Lacy. All of these artists had a following before apps like TikTok, but due to the app and other similarly short-form video platforms, they were able to expand their music platforms to millions of new listeners. This alone has opened me up to more new albums than ever before, and I will be going over my five favorite albums of the year.
Travis Scott – UTOPIA
5 years after his record breaking album ASTROWORLD, rapper Travis Scott has had a heavy chip on his shoulder. Many critics and fans questioned if he would ever be able to have the same commercial success after the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy, in which fans died in the mob in front of the stage. The event tarnished his reputation and made the wait for his next highly sought after album even longer. Despite the odds stacked against him, Travis Scott released an incredible LP and shattered all expectations. In a year where rap/hip-hop has taken a dip in quality and success, UTOPIA manages to stand out in not only commercial success and numbers but also quality and uniqueness. While many expected a sound similar to ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott was able to provide a more experimental and industrial sound palette. Heavily influenced by Kanye West’s Yeezus and the psychedelic rock genre, Travis Scott takes you through a dark and gritty world in UTOPIA. From meaningful rap verses on songs like “My Eyes” to incredible production on “FE!N”, UTOPIA was filled with surprises and amazing music.
Favorite Songs: “MODERN JAM”, “MY EYES”, “GODS COUNTRY”, “SIRENS”, “DELRESTO (ECHOES)”.
Rating: 8/10
Sampha – Lahai
Another album that had a long wait was Sampha’s sophomore album Lahai. Sampha has been a staple voice in music over the past decade, having features and collaborations with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and Beyonce. Despite this, he hasn’t released an album since his 2017 project Process. After listening to this album, I think that it was well worth the six-year wait. The album is incredibly well written, and listening to it, I could feel what he was feeling throughout each and every song. On standout tracks like “Suspended” and “Only”, his voice takes you on a ride throughout the track and it stands out as an instrument within the stripped back production. Lahai was an amazing experience, simply put.
Favorite Songs: “Only”, “Suspended”, “Jonathan L. Seagull”
Rating 8.5/10
PinkPantheress – Heaven Knows
PinkPantheress has been one of the faces of the new generation of pop stars and so far into her young career. She had her first billboard number one hit “Boy’s a Liar” with fellow rising artist Ice Spice at the beginning of the year, and released multiple singles leading up to her debut album, Heaven Knows. Despite an oversaturated scene of pop stars, PinkPantheress finds her own sound mixing pop, r&b, and drum and bass to create a listening experience you can’t find with any other artist. Many critique her songwriting, calling it generic, but PinkPantheress’s vocal tone and delivery overshadow her writing flaws. Heaven Knows is overall a fun album to listen to and tracks like “Capable of Love” bring an emotional edge to the album to create a dynamic album.
Favorite Songs: “Capable of Love”, “Mosquito”, “True Romance”
Rating: 8/10
Ken Carson – A Great Chaos
Record label Opium has been a rising presence in the modern rap scene, and Ken Carson has proved to be one of the biggest rising stars from the label. Creating a 2000’s horror aesthetic with his content and music videos for this album, Ken Carson creates an almost unreal listening experience. The production which is the soul of this album is filled with rage synths, harsh distorted 808’s, and a bass boosted mix. A Great Chaos is a mindless listen, songs like “Fighting My Demons” and “Me N My Kup” are already guaranteed to be concert hits. Ken Carson has stepped up as one of the leaders of the new generation of rappers.
Favorite Songs: “Me N My Kup”, “Vampire Hour”, “Green Room”, “Jennifer’s Body”
Rating: 8/10
Tyler, The Creator – CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST: The Estate Sale
Yes, while this is technically a deluxe edition and not a completely new album, the extra 8 songs added have almost warranted its own project as Tyler, The Creator draws you into another amazing world as he expands upon his Grammy-winning album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST. The luscious instrumentals, amazing lyricism, and top tier rapping on songs like “WHARF TALK” and “STUNTMAN” show Tyler’s great chemistry with his featured artists. Tyler raps over crazy production, while allowing room for more introspective tracks like “SORRY NOT SORRY” that creates a healthy balance on this deluxe edition.
Favorite Songs: “SORRY NOT SORRY”, “WHARF TALK”, “DOGTOOTH”
Rating: 9/10
While the music industry has shifted a lot this year, we as consumers still received many great pieces of music and art. Even though the industry is more saturated than ever, new technology and innovations have allowed us to get some of the best music ever, with many legendary artists rumored to be making a return to music such as Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Kanye West, and Playboi Carti. Even rumors of highly anticipated releases from Frank Ocean and Rihanna have emerged, making 2024 look to be one of the greatest years for music of all time.