I’ve been a huge music fan for the majority of my life but it wasn’t until recently that I started paying closer attention to the amount of work that artists put into making bodies of music as opposed to the singles we hear on the radio. From “Forest Hills Drive” by J.Cole to “1989” by Taylor Swift, the purpose of any good album is to tell a story and take the listener on a journey. That being said, here are five albums that I’m currently listening to on repeat:
1) You Should Be Here by Kehlani
I’m a huge Kehlani fan and this album has been giving me life and motivating me all semester. Whether you need a pick me up like “Alive” or an R&B vibe like “The Way,” there’s definitely a song for you on this Grammy nominated album.
2) The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
This album is nothing short of a classic and a staple in my iTunes. Lauryn Hill shares so much wisdom through the rhymes of her lived experiences and I can never get enough. My favorite tracks include “To Zion,” “Tell Him,” and of course “Doo Wop (That Thing).”
3) Perfectly Imperfect by Elle Varner
Elle Varner is one of my favorite vocalists at the moment. I first stumbled upon her album last year and am currently (im)patiently waiting on her second. With tracks like “Don’t Wanna Dance,” Damn Good Friends,” and “So Fly,” there is a very good chance that you’ll find a track that you can relate to.
4) Surf by Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment
Surf is by far my favorite collaboration projects. Started by Chance the Rapper, the album features artists from Big Sean to Erykah Badu, and it’s completely free on iTunes!
5) Anti by Rihanna
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably familiar with the single off of Rihanna’s new album, “Work.” However, the rest of her album, Anti, is worth a listen too. My favorite tracks are probably “Consideration,” “Desperado,” and “Needed Me.”
Even if you don’t become as obsessed with these albums as I am, I hope that out of this list you find a new album to connect with!
Sources:
http://cdn.blackenterprise.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2011/12/girl…
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/stream-kehlani-s-new-album-you-should-be-here-news.15115.html
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/LaurynHillTheMiseducationofLaurynHillalbumcover.jpg
http://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Elle_Varner_PERFECTLY-IMPERECT_album-TGJ.jpg
http://images.rapgenius.com/11ee95b07a17b2653deaba967980da78.600x600x1.jpg