Albums of the Year

BY: MTHIMKHULU

AFTER FULLY DIGESTING 2024’S STAND OUT PROJECTS, THERE ARE SINGLES TO NOTE FROM THE SELECTED ALBUMS. A STRONG COMMONALITY BETWEEN ALL FOUR OF THESE VISIONARIES TRANSPORT US THROUGH ESOTERIC STORYTELLING WITH DIFFERENT GENRES & A DEEP EXPLORATION OF MIXED EMOTIONS. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, TAKE YOUR PHONE & DELEGATE THE FOLLOWING SINGLES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PLAYLISTS.

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: EMPATHAGEN BY WILLOW SMITH, HOMELESS BY LLONA, SOS DELUXE: LANA BY SZA, ON PURPOSE WITH PURPOSE BY GHETTS

HONORABLE MENTION: BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN BY JELLY ROLL

SOS Deluxe: Lana by SZA

“DRIVE” - 1. A HAND-FULL OF POPULAR ARTISTS THROW THE DART & MISS THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN SELECTING THE LEAD SINGLE 2. A LOT MORE POPULAR ARTISTS THROW THE DART & MISS THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN SELECTING THE VISUAL FOR THE LEAD SINGLE. “DRIVE” IS THE UMBRELLA OF LANA’S THEMES. SZA GIVES US A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME, TAKING HER FANS TO THE NEXT FLOOR OF “I’LL RIDE OR DIE FOR MY RIDE OR DIE” MUSIC, “I’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH IT & I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU” MUSIC. ALL OF THAT ALONG WITH VIVACIOUS STORY TELLING & THE MS LAURYN HILL ESQUE TRANSPARENCY KEEPS US ENGAGED. THE BRAVERY OF PERSONIFYING THE BEFORE/DURING & AFTER THE HEARTBREAK IS SURPRISINGLY SCARCE IN TODAY’S WORLD OF R&B, SZA IS ONE OF THE FEW BRIGHTENING THAT LIGHT.

“30 FOR 30” - DOT’S BUYING FURNITURE FOR HIS NEW LEGEND STATUS HOUSE BUT THAT’S A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION. HOW DOES ONE WRITE ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION IN A SHORT FORM COLUMN WITHOUT MENTIONING HOW DOT NEARLY TOOK OVER THIS WHOLE TRACK. REGARDLESS, IT STILL COMES OFF AS A JOINT EFFORT. ALL IN ALL, 30 FOR 30 IS ONE OF DEM ONES! LET’S STAY ON WHY IT’S ONE OF DEM ONES - SZA’S WORD CHOICE SUPPORTS THIS STATEMENT, ASKING QUESTIONS FOR THE “CHAT” WHILE HER KAI CENAT VISIT IS NOW A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD SUPPORTS THIS STATEMENT, THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE SONG (OPINIONATED PROVERBS TO LIVE BY, FROM INSECURITY TO CONFIDENCE, QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR IN SOCIETY, ETC) SUPPORTS THIS STATEMENT. THE ORIGIN OF THE SONG TITLE SUGGESTS IT’S PURELY FOR SPORT. ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICIANS EVER, DEFINITELY EQUIPPED WITH HIS OWN UNIQUE APPROACH TO OPERATING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY HAS THE EXACT SAME SONG TITLE. THE FEEL ON THAT TRACK IS MORE OF A LISTEN, NOT A HIT. THE SUBJECT MATTER ON THAT 30 FOR 30 FREESTYLE TOUCHES ON FEAR, A LUXURIOUS LIFESTYLE, FROM NAIVETY TO SOPHISTICATION, BOASTFUL SHOWMANSHIP. SOME MAY CALL IT A COINCIDENCE, OTHERS MAY CALL IT A SHOUT OUT. HOPEFULLY IT’S THE LATTER, HOPEFULLY CLEVERNESS IN MUSIC CONTINUES TO KEEP US WONDERING.

“GET BEHIND ME INTERLUDE” - TALK ABOUT A PRAISE & WORSHIP BOP IN THE FLESH. THIS IS THE SONIC SINNERS WAR CRY, AN ANTHEM FOR THE CHURCH KIDS IN THE CLUBS. OF COURSE IT’S SHORT, THE WORD “INTERLUDE” IS A USEFUL HINT. AS QUESTIONABLE & UNREALISTIC AS THIS MIGHT SOUND, WE NEED MADEA DOING WHAT BEN STILLER DID FOR “DRIVE” ON THIS ONE.

“CRYBABY” - THE PINNACLE OF ACCOUNTABILITY. WHEN AN EMOTIONAL PERSON DEMONSTRATES THIS MUCH SELF REFLECTION, THE TITLE IS A PERFECT FIT - SOMETIMES THERE’S POWER IN CRYING OUT LOUD. “YOU SHOULD REALLY STOP SMOKIN THEM BACKWOODS SO YOU CAN AGE BACKWARDS” BEING AROUND THE LIKES OF AB, ROC, NOW DOECHII IS PROVING TO DO A LOT FOR SZA. IT’S NATURAL FOR THIS KIND OF WORDPLAY TO BLEED THIS MUCH WHEN YOU’RE CLOSE WITH TDE. THIS TRACK ZOOMS IN ON WHAT MAY BE POSSIBILITIES FOR SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE REALITY FOR OTHERS - SZA DRAWS AN ILLUSTRATION OF MAKING DECISIONS WITH THE CHOICES SHE HAD. MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE OUT OF BAD OPTIONS IS AN OCCURRENCE THAT PREEXISTS US ALL. GIVE THE PRODUCERS ON THIS TRACK THEIR FLOWERS & SOME MORE! THE SPACE LEFT FOR A LIVE BAND CAN & WILL FILL UP THE ROOM WITH MAGIC.

SOS DELUXE: LANA PROVERBS:
-CURSING YOU SOLVES ALL MY PROBLEMS
-THERE’S NO REASON I CAN’T CHOOSE ME
-THAT’S WHY HE MY MAN
-I ROMANTICIZE THE SCARIEST THINGS

Homeless by Llona

“HBP REMIX” - SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY TRACK HE DOESN’T COMPOSE OR CO-COMPOSE, GREAT REPLAY VALUE!

“COLD WAR” - SOUNDS LIKE ONE OF THE STAND OUT FURNISHED SINGLES. THE CHORUS CAN FILL A STADIUM! FAVE RODE THAT BEAT LIKE SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO! A TEMS & FAVE COLLAB WILL BE USEFUL WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. IT’S NO SURPRISE IF MORE LISTENERS JOIN HER FOLLOWING AFTER THIS TUNE.

“STRANGER” - A SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM A SERIES OF LESSONS HE SHARES ALONG WITH BELLA SHMURDA. SOMEONE HAS MADE THE DECISION TO RID THEMSELVES FROM A FORCE/PERSON WHO BRINGING DANGER TO THEIR LIFE. THE ELEGANTLY VOICED QUESTION DURING THE FINAL SECONDS OF THE POEM CONTRADICTS THE ASSURANCE DISPLAYED BEFOREHAND - SEEMS TO PROVE WHATEVER DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE IS A TOUGH ONE.

“FORGIVE ME” - A BRAVE WAY TO END A PROJECT FULL OF NOTEWORTHY DANCE TRACKS. THERE ARE NO MORE CLIFF HANGERS TO LEAVE US WONDERING HERE. LLONA TACKLES THE DIFFICULT TASK OF FORGIVENESS. AFTER A FEW LISTENS, THE QUESTION BECOMES A LITTLE INTERESTING - IS THIS A HOMELESS MAN LOOKING FOR A HOME OR IS THIS A HOMELESS MAN WHO MADE A HOME IN THEIR ABANDONMENT WITH VERY LITTLE ROOM FOR FAMILY.

HOMELESS PROVERBS:
-TRYNA BE A BLESSING TO THE MOTHERLAND
-TAKE THE LOSS & COUNT ALL MY PROFIT
-LOVE FROM DISTANCE & I’M UNDERCOVER
-ONLY MY GOD BE MY COMFORTER

Empathogen by Willow Smith

“ANCIENT GIRL” - AN IMMEDIATE START TO A POETIC JOURNEY OF A WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WILDLIFE BIRTH OF A GIRL. A NAMELESS GIRL WITH A GIFT. A QUINTESSENTIAL DEMONSTRATION OF SHORT & SWEET

“FALSE SELF” - WILLOW DISPLAYS SHE CAN REALLY TAP INTO ANY GENRE SHE WANTS TO DO. RISKY EXPLORING THE FUNK OF THIS WITH SUCH HONESTY.

“SYMPTOM OF LIFE” - THE LYRICS CHASE THE KEYS ONLY TO UNITE AFTER ALMOST EVERY PHRASE. SYMPTOM OF LIFE TRANSPORTS AN ALLURING SENSE OF SELF - IT SPARKED A RATHER CHUCKLESOME THOUGHT OF WILLOW BEING ONE OF THE BEST VOCALISTS IN THE CHOIR WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BEING A HEADACHE FOR THE CONDUCTOR.

“I KNOW THAT FACE” - AN INTIMATE OASIS OF SOUND. THERE’S MORE ROOM FOR DISCOVERY IN “BIG FEELINGS”. A PICTURE OF SOMEONE COMMITTED TO LIVE BUT SEES THEMSELVES IN A POTENTIAL LOVER WHO MAY BE IN HIDING.

EMPATHOGEN PROVERBS:
-I THINK I NEED TO FALL TO PIECES
-FEEL I NEED TO CHANGE BUT I DON’T WANNA CHANGE
-MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE DARK
-ACCEPTANCE GIVES ME WINGS

On Purpose, with Purpose by Ghetts

“MOUNT RUSHMORE” - GHETTS EXECUTES THE CALL FOR TRUTH. IT’S AS IF THERE’S AN UNWRITTEN RULE FOR LYRICISTS TO CHOP (GO OFF) WHEN A CHOIR IS FEATURED. AS MUCH AS KANO & WRETCH 32 CAME WITH BRILLIANT DELIVERIES, SEEMS LIKE GHETTS KNEW HE COULDN’T GET OUTBARRED ON HIS OWN SONG.

“DOUBLE STANDARDS” - A HIGHLY MOVING TRANSITION. SAMPHA IS ONE OF THE FEW INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED SINGERS WHO DON’T COMPROMISE THEIR VOCAL SOUND. SOURCES REVEAL THAT THIS IS THE FIRST COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE TWO. MUSIC CULTURE NEEDED THIS ONE. AS FAR AS SUBJECT MATTER & GENTLE RHAPSODIC NOTES, THIS IS AN AWARD WINNING COLLABORATION

“MINE” - SOUNDS LIKE A GENTLEMAN’S LOVE LETTER, QUITE RARE IN THIS AGE. GHETTS ENGAGES IN THE FAST RAPS WITH EASE.

“TUMBI” - WHILE BOPPING TO THIS, I HAD A THOUGHT, THE CHEMISTRY ON TUMBI SHOULDN’T SURPRISE US: SPLURGEBOYZ HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH GHETTS & MEMBERS OF THE NASTY CREW FOR YEARS NOW. THIS IS A GROOVY TRACK FILLED WITH WAVY LINES FOR THE DANCE FLOOR.

ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE PROVERBS:
-YOU AIN’T NEVER BET ON YOURSELF & HIT THE JACKPOT
-I CANNOT PRIORITIZE BEING SOCIAL
-HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED CHESS JUST TO SACRIFICE THE PAWNS
-MY GENEROSITY IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW