By Nick Faber ’18
This list will look at the 15 albums that dominated music culture. Both critically/commercially good and bad albums will be featured on this list.
15) Lil Pump w. “Lil Pump” – Soundcloud rapper Lil Pump took over 2017 with his catchy songs and fantastic beats. His newly released album provided a sturdier platform for him as a new artist, where he used to solely rely on his singles.
14. 21 Savage, Offset, & Metro Boomin w. “Without Warning” – This trio provided some of the best trap/rap songs, combining for a fantastic album full of diverse sounds and vibes.
13) Ed Sheeran w. “÷” – British superstar Ed Sheeran released his followup album to “+” this year. Giving infectious hits like ‘Shape of You’ and ‘Perfect,’ his album took the pop world by storm.
12) Eminem w. “Revival” – Released halfway through December, Eminem’s album was anticipated all throughout 2017 stemming from the initial drop of ‘Walk on Water’ with Beyonce. Although not one of his best albums, Eminem still came to dominate (at least in the initial few weeks after his release) the rap scene.
11) Future w. “HNDRXX” and “FUTURE” – Future is an Atlanta superstar who is bridging the gap between trap and pop. With the release of these two albums days from each other, he was the first artist to have back-to-back albums on the Bill Board chart.
10) Drake w. “More Life” – Although a “playlist” according to Drake himself, the 22-song record was much anticipated for superstar Drake. He had many hits on this record, including ‘Passionfruit’ and ‘Portland.’
9) Lana Del Rey w. “Lust for Life” – Iconic singer and influencer Lana Del Rey gave her new album in 2017 and it landed with a mixed reaction. Although not a triumphant return, Lana still proved her great voice to the public.
8) Kendrick Lamar w. “DAMN.” – His newest album made waves in 2017 pleasing both casual hip hop listeners and underground listeners as well. Providing a new twist in his music, the beats chosen are full of changes with a little modern spice. Many conceptual theories surround this album as well, creating an effect of modernity each time you listen.
7) Kesha w. “Rainbow” – One of the greatest returns we’ve seen in a modern artist, Kesha came back to make some of her best songs and possibly her best, most in-depth album about her life and struggles.
6) Lorde w. “Melodrama” – Lorde came back from her last album “Pure Heroin” in 2013 to provide a pop track filled with songs that have the ability to relate to any listener. With songs like ‘Green Light,’ Lorde continues to show that she deserves the spotlight that was thrusted upon her only a few years ago with her song ‘Royals.’
5) Sampha w. “Process” – One of the most praised new artists of 2017, Sampha showed his capabilities on this album. He had a firm grasp on the pop sphere with his compelling voice catchy beats.
4) Migos w. “Culture” – An obvious contender for one of the best rap groups of the decade, the Migos released their best and most complete project in their careers. Filled with multiple bangers, they continued to shine months after the initial release.
3) Khalid w. “American Teen” – Khalid is one of the newest artists of 2017 and also provided some of the best pop songs in 2017 as well. Although very new, Khalid clearly worked hard to make something that will be influential for years to come.
2) BROCKHAMPTON w. “Saturation I, II, & III” – This rap group released 3 projects in 2017, and all were exceptional. Consisting of many members, all of their unique flows, voices, and sounds mesh well together to make something that the music scene hasn’t seen in a long time: a good boy band.
1) Joey Bada$$ w. “ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$” New York rapper Joey Badass follows up his last project, titled “B$.DA.$$”, with possibly his best project yet. Providing a range of songs from the chill ‘LEGENDARY’ featuring J Cole to his banger ‘DEVESTATED.” Giving his opinions on America and the current political landscape, this is an almost perfect protest album.