for the love of music
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Although 2021 seriously left something to be desired, the music that was released this year did not. Our favorite musicians put us in their backpacks and create worlds for us to live in while disease, hate, and ignorance plagued ours. From some of the most celebrated artists of our generation dropping new albums (Tyler, the Creator, Kanye West, Drake) to exciting newcomers making a serious claim for the throne (Baby Keem, Don Toliver, Yeat), 2021 was jam-packed with exciting releases and excellent music. Without further ado, the StereoVision team is proud to present out top 30 albums of 2021:
30. Mercurial World by Magdalena Bay
I’ll be real with you - I love weird shit that isn’t afraid to build worlds, push music forward, and most importantly, take risks. Luckily, Magdalena Bay was able to check all of those boxes with their debut album Mercurial World - an album equally concerned with existential terror, time, space, and crafting insanely-detailed indie-pop anthems for our enjoyment. It would be impossible to boil down everything I love about this record in the few sentences allotted to me, but this album truly is a modern pop masterpiece that somehow balances a careful love for pop’s past, present, and future. Take tracks like “Hysterical Us”, “Dawning Of The Season” or “Secrets (Your Fire)” - do those songs not sound like they were written in the year 3000? Whether or not you have a strong affinity for pop music, Magdalena Bay’s Mercurial World stands alone amongst the pile of new releases we got this year. -Carter Fife
Favorite Tracks:
Hysterical Us, Secrets (Your Fire), & Prophecy
29. Navy’s Reprise by Navy Blue
The budding voice of the underground, Navy Blue’s consistent output of refreshingly personal raps over avant-garde production continues with Navy’s Reprise. Behind the boards or using his pen, Navy puts his oozing talent on full display here. Quickly becoming one of the most talented acts in rap music, Navy Blue is a name to remember going into 2022. -Luke Modugno
Favorite Tracks:
My Whole Life, Not a Lot to Fear, & Suite 11
28. Do it for demon by sahbabii
For an artist who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, the release of this album reminded us of his talents, and put him at the center of attention once again. Sahbabii perfected his sound on this album, giving us a new version of himself while also sticking to his roots that are reminiscent of his 2018 tape, Squidtastic. Songs like “Dickalasionship” and “Crosswalk” were flooded with lines that made me laugh at how unexpected yet hard they were at the same time. It’s moments like these that make a project memorable and shareable with friends; Sahbabii kept an upbeat and hopeful vibe throughout the project, celebrating the life of his late childhood friend, ‘Demon Child’, for whom the album is dedicated to. This pleasant listen is light on the ears and is easy for you to zone out to, just appreciating the melodies and ambient vocals. -Q Hollomand
Favorite Tracks:
I see, Crosswalkk & Bread Head
27. 1 Night I Took Acid by Bigbabygucci
BigBabyGucci truly used his 2021 release to evolve from SoundCloud rapper to overall musician and mogul and the experienced ear can tell by simply listening. There is so much to say about this artist and this album. For those unaware, BigBabyGucci is tearing up the underground with his barrage of albums and versatility on different beats. On this album, Gucci takes a step back from the grunge, dark beats he had on his previous tape Assume the Worst and makes this one much livelier and inviting. He incorporates dancehall beats and makes his music more personal with song intros and a banger with Coldhart. All in all, be on the lookout for Gucci, he is only getting started. -Drew Jenkins
Favorite Tracks:
Hotel California, Tuesday, & Before Us
26. Cinema by The Marias
Cinema is the long-awaited debut record from LA-based indie rock group The Marías, a record that seamlessly pulls influences from indie rock to ethereal pop, classical, and latin music. Tracks like “Hush” and “Calling U Back” are hard-hitting and perfectly-polished bangers that somehow fit on virtually every playlist, and tracks like “Spin Me Around” will make you feel like you’re literally floating above your body. Their sound is hypnotic, and whether they’re delivering you a seductive and downtempo bilingual groove like “Little by Little”, or a transcendental wall of dream-like sound on “All I Really Want Is You”, every second is a perfectly polished moment from one of LA’s most promising acts. -Carter Fife
Favorite Tracks:
All I Really Want Is You, Calling U Back, & Little By Little
25. Van goghs left ear by zelooperz
Though it might be shallow if you are looking for an album to bump while cruising and want heads to turn immediately, Zelooperz has blessed you. Each track has an insane beat that matches a voice that could only come from Detroit. Crash bandicoot samples to ones that will make you research a blind opera singer Zelooperz brought the range to this album. He even took advantage of his vocal prowess by singing which only added another layer of complexity. -CJ Allen
Favorite Tracks:
Bash Bandicoon, Essential Worker, & Don’t Leave
24. Still Over It by Summer Walker
The energy that Summer Walker carried into her second studio album was undeniably that of a star. Her debut album Over It established her as a force in the industry, and she took it a step farther on Still Over It. There are moments where this project feels straight out of the early 2000’s in the best way possible, but it is backed by a very modern bounce. She never shies away from her experiences, positive or negative, and makes it all sound incredible. The lyrics are cutthroat and empowering at the same time. On a track like “No Love”, she and SZA make it apparent just how quickly they will cut off all emotional contact once they feel mistreated. Songs like this don't feel like heartbreak anthems, but rather they feel like the product of putting yourself first and understanding personal needs. Summer has one of the best voices in the industry, and she is able to float over slow sexy ballads like “Unloyal '' with Ari Lennox as well as bouncy club records like “Dat Right There” with Pharell. With Still Over It, she sent a very clear message to the next man that tries to play with her. -Miles Hagan
Favorite Tracks:
No Love, Switch A N***a Out, & Toxic
23. sixtape 2 by blxst & bino rideaux
At this point, there’s no denying that Blxst and Bino Rideaux are the West coast’s most dangerous duo. With one joint project under their belt (2019’s Sixtape) and a handful of excellent tracks, the LA duo was already aiming for the afro-mentioned title before solidifying their claim with Sixtape 2, the infectious 12-track project that was the undisputed soundtrack of the summer in Los Angeles. The project is as bouncy as it gets and Blxst’s ear-worm melodies perfectly complement Bino’s mesmerizing flow. On songs like “One of Them Ones” the duo is able to inspire and communicate confidence in a similar way to that of their mentor Nipsey Hussle well making that confidence as accessible as ever. Songs like “Program” and “Stressful” are obvious standouts in both artists’ discography due to an absurd amount of replayability. All-in-all, Blxst and Bino did it again and crafted one of the most fun projects of the year. -Spencer Lobdell
Favorite Tracks:
Program, One of Them Ones, Stressful
22. Right Now by willie Jones
If there is one album you must listen to that may be outside of your usual music taste, it has to be this one. Willie Jones killed his album debut and personally ignited a flame in me that is now constantly searching for the next country star. Even though the album involves a mixture of many styles, that will allow even the most intense country hater a chance to enjoy it. There is no doubt that this is a unique country album. It will be evident once Willie’s baritone voice transports you to the backroads of some wheat field. -CJ Allen
Favorite Tracks:
Down for it, Trainwreck, & Back Porch
21. epiphany by ka$hdami
epiphany: the epitome of a plugg album. This 17-song album truly brought plugg music to a broader audience, making Dami one of the first artists in a while to have more mainstream success in this subgenre of rap. The progressive production, paired with a direct vocal delivery by Dami makes for a euphoric listen; each song having its own ear candy that makes you go back for another song. This album solidified Ka$hdami as a staple in the underground youth culture. His rise this year is linked to countless songs going viral on Tik Tok, but in a cool way, avoiding his songs being ‘ruined’ by the app’s abilities to sometimes do so. Features from SSGKobe, BabySantana, Riovaz, and more do not disappoint, making this album a star-studded collection that unites the underground scene. -Q Hollomand
Favorite Tracks:
Reparations, Wake Up, & Receipts
20. to hell with it by pinkpantheress
Pinkpantheress shows out on her first album. In an online age where everyone has heard almost everything, pinkpantheress homage to an expired British music scene and homey sounding garage beats stands out from the overall mainstream crowd. The sound feels familiar but not repetitive. Pinkpantheress’ lyrics are also a vital part of her sound; songs centered around love, emotions, slight existential crises’, and mental health hit a soft spot for today’s generation. pinkpantheress is this generations artist, and tiktok was only her vessel. I see many good things to come from this artist, and I hope they keep pushing forward with whatever sound they find. -Drew Jenkins
Favorite Tracks:
nineteen, passion, & break it off
19. This Thing of Ours Vol. 1 & 2 by the alchemist
Very few artists have reached the legendary status that Alchemist has obtained in his career. He is a testament to consistency and always cultivating new relationships in the industry. His genius on This Thing of Ours is in his subtlety. These are not concept albums yet they feel undeniably cohesive. The album feels like we are listening to old vinyls we didn't know we had, in a dusty attic, and having the time of our lives for about 30 minutes. From Earl Sweatshirt, to MAVI, to Zeloopeerz, everyone shines and sounds perfectly at home. While there is no consistent subject matter from song to song, there are no wasted bars from anyone, and that intentionality keeps the listener focused. On a project where every song is a moment we are left asking, “How did Al do it again?” -Miles Hagan
Favorite Tracks:
TV Dinners, Loose Change, 6 Five Heartbeats
18. USEE4YOURSELF by idk
There are many words that you can use to describe IDK, but luckily radio-silent is not one of them. Having released a project every year we’ve known him, few hip-hop artists have developed their style and sound as quickly as IDK. USEE4YOURSELF is a reflection of this, because it doesn’t just feel like a yearly release at this point. A conceptual album tracing IDK’s troubled relationship with love and traditional masculinity to his childhood, USEE4YOURSELF is a heartfelt and vulnerable meditation on intimacy and self-reflection. Aurally, the album is packed to the brim with bangers, and with Mike Dean helming most of the production, perhaps hip-hop has it’s newest dynamic duo. Tracks like “Pradadabang” with Young Thug and “Peloton” are decorated with forward-thinking mixes and writing that effortlessly moves IDK into a lane of his own. It’s hard to summarize this record in a few sentences, but take it from me - USEE4YOURSELF is one of the strongest releases this year, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting what IDK does next. -Carter Fife
Favorite Tracks:
Puerto Rico, Pradadabang, & Shoot My Shot
17. BO JACKSON BY BOLDY JAMES AND THE ALCHEMIST
Hip-hop has always been about collaboration, and nothing elevates the genre quite like when a producer and emcee have undeniable chemistry. Detroit's own Boldy James and the legendary Alchemist linked up once again this year for a follow-up to their 2020 masterpiece The Price of Tea in China, with Bo Jackson. This time around, the duo brought a seriously upgraded guest list, including Freddie Gibbs, Earl Sweatshirt, Benny The Butcher, Roc Marciano, and Curren$y. A pairing of artists who just can't quite seem to miss, Bo Jackson was one of the best projects hip-hop's underground scene had to offer in 2021. -Luke Modugno
Favorite Tracks:
Brickmile to Montana, Fake Flowers, & Turpentine
16. Sometimes I might be introvert by Little Simz
Meaningful introspection is something that can be a confusingly-difficult learned skill for artists. This is not the case for the UK’s rising rap star Little Simz and her fourth studio album. Production and unmitigated honesty are the strong points here, as Simz contemplates her journey of self-discovery under the limelight. -Luke Modugno
Favorite Tracks:
Miss Understood, Two Worlds Apart, & Woman
15. WEIGHT OF THE WORLD BY MAXO KREAM
When you have Tyler the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Freddie Gibbs, and more well-known heavy hitters on a project and don’t lose your own spotlight, you know you’ve made something special. Maxo Kream has been a prominent artist, but this album felt different. Once you have heard the song that tells the story of his brother a new tone is added to the album. Maxo was even able to make a bop about the words he’s been hearing from his haters. Talented storytelling and an overall level of wittiness helped create a masterpiece. -CJ Allen
Favorite Tracks:
They Say, Trips, & Believe
14. TWOFR 2
Although Kalan.FrFr has been a familiar name in Los Angeles since 2018, the Roc Nation artist really established himself as one of the most exciting rising artists on the West Coast with the spring release of TwoFr 2. The 13-track project was so exciting to music fans everywhere because it’s got a little bit of everything. From undeniable bangers (“Look at Me” & “Scorin”) to emotional cuts (“Never Lose You” & “Run Away”), on TwoFr 2 Kalan asserted himself as a versatile artist that is excited to push the boundaries of LA hip-hop and innovate at every turn. -Spencer Lobdell
Favorite Tracks:
Look At Me, Big Dog, Never Lose You
13. THE LIFE OF PI’ERRE 5 BY PI’ERRE BOURNE
Pi’erre did nothing but deliver on his 5th edition of the TLOP series, this one being the standout amongst the five. What made this album such a relief was Pi’erre’s choice to include fan-favorite leaks; songs like ‘Switchin’ Lanes’ ft. Playboi Carti and ‘Drunk and Nasty’ ft. Sharc made the final cut. The signature Pi’erre production on every beat and his nonchalant, but catchy vocals create a mind-numbing effect on the listener. Every song transitions into the next one, making each listen feel like a new experience(I think that “Groceries” into “Butterfly” is the best transition). Pi’erre is finally getting the recognition he deserves as a vocalist as he continues to display his simple, yet intricate production. -Q Hollomand
Favorite Tracks:
Butterfly, YNS, & Drunk and Nasty
12. CERTIFIED LOVER BOY BY DRAKE
From the moment Drake shaved a heart in his hair the music world was waiting for Certified Lover Boy. After some leaked versions, clothing line drops, and renting out Dodger Stadium for a date night, debatably the biggest rapper in the world dropped his latest project. Drake sounds as hungry as ever on “Knife Talk '' and “No Friends in the Industry ''. These tracks are high energy and filled with high hats, and the latter provided us with one of the best 21 Savage features of the year. Then, two songs later, we get “Pipe Down” and “Get Along Better”, over lush production and with lyrics that undeniably live up to the persona he has created. All of this while still giving us an epic intro and heartfelt outro, one-liners that will be captions for years to come, and everything else we have come to expect from The Boy. Drake and 40 were able to curate an amazing list of guest features and some of the most influential producers in hip-hop. While it was going to be nearly impossible for the album to live up to the hype that was built for it before release, Certified Lover Boy was still able to capture some of the best moments of the year. -Miles Hagan
Favorite Tracks:
Papi’s Home, Fair Trade, Pipe Down
11. UNTOURABLE ALBUM BY MEN I TRUST
Released amidst a global pandemic, the aptly-titled Untourable Album is the newest release from the dream-pop powerhouse Men I Trust. Though the world has turned upside down since their last project Oncle Jazz dropped in 2019, Men I Trust put their best foot forward by returning with a fairly-sized collection of new tracks. Seamlessly blending elements of dream-pop with jazz and indie rock, Untourable Album is the perfect album to get lost in when you need a break from 2021’s chaos. From the record’s delectable downtempo basslines to Emmanuelle Proulx’s dulcet vocals, this year Men I Trust came through with an album that sounds like they never left. -Carter Fife
Favorite Tracks:
Tree Among Shrubs, Sugar, & Oh Dove
10. UP 2 ME BY YEat
Yeat’s parade truly is a marvel to behold on Up 2 Më. Yeat starts to perfect the gloomy and eerie sound he is going for (like on '“Swërved It”) and begins to experiment with his sound on the last two tracks of the album. Yeat shows continual progression and adaption to an ever-expanding rage music scene along with him beginning to compete with his previous self. Yeat notoriously limits his features to friends and confidants, and on this tape, he only has a feature with his label partner and good friend Septmebersrich. This ability to control a song without having multiple voices or people truly goes to show how groundbreaking Yeat is for not just the underground but hip-hop in general. The way he goes about distorting his voice, and how he is getting more into the production side of his music, we will be seeing a lot greater things from this young artist. -Drew Jenkins
Favorite Tracks:
morning mudd, money so big, & told ya
9. MICHIGAN BOAT BOY BY LIL YACHTY
Lil Yachty's Michigan boy boat mixtape was his only tape in the year 2021. With this, he shows his versatility and genuine connections in hip-hop by creating a mixtape that attempts to encapsulate the niche underground Detroit/Flint rap music scene. This mixtape was a surprise to many avid hip-hop listeners, Lil Boat and Detroit music fans alike. This was not a total commercial stunt as Yachty has had multiple songs with Tee Grizzley and Sada Baby in his past years of being a mainstream rapper. The scene, rampant with notorious Hitmakers like a BabyTron, Rio da Young OG, and the previously mentioned Sada Baby en-captures a grimy but flavorful stab at what it looks like to be a lyrical rapper in today’s hip-hop. Historically, his music is quite contradictory to a Michigan style of rap, which made fans skeptical but also hungrily await what the MC was cooking up. -Drew Jenkins
Favorite Tracks:
Never Did Coke, Final Form, & Concrete Goonies
8. VINCE STAPLES BY VINCE STAPLES
It is fitting that his self-titled album is his most personal. Vince Staples is one of the most complex figures that music has to offer. While he is loved by the masses for his slick comedic timing and unrelenting honesty, there are parts of himself and his life that he clearly keeps away from the public eye. He slightly pulls the curtain back on this album, but in the most Vince way possible. He paints pictures with his lyrics and the tone is perfectly set from the opening track “ARE YOU WITH THAT”, where he is honest about how he moves and the things he comes from, but makes it very clear that this life is not for everyone. There is not a bad song on this album. The entire tape is produced by Kenny Beats and he shows his full range. Vince has never rapped over a stripped-back beat like “TAKE ME HOME”, but he sounds like a match made in heaven next to the beautiful singing of Foushee. If you still want to question if he’s really about that life, there are also songs like “LIL FADE” and “MHM” to reassure you. -Miles Hagan
Favorite Tracks:
Law of Averages, Sundown Town, Taking Trips
7. AN EVENING WITH SILK SONIC BY Silk Sonic
Since the announcement of this collaborative tape, we knew exactly what we were going to get: a masterpiece, plain and simple. Paak and Bruno complement each other incredibly well, with Paak shining lyrically and Bruno crafting hooks that get stuck in your head like gorilla glue. After listening to a track like “Smokin Out the Window,” there’s really only one valid conclusion a listener can come to: Silk Sonic is a duo sent to us by the music gods. -Luke Modugno
Favorite Tracks:
Smokin Out The Window, Fly As Me, 777
6. LIFE OF A DON BY DON TOLIVER
There’s no feeling as gratifying as seeing someone reach their true potential. From the first time I pressed play on Don’s 2018 mixtape Donny Womack it was obvious that the Texas artist could be incredible but after an underwhelming follow-up project (Heaven or Hell) I was unsure what the future held for the Cactus Jack artist. I’m so happy to say that with the release of Life of a Don this year, Don Toliver has finally become the artist I always knew he could be. From top to bottom, the 16-track album is packed with biting flows, a psychedelic aesthetic, undeniable range, and everything fans love about Don. In my opinion, no album had better beat selection than Life of a Don in 2021, and when you combine that with Don’s killer vocals and a feature list containing Baby Keem, Travis Scott, SoFaygo, and Kali Uchis, it’s clear to see why this is one of the best albums of the year. Well I don’t think that Life of a Don was the best album of 2021, I do think it was the album I pressed play on the most this year (and it’s not close). -Spencer Lobdell
Favorite Tracks:
Swangin’ on Westheimer, OUTERSPACE, Flocky Flocky
5. THE MELODIC BLUE BY BABY KEEM
From dropping one of the best albums of the year, to being featured on Kanye West’s Donda, to being brought out by Kendrick Lamar at Day N Vegas, Baby Keem made a serious claim for 2021’s MVP, an absurd feat at only 21 years old. The epitome of his explosive year was undoubtedly the release of The Melodic Blue, a project that was released in the same two-week period as Certified Lover Boy and Donda but still managed to command the moment. The Melodic Blue is undoubtedly this year’s most exciting body of work as Keem experimented with sounds throughout the whole album, taking necessary risks and delivering fans music that sounded like nothing they’d ever heard. Songs like “Family Ties” and “Vent” showcased Keem’s innate ability to make a crowd lose their mind whereas slower tracks like “16” and “Lost Souls” exemplified Keem’s ability to craft beautiful, genre-bending pieces of art. Nothing sounded like The Melodic Blue in 2021 and it absolutely deserves to be sitting with the big dogs in our top 5. -Spencer Lobdell
Favorite Tracks:
Scapegoats, Trademark USA, & 16
4. THE HOUSE IS BURNING BY ISAIAH RASHAD
“What am I supposed to do outside but get rich”. It is almost arrogant that despite Rashad being reluctant to embrace the spotlight his talent demands, he is aware that the second he does step outside it's over with. These are the first words Isaiah Rashad utters on The House is Burning. He may be the most self-aware figure we have in music, and may even argue that it is to a fault at times. That is what makes this one of the best albums of the year. Before its release, he went on a press run and spoke to multiple publications about his struggles with alcoholism and drug abuse, which landed him in rehab before he could release this project. All of this comes through on The House is Burning. This album is honest, vulnerable, and a celebration of taking life and the healing process a day at a time. This all culminated in some of the rawest music of the year. -Miles Hagan
Favorite Tracks:
RIP Young, Headshots (4r Da Locals), HB2U
3. WHOLE LOTTA RED BY PLAYBOI CARTI
It is with no doubt that I say that this album has changed the sound and aesthetic of rap more than any other album has. With countless false release dates, anxious fans, and entire album versions leaking to the internet, Carti finally brings us an already classic album that has ushered in a new era of hip-hop. Dropping on Christmas of 2020, its life in 2021 started out rocky, with the rap community split on the controversy of his new ‘vamp’ style and punk-themed music. Now, a year later, the album still feels as fresh and new as ever, with the majority of people now in positive favor of WLR. The standout production of F1lthy and Art Dealer bridges the gap between rock and hip-hop; the sharp synths and aggressive drums bring a new addicting sound to the genre. Whole Lotta Red’s influence on pop culture will continue to play out over the next few years, solidifying it as 2021’s best album. -Q Hollomand
Favorite Tracks:
Stop Breathing, Control, & Over
2. CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST BY TYLER, THE CREATOR
Which genius concept would you rather see fleshed out by one of our generation's best: an album all about traveling the world released during a global pandemic, or a heartbreaking yet morally-confusing story about being involved in a passionate love triangle? How about both, but we disguise it in a DJ Drama-produced Gangsta Grillz mixtape to give every level of fan a different theme to latch onto? This is exactly what Tyler, the Creator did with his sixth studio album Call Me if you Get Lost, a project that is undoubtedly my album of the year and honestly probably the best album I’ve heard since Mac Miller dropped Swimming in 2018. Despite being on repeat for the entire year, the album continued to take on new meaning as 2021 progressed and although I’m sure I’ve spun the record over 100 times this year, something tells me that this album still has more to teach me about myself and the world around me. -Spencer Lobdell
Favorite Tracks:
Sweet / I Thought You Wanted to Dance, Safari, Massa
1. DONDA BY KANYE WEST
Albums that possess the ability to command the attention of pop culture are truly legendary. Whenever Kanye West has new music to share, of course we are willing to lend an ear, but this time was decidedly different. With an album rollout that completely defined social media dialogue for months, Donda's musical content matched the unparalleled hype generated by its marketing strategy. Concretely pivoting from the religiously-centered JESUS IS KING, Ye takes center stage as he struggles with the absence of his mother, divorce, and passing of close friends. With a whopping 32 songs over 2 hours, Ye makes yet another solid entry to his already stacked catalog of classic records. -Luke Modugno
Favorite Tracks:
24, Believe What I Say, & Come to Life
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By Luke Modugno
Staring into a fire is an unequivocally human experience. Watching idly by as the heat of the flames melt away the old to give way to something new seems almost therapeutic, that is when those flames aren’t engulfing your own sanctuary.
Isaiah Rashad’s The House Is Burning, presents the pressing duality of this very scenario. “God’s not going to save you. I mean, he can. Because I believe in God. But God alone is not going to save you,” Rashad said in an interview with FADER Magazine. “When your house is on fire, are you going to go into that bitch to get the personal possessions, or are you just going to trust in yourself and in God that you’re going to be able to bounce back?”
Following up his debut masterpiece Cilvia Demo with an LP as intricate as his 2016 effort The Sun’s Tirade, had most rap enthusiasts pinning Zay as the crown prince of the game.
However, Zay was dealing with his own struggles at the time. From essentially giving up rapping and becoming dead broke to battling drug addiction and eventually entering rehab, putting out a new album was the least of Zay’s concerns over the past five years. “I was doing whatever I could to escape,” said Rashad. “Being out in L.A. without anything anchoring me down fucked me up. You can float off out here. You can get lost in this bitch.”
Since our first introduction to his music, Isaiah Rashad has proven time and time again his mastery of presenting profoundly existential concepts with a potent joviality. The House Is Burning is really no different, as Zay recounts his struggles over his music hiatus over energetic yet psychedelic trip-hop production.
Photo Courtesy of Carlos Gonzalez
Perhaps the most definitive example of the dichotomy that is The House Is Burning is its two opening tracks, “Darkseid” and “From the Garden.” On the album opener, Zay speaks of attempting to stay out of trouble and the perils of the music industry, comparing them to DC Comics’ infamous villain Darkseid. On the ladder, Zay absolutely lays loose with braggadocious bars over an 808 ridden beat featuring Lil Uzi Vert.
The project has plenty of sonic diversity, while mostly focusing on the theme of recovery and what Zay has been up to these past five years. Tracks like “RIP Young,” “Wat U Sed,” and “Chad” have a head-bopping energy, as well as unmistakable Tennessee trap influence. Zay’s skill and versatility as an R&B singer shine through as he slows things down on “Claymore,” “Headshots (4r Da Locals),” and “Score.”
As usual with Zay projects, the guest list on this project is stacked to the brim with talent. SZA, Smino, 6LACK, Amindi, and Iamdoechii provide beautiful vocals on their respective tracks, allowing Zay to handle the rapping. Jay Rock, Duke Deuce, Jay Worthy, YGTUT, and Uzi lend compelling guest verses (especially Jay Rock, wow).
“Score” is a clear standout from the tracklist. Over silky Kenny Beats production, Zay harmonizes about a lost lover. SZA and 6LACK accompany him on the chorus and their own verses, giving the song a velvety smoothness.
But perhaps the best song on the record, and one of Zay’s most honest songs is the closer of The House Is Burning titled “HB2U.” Opening with a conversation, Zay immediately establishes the stakes of the predicament that the title of the album implies. “Is there a heaven?” a child asks, a voice replies with affirmation. The child asks “How do you know that?” prompting the stale voice to reply “You don’t.” The first half of the record is triumphant, a declaration of victory for Zay who has been to hell and back, or rather into the burning house and back. Zay asks “If you don’t ever get yourself straight, who the fuck is you gon’ help mane?” “HB2U’s” first half is a recollection of the lessons Zay has learned: trusting in oneself to pull through even when it seems your life is collapsing around you. A tear-jerking celebration of a life renewed, “HB2U” takes a darker turn after a beat switch.
After a brief pause, a hallucinogenic melody cuts in with Zay harmonizing “You are now a human being.” This chorus possibly refers to the fact that most of Zay’s previous work was recorded under the influence of alcohol. The House Is Burning was recorded without the tempting escapism of being drunk, again hammering home the theme of the project. “This ain’t as hard as it gets, but I'm still on drugs,” sings Zay in the closing seconds of the project. “HB2U’s” second half acts as an intimidating warning to Zay himself, to continue his progress in life, or lose it all again and succumb to his old ways. “Am I cheating myself, I'm imploding.” As a whole, the song is haunting, victorious, revealing, sobering, a masterpiece.
“The House Is Burning” is a concept executed with razor-edge precision. A passionate, soulful project with the healing power of 100 hours of therapy, Isaiah Rashad has blessed his fans with something truly sentimental.
RIP Young
Wat U Sed (feat. Iamdoechii & Kal Banx)
HB2U
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As many of us remain isolated in our homes, resigned to living lives devoid of social interaction not involving our roommates or family members, it can feel difficult not to go a little bit stir-crazy. Whether you live totally alone, or if you came back home to help your parents only to be asked to sanitize every room of the house on a tri-weekly basis (yours truly), many of us have had to get creative when coping to this change of lifestyle. Luckily, some members of the Stereovision team decided to provide their favorite records for riding out the all the sheltering, social distancing, and quarantines that have quickly dominated our daily agendas. From recent releases to modern classics, we hope you give these records a listen.
Toro Y Moi - Anything In Return (2013)
“Speaking from my own perspective - I am so fucking anxious all the time, so naturally you can expect that the past month has not been the greatest time for me. In dire need of an outlet where I can allow myself the opportunity to *relax*, I find myself listening to this album almost constantly. Straight from the brain of one of the people who popularized the term ‘chillwave’, Toro Y Moi’s 2013 opus is packed with easily digestible indie-electronic tracks that can range from relaxing to plain fun.” -Carter Fife
Jay Electronica - A Written Testimony (2020)
“After patiently waiting many years, Jay Electronica fans rejoice now that his new album A Written Testimony has dropped. The timing of the release couldn’t have been better, considering his wisdom can provide us with a sense of clarity in this uncertain time. The best part is we all have more time now, allowing us to give he album the in-depth listen it deserves.” -Colson O’Connor
G Herbo - PTSD (2020)
“Most G Herbo projects are definitely an acquired taste for many listeners from outside his hometown of Chicago, Illinois. PTSD is slightly different. G Herbo's reflections in songs such as "Feelings" and "Intuition" are a clear indication that the rapper is transforming into a better artist and person. The most popular song named after the album features Chance the Rapper, Juice WRLD, and Lil Uzi Vert. Sitting at just around a month old, it is time to give PTSD a listen if you have not already. Check out a more in-depth review of the album here!” -Amaya Lorick
Mac Miller - Circles (2020)
Being stuck around the house all the time can put you through a lot of different moods. Mac Miller’s ingenious album Circles, consists of songs for every one of those moods. His slow-tempo, rainy day jams are perfect for staying sane at home during this crazy time.” -Colson O’Connor
Sevdaliza - Ison (2017)
“Dutch-Iranian songwriter & producer Sevdaliza delivers a dark, atmospheric, and lush blend of alternative R&B and trip-hop with her debut album Ison. Across the project’s exploration of love and what it means to be a woman in our modern world, she creates a landscape of stuttering drum loops, sinister chord progressions, and haunting vocal refrains that ultimately transcend into pure, unadulterated beauty. It’s one of my personal favorites of all time, and I would highly recommend listening to the tracklist in order, but if I had to pick and choose a few standout tracks, then “Hubris,” “Amandine Insensible,” “Hero,” and “Loves Way” would be a good place to start.” -Owen Tait
REASON - There You Have It (2018)
“Top Dawg Entertainment signee, REASON, is still early in his career but has already made a name for himself in his debut album There You Have It. The project opens with a skit, titled "Rufus Collection", and is followed by 11 vividly reflective songs. Before signing with TDE in August 2018, There You Have It was independently released in 2017. The remastered project's most popular song Better Dayz was well received by Ice Cube in a special segment posted by Genius. This album was a great introduction to where REASON came from and could possibly be key to understanding who he is as an artist.” -Amaya Lorick
Jai Paul - Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones) (2019)
“Originally leaked six years earlier by an anonymous user on Bandcamp, UK producer, singer, and songwriter Jai Paul officially released Leaked 04-13 (Bait Ones) to streaming services in 2019. The project is a collection of 16 demos Paul wrote prior to the album’s leak, but the quality of the music here wouldn’t indicate their unfinished nature in the slightest. Featuring slick vocal hooks and tons of wonky production tricks throughout, Bait Ones is a tight, feel-good alternative pop record that will be sure to keep your vibes up during social isolation. Check out tracks such as “Str8 Outta Mumbai” and “jasmine - demo” for a good taste of what this album has to offer.” -Owen Tait
Isaiah Rashad - The Sun’s Tirade (2016)
Isaiah Rashad has no problem having his fans wait for new music. This album from 2016 is what really put him on the map as the next one up out of TDE. The Sun’s Tirade is a showcase of emotional and self reflective raps, and the sounds on this range from jazzy instrumentation to more traditional trap. -Miles Hagan
Rich Gang - Tha Tour Pt. 1 (2014)
“Prior to the beef and bullshit, one duo reigned supreme, prolifically dropping music and poised to take over the rap game. In 2014, Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan might as well have been Andre 3000 and Big Boi the way they took the direction the sound was heading and forced it to turn on a dime, changing the course of hip-hop history in the process. The duo resembled Outkast in more ways than the influence though. Rich Homie Quan acted as the Big Boi to Thugger’s three stacks by anchoring the young superstar and providing constancy, allowing him to develop into one of the all-time great he was born to be. In addition, there are few tapes that show such palpable influence to today’s specific pop rap sound, just listen to “I Know It” once and tell me you don’t hear DaBaby, Gunna, and Lil Baby. Tha Tour 1 is one of the most important mixtapes of this generation and is absolutely as slimy as it gets.” - Spencer Lobdell
The Internet - Ego Death (2015)
“Lead by Odd Future vocalist Syd and assisted by artists such as Steve Lacy and Kaytranada, The Internet’s Ego Death is a fresh, charismatic fusion of R&B and neo-soul that will ease the pressure of being cooped up at home. Boasting plenty of groovy bass lines and jazz-inspired percussion, this project is simply hypnotic, a quality that is certainly aided by Syd’s infectious refrains and melodies. The standout tracks on this record include—but are not limited to—“Go With It,” “Under Control,” and ‘Special Affair.’ ” -Owen Tait
Grimes - Art Angels (2015)
“You might be thinking: What if being too relaxed is my biggest problem right now, and what if I am struggling to feel something underneath the weight of perpetual isolation’s monotony? Look no further - Art Angels is so off-the-walls and high-octane that one listen will have you sprinting around your home screaming “B-E-H-A-V-E, arrest us!” into your hairbrush. At just under 50 minutes long, it will provide you with the perfect daily workout, forgetting you are confined to your home in the first place” -Carter Fife
Action Bronson - Mr. Wonderful (2015)
In a time where our scenery may get a bit repetitive music is a way for us to still paint vivid pictures. Few are better at this than Action, who delivers slick verses over incredible and unique production. There are several standout singles from this project that still impress me till this day. -Miles Hagan
EARTHGANG - Torba (2015)
“Throw it back to 2015 in quarantine and listen to EARTHGANG’s EP “Torba”. Every track is named after each day of the week, and each cut perfectly depicts the vibe of each day. The beats on this album have such a unique bounce, and EARTHGANG comes in with a crazy flow that do the beats justice. There also happen to be smooth features from artists Mac Miller and JID that add to the greatness of this EP.” -Colson O’Connor
NxWorries - Yes Lawd! (2016)
“In 2016, NxWorries (Duo made up of singer/rapper Anderson .Paak & producer Knxledge) released their only project ever titled Yes Lawd! While Anderson .Paak music is always excellent, Knxledge’s production brought greatness out of the artist and led to him creating his best music ever. The album is one of the more cohesive hip-hop projects I’ve ever heard showcasing a similar chill vibe and cool energy that never gets old on most tracks. I don’t know if it’s Paak’s cutting vocal inflections, ultra-dynamic singing voice, or the introspective ways he writes about love, but something about his performance on this record is very special to me, solidifying Yes Lawd! as a personal top five record of all time.” - Spencer
KAYTRANADA - 99.9% (2016)
Production allows the imagination to wander. 99.9% is one of the best albums we have received from a producer in a while. Not only does he offer stellar beats from start to finish, but the list of guest features is to notch. Its upbeat tone and wild creativity draw you in from the moment you press play, and make it hard to press pause for the next hour. -Miles Hagan
Dom Kennedy - Los Angeles Is Not for Sale, Vol. 1 (2016)
“While LA native Dom Kennedy has made some great music over the course of his career, nothing comes close to his magnum opus, Los Angeles Is Not for Sale, Vol. 1. Nobody does relaxed west coast gangsta rap like Kennedy and he is in full force throughout this entire project. On this record, Dom combines a sharp pen with a laid back SoCal delivery resulting in an hour of addicting bops to hotbox your mom’s car to.” -Spencer Lobdell
Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf (2015)
“Back in 2015, Chance the Rapper, Nico Segal (formerly known as Donnie Trumpet, and their band partnered with Apple Music to release Surf for free! It's leading single "Sunday Candy" will get you in the mood to do something productive and spread love from afar. The 16-song project has features including Big Sean, J. Cole, and Quavo but these artists were purposely left unlisted. If you have not already listened to Surf, I challenge you to allow yourself to be surprised by all of its guest appearances.” -Amaya Lorick
Baby Keem - DIE FOR MY BITCH (2019)
“I really do not have too much to say about this one. Is it too late to call it a deep-cut at this point? It doesn’t matter. Fans of outrageous rap and stellar production link up and join the Baby Keem fandom before the hype-train leaves the station. Keem’s irresistibly catchy hooks on tracks like ‘BULLIES’ and ‘TOP RAMEN’ will make you an instant fan, and the possibility of an upcoming collaboration with Kendrick might give you something to look forward to this year. Whether or not you’re already a fan, it is never too early - or too late - to enjoy this record.” -Carter Fife
We hope these records help lift your spirits in such an uncertain time. Stay safe out there, and be sure to let us know what you’ve been listening to over the past few weeks.
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By Luke Modugno
With 2010’s coming to a close last month, we leave behind a legendary 10 years of hip-hop. The genre grew leaps and bounds, becoming arguably the biggest category of music in the world. As we embark on the new journey of the next decade, 2020 seems to be shaping up as one of the best years in the recent history of hip-hop. Here are the albums we’re looking forward to, speculating about, dreaming of, and practically begging for.
For the first time since 2014, Drake had a relatively slow year, neglecting to release a new album in 2019. But Drizzy fans weren’t completely deprived. Day-one fans were treated to Care Package, a compilation of the 6 God’s greatest hits not on streaming platforms, and a two song EP titled The Best In The World Pack, celebrating the Toronto Raptors’ NBA championship. Last year, Drake appeared to hint at an album slated for 2020 a few times. The first time was last April, when Drake revealed to his crowd in London that he aimed to return to England with new music in 2020. Additionally, in December, Drake made a surprise appearance at DaBaby’s show in Toronto, telling his hometown that 2020 was a target year for new music, “I’m going to go back to the crib and try to finish this album up so we can turn up in 2020,” Drake told the crowd before he exited the stage. On top of that, Drake and Future have been heavily teasing a follow up to their legendary joint project What a Time to be Alive. Last month, the duo released a new track titled “Life is Good,” with the pair emulating the success and chemistry they’ve formed over the years. And considering Drake was booed off stage at Camp Flog Gnaw 2019, we have to believe the Toronto native has something to say this year. It’s an exciting year to be a Drake fan, I’m expecting both a solo project and another collaboration album with Future in 2020.
The head-honcho of Dreamville had a remarkable year in 2019, continuing his legendary run of features and exceeding expectations with the Dreamville compilation album Revenge of the Dreamers III. Back in November of last year, Cole previewed a trailer for his upcoming project titled The Fall Off at Day N Vegas. The video, styled like a political campaign ad, shows Cole as the savior of America, during “these turbulent times,” and schedules the album to drop sometime in 2020. Considering the final track on Cole’s 2018 effort KOD was titled “1985 (Intro to ‘The Fall Off’),” the album is being speculated as a direct follow-up. The teaser for The Fall Off doesn’t feature the serious introspection featured on KOD, so Cole may be looking to go in a completely different direction for this project.
2019 was a genuinely scary year for A$AP Rocky. After being arrested and accused of assault, at the time, it was unclear if Rocky would be coming home anytime soon. The situation caught the attention of President Donald Trump, as he stepped in and influenced Rocky’s release and return home. 2020 has been a positive contrast to last year for Rocky, as he seems in a good place. The New York native announced late last year that his album All Smiles is on the way. All Smiles will be Rocky’s first solo album since his 2018 LP Testing. As the title suggests, Testing was certainly an experimental venture, which split fans and critics alike on the quality of the project. Rocky released two new singles in 2018 and 2019, “Sundress” and “Babushka Boi,” it is unclear if either will make the album. It will be intriguing to see if Rocky continues his sonic tinkering, or if he reverts back to his old sound established in his earlier albums. Expect new music sometime in the first half of 2020.
Besides a group project with East Coast collective Beast Coast, Joey has been relatively quiet since the release of his second studio album ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$. Following the release of his classic debut mixtape 1999, rap fans have hung on Joey’s every word. Joey has shown a lot of maturity and development as an MC since then, developing his sound and subject matters to become a fairly undisputed top five rapper in the game at the moment. Last month, Joey confirmed new music is on the way, “JUST GETTIN’ A FEW MORE DUCKS LINED UP FO I START BUCKING THESE N****Z. WORLD NEED NEW BADA$$ & ITZ COMING#LP3.” During the Beast Coast tour in 2019, the Brooklyn rapper released a series of vlogs and on the first episode, Joey tells A$AP Rocky, “New album, almost done bro.” He further hinted at a new project in an Instagram post, “Might be a few album snippets in there,” referring to the vlog series. Expect new tunes from Joey very soon.
Kendrick Lamar
We last heard the crowned king of West Coast hip-hop in 2018, when he curated and produced tracks for the Black Panther movie soundtrack. Since then, it’s been radio static on Kendrick’s end, with no singles, few features and no concrete plans for a new album. The good news: Kdot performed his last DAMN. show at Day N Vegas in November of last year, and with Kendrick headlining 12 festivals across Europe starting in June(Lollapalooza Stockholm, NOS Alive, etc.), there’s a good chance new music is on the way. Multiple reports have speculated that the album may have a heavy rock influence, something we saw glimpses of on DAMN. Former Billboard editorial director Bill Werde added fuel to the fire last month when he tweeted, “Did anyone not named Beyonce release better, more meaningful back-to-back albums last decade than Kendrick Lamar? Are you interested to know that I hear from several friends that recording on the new album may finally be done? And that he’s pulling in more rock sounds this time?” With 1,041 days passing since the release of DAMN.,this has been the longest running wait for a Kendrick album since the time between good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly, making it seem like a lock that Kendrick drops in 2020.
Cole’s label partner at Dreamville has been making some noise the past two years. After impressing listeners with lightning quick raps and witty punchlines with his debut album The Never Story and turning heads in 2018 with his sophomore album DiCaprio 2, JID has as much potential as any rapper in the game. JID has tweeted multiple times over the past few months hinting at a new album this year, however in an interview with Revolt, the 28-year-old spoke on his recent writers block, “My grandmother just passed,” J.I.D told REVOLT TV. “I haven’t been able to write a verse since. Everything has been blank, which is weird.” Legendary producer NO I.D. is reportedly a large part of the album. Considering it's been 2 years since a solo project from JID, I see it likely we will get an album from him later in the year.
Perhaps one of the most anticipated artists in 2020, Uzi has kept fans waiting for almost two years for his upcoming project titled Eternal Atake. From threatening to quit music to making a diss track against his own label Generation Now, Lil Uzi had a very trying year in 2019. However, Uzi has been positive on Twitter as of late. After releasing a single from the album, “Futsal Shuffle 2020,” Uzi has been teasing Eternal Atake heavily, suggesting it’s 16 songs, saying it “slaps way harder” than Luv is Rage and hinting at Tyler, The Creator’s production involvement on the album. In addition, Uzi has constantly compared 2020 to his break out year of 2016, saying it will be “2016 part 2.” During that year, Uzi was a XXL freshman, gave one of the most iconic freestyle cyphers, and dropped two albums in Lil Uzi Vert Vs. The World and The Perfect LUV Tape. Considering the delays on the album, the expectations for Eternal Atake are sky high. If we learned anything from last year, we know Uzi is a terribly unpredictable artist, so nothing is really concrete until the album arrives on streaming services.
Incredibly, Playboi Carti has had more songs leaked than songs in the entirety of his discography (125 leaked, 34 released). Despite this, Carti’s supposedly upcoming album Whole Lotta Red is still one of the most coveted potential drops of 2020. In October of last year, Carti posted on Instagram, captioning the post “red incoming.” Since the announcement, heaps of leaks have surfaced, including songs, potential tracklists, album artwork and some possible features. Even Drake posted about the album on Instagram, captioning the post “Nobody: Me: Somebody play Whole Lotta Red.” Considering it's been nearly two years since Die Lit, Carti will most likely feel the pressure to drop this year. Whether he will or not, is still a mystery.
The past few years have been a rollercoaster ride for Ye. From his constant donning of the MAGA hat and his head scratching slavery comments in 2018, to a steady batch of delays on his now released album JESUS IS KING, Kanye was back to being one the most hated figures in pop culture. Although JESUS IS KING got very mixed reviews, Kanye is supposedly planning a JESUS IS KING sequel. Last November, Ye tweeted a picture of him and Dr. Dre in the studio with the caption, “Ye and Dre Jesus is King Part II coming soon.” Before you get too excited, let's pump the brakes on the hype train for Jesus is King Part II. Kanye and Dre are infamously known for torturing their fans with delays, postponements and scrapping albums all together. Dr. Dre’s highly anticipated solo album Detox has been delayed for nearly two decades. Kanye has a slew of unreleased projects that were scrapped and later leaked, including Yandhi, So Help Me God, TurboGrafx16, Donda’s Boy and more. Don’t expect this album anytime soon.
It’s been 1,265 painful days since the release of Isaiah Rashad’s last solo LP The Sun’s Tirade. With two terrific projects under his belt, TDE’s most reserved member has potential to be a household name in hip-hop. In June of last year, Isaiah took to an Instagram livestream where he announced the title of his upcoming album to be The House is Burning. He also claimed the album will be “as tight as Aquemini.” Since then, there has been no update on a release date of any kind. With Zay constantly previewing new music on his Instagram (Including songs with JID and Zacari), an album is presumably coming this year. TDE tends to spread out the release dates of their albums, and with Reason, ScHoolboy Q and possibly Kendrick Lamar dropping this year, we could possibly expect The House is Burning in the second half of 2020. But due to how tight-lipped TDE is about their upcoming projects, we can’t be sure new Zay music is coming this year.
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By Miles Hagan
Yahdi has been talked about since November. Kanye has pushed back the release date multiple times for many reasons in typical Kanye fashion. All of that being said, the music world is still waiting on what is coming next from Yeezy. Last year he released a solo album (Ye) and joint project with Kid Cudi (Kids See Ghosts), both which were well received by the general public. He closed the year with some pretty average performances with some artists like Lil Pump (“I Love It”) and 6ix9ine (“MAMA KANGA”). Kanye has given us a lot of interesting features, singles, and albums over the years, and his opinions will always be questionable, but one thing is for sure; Kanye will always have the public’s interest.
Awaken My Love was a huge step in Gambino’s career. He had already established himself as a force to be reckoned with on Because the Internet, but fans were unsure of what the multitalented rapper would do next. He proceed to launch one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows in recent memory, Atlanta, and show his impressive skills as an actor in many major roles in films. Aside from these two things, he began to change his music style from mainly rap to a mix of R&B and Neo Soul. He released two solid singles at the end of the summer in “Feels Like Summer” and “Summertime Magic”. This was more of the sound from Awaken My Love rather than his other huge single of 2018, “This is America,” which showcased him going back to his roots of rapping. Though Childish has not directly said he's putting out a project his fairly steady output of content hints that he's still in the studio, so fans should be look forward to whatever he has planned for 2019.
The young TDE rapper showed a ton of promise on his last record The Sun’s Tirade. This came after the scare of being dropped due to the break he took from music after his debut album Cilvia Demo. Ever since, the rapper has seemed focused and poised for another, even bigger release for his next project. Rashad has hinted at releasing new content for some time now especially on his social media. Aside from the occasional feature he hasn't put out anything to really give fans an idea of what new sounds he's working with. That being said his potential is undeniable especially with the team backing him in his label.
This is a project that has a lot of conflicting information regarding the release from the two main parties in A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator. Rocky made it seem like project was well underway and fans should be expecting a release in the near future. Tyler almost immediately dismissed these remarks via Twitter saying that the album wasn't even full flesh out year and was still in the idea stages. The only real information that the public knows is that the two friends have been working together for a while now sporadically on music. “Potato Salad” came out in July of 2018 and had fans excited for more content from the two excellent rappers.
The young TDE rapper showed a ton of promise on his last record The Sun’s Tirade. This came after the scare of being dropped due to the break he took from music after his debut album Cilvia Demo. Ever since, the rapper has seemed focused and poised for another, even bigger release for his next project. Rashad has hinted at releasing new content for some time now especially on his social media. Aside from the occasional feature he hasn't put out anything to really give fans an idea of what new sounds he's working with. That being said his potential is undeniable especially with the team backing him in his label.
Vampire Weekend has been quite for a number of years now after they took a break from making music after their 2016 Modern Vampires tour. Key member Rostam Batmanglij was rumored to be leaving the band, though it has since been confirmed he is still a partial collaborator on their upcoming record. Talk of a new album was on and off till lead singer Ezra Koenig officially announced via his instagram that the group would be releasing a new album titled Father of the Bride September 6th of 2019. Leading up to the project there will be two new songs per month till its official release. The first two singles “Harmony Hall” and “2021” have received high remarks from fans and critics alike. They feature great vocals per usual from Koenig, and feature beautiful instrumentation and captivating lyrics throughout. From all that we have seen Vampire Weekend seems just as sharp as ever and prepared to make their way back into the forefront of music.
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