No rankings. Just 50 projects that tell the story of music in 2021’s second half

By Ben Leshan

Donda- Kanye West

Donda, which is named after the artist’s late mother, feels like a huge moment in music possibly more than any other album this year, as the sheer anticipation Ye is able to create for his new drops at 44 years old is unparalleled. The record also has a top natch cast of feature artists ranging from The Weeknd to Baby Keem to Jay-Z, and everyone seemed to turn in their best work. The return of Jay and Ye on “Jail” is a massive and pure moment, “Pure Souls” with Roddy Ricch is a spiritual experience, and “Moon” with Don Toliver and Kid Cudi would literally make anybody float into the sky (checkout our Top 50 Songs of 2021 Part 2 for more on these). Ye’s lyrics range from inspirational and profound on “Come To Life” to flat out weird in other places, but overall, the production, the features, the emotionality, and the rap skill make Donda one of the best records of the year.

Solar Power- Lorde

Solar Power feels reflective of Lorde’s space in life. She is at the point where she does not care what people think of her and wants to live for her own happiness. That has left us with a record with significantly less commercial appeal than her previous albums, but still a lot of important content. Lorde has expressed that she wants to play this record in mid-size venues rather than big arenas, and you can feel that in its intimacy. The lead single “Solar Power” is a fun and free summery track, “Mood Ring” is a catchy critique of wellness culture, and “Big Star”, one of our best songs of the year, is a vulnerable and emotional vocal moment over soft, grungy guitar without drums. Overall, Lorde doesn’t really show off her hit-making ability here, but she still offers a must-listen.

I Was/ I Am- Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan has a fantastic soft indie voice that has led him to a lot of quiet success, and this project is easily one of the best and most emotionally captivating of the year. Kahan’s takes on love and personal growth feel mature but also openly flawed and human, while the record’s production goes back and forth between acoustic softness and more upbeat folky rhythms. Overall, Kahan finds a great balance, and makes an album with memorable lyrics and amazing-sounding vocals. Highlights include “Part of Me”, “Godlight”, “Caves”, and “Fear of Water”.

We’re All Alone In This Together- Dave

Dave is easily a face of hip hop in the UK, and he has a solid presence in the US, but he doesn’t get nearly enough love in the conversation for today’s best overall rappers. He has the bars, the melodies, the storytelling, the hunger, and the artistic vision to be a legend in the rap game, and this album is a reflection of that top level ability. Every track feels carefully crafted with so much attention to detail, from the insightful reflection on life and mental health that is “We’re All Alone”, to the subtly anthemic vibes of “Twenty To One” (featured on our Top 50 Songs of 2021 Part 1), and the hit-appeal of “Clash” with Stormzy.

When I Close My Eyes- Chelsea Cutler

Chelsea Cutler never fails to give great vocal performances and capture the emotions associated with youth and love. Cutler always feels sweet and empathetic, while diving into a range of human emotions. This record stays pretty purely in a pop space, and keeps lyrical themes about youth and the experience of falling in and out love. Cutler really has a great recognizable tone and an ability to write lyrics that hit you in the heart, which is shown off quite well on songs like “Walking Away” and “When I Close My Eyes”.

=- Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran is one of the biggest artists in the world for a reason. A legendary songwriter, he has the ability to pen massive pop hits but also vulnerable and personal album cuts. He does both on this album, crafting smash singles like “Bad Habits” and “Shivers”, writing amazing love songs like “Overpass Graffiti” and “First Times”, and penning thoughtful songs about his life like “Tides” and “Be Right Now”. Sometimes he falls too far into trying to make a song conceptual and universally understandable rather than unique and personal, but for such a big artist with so many demands on him, Ed does a great job of making a record that will make everyone happy, and surely do very well being performed at stadiums across the world.

Certified Lover Boy- Drake

One simply can’t have escaped Certified Lover Boy in 2021 whether you are Drake’s biggest stan or his biggest hater. Drizzy consistently catches the most flack of any major rapper, but also sells the most records, so what is the truth about this album? It definitely lies somewhere in between the vehement hate and astronomical sales. The hits are there (“Way 2 Sexy” with Young Thug and Future, “Fair Trade” with Travis Scott), and so are the bars (“Champagne Poetry”, “7am on Bridlepath”), but so are lower points. Drake’s perspective is undeniably immature for a 35-year old father, and he doesn’t explore new territory sonically even though he gives us variety. At the end of the day, he just does what he knows will sell. Overall, CLB is a really good album, we just have to have high standards for such a great artist.

Crusher- Jeremy Zucker

Crusher is full of soft drums and evocative suburban imagery of everyday love and pain. Zucker stays in his pocket of indie guitar tracks, but explores production that leans into hyper pop and rock, and finds a wide enough array of lyrical themes to keep listeners engaged. Everything that he does feels simultaneously intimate and grand. Zucker brings the emotionality and indie edge to sweet pop music, and he captures that vibe very well with this record. Highlights on the record include “18”, an energetic take on the excitement of reckless young love, and “Cry With You”, an emotional support anthem.

Montero- Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X has gone from meme rap sensation to one of the biggest stars in the world in just a couple years, and he’s still elevating. Montero is big and bold and sees Nas really own his identity as a gay Black man who deserves the respect of the industry. He is a rapper and singer and an entertainer on this record, and the result is immense commercial success. We see him flex his accomplishments on the absolute banger that is “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow, show brave confidence on “Montero (Call Me By Your Name), and bares his soul on “Void”.

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert- Little Simz

Simz delivers one of the best all-around rap records of the year here, diving into her life story in a way that is bound to captivate a huge audience. It’s one of those rap records you have to play multiple times and really, really listen to to fully grasp. The British-Nigerian MC does a good job balancing accessibility and technical intricacy, but she packs meaning into every line to the point that a lapse of attention will leave the listener without the full message of a lot of records. She is good on all kinds of tracks, but Simz is really at her best when she spits about serious topics like on “Woman”, “Introvert”, or “I Love You, I Hate You”.

It’s Ok, We’re Dreaming- SEB

SEB, an LA-based indie artist who blew up on tiktok, delivers a polished and exciting debut here. SEB’s voice is always clear and controlled, floating effortlessly over beachy guitar riffs and tasteful drums. The production is laid back and subtle, but perfectly complements his vocals to create a range of moods. SEB really creates songs that make you want to sing along and get lost in. Standout moments come throughout the EP, but “daniel*”, “Coney Island” and “seaside_demo” are his best work.

Something For Thee Hotties- Megan Thee Stallion

A lot of rappers have released a project as a gift to their fans in between more highly promoted commercial albums, but they rarely reach the quality of this record. Meg never fails to spit throughout the album, making banger after banger. The ultimate standout here is her big single “Thot Sh*t”, but every single song features top level rapping. A lot of the songs are short, and many are labelled as freestyles, but Meg did this right, making a project that leave her fans dying for more, not sacrificing quality, but not hitting her top gear quite yet.

Happier Than Ever- Billie Eilish

Billie is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, and with that comes high expectations, but she was able to be herself and deliver a good record here. Billie’s work is less haunting and less angsty than it was previously, and that likely reflects her growth as a young adult. She still has the same controlled, breathy, iconic voice, and there is clearly incredible attention paid to every aspect of production. There are some parts of the album that feel a little inorganic, but in her most raw and emotional moments, like on the title track “Happier Than Ever”, Eilish absolutely kills it.

An Evening With Silk Sonic- Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars

An Evening With Silk Sonic is funky, emotional, and soulful as hell. Bruno and .Paak bounce off each other and push each other to new heights, creating an amazing sound with widespread appeal. Everything part of the production has an incredible groove, and was clearly arranged with so much thought. The tracklist is short, but every single song brings something to the table. Just as the title suggests, this album is a whole experience, not just a collection of songs, and it ended up spawning huge hits like “Leave The Door Open” and “Smokin Out The Window” for a reason.

Believe In Me, Who Believes In You- Aries

Aries has quietly been one of the most consistent indie artists out in recent years, making good song after good song. This record does a good job of living up to the sky high bar he set with his first album Welcome Home, and has multiple undeniable tracks. As a producer and singer, Aries crafts catchy guitar beats that really match his voice, and writes complex metaphors about love and angst. His musical influences range everywhere from hip hop to pop punk to rnb, but the overall output is one of the best indie records of the year, featuring incredible songs like “Ditto”, “Kids on Molly”, and “ETA”.

30- Adele

Adele’s 30 is different from anything she has ever put out before, but it still showcases the talent of one of our world’s most iconic artists. This record is made more for Adele herself than it is for commercial audiences, with very long tracks, raw emotions, and sonic experimentation. Adele’s previous albums have both the emotional intimacy and commercial side, but this is a clear sign of maturity, of an artist knowing she is so iconic and so successful that she might as well make what she really wants to make. The commercial success is also more than still there for Adele, with “Easy on Me” become a monster chart-topper and many other tracks doing high level numbers.

Negative- Ekkstacy

Ekkstacy is one of the single most exciting artists out right now, and Negative is a beautiful indie album that captures human emotion masterfully. Ekkstacy is depressed and numb throughout this record about love and heartbreak, but his pain is constantly palpable. The names of each track spell out a poem that tells the story of his last relationship from beginning to end. This album has the immaturity and emotional exaggeration of young love with the maturity and wisdom of adulthood, resulting in an amazing collection of some of the year’s best songs, including “I Walk This Earth All By Myself”, “It Only Gets Worse I Promise”, and “In Love”. There is immeasurable potential in this project.

TWOPOINTFIVE- Aminé

Aminé has been one of the rap game’s most quietly successful stars over the last 5+ years, coming with 4 good projects in a row and a lot of creative ingenuity and confident individuality. TWOPOINTFIVE is playful more than it is vulnerable, but that is exactly Aminé’s market, and he does it well. The production is bouncy, the bars are clever and well-crafted, and he is clearly gearing up to come back even stronger on his next official album while delivering some great songs to tide his fans over. The lead single “Charmander” captures the project exceptionally well with an unconventional production melody that Aminé spits hilarious and meaningful bars over.

Letter Blue- Wet

Indie band Wet create a strong indie album behind the voice of lead singer Kelly Zutrau on Letter Blue. The tracklist is short at ten tracks, but they pack a lot of experimentation into that space, using nontraditional drums, hyper pop vocal effects, and orchestral sounds to create a true musical experience. Zutrau’s voice sits breathily above expansive production on most of the tracks, sometimes distorted, sometimes clean, but always conveying lots of emotion. Standout moments include “Larabar” a ballad with hyperpop leanings, and “On Your Side” a gentle and nostalgic indie cut.

Star-Crossed- Kacey Musgraves

Musgraves had a lot to live up to with this record after her Grammy success with her previous album Golden Hour, but this record is a good follow-up. Musgraves makes more radio-friendly songs here, but her iconic tone and vintage style are still there. She shows off an ability to make catchy songs about a variety of subjects, and she continues to be a great storyteller. Standout moments include “Justified” and the nostalgic “Simple Times”.

Scenic Drive (The Tape)- Khalid

Khalid is one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but he always stays true to himself with his music. Scenic Drive leans back into an rnb sound with smooth and soulful sonics, and it boasts an incredible list of features including Alicia Keys, 6lack, JID, Ari Lennox, and Majid Jordan. This feels like a tape between albums, but it is still an amazing piece of art delivered from one of this generation’s best vocalists. Standout moments include “All I Feel Is Rain” for its emotion and earworm hook, and “Retrograde” for its smooth style and standout features from 6lack and Lucky Daye.

Raceway: The Wisdom of Insecurity- SAIAH

SAIAH brings intense energy to all of his music, and that energy makes this record special. The album includes one of our Top Songs of 2021 in “Cheater” with Tom The Mail Man, but it is far deeper than that one incredible song, with other outstanding songs like “Misfit” and “Lazlo” with RIZ LA VIE. SAIAH proves to be a great songwriter, as well as a genre-bending artist with a great command of translating emotion into catchy music. He is only starting to get significant commercial success, but this album shows he has the potential to blow up.

Dawn- YEBBA

YEBBA is most known for her iconic and soulful voice, which certainly stands out on this record, but she also proves to have a complete artistic vision on Dawn. “Far Away” with A$AP Rocky is a great moment, a soulful jazzy track that just feels like a hit, and other records float between pop, rnb, and jazz with an innovative and unique sound. An artist who has already earned cosigns from the likes of Drake and Ed Sheeran, this album further cements YEBBA’s great potential.

What Do They Know- Tyler Braden

Braden proves he is a rising star in country music with this record. It’s best moment is “Better Off” (featured on our Best Songs of 2021 Part 2), a true country hit about the feeling of impending regret post-breakup. Throughout the album he proves to have range, showing over 7 songs that he has a voice and songwriting style that is able to please both old school and new school country fans. He is able to capture imagery with precision and skill, his voice carries a lot of soul, and his storytelling is top tier.

To Hell With It- Pinkpantheress

Pinkpantheress is definitely a product of the digital era, blowing up off of Tiktok with a glitchy techno pop sound that feels like it comes from the future. The 21-year-old English singer has seen incredible commercial success with this album simply off the strength of her social media presence and never-before-heard sound. This album is lo-fi yet bouncy and features concise and innovative song structures that lend themselves well to digital content.

Feeling For My Life- Anson Seabra

Anson Seabra has an amazing pop voice and a great pen. Some of his songs are overly conceptual, but for the most part they capture universal emotions and communicate them poetically. Seabra doesn’t have a powerful voice, but his enticing tone makes for amazing-sounding vocals over soft production. There are a lot of great moments on the record with the emotionally-baring “Walked Through Hell”, the sad and reflective “u hurt me hurts u”, and floating story-centered “Magazines”. For lovers of emotional and sentimental pop somewhere in between Alec Benjamin and Lewis Capaldi, Seabra has made a can’t miss album here.

Folarin II- Wale

Wale has been around for a long time, and he is still making some of the best rap records in the game. Folarin II is consistently lyrical, and Wale does a good job of selecting beats that draw the listener in and complement his vision. The DC legend makes a complete rap album here, bouncing from the upbeat club anthem “Poke It Out” featuring one of J Cole’s most fun verses to the emotional “Dearly Beloved” centered around a Jamie Foxx vocal. Wale is a forgotten legend in the generation of the Kendricks and Coles and Drakes, and he is still making heat in 2021.

Life of a Don- Don Toliver

Don Toliver is one of the most exciting young stars in hip hop, with one of the most recognizable voices in the game. His songs are laced with emotion but they also feel incredibly cool, floating in time and space adding a dimension to hip hop that usually doesn’t exist. On songs like “Swangin’ on Westheimer” Toliver uses his impressive vocals to create a spacey vibe, and he comes with the energy more upbeat tracks like “XSCAPE”. Don has proven to have one of the dopest sounds and hip hop, and on Life of a Don he shows he is only getting more polished.

Valentine- Snail Mail

Snail Mail is an indie star on Valentine. The 22-year-old Maryland singer builds up the best production of her career on the album and sings with full emotion and energy. There is something defiant and prickly about Valentine but there is also a soft and sweet musical side that creates a nice contrast. Standout moments include “Glory” and the title track “Valentine”, which both makes use of indie guitar riffs and drums to create a nice atmosphere for her voice.

What’s My Name- KenTheMan

KenTheMan is not a rapper to be played with, and she proves it on What’s My Name. Her flows and bars are consistently on point, and her confidence is infectious. She has all the star power in the world, and it is just a matter of time before she has a big time mainstream breakout. The Houston-based MC keeps the production true to her roots with heavy drums and grimy sounds, and the biggest thing you’ll notice on the album is that Ken stays hungry, always rapping like she means it.

Optimist- FINNEAS

FINNEAS has received his biggest accolades in music for his production for his sister Billie Eilish, but he is absolutely an artist to watch, with a great pen, voice, and sense of emotional awareness. There are inconsistencies on this album, with some records not really hitting thematically even though the musicality is always there, but the bright moments are really bright. “A Concert Six Months From Now” is easily one of the best songs of the year, and other more stripped back cuts that show off Finneas’s vocals and perspective on life like “Only A Lifetime” and “What They’ll Say About Us” are gems.

The Melodic Blue- Baby Keem

Baby Keem’s Melodic Blue has been one of hip hop’s most talked about albums this year. The 21-year-old rapper has all the youthful energy to inspire gen-z, and all the rap skills to resonate with older generations. Keem can fall too far in places into lyrical cliches and similar sounds, but he also has the ability to switch up his flows and rap like a seasoned vet. The obvious highlight of the record is “Family Ties”, featuring a verse from the king himself, Keem’s cousin Kendrick Lamar. It is an extraordinary challenge to match one of the greatest rappers of all time on a track, and Keem stands toe to toe with Lamar on the song, creating one of the single best rap songs of the year in the process.

Inside Out- Nilüfer Yanya

Nilüfer Yanya has a haunting and soulful voice that floats throughout the seven songs of Inside Out. The English singer has a vocal tone unlike any you’ve heard before, and her song-writing is infectious and inviting. She is able to genre-bend between a refined pop space and an alt-rnb sound, creating her own mix of sonics that define her unique sound. “Keep on Calling” shows off her best skills, with great and evocative lyrics and space for her voice to shine.

Timelezz- Jhay Cortez

Jhay Cortez is a bonafide star, and this record does a good job of showing off his abilities, with some of the catchiest vocals of the year. The 28-year-old Puerto Rican artist has a soulful tone that gives him the ability to deliver consistently amazing hooks, and he has a good ear for production, giving him widespread appeal. “Ley Seca” with Anuel AA is our standout pick for the project, but his vocals and production choies are consistently top tier, meaning the whole album has a ton of hit appeal.

Slack- Molly Payton

Molly Payton’s Slack is a youthful indie record that stands out for its high level of emotionality. Payton feels a whole range of emotions on the record, and the familiar and un-pretentious indie production makes her vulnerability shine through. Her full and distinct voice invites you in to feel with her, and her songs evoke a youthful excitement that carries a lot of imagery. The project as a whole is an example of amazing potential, with Payton being an artist who could make a huge leap with another record.

King of Killbranch- BIG30

BIG30’s young Memphis counterpart Pooh Shiesty has gotten most of the national attention, but 30 has been building a great start to his career as one of the south’s most promising young rappers. The production on this album screams Memphis throughout with gritty pianos and heavy drums, and 30’s full voice and Memphis accent deliver his bravado and energy perfectly. 30 raps hungry, and he is surprisingly lyrical, making for great moments throughout the album like “Allegations” with Shiesty and “Whatever Comes With It” featuring Future.

Punk- Young Thug

Young Thug is an icon for so many reasons. Punk is by no means perfect, but it is a strong album from a trap music legend. It can be a bit all over the place with its various features and themes, but Thug shows off his excellent hip hop voice well and is more reflective and emotional than he has been on some previous records. There are songs with hit appeal like “Bubbly” with Travis Scott and Drake and “Livin It Up” with Post Malone and A$AP Rocky, and tracks with true vulnerability like “Die Slow” with Strick. Thug can be awkward about opening up, but he accomplishes something real showing more of his life on this album.

If Orange Was a Place- Tems

Tems has an amazing voice that immediately shines on this EP, but she also has a great sense of emotions and an ear for production. The Nigerian singer mixes afrobeats and rnb with ease, working with a blend of sounds that maintain a groove but give space for her impeccable vocal maneuvers. She has incredible vocal control, with ear-catching runs and a whole lot of control displayed throughout the project. Tems should be doing big things going forward after If Orange Was a Place.

At Least We Have This- Ama Lou

Ama Lou is ridiculously underrated, with an amazing voice and innovative rnb sound that is unmistakeable. On At Least We Have This Ama experiments with different sounds while maintaining a high level of quality. She shows off an ability to sing over drill drums (a trend that might soon take off due to TikTok) on “Talk Quiet”, rap a little bit on “Same Old Ways”, and use more classic rnb production on “Trust Nobody”. The EP’s best highlight is the dancy “All I Can Say” with empowering and beautifully-delivered lyrics.

Fighting Demons- Juice Wrld

Juice Wrld was one of the biggest rappers in the world before he died of a drug overdose at just 21 in December of 2019, but unlike a lot of other young stars lost too soon, he had a lot of unreleased music finished. In contrast to other posthumous albums that feel unfinished, Fighting Demons for the most part includes songs as Juice Wrld intended them to be heard because he had so much in the vault. The chosen songs are strong, showing melody and lyricism, ranging from the dark and drugged out sound that made him famous to happier romantic cuts. The biggest highlights include the brooding “Doom” and “Girl of My Dreams” (which you can read more about here)

Gold Mouf- Lute

Lute comes out of J Cole’s Dreamville camp with complex bars and thoughtful themes that model the general energy of his label boss, but with his own personal twist. It’s clear that the priority of this album is the bars, and Lute comes with elite raps, but he also has an artistic vision that makes this much more than a way to display technical skills. Lute speaks on how he feels about life throughout this tracklist, crafting excellent songs like “GED”, “Birdsong” with JID and Saba, and “Flossin'” with Westside Boogie.

KEYS- Alicia Keys

40-year-old singer Alicia Keys has been in the spotlight for a long time, and she’s not slowing down just yet. KEYS is long with 26 songs, but it’s not for no reason, as Keys splits the projects into “Originals”, which are softer piano tracks, and “Unlocked” songs, which have heavier drums and bigger production. The album shows that Keys has a command of a lot of different sounds and vibes, and she shows herself to be simultaneously mature and exciting as an artist.

Little Men- Marc E. Bassy

Marc E. Bassy leans into rnb sounds but keeps a pop sensibility on Little Men, crafting songs that have soul as well as rich synths and bass with sprinkled in melodies and elements of song structure from pop. Bassy’s distinct tone sticks out, and he shows himself to be able to create songs that drift through sonic space with an effortless swagger. His lyrics could use more depth at times, but his sonic achievements on this record are unquestionable, and it feels like his best work to date.

For Certain (Deluxe)- BIA

BIA has proven to be an exciting new rapper over the last few years, and 2020’s “For Certain” added a lot to her momentum. In 2021 BIA was able to advance her wave, adding 6 new tracks to fill out the album and show her full range of talents. She proves to have a lot of swag, a great command of flow, and a distinct voice and sound that will give her longevity. This album is fun, slick, and cool, and proves BIA to be a rapper capable of dropping a hit at any time.

I Don’t Live Here Anymore- The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs is delivering fresh indie sounds from a more mature source, creating songs with rich production, catchy vocals, and thoughtful lyrical themes. Their sound is reminiscent of a 90s rock sound, making it stick out in the modern sonic world. The album feels like its sonics were cultivated with a lot of precision and thought, with each song having its unique bounce, but a cohesive use of sound throughout the tracklist. The quality here is really consistent, and the album is just undeniably well-done.

King’s Disease II- Nas

Nas is still selling records and winning awards 27 years after wowing the world with his classic album Illmatic. He has had releases in between that led to questions about his lyrical content and beat selection, but he has gotten back to the Nas we know and love with the King’s Disease series. Sometimes he tries a little too hard to fit in with modern rap, but his rapping is excellent throughout, and he shows that he still has the ability to make mainstream commercial hip hop.

Still Over It- Summer Walker

Summer Walker is one of the biggest names in rnb at the moment, and Still Over It keeps her at the top of the game. The album is a bit long at 20 tracks, but it has a lot of good moments, and it features a host of big names including Cardi B, JT from City Girls, SZA, Ari Lennox, Lil Durk, and Pharrell Williams. Summer shows that she has some of the best ability to create a hit of anyone in her genre, and she makes songs that a lot of fans should be sure to relate to and play again and again.

Red Hand Akimbo- Paris Texas

Paris Texas, an experimental hip hop duo from LA, has been making big waves in underground hip hop over the last year. Red Hand Akimbo, a short and sweet EP, shows off their potential. They have perhaps their most exciting moment yet as a group with the song “Girls Like Drugs”, a heavy-hitting banger that shows off some great rap skill, radio-ready production that doesn’t sacrifice the group’s signature sound, and a whole lot energy. Throughout the project the duo feels hungry to do even bigger things.

If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power- Halsey

Halsey is in a new stage of her life as a mother, and this album mirrors that life change sonically, with a sound that is much less pop than her previous work. The songs feel primarily focused on their subject matter and energy, and the tracklist features a lot of vulnerability and empowerment, diving into the power of femininity and motherhood. Her vocal tone cuts through consistently just like any Halsey record, the sonics are just more open and acoustic rather than grungy or pop-leaning.

The House is Burning- Isaiah Rashad

TDE’s Isaiah Rashad is deeply respected in the hip hop community for his bars, and he shows them off on this project. Rashad keeps the vibes heavy and chill at the same time, with a serious vocal tone that holds some California swag, and production that keeps the drums prominent and the melodies subtle. Rashad is able to navigate softer and harder songs while keeping a high level of sonic cohesiveness and moving through multiple lyrical themes. For any true rap fan, this project should be a great listen.

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

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