The Best Albums of 2015 … So Far
We’re halfway through 2015 already? Really?
In the past six months, I’ve brought you the best and worst in hip-hop and R&B. Once you start separating the wheat from the chaff (*COUGH* Jamie Foxx *COUGH*) you’re left with a solid selection of music.
Let’s look at the 15 standouts of 2015 so far, in no specific order. We’ve heard some good music so far – hopefully the second half of 2015 brings even brighter gems.
Snoop Dogg, Bush
It’s pretty inconceivable that Snoop Dogg could make an R&B album – let along an album this FUN. R&B has been riding a wave of nostalgic, feel good music, and Uncle Snoop has no problem jumping on board. This is the type of album that even your grandma can groove too at the summer cookouts – if she doesn’t mind all the weed references.
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Joey Bada$$, B4.Da.$$
Joey’s long-awaited solo LP didn’t disappoint, showing lyrical prowess that far exceeds his age. Joey’s music harkens back to hip-hop’s glory days, which makes it a gem for grouchy old rap heads like myself.
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Ne-Yo, Non-Fiction
Poor Ne-Yo has caught a lot of flak in recent years for his ventures into the realm of pop. While Non-Fiction certainly has its EDM-inspired moments, there’s lots of strong, sensual R&B here – the type of music that made Ne-Yo a star. It’s good to hear it again.
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Ludacris, Ludaversal
Luda is one of many artists this year who returned to the booth after a lengthy hiatus. Ludaversal mostly steers away from the frantic party hits than made Luda a household name. Instead, he shows maturity while showcasing his underrated lyrical chops.
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Raheem DeVaughn, Love, Sex & Passion
Oddly, this album seems to have been lost in the R&B shuffle. That’s a shame – Raheem’s content is always consistent, and that remains true here. The King of Loveland still owns the crown for mood-setting R&B.
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Yelawolf, Love Story
It’s pretty easy to be thrown off by Love Story. Yelawolf, known for his rapid-fire flow, instead seemed more content to croon like Johnny Cash on his sophomore set. But what could have come off as awkward becomes a strong marriage of hip-hop and country. Yelawolf happily embraces his Southern roots and tells his story as only he can, once again pushing hip-hop in new directions.
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Kehlani, You Should Be Here
I’ll be all the way honest with you – the buzz for Kehlani’s debut project became so deafening this spring that I figured that there’d be NO WAY it could live up to the hype. She proved me wrong. You Should Be Here is a honest, thoughtful concept album that weaves narratives over her alluring vocals. It’s a great start for a promising debut.
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Action Bronson, Mr. Wonderful
The best thing about Mr. Wonderful is that it throws all of rap’s preconceived rules out of the window. Bronson raps, sings, insults and laments his way through a 45 minute escapade that is as brilliant as it is insane. His stream-of-consciousness delivery is so unpredictable – and that’s what makes it so engaging.
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Case, Heaven’s Door
Case has blessed us with quite a few memorable songs throughout his 20-year career but I typically prefer him as more of a supporting player than featured act. Well, Case has no problem taking the reins on Heaven’s Door, delivering one of his most solid, consistent outings yet. It’s one of the year’s biggest surprises.
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BadBadNotGood and Ghostface Killah, Sour Soul
Ghost has been cranking out albums with increased ferocity recently but not at the loss of quality. His collabo with hip-hop band BadBadNotGood is yet another quality mix of superb production laced with creative storytelling. Conceptually, Ghost has been in top form lately, and this album is proof.
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Charlie Wilson, Forever Charlie
Saying Charlie Wilson’s music is “timeless” is pretty cliché but lord knows it’s accurate. Forever Charlie sounds as fresh and upbeat as anything recorded by your favorite pimply-face R&B upstart, yet delivered with the maturity of an industry veteran. Uncle Charlie is doing backstrokes in the Fountain of Youth while these young’ns are struggling to catch up.
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Lupe Fiasco, Tetsuo and Youth
Just when the rap world was ready to give up on Lupe, he FINALLY returns to form. Tetsuo and Youth erases the bad taste left by recent subpar releases and reminds us that when Lupe’s at the top of his game, he’s nearly untouchable. High-concept tracks, outstanding production and bulletproof lyricism – Lupe’s finally back.
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Jazmine Sullivan, Reality Show
The first half of 2015 has treated us to quite a few comebacks, and few received a warmer welcome that Jazmine Sullivan, who picked up right where she left off. Her heavy, soulful vocals ache with the raw emotion that’s lost in today’s overproduced world of music. Reality Show is a cool concept album, using individual stories to construct a narrative of life in 2015. In fact, it’s more “real” than anything you’ll see on VH1.
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Tamia, Love Life
Love Life is the newest album on this list, but it’s easily one of the best. Tamia’s long been one of R&B most underrated voices – her delivery is almost flawless. When the talent is that strong, all you need is solid songwriting and production to create a hit, and this album has that in spades.
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Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly
Unquestionably, this the most important album of 2015 so far. Kendrick brings much needed social commentary to a generation looking for direction. To accomplish that, K-Dot digs into hip-hop’s time capsule, resurrecting the jazzy sounds and concepts of blackness that were so prevalent in the early ’90s hip-hop. Kendrick crafts a near-masterpiece, one that’ll be tough to top this year.
OK now, what did I miss? Let me know in the comments. But be warned — mention Big Sean’s album and I’ll go in on you.
What’s good, Soul In Stereo?! One album I would like to read your opinion on, is “Special Effects” by Tech N9ne. From lyrical delivery, concepts and solid production, not to mention the long awaited collaboration with Eminem, in my opinion it’s one of the best albums of the year, so far.
Jazmine ‘Reality’ gave me life!!!