The Top 10 Albums that Shaped 2019

As promised…

Here are my top 10 albums that shaped my 2019. This year was one of the most mentally and emotionally trying years I’ve had in a long time. Next to Jesus, music was a saving grace. This year we got quite a few great albums and I really fell in love with these ten. These albums were anything from entertaining moments of peace to a true reflection of my reality. So let’s get into this year’s picks, shall we?

10. 1123 (Deluxe Version) - BJ the Chicago Kid

1123 was an album that spoke to me pretty quickly because it feels like home. Every time I hear it want to play it loud while I clean which we all know turns into dancing around and singing real loud. I will also say this album shows a lot of growth for BJ the Chicago Kid. I liked the first album a lot but this album I love. There are tracks that when I hear them, it feels like the first time I heard them like “Get Away” and “Time Today.”

9. Painted - Lucky Daye

Lucky Daye is one of my favorite newcomers to R&B, and Painted is an album I want to fall in love to because, at its core, it’s an album all about the falling stage of relationships. There are parts that are young, fun, and sexy, but on the other side, there are tracks that talk about how relationships are now confusing, shallow, or the opposite drowning. If you haven’t listened to Painted, you should Lucky Daye is definitely one to watch in this next decade.

8.Psychodrama - Dave

Psychodrama, a Mercury Prize-winning album was one of the albums that I couldn’t completely relate to personally, but was so good it still hit me. What is truly insane about this album is that this a debut album and it is a perfectly executed album. Honestly, there is not a song I would skip with the classical influences layered with rap beats to the perfect crafted lyricism to the themes on mental health and blackness, it’s amazing and worth more than a few spins.

7. BUBBA - Kaytranada

I started BUBBA the morning it dropped and by the fourth track, I genuinely didn’t care how it ended I knew I was in love. Kaytranada truly did his thing on this sophomore album. It just feels so good I can honestly say that by the time this came out I was over the year, I was over obligation, I just wanted to a break and to have a good time. This album gave me that if only for an hour. It’s been heavy in the rotation since it dropped and will be into the new year.

6. Heavy is the Head - Stormzy

Heavy is the Head came out very late in the year, in fact, it was the same day as BUBBA, December 13th. Both albums made the list and I would say that while musically BUBBA is a little more interesting due to the strong production Kaytranada always brings to his albums, Heavy is the Head spoke to me personally more. The messages on this album are in true Stormzy fashion, honest and relatable. His talk about faith, mental health, success, love, and even creativity really connected with me. As the year is coming to a close and much reflection is happening, these are all areas I am truly trying to explore. Hearing an artist I love and respect exploring those things too reminded me I’m not alone, and we are all becoming and that’s not always easy. Of course, there are some tracks on here that are just fun and even a little cocky, none the less this is an album that meant something to me even with the short time it’s been out.

5. LONG LIVE LOVE - Kirk Franklin

Jesus got me through this year honestly. I truly thank God for grace in my doubt and uncertainty I had most of this year. LONG LIVE LOVE is an album that somewhat shows the emotions of this year spiritually. The sheer belief and faith of God moving down to the “uh Jesus, what’s good?” (Nicki Minaj voice). These are all valid emotions but sometimes you need a reminder that someone has been there. Kirk Franklin summed that up perfectly with this album. This album reminded me it was okay to feel the fear and the distance and that I just need to trust that God is the same no matter the season I’m in. And as an aside, the writing and production on this album are A1!

4. Shea Butter Baby - Ari Lennox

Shea Butter Baby takes me back to springtime rolling around in my mom’s car through North Carolina. Its soulful, fun, sexy, and relatable. Lennox was definitely snubbed this year at the awards but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate her wholeheartedly. I feel like this album was such a reflection of this stage of my life; figuring things out wanting to be independent, wanting to have a good time but also be in love. The reality is I am Ari, Ari is me, and we are going to be okay. Here’s to better in 2020.

3. Chasing Summer - SiR

I should have more of a description for Chasing Summer but honestly, it just made me feel in all the good ways even the sad songs. This album is like butter, and if you don’t like butter, I have nothing for you. SiR is one of my favorite artists and this album sealed the deal for me. This is true R&B and I was happy that I got to just sit and vibe to this album. I genuinely enjoyed the whole thing. It was extremely well written and produced and the vocals SiR is giving on this album are just all the things.

2. Hoax - Kevin Garrett

According to Spotify Kevin Garrett is my artist of the decade, and based on that fact that I have a tattoo based on one of his songs, I would agree. I have seen Kevin Garrett at least once a year since I moved to New York City. I was waiting on Hoax, the debut album, and it delivered! Hoax is an album that is so well written it actually makes me giddy. All the feelings that I cannot explain or understand, Kevin puts them in a song and I play them on repeat. I also love how this album is so can be on a loop and you don’t know where it ends. It is an album that keeps you, and that’s hard to do. Hoax like much of Kevin’s other works has a healing element, and I think that is something to be shared.

1. GREY Area - Little Simz

I could talk about Little Simz until I am blue in the face mostly because she really gets me. I honestly stumbled into Little Simz music in mid-September, after hearing “Venom” on the radio. That track led me into a deep dive and I’ve been hooked pretty much ever since. It’s weird, but I think that GREY Area is an album that found me when I needed it when I needed the reminder to be selfish, to keep going towards my God-given purpose, to feel the heartache, and to know that I really don’t have to understand everything about my life or the world. There is a line in the song “Sherbert Sunset” that says “Please don't listen to this and ask me if I'm hurtin' or if I'm okay/Allow me to be human and be in my feels/Chill, I'm good, I got it/I never lost it/Or am I just lying to myself to skip the topic?” and I can say that that is what this year felt like on multiple levels. 2019 was hard, it was long, it was growing, and it was exhausting, but in all of the grey areas, this year was also truly beautiful much like this album.