Favorite Albums of 2019/2020 | Dayo | Kenny
OK. So. This was supposed to go up in April. Then the world ended. Then people pretended to care about black people. Then the pretending ended. Then the world ended again (it’s time to annex Florida). It never felt like a good time to share two random guys’ music tastes in these uncertain times. But all great decisions are made with a deep breath and a “fuck it.”
So we live baby.
A very simple question to answer: what was your favorite album since New Year’s Day 2019? Dayo and Kenny answer.
[Because of the post delay, all albums released after March 2020 were not considered for this exercise. Meaning gems like The Weeknd’s After Hours, Fiona Apple’s Fetch The Bold Cutters, Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Pop Smoke’s Shoot For The Stars, Aim For The Moon and countless others weren’t included.]
Dayo’s Honorable Mentions
When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? — Billie Eilish
She needs no introduction. The youngest artist to reach a billy streams on Spotify. Grammys on Grammys on Grammys. And this album got hits on hits on hits. Despite teasing this album for what felt like forever, she delivered. The phrase, “ayo, put that Billie Eilish on” has been uttered exactly zero times over the past eighteen months. But I think that’s because it’s meant to be consumed alone. And on everything, Wish You Were Gay > Bad Guy.
The Lost Boy — YBN Cordae
I’m not gonna lie. I judged this boy. I mean let’s be honest, he has a Xbox gamertag as his stage name. His name and look led me to believe he was just another youth that people my age couldn’t relate to. Not the TikTokers-copying-urban-culture youth, but the would-not-recognize-what-Nas-looks-like youth. I was hella wrong though. Cordae’s energy jumps out of the speaker on this record. The My Block sample on Bad Idea is just *chef’s kiss*.
Shea Butter Baby — Ari Lennox
Ari Lennox might share the crown with Lizzo as the most disrespected black woman on the internet. (Barbz, please go away.) While her lack of run during this past year’s awards season makes no sense, she has staying power and will get hella opportunities in the future. She’s tapped into an appeal to an underserved demo — the 20-something black woman. (Can we talk about how similar the words ‘undeserved’ and ‘underserved’ look??? Maybe it’s because I’m dyslexic, but why do words that mean the polar opposite occupy so many of the same letters???)
ANYWAY. I’m contemplating moving into a new apartment just so I can play New Apartment.
YHLQMDLG — Bad Bunny
Todavía yo te quiero! Pero sé que un error! You’re probably asking yourself, “Dayo, an all Spanish album was one of your favorites? But you don’t even speak Spanish.” First off — SMACK. I’m fluent in Spanglish. Word to Providencia y Mi Sueno. Second — music should make you feel. It’s impossible to press play and not wanna get lit. Of the many crimes, committed against humanity during this COVID lockup, not being able to turn up to this record on Dyckman during a New York is high up on the list.
Dayo’s Favorite Album
-Ugh, those feels again — Snoh Aalegra
Timeless. A word typically used to describe something that will never go out of style. Like The Office. Like the hoodie + jean jacket combo. Like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. UTFA feels timeless. Not to say it is futuristic or unlike anything in this era, but it feels…familiar. Feels like I’m listening to an album my older girl cousins (cousinettes?) put me onto. Seen a bit as Prince’s protege, there should be no real surprise at Snoh’s ability to put a gem like UTFA together. And yet, this masterpiece is no easy feat. Stand out records include I Want You Around and Whoa. If Musiq Soulchild’s Dontchange didn’t exist, Find Someone Like You would probably be my wedding song. My personal favorite is I Didn’t Mean To Fall In Love. No one has confused Snoh vocally for Beyonce or Jazmine Sullivan, but to me, that’s kinda the point. There’s beauty in imperfection.
(Editor’s Note: Dayo did not know she was a peng ting until AFTER he heard her sing. Like all women, she’s more than simply how she looks. shelookgoodtho.)
Kenny’s Honorable Mentions
Father of Asahd — DJ Khaled
Being able to just call up Jay-Z and Bey to hop on a feature is kinda unfair and even though he doesn’t even rap, you can’t deny that Khaled “organizes” hits. While some of the songs on this album may be skip-worthy, it’s hard to fail with a plethora of all-stars at your disposal. I can’t even recount how many times I’ve played You Stay. Just off the samples alone, this album had to be featured in the honorable mentions. Shoutout to La India!
Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial — Roddy Rich
While PEMFBA wasn’t my top album of 2019, The Box had to be the song of the year without question. The countless covers and TikToks all prove my point. While I myself am a fan of putting the stick in the box, PETA with Meek Mill really just put this album over the top for me. The two of them on a track together are like Jordan and Pippen in 1997. Shaq and Kobe in the 2001 Finals. Bron and Kyrie in the 2016 Finals.
Chixtape 5 — Tory Lanez
I don’t know how he pulled it off, but the fact that this project even exists for public consumption on streaming services is a miracle. Actually, we know exactly how he pulled it off, but regardless, it is impressive. Mr. Quarantine Radio himself dropped audio ecstasy for any millennial raised in the early 2000s. My man brought all the legends out of hibernation and did a damn good job of reviving some classics. The only downside to this album, as most people may agree, was the poor mixing of most of the songs.
(It was all good for Tory just a week ago.)
YHLQMDLG — Bad Bunny
The only reason this album isn’t my top album is because of stupid COVID-19 denying us the ability to hear Safaera slap while we’re getting drunk off frozè’s during brunch. It’s kinda unfair that Bad Bunny dropped this album right before an unforeseen global pandemic but make no mistake, once restrictions are lifted and quarantine is over, tamos lit!
[Narrator: the quarantine is never over.]
Kenny’s Favorite
1. KIRK — DaBaby
In my humble and unqualified opinion, the year of our Lord two thousand and nineteen belonged to none other than Jonathan Lyndale Kirk. Mr. Baby seemed to explode on the mainstream scene with literal bops. DaBaby is undeniably a superstar and definitely one of my favorite rappers at the moment. KIRK was a hell of a debut and even though the joke is that every beat he raps on sounds the same — if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
Playlist w/ some of our favorites from these records can be found below.
Free Britney, get Kanye some help, RIP John Lewis, and black lives still matter.
