by Elijah Ramos

If you came looking to find someone talking about your favorite “Lil” rapper, well you’re out of luck.

5. Whack World – Tierra Whack

If you haven’t heard this entire album or even gave it a chance – oh man – you’re missing out. There’s something really special about this album – it’s artsy, weird, and cute. Whack can spit bar after bar. Whack World is unique in so many ways, and if you haven’t listened there are so many unique aspects to this album. For example, it’s an album that consists of 15 songs that are all one minute long and each song is different in it’s own way.

It’s hard to really dig deep Whack’s songs because of how short they are, which is why it comes in at number five on this list. I would love for it to be higher on my list but this year is packed with so many great albums that I fell in love with. I would have to say my favorite song on this album is Bug Life, because she gets down to it and shows us her rapping ability on this song with a trap beat to go along with it. This album is a must listen, in my opinion it’s the most unique album of the year and there’s nothing like it that I have heard. Big props to Tierra Whack, and I hope to hear more from her in the future.

4. My Dear Melancholy – The Weeknd

Going into this album – at first – I was worried thinking that The Weeknd would drop something like Starboy, which for me I didn’t like at all. But, a couple days before the drop, I saw Travis Scott tweet “This is giving me trilogy vibes,” and I knew I had to give the project a listen.

This album is The Weeknd that we fell in love with. He came out with an instant classic that I listen to on repeat in Call Out My Name. When I heard this song, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed in the rest of the album. In this album, we go back to hearing The Weeknd talk about not really caring about feelings and is here for one night but he will “come back if it’s good enough,” basically back to baby-making music. Gesaffelstein makes an appearance on two tracks and really brings back that Starboy feel, but I like this more then anything. This album is one of my favorites of all time, mainly because I am a big fan of The Weekend and this album is a classic of his.

3. ASTROWORLD – Travis Scott

I had to have this album on my list, and it even makes a real case for the top album of the year spot. This album took over this year with so much anticipation and hype, as not only did it reach its potential, but surpassed it. Travis Scott and his spectacular feature list are something that you read out of the bible. This album has reached top-notch status for me, from songs like CAROUSEL that feature my favorite artist of all-time in Frank Ocean, who really makes the song. Sicko Mode is basically three different songs in one, featureing Drake who is spectacular on all aspects. This album will be on repeat forever. I am absolutely obsessed with Astroworld and want to say thank you to Travis Scott for this legendary project.

2.  YE – Kanye West

The year of 2018 was a very busy one for from a musical and social media standpoint from Kanye. Mr. West dropped two albums and produced several others. We are still waiting on Yhandi, but this takes the plate for Kanye. Every one of the seven songs on YE the world sang at one point. This album is Kanye at his finest, and there’s real debate over this potentially being Kanye’s best album.

Kid Cudi also came out of the shadows to help work on a lot of Kanye’s work this year. Cudi and Kanye together on a track is something to witness. This duo dropped an album together and Kid Cudi was on many of the songs on YE. Each of these seven songs are amazing and each one beats the other in different aspects, but the one that takes home the gold medal is Ghost Town in my opinion. I absolutely adore this album and hope Yhandi drops soon. Kanye single handedly took this year over, so props to Kanye for all the amazing projects and songs he worked on this year.   

1. Kids See Ghosts – Kid Cudi

This duo project with Kanye West and Kid Cudi is pure greatness. Two creative minds collided to make this masterpiece. Coming into this album, I was very excited because we got a taste of these two on YE. The production and time that Kanye put into this album is what made it so great. Every beat is better than the next. Kanye really out did himself on this album. Kid Cudi held his end up as well, with great rap verses and intoxicating hooks.

The first song on this album is Feel The Love, and right off the jump you hear Pusha T come in with his aggressive rap style and make sure he is heard. However, Pusha T’s verse doesn’t make the song great to me. Kanye mimicking the drums towards the end of the song is what makes this song hit. In the majority of Kid Cudi’s verses he talks about his mental health and the things he’s been through. He makes you feel what he is rapping about. In “Fire” Kid Cudi says, “It’s so many days I prayed to God, All this pain I couldn’t seem to find a way… On this road I find these scars I left behind” showing his pain and asking God for help.

In “Ghost Town 2,” – Kanye and Cudi are yelling free – making you want to join in and yell with them and rage. It’s a thing of beauty. This entire album is full of passion and pain, it’s hard not to love. Cudi and Kanye are two of my favorite artists and to watch them put together my favorite album of the year and maybe even All-Time was special. 2018 was a special year in music.