Summer has blessed us with some incredible records, whether in the mainstream or more underground. We’ve been given some great electronic, pop, and rap albums this summer break, so let’s dive in to some of the best albums that were released this past summer!
Porter Robinson - SMILE! :D
One of the biggest talents in the current EDM scene, singer, songwriter, and producer Porter Robinson has produced hands down my favorite album of the year so far. Porter’s singing and songwriting once again presents itself as some of the best in the industry, as he has crafted a wonderfully emotional yet fun electronic pop record. His production is amazingly bold while dealing with some really deep and emotional topics, and Porter has made them fit so well together, something that I haven’t heard much from other artists.
Lupe Fiasco - Samurai
Rapper Lupe Fiasco is known as an incredible lyricist and talent in the rap industry, and his newest album really confirms this reputation. Whether it be the super smooth flow on “Cake,” the slower, more methodic raps on “Palaces,” or the awesome combination of great rap and brilliant production on “Til Eternity,” Lupe really knocks it out of the park on every song on his new record and does it so creatively, as is the Lupe way.
Carter Vail - 100 Cowboys
LA-based singer and songwriter Carter Vail has flown under the radar for quite some time now, recently gaining more and more traction due to his skits and short songs going semi-viral on TikTok and YouTube. This summer, he released his second full-length project, 100 Cowboys. It’s a pop record with some incredibly fun and well-made production, and although it explores some sad breakup narratives, which span the entirety of the album, it really maintains its fun and upbeat sound which is some of the best music I’ve heard in a long time. If you ever see Carter on your feed, make sure to look into his real music as all of it is worth checking out.
Joey Valence & Brae - NO HANDS
American rap duo Joey Valence & Brae, sometimes abbreviated to JVB, recently released a great new album just as punchy and fun as their preceding record. NO HANDS contains some incredible back and forth in-your-face rapping, really reminiscent of the Beastie Boys, and it feels so fresh and fun to listen to. While most of the tracks aren’t too long, every one of them really packs a punch, and the beats and flows are all so unique and yet work so well together. One of the best new rap albums I have heard in a good while.
JPEGMAFIA - I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU
New York-born rapper and singer JPEGMAFIA has returned with a great rap album incorporating some great rock elements, really bringing out his talent as a producer and rapper. This album sounds unique but keeps the elements relatively the same throughout, and it’s a really solid album. Some great features from Denzel Curry and Vince Staples make this album truly great, and I am very much looking forward to JPEGMAFIA’s next project.
Don Toliver - HARDSTONE PSYCHO
Texas-born rapper Don Toliver released his first project, a mixtape, in 2018, and has been climbing the ladder of the industry ever since. His latest, HARDSTONE PSYCHO, has been charting for weeks now—and deservedly so. Its elements of metal and rock combined with some great raps come together to make a great album. Features including Future, Kodak Black, and Travis Scott really fit well on this record and make it well worth listening to.
Charli xcx - BRAT
You can’t talk about the best albums of the summer without mentioning British star Charli xcx’s latest pop/dance record BRAT. Everyone is talking about it, and for good reason. Her intense combination of electronic sounds, dance music, and pop makes for an amazing listen. Many of the songs are focused on pressures Charli feels in her life, whether it be the constant pressure of stardom or not feeling good enough and comparing herself to others. Overall, it’s a really great record dealing with some real topics, and Charli’s style honestly does well to complement it.
Ultra 85 - Logic
Logic’s highly anticipated album Ultra 85, after being teased for years upon years, has finally arrived. He uses it as almost a sequel to his 2015 album, The Incredible True Story, keeping the space theme and bringing some of his best raps to the table. The skits on this project are fun and paint a really cool story alongside the album’s songs, headlined by “Paul Rodriguez,” a nine-minute epic on which Logic employs his talent really well. The album is one of his best, clearly, and it’s great to see Logic back at the top of his game.
I’m always looking for more albums to check out, so email me at sjgst03@basd.k12.pa.us with any suggestions, and maybe the album you suggest could make it into an article.