25 favorite albums complex

February 25, 2003. It wasn't easy, but we did it. Theres always another year to roll your aspirations over into like vacation days. Throughout the rest of her acclaimed EP, the rapper and singer showcases not just a deep reverence for the genre, but an ability to consistently excel on vastly different beats. As individuals, Chloe and Halle are undoubtedly forces within R&B, but their deep sisterhood is where they find their strength. Just the weird flows and the weird raps, and just going about things in an odd way. Funny enough, it was the former pop powerhouse Katy Perry who eased Duas fears about dropping this kind of album when were all at the crib: These songs are going to have legs after the quarantine, Katy told Dua, according to the New York Times. Where the original Savage Mode was a minimalist affair with a stripped-back aesthetic and a single guest feature, 2020s follow-up takes full advantage of all the resources they hadat their disposal this time around. Frazier Tharpe, What a beautiful record thisis. Jay Electronica gets vulnerable on here, too, an underrated quality of his, as he touches on his reluctance to climb the mighty high ladder he built for himself. Eminem, Recovery (2010) Image via Complex Original. Cardigan, August, and Betty are all about the same made-up love story about two teenagers who face a summer of long distance, infidelity, and high school drama. He did it by fitting an impressive amount of great songs on one tracklist. Grant Rindner, Label:PH Recordings/Loma Vista Recordings, Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats dont waste a second on their joint EP,Unlocked, which functions as an 18-minute survey of rap sounds from 00s West Coast (Pyro) to old school New York (Take_it_Back_v2) to gleefully demonic trap (Lay_Up.m4a). Not only did he drop two different versions of this album with one of the best songs of the year in We Paid attached, he also provided people with a soundtrack with The Bigger Picture, and that right there deserves a Grammy in and of itself. This was a year of listening to albums in headphones. In 2020, he started making music . Will Schube, Ariana Grandes ability to channel her personal experiences of love and heartbreak and package it into compelling moments reached new heights with the one-two punch of Sweetener and thank u, next. People havent tired of this approach from Bronson, and Only for Dolphins is another example of really good beats and really entertaining rhymes from Flushings favorite son. But amidthe challenges, there is a sense of hope that prevails as he looks to his newfound lifestyle among the palm trees in California. On the last song of the trifecta, Taylor Swift sings from the perspective of the 17-year-old boy James: If I just showed up at your party, would you have me? And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. I would just listen to Midnight Marauders all the time, and then I gave [The Low End Theory]a listen. Like so many other projects weve received this year, its incredibly frustrating we couldnt enjoy this album on roofs and dance floors. I love it. He lets his voice carry the record, even at moments when hes at the very top of his vocal range. You gotta check this out.' I was first introduced to Big L by my mentor Solomon Taylor back in Maryland. Site also contains reviews, ratings & more. Bunnys sophomore album was supposed to run the summer in terms of sound, even more so because it bridges the gap between the old and the new. David Bowie and his 25 favorite music albums of all time David Bowie revealed in an interview back in 2003 with Vanity Fair his 25 favorite albums of all time and explained why he chose them. Complex Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Good News is a fun project, chock full of twerkable anthems, Southern influences, and vintage samples. Today, Logic's debut album,Under Pressure, is finally in stores (you can stream it here). Throughout the project, Sheff shows that he has the technical acumen to transcend the subgenre he helped establish. Kendrick Lamar is a rapper witha wide range of listening habitstraces of which can be heard throughout his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Black Messiah. 42 Dugg is a man of the people, and though he broke through during someone elses turn, his shot isnt far off. As the story goes, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down just weeks before the albums scheduled release date, Abel was advised to push it back, but he chose to put it out anyway. These are the releases that got us through the year. The singularity of the mood, the detail in the writing, and the coherence and beauty of the sound make this not only Boldys strongest release to date, but one of the best rap albums of the year, period. If Scorsese asked me to be in The Irishman, Id quickly agree, fulfill my contract, and retire from all public activity in glee. Angel Diaz, The comparisons would be inevitable, butDetroit 2 isnt the same album asDetroit. From the dense verses to the production, its just all around an incredible hip-hop album. Elitists may scoff at the idea, but consider the power of Freddie Gibbs and Alchemists Alfredo. Music. Like much of Griseldas 2020, you can feel the growth. Dont forget, Bennys been spitting, but with each release, the improvements are crystal clear. Weve never consumed albums like we did in 2020. Slant Magazine's 100 Best Albums of the Aughts. Kid Cudi's 25 Favorite Albums- Complex Magazine. It was my theme music to and from the studio for a year., Logic: The funny thing is I wish I could have discovered Nas back when Illmatic first came out. The genre is ready for another shift and I think KeiyaA is the person the games been missing. It reminds me of fishing, and all the random shit I never really did, but when we did do it that was on the stereo of the cassette player. As ScHoolboy Q gears up for the February 25 release his full-length debut album Oxymoron, Q named his 25 favorite albums of all time in a Complex list with Oxymoron being one of them. Bully: Lucky for You. If you have the budget to hire Morgan Freeman to narrate your album, why not do it? Though the songs all share a cacophonic quality that has long been part of Apples sound, each feels wholly its own. At best, we got to hear these projects with small quarantine pods or with anyone who happened to be within earshot of a Bluetooth speaker at the park. Andre Gee, TheGriseldacrew has been on an incredible run for the last half-decade or so, and Westside Gunn is a big reason why. It was like a Killa Bees compilation album because I didnt know what to buy. Beautiful is really the only adjective I can think of when I talk about Mt. Frazier Tharpe, Label:Slaughter Boomin/Epic/Boominati/Republic, 21 Savage and Metro Boomin didnt attempt to replicate 2016s Savage Mode when they cooked up the sequel. Released: March 27. It features Thug and Lil Baby and Roddy Ricch, but the features dont seem like grabs for streaming numbers. Listening to ATLiens now, they kind of have these different panning to the left and the right in the vocals. Read on to find out which albums defined Kendrick Lamar's coming of age in hip-hop, and which artist was on such heavy rotation in his childhood home that he can't remember which songs were from which album. So I had to explain to you motherf*ukers where the fuck I'm coming from. He proceeds to spend the next hour getting listeners fully up to speed, holding court sans features atop a collection of cloudy, glitchy, and downright strange beats. Edwin Ortiz, Bad Bunny always tries to work with everybody in his lane, whether it be veteransin the genre like engo Flow and Daddy Yankee or peers like Sech and Myke Towers. But more importantly, Gunn, a reluctant rapper from the beginning who makes constant threats of retirement, plays a curatorial role as well, bringing in just the right guest voice at the perfect momentincluding a standout rap verse from Tyler. For me, listening to Midnight Marauders first was almost cheating because I didnt get to appreciate it, once again, due to lack of age and the fact that I wasnt there to experience it for the first time. Angelic Hoodratis an exceptionally compelling listen, with no skips. His work with Lil Baby is impeachable, and Young Thug is his musical dad. There are no true standout tracks here, or an anthemic performance that sets the tone (think No Tears Left to Cry" or Thank U, Next). But I always knew it was Big Daddy Kane. So I kind of wanted to encompass that. But Recovery, the biggest selling . The album is typical Juice WRLD fare, walking along the tightrope of emo and rap that he maneuvered so well. The option was to stay and ride/Or to let it die/I picked a side, now Im just grieving. Dont get it twisted, though. Just hearing DeJ Loaf on that Fear Of God hook, over those crispy Hit-Boy drums? The songwriting is tighter, the production is more dynamic, and his worldview has grown a little more mature. Enjoy our top album picks spanning multiple genres. I didnt know what to expect once I hit play, but I didnt expect the sound to be as varied as it is. Eric Skelton, Fiona ApplesFetch the Bolt Cuttershas all the joy, chaos, and warped edges of a truly homemade product, but her songwriting ensures everyone will see themselves reflected in the music. Burden of Proof is a textbook for block boys who know that theres a better life for them, but cant see the forest for the trees. So many of 2 Chainzs albums have revolved around world-beating singles, and rightfully so, considering how impactful and club-ready they often are. For me, I saw a lot of myself. OK Computer might be Radiohead's best album, and Kid A their most musically innovative, but In Rainbows shook the music industry's very infrastructure. This thing has an abundance of bad-bitch energy, with a Megan Thee Stallion-assisted Real Hot Girl Skit, a long-awaited Jhene Aiko collaboration Change Your Life, and more. But, as he explained to Complex, the universe aligned in such a way that he ended up working with a star-studded cast of collaborators throughout the year. Kehlani didnt follow up an album calledSexySweetSavagewith a project of sad songs pining over a man. Kehlanis internal debate on love is no better reflected than on the James Blake-assisted Grieving, where she mourns the conclusion of a relationship she understands had to end. Its his first chart-topping LP, and deservedly so. Check out Logic's 25 Favorite Albums , listed in chronological order. I was in high school9th or 10th grade I thinkand a friend of mine was like, Yo! COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Pain is profitable in rap music, but few were able to make the feeling as tangible asJuice WRLD did. Take Timeless, one of the more star-studded cuts on the album. A lot of people recorded shit on tape, but there was something about Tribe. So why not make an album full of songs that feature Ty DollaSign? Angel Diaz, What makes YoungBoy Never Broke Again such a force in rap is his ability to touch the streets no matter how big he gets. Now,It Was Good Until It Wasnttells all aspects of a relationships highs and lows, as well as the contradictions that come in between. I'll stop there. While searching for New York State of Mind I found Illmatic. 25. I love that song. Hours before releasing the 14-song project, Drake urged everyonenotto think of it as an album. With the success of each various faction reaching new heights in the past few years, the group decided to reunite for Spilligion, which features far more starpower than the group was ever able to accrue during their first go-round. COMPLEX participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COMPLEX gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Dugg ispart of a wildly diverse crop of Detroit MCs who are quietly dominating the rap landscape, and Young & Turnt 2 is a welcomed introduction to those who may have missed the first edition in March 2019. At first, he was going to title it Dream House, to neatly wrap up his Beach House series, but in the run up to its release, he had a revelation. I get real accountable when Im alone/I get real about it all when Im alone, she muses on album standout Toxic. The album shines brightest when these reflections manifest themselves into Kehlanis silky vocals over dark, moody, sultry beats. Kenny is still a mystery to much of the rap world, but his debut album makes one hell of an introduction, foreshadowinga long, successful career ahead. While EarthGang were making early efforts to break through, they established a group within their collective, called Spillage Village, which also included JID. Yo Perreo Sola was ready to take off before COVIDhit, relegating everyone to dance in their houses. Strictly speaking, Im still on track, so tell everyone Ill be alright/Cause strictly speaking, Ive got my whole life. Its the soundtrack of convincing yourself as much as youre trying to convince others. On the very first song, following an art-auction intro, Gunn raps about having bulletproof Bentleys parked outside the Whitney, and the dichotomies keep going from there. This was around 2013. Kendrick Lamar: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation (2012 Online Cover Story), Kendrick Lamar Breaks Down His Favorite Cartoons and Cereals (Video). Andre Gee, Long before EarthGang emerged in the mainstream consciousness, they had begun forming their own version of the Dungeon Family, a loose collective of like-minded MCs and singers that mirrored the hip-hop heavyweight collective of the 1990s. I shy away from a lot of that on the album, but I put that on there because there is a little bit of the braggadocious on the album. I love I Gave You Power. Its one of the dopest conceptual records I have heard in hip-hop. Edwin Ortiz, Sheff G maybe the closest thing to a traditionalist to emerge from Brooklyns burgeoning drill scene. At 43 years old, hes more representative of an older generation, but his wide-eyed approach to the game is as fresh as it was when he first began. An album this infectious and this exemplary of what successful pop music is in 2020, Katy isnt wrong. 87. From the perverse feeling of being praised by a bully (Shameika) to the weight of depression (Heavy Balloon) to the cyclical nature of pain and hurt (Relay) and even the sexual assault allegations against Brett Kavanaugh (For Her),Fetch the Bolt Cuttersgrapples with all the messiness of life today. For every vintage Marci track like Steel Vagina, you havetracks like Covid Cough featuring Schoolboy Q and Wicked Days featuring Trent Truth that sound like nothing Roc has ever produced before. Its music that stays with you, which is a consolation prize none of us wanted. How they create records is that theyll just be in a room and jam out. It wasnt Kim or Stan, it was just him, and it was an Eminem that was just finding himself. He pulls from his brooding, early-era mixtapeaestheticon songs like Snowchild and Escape From LA while also reaching for the mountaintop of pop success with radio-friendly anthems like Blinding Lights, Heartless, and In Your Eyes. Somehow, hes able to successfully scale his Trilogy-era soundup to an arena-size capacity by doubling down on his favorite tropesoverindulgence, toxic relationships, and drugsin a more refined way than hes ever pulled off. Bars like, Sometimes I was held down by the gravity of my pen/Sometimes I was held down by the gravity of my sin/Sometimes, like Santiago, at crucial points of my novel/My only logical option was to transform into the wind, tryto explain why this took so long. 98. He stuck to his script for years, refusing to waste his time appeasing demographics that diluted his product, and hit a creative zenith on an album that got the Grammy nomination he predicted earlier this year. Nudy has always been a natural collaboratorstrong guest verses and an acclaimed mixtape with Pierre Bourne prove as muchbutAnywaysis the project that establishes him as a true solo star. This feature is a part of Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week. I see their lists and I personally get offended/Cause very single verse is a verse of the year contender. All facts, but putting this familiar heat next to his excursions into different vibes and sounds, while calling on some of the games finest to help him express this chapter of his career? I didnt get to hear how it all started., Logic: That was actually one of the first hip-hop records I was ever introduced to. Friday Night Cypher is one of the albums most thrilling moments, and it begs the question, who else but Sean could get all of Detroits biggest stars on the same track? As impressive as the names on the tracklist are, though, SAINt JHNs own voice is the true star of the show. Do yourself a favor and listen to it now. It was an ambitious and bold claim for a new artist, but he was prepared to back up the assertion with witty wordplay, harrowing storytelling, and youthful enthusiasm. Will Schube, When 2020 began, SAINt JHN had no plans to make While The World Was Burning. It doesnt mean that its lacking in quality. Grant Rindner, Fuck the Worldwastes no time. On Christopher Walking, he makes a point of uttering the phrase King of New York, which was beginning to feel like a realistic title whenMeet the Woo 2arrived. A list of the top albums of the year from Complex Decade. Patty Crash is on The Day. I remember being a huge fan of her. After Wu-Tang Forever I discovered 36 Chambers. One and Only, though, is only nominally a drill album. And while not as good as her previous two albums, positions still offers enough quality and depth that makes Ariana Grande one of the leading pop acts of our generation. Jessica McKinney. But in the past few years, 2 Chainz has leaned more heavily on concepts to fuel his albums, and the results have been spectacular. I remember he had a sunroof, and while we were driving I just kind of laid back and looked up. That vision, from the beginning, has involved mixing high and low culture. . Ty is a singular hit-maker and theres a reason why so many artists go to him for features. After a year of ups and downs, its nice to hear her end on a triumphantnote. That to me encompassed a lot of my home life as well., Logic: I remember everything about Eminems rise. I literally just rediscovered it like a week ago. Music From Dr. Dre to Jay-Z: Nas' 25 favourite albums of all time Joe Taysom Thu 4th Feb 2021 20.00 GMT In 1994, Nas announced himself to the world in the grandest way possible; by dropping an all-time masterclass album that would change hip-hop forever when he released his seminal debut, Illmatic. It seems hes not content to simply live off album anniversaries and the 292,398th Jay-Nas debate. The almost-casual announcement (albeit followed by an extensive first-week sales plan) set the tone for a project that avoids feelinglike too little and doesnt try to be too much. Shawn Setaro, Some people say they want to live forever, Mac Miller sings onComplicated. And thats way too long. Millers posthumous album, completed byJon Brion, is a wonderful and sad addition to Macs discography. Last year, Denzel had one of thebest episodesof KennysThe Cavefreestyle show, and that chemistry carries over toUnlocked, a brief project that offers listeners a whole world to explore. Dark, vulnerable, but tough. She can flat-out rap, and shes just as vicious and precise as she was a year ago. It just so happens that Burden of Proof is made out of solid gold. What other rapper would even think to write a line like,Im like Mother Goose, if I say shoot, they gonna shoot? khal, With a title likeThe GOAT, it was imperative that Polo G bring his A-game. Until there isnt. Flo Milli is still figuring out her place in the industry, but Ho, Why Is You Here? khal, Coke rap is revolutionary. Shortly after the album dropped, Polo Gtold Complexthat he believedThe GOATshould be in the conversation about the very best releases of 2020. OnThe Slow Rush, Parker, now older and married, puts that incisiveness to work on themes of millennial angst. On the extremely viral Imanbek remix of Roses, his vocals were pitch-shifted nearly out of recognition, but throughout the 14-song tracklist of WTWWB, were reminded just how strong his natural voice is. The 100 Best Albums of The Complex Decade. People always seem to be talking about how brilliant Ty is, but still, the recognition is never enough. WithA Muse in Her Feelings, Dvsn push the future of R&B forward. Angelic Hoodratis an experimental project that combines Kennys many musical inspirations and tastes. When I first discovered Nas, it was through I Am. An international sensation turned stateside star, Dua occupied radio waves with 3x platinum Dont Start Now. She interpolated the Olivia Newton-John classic Physical for her own song of the same name, a reminder of the not-so-subtle disco and synth-pop influences the entire project stems from. Definitely from beats to rhyme schemes, but I think a big reason I put that on the list is because they helped me paint a picture of my album with the skits and make it a movie., Label: Parlophone Records, Capitol Records, Logic: My homie put me on to Radiohead. Label: Forever Recordings. And the fact he brought Jigga along for the ride made this project well worth the wait. Kendrick Lamar's 25 Favorite Albums By David Drake Freelance writer living in Chicago. A beautifully sequenced body of work,After Hours flows from one song to the next with no skips, as Abel shows off his knack for world-building. Will Schube, Dark Lane Demo Tapesis a warmup. How many bangers are on here out of 20 tracks? 20. Check out Logic's 25 Favorite Albums,listed in chronological order. Will Schube, On the morning of July 23, Taylor Swift, having spent the majority of her career as meticulous and calculated as possible, seemingly pulled her eighth studio album Folklore out of thin air. Songs like Do It, Forgive Me, and the albums title track are dreamy and invigorating, with ornate harmonies that rest on intricate and vibrant beats. Amazon. In a year in which he released four soloprojects, Top is his best. 23. The fact that he delivered an album as good asA Written Testimonyafter a decade of pump fakes only adds to his legend. Between Pretty Girls Like Trap Music, Rap or Go to the League, and SHMG!, Id say our main man formerly known as Tity Boihas given us one of the best second acts in recent memory. Hes throwing his hat in the ring, and while he might not be considered by all to be in true A-listterritory quite yet, his chapeau certainly aint getting stomped on. When I was creating this album we would listen to that album every single day on the way to the studio. The reason I love that album so much, and the reason I can relate to it, is because Infinite, even though it was an album, was kind of like a mixtape of that era. Throughout, Ariana is discovering another level of comfort with herself, a sign of growth she will no doubt apply with future releases. But what stands out most about Flo Millis debut tape is her unshakable attitude. Oct 24, 2012 Image via Complex Original The. Here are Complex's picks for the best albums of 2021, ranging from Hip-Hop and R&B to Pop. If you have the relationships to get Drake and Young Thug to contribute verses, why not make those calls? Throughout the album, Ty tries to establish his place within raps upper echelon, and he achieves this goal on track after track. The band ended the four-year wait following . It's mature, it's grown, it's timeless, it's sexy, it's classy, it's unorthodox. I met her on Twitter, and if it wasnt for that album, she wouldnt have been a big help as far as helping me painting the picture on this album., Logic: I dont even know what I can say about Dark Twisted Fantasy that hasnt already been said. Critic Score. Grim prospects, but not before the penultimate track allows a glimmer of hope. Spin's 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years (1985-2009) SPIN's 300 Best Albums of the Past 30 Years (1985-2014) Stereogum's Best Album Of The '00s. She managed to give us an underground R&B classic in 2020 that sounds like home. Me & You Together Song is 90s Freddie Prinze, Jr. music, sitting right beside a singular alt-R&B fusion like Tonight (I Wish I Was Your Boy).The album may be a season finale of sorts to the bands Music for Cars era (IYKYK), but ending on Guys, a me and the boys meme writ large, feels like its heralding a long break. Even up until Welcome to Forever I was still finding myself and who I was., Logic: Wu-Tang was an enormous inspiration for the skits on my album.

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