Musical Year in Review 2018
/It’s a few days post-new year, year III of The Sky Box Suite, and the aroma of ambition is still in the air, empowering everyone - including myself - to power through yet another year and focus on a new set of goals. Last year didn’t start or end particularly spectacular, but I am ready for everything 2019 has to offer.
As I am getting back to the regular routine post-holiday, it’s an ideal time to reflect on what 2018 sounded like in my annual Musical Year in Review. Music wise, there was never a dull moment. I even discovered some new (to me) artist, such as Snow the Product and Kacey Musgraves. As much as I try my best to listen to new albums the second they drop - especially when it’s an artist I really like - the amount of album releases in 2018 was hard to keep up with, so I’m sure there are quite a few possible contenders that I’ve missed. However, out of what I have listened to, it’s been a pretty good (music) year nonetheless.
Best Albums of 2018 (top 18 in no particular order):
Hive Mind - The Internet
Kamikaze - Eminem
East Atlanta Love Letter - 6lack
Last Day of Summer - Summer Walker
Saturn - Nao
Swimming - Mac Miller
Bijoux 23 - Elijah Blake
KOD - J. Cole
Isolation - Kali Uchis
Milky Way - Bas
Gumbo Unplugged - PJ Morton
Good Man - Ne-yo
In the Comfort of - Sango
Noir - Smino
Victory Lap - Nipsey Hussle
Scorpion - Drake
November - SiR
Whack World - Tierra Whack
Honorable Mention:
Also see: ‘#PressPlay: 8 Under the Radar 2018 Album Releases that are Indefinitely Worth the Listen’
Favorite EP's, LP's, + Mix tapes:
Big K.R.I.T. releases
18 Heavy Rotation Songs:
After the Storm - Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsie Collins
Doing U - Maleek Berry
Rose in Harlem - Teyana Taylor
Smile - Jungle
Money - Cardi B.
Backin it Up - Pardison Fontaine ft. Cardi B.
Assurance - Davido
Chances - KAYTRANADA & Shay Lia
Brown Sugar - Michael Christmas
breathin’ - Ariana Grande
Trip - Ella Mai
Imported - Jessie Reyes & JRM
BOSS - The Carters
Out of Your Way - Snoh Aalegra ft. Luke James
As I Am - H.E.R.
40 Shades of Choke - Ari Lennox