10 Albums That Defined 2024

Jaelani Turner-Williams highlights the top 10 albums of 2024, showcasing a year of musical innovation across genres like hip-hop, R&B, and country. Established icons like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and Kaytranada returned with transformative work, while rising stars Tyla, Doechii, and Shaboozey solidified their status as future industry leaders.

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter boldly blended country and trap, reclaiming the genre’s roots. Kendrick Lamar’s GNX delivered a raw, introspective victory lap featuring West Coast talent. Meanwhile, Kaytranada’s Timeless created an infectious sonic party with hip-hop and R&B collaborators. Lucky Daye pushed R&B boundaries with the soulful Algorithm, and Tyler, the Creator explored existential fears on Chromakopia.

Doechii’s mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, showcased her versatility and lyrical power, while Shaboozey brought country music mainstream with Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going. Tyla’s self-titled debut established her as a global Afro-R&B sensation. SchoolBoy Q returned with Blue Lips, a blend of street anthems and introspection. NxWorries’ Why Lawd? gave fans an emotional and humorous exploration of heartbreak.

These albums not only offered listeners escape and healing during turbulent times but also marked groundbreaking moments in each artist’s career, defining 2024 as a landmark year in music.

Source: BET