My Top 20 Projects of 2024
- REECEALJ
- Jan 1
- 8 min read
Updated: Jan 5
Well well well, we're gathered here today to witness a successful attempt of me getting back into my blog bag once again.
In 2023 we set the goal of three (3) posts within the year, the outcome?? we're alive and well and thats all we can really ask for at the end of the day(in this case, year). However, in 2025, things shall be changing. Procrastination is currently up 2-0, time for the get back!
With that being said, here's my 2024 top projects of the year!
20. Glorilla - Ehhthang Ehhthang
April 5th
32 mins
12 Tracks
At 20 we have Glorilla, she has had a mammoth year and started it with this mixtape. This tape this was a surprise to me as I had not really tapped into her prior to that release.
Standout Tracks:
Yeah Glo
No Bih
Wanna Be
Aite ft Kevo Muney
In Dat Mode
19. Future & Metro Boomin - WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU
April 12th
1hr 28mins
25 Tracks
With the monumental year they both had following the release of WE DON'T TRUST YOU & the catalyst of one of the biggest Rap beefs in history with Drake vs Kendrick Lamar from the release of LIKE THAT featuring the latter, this album became a lost work of art within all the noise.
One thing about me, I LOVE when Future steps into his R&B pockets, this album was a showcase of that. They got in the studio and COOKED, whilst reminding us how they felt about Drake but making it melodic.
Standout Tracks:
Drink N Dance
All to Myself ft The Weeknd
Nights Like This
Beat It
18. Doechii - Alligator Bites Never Heal
August 30th
47 mins
19 Tracks
This is one project I wish I had listened to more, I've not had the chance to really take it in properly. The work she is putting into the rollout of this album, especially AFTER its release needs to be taught to all these other artists.
She has kept everyone locked in with every performance, I'm looking forward to getting into this project more and what the future has for her.
Standout Tracks:
Denial is a River
Profit
Slide
Fireflies
17. Normani - Dopamine
June 14th
41 mins
14 Tracks
This project was a bitter sweet experience but as expected she delivered regardless, I wish there was more provided alongside the album but from this came my some of my favourite songs of the year.
Standout Tracks:
All Yours
Light On
Wild Side ft Cardi B
16. Glorilla - Glorious
October 11th
42 mins
15 Tracks
With her second entry on my round up, we have Glorilla once again. In Glorious, she proved she had much more to deliver and had a point to prove. This project was a nice surprise and showed much more versatility from her previous mixtape earlier in the year.
Standout Tracks:
Procedure ft Latto
TGIF
Whatchu Kno About Me ft Sexyy Red
Never Find ft K Carbon
15. Chris Brown - 11:11 Deluxe
April 11th
1hr 50mins
35 Tracks
If I did a write up last year, the standard album would've landed #1, as for the deluxe, it didn't land for me as much. However the project still delivered overall.
Standout Tracks:
Bruce Lee
No Interruptions
Run Away ft Bryson Tiller
Residuals
14. Muni Long - Revenge
August 30th
42 mins
14 Tracks
Song-writer turned Artist, she has delivered another solid album this year. She's delivered some of my favourite tracks and performances, I know it’s always going to be real good traditional R&B when it comes to her.
Standout Tracks:
Made For Me
Revenge
Ruined Me
13. JT - City Cinderella
July 19th
40 mins
16 Tracks
This one was a surprise for me, never saw it coming. JT has gone from strength from strength this year for me, she's delivered on her features, dropped her debut solo mixtape City Cinderella where I realised she has more to give in the future, not to mention, the cover art was chef kiss.
Standout Tracks:
Swang
90's Baby
Uncle AL
JT Coming
12. Beyoncé - Cowboy Carter
March 29th
1hr 18 mins
27 Tracks
Cowboy Carter, the country-esque soundscape that we had fed to us this year. This was a well crafted album which I really enjoyed and had in my rotation in the early half of the year.
Standout Tracks:
Ameriican Requiem
Bodyguard
YA YA
II Hands II Heaven
11. Leon Thomas - MUTT
September 27th
47 mins
14 Tracks
Day by day I become a bigger fan of him. After each project he continues to show off his many talents, especially his skills as a writer.
Standout Tracks:
Answer Your Phone
Yes It Is
Far Fetched ft Ty $
10. Ravyn Lenae - Bird’s Eye
August 9th
35 mins
11 Tracks
Ravyn has done it again, I fell in love with her with her last album, HYPNOS. This had me excited for this album to drop and she ticked all the boxes.
I didn’t know what to expect but she delivered again, her pen, her ability to effortlessly convey emotion.
Standout Tracks:
One Wish ft Childish Gambino
Dream Girl ft Ty $
Love is Blind
From Scratch
9. Chloe Bailey - Trouble in Paradise
August 9th
48 mins
16 Tracks
Following the release of Chloe’s debut album, there were many question marks floating around.
This album has silently beaten the sophomore slump allegations, this time round it felt much more intentional and focused.
Standout Tracks:
Temporarily Single
Want Me ft Halle
Moments
Nice Girls Finish Last
8. Tyla - Tyla
March 22nd
38 mins
14 Tracks
Tyla being one of the artists this year to continue going from strength to strength, releasing this debut album at the top of the year and pushing it continuously up to now.
She has carved a new lane in the realms of mainstream Afropop as her sound derives from the stylistics of Amapiano, the native sound to her home, South Africa.
This album has proved she is able to deliver many sounds and tempos in her genre and has successfully beaten the one-hit wonder allegations.
Standout Tracks:
Truth or Dare
No1 ft Tems
Breathe Me
On & On
7. Ayra Starr - The Year I Turned 21
May 30th
40 mins
15 Tracks
This was an artist I never expected to have in my top 10 of albums of the year. Ayra Starr had been on my radar for a while, when this album had dropped I decided to take the leap of faith and give it the spin, I was not disappointed at all!
The sequencing, well chosen features and her sound which is unique to her. This has been an amazing year for all the women in Afrobeats/ Afropop.
Standout Tracks:
Lagos Love Story
21
Bad Vibes ft Seyi Vibez
6. Doja Cat - Scarlet 2: Claude
April 5th
1hr 17 mins
24 Tracks
I didn’t get the album straight away, by the time it grew on me, the deluxe was the cherry on top.
The deluxe was the much needed chaser to this drink, so much smoother and felt more refined with a sense of direction. Headed down the route of a melodic album feel.
The feature from Teezo Touchdown initially looked out of place but complimented her sound perfectly, finally the live rendition featuring The Joy from the Coachella set was chef kiss.
Standout Tracks:
Acknowledge Me
Masc ft Teezo Touchdown
Shutcho ft The Joy
5. Ariana Grande - Eternal Sunshine
March 8th
35 mins
13 Tracks
Another superstar who’s had a massive year and decided to chuck their hat in the ring for best albums of the year.
The R&B/Pop songstress has done it again with Eternal Sunshine, she’s shown how her work in Wicked has refined her vocals. She delivers an insightful album which takes a look at her outlook on previous and current relationships including the one with herself and the outside world, most of all the critics.
Standout Tracks:
We Can't Be Friends (wait for your love)
Intro (end of the world)
Don't Wanna Break Up Again
The Boy is Mine & remix ft Monica & Brandy
Eternal Sunshine
4. Kendrick Lamar - GNX
November 22nd
44 mins
12 Tracks
Oh Kendrick, what a year it’s been and what a year he’s had. He’s gone from strength to strength all year long and topped it off with one of the strongest projects of the year.
With it being still so new, it probably would’ve landed higher on my list if I had more time to sit with it.
Following the beef with Drake this year, this album ticked every box of what people said he couldn’t do: he rapped, he sang, he made fun music, he put MANY smaller LA native rappers on the map and he tapped into the iconic regional West Coast sound. No Notes!
Standout Tracks:
Luther ft SZA
Hey Now ft Dody6
TV off ft Lefty Gunplay
Dodger Blue ft Wallie the Sensei, Siete7x & Roddy Ricch
Heart pt. 6
3. Kehlani - Crash
June 21st
43 mins
13 Tracks
This album had surprised me, positively. At a time in every artists career they have their genre-bending era and Kehlani did not disappoint me with hers.
This album showcased every realm she has the ability to enter R&B, Pop, Dance, Country-leaning . When you hear this album you can recognise this is one that must be experienced live and that’s one show I cannot miss next year.
It’s good when an artist knows their strengths and sticks to it, but when an artist realises the opportunity to push the boat out in their music and executes it well, that becomes what separates them from their peers. This is a direction I’ve wanted Kehlani to explore for a long time and I’m glad she did.
Standout Tracks:
After Hours
Tears ft Omah Lay
Deep
Chapel
8
2. Latto - Sugar Honey Iced Tea
August 9th
1hr 4 mins
22 Tracks
In what has been a healthily competitive year for female rap, Latto’s third studio album Sugar Honey Iced Tea separated her from the rest.
This project proved her in many ways: confident, braggadocious, sweet and smooth. To put it plain simple, she showed she was versatile. She played to her strengths and championed her roots all throughout this album.
Possibly the first female melodic rap album we’ve received in the mainstream. Looking forward to what she has in store after this. BIG MAMA!
Standout Tracks:
Ear Candy ft Coco Jones
Blick Sum
Georgia Peach
Big Mama
Sunday Service
Tyler The Creator - Chromakopia
October 28th
53 mins
14 Tracks
Tyler, Tyler, Tyler. My goat fr, one of the few current artists where the numbers rightfully match the level of talent and the success of Chromakopia is rightfully deserved.
In Chromakopia Tyler invites us to have insight into his world and where his hard work and life choices have lead him, not to mention another update into his relationships with family, friends and the new life experiences bought to him at this age.
The albums sequencing and transitions flowed so well together and was sonically refreshing from the rest of market as his releases always are, being the very personal album this was, the narrating by his Mum was the cherry on top.
Standout Tracks:
Darling, I ft Teezo Touchdown
Hey Jane
Judge Judy
Like Him ft Lola Young
I Hope You Find Your Way Home
2024 has been a very strong year in music across the board, this hasn't been an easy list to compile, but what would an album list be without a playlist???!
Let me know if you agree or disagree with the list, any albums I may have missed, your top albums of the year or suggest any albums your want me to review in the comments below!
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