No rankings. Just 50 projects that tell the story of music in 2022’s first half

*all albums were released before a cutoff data of June, 1. Any albums released after that date will be eligible for part 2 of this series

By Ben Leshan

Magic- Nas

Nas would have undoubtedly one of the best rappers of all time if he had retired 20 years ago, but the 48-year-old just came with his best record in decades. Magic is 9 tracks long and gets straight to the point on each song, chalk-full of lyricism and grimy New York beats that make you feel like you’re part of the pictures he paints. Nas has really found his groove again working with one of the industry’s biggest producers in Hit-Boy, finding a way to infuse his records with wisdom and experience, keep his vintage sound, and still largely avoid sounding jaded or out of touch. It’s incredible to hear one of the all-time greats still on the top of his game. He showed it on both iderations of King’s Disease, but Magic is more concise, better lyrically, and less feature-heavy, making it a rap purist’s dream record.

PAINLESS- Nilüfer Yanya

Nilüfer Yanya, one of our artists to watch in 2022, has already made huge waves this year with this album, which has landed her features on all of music’s top publications. Still, PAINLESS deserves more mainstream recognition as one of the best projects we’ve heard in a while. The record is innovative, exciting, and beautiful, with every last detail fitting into place. At 12 songs it is just the perfect length with each track adding to the project nicely. The album sounds alternative and indie, but balances its grungier production with spacey vocals. Yanya carves out her own sound in a way that is not often done, creating records that sound like hers the second they drop. From the drum patterns to the vocal tones everything on PAINLESS is unapologetically different in style, but top tier in quality.

Dharma- Sebastian Yatra

Sebastian Yatra is a massive global star, and this project shows it in every way, as he makes one of the biggest albums of the year and shows himself to be a leader in the Spanish-language music market. With many songs on the project hitting over 100 million streams on Spotify, Yatra certainly has the commercial side on lock. Beyond that, the record is fun, danceable, and emotional. Yatra was born in Colombia, but moved to Miami as a child, and then back to Colombia when he dropped out of college to focus on music. That background has given him a range of influences as a musician. In this case, Yatra was able to add reggaeton elements to tracks like “Pareja Del Año” with Myke Towers while leaning more into his pop side on tracks like “Modo Avión”. Overall, Yatra has crafted a great album here that meets a high bar both in terms of commercial success and quality.

Laurel Hell- Mitski

Laurel Hell is dark, painful, and vulnerable at every turn, featuring moments of sparse production that build into big, cinematic moments. It’s full of subtleties and dramatic moments that draw you in and push you away at the same time. Sitting somewhere in indie pop, but going more experimental in a lot of ways, this album is half Phoebe Bridgers album cut half eighties dance ballad. In other words, it’s a complex mix of vivid imagery, dark spacey vocals, energetic production melodies and vulnerable, yet, distant introspection. Mitski’s music is often experienced by fans as a way of feeling understood, and this album accomplishes that goal, creating tracks that people can feel, dance to, and cry to. Mitski is not necessarily going to hit home immediately for everybody, but her talent and ability to convey emotion should shine through for any audience.

From A Bird’s Eye View- Cordae

Cordae set up really high expectations for himself coming into the game as one of the few truly lyrical rappers in his generation who has exhibited mainstream crossover ability, but so far he has delivered. His debut The Lost Boy, one of the better rap records of the last few years, was hard to follow up, but From A Bird’s Eye View is a successful effort. Cordae is able to keep the lyricism, make songs with some radio friendly flavor, and also largely stay true to his identity as a hungry and thoughtful young rapper. This album may have seen him sit on the fence a little too much, not committing to hit-making enough to get a huge chart climber or to lyricism enough to have one of the year’s most critically-acclaimed releases, but this album still shows a lot of skill, promise, and personality. Cordae is able to tell stories, show off a great singing voice, work with amazing feature artists, and stay true to the roots of hip hop on From A Bird’s Eye View.

Nobody’s Home- Bakar

London’s Bakar has been an exciting name on the scene since he first released music in 2017, but this project really brings everything together for him. Nobody’s Home is flat out excellent, featuring incredible vocals and storytelling. The album is honest, self-aware, socially conscious, soulful, and fun, doing everything that makes music feel like something important. Everything starts with Bakar’s voice, which is technically sound, but stands out for his tone, as his voice maintains his British accent even as he sings in full voice. Beyond his voice, he explores some of life’s most important topics in freedom, love, class, and humanity itself. The brand of genre-bending indie rock Bakar is able to create on this record is beautiful, putting together some of the best parts of various rap and rock subgenres. Tracks like “The Mission”, “Free”, and “Reclaim!” highlight the best of this incredible record.

Love Sux- Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne is really, really back. The early 2000s icon has been putting out music, but this record feels like a real comeback, as she finds a way to meld the sound that made her famous with 2020s pop punk. This is no transformative, conscious album, but it is a revival of an iconic sound that has inspired a generation of artists, and the production and song-writing are clearly well-thought-out. Lavigne’s signature vocal tone is present throughout the record over heavy punk drums and guitars, making songs to dance to and rage to that sound like they could soundtrack a coming-of-age movie. At its best this album has 2022 pop appeal on songs like “Love It When You Hate Me” with blackbear, but brings back all the elements of classic Avril Lavigne on tracks like “Bite Me”.

Dawn FM- The Weeknd

After the release of After Hours during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, part 2 of the new trilogy is here, and Dawn FM is every bit as exciting and sonically lucsious as you would hope for. Abel stays in his lane of dancey synth music overlapped with dark and disturbing themes, but he creates a whole new universe from After Hours, one in which he is stuck in a love purgatory. His vocals are, as always, absolutely impeccable, floating into space with the kind of clarity and tone you can’t believe. The album has been incredibly commercially successful without sacrificing its artistry, and might have the most consistent tracklist of any album this year, as every single song could stand alone as a top tier single. This album is an experience and a world of its own, and every last detail has clearly been perfected, with more than enough magical moments to sustain rabid Weeknd fans. Songs from “Gasoline” to “Out of Time” to “Less Than Zero” showcase just how great this album truly is.

Old Dog New Tricks- glaive

This album is very much the new sound of music, coming from a soft spoken teenager who becomes extremely energetic and emotive behind the mic. glaive doesn’t necessarily love the label of hyperpop, but the subgenre is a good way to build understanding of what he is bringing to the table. Full of short songs with chaotic synths, glitchy 808s, and vocal distortions, Old Dog is full of youthful energy that changes how music sounds, but it is more than just that. glaive also proves to have a fantastic voice, an incredible ear for production, and amazing emotional qualities. For such a young artist, this is an incredibly refined piece of music that shows off significant musical maturity, and why he was named one of our artists to watch in 2022. He is also able to match that maturity with youthful lyrics that make the project exciting and raw. This album is a storm of sonic energy and angst in the very best way, easily taking a spot as one of the best records of the year so far.

777- Latto

Latto has been a big name coming up for a while, but this album really cements her into the conversation with today’s top rappers. Her wordplay and lyricism are high level on the project, and her hit-making is also there, with commercial hits like “Big Energy” and “Wheelie” with 21 Savage. Latto didn’t need to prove she could rap, she did that a long time ago, but this project showed the world she has the versatility to be one of the top dogs in the game. She has the lyricism, confidence, beat selection, singing voice, and star power to do it all, and that makes her a serious threat to sell a huge amount of records in her career going forward. 777 is easily sitting in the top category in terms of mainstream rap projects this year, hitting all the marks it needed to in order to propel Latto further into stardom.

Few Good Things- Saba

This record is a sleeper for the best rap record of the year in a year that has already seen high profile releases from artists like Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, and Future. Saba has always been a phenomenal rapper, but his story-telling and precise bars really shine through on this project. Every song pays attention to its musical qualities and every lyric feels purposeful, creating a full project that is cohesive and thoughtful. Saba’s critically acclaimed 2018 project Care For Me was a difficult project to follow-up, but this album created something new with the same level of quality. This project has excellent production (see “One Way or Every N****”), fantastic features (Black Thought’s verse on “Few Good Things”), and immersive stories (“2012”). Saba invites his fans into his life in a special way. His vulnerability and mindfulness coupled with skilled rapping make him one of the best rapper’s on earth, and this album is a great reflection of that talent.

I know NIGO!- Nigo

I bet you didn’t expect a 51-year-old Japanese fashion designer to be the face of one of 2022’s best hip hop albums, but NIGO’s album really did deliver. With a star-studded cast of characters including Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, Pusha T, Kid Cudi, and more, the creator of the iconic fashion brand BAPE seemingly had too much talent to be able to miss. More creative director or executive producer here than musician, Nigo used his incredible industry connections to piece together a project with a cohesive sound and vision. All of the tracks were carefully selected to feature some of the top artists in hip hop right now, and to show off the best of what they can do over production that flows from song to song. The project was able to produce a strong vision and some great songs, including “Hear Me Clearly” with Pusha T and “Lost and Found Freestyle 2019” with Tyler and A$AP Rocky.

CRASH- Charli XCX

CRASH feels like the culmination of everything Charli XCX has been working on in recent years, hitting every mark for an excellent album. The sounds meld the big and grand pop vibes of her early work and big commercial hits with the glitchy, hyperpop-related sounds from her more recent records. The songs are all highly emotional, taking pop songwriting and spinning it with twists that fit Charli’s personality. All elements of the production are highly sonically pleasing, and the vocals are top quality. The album holds true to its name with intense emotional high and lows, and heavy production melodies and percussive hits. Everything about it is overstated without being corny. The album feels big, like every track is meant to be blasted in a stadium. From the bouncy synths and catchy melodies of “Good Ones” to the building energy of “Lightning”, Charli’s intense expression creates one of the best albums of the year.

Pier Pressure- ArrDee

ArrDee, a 19-year-old rapper from Brighton, England, came out of nowhere when his verse on a remix of the song “Body” by Russ Millions and Tion Wayne went viral on TikTok. Instead of letting himself become a meme for his brash and energetic verse like one might expect, he capitalized on the buzz with a massive project. He has one of the better rap voices we’ve heard from any new artist, with a unique accent, a full tone, and an ability to work in melodies in. The project is commercial rap, coming with club records and radio-ready hits with every track. ArrDee takes sounds from UK drill (with a lot of heavy 808s in the production), but he also raps over melodic trap beats with clear influences from the American south. Lyrically, ArrDee shows he can rap, and his bars are often clever, but his brand of cheeky, British rap sometimes lacks maturity. At the end of the day, this project has huge commercial hits like “Oliver Twist” and “Flowers (Say My Name)”, and shows the consistency to signal an obvious upward trajectory for ArrDee’s career.

Where We Started- Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett has been one of the biggest artists in country music for years now, and this year he came back with another great project. Where We Started features some incredible love songs like “The Hill”, “Angels”, and “Mama’s Front Door”, and also fun summery songs like “Bass Pro Hat” and “Anything Cold”. At the times the lyrics hit cliches and the themes can get generic, but the record as a whole shows off Rhett’s excellent country voice and ability to express love in a variety of ways. Rhett strikes a balance between country ballads and summer songs to blast in the car, and he gets more of the project right than he gets wrong. Even if you aren’t a country fan, there will be songs on this album that will hit home and have crossover appeal. He doesn’t quite hit the heights of 2015’s Tangled Up, but this is certainly going to be one of the best country albums of 2022.

Ivory- Omar Apollo

Omar Apollo is a bit under-the-radar for one of the most talented artists rising through the ranks of mainstream music. Apollo is versatile, making tracks that range from strictly rnb to indie rock, and his vocals are always immaculate. On Ivory, Apollo leans more into his rnb side, creating soulful and funky sounds as he croons about love and passion. Apollo has always had a smooth voice and a great ability to mold production to fit his voice, but this project feels by far the most polished of anything in his catalog. He has really lived up to his potential with this project, building anticipation for potential future releases. Apollo is a great example of someone who can be a mainstream star in music without sacrificing his musical or personal identity, and Ivory is a fantastic representation of him as an artist. Check out amazing tracks like “Invincible” with Daniel Caesar, and “Go Away” (featured on Moonlxte last year), and “Talk” if you want the highlights of the project.

Gifted- Koffee

Koffee, a 22-year-old Jamaican singer who exploded onto the world stage a few years ago with her hit “Toast”, is one of the excellent international artists a lot of mainstream American fans are missing out on. With sounds that range from pop to dancehall to reggae, Koffee simply has an excellent voice and ability to take you to a happy, warm, place. This album is more than that though, balancing out the summer party tracks with darker cuts about deeper themes. Koffee has the voice and charisma to really draw an audience, and with this project she has the potential to really elevate her already promising career. Jamaican music has always been borrowed from (or ripped off) in the American mainstream, and Koffee’s authentic delivery of sounds that people are familiar with is an exciting development as she moves more and more into the global mainstream.

It’s Almost Dry- Pusha T

Pusha T is widely respected as one of the best lyricists in hip hop, and It’s Almost Dry might be the album in his discography that best represents what he can do. As always with Pusha, this album in full of samples, heavy drums, bravado, and classic coke rap, all delivered with top tier lyricism. With the album being exclusively produced by Pharrell Williams and Kanye West, we get the kinds of classic beats that have built Pusha’s career. The feature list is one of the most impressive of the year in rap as well, with Jay-Z, Ye, Kid Cudi, and Lil Uzi Vert all making appearances. Every song features fantastic rapping, and enough diversity in sounds and concision to keep you engaged. The album’s most grand moment comes through the production of Kanye West, with the immaculate beat that provides the backdrop to “Dreamin’ Of The Past”. Even though Ye’s verse doesn’t quite live up to what Pusha does, the song is a fantastic representation of why this album is one of the best rap projects of the year.

MOTOMAMI- ROSALÍA

Rosalía is one of the biggest stars in the world, and the success of this album has shown just that. Full of big production and impressive vocal moments, MOTOMAMI shows just how versatile and talented she is. The Spanish singer came with the commercial hits here, with tracks like “LA FAMA” featuring The Weeknd and “SAOKO” doing massive streaming numbers, but the project has not only seen commercial success, it has also received rave reviews from critics for its diverse sounds and infectious energy. From track to track Rosalía is sometimes full of energy as she brings party bangers to life, while at other times she is singing soft ballads. She is experimental but also stays true to the unique blend of sounds and ideas that catapulted her to global stardom a few years ago. This album is one of the year’s best when it comes to quality and commercial appeal.

Candid- Ivy Sole

Candid is one of the best under-the-radar hip hop releases of the year, made by in an artist in Ivy Sole who has a ton of promise. With an ability to rap and sing at a high level, and a propensity for writing thoughtful and introspective lyrics, Ivy Sole feels like a star, and this project shows off what they can do. Throughout Candid Ivy bounces around from sound to sound, sometimes coming with flows and blunt lyrics that might remind you of Tyler, The Creator, but also vocal moments that are strong enough to fit seamlessly into an rnb album. There really is no one sound or idea that can define this project. This album is also a great example of how a rising rapper can make an album that will boost their career without blatantly hit-chasing. The album feels like authentic artistry, and its excellent rapping makes it a standout so far this year.

Once Twice Melody- Beach House

Indie duo Beach House have seen their share of critical acclaim and commercial success throughout their long career, and this album is some of their best work. The project is long, with a run time of 1 hour and 24 minutes and songs that often eclipse the 5 minute mark. We get a lot of lead singer Victoria Legrand’s haunting lyrics over intricate electronic melodies and indie drums throughout the project, creating a vibe that fans will be familiar with but new listeners will need to get used to. Once you get lost in their world though, Beach House’s incredible musicality is deeply immersive. With big moments throughout the tracklist from the unorthodox ear worm melodies of the title track “Once Twice Melody” to the building guitars and synth atmosphere of “Superstar”, Beach House take you new places musically throughout the 4 discs of this project.

Ramona Park Broke My Heart- Vince Staples

Ramona Park Broke My Heart is a fantastic album by an amazing, underrated rapper. Vince Staples has been one of the most respected rappers out for years, but he hasn’t had as much mainstream success as his music warrants. This album melds Staples’ traditional west coast flows and production with emotional stories and moments. The collaborations make sense, the songs flow cohesively, and the rapping is elite. Vince raps about crime and gangs in his hometown, Long Beach, CA, but he also injects little moments of his dry humor, and heartfelt content about loving and losing people. This album gives you space to pull out the hard-hitting bangers for a playlist, or bounce through different emotions as you go through the whole tracklist. Vince Staples is a special rapper, and this album is a great representation of what he can do.

I NEVER LIKED YOU- Future

Future is undisputedly one of the greatest trap artists of all time, and this album really solidifies his legacy. At 38, the Atlanta rapper showed he was far from done with this album, creating a consensus top hip hop project of the year. The tracklist is consistent, the beats are all hard, and Future is rapping like he means it on every track. We get singing Future over melodic production and hardcore, rapping Future over dark samples and heavy 808s, as well everything in between here. This album is pretty much everything a Future fan would have hoped for, and it has a lot of songs with serious mainstream appeal. The lyrical content is mostly basic, but as with any Future project, we get some deep moments and some very real emotions. With this album Future met every expectation and gave the fans what they wanted, and that’s an impressive accomplishment.

Heart On My Sleeve- Ella Mai

Heart On My Sleeve gives us more of the radio-friendly rnb that has built British singer Ella Mai’s career. Her signature tone and hit-making abilities are on full display over rap-leaning rnb production. As the project’s title suggests, a lot of the content is based around relationships, with songs about different kinds of relationship problems. It seems like none of the songs from this project are going to take off the way her smash hits “Boo’d Up” and “Trip” did, but she is seeing commercial success here and maintaining her career momentum sufficiently. The project also shows a different, darker side to Mai, instead of focusing on the joyful part of relationships these songs dive into the hard parts, and show that she is good at singing about that too. With just a couple features and sitting at 15 songs, Heart On My Sleeve is a solid effort that stays within itself.

Blue Water Road- Kehlani

Blue Water Road is a tastefully crafted album, with 13 songs that show off why Kehlani is a star. There are just enough features, and the guest artists are stars themselves (Justin Bieber, syd, Thundercaat, etc.). Carving out a sound that is just enough pop and just enough rnb to satisfy both sides, the album is successful with its sound, and also its content. Kehlani is not just talking about surface level themes here, they are talking about their life. What they are feeling, what they are thinking, and working through what it all means. They are also able to stay fun and bouncy, both in sound and lyrics, while being vulnerable and mature. It’s a difficult balance, and that accomplishment makes it the most refined work of Kehlani’s career. Be sure to listen to standout tracks like “up at night” with Justin Bieber and “little story”.

BRIGHTSIDE- The Lumineers

The Lumineers have been one of the most relevant bands in music for the last decade despite rarely dropping new music. This album, coming six years after their previous one, did not disappoint. Featuring a lot of Americana imagery and raw emotion, BRIGHTSIDE feels like the soundtrack to a cross country road trip. Starting with “Brightside” (one of our songs of the year last year), the album is consistently strong and polished from track to track. The production gives space for lead vocalist Wesley Shcultz’s iconic tone to shine over pianos, strings, and guitars. At just 9 tracks, this is a short project, but it has a lot of depth to it, making it feel longer. The Lumineers really have a timeless sound, energy, and ability to appeal to emotion that has made each of their projects special, and this project is an especially strong indicator of future longevity.

CAPRISONGS- FKA Twigs

FKA Twigs’s CAPRISONGS takes her experimental sound and packages it more for a mainstream audience, fitting more classic pop melodies in luscious avant-garde production. The project is also all about collaboration, with many features from The Weeknd to Jorja Smith to British rapper Unknown T. Twigs experiments with different kinds of party-leaning sounds including hip hop, afrobeats, and dance pop, but there are also moments of spacier and softer sounds. There are big differences in sound from track to track, but there are also consistencies, like glitchy vocal production on her high register voice. The more mainstream tracks don’t sacrifice the artistic integrity you hope for from Twigs, with songs like “tears in the club” with the Weeknd, and “jealousy” featuring Nigerian singer rema sounding like they could simultaneously land on the radio and a niche playlist. That’s the balance Twigs was able to strike in creating one of the best albums of the year so far.

Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers- Kendrick Lamar

No album in 2022 could possibly match the hype behind this record, as the world’s top rapper came back with his first project in five years. As for any record with so much hype, released by one of the biggest artists in the world, there was a lot of scrutiny for this project. Criticisms of Kendrick’s failures to be mindful of social issues in significant ways were absolutely warranted, but the musical criticisms have been largely undeserved. It’s not Kendrick’s fault he has one of the best discographies in hip hop history. Regardless of how it’s legacy will compare to his previous work, this is easily in the conversation for rap album of the year, with excellent production, top quality lyricism and story-telling, and incredibly meaningful themes. Kendrick is introspective, vulnerable, and raw about his life as a whole on this project, something we have never fully gotten from him before. The result is an excellent album with some of the year’s best songs including “Father Time” with Sampha, “N95”, “Count Me Out”, and more.

Humble Quest- Maren Morris

Humble Quest is all about being honest about the journey of life for Maren Morris. It’s full of her signature vocal tone that melds country and pop so well, and some classic pop country song-writing mixed with a little extra authenticity. At just 11 songs, Morris keeps it short and sweet, and in that tracklist she comes through with multiple songs with hit appeal. Morris really invites you into her life on this project, simply making real life moments that many have experienced into songs. At moments the songwriting gets a little to conceptual and detaches from the authenticity that makes this project good, but it generally stays true to its core ideas. In moments like “Circles Around This Town”, “Background Music”, and “Humble Quest”, Morris is the genuine hitmaker with a great voice that you love, and that makes this project one of the best of the year so far.

Melt My Eyez See Your Future- Denzel Curry

Denzel Curry, a 27-year-old rapper from Carol City, FL, has been a significant name in the rap scene for the better part of the last decade, but this is his most complete body of work yet. Curry, who is known for having fast flows and a penchant for carefully crafting his bars in a generation of Florida rappers who are largely more concerned with hit-making, pleased hip hop fans around the world with his thoughtful lyrics on this record. This album shows elevation from Curry as it takes his signature aggressive delivery and tones it down just enough to fit boom bap style production. Denzel still feels hungry, like he always does, but he is no longer trying to prove himself and more so staying true to his artistry on this record. This album has earned its spot in the conversation for best rap album of the year through its combination of great rapping and the stylistic self-awareness we get from Curry.

Loner- Alison Wonderland

Alison Wonderland, a 35-year-old Australian DJ and EDM producer, produced, wrote, and sang every single song on her third studio album Loner. The project is full of big, anthemic EDM tracks that build to massive beat drops, but it also has a softer, emotional side. Wonderland, the highest billed female DJ in Coachella history, has become a big name in a music scene that has never been inclusive of women on the production and DJing side of things, and this record furthers her status at the top of the EDM world. She was also able to use this project to create a hopeful and positive sound that is meant to help people through their struggles, as Wonderland herself has been vocal about her experiences with mental illness. There are multiple moments on the project that feel rousing and motivating in a special way like “Something Real” and “Bad Things”, making this a moving body of work.

Dance Fever- Florence + The Machine

Florence + The Machine came out of the gate with smash hits on their debut Lungs in 2009, and they are still delivering top quality music in 2022. Lead singer Florence Welch, now 35, comes into this album with a mature and thoughtful perspective that is clear in the songwriting. The production is also a modernized take on the sound that made Florence + The Machine big, with significant collaboration between Welch and super producer Jack Antonoff (who has helped superstars like Taylor Swift, Lorde, and Lana Del Rey create massive hits). True to its title, the album is sometimes dancey, but it is also vulnerable and real and far from a mindless listen. Welch’s intention was actually to explore the concept of dancing oneself to death, thinking about her own relationship with being a performer. What we get as a result is an album that has the grand sounds of early Florence + The Machine but also more introspective lyrics.

Digital Dreamscape- ayokay

Digital Dreamscape sees ayokay, a Michigan-born producer who has built a big name producing for artists like Quinn XCII and Jeremy Zucker, focus on his own sound. On the project he takes his typical pop style and adds more elements of electronic music, resulting in a tracklist of radio-ready singles that hold more nostalgia and emotion than a typical dance track. It feels a bit like early Chainsmokers with less EDM and bit more pop in the sound. ayokay is also able to keep the production elements cohesive, with similar patterns in the drums and tones in the production melodies. The best songs have a groove that gives them replay value for their sound alone, but also lyrics and themes that will make you think and feel as you listen. For highlights of the album check out “Amnesia” featuring Nightly, “I’ll Be Alright” with Stay Over, and “Less Alone” with Quinn XCII.

Love and Other Lies- Charlotte Sands

Sands, who went viral on TikTok in 2021 with her hit “Dress” (which is featured on this project), has really found her sound on her 2022 EP Love and Other Lies. With the ability to belt out emotional lyrics over heavy rock drums and guitars, Sands takes what it means to be a modern rockstar who uses pop-friendly melodies and makes it feel authentic. She embraces the punk image and puts together rock and pop sounds from the last few decades, making her sound anthemic. From the infectious positive energy of “Dress” to the massive choruses on “Keep Me Up All Night”, Sands packs a lot of great sonic moments into a 7 song EP, showing a ton of potential for growth as an artist. At her very best, Sands is singing about a love life obsession on “Want You Like That”, crafting soaring choruses and memorable verses over a catchy, guitar-based instrumental.

Sunset Visionary, Vol. 2- Tom The Mail Man

Tom The Mail Man has showed up on Moonlxte again and again for his versatility and potential, and one of our artists to watch this year has solidified his standing in the game even more with this project. This record once again shows that Tom can seamlessly transition from rapper to rockstar. He is the highly refined version of a 2010s Soundcloud rapper, taking all the best parts of that influence and leaving behind the elements that wouldn’t land in 2022. On this album Tom is every bit as emotional as he always is, and he communicates it in different ways. From his rap verse on “FWM2” that builds more into a hyperpop kind of sound to the heavy rock production of “Destroyed” to the acoustic ballad that is “Brown Eyes and Backwoods”, Tom is real and vulnerable through all of his mediums. His sound really encapsulates so many parts of what music is in 2022 so well, and Tom The Mail Man once again shows that on Sunset Visionary, Vol. 2.

Tana Talk 4- Benny The Butcher

Tapped-in rap fans know Buffalo’s Griselda clique are at the top of the lyrical rap world in 2022, and Benny has the best commercial potential of the group. Tana Talk 4 is a classic Griselda rap record with grimy beats and lyric-heavy coke rap, but it has more diversity in production and nods to the commercial rap world than much of Benny’s previous work. The lead single “Johnny P’s Caddy” shows especially how Benny could capitalize on mainstream buzz without sacrificing his identity, featuring a balance of catchy bars and pure rap verses, as well as a feature from one of the king’s of selling lyricism, J Cole. Overall, the project is excellent because it is cohesive, concise at only 11 songs, and only features the best in quality when it comes to lyricism. If you want an album cut that really shows off what Benny does best, check out “Weekend In The Perry’s” featuring Boldy James.

God Don’t Make Mistakes- Conway The Machine

Benny The Butcher isn’t the only Griselda rapper with a great album this year, Conway The Machine also came with the heat. God Don’t Make Mistakes pivots from the slightly more mainstream sound of Conway’s excellent 2021 album La Maquina and leans back into classic Conway sounds. This album is just straight up pure rap. Heavy beats, carefully selected samples, and classic hip hop themes. Conway is able to differentiate himself though, as he is uncharacteristically vulnerable about his mental health on “Stressed” with Wallo267, forces rap legends to keep up with him on “Tear Gas” with Rick Ross and Lil Wayne, and plays with melody on “So Much More”. Just like the rest of his catalog, this album isn’t built for radio, so it’s not going to be one of the biggest commercial rap albums of the year, but it is easily one of the best.

American Heartbreak- Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak carries a lot of Bruce Springsteen-esque Americana, but it’s also deeply country. The 26-year-old Oklahoman’s big soulful voice is perfect for telling stories, and his song-writing is poetic. The closest comparison for Bryan might be Tyler Childers, but he is his own artist. At 34 songs, this album is really long, but it’s also consistently good, an incredibly impressive feat for a newer artist. The production is often stripped down to Bryan with an acoustic guitar, but you also hear fiddles, harmonicas, electric guitars, and drums throughout the tracklist. The real star is always Bryan’s soulful voice though, and the quotable lyrics he sings with that voice. For such an extended tracklist, this album is remarkably lacking in filler, with song after song sounding fantastic. Even if you aren’t a country music fan, this album is a must-listen for any huge music fan in 2022.

Pain Museum- Brevin Kim

Brevin Kim, one of our artists to watch in 2022, have dropped one of the year’s most exciting projects with Pain Museum. The two brothers from Massachusetts find a way to mix intensely sad songwriting with high energy production and unorthodox vocal mixes. This album is heavy on 808s, and big, in your face moments, but it is also soft and vulnerable. That contrast between edgy production and painful lyrics makes up the concept of the album, and the duo are able to balance both while also crafting a lot of catchy song structures. Songs like “DYE”, “NAPLES”, and “CAN’T HANDLE IT” show off the fantastic sound and energy they have created, and the tracklist as a whole is quite consistent for a debut. Brevin Kim has catapulted up our ranks as one of the top artists to watch in the entire industry over the past year, and Pain Museum is the culmination of all their hard work so far.

I used to think I could fly- Tate McRae

I used to think I could fly is a great album from one of pop’s most promising new voices in 18-year-old Canadian Tate McRae. On this record McRae shows she can make hits (see the success of single “all i wanna be”), that she has great vocals, and that she is able to emotionally connect with her generation. The themes of the album are largely centered around growing up and struggling with relationships, common for a debut from a young artist, but done well by McRae. The songwriting is catchy enough for pop radio, but it also has caption-worthy lines and enough musicality to be interesting for a variety of listeners. Of all of this year’s mainstream pop records, this is one of the highest quality and most consistent. Check out “she’s all i wanna be”, “chaotic”, and “what’s your problem?” for highlights of the album.

So Far So Good- The Chainsmokers

The Chainsmokers have built a career off of being EDM pop hitmakers who work with other high profile artists. On this album though, Drew Taggert’s vocals and their production are the only stars, with none of the 13 songs including any features. The production all largely aligns with their previous work, but there is diversity in their instrumentals. This music does not have quite the same commercial appeal as their biggest album, 2016’s Memories… Do Not Open, but it is an easy and fun listen. The album also stays true to their past work by having a lot of relationship focused tracks, with some of the best being the bouncy “I Love U”, the rock-leaning “High”, and the beachy energy of “Riptide”. This is not the album that you are going to sit with and analyze, but it is one of the most accessible listens of the year, and that has to mean something.

WHO CARES?- Rex Orange County

WHO CARES? is exactly the album a fan would want from English indie artist Rex Orange County. The production melds indie pop and orchestral instrumentation, Rex’s lyrics are emotional, and his signature vocal tone and delivery star. He stays true to his classic style of creating, bouncy, memorable choruses and verses that will keep you singing along. There is a signature bounce and production similarities that make this an extremely cohesive project, but there are enough differences in each track that will keep you coming back and playing this record again and again. Rex has also seen incredible commercial success on the album, with each of the tracks on the record easily earning millions of listens in the first few months since release, and the singles building up tens of millions of streams. Rex seems much more invested in quality than he is in being a pop radio artist, but this album has the kinds of catchy tracks that are bound to do fantastic numbers.

Closer To Closure- Lexi Jayde

One of our artists to watch this year, Lexi Jayde has been doing big things in music as a teenager, and her EP Closer To Closure is the next step in that process. The album is all about heartbreak: the shock, the anger, the healing, and maybe some closure. Jayde is raw and real on this project and provides a lot of validation and understanding to young women whose pain is dismissed as dramatic. It’s not just the themes, but also the sound that make this project exciting, as Jayde’s soft vocal tone is deeply emotional and unique, and she seems to have a good ear for the pop production that matches her voice. Highlights of the record show Jayde’s sonic range, from her soft take on a breakup song on “you don’t deserve these tears” to the powerful choruses and anger of “hate to be you”. Lexi Jayde continues to be an artist to watch, and Closer To Closure shows just some of what she can do.

Come Home The Kids Miss You- Jack Harlow

The most heavily criticized album on this list, Come Home The Kids Miss You is a complicated one. Based on his prior discography, this album is a clear success for Harlow, with the best sales and most polished rapping of his career, but it didn’t live up to the hype surrounding it. Harlow has become an icon, and people expected him to essentially drop a Drake album (one that featured the highest level of rapping and commercial appeal). The thing is, Harlow has never dropped anything that could rival a Drake album, and while he focuses on his lyricism more than the typical mainstream rapper, he usually gets by on his voice and confidence. If you take this album for what it is though, it’s a top 50 album so far this year because it features good rapping, good production, a good combination of slightly deeper lyrical themes and typical hit-making, and it has performed quite well commercially.

Learn 2 Swim- Redveil

redveil is one of the most exciting artists on this list, an 18-year-old rapper with skill that easily rivals and often exceeds many established rappers. The Maryland rapper also produced every single track on this record, with beats that sound jazzy and understated, creating the perfect atmosphere for the young rapper’s surprisingly deep voice to shine. It has the feel of early Joey Bada$$, a young rapper who has an uncanny feel for how to take 90s hip hop sounds and make them accessible to a modern audience. Tracks like “pg baby” should make hip hop fans giddy, featuring redveil flowing effortlessly over hard drums and a perfectly placed sample. It’s not just that track though, with the whole project showing a lot of maturity and consistency for a young rapper. Lyricism is a skill that tends to improve with age in hip hop, and redveil’s natural talent shown on this project should make him a force to reckoned with going forward.

Un Verano Sin Ti- Bad Bunny

Bad Bunny is an absolute commercial juggernaut in the modern music landscape, but he’s also a quality artist who has changed the game through his style (both with music and clothes). Un Verano Sin Ti or A Summer Without You in english is a long album at 23 tracks, but it’s full of huge hits and stays consistent. Bad Bunny is one of the rare artists who is able to cater to a commercial audience at an elite level, varying his sounds and themes, while staying consistent with quality and keeping things cohesive enough to present a strong vision. He has also become a global sensation making music that doesn’t try too hard at all to do that, and this album shows that off. He stays true to his Puerto Rican roots while pushing his sound forward, and through his authenticity he draws a huge audience to the project.

flora + fana- Fana Hues

California singer Fana Hues has created on of the year’s best rnb projects so far with flora + fana. The album is full of her powerful vocals and authenticity, and a sound that truly feels like it encapsulates the best of the amazing genre that is rnb in 2022. Hues is a relatively new artist in the mainstream sense, who many were introduced to by Tyler, The Creator’s Call Me If You Get Lost track “SWEET/ I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE”. That being said, she has the refined command of a veteran vocalist and a vision and purpose that draws you in as a listener. The album could be more experimental, but it does what it sets out to do well, keeping it concise at 11 tracks, and not sacrificing quality in the vocals or production. Fana Hues should be one of the biggest emerging names to watch in rnb after the release of this project.

Last Ones Left- EST Gee, 42 Dugg

Last Ones Left might be the hardest hitting rap albums of the year. EST Gee and 42 Dugg seem to fit together effortlessly, both coming with the same energy and bars about crime and money, but significantly contrasting deliveries. Gee has a deep, full tone that glides over heavy trap production, while Dugg’s higher register changes up the feel and lends itself to hooks. This project starts on a ten and never lowers the energy. Every beat is hard, every verse sounds hungry, and no one is mailing it in. You’ll be nodding your head throughout the 17 tracks. Despite being from different cities in Louisville (Gee) and Detroit (Dugg), and having very different vocal deliveries, the duo, who are both signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG label, have some of the best chemistry in rap. For highlights of the project, check out “Ice Talk”, “Spin”, and “Everybody Shooters Too”.

Forest In The City- UMI

23-year-old singer UMI has a strong voice that she uses with skill on her debut album, Forest in the City. With a sound that is perhaps most reminiscent of SZA, but with a different vocal tone and lyrical themes. UMI does explore typical topics of a debut record like growing up and her relationships, but given that she has released music before, this is less of an introduction to who she is as a person and more what she can do as an artist with a full-length record. At its best moments Forest in the City features UMI exploring new production styles and using catchy melodies to tell stories. Tracks like “sorry”, where she opens about about her flaws and struggles over a beat that builds into a groove, and “moonlit room”, which features a story of being stuck in love with someone who treats you badly, highlight the best of this excellent album.

Harry’s House- Harry Styles

Harry’s House is one of the biggest albums of the year, and that’s because he was able to intersect true star power and quality. It has the traditional smash hit in the TikTok-famous “As It Was”, dancey tracks for his famous live performances like “Late Night Talking” and “Music For a Sushi Restaurant”, and emotional, softer cuts like “Matilda” and “Little Freak”. On this album Harry accomplishes the task that is so hard for any huge star with an obsessed fanbase. He makes everyone happy, at least the best he can. At his best, Harry is vulnerable and softly telling meaningful stories, like he does reminiscing about someone he used to date on “Little Freak”, or singing to his fans who don’t feel completely loved by their families on “Matilda”. Styles is one of the biggest artists in the world because he is able to make music that makes people feel like it is ok to be themselves, and this album shows off that incredible skill.

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

Thank you for reading! Please follow us on instagram @moonlxtemelodies, on twitter @Moonlxtemels, and on tiktok @moonlxtemelodies

12 up-and-coming artists you need to know for the new year, and the best tracks to introduce you to their catalogs. Check out the other 12 artists we picked to blow up here

By Ben Leshan

We did this series last year, focusing on multiple artists who had big years including Aries, Arlo Parks, Morray, and Clinton Kane. We’re back with another installment this year, and you better believe we’re putting you on to more future stars!

This is part 2 of a 2 part series. Please check out part 1 here

*all Spotify monthly listeners as of 3/10/22

Sebastian Paul

Age: Unknown

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 1,711,632

Where to Start: TROJAN HORSE, BACK AND FORTH

Sebastian Paul combines so many of the elements of modern popular music into one cohesive sound. The singer-songwriter and producer does it all throughout his catalog, creating catchy melodies, layered production that bounces around between EDM and pop, and singing emotionally-charged lyrics in a signature raspy tone. Genreless and purely artistic, Paul is carving out an intensely creative and vulnerable space in alt-pop that carries a lot of excitement with it. His music sounds like it comes from the future, and that is intentional, as Paul is always striving to push music forward. “TROJAN HORSE” shows off his roots as an artist, with electronic production but more pop-leaning lyrics, while a song like “BACK AND FORTH” has a more typical pop song structure and shows his radio-friendly appeal. Paul hasn’t released any music since 2020, but you can expect his next work to push boundaries and catch the ears of many new listeners.

Claud

Age: 22

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 676,042

Where to Start: Soft Spot, Tommy

Claud has a breathy bedroom pop voice that will immediately get you engaged, and as you continue to listen to their music, the pictures they paint of love, heartbreak, and growing up will float vividly through your mind. Somewhere in the lane of artists like Soccer Mommy and Clairo, Claud’s music is raw and emotional in its lyrics, but gentle and pretty in its sound. There is something incredibly haunting about the sadder parts of their catalog, but also something inviting and warm in their voice at all times. Highlights of their catalog include “Soft Spot”, a record about missing an ex, and “Tommy”, which describes the feeling of knowing you are not the person your partner is in love with. After their excellent 2021 album Super Monster and “Tommy” coming as a single at the end of last year, Claud is ready to breakout even more with their next project.

Brakence

Age: 20

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 797,951

Where to Start: argyle, f***boy

brakence, a 20-year-old singer who has been dropping top level music since dropping out of The Ohio State University at 17, combines a mix of influences to create a sound that he describes as “self-care punk”. His music has electronic elements and intricacies that are reminiscent of hyperpop, but his music comes at a slower pace and is very much in the emo space. With a very distinctive and deep vocal tone, brakence doesn’t sound like his peers, and his vocals are always produced with little glitches that make him sound even more unique. His music is usually about love, heartbreak, and depression, making some of the lyrics painfully sad, but in a way that has the potential to help a lot of listeners through hard times. A lowkey personality focused on the art first and foremost, brakence is at his most expressive when he yells out his lyrics at the studio or at live shows. With a growing fanbase and a whole lot of musical talent, brakence is a big artist to watch as he comes off tour with one of last year’s artists to watch, Aries.

Mustafa

Age: 25

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 256,497

Where to Start: Stay Alive, Air Forces

Mustafa makes music unlike anything you’ve ever heard before, turning stories of street violence into beautifully haunting folk songs. Born in Toronto to Sudanese parents, Mustafa was a poet before he was a musical artist, which translates to magically evocative lyrics about the pain and bright spots of growing up around street violence. Mustafa seems to effortlessly craft a completely distinctive sound, and sings with one of the most memorable tones you’ll ever hear (a sound that landed him on part 1 of our Best Albums of 2021 List). There is so much pain and passion in every part of his voice, and every note is sung with so much care. Many of his songs honor his fallen friends, like rapper Smoke Dawg and community organizer Yusuf Ali, who were both lost to gun violence, speaking about their losses in a thoughtful and poetic way. Throughout his catalog Mustafa is intensely vulnerable as he openly navigates the pain of losing these important people in his life, seeming crying into the void to ask for them back. With his incredible artistry and lyrical genius, Mustafa should be a huge force going forward into 2022.

44Phantom

Age: 20/21

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 256,042

Where to Start: freak, I WON’T COMPLAIN

44Phantom has all of the elements of a budding star, with a high-pitched tone that is easy on the ears and instantly recognizable, and a lot of youthful energy that he pairs with rebellious and vulnerable lyrics. Sitting somewhere around pop punk and alt-pop, 44Phantom is really good at being sad and angry in his lyrics while maintaining danceability and excitement. Coming from Oklahoma, Phantom didn’t grow up around the kind of music scene that would support his growth, but he has made his own path and sound. In terms of production, he has an ear for the catchiest grungy guitar licks, and his songwriting is already very developed for such a young artist. He is yet to catch major commercial success on any of his tracks, but his songs are extremely consistent in sound and commercial performance, and he has begun to work with bigger collaborators like Tom the Mail Man. Upon listening to his catalog, it becomes evident that 44Phantom is ready to become a big name with another body of work.

Renforshort

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 1,054,900

Where to Start: f*** i luv my friends, moshpit

Renforshort has all the early makings of a pop star, with excellent vocal capabilities, a wonderful tone, great story-telling abilities, and a confident and youthful delivery. The 19-year-old Canadian has an extremely consistent catalog for such a young artist, crafting songs that are highly reflective of common experiences in her generation. Ren is able to tap into the kinds of stories about love and growing up that should be sure to resonate for fans around her age, and that will bring out a lot of nostalgia in older listeners. She saw a lot of good commercial success of her EP off saint dominique in 2021, and her 2022 single “Moshpit” has hit written all over it. With songs that have an undeniable pop sound but also mix in aspects of electronica and grungier undertones, Renforshort has created her own sound that seems to resonate really well with her target audience. Expect to see Renforshort become a big name in pop in the coming years.

Paris Texas

Group Members: Louie Pastel & Felix

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 380,336

Where to Start: HEAVY METAL, girls like drugs

Paris Texas have found a nice lane in hip hop, with enough experimentation to bring in more indie fans, enough lyricism to please the hip hop purists, and enough pure aggressive energy to get people rocking with them. The California duo of Louie Pastel and Felix will truly stand out in the rap game, drifting between soft melodies and intensely aggressive bars over rock guitar riffs and heavy hip hop drums. Just like their song “HEAVY METAL” suggests, there is something very reminiscent of the rock subgenre especially in their production, and their raps sound like something in between Earl Sweatshirt, OutKast, and Rage Against The Machine. The duo truly seem like they don’t care what anyone thinks, and doing their own thing has already brought them a lot of success. Paris Texas’s experimentation and energy make them special, and they have the potential to get bigger in hip hop due to their original sound.

SAIAH

Age: 23/24

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 210,077

Where to Start: CHEATER, LAZLO

SAIAH is full of so much energy, and his crisp and clean tone is extremely pleasing to the ear. A former college track athlete, SAIAH is a genre-bender able to bounce between pop, indie, rnb, hip hop and rock sounds. His most recent project, RACEWAY: THE WISDOM OF INSECURITY, leans more indie rock/pop though. As an artist, he just oozes confidence and vision, with a great ear for exciting sounds, an amazing pen for translating emotions into lyrics that resonate, and a creative and innovative fashion style. SAIAH brings so many things to the table, with the potential to make a wide range of listeners happy. Some of his best tracks include “CHEATER” (which was featured on part 2 of our Best Songs of 2021 List), a passionate punk leaning cut about infidelity that features Tom The Mail Man, and “LAZLO” a more laidback indie love song featuring RIZ LA VIE. SAIAH’s versatility, energy, incredible voice, and command of his vision make him an exciting young talent, and definitely a major artist to look out for this year.

Ama Lou

Age: 21

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 445,200

Where to Start: NORTHSIDE, All I Can Say

Ama Lou has been releasing great music since she was just a young teen in 2016, but her career is really ready to take off in 2022. The British singer has an incredible RnB voice, and an ear for sounds that always make her stand out. Making tracks that lean into hip hop and grime with lyrics that exude confidence and emotional intelligence, Ama Lou is already at the top of her game, she just needs more ears to find her work. Her 2021 EP At Least We Have This, which we highlighted on our Best Albums of 2021 Part 2, shows off her ability to dive into different sounds (even singing over a drill beat) and craft amazing earworm melodies. She also has an incredible fashion sense and is a successful model, which should make her stand out even further. Ama’s voice truly has the potential to be iconic, and her melodies sound excellent throughout her catalog, but especially on her standout tracks like “NORTHSIDE” and “All I Can Say”. All in all it is clear that Ama Lou has so much potential to break out in a big way this year.

Nilüfer Yanya

Age: 26

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 959,895

Where to Start: Keep On Calling, midnight sun

26-year-old British singer Nilüfer Yanya has an incredible vocal tone that you won’t be able to get out of your head once you first hear it. Yanya’s rnb infused indie rock sound is exciting and original, featuring soft indie drums and guitars with floating vocals delivered in a signature tone you’ll want to hear over and over again. Lyrically, Yanya often speaks about relationships and insecurities, fully opening up about her struggles and trying to grow through her songs. The singer also has a very recent release under her belt, as she dropped her album PAINLESS in early March of 2022. The record has been receiving rave reviews, and is certainly an early favorite for one of our albums of the year, with great tracks front-to-back. You can expect to see Yanya and PAINLESS on a lot of top music publications, and this record should easily surpass her previous streaming totals. Yanya is certainly becoming a big name, so it’s definitely time to get on her wave.

BERWYN

Age: 25/26

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 228,277

Where to Start: RUBBER BANDS, TO BE LOVED

BERWYN, a Trinidad-born and London-based alt-rnb/rap artist is creating unorthodox songs packed with universal emotion. His accented vocals float with grace over sparse and spacious production, creating a sense of warmth in the darkness. His voice is so soulful and full, and he is able to transition effortlessly between his singing and rapping voices, both of which sound excellent. BERWYN is incredibly vivid in his descriptions of love and pain, and he is excellent at selecting production that matches his energy. There is a lot of darkness in his stories, a lot of regret and sadness, but also optimism in hope in the lines he sings and raps. His 2021 project “TAPE 2/FOMALHAUT” is a great release, featuring a lot of amazing tracks including the infectious breakup anthem “RUBBER BANDS” and the vulnerable and spacey “TO BE LOVED”.

Brevin Kim

Group Members: Brendan Paulhus & Callin Paulhus

Spotify Monthly Listeners: 198,155

Where to Start: NAPLES, YOU.F.O.

Brevin Kim, a duo of brothers from suburban Massachusetts, found success after taking a chance on their dreams early in the Covid-19 pandemic, but they still have a lot of room to grow. Making music that blurs the lines between rock, pop, electronic music, and hip hop (with elements that can link them back to hyperpop), Brevin Kim are truly creating their own signature sound. With music that can be aggressive, vulnerable, deeply sad, and energetic, the duo truly capture the frenzy of love and finding oneself. The production they choose really jumps all over the map, but the sounds all match their vibe, with a lot of booming drums, grimy synths, and big, chaotic moments. The duo hasn’t caught any major hits yet, but the quality of their work is consistent, and they have seen significant commercial growth in the last year. Brevin Kim is definitely an artist to have on your radar going into 2022.

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No Rankings. Just 50 Amazing Songs that tell the story of music in 2021’s second half

By Ben Leshan

Easy On Me- Adele

Easy on Me is the big Adele piano ballad we all know and love, but this time it’s coming from a more mature perspective. The song has been the massive commercial hit of her 30 album, and it is the most made-for-radio track of a record that has a lot of longer and unorthodox tracks. This is the best of Adele, with phenomenal vocals, true and relatable emotion, and a concise delivery that lends itself to listening again and again.

What’s Wrong- Rod Wave

Rod Wave has gotten a lot of love on this blog, (checkout our spotlight of his album SoulFly) and it’s for good reason. One of rap’s most prolific and talented artists, Rod packed a lot of gems into the deluxe version of SoulFly, but this was the best of them all, featuring incredible passionate vocals that would hit anyone in the heart. On the track Rod answers others’ question of what is wrong with him, explaining all the pain he has been through that has shaped his identity.

Meet Me At Our Spot (Live)- THE ANXIETY feat. WILLOW, Tyler Cole

Something about Willow Smith’s live performance of “Meet Me At Our Spot” is incredibly captivating. It became one of the year’s most popular songs on TikTok with thousands of users lip-syncing along to her lyrics. WILLOW has a super unique tone and an ability to capture youth and rebellion and her words, and this record is a great example of her talent.

It Only Gets Worse, I Promise- Ekkstacy

“It Only Gets Worse, I Promise” is Ekkstacy at this best, singing haunting sad melodies over a slightly frantic indie beat that makes the song danceable. His filtered vocals are perfectly dark and pretty, and his lyrics are concise and poetic always. Just a teenager, Ekkstacy’s song-writing, ear for production, and emotional sensibility give him some of the greatest potential of any young artist.

daniel*- SEB

“daniel*” features some of the year’s catchiest melodies, with a beachy guitar riff and floating vocals delivered by indie artist SEB. SEB has such clear, full vocals that are packed with emotion, and the production plays with the drums nicely to find a soft and subtle pocket. This song just feels like a nice sunny day that you keep replaying in your head.

MEMORIES!- 347aidan

347aidan is only 18-years old, but his talent has already pushed him to a ton of mainstream success. On “MEMORIES!” Aidan layers his vocals creatively to create a magical effect over a YouTube beat, creating a song that blends the melodic sensibility of Post Malone with the edge of pop punk. Aidan’s tone is a standout, and his emotion as he sings about missing someone who never treated him well in first place should hit home for a lot of fans.

Only When I Look Into Your Eyes- Fiji Blue

Fiji Blue sounds incredibly polished and sure of themselves, as the former Berklee students have found a calm and emotive indie style that has a lot of potential to sell records. “Only When I Look Into Your Eyes” has it all, from an incredibly catchy hook to grooving production and relatable lyrics. Fiji Blue are definitely poised to do big things if they keep making tracks like this one.

Dearly Beloved- Wale feat. Jamie Foxx

“Dearly Beloved” is short and sweet, and it gives us some the best reflective rap lyrics of the entire year. On the track Wale dives into his emotions surrounding the end of a relationship over Jamie Foxx vocals. He is bitter, yet he is measured and self-aware, and most of all he is firmly human in his lyrics, baring all of his feelings and flaws. The song is a little short with just a single verse, but Wale leaves his listeners dying for more with this track.

Family Ties- Baby Keem feat. Kendrick Lamar

“Family Ties” is an absolute banger. Simple as that. Most of the hype for this song as a single surrounded the return of Kendrick Lamar, who seemingly hadn’t released as much as a single verse in centuries, but Kendrick wasn’t the only one to bring it on this track, as Keem delivered a stellar performance as well. The flows are non-stop, the bars are clever, and the whole thing just oozes confidence. This is the perfect song to turn up all the way, and it is easily once of the most technically intricate rap hits of the year.

Oxygen- Beach Bunny

“Oxygen” by Beach Bunny is one of the year’s best indie tracks, featuring some nice rock drums and guitars and great vocals delivered in lead singer Lili Trifilio’s ear-catching tone. Trifilio gets lost in her emotions about falling in love on the song, bringing a lot of passion. There’s a little bit of Paramore in this record, but it feels modern and clean, just as appealing to a casual listener on the radio and a misunderstood teen trying to find their music taste.

Stoned Nights- WizTheMC

WizTheMC, a 22-year-old artist from Toronto, models after Chance The Rapper with a name that suggest pure hip hop, but music that staunchly ignores genre lines. “Stoned Nights” exist somewhere in an alt-pop space with definite influences from rnb and hip hop, but it is mostly focused on conveying emotion in a manner that carries universal sonic appeal. Wiz gets in his feelings about losing his love, calling out with layered vocals about the lonely nights when he misses her.

Walking Away- Chelsea Cutler

“Walking Away” is a deeply sad track delivered with a lot of sweetness. Cutler speaks about the feelings around a breakup, how it is neither person’s fault in this case, and therefore difficult to accept. The sonic appeal of the song is undeniable, it is definitely ready for radio, but it also doesn’t feel like a shallow concept, matching the depth and musical integrity that Cutler has brought to her earlier work.

u hurts me hurts u- Anson Seabra

Anson Seabra is amazing at capturing a feeling with his sweet tone and evocative lyrics, and he does that here, singing about the pain of a broken relationship. The pretty quality of his voice in contrast with the darkness of what he sings about makes for an especially heartbreaking song. It provides a sense of comfort but also could make you cry, and shows off how good Seabra truly is.

Big Star- Lorde

“Big Star” is the hidden gem of Lorde’s 2021 album Solar Power featuring a lot of her best qualities. The song is stripped down and bare, leaving a lot of room for true feelings. Everything about the track is vulnerable and free. It sounds like it could have built up into a big radio hit with a lot more production, but the intimacy of the song as it was released perfectly fits Lorde’s vision.

Moon- Kanye West feat. Don Toliver and Kid Cudi

“Moon” quite literally feels like ascending into space. Between Don Toliver’s magical voice calling out “I wanna go to the moon”, Kid Cudi’s iconic soothing hums, and floating production from Ye and collaborators, it is easy to feel like you’re in a whole different dimension when listening to this track.

Panic Attacks in Paradise- Ashnikko

Ashnikko earned fame as an aggressive rapper, but on this track she shows off her vulnerability and singing. The song feels quite real and raw coming from an artist who often uses her music to harness her strength rather than reveal her vulnerabilities. The theme of the track, struggling with pain and anxiety even in circumstances that are purportedly peaceful and positive, is sure to be relatable for a lot of listeners and has the potential to help a lot of people through similar situations.

Girl of My Dreams- Juice Wrld feat. SUGA

Juice Wrld rose to fame for his sad-rap about breakups and drugs, but as we have gotten more of music since his death in 2019, it has become clear that he was also great at writing love songs. Written for his girlfriend Allie Lottie, “Girl of My Dreams” has an undeniable melody and carries so much hit potential. BTS’s SUGA may not have been the best possible feature for the track, but he still hands in a good verse to tie everything together. Watch this track have a huge commercial breakthrough from Juice’s new posthumous album Fighting Demons.

Teenage Mona Lisa- Alfie Castley

18-year-old singer Alfie Castley is quite new to this, with “Teenage Mona Lisa” being his only song on major streaming services. Just because he’s young and inexperienced doesn’t mean he’s not supremely talented though. After blowing up on TikTok the track has gained enough momentum to earn hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify in its first month out. A sad and pretty pop song, “Teenage Mona Lisa” uses a unique writing style to capture themes of youth and love.

Big Energy- Latto

Latto is a bonafide star, and this song proves it. She spits with pure confidence, flowing effortlessly and spitting empowering bars. “Big Energy” has production that feels like Soul Train trap, and Latto does a great job of staying in the pocket and talking her talk on the record. The south produces a lot of new big name rappers each year, but Latto differentiates herself and shows off her star power here.

One Right Now- Post Malone feat. The Weeknd

“One Right Now” is one of the best pure pop hits of the year, featuring the iconic combination of two of the world’s biggest stars, Post Malone and The Weeknd. They bounce off of each other effortlessly, and the song matches both of their styles, giving The Weeknd space to use his incredible vocal range over slightly funky production while giving Post the space to deliver the catchiest of melodies. This song is just undeniably good.

Love Yourself- KenTheMan

KenTheMan delivers one of the hardest project intros of the year with “Love Yourself”, coming with quotable bars, a great rap voice, and production that builds up tension until the drums fill in to create a big moment. KenTheMan has amazing potential to become a real star in the rap game, and this track really shows what she is capable of doing.

Go To Hell- Clinton Kane

Clinton Kane has made his career with soft emotional ballads that showcase his strong voice and sweet tone, but on this track he gets angry, and it works. Kane feels the pain of being cheated on, and he tells his ex to “Go To Hell”. He is able to find his usual vulnerability, and he is not disrespectful, but fully human in his anger. The production leans pop punk more than his traditional pop, and everything just fits together well for a great song. Kane certainly lived up to his place on our Artists To Watch in 2021 with this track.

Dizzy- Chloe Moriondo feat. Thomas Headon, Alfie Templeman

Chloe Moriondo has made multiple appearances on Moonlxte as one of our favorite up-and-coming artists, and she delivers again with a great performance on this track to compliment Headon and Templeman. Rather than heading in an emo direction like Moriondo’s latest album Blood Bunny, this is a great upbeat pop song that can get you up and dancing with spacey chords and grooving drums.

Found- Tems feat. Brent Faiyaz

Tems, a 26-year-old Nigerian singer with a killer voice, teams up with Brent Faiyaz for one of the most vibey songs of the year with “Found”. Both vocalists have incredible tones that float effortlessly over the subtle percussion and chords in the background. Tems has had a great year with the success of her EP If Orange Was a Place and scoring a Drake feature, and she has what is possibly her best vocal moment of the year here.

I Love You, I Hate You- Little Simz

Little Simz’s Sometimes I Might Be Introvert produced a number of candidates for this list as one of the most complete rap albums of the year, but “I Love You, I Hate You” might be the best combination of emotional vulnerability and great rapping on the project. On the track Simz dives into her difficult relationship with her father, speaking on a range of emotions before coming to the conclusion that she needs to forgive him for herself.

Llorando en un Ferrari- Anuel AA

Anuel AA is a superstar with tons of commercial appeal, and this song is a massive hit, featuring great vocals in his distinct tone and an EDM-pop structure mixed with reggaeton sounds. The name of the song translates to “Crying in a Ferrari”, as Anuel sings in spanish about regretting losing an amazing girl because of his actions, and the despair that he feels despite his luxurious lifestyle.

2gether- Mura Masa

Mura Masa’s unorthodox production style has won him a lot of success in his career, and this track is no different. Featuring moments of girmey synths contrasted with soft vocals and a robotic vocal sample that says “together” throughout the track, “2gether” doesn’t sound like it would work on paper, but it actually creates an emotional moment with some great dance appeal.

Altar- Kehlani

Kehlani has been a bona fide star for a while, and is still coming with the hits like “Altar”. On this track they employ their signature tone to create a nice fusion of a pop-leaning hook and song structure with verses than lean back into their rnb roots. The chorus is a great moment, featuring amazingly clear vocals that are full of passion and energy, and the whole track features amazing work by Kehalni.

Better Off- Tyler Braden

“Better Off” is our pick for one of the year’s best country songs, featuring the 27-year-old Alabama singer’s honest lyrics and amazing tone. Braden has the kind of gritty soulful voice that can appeal to more old-school country with a modern sense for hit-making, and he shows it off on this track with a powerful chorus and evocative verses. The song sees Braden worry that he may have made the wrong decision about leaving a lover, and it truly is an emotional country hit.

Put on a Smile- Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak

Mars and .Paak may have produced bigger hits on their Silk Sonic record, but “Put on a Smile” stands out as a Funky ballad that shows off the best of their musical talent. The production is so rich, featuring the cleanest of drums, beautifully layered vocals, and little moments of ear candy sprinkled throughout. Bruno and .Paak both get in their emotional bag on this track, and both quite possibly deliver their best vocal performance of the album on this track.

WYD Now?- Sadie Jean

19-year-old Sadie Jean emerged as a mainstream artist completely off the strength of this song, which became famous due to an “open verse challenge” on TikTok in which the artist shared her hook and asked other singers on the app to provide a verse. There were some great verses laid down on TikTok, but Jean’s original version of the song has taken off on streaming services due to its sad and relatable lyrics, reminding us a bit of Olivia Rodrigo’s sudden rise with “Driver’s License”. We’ll see what Sadie Jean can do from here.

All Of It- Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion was in mixtape mode on Something For Thee Hotties going in with pure bars, and this song captures the energy of the project. She is on point lyrically, her flow rides throughout the song, her energy is contagiously confident, and the track is just so smooth. In the end “All of It” is a short and sweet track that leaves listeners wanting more.

Tides- Ed Sheeran

“Tides” features Ed in his auto-biographical, real songwriting bag, similarly to “Castle on the Hill”, and it works so well. The album intro, “Tides” is reflective and brutally honest, featuring production that is most prominent in the verses rather than the stripped down choruses, coming in with heavy drums and guitars and dropping out later. The song shows Ed is self-aware, able to write a great song with replay value while also talking about his place in life, and it is an excellent album-opener.

Brad Pitt- Mø

MØ has been a part of many huge hits like Major Lazer’s “Lean On” and Justin Bieber’s “Cold Water”, but her career is significantly under-appreciated. She has a great voice for big pop records, and she shows it off on “Brad Pitt”, using her airy yet soulful tone to craft a great love song. Overall, the production is bouncy and big, the lyrics are memorable, and the song has a lot of hit potential.

I Hate U- SZA

SZA captured America with her release of “I Hate U”, a song that shows off her incredible lyrics with lyrics that reflect the feelings of million. The song is gentle and beautiful, but it also is defiantly angry, creating a contrast that resonates with many listeners. SZA absolutely killed this song in all facets, and it seems she is ready to come with even bigger things going forward.

Call U Tomorrow- Montell Fish

Montell Fish has been one of music’s most overlooked voices in recent years, and “Call U Tomorrow” is easily one of the years best songs. Lyrically it’s simple, but the way it is put together is genius, with Fish seemingly crying out into the void with his beautifully pure voice over vocal layers. The production builds and builds reaching an emotional crescendo over heavy guitar chords that is one of the best song moments of the year.

Who Want Smoke??- Nardo Wick feat. 21 Savage, Lil Durk, G Herbo

Nardo Wick has been one of this year’s biggest breakout trap acts, and that goes back to this remix, featuring an insane lineup of stars and a Lyrical Lemonade video. “Who Want Smoke??” is ruthless and terrifying, reminiscent of a lot of collaborator 21 Savage’s catalog. Nardo crafts a mood and unusual yet catchy song structure, and each feature artist comes hard, creating one of the most exciting mainstream rap songs of the year.

All I Can Say- Ama Lou

“All I Can Say” shows off British singer Ama Lou’s unique talent and ear for production. Her vocals are top level and she does a great job of balancing melody with production that leans into UK grime and hip hop sounds. She sounds supremely confident, but also emotionally vulnerable. The song is simply a bop sonically, and it carries a lot under the surface, making it one of the best records of the year.

Cheater- SAIAH feat. Tom The Mail Man

“Cheater” is one of the best alt/pop-punk songs of the year. Up-and-comer SAIAH and future star Tom the Mail Man come with all of the passion and vocals, and the production is top notch. The lyrics are about the pain of a broken relationship, and its packed with feeling, but it also is a song you can dance around the room to, giving it a whole lot of hit appeal.

Brightside- The Lumineers

The Lumineers built their fanbase with vulnerable and evocative acoustic tracks like “Ophelia” and “Ho Hey”, and this song gets back to those roots. Vocalist Wesley Schultz delivers a soulful performance over a bluesy guitar riff, and the song is full of imagery and cinematic moments. It feels big and grand while maintaining its intimacy in a way that few tracks have this year.

Tommy- Claud

Claud has a lot of potential to do big things in the indie pop space with a killer clear voice and a way with captivating lyrics, and “Tommy” shows off all of their talent. Claud gets lost in their feelings about always being compared to another person in their love interest’s eyes and how painful it is. The production is soft and the vocals cut through perfectly, creating a gut-wrenching emotional performance.

For Tonight- Giveon

“For Tonight” is one of the year’s best rnb songs by one of rnb’s new most prominent voices in Giveon. His beautiful baritone tone is the star of the show on this song, but the big ballad production is also there, and so are the emotional vocals. This should have been an even bigger hit than it was, and it is definitely one of the best songs of the year.

I Won’t Complain- 44phantom feat. Tom The Mail Man

44phantom and Tom The Mail Man make a fantastic unexpected duo on “I Won’t Complain”, with both of the young singers coming with a lot of energy on this track. Both Phantom and Tom work well in an emo rock kind of space, but both come with a lot of versatility as well. This song is built on great drums, and builds to big heavy choruses that give the singers the perfect space to shine, making an excellent record.

Silk Chiffon- MUNA feat. Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers gained a ton of momentum with her critically acclaimed 2020 album Punisher and “Silk Chiffon” helped build on that moment in 2021. Working together with electro-pop band MUNA, Phoebe and vocalist Katie Gavin both have great performance and create a fun and bouncy love song that completely flips the script on Phoebe’s usual sad vibe.

Fear of Water- Noah Kahan

“Fear of Water” shows off Noah Kahan’s immaculate tone and great song-writing really well. It is more sad and laid back than some of his other songs on his recent album I Was/ I Am, built on minor piano chords with a lot of space for his voice to shine, creating a sad mood that is furthered even more when strings come in. The track is beautiful and inspiring and the acoustic and orchestral feel is magical.

In The Bible- Drake feat. Lil Durk, Giveon

Drake makes so many different kind of songs and works with so many collaborators, but one of his best moods is a darker, grimier rnb-leaning sound, which we get on this track. A haunting vocal sample floats in the background over hard-hitting drums and bass, and Drake gets in his singing bag. Durk and Giveon have a stark contrast as collaborators, but both kill it, Durk with a confident sing-rap verse and Giveon with his normal rnb sound.

Kids on Molly- Aries

“Kids on Molly” gives a grittier, more rock kind of side of Aries that really really works. The production is built on infectious guitar chords, and Aries’s vocal melodies are immediately catchy. He does a great job of structuring a song with little sonic intricacies that still feels like a radio hit, the vocal production is excellent, the emotion is there, and it is very danceable. This is easily one of the best songs of 2021.

Jail- Kanye West feat. Jay-Z

The reunification of Jay and Ye on this track is a magical moment that gives us a fantastic track. Ye makes the great production decision to leave out the drums until the last moment of the song, making sure that the listener really hears every word. Hov is at his best here with a great verse, and Ye’s chorus is an epic, massive moment.

A Concert Six Months From Now- FINNEAS

“A Concert Six Months From Now” really has everything you would want in a personal, acoustic pop song, with FINNEAS’s strong deep voice, a great story, a killer buildup, and a whole lot of bare emotion. This is FINNEAS at his best, tapping into stories about relationships that could make anyone feel something, and showing off his vocal and production skills.

Happier Than Ever- Billie Eilish

Billie’s Happier Than Ever title track starts off soft and sweet, but the bigger, grander second half to the song takes off, and landed her a huge hit with this record. On the track Billie laments the way her ex hurt her, using her iconic voice just as well over the soft chords of the intro and the heavy rock guitars of the second half. This is her best work of the year, and easily one of the best songs of 2021.

Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist of these amazing songs!

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15 Up-and-coming Rappers To Watch Right Now

By Ben Leshan

*all Spotify monthly listeners are as of 8/12/21

EST Gee

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Age: 27

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 3,913,371

Where to start: Capitol 1, Lick Back

Even not-so-tapped-in rap fans have probably heard of Louisville’s EST Gee from his features on Lil Baby’s “Real As It Gets” and Jack Harlow’s “Route 66” (both of which he killed, by the way), but now it’s time for his own releases to get more mainstream attention. Gee raps with a rare hunger that makes every track he touches exciting, and he has the potential to explode in a big way. Signed to Yo Gotti’s CMG, Gee has the platform and the connections to make big moves in the industry. He released his mixtape Bigger Than Life Or Death just recently in July, and he has seen success with the record reaching number 7 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Gee doesn’t stray too far from his flow and doesn’t have much versatility in his sound, but he’s found his pocket, and the bigger the occassion, the more he rises to it with a great verse. There is a lane for a rapper like him, and his voice and energy are something different that should make him stick.

Scorey

Hometown: Syracuse, NY

Age: 22

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,234,366

Where to start: Love Letter, Dior You

Scorey, who is signed to Polo G and got his big break with a feature on the Chicago rapper’s song “Broken Guitars” has a knack for excellent melodies and bars that hit you in the heart. He is somewhere in the lane of artists like Polo and fellow Syracuse rapper Toosii, with an ability to appeal to more hardcore rap fans with his bars but land more in the mainstream with his sound and emotion. His song “Love Letter” may show the best potential in his catalog, with a super catchy chorus and a clear command of melodies. Scorey shows he knows just how to appeal to his listener’s emotions while also creating an unforgettable song structure. He is not quite as polished as bigger rappers in his lane, but there is certainly a whole lot of potential in Scorey. The melodic street rap subgenre has a lot of space in it, and we have seen many rappers do quite well commercially in that lane. As Scorey grows and gets his name out there you can expect to see him have a lot of success.

Hotboy Wes

Hometown: Waco, TX

Age: Unknown

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 319,483

Where to start: Soldier, My Lil Dance feat. Gucci Mane

Hotboy Wes is following Pooh Shiesty as the newest rapper signed to Gucci Mane poised to jump into mainstream success. The Texas rapper flows with the aggression of fellow Lone Star State products like Quin NFN, while his sound may remind other rap fans of a mix between NLE Choppa and Kevin Gates. Wes is also notably influenced by The Hot Boys, as evidenced by his moniker. Wes has the ability to rap straight bars, but he also works well with melody. “Soldier”, his most recent single, seems to be great evidence of what is to come, and that is a great sign. He is able to sing a chorus that immediately draws the listener into his struggles with the law and life in the streets, and he uses his big voice to really go in and tell his story on the verses. It shows that he has hit potential, but he also really has something below the surface that should differentiate him from the crowd. Especially now that he’s signed to Gucci, expect Wes to break out in a big way in the coming months.

Sally Sossa

Hometown: Houston, TX

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 810,603

Where to start: Back From The Dead, Star Song feat. Lil Durk

19-year-old rapper Sally Sossa has bars for days and a great voice to deliver them. The Houston product is following in the footsteps of Megan Thee Stallion as a confident Texas girl with great rapping ability and star-power. She also has the versatility to sing at a pretty high level, as evidenced by her Lil Durk collaboration “Star Song”. At just 19 Sossa already has top tier cosigns from Durk and Toosii (who is featured on her song “Right My Wrongs”), but she has star power on her own. Her song “Back From The Dead” is a great example of what Sally can do, showing off confident bars and an ability to flow at a high level. The lyrics aren’t anything we’ve never heard before, but the song sounds good, and it’s meant to be a club-type banger. There is just something about Sossa’s voice and vibe that exude star power. It’s clear that she is hungry to be a great rapper, and she is already really skilled.

Stunna Gambino

Hometown: Washington Heights, NY

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 8,379,144

Where to start: Demons, ZAZA

New York rapper Stunna Gambino has broken out in a major way since signing to Lil Bibby and popping up on a feature with label-mate The Kid Laroi. His feature on Laroi’s “Not Sober” has earned him a whole lot of listens, but Gambino is more than just a Laroi associate. Stunna’s style is clearly influenced by the New York melodic wave of A Boogie-type artists, and more closely resembles the sound of Brooklyn rapper JI The Prince of NY. Even though his music exists in a familiar lane, he has a unique tone and his voice sits in a higher register than similar rappers. Gambino’s catalog often falls into the category of pain music, singing about his struggles in the street over minor chords and 808s. “Demons” exemplifies everything that he does best, featuring an excellent chorus, and showing the ability to switch between different registers and tones to convey emotion. Stunna has room for growth, but as he continues work with Grade A productions, he likely will find his way onto top tier beats and really tell his story. He definitely has the potential to be one of the biggest artists in New York as he advances in his career.

Topaz Jones

Hometown: Montclair, NJ

Age: 28

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 299,346

Where to start: Black Tame, D.I.A.L.

Topaz Jones is bringing a funky and soulful side to rap while maintaining a strong sense of social consciousness and a focus on the bars. His work is somewhere in the vein of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, not to compare the quality to one of the greatest rap albums of all time, but simply to say he is working with similar sonic and thematic influences as Kendrick was on that project. He is definitely not an artist aiming for pop stardom, but there is so much to like in his catalog that he had to make his way onto this list. “Black Tame” is the best example of what he does, as Jones rides the funky production with a great flow. He feels honest and authentic through his lyrics, like he is trying to make a personal connection with listeners that is often missing from newer rap music. His work feels polished and like he has an uncompromising vision. There is so much maturity and thought put into his work, and more people simply need to hear Jones for him to become a big name.

AG Club

Hometown: Antioch, CA

Group Members: Baby Boy, Jody Fontaine, Mick Anthony

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,016,410

Where to start: Memphis, NOHO feat. ICECOLDBISHOP

AG Club fall somewhere in between Brockhampton, S.O.B R.B.E., and the A$AP Mob as a Bay Area collective with a focus on innovation and artistic vision. Every song has the signature energy of the bay, but there are clearly other influences at play that create a unique sound for the group. There is a lot of vocal layering on their tracks that gives the music the mob-rap feel that they push with their image as a highly collaborative collective. The group decided to name their projects F*** Your Expections Pt.1 and Pt.2 for a reason, they don’t want to sit in the space of what is expected, they want to do whatever they want. That creative freedom leaves them in a good place, as they never miss on quality, and jump around from sound to sound. This is the kind of group that feels exciting to be a fan of because it feels like an emerging movement and not just some rap group. They have style, they have energy, they’re ready to change the game, and they are most likely the next big thing.

Che Noir

Hometown: Buffalo, NY

Age: 27

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 39,645

Where to start: Hustle Don’t Give feat. Apollo Brown, Black Thought, Hold It Down feat. Apollo Brown, Ty Farris

Che Noir is working with a Griselda cosign coming out of Buffalo, and she has proven to be a talented lyricist. She thrives on the kind of boom bap production that her fellow Buffalo rappers love to work on, and she makes sure that in all cases the bars come first. Noir definitely has a great ear for production that takes the boom bap style but has replay value in the modern era. Instead of trying to shift her music to fit was is typically most popular, she has clearly worked on her pen continuously to make sure she can sell records as a pure lyricist. She often has features on her songs, and it would be nice to hear more songs that have multiple verses from her, but whenever she gets an opportunity to spit she steps up and lays down a nice verse. There is clearly an attention to detail from Noir as she crafts each line and chooses each word with precision, and that will serve her well going forward in the rap game.

Remble

Hometown: San Pedro, CA

Age: 21

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 1,967,080

Where to start: Touchable, Gordon R Freestyle

Remble might just be the most unique artist on this list, developing a heavily anunciated flow that takes Drakeo The Ruler’s style and makes it less slick and more formal. He has gone viral on Tiktok because his sound lends itself quite well to acting out the lyrics. Something feels terrifying about the way that every word is so clear in Remble’s raps and he spins tales about gun violence and revenge. The combination of his unorthodox flow and the haunting production he uses makes every word just hit harder. “Touchable” is the most extreme example of Remble’s style, as he seems to intentionally make his voice monotone, adding an extra element to his normal flow. The result is definitely a hit, but his more traditional sounding records like “Gordon R Freestyle” also have a lot of great things going on.

Daniyel

Hometown: Portland, OR

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 134,959

Where to start: Lost Ones, 82nd

Portland rapper Daniyel got his big break when his video for “Lost Ones” landed on Cole Bennett’s Lyrical Lemonade channel. The 19-year-old has proven to be more than just that one record though. He is great with melody, lyrics, and delivery, and has a really strong voice with a lot of soul in it. His versatility is really strong throughout his debut 82 (which was featured in our Best Albums of 2021 So Far list), singing passionately over ukulele chords on “It’s Ok”, creating a soft and emotioanl anthem over floating piano keys on “Lost Ones”, and rapping with hunger about his city as he interpolates “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by The Beasite Boys on “82nd”. It just feels like Daniyel is too artistic and polished this early in his career and has too good of a voice not to be a major artist to watch. He really has the voice to crossover into the pop world, and he comes off as a charasmatic and interesting person in interviews. The sky really is the limit for Daniyel.

Jay Loud

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Age: 21

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 201,913

Where to start: No Safety, Need It Back

Hailing from Indianapolis, Jay Loud moved to the Seattle area to chase his dream, and had to overcome homelessness before achieving a record deal. Now he’s starting to see big success with a voice that sounds a bit like Roddy Ricch with a more rnb-leaning sound. Make no mistake though, Loud is very much his own artist. The first thing that will strike you about his music is the pain and passion that he carries in his voice. “No Safety” is a great example of Loud’s ability to tap into his pain and sing about it in an amazing voice, as he sings about his struggles in the streets over a key and 808 beat. Jay is an interesting artist because he has the ability to do runs and simply sing at a higher level than the vast majority of hip hop artists, but he chooses to use those gifts to make rap music instead of just trying to be a singer. We’ve seen that work in big ways for artists all over the spectrum from Ty Dolla $ign to Morray, and Jay Loud has the voice to be a star.

Big Mali

Hometown: Raleigh, NC

Age: 19

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 13,078

Where to start: 4,5,6, Outro

Big Mali flows with the hunger of mainstream North Carolina rappers like DaBaby and Stunna 4 Vegas, but with her own unique spin on the style. She hasn’t quite done numbers yet, but her voice and rapping ability at 19 years old are quite impressive. She has so much confidence on the mic, and that gives her so much potential to break out in a big way. There aren’t many rappers this early in their career who feel like they have found their voice and know exactly how to sound polished on their records. “4,5,6” is a great example of Mali’s ability, as she flows over heavy 808s, trap drums, and hard piano hits with a lot of energy and intensity. Mali has star potential because she flows at such a high level and her vocal delivery is so direct and energetic. You want to listen to every word she says, and that will serve her well.

Kenny Mason

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Age: 26

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 514,282

Where to start: Pup, Play Ball

Kenny Mason has been doing his thing for a while now, but he still lands on this list because he doesn’t get nearly the love that he deserves. The 26-year-old Atlanta artist is incredibly versatile and talented, and he has a great body of work behind him, even turning in a project that made our Best Albums Of 2021 So Far list. Kenny is a true artist who is clearly in it for the music, as he barely even shows his face on social media and always has the most to say when the mic is on. He has the rare ability to rap at a top level, but also to shift between genres. He can go back and forth between records like “Much Money” with Freddie Gibbs, a slow boom bap type song, and songs like “Play Ball”, which is a rock song with a rap verse in the middle of it. Everything that Kenny makes has undeniable energy, and he makes sure everything he releases is top quality. Mason isn’t making music in order to become a pop star, but he has room to grow significantly in his lane because he music is just so good.

Kalan.FrFr

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Age: 26

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 667,748

Where to start: Look At Me, Never Lose You

Kalan.FrFr has the westcoast vibe and melodic flare of artists like Blxst and Ty Dolla $ign. His music feels cool in the way that only a California artist can make. His voice sits somewhere more in the pocket of an artist like Vory, but he stays in his westcoast bag, rapping on beats with high drifting synths and door slams. Kalan.FrFr has the swag of an RnB artist while making records that ride rhythmically more like rap songs. He has the kind of voice that sounds good on every track, and he is just so smooth on the beat. “Look At Me” is a great song, as it shows off his tone so well, the production is phenomenal on its own merit, and he flexes incredible confidence as he rides the beat. There has always been a market for cool westcoast artists with confidence and great vocals, and Kalan.FrFr should be able to carve out a nice lane as he grows going forward.

Bizzy Banks

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Age: 22

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 659,146

Where to start: Don’t Start Pt. 2, Bandemic

Bizzy Banks is the next star to pop from the Brooklyn drill scene. Ever since its inception years ago, the subgenre has produced countless mainstream stars from Pop Smoke to Fivio Foreign to Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, and Bizzy has that it-factor. He doesn’t quite have the booming voice that differentiates artists like Pop or Sheff G, but his rapping ability is high level, and he has a great ability to pick beats that give songs immediate hit potential. Bizzy’s greatest strength as a rapper is his ability to flow nonstop with an easy confidence that makes you believe every word he says. On “Bandemic” Bizzy raps over a vocal sample and drill drums, flowing with a lot of energy and coming through with intimidating bars. Bizzy has proven that he has the ability to craft song structures that have anthem potential, and that is the gold standard for a drill artist. Expect Bizzy to really emerge as one of the biggest drill artists in the world going forward.

Deante’ Hitchcock

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Age: 28

Spotify Monthly Listeners*: 467,998

Where to start: How TF feat. 6lack, I Remember

Deante’ Hitchcock has been rapping at a high level for years, and he’s grown to the point that he deserves to be seen as one of the best rappers out. The biggest thing that first strikes you about Hitchcock is his voice, a powerful tone featuring a southern drawl that you just can’t forget. His music is perhaps most reminiscent of fellow southern lyricist Big K.R.I.T., featuring an unforgettable southern accent with great lyrics and storytelling. He might be the most criminally underrated rapper on this list, as he has a top tier pen, and has an excellent quality project under his belt with 2020’s Better. Deante’ is great at rapping about love and his struggles in a way that feels vulnerable, but also reflects on how uncomfortable vulnerability can be. “I Remember”, the intro to Better, is a great example of what Hitchcock does, as he tells the story of his come up masterfully, flexes great pure rapping skills, and shows off his amazing voice. Deante’ Hitchcock deserves his recognition, and more of it is definitely coming.

Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist of songs to introduce you to these emerging rappers!

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No Rankings. Just 50 Amazing Songs That Have Come Out This Year

By Ben Leshan

The Kiss of Venus- Paul McCartney, Dominic Fike

Paul McCartney wrote this song, but Dominic Fike turned it into a hit. The 25-year-old Florida artist has all the talent to be one of the biggest in the world, and this song is undeniably special. It’s fun, it’s bouncy, but it also makes you think. This is one of those records you can throw on in the car and everyone is bound to enjoy.

Street Runner- Rod Wave

Rod Wave’s voice sits perfectly on top of a haunting vocal sample, telling the story of how hard it is to maintain love on the road. It is the opitomy of the beautiful pain found in Rod’s music. It sounds like a hit, the vocal licks are impressive, the lyrics are direct and vulnerable, and it has proven to be highly commercially successful.

Serotonin- girl in red

This song is a masterful sonic representation of what it feels like to have mental illness. Girl in red is a star, and she creates a bonafide hit with a soaring and exciting pop chorus and alternative, aggressive verses. She translates anxiety and the state of being medicated into song, and the beautiful contrast is a masterpiece.

I Walk This Earth All By Myself- Ekkstacy

Ekkstacy, an 18-year-old Canadian singer who has already been through a lot in his years, grows into his voice and starts the path towards being a star on this record. His filtered vocals float beautifully over simultaneously dark and bouncy production. It feels like something new, but a reminder of the innovation of alternative and emo rap stars before him.

Pup- Kenny Mason

Pup feels like a whole album was shaken up and morphed into one song, and that is meant in the best way possible. There are so many sounds from rock guitars to edgy hip hop lyrics as the track progresses, and it feels like something completely unique. Kenny Mason has a lot of potential to take rap to new places, and he proves it here.

Big Boss Rabbit- Freddie Gibbs

Freddie Gibbs stays making some of the best songs in hip hop. This record features hard-hitting trap drums and nonstop hungry flows. Gibbs make sure to include a sample of Mike Tyson trash talk, and backs it up by rapping circles around his competition on the song. If you want a pure rap banger from this year, look no further than “Big Boss Rabbit”.

Last Night- Tom The Mail Man

Last Night feels grungy and angsty, but it also has a soft and pretty side. Tom gets lost in his emotions over a Foo Fighter’s sample, and makes his listener feel every word. This song really shows just how much potential he has to break out in a huge way because it has the authenticity of the underground world with an awareness of universal sonic appeal.

Till Forever Falls Apart- Ashe feat. FINNEAS

Ashe creates a somber, yet lovely atmosphere on this record, and it comes out as a beautiful love song. FINNEAS proves once again that he is not just Billie Eilish’s brother, and delivers a phenomenal contribution to the record. This song is an excellent take on the sustaining power of love as the world falls apart around you, and it’s definitely one of the best records we’ve gotten so far this year.

No Sense- Baby Keem

No Sense gives us a new side of Baby Keem, and it’s a good one. The 20-year-old Las Vegas rapper has been responsible for mosh pit anthems, but this record is something different. It maintains his classic dark mood, but the bass synths and percussive hits give it a special bouncy sound, and his singing feels authentic and wavy.

Real As It Gets- Lil Baby feat. EST Gee

This is one of the best rap bangers we have gotten this year. Baby and EST Gee both go in on their verses, and the whole song just drips with confidence. The beat alone is a slapper, and Baby turns it into an anthem with his knack for hit verses that have something below the surface and catchy choruses. It’s also a good showcase for Gee, who is definitely one of the best up-and-coming street rappers out.

Tokyo Drifting- Daya

Daya hasn’t released a lot of music in recent years, but it feels like she’s back and ready to take the spotlight with this record. From the first line, “I wanna die/ When I think about that stupid s*** I said to you”, this song is relatable and emotionally raw in the best way. The production rides cleanly throughout the song, and Daya effortlessly glides through the vocals, creating a perfect mood to get lost in.

The Stars- Chelsea Cutler

This song is a beautiful expression of love, and Cutler’s soft confidence and unique tone make it real. The sweet and soft production, and quietly bold lyrics create the perfect mood, and it comes out as a very honest and confident way to bare emotions for another person. It just feels right.

Gravity- Brent Faiyaz and DJ Dahi feat. Tyler, The Creator

Gravity is funky, soulful and enticing. It sounds like you’re floating through a dream, bobbing your head the whole way through. Brent kills it vocally, and pitches down his voice tastefully to create contrast. Tyler’s verse comes at the perfect time, and his flow is impeccable. The overall effect is a slick and artful take on being non-committal.

Shapeshifter- The Blossom

The Blossom embraces their non-binary identity on this record, exclaiming “I can be they, I can be so gay”. This song could be very important for young people struggling to be accepted for their identity, and it also sounds like a hit. The guitars and the drums make you want to dance, and The Blossom has the right voice to kill it. They are definitely an artist to watch going forward.

Go Away- Omar Apollo

“Go Away” is a bouncy and fun track that falls right into Omar’s skillset. He proves to be the perfect voice for the track, drifting in and out of falsetto, and building to many ear-catching moments. His voice sits beautifully over the production the whole time, and the emotion is evident. The song has RnB vibes, but also a soft indie groove, perfectly sitting in the genre-bending space that Omar creates.

Montero (Call Me By My Name)- Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X is no stranger to hit making, but this is something exciting and new, and more than that its message is important. Nas has taken a lot of flack for the song’s video, which shows him descending into hell on a stripper poll and proceeding to dance on and then kill the devil, but he doesn’t deserve it one bit. He is not a children’s artist, he is a 21-year-old gay man who wants to show the world he embraces himself despite being discriminated against by institutional Christianity. This message has the power to save lives, and that makes this one of the most important records of early 2021.

Rapstar- Polo G

Polo G has risen to be one of the biggest artists in the game in the last year, but he hasn’t had a release this big until now. The unreleased acoustic version of the record, sung over ukulele played by Einer Bankz, went viral for its sound and emotional lyrics, and fans jumped at the song as soon as it dropped. The record exhibits Polo’s best skills, elite melodies, relatable lyrics, and a catchy structure.

SOS- Sueco feat. Travis Barker

Sueco seems to be following MGK’s lead here, making a pop punk song after building a following as a rapper. You can tell he has a rock background, and it just works. This song is an anthem. The energy is absolutely undeniable, and it makes you want to jump and rage. His voice is rough on the edges in just the right way, and Travis’s drums push the song along nicely. Sueco captured a feeling here.

I’ll Call You Mine- girl in red

Yep, we’re back with more praise for girl in red. The way this song builds is beautiful, and it has one of the best drops you’ll ever hear outside of EDM and hip hop. The way the drums and guitars drop into the bouncy chorus is a transformative musical experience. girl in red’s voice is clear and full throughout the track, and it is a wonderful description of love. The emotion and the sound of this record hit the mark, and it is one of the best songs on a fantastic album.

Clarity- Conway the Machine

Conway murders the real rap checklist on this track. Beautifully crafted bars? Check. Intense rapid fire delivery? Check. Booming drums over a catchy vocal sample? Check. Griselda stay making some of the best songs in rap as a clique, and Conway really gets it right on this record. Every hip hop fan has to give this a listen.

Play Ball- Kenny Mason

This song leans rock harder than many of Kenny’s songs, and he does it really well. The grungy guitars and anthemic vocal delivery are nonchalantly energetic, and the live drums add to the atmosphere. We get a shift in energy in the middle of the track as Kenny delivers a strong rap voice in a soft voice, showing his versatility. Kenny Mason is a special talent and this song shows it.

Ramen & OJ- Joyner Lucas feat. Lil Baby

Joyner Lucas has always had the talent, but this is probably the best club record he has ever released. He doesn’t quite sound like himself with the vocal processing, but the hunger and lyrics looking back on his struggles hit the spot. The beat is phenomenal, and Lil Baby demolishes his guest verse. The lyrics, the flow, and his voice are just top tier. This is one of the best mainstream rap records of the year.

Bodybag- Chloe Moriondo

Bodybag feels like authentic new pop punk. The song has dark themes, as Moriondo sings about being in the state between loving and hating a person. Sonically, it is nearly perfect, with floating verses over soft drums and bass, and hard-hitting choruses that transport you to another dimension. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to scream out your car window, and it captures all of the energy and youth that Moriondo communicates so well through her music.

Pride is the Devil- J Cole feat. Lil Baby

This is the perfect new school Cole song. The T-Minus produced melody (which was previously used on Aminé’s “Can’t Decide”) is a hit on its own, and Cole raps circles around anyone on the track. The moment that Lil Baby cuts in with the same flow after Cole seemingly starts his second verse is genius, and Baby goes on to show he can rap with anyone in the game (which has earned him a few spots on this list).

Beam Pt. 2- Payday feat. Jackboy

Payday has made a name for herself as a teenage rapper and singer, and this song might be her best work. The remix to 2020’s “Beam”, Part 2 adds a Jackboy verse over the bouncy keys, jazzy woodwinds, and brass. It seems like a mismatch to add a Kodak Black affiliate to an indy song, but this track came out great, and is a perfect representation of the ingenuity and collaborative nature of Gen-Z.

Lovers- Roosevelt

Roosevelt is a 30-year-old electro pop producer and vocalist from Germany. His music feels like an exciting new take on electronic music, featuring melodies that are catchy standalone pieces, but also maintaining a drum pattern and song structure that is more pop-based than EDM. “Lovers” feels cinematic, like it should be the backdrop to a film dance scene. The synth melody is insanely catchy, Roosevelt’s vocal tone is sweet and subtle, and the track is bouncy and fun.

Good 4 U- Olivia Rodrigo

Olivia Rodrigo broke out with smash hit “Driver’s License”, but this song is much more universally well-liked. On first listen it’s a pop punk song spun for a pop star, which could easily go wrong, but the end product is unquestionably worthy of going number one on Billboard as it did. Rodrigo is just the right balance of angry and sad, and it’s the kind of song almost anyone will find themselves singing along to.

Yonaguni- Bad Bunny

Source: @badbunnypr

On this record Bad Bunny rides the beat in his signature style, floating over chords and reggaeton drums with his signature tone. Almost no one in the world can compete with the Puerto Rican artist commercially, and he has proved it yet again on this record. This song is catchy, and features Bad Bunny yearning for a girl who has a boyfriend and telling her he would fly to the remote Japanese island of Yonaguni for her.

Virtual Reality- Renforshort

Source: @renforshort

Renforshort has perfectly captured the experience of a generation on this song. It is the best description of how so much of Gen Z felt during the covid-19 pandemic, expressing the anxiety and desire to go back to the real world that every young adult felt. In terms of production, there is a bit of a glitchy, Charli XCX-type sound going on, but Ren’s unique voice and youthful vulnerability make the track.

Middle Of The End (How It Feels)- Jack Kays

Source: @jackkays

Jack Kays got his start in his hometown of Cincinnati making what he now references as Soundcloud rap. At that point he was struggling with addiction and working a low wage job. You can hear all of that pain in this song, but he clearly has found his voice. This song is a raw, acoustic expression of pain, in which Kays cries out “How does it feel/ To be stuck in the middle of the ending?”.

So Real- Polo G

Source: @polo.capalot

This record builds on the beautiful vulnerability of 2020’s “Martin and Gina”. Polo’s voice floats with ease over soft guitars and piano chords as he taps into his love for his girlfriend. Polo sings “Say she is the truth, say she is so real/ And I love the way that you make me feel”. This record is perfectly unapologetic, as Polo doesn’t care if he doesn’t seem hard as long as he can make you feel something.

Thot S***- Megan Thee Stallion

Source: @theestallion

Meg has been one of the most commercially successful rappers of the last few years, and she’s back with another hit with this one. This song has a catchy hook, a hilarious and empowering music video, and most importantly some amazing rapping. Meg isn’t going to let men diminish her to sex appeal and she definitely doesn’t care what the haters say. Just listen to how she closes out her second verse, “I’m the s*** per the recording academy (Ah)”.

Let Go My Hand- J Cole feat. 6lack, Bas

Cole gets introspective on this song in his signature manner, diving into his thought process around the passing of time and personal growth. The song revolves around the symbolism of his son telling him “let go my hand”, signifying that he is becoming more independent and mature, a thematic lens which Cole then turns on himself. The production feels dreamy and soft, and the background vocals from Bas and 6lack add a lot of depth to the track. This is not a song to blast at a party, but it is one of the best from The Offseason.

Lost You- Snoh Aalegra

On “Lost You” Snoh’s tone carries beautifully above floating keys and an ear-catching kick pattern. Aalegra sings about continuing to want someone who isn’t treating her well. She is in too deep to stop falling, even though she sees the lack of love and bad intentions beneath the surface. This is an undeniable hit with a chorus that will no doubt get stuck in your head, and one of the best rnb records of the year.

Stay- The Kid Laroi feat. Justin Bieber

“Stay” is structured like a hit first and foremost. Laroi uses his falsetto to create majorly catchy moments on the hook, and rides the pocket of the beat nicely on the verses. Bieber adds contrast with his different voice and more optimistic take on love. The biggest star in this track is not the vocalists though, it’s the producers for creating an amazing melody and adding a lot of bounce. The great production isn’t a surprise with the likes of Omer Fedi (“Mood” by 24kGoldn, “Montero” by Lil Nas X) Cashmere Cat (“Señorita” by Camila Cabello), and Charlie Puth behind the boards.

Talk 2 Me- Montell Fish

Montell Fish is criminally underrated for someone with his level of artistry. This track feels almost like an interlude, as it’s short in length and is not highly percussive, but it still carries a lot of replay value. Fish’s tone is immaculate, and the raw emotion is evident. The song makes you feel his pain in a way that a lot songs fail to do. There is something special in the way that Fish cries out “why don’t you talk to me?”.

Wusyaname- Tyler, The Creator feat. Ty Dolla $ign and NBA Youngboy

Tyler’s album Call Me If You Get Lost has a lot of good moments, but the consensus seems to be that “Wusyaname” is the most undeniable track on the project. There is something suave and slick about Tyler’s verse, and when contrasted with the melodic bravado of a Ty Dolla $ign chorus, you get a magical feeling. Also, even the biggest NBA Youngboy fan can’t hate his verse, which is perhaps the highlight of the song.

Wasting Time- Brent Faiyaz feat. Drake

Brent and Drake both carry an aura of charisma that draws listeners into their music. They are a great combo in that Drake knows how to make great rnb, so he also knows how to drop a verse that compliments an rnb singer perfectly. On “Wasting Time” Brent sings an earworm chorus over excellent Neptunes production, and Drake’s voice sounds perfect over the beat as he flows with ease.

Smoke Break//- KennyHoopla feat. Travis Barker

Kenny’s music is intensely and heartbreakingly vulnerable, both in the vocals and the lyrics. He manages to keep things fun and anthemic on “Smoke Break//”, but also to tap into his darker side. The verses play with the theme of death, while he is more aggressive on the choruses. He says “I wear a mask not cause of virus”, and the song is all a play-on acting tough when you are really hurting inside.

Bigger Man- Joy Oladokun feat. Maren Morris

“Bigger Man” has a folky, country, and gospel vibes sprinkled through it, but it mainly features excellent technical singing from Oladokun, and a great contrast in tones between the two singers. The harmonies are both edgy and soft somehow, and the piano melody that plays throughout the track provides a sense of safety and consistency. This record strays more into country than most Oladokun’s work, but it is a very pleasant surprise.

Hardline- Julien Baker

“Hardline” begins with big and somber organs that create an ominous feeling that Baker immediately matches with her vocals. As the track builds though, it feels more hopeful and exciting. The production is more complex than Baker’s traditional work, but the lyrical themes match the rest of her album, Little Oblivions, as she works through themes of alcoholism and depression. The result is perhaps the most standout song in one of the best albums released in 2021.

Girls Like Us- Zoe Wees

“Girls Like Us” in title alone sounds like it might be an impersonal pop hit trying to use female empowerment to sell a record, but Wees provides the artistic integrity and vocal ability to do a record like this well. The chorus and the production are radio-ready, and have earned this song over 100 million streams, and the vocal display on the record is truly amazing, as Wees hits massive notes with ease

Problems- 44phantom

44phantom is the kind of alt/emo artist that just screams mainstream appeal upon first listen. His image and dark sound might cause some to put him in a box, but his unforgettable tone and knack for melody put him on a different level than his class of pop punk and emo rap influenced peers. This track stands out because everything from the production to the vocals to the lyrics make this sound like a pop punk hit with just enough hip hop influence to make waves across genres.

Stacking Chairs- Middle Kids

“Stacking Chairs” will take you by surprise in the best way. As the elements come in (an initial guitar melody, lead singer Hannah Joy’s voice, drums, Joy’s falsetto, a counter melody in the production) it just keeps getting better and better. Lyrically, this is a soft, poetic, and imagery invoking indie record, as Joy sings “When the wheels come off, I’ll be your spare/ When the party’s over, I’ll be stacking the chairs”.

Girl Like Me- Jazmine Sullivan feat. HER

“Girl Like Me” is a hard breakup song. It has the soft strumming vibes of the production on Eminem’s “Stan” with an RnB twist, which Sullivan’s intensely soulful voice cuts through beautifully. When she calls out “Why don’y you love me no more?” it hits you right in the heart, and HER comes in with her signature tone to add another vibe to the track. Overall, this is a masterpiece vocally and emotionally, featuring powerful and beautiful runs that you won’t believe.

This is How You Fall in Love- Chelsea Cutler, Jeremy Zucker

This record is a soft and honest love song that feels like home. The production sits softly in the background as the two singers’ voices take the lead, seemingly cutting through the warmth of a rainy day spent inside. The record builds throughout in terms of instrumentation, starting with keys, then guitar, then drums and strings. This song feels intimate and sweet in just the right way, and is possibly the best slow-dance song of the year.

Ditto- Aries

Aries music has poetic lyrics, layered and intricate production, and catchy melodies. “Ditto” follows the mold, drawing you in with an emotional vocal performance and aura-filled production, and letting you sit and decipher the lyrics as you keep on listening. There is something soft and indie, but the vocals lean towards rock, and the drums even have hip hop influence, but whatever the concoction of sounds, Aries made an amazing record here.

What If It Doesn’t End Well- Chloe Moriondo

“What If It Doesn’t End Well” earned a spot on this list because of its grand emotional build. The guitar melody that starts the track immediately catches your ear, and Moriondo’s soft first verse creates ear candy moments as she begins to hit high notes and hum into the chorus. The vulnerable and sonically pleasing chorus sounds great with its soft delivery the first time around, but as drums come in and everything builds, the same words take on new meaning as Moriondo nearly screams them at the end of the track.

Rom Com 2004- Soccer Mommy

This record has a really unique mix of glitchy and electronic sounds with traditional indie and bedroom pop vibes. Soccer Mommy’s voice drifts through the record like a dream, coming in and out of filters and shifting from full voice to falsetto. This feels something like Charli XCX meets Clairo and it really takes the best parts of both styles to make a song that will get stuck in your head.

Twenty To One- Dave

Dave is one of the best lyrical rappers in the entire world, but he is also great with melody, and proves it here. “Twenty To One” is full of entendre. The song would have played at 12:40 (20 minutes to 1:00) if a listener played the album right as it dropped, and it also references the year 2021 (20, 2, 1). Beyond his play on words, Dave spins a killer melody, touches on deep topics like relationships, friendships, and criminal justice, and makes a hit in 3 minutes and 21 seconds.

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