No rankings. Just 50 projects that tell the story of music in 2021’s first 6 months

By Ben Leshan

SoulFly- Rod Wave

This album is top tier. It is soulful and painful, and doesn’t have one skip. Rod Wave is one of the best artists in modern popular music, and he is not appreciated nearly enough for that. He came with many hits that were not written to be hits, but written to be beautiful expressions of emotion, and that is special. “Street Runner”, “Tombstone”, “SoulFly”, “Gone Till November” and more add to a huge string of hits in his catalog. At just 21, Rod Wave came with his third excellent project of his career, all of which have been released in an 18 month span. If you like SoulFly check out our spotlight on the album here.

Justice- Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber will eternally be hated on, but this album is full of hits. “Peaches” has seen monster commercial success, and songs like “Anyone”, “Lonely” and “Ghost” sound undeniably good. Many of the album’s strongest points come from its features and songwriting, which isn’t quite a credit to Bieber, but does show that he did his best to craft a great-sounding project. Adding Martin Luther King Jr. speeches though, and calling the album Justice without addressing social justice, well that was racially insensitive, distasteful, and horribly out of touch. In terms of the music Bieber created a fun-sounding album, but there isn’t the cohesion or thematic maturity that fans were hoping for.

The Plugs I Met 2- Benny The Butcher, Harry Fraud

Benny The Butcher is easily one of the best pure rappers in the game, but he also has been making consistent under-the-radar hits. The 36-year-old from Buffalo comes with all the bravado of Pusha T type drug dealer rap, but he does it with a booming and full voice. Fraud comes through with his unique New York brand of production, playing with boom bap drums over catchy and intricate melodies. “Thanksgiving” deserves to be a massive hit, and there is not one song that is a lyrical miss. Hardcore hip hop fans know Benny well, but this project show how he deserves for the rest of the world to tune in.

Chemtrails Over the Country Club- Lana Del Rey

Lana always goes back to similar themes of Americana and dark love stories, but she does it well. Her vocal tone is iconic, and often used beautifully on the project. The title track is the biggest hit, featuring soft keys and her classic haunting lyrics. The album feels like a soundtrack to the dark side of small town America. It is folky, wandering, and intimate. Lana always gets lost in the moments, focusing on vivid imagery through softness, and she accomplishes that well here. It isn’t her best project, but it is definitely a valuable piece of art.

Judas and the Black Messiah Soundtrack- Various artists

This film soundtrack features an impressive cast of characters from legends like Nas and Jay-Z, new stars like Polo G and Pooh Shiesty, and the late great Nipsey Hussle. It is cohesive, both in sound and lyrical content, focusing on race and racism, oppression, and social justice in an attempt to represent the legacy of the film’s subject, civil rights icon Fred Hampton. This project is valuable for its content alone, but the songs have a lot of replay value for their sonic merit as well. From “What it Feels Like” with Nipsey and Jay to “Rich N**** Problems” by A$AP Rocky to “Contagious” by SAFE and Kiana Ledé and everywhere in between, this album gets it right much more than it gets it wrong.

Brent ii- Chelsea Cutler and Jeremy Zucker

These two artists compliment each other beautifully, creating an emotionally intimate EP with no skips to speak of. They explore themes of love and loss, of growing up, and learning to love yourself with a quiet confidence. Each uses their tone perfectly to create soft and pretty pop songs perfect for rainy days and nostalgic drives. The mood, vibe, and imagery flow from track to track, providing an excellent listening experience. Cutler and Zucker definitely proved to be on top of their game on this one.

TYRON- Slowthai

British rappers never get enough respect worldwide, but Slowthai is becoming a big name globally, and one of the biggest in his country. Lyrically, there is no doubt that he has the it-factor, and his manipulation of his vocal tone and intensity is masterful. He has room to grow as a chorus writer, but his energy and verses are all there. The best songs on the project include “MAZZA” with A$AP Rocky and “terms” with Denzel Curry and Dominic Fike (Dom’s earworm chorus is one of the highlights of the whole record). Overall, Slowthai definitely proved he is a top tier MC and constantly growing as an overall artist with this release.

Spaceman- Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas keeps this project in a surface level pop space, but this album has many undeniably good elements. The songwriting isn’t deep, but it fits his voice, and is the perfect mix of emotional enough to matter but dancy enough to not always have to listen to in order to enjoy. Jonas uses his iconic falsetto extremely well throughout the project, and he creates a lot of fun moments. “2drunk”, “Spaceman”, “This is Heaven”, and “Nervous” are definitely worth a bump in the car.

Once Upon A Time- CHIKA

Chika, a 2020 XXL Freshman and bonified rising star, embraces her unique identity on Once Upon A Time. She flexes her lyricism and fast flows, as well as her clean singing voice. There is definitely room for her to create a more full and emotional project, but she is well on the road to doing so. She explores love, Black and female representation, and her come up with a lot of confidence and vulnerability, and her voice sounds great doing it. CHIKA is definitely an artist to watch in hip hop, and she has all the skill to be a star.

El Dorado- 24kGoldn

24kGoldn, a 20 year old California artist who left USC after making waves with hit records, created a massive hit last year with “Mood” featuring Iann Dior. The song went viral on tiktok, but it wasn’t just a trend, it truly is a good record. El Dorado does not quite live up to its lead single, but it shows a lot of skill. 24kGoldn has also done a lot of songwriting, and he shows that he is capable of creating hit choruses and verses, and using his voice quite well. He falls a bit too much into recycling cliche hip hop themes instead of leaning into his own identity, but the project shows a lot of potential, and is well worth a listen.

The Internet Killed The Rockstar- MOD SUN

MOD SUN has been in the rock game for a long time, but at 34 he is finally breaking out in the mainstream. After working with Machine Gun Kelly on his highly successful 2020 album Tickets To My Downfall, MOD SUN has put out a great record for himself. It doesn’t quite carry MGK’s commercial appeal, but MOD SUN has a unique and powerful voice, and a great ear for a catchy song. He proves he is a rockstar in the age of the internet creating great records like “Betterman”, “Karma”, and “Flames” with his girlfriend Avril Lavigne.

Amusing Her Feelings- dvsn

OVO rnb duo dvsn have been making waves in their genre for years, and this is another great effort. Singer Daniel Daley uses his rich tone with skill, and Nineteen85 shows out with spacey production. The list of features is impressive, with Future, Snoh Aalegra, Miguel, Summer Walker, Ty Dolla $ign and Popcaan all making appearances. “No Cryin” features an excellent effort from Future, and “He Said” with Miguel is a great musical performance. This is definitely one of the best rnb records we got in the first half of 2021.

Lyrics To Go Vol. 2- Kota The Friend

This project is short, and purely lyrical, but for what it is, it is excellent. Kota, a 28-year-old Brooklyn rapper, is not one for frills or being an entertainer. He is an MC at his core, and he always stays true to himself. The project features ten songs, none of which are longer than 2 minutes, and Kota doesn’t waist that time, letting off bars with ease on every track. The highlights include “Clinton Hill”, an ode to his Brooklyn neighborhood, and “Living Room”, a one minute dive into the meaning of home and identity.

Shiesty Season- Pooh Shiesty

This record is for the Memphis streets that shaped Pooh Shiesty, and he is unapologetic about that reality. Pooh has a knack for creating records that make you want to raise the volume and scream at the top of your lungs. His songs are purposefully intimidating, but his personality is infectious. He uses classic Memphis piano melodies and flows, but his voice has a unique sound somewhere in between Memphis stars MoneybaggYo and Yo Gotti, and his “Blrrrd” adlib is already iconic. “Back in Blood” with Lil Durk is a smash hit, and “Neighbors” with BIG30 and “Box of Churches” with 21 Savage also hit hard.

Neon Shark- Trippie Redd, Travis Barker

Trippie Redd is eternally slept on for his range as an artist. At only 21, he has put out hit after hit in his career, and his first fully rock project was exciting. Sure, Trippie isn’t completely polished in this space, but you can feel his passion. His big voice and classic screams were made for rock production, and he made a lot of good songs here. “Red Sky” featuring Machine Gun Kelly and “Pill Breaker” with blackbear and MGK have a lot of hit potential, and he does well on solo records like “Dreamer” and “Without You”.

Change of Scenery II- Quinn XCII

Quinn and producer akoyay use soft indie pop sounds well on this record to create drifting imagery of life in an uncertain time. Quinn found himself in Newport, RI, and the songs sound like the misty scenes and colonial homes that make up his videos and album art. He spends the album exploring love and life as a 28-year-old, a man who doesn’t quite have it all figured out, but is well on his way to getting there. It feels sentimental and softly anthemic, and is definitely one of the best-crafted projects we’ve gotten so far this year.

Destined 2 Win- Lil TJay

Young New York rapper Lil TJay started off 2021 with a bang with his smash hit “Calling My Phone”, and he is capitalizaing off that buzz with this album. Some fans are left remincising for his debut album True 2 Myself, but this is still a solid followup. It’s a little long at 21 songs, but the three singles included as bonus songs are hits, and he gets it right on new tracks like “What You Wanna Do” and “Hood Rich”. This project definitely keeps the 19 year old TJay towards the top of the game.

Collapsed In Sunbeams- Arlo Parks

Parks, who we covered in our Artists To Watch in 2021 series, spins poetic tales with haunting melodies on her debut. Singles like “Caroline” and “Eugene” settle nicely into the project, and new records like “Hurt” and “Just Go” add new flavor to the mix of songs. Parks’s voice is something special, and its tonality is perfect for the lo-fi records she loves to make. This is definitely a strong debut, and an excellent exploration of love and identity.

Angelic Hoodrat: Supercut- Kenny Mason

Kenny Mason, a 26 Atlanta rapper, proves he is a special talent on this project, which is a sleeper for one of the very best we’ve heard in 2021. Mason proves to be an elite rapper, but also a rockstar on this record, shifting from hard rap cuts like “Much Money” which features Freddie Gibbs, energetic rock songs like “Play Ball” and unique hybrids like “Pup”. This project just oozes talent, and Kenny Mason is certainly an artist to watch.

Flu Game- AJ Tracey

If you are tapped into UK rap at all you know AJ Tracey, but he really makes his presence known with his best work yet here. The album name alludes to Michael Jordan’s NBA finals greatness despite sickness, and Tracey has clearly overcome the pandemic to put out something great. His voice is always cool and confident and he shows great versatility while making undeniable hits like “Little More Love” and “Dinner Guest”.

if i could make it go quiet- girl in red

girl in red is a huge star, and if you haven’t been listening, it’s time to start. Very few albums on this list can come close to competing with this project. She is intensely vulnerable, but is also in perfect command of the sound of this record. The singles “Serotonin” and “Stupid B****” have the sound of chart hits but all the depth in the world, and “I’ll Call You Mine” has easily one of the best choruses of the year. girl in red captures the feeling of being lost and fighting through the hard parts of life while being reckless and young at the same time. This album has the it-factor.

Blood Bunny- Chloe Moriondo

Moriondo is a very exciting young voice in music at just 18 years old. She knows how to make tracks soft and intimate, but also expresses her confidence and anger masterfully. Her sound is reminiscent of her self described “Favorite Band”, Paramore, but she puts her own twist on it. Blood Bunny sounds young and exciting, but there is a lot of wisdom in the messaging. Moriondo has a beautiful soft tone that cuts through the production on every track, and this record makes you feel something. It is easily one of the best we’ve gotten so far this year.

The Off-Season- J Cole

We all knew Cole was about to produce one of the albums of the year, and he definitely delivered. The Off-Season is reminiscent of mixtape Cole because it has the hunger of his pre-fame years in a way none of his recent projects have quite had. This project also lacks and overarching themes like KOD or 4 Your Eyez Only did, but that was a purposeful choice to give Cole space to focus exclusively on the bars. The biggest takeaway from this album is that J Cole is still one of the best rappers in the world, and he has bars. Beyond that, he grows in important ways by working with exciting collaborators (21 Savage, Lil Baby, and Morray have standout contributions), and maintains the masterful production, trademark vulnerability, and commitment to artistry from his earlier work.

La Maquina- Conway The Machine

La Maquina is just a rap clinic. Eleven songs. Straight bars. Conway steps up to the tone set by his Griselda crew-mate Benny The Butcher this year with a stellar rap record. Conway doesn’t explore out of his comfort zone, but he does what he does so well. From the unending flow of “Clarity” to the grandiose “6:30 Tipoff” to the rapid fire flows of “Scatter Brain” with JID and Ludacris, Conway shows that he is one of the best pure rappers out on this album.

Not In Chronological Order- Julia Michaels

Not In Chronological Order is a concise and lively pop album. Commercially, its biggest success has come from songs like “All Your Exes” and “Lie Like This”, but the other 8 records are in no way fillers. Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s dancy, and sometimes it’s more acoustic and laid back. Michaels showcases her tone well and spins tales that are clearly made to be relatable. This is the right way to make a solid pop album with replay value; creating catchy singles with real meaning, keeping it short, and showcasing your best skills.

The Difference- Daya

This EP shows us a more mature Daya. The 22-year-old broke out as a 15-year-old with her powerful voice, excellent tone, and emotional sensibility. She has always been a star, but she seems to know herself much better on this record. All five of the new songs we get here showcase her voice and songwriting well, and show a nice take on relationships and growing up. Daya seems to have further developed her identity and sound, and she is poised to do big things going forward.

Sour- Olivia Rodrigo

Sour is a massive commercial success for a reason, Rodrigo makes smash hits (see “Driver’s License”, “Good 4 U”, “Deja Vu”) and makes songs that hit home for Gen Z. She is 17, and it shows, her takes on love and relationship lack adult maturity, but that is exactly what makes them so popular on TikTok and amongst young people as a whole. Her unique tone, powerful voice, and the audience she has cultivated will make her an important voice in pop music for a long time, and this is always going to be an important and influential record.

Golden Wings- Zoe Wees

Wees, who we covered in our Artists to Watch in 2021, is proving to be a star in the early part of her career. Her first two singles on Spotify racked up tens of millions of streams in their first months online, and she has a lot more commercial potential going forward. Her huge voice is perfect for belting on ballads, but she is also an excellent voice for a pop record, and her vulnerability is moving. “Control” and “Girls Like Us” are already huge hits, and the other three songs also have massive potential. Wees is quickly becoming a huge global star.

When Smoke Rises- Mustafa

Source: @mustafathepoet

Mustafa created a beautiful collection of records here. Throughout the project the Toronto native uses his breathy and haunting voice to weave tales of gun violence and pain. This “inner city folk” sound is something new, and it is something that the world needed. Mustafa got his start in poetry and went on to write on major pop songs for the Jonas Brothers and Camila Cabello with Frank Dukes, and even though this record sounds completely different from pop, his excellent writing is evident throughout the project. “Stay Alive”, which was first released in March 2020, is a beautifully painful track about losing friends to gun violence, and captures the essence of the project.

Off Saint Dominique- Renforshort

Source: @renforshort

Renforshort, a 19-year-old singer from Toronto, creates an emotional pop with an edge on this six song EP. After breaking out last year with her single “F*** I Luv My Friends”, Renforshort proves with this new release that her ability to create a catchy hit that appeals to Gen Z through sound and lyrics was no fluke. Ren is great at crafting relatable lines and exciting song structures, and songs like the energetic “fall apart” and the mournful “exception” show a lot of range and potential.

Hall of Fame- Polo G

Source: @polo.capalot

Polo G has been extremely consistent with high quality music since he first broke out in 2021. Hall of Fame is no different, as Polo creates a record that is meant to both do crazy numbers and get you lost in your emotions. Yes, it’s long, and Polo might be trying too hard to prove the doubters wrong, but it’s still one of the best rap releases of the year. Polo makes sure to vary his production, to work with the artists you wanted to hear him with, but still stay true to himself. The project is feature heavy, but individual efforts “Rapstar” and “So Real” are highlights.

Survivor’s Guilt: The Mixtape//- KennyHoopla, Travis Barker

Source: @kennyhoopla

KennyHoopla is one of the most exciting and authentic new artists of the last few years (that’s why we covered him on our 12 Artists to Watch in 2021), and when he links up with Travis Barker they make magic. The lead single, “Estella//” put people on notice that the two were amazing together, and they delivered with a full mixtape. Kenny’s energy and vocals draw you in, Travis’s drumming is always on point, and every part of the project feels so genuine. “Smoke Break//” and “9-5 (Love me)//” feel especially exciting of the non-singles

Voice of the Heroes- Lil Baby, Lil Durk

Source: @lildurk

Lil Baby has been running the rap game this year, and Lil Durk has been on the rise to the highest point in his long career. There are some repetitive points, but the highlights are great, Durk and Baby have great chemistry, and both rappers prove that they are some of the best in the world. From “Voice of the Heroes”, to “Hats Off” with Travis Scott to “Rich Off Pain” with Rod Wave, Baby and Durk give us good bars, emotional themes, and great flows throughout.

Super Monster- Claud

Source: @claud.mp3

Claud, a bedroom pop singer from suburban Chicago, and the first artist signed by Phoebe Bridgers in 2020, crafts an excellent debut record with Super Monster. Their voice floats over soft guitars and drums in a way that’s reminscent of Bridgers or fellow bed room pop icon Clairo. The songs are emotional tales of love and the anxiety of finding yourself, and they are told in an accessible, yet poetic fashion. “Soft Spot” is a standout that shows a lot of potential.

In Defense Of My Own Happiness- Joy Oladokun

Source: @joyoladokun

Joy Oladokun’s In Defense Of My Own Happiness showcases a unique and vulnerable voice and a range of sounds. Oladokun shows off amazing songwriting throughout, and shows range from a folky, country sound that matches her residence in Nashville to a more RnB leaning sound. The title of the record is apt, as Oladokun works throughout the album to appreciate and own her identity as a multifaceted queer, Black woman who doesn’t care if other people don’t think she deserves to feel happy.

Sometimes Sorry Isn’t Enough- Tom The Mail Man

Tom The Mail Man is such an exciting artist because of his versatility and energy. The 23-year-old Atlanta native has the ability to be a rockstar, a rapper, and everything in between. The records on this album are all packed with emotion, and as a whole it emanates potential. Tom’s music is raw and unapologetic, which means that sometimes he lacks polish, but he mostly just wows you by putting his heart on his sleeve. Records like “Last Night” show how capable he is of making major chart hits as he gains traction.

Be Right Back- Jorja Smith

Source: @jorjasmith_

Jorja Smith has been a big name in RnB for a while, and the British singer shows just how skilled and talented she is with this record. Her voice is so unique in tone and so subtly powerful, and she uses it to create elegantly soulful tracks. Throughout Be Right Back’s eight songs she taps into her pain, but also flexes on her doubters. She proves to be well-rounded and talented throughout the tracklist, and the album seems to be a sign of great things to come.

97 Blossom- The Blossom

The Blossom’s debut EP is a short and sweet. It definitely leaves more to be desired, but also it is a very exciting introduction to a talented artist. “Shapeshifter” is definitely a standout both thematically and sonically, as The Blossom takes pride in being non-binary and not conforming to expectations. Even though we only get 6 songs, The Blossom proves that they can sing and that they have true artistry with this project.

Thank You For Believing- Toosii

Source: @toosii

Toosii is a name that doesn’t come up enough as one of hip hop’s most exciting new voices. At just 21 years old, he has the ability to sing beautiful melodies, but also to craft intricate bars and flows. His music often juxtaposes vulnerability and bravado in an enticing manner. On this album Toosii creates numerous catchy hooks and has a lot to say in his verses, and songs like “In My Eyes” and “What It Cost” deserve more love commercially. Toosii could be next in the lane of major artists like Polo G and Roddy Ricch.

Today We’re The Greatest- Middle Kids

Source: @middlekidsmusic

Australian Indie band Middle Kids delivered an emotional record full of softly cinematic musical warmth this year. Lead vocalist Hannah Joy has a tone that draws the listener in, and sits perfectly over the indie production crafted by the band. Every song feels like it should be the backdrop to an important moment. The songs build and leave space for the vulnerability of Joy’s voice to contrast with enthusiastic instrumentation, resulting in a great product.

Polydans- Roosevelt

German producer and singer Roosevelt develops a wonderfully unique brand of dance music on Polydans. He finds a way to mesh elements of disco with modern EDM, and he melds styles seamlessly. His vocals aren’t powerful, but they work really well with his production to create a feeling. The record does its job of making you want to dance, and songs like “Lovers”, “See You Again” and “Strangers” will never fail to get you up and grooving.

Weekends Look a Little Different These Days- Brett Young

Source: @brettyoungmusic

Brett Young has been one of country music’s biggest stars for a few years now. He’s great at delivering a relatable and emotional track, and he has a lot of star power. On this album Brett showcases his powerful vocals really well. Sometimes he falls too far into cliche country tropes, but the songs feel sincere, and his voice doesn’t sound like anyone else’s. Brett is at his best when the production is on point and he’s singing a sweet love song, which we get on the title track or on “Not Yet”.

Little Oblivions- Julien Baker

Source: @julienrbaker

Julien Baker is consistent with her intense vulnerability on Little Oblivions, which contrasts with the subtly of her vocals and folk leaning production. Baker knows she doesn’t have it all figured out, and she lets her listener in to hear about her struggles with faith, addiction, identity, and mental illness. Songs like “Hardline” and “Faith Healer” are standouts, but Baker is consistent with the quality on this album.

42- Sech

Source: @sechmusic

Panamanian rapper and singer Sech is incredibly commercially successful, but might not be as familiar to many American audiences as he should be. The album is named 42 for Jackie Robinson and Panamanian Baseball star Mariano Rivera, as Sech represents for Black people and his home nation. He tried to create a fun album that people could party to as the Covid-19 pandemic eased, and the result is an exciting album that anyone can vibe to even without understanding spanish.

Heaux Tales- Jazmine Sullivan

Source: @jazminesullivan

Jazmine Sullivan has a truly powerful and soulful voice, and the 34-year-old will definitely be adding to her career accolades after the release of Heaux Tales. “Pick Up Your Feelings” is an empowering anthem, and “Girl Like Me” with H.E.R. is an amazing vocal spectacle. This album about the strength of womanhood, and all of the elements that go into that. Sullivan explores a range of themes, but the project is cohesive, and the vocals are on point throughout.

Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine- Brockhampton

Source: @brockhampton

Brockhampton has truly redefined what it means to be a boyband since their inception, creating non-traditional hip hop songs that have been hugely influential and commercially successful. This album feels mature and polished. There are harder hip hop records like “Bankroll” with A$AP mob members Rocky and Ferg, pop-leaning cuts like “Count On Me” and songs that exist somewhere in between. Brockhampton really got it right with this album.

Life By Misadventure- Rag’n’Bone Man

Source: @ragnboneman

Rag’n’Bone Man is best known for his booming soulful voice, but he came into his own artistically with this album. “Crossfire” is one of the best songs we’ve gotten this year, featuring powerful singing, heavy drums, and an earworm key melody. Rag’n’Bone Man keeps going back to the pain in his voice, and in doing so he creates an album that feels like indy rock with a soul.

Mixed Emotions- Jack Kays

Source: @jackkays

Jack Kays’ Mixed Emotions feels like a mix between early 2010s indy rock and Soundcloud rap. He draws on the vulnerable feel of acoustic production, but his pain isn’t veiled in metaphors, it’s out in the open for everyone to see. The Cincinnati artist has a haunting voice that communicates sadness beautifully, and Kays uses it to sing about struggles with addiction and mental illness. Songs like “Morbid Mind” and “Bottom Of The Bottle” are special, and Kays seems to be on track to get even better.

KG0516- Karol G

Source: @karolg

Karol G is one of the biggest stars in Latin music, and this album was a massive commercial success. The album’s name is a flight number, representing Karol’s ascent in her career and as a person. Karol came through with the hits on this record, with songs like “Tusa” with Nicki Minaj, “Bichota”, and “Ay, Dios Mío” doing huge numbers. The songs on this record have a lot of bounce and huge pop appeal.

82- Daniyel

Source: @daniyel

Daniyel, a 19-year-old rapper from Portland, Oregon, is deeply mature with his vision for his age. Ever since his breakout song “Lost Ones” (a sweet ode to his aunt who passed away) received a video on star director Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade youtube channel, Daniyel has kept creating great music. 82 is raw in some ways, but overall, it a great reflection of a young man who cares deeply for his loved ones, his city, and for music, and who has a great voice to tell stories and move people.

Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist with one song from each of these amazing projects

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