Top 10: Best Albums of 2015

Another year, another time for reflection... to look back at all the accomplishments that we had, personal or otherwise.

In terms of entertainment, this year was the best it's been in a long time, ranging from Star Wars coming back in the best way possible to people finally seeing how overrated Bill Cosby is (sorry not sorry) to ALL OF THE MUSIC THAT CAME OUT THIS YEAR. (And yes, I capitalized that, cuz it's a LOT.)

That said, I figured I'd do what I did this time last year and bring the world my list of the top 10 albums that dropped this year. (Note: This is my opinion and is thus not swayed by the opinions of others.  Also I'm making this list as a fan and not an artist, so my projects are excluded from this list. If you want to check my post about them out, you can do so here.)

Honorable mentions (no order):

- Tetsuo & Youth - Lupe Fiasco
- Beauty Behind the Madness - The Weeknd
- What a Time to be Alive - Drake & Future
- Barter 6 - Young Thug
- Cherry Bomb - Tyler the Creator

10. Chris Brown - Royalty

Release Date: December 18th

Chris Brown is something of an enigma in popular music.  On one hand, he is a descendant of Michael Jackson, in terms of abilities from singing to dancing and making danceable music.  On the other, he is a loose cannon with a short fuse who gets into fights easily, with everyone from Frank Ocean to Drake to Rihanna (perhaps most unfortunately).  That said, the mixed reaction toward his continued relevance can directly contribute to whether one can separate the art from the artist.

This album, however, proves there is a definite need to do so when dealing with controversial figures such as him.  And it may be his best yet.

Breezy has been known as a multifaceted artist for a while now, ranging from EDM to hip hop to contemporary R&B to full-fledged disco, but he had yet to make a full album displaying his diversity as coherently as this.  From jams like "Zero" to "Fine by Me" to rap-tinged "Picture Me Rollin'" (which surprisingly doesn't sample 2Pac), he covers all bases with this album, leading into something of a sonic roller coaster that culminates into the final song, "Little More (Royalty)," a song dedicated to his daughter, whom the album was titled after.  With this as the closer, it seems like the theme of the album is the whirlwind of Chris Brown's multifaceted personality and wanting to balance being a nice guy and a bad boy, until he realizes at the end what is most important in his life.  Chris Brown may never replace the King of Pop, but here he seems to have fully realized what his place in music, and in the world, is.  And that is what true royalty is.

9. Dr. Dre - Compton

Release Date: August 8th

Out of all the albums that came out this year, this is probably the MOST anticipated of them all.  So much so that since 2001 had been released 15 years prior, people were wondering if a follow-up would EVER happen.

Well, wonder not, because Dre finally dropped. Did he deliver another classic? Well... yes and no.

It's hard to top The Chronic AND 2001.  Both albums were game changers and introduced us to some of the biggest rap stars the world has ever seen.  Both also changed styles of production in hip hop.  And finally, both had classic rap songs in their own right.  So does this album do the same?  Well, not really, but it doesn't seem to be meant to do this.

This album is a far more reflective, introspective body of work than either of Dre's other albums.  It also brings a whole new energy to it, not sounding like any other album he's been involved with.  The production is as high caliber as ever, despite the sound not being what the fans may or may not have been looking for in a Dr. Dre album.  However, some of the other cornerstones of his other albums are there, and more than keep the listener beyond satisfied.  Stars like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube and Xzibit all show up with there A-1 rhymes, as do newcomers Anderson .Paak, King Mez and Jon Connor, all while Dre and friends provide a clear sonic background with which the artists can paint their pictures over.

In short, I think it's better than 2001, but not better than The Chronic.  It is a great body of work though, living up to Dre's standards he's set for himself over the years, and as a final album it works particularly well to close the book on his listed legacy.  If we never get another album from the good doctor, I'd personally be okay knowing this was the last one.

8. Big Sean - Dark Sky Paradise

Release Date: February 25th

Big Sean has always been looked at as the swagger rapper with a heart of gold, to different levels, throughout his career.  He's also had a reputation as a rapper who could never get an album to match the skills/charisma he had.

Until now.

Sean's bars, flow, cadences, and overall presence stepped FAR beyond anyone's expectations with this album, going into far deeper territory than he had been discovering in the past, on songs such as "One Man Can Change the World," "Deep," "I Know," and "Outro."  Despite his newfound depth, however, he never lost his sense of humor and fun, which separated him from the rest of the pack to begin with, as evident on songs such as "Play No Games," "Blessings" and the unexpected single "IDFWU."

His mix of seriousness and fun showed off who Big Sean really was for seemingly the first time in his career, and finally gave him a reason to be looked at as a force to be reckoned with in a world where we have Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and others.

Every blessing comes with a curse, but right now Big Sean is high off of his blessings, and despite the skies being dark, he is definitely in paradise.

7. Lil Wayne - Free Weezy Album

Release Date: July 4th

This year was a mixed bag for Lil Wayne.  On the one hand, he had legal and relationship drama out the wazoo, but on the other, he dropped three projects that showed him sounding far more invigorated than he had been in years.  Songs like "Glory," "Pick Up Your Heart," "London Roads," "My Heart Races On," "Post Bail Ballin'" and others show him simultaneously hungrier and more reflective than he had been on wax in years.

I've talked about this album on my blogsite before, but one metaphor I can use to properly describe his resurgence is to compare his career to the Star Wars movies.  The first trilogy was beloved and adored by critics and fans alike, and still held to a high standard to this day.  With the following trilogy, the prequels, it seemed like the series forgot why it was so popular, leading to an overall mess of retched dialogue, boring plots and botched-looking special effects.  Then, with the new movie just coming out, the series was able to leave the hands of George Lucas and regain its former glory by remembering why it was so enjoyable for everyone in the first place.  That said, Lil Wayne is the franchise, and Birdman/Cash Money Records is George Lucas, and the catalyst for Wayne to regain his footing was to leave the Cash Money umbrella that had both helped and hindered him for so long.

6. ASAP Rocky - At Long Last ASAP (A.L.L.A.)

Release Date: May 26th

Make no mistake: ASAP Rocky CAN rap with the best of them.  His style, both musically and fashion-wise, just seem to precede his lyricism.  With that stigma, and the passing of his dear friend and manager ASAP Yams, Rocky definitely had a point to prove with this album.  This led to him releasing one of the most cohesive, wavy albums of the year.

Rocky's affinity with drugs is ever-present throughout this album, especially on songs like "LSD," "Fine Whine," "Everyday," and others.  However, his lyricism can also be found on the same level, with songs like "Lord Pretty Flacko Jodye II," "Excuse Me," "Holy Ghost," "Back Home," "M'$" (which features a KILLER feature from Lil Weezy himself) and more.

Throughout this album, Rocky is more in pocket than he has ever been before, in every sense of the phrase, and he shows potential for growth at the same time.  His features (including from Kanye West, Future, Mos Def, UGK, Juicy J, and multiple appearances from newcomer Joe Fox) are on another level, as is the production.  He's one of those artists who has only improved artistically since their breakthrough, and if this is the new bar, I personally can't wait until he releases more.

5. Travi$ Scott - Rodeo

Release Date: September 4th

Travi$ Scott, like ASAP Rocky, has garnered a reputation for his affinity of both the trap and the trippy worlds.  They have also been known as two of the more wild performers in rap today.  This comparison ends there.  These artists in and of themselves could not be very much more different besides that.  Travi$ loves using autotune and disregards lyricism as important, while Rocky makes sure his words stand out in his rhymes.  What makes this album better than Rocky's, therefore, is how it fares sonically, as well as the guest appearances utilized throughout.

"Rodeo" is a very appropriately named album, as it takes the listener on a wild ride throughout, with help from Chief Keef, Quavo, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Young Thug, and everyone else in rap that is as wild as he.  However, despite Travi$ being the wild boy he is, and the ignorance the subject matter here showcases, the album is surprisingly beautiful in its melodies used and its cross between headbanging and trip-inducing, especially with the transitions a few of these songs, such as "Oh My Dis Side," and "Maria I'm Drunk" utilize.

In short, Travi$ Scott embodies the need for the youth to rage, but does it in an artistic way, production-wise, visually, and, in a way, lyrically, that is surprisingly concentrated on making a sonic body of work.  His previous mixtapes were great in their own right, but this album is a defining moment in Scott being recognized as a true trendsetter and wave-maker in not only rap, but music in general.

4. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Release Date: February 13th

First things first, let's get this out of the way: Drake OWNED 2015.  No question.

He set the bar super high from the jump with the surprise release of this mixtape/album, not to mention all the HITS it contained, such as "Energy," "10 Bands," "6 God," "6 Man," "Madonna," and, of course, the project's crown jewel, "Know Yourself." You're lying to yourself if you haven't listened to this song and haven't sang along to the part where he screams "I WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE 6 WITH MY WOES!"

Drake owned 2015 in a lot of other ways, ranging from collaborations to beefs, but I'll focus on this project in and of itself. Though not as cohesive as Take Care or Nothing Was the Same, the hits, quotables and overall attitude is there as much as ever, if not more.  On this project, Drake seems like he's finally found his swagger and has been pumping it up to the maximum as of late, and when he brags about being the hottest in rap, you better believe him this time around.

It's the 6 God's world, we just live in it. (At least until our lord and savior, Kanye West, drops SWISH...)

3. Future - Dirty Sprite 2 (DS2)

Release Date: July 17th

In the past year or so, Future went from rap's go-to crossover man to the bona fide KING of ATL trap music.  His album-quality mixtapes Monster, Beastmode and 56 Nights made it clear that Future was not only back on his A game after an arguable slip in quality, but he was better than ever, and with something to prove.

And all that culminated in this trap-rap masterpiece of an album, DS2.

One thing about Future is he has mastered the ability to simultaneously talk about personal issues (mental struggles, addiction, relationships) and his codeine-fueled lifestyle.  His music, especially as of late, is almost a cry for help and something to bop your head to.  Here, issues are not touched on as directly as the mixtapes that preceded it, but the pain is still evident as he mentions his desires to be surrounded by drugs and other worldly pleasures.  Songs from "Thought it Was a Drought," "I Serve the Base," "Rich Sex," "Groupies," "Freak Hoe," "Blow a Bag," and more discuss these desires that Future Hendrix has to fuel the emptiness in him with materialism and recreational activities, while songs like "Blood on the Money" showcase the sacrifices he had to make in his life in order to obtain the riches he has.

In short, though the songs on this album may be catchy, and even fantastic, on their own, the duality of Future's excess and his emptiness are what make him stand out from other trap-rap artists, thus providing an insight of the downward spiral Future seems to be on throughout the course of this album, as well as just being able to party to it.

(Sidenote: "March Madness" should have been on here.  That's hands down his best song, and possibly the best song of the YEAR.)

2. Snoop Dogg - BUSH

Release Date: May 12th

Whoever's talked to me in person or online knows that I LOVE this album.  It had no right to be as underrated as it is.

The songs that Snoop and Pharrell have provided for the world in the past have been great, but these just up the ante a few notches.  The two of them are both cut from similar funk-based cloths, so this time around they've given the people a coherent R&B/funk project for the world to enjoy and to vibe and/or dance to.  It's not necessarily what the people want from Snoop Dogg, but I'll be damned if they don't love it.

Not much more to say about it.  I just LOVE all the songs on here, and if you listened to it you'd understand why.

1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly

Release Date: March 16th

I've already discussed this album in depth on this site over here, but there's one thing that needs to be said that everyone else didn't already say.

Despite ALL of the great music that came out this year (and trust me, it's a LOT), there's still one thing that needs to be asked:

Did anyone expect the #1 spot to go to any other album but this?

Because I didn't.  Sure, I thought someone MIGHT come from left field and snatch the top spot from Kendrick, but in all honesty, I didn't think it would happen. It's just too high of a bar to set for everyone else.

Nothing else I can say about it that everyone else hasn't.  Kendrick Lamar simply put out the best album of 2015. (And hopefully the Grammys agree...)