1. Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae The third LP from Janelle Monae comes at a time where marginalized voices demand to be heard, and Janelle makes sure she emphasizes that on her record. Laced with Prince-inspired beats and bold lyrics, Dirty Computer is a testament to how versatile Janelle Monae really is.
2. Sweetener by Ariana Grande Winner of “Best Pop Album” at the Grammys, Sweetener by Ariana Grande is a colorful and fun record that revolves around strength, love and inner peace. Produced by musical genius Pharrell, Ariana sings about what happiness truly means to her, and how important mental health can be: “You gotta take care of your body/ Ain’t no time to deny it, that is why we talking about it.”
3. The Kids Are Alright by Chloe x Halle It’s no doubt that sisters Chloe & Halle (who are signed by Beyoncé) are the most creative and musically talented duo out there; apparently, they recorded 400 songs for this album over the span of 3 years. Enriched by their stunning vocals and synthetic beats, The Kids Are Alright revolves around fame, friendship, and teen love.
4. Everything is Love by The Carters
It’s no shock that this record took home “Best Contemporary Album” at the Grammys this year. Some couples like to salvage their marriage through couples therapy; Beyoncé and Jay-Z, however, unsurprisingly turn to music. Their high-profiled marriage is sung/rapped about in this album, but so is friendship, romance and their love for their hometowns: “I put it down for the 713 / And we still got love for the streets.”
5. Swimming by Mac Miller The late and great Pittsburgh-born MC raps about his breakup and troubles regarding fame on Swimming. This album didn’t win “Best Rap Album” at the Grammys, but the outrage on social media definitely means that it should have. Miller pours his heart out onto this record, and it evidently shows.