So a lot of music was released in 2018. A whole lot. In looking forward to what 2019 has to offer, I’ve chosen 10 artists that I hope will be releasing albums this year. The only real requirement to be on this list was that you couldn’t have dropped an album last year but I also ignored that requirement several times (with justification!) so here we go!
PS: If there are artists you think I missed, or artists you disagree with, leave a comment or send me a tweet (@/TinubuTweets)
1. AYLØ
When it comes to music, the world eyes and ears seem to be focused on Nigeria. While bigger artists like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy have made a name for themselves on an international level, a rising crop of stars have begun to stake their claims among the nation’s most famous names. AYLØ is one of the members of this new school of artists and if you heard his 2017 tape ‘Insert Project Name’ you know his talent is not one to be denied. I have a gut feeling that 2019 can be the year for AYLØ to take his place amongst the leaders of this new movement. He switches between rapping and singing with such ease, that his laidback style almost makes you forget about his deceptively witty pen. To put it simply, he’s dope as hell and when he drops something crazy, don’t say you weren’t warned.
2. Collard
The first time I heard Collard was in the middle of 2018 because of my Discover Weekly Playlist on Spotify. I remember being sat down, high as hell, when the first ghostly line of his 2017 song ‘Sofa’ came out of my speakers: “I was there for you, when you overdosed.” It was one of those weird “I don’t know what’s going on but I think I like it” moments. Collard was able to create one of the most richly mellow songs I have heard in a long time, positioning himself as a compassionate lover all while singing about his partner’s overdose. It’s a trip. He released ‘Everglade’ and ‘Ode’ in 2018, two more songs that put his ethereal voice front and center. Honestly, the best way I can describe his music, is that it sounds like what Childish Gambino thought he was making on ‘Awaken, My Love’ but way better. I’m hoping that in 2019, we’re able to get at least an EP from this mysterious talent.
3. Frank Ocean
God please. Just please. I’ll even take the random single still, just don’t let him disappear for the whole year.
4. James Blake
It was 2016 when James Blake released ‘The Colour in Anything,’ his third full length album. James Blake has never been one to shy away from his feelings in his songwriting but 2018 saw him take this even further as he publicly advocated for the need for male honesty in dealing with emotions. This message followed the response to his second single of the year, ‘Don’t Miss It’, which had been labelled as “sad boy music” by Pitchfork.
‘Don’t Miss It’ is a song about how depression and negative thoughts can become cyclical, and how there can be a tendency to miss the darkness when we start to break free. Blake is armed with a powerful message, rooted in his own personal experiences, and I am truly looking forward to seeing how he filters it through his unique musical style this year.
5. Kenny Beats
“Woah Kenny!” Chances are very good that you heard this tag sometime in 2018, right before having your brains nearly rattled out of your damn skull. Kenny Beats was ubiquitous in 2018, producing for artists like Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, Key!, Rico Nasty, 03 Greedo, Comethazine and so many more. As the only producer on this list, I am not anticipating a Kenny Beats album per se, but rather another album in which he is the sole producer like on Key!’s exceptional ‘777.’ Kenny has the work ethic and drive to remain one of the best producers in rap and I have no doubt that he’s coming for heads (& subwoofers) this year.
6. Lil Uzi
Lil Uzi, the internet’s most favourite wholesome rapper, spent most of the previous year existing in the form of (wholesome) memes that were pretty inescapable. One of the memes came from a video in which Uzi was dancing to the hook of a then unreleased song.
The song turned out to be New Patek, an absolutely breathtaking 5 minutes and 43 seconds of Uzi rapping his ass off without the slightest care for any conventional song structure. It was an explosion of joy and pure energy, with Uzi pulling off dizzying flows like the Energizer Bunny let loose in the booth. Supposedly the first single off his upcoming album, Eternal Atake, Uzi is definitely an artist to be excited for in 2019. With a new album on the way, and a healthy disregard for conventions, we have no idea what to really expect from Uzi, and that’s how he likes it.
7. Maxo Kream
Okay yes, I’m breaking the rules technically because Maxo released an album in early January 2018 but that’s basically late December 2017 still so stop complaining. If you’d like to read my thoughts about ‘Punken’, Maxo’s debut album, you can find them here. I won’t say too much here. I’m hoping that Maxo is able to build off the incredible start he had with Punken and I’m very excited to see where he takes things next. He’s been previewing snippets of music on his social media and it’s sounding good too so I am very optimistic for what Maxo is going to deliver this year.
8. Santi
Calling Santi a “man of mystery” might be an understatement. Whether it’s trying to figure out the lyrics on his sultry yet nearly indecipherable flows, or unearth the meanings behind his provocative visuals, Santi seems to delight in keeping his fans guessing. With a very solid 2018 that saw him drop 3 singles, including personal favourite, ‘Rapid Fire’, one would hope that 2019 brings us an album. Santi has the kind of versatility that excites listeners and as he has continued to develop his sound and artistic persona, the prospect of a full album becomes more tantalising with each passing day. Santi is definitely one to watch in 2019 as he looks to hold down Lagos while taking on the world.
9. Teni The Entertainer
Teni is a special artist. 2018 saw her moving from strength to strength as her superstar charisma captured the hearts and ears of Nigerians, regardless of class and upbringing. Her passion and emotion shine through on every single track, making it damn near impossible to hear one of her songs and not feel something. While she released a whole bunch of singles in 2018, including the smash ‘Askamaya’, my favorite song from Teni was ‘Wait’. Its a song she wrote dedicated to her father who was killed when she was a child. You can hear the emotions in her voice as she sings and it is a song so tender and heartfelt that no one would blame you for shedding some tears. Teni has gone far by being herself, unapologetically, and I am really looking forward to what she has in store for 2019.
10. Tierra Whack
Okay I know! I did it again! I said to be on this list you couldn’t have dropped an album last year and Tierra Whack did BUT it was 15 minutes long! (15 songs, 1 minute each.) 15 brilliant minutes, yes, but 15! If you haven’t listened to Whack World, and watched the accompanying 15 minute video, I sincerely urge you to do so because Tierra Whack is one of the most exciting and innovative artists in music today. I have no idea what she’s going to do in 2019, but I know it’s going to be fun as hell to see.
