Aaaaand last but not least, here are my favorite albums of 2016! I always struggle with lists so, like last year, I'm not ranking these albums (except there is one album that I will name as my favorite of the year). 2016 was an interesting year of music for me; I'll admit that I didn't listen to as many albums as I normally do and I found myself listening to a lot more older albums than currently released ones. Nonetheless, the below 15 albums are ones that I consistently came back to throughout 2016.

Playlist

Noname - Telefone

This EP was perfect in every sense of the word. It was personal, beautifully crafted, and her lyrics are captivating. There wasn't any fancy production going on and I think the simplicity in the sound allowed me to really appreciate how refreshing her flow and lyrics are. I'm so excited to see her live in February, I've heard great things about her live performances.






KAYTRANADA - 99.9%

When this album dropped, I don't think I listened to anything else for a week. His production and meticulous choices of sounds really amazed me. I also loved the featured artists on the album, I love how they each brought a different kind of sound to the tracks. I'm super excited for what kind of work we'll see from him in the future.






A Tribe Called Quest - We Got It From You...Thank You 4 Your Service

Probably my most anticipated album of the year, I was so excited for when this dropped. And I'm soooo happy it didn't disappoint. From the featured artists, to the witty lyrics, to Tip's flow, everything about this blew me away. I think I liked the second half a bit more than the first, but you can tell that a lot of thought and work went into this because it was put together seamlessly in my opinion. Huge shout out to Ron for sending me this on vinyl as a part of my Slackret Santa gift!



Angel Olsen - MY WOMAN

I've never really listened to Angel Olsen prior to this album and I'll admit I'm kinda mad at myself about that! This was such a refreshing and super accessible album. She has the kind of voice that I'd want to listen to on a rainy spring morning while doing absolutely nothing else; it's incredibly captivating.  "Those Were The Days" is my favorite track off this album.






Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered

This was an exciting release from Kendrick. It's short, sweet, and a great continuation of TPAB. I love how minimalistic it is; he made the focal point his vocals, the sound, and his message. It's well produced and listening back to it, I noticed these subtle moments where his emotions really shine through.






Esperanza Spalding - Emily's D+Revolution

I remember when this album dropped, I was pleasantly surprised by its energy. I really appreciate its theatrical moments, which can some times be a lot for me in most cases. Her vocals are nuanced and the blending of various musical genres (rock, jazz, funk, and folk) make it a treat to listen to.






Isaiah Rashad - The Sun's Tirade

I was really looking forward to Isaiah Rashad's next release, and The Sun's Tirade did not disappoint at all. What I love most about Isaiah Rashad is that he doesn't hold back. He wears his heart on his sleeve and you can tell just be listening to a few tracks. He lets himself be vulnerable which is refreshing in the hip-hop world. He definitely found his voice with this record, and I love how it takes you on that journey with him.




BadBadNotGood - IV

I was excited to see what BBNG would come out with after BBNG2 (which had its moments but ultimately composition wise wasn't my favorite). With IV, you can easily tell that they have found their sound and are embracing it. The featured artists are also really great. Overall, it's a carefully composed blend of hip-hop, jazz, and neo-soul that I think makes it a bit more accessible. Really looking forward to how they evolve from this!






NxWorries - Yes Lawd!

One of my most listened to albums of the year, Yes Lawd! is the perfect throwback to that old school sound that I love. Knwledge's use of samples and the way he crafts sounds together is so engrossing. And Paak didn't disappoint at all, his lyricism was on point throughout the album and as always I appreciated his combination of singing and rapping and switching between the two at the most appropriate times. My only criticism is I wish "Khadijah" was a longer track, I love the bass in it.





Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Easily my favorite pop release of 2016, this album has the perfect amount of old school sound. This album is groovy and a lot of fun to jam to. It's really well produced and each track really showcases Bruno's vocals.








Anderson .Paak - Malibu

Almost forgot this was released in 2016! It's another feel good, groovy album for me that, like Yes Lawd!, showcases Paak's vocals/flow/lyricism super well.  At first I was kind of turned off by the length of the album (an hour long) but there is no wasted space here, you can tell that each track was carefully thought out and crafted on this album.






Oddisee - The Odd Tape

One of my favorite DC artists had a couple releases in 2016, but I've decided to give The Odd Tape the spot in my favorites (although his EP Alwasta is really good and I highly recommend it!).  This is a full length instrumental album and unlike many instrumental albums, it doesn't drag and it almost feels like it's not even instrumental. I think the best way to describe it is that it's balanced and carefully structured. Also listening to it, you can tell each song represents different parts of the day, from waking up to going to sleep. This album is beautifully produced and always a treat to listen back to.


Abra - PRINCESS 

This EP kind of fell under the radar I think but it's one I genuinely still enjoy listening to. I love the use of 80s style synths and her voice is really pleasant to listen to. It's not the most diverse kind of sound but I do think it's unique and its DIY sound is one I actually quite enjoy.







Childish Gambino - Awaken, My Love!

Childish Gambino is one of those artists that never ceases to surprise me. The quality of production on this album is honestly astounding. I love how the sounds from track to track blend seamlessly together. The only downfall for me is that the lyrics aren't that impressive and fell flat for me a few times. But overall, I loved his vocals on the songs and the clean sound each track brought forth.

Number 1 pick: Solange - A Seat at the Table

I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise, but A Seat at the Table is easily my favorite album of the year. I chose this as one of my albums for you all to listen to when it first drop, and in that post I talked a bit about what this album meant to me. Three months later, and I'm still blown away each time I listen to it. I'm so happy she has received the deserved acclaim for this record and it's been refreshing to hear others' opinions on it.

9:01 PM

I present my favorite releases of 2016! This is not a list of albums I thought were the best, but releases that I really enjoyed and listened to a lot over the year. 2016 was a fantastic year for music across all genres, without a doubt. Many of these releases were so well crafted and received the proper attention from critics and fans that they deserved. I hope you enjoy these albums, EPs, and mixtapes as much as I did.
- Ronald Witt

Spotify Link: 
https://open.spotify.com/user/djepictheory/playlist/6xdVQbd4NtUgdrcIavoDUa

Honorable Mentions:
Jacob Mann Big Band - Greatest Hits. Vol. 1 (EP)
Kero Kero Bonito - Bonito Generation
Mary D'Orazi - To Brazil & Bacharach: A Tribute
La La Land - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
KAYTRANADA - 99.9%

Top 20:

20: Josef Leimberg- Astral Progressions
Long time LA hip-hop, jazz, and neo-soul contributor finally releases his first album! If you like Kamasi Washington or Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly and want to delve deeper into the soulful spacey jazz vibes of LA, you have to listen to this album.
Favorite Songs: "As I Think of You", "Spirits of the Ancestors"

19: Mild High Club - Skiptracing

Mild High Club put together a great, cohesive album, that is light and fun. The psychedelic guitars, funky bass, and jamming drums gives Skiptracing an undeniable groovy indie feel. Check out if you like HOMESHAKE, Ducktails, or Jerry Paper.

Favorite Songs: "Chasing My Tail", "Chapel Perilous"

18: Moses Sumney - Lamentations (EP)

A short, but haunting EP from an uprising rnb/soul artist, Moses Sumney. With high praise from artists like Solange, Grizzly Bear, and Sufjan Stevens, Sumney mixes contemporary RnB, soul, gospel, and funk, to produce an ever evolving series of songs that tell a beautiful, but ghostly story. Plus it has Thundercat and Tosin Abasi on it!

Favorite Songs: "Ascension", "Lonely World"

17: David Bowie - Blackstar

Although I loved this album, it is hard to listen to considering the context of David Bowie's struggle leading all the way up to his death. Bowie skillfully crafted Blackstar and worked with some of the most genius musicians to make it. With introspective lyrics and beautiful arrangements, it is impossible to not appreciate this masterpiece.

Favorite Songs: "‘Tis a Pity She was a Whore", "I Can’t Give Everything Away"

16: Lil Yachty - Lil Boat / Summer Songs 2 (Mixtapes)

In the same vein as Lil B, I enjoy Yachty's music for reasons that are beyond me. He dropped two mixtapes that are full of bumpers and hooks that you are forced to sing along to. The dude actually has great flow and has the potential to be a great lyricist, and these mixtapes show evidence of that. It’s all fun and it “bumps in the whip” and that is all I ask for.

Favorite Songs: "Up Next 2", "Shoot Out The Roof", "One Night"

15: Wax - The Cookout Chronicles (EP)

Wax drops another EP that has that classic Wax rap feel. One of best summer rap albums due to how perfect it is to throw on in the background of an LA cookout. His wordplay is funny and quite brilliant and the beats are full of blues-y riffs and summer vibes.

Favorite Songs: "Reborn", "Lackadaisical Ft. Open Mike Eagle"

14: Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered. (EP)

untitled unmastered. is the supplemental EP to Kendrick Lamar's legendary album To Pimp A Butterfly. Every track is unique and it is a great peek into the development of TPAB. It really is astonishing that a series of tracks that weren’t able to be on TPAB can hold up to the same quality and perfection. Plus it has Thundercat all over it!

Favorite Songs: "untitled 05 | 09.21.2014", "untitled 02 | 06.23.2014", "untitled 04 | 08.14.2014"

13: Mothers - When You Walk A Long Distance, You Are Tired

With hearty vocals, guitars, bass and drums, Mothers kicked off 2016 with a wonderful album! The music is always progressing, while keeping a consistent indie-rock/folk feel. Lead woman, Kristine Leschper, opens up her heart to us, giving us raw emotion through her highly emotive vocal performances. Due to the band being great musicians, at no point does the album feel boring or mundane, which often plagues many artist of the same genre. A must listen if you like indie-rock and folk music.  

Favorite Songs: "Lockjaw", "It Hurts Until it Doesn’t"

12: PINKWASH - COLLECTIVE SIGH

A heavy prog-punk album I stumbled upon that is very well crafted. It is just two highly skilled guys, a guitarist (who splits his audio chain to have his guitar play lead and bass at the same time), and a drummer. It is raw, heavy, and extremely expressive. My favorite punk album I’ve listened to this year.

Favorite Songs: "GUMDROP", "HALFMOON", "LONGER NOW"

11: Tanukichan - Radiolove

Off of Toro Y Moi’s record label, Carpark Records, San Francisco indie-rocker released her first EP with great success. It's heavy on the shoegaze, but she still is able to stand out in an overcrowded sub genre. It is fun, easy to listen to, and easy to put on repeat.

Favorite Songs: "Tomorrow", "Radiolove", "Enough"

10: Bruno Mars - 24k Magic

24k Magic is a well executed, precise, jam of an album! It is fun, dance-y, and extremely enjoyable. As someone who grew up on 90s/2000s RnB, this nostalgic feeling hits me well, and forces me to put it on repeat. Mars is able to make us reminisce, all the while spinning that classic RnB feel to make it sound modern and unique. Probably the best Pop album to be released in 2016!

Favorite Songs: "Perm", "Finesse". "That’s What I Like"

9: Cousin Stizz - Monda (Mixtape)

Stumbled upon Cousin Stizz mid 2015, and instantly loved his monotone, rapid flow and dark, southern beats. He dedicated this mixtape to his close friend he grew up with that died during the making of this mixtape to a rare form of cancer. You can feel the maturity and heart in, not only his voice, flow and lyrics, but also in his choice of beats. Although it doesn’t trap as hard as his previous mixtape, it is still just as dark, and even more chill. Very happy he released something that shows his growth as a rapper and a person.

Favorite Songs: "Day Gone", "Screwed Up", "500 Horses", "Big Fella"

8: Rapsody - Crown (EP)

Rapsody drops a killer EP full of stellar word play, political/racial conversation, and encouragement to the youth, specifically Black women. She hit Hip-Hop’s radar when she was perfectly featured on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, and has been killing it since. With dope samples from Solange's and Bruno Mars’s new albums, the beats are fresh, funky, and overall chill, complementing Rapsody’s heavy, introspective lyrics. This is a must listen to EP release from one of the best female MCs out right now!

Favorite Songs: "#Goals", "Take It Slow", "Fire"

7: Angel Olsen - MY WOMAN

The heavy pop appeal of MY WOMAN makes this one of Angel Olsen’s most accessible and enjoyable albums to date. I love the shift of focus from her lyrics to the instrumentation. As usual, Olsen’s vocals are hypnotizing and full of emotion, and really picks up where the lyrics may not be as impactful. The indie kids definitely swoon over her for a reason.

Favorite Songs: "Heart Shaped Face", "Those Were the Days"

6: Badbadnotgood - IV

What a fresh take on Post-Bop IV is. After BBNG2, Badbadnotgood lost my interest due to how weak their compositions were compared to their great renditions of classic hip-hop and rock tunes. However, they found their style, fully embraced it, and ran out the door with it on this album. The mix of the hip-hop-based rhythm section, neo-soul vibes, and post-bop licks gives this album an evolving sound that keeps the listener consistently engaged. Sadly, the album wasn’t received as well as it should have. BBNG is in an interesting dichotomy where they are too hip-hop (and mainstream) for jazz heads, yet this album is too jazz for hip-hop and indie heads. I loved it, and am very excited to hear how they will evolve in their future releases.

Favorite Songs: "IV", "Hyssop of Love", "In Your Eyes"

5: Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

After the longest wait for LP9, Radiohead hits us with one of their most beautiful albums to date. Although a decent amount of the songs have been performed for years, Radiohead gives us a different perspective by altering the instrumentation  overall feel and mood of the songs. A Moon Shaped Pool is not for the Radiohead newcomer, but rather an album for those who have grown and matured alongside Radiohead, embracing a more developed, mature tone. It will take some time to fully appreciate this album, but instant gratification has never been Radiohead’s forte.

Favorite Songs: "Daydreaming", "Present Tense", "True Love Waits"

4: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity

Ferocious, exciting, Invigorating! Nonagon Infinity throws us back to the fun times of the psychedelic 70s, all the while making us rock out with some indie-rock flavors. Basically, anytime I play Overwatch, I throw this album on because it gets me hyped and focused for the game. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s ability to seamlessly blend each song into each other makes you want to listen to the entire album nonstop. Nonagon Infinity is, without a doubt, the most fun and exciting album to be released in 2016!

Favorite Songs: "Gamma Knife", "Evil Death Roll", "Road Train"

3: A Tribe Called Quest - We got it from Here... Thank You 4 your Service

We Got it from Here… Thank you 4 your Service is a truly unique Hip-Hop album and will, no doubt, be a legendary album. The production is next level and could only be achieved by a mature production genius like Q-Tip. The trading of bars between the master MCs Phife Dawg, Q-Tip, Busta Rhymes, Jarobi, and Andre 3000 is something you never hear anymore because of how 90s that rap style is. This album is much less of a Tribe album and more of a reminder of what Hip-Hop is really about. This album is a beautiful, intricate, loving gift from hip-hop legends to the youth, to the hip-hop community of the past, present and future, and to hip-hop as a living being. Rest in Beats Phife Dawg.

Favorite Songs: "Movin Backwards", "Kids", "Ego"

2: Solange - A Seat at the Table

Solange’s last project, True EP, really showed promise that she had the potential to make something really great, but I was not expecting her to make such a masterpiece like A Seat at the Table. This album discusses institutionalized prejudice, the challenges of being Black in America, and perfectly encapsulated the racial adversities of colored people in 2016. Outside of the often politically charged lyrics, the music is absolutely stunning. With a mix of contemporary RnB, neo-soul, and soul, the relatively stripped back music is ever changing. Solange’s stunning vocal performance keeps the listener engaged and in awe even though the album is pretty somber. A Seat at the Table will definitely be an album I will listen to for many years to come due to of how well executed and representative of the modern Black folk it is.

Favorite Songs: "Rise", "Cranes in the Sky", "Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)"

1: NxWorries - Yes Lawd!

No better way to explain this perfect collaboration between Anderson Paak and Knxwledge than pimpin’, stylish, and old school. Knxwledge’s ability to flip the strangest samples into something that grooves so excellently is mind-blowing, and is reminiscent of Madlib’s brilliance. From singing to rapping, Paak’s lyricism is consistently stylish and elaborate. This album stands out with its heavy inspiration by the 90s G-Funk sound of LA but blends it with the popular production style of current underground LA production. Yes Lawd! Is definitely not for everyone, but I love everything about it.

Favorite Songs: "Link Up", "Khadijah"

9:22 PM