music I loved in 2021. please note that I work in the music industry, and my employer has relationships w some of the artists herein. as always, I’d maintain that these lists are personal to me & represent my interests and listening for the year as best as possible, regardless, but I prefer to disclose up front so you can take or leave the suggestions with a grain of salt. obviously my listening habits are shaped by this work & intractable from it; but this is a personal list & doesn’t represent views of my employer etc.

50. T9ine – Ya Never Know
49. beabadoobee – Cologne
48. Enchanting – Want Sum
47. Skream & KODO – Shinogi
46. Sydny August – How Does It Feel?
45. Japanese Breakfast – Be Sweet
44. Yu Su – Xiu
43. Tamera feat. Tay Iwar – Good Love
42. Jana Rush – Moanin’
41. Tae Dawg – Blindfold
40. Jean Deaux – Stay Down
39. Tony Loya – No Hook No Feelings
38. Devin the Dude – Soulful Distance
37. Willow – t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l
36. Khi Infinite – Love For Yuh
35. Lucky Daye feat. Tiana Major9 – On Read
34. Young Dolph, Key Glock – what you see is what you get
33. Chief Keef – Birds
32. Miz – Coming Up Roses feat. Bodega
31. Kacey Musgraves – Breadwinner
30. JAAS – Why
29. Nardo Wick – Who Want Smoke
28. BBYAFRICKA ft. NAEBLUD & BAWSEKITTY – “Baby Mama Coochie” (OG version) or Saweetie version
27. Nelccia – Options
26. SOPHIE – BIPP (Autechre Remix)
25. Kool Keith – Pipes
24. Guapo – Mr Put It On
23. Babyface Ray – Only Opponent
22. Cico P – Tampa
21. Pooh Shiesty feat. Lil Durk – Back in Blood
20. Vincent Neil Emerson – Learning to Drown
19. FYB Eli – Wish You Well
18. Muni Long – Hrs and Hrs
17. Mr Twin Sister – Carmen
16. Veeze – Kurt Angle
15. Rochelle Jordan – Next To You
14. Tre Oh Fie – Miss Me
13. DJ Manny – Never Was Ah Hoe
12. Palm Trax – Petu (Dub Mix)
11. CEO Trayle – Still Gotta Be
10. Fredo Bang feat. Lil Durk – Top (Remix)
9. Jacchesi & Mac Declos – Give It To Me (Nelly’s X-Rated Edit)
8. Nubya Garcia – Pace (Moses Boyd Remix)
7. Tyla feat. Kooldrink – Getting Late
6. EST Gee – Lick Back
5. Tems – Avoid Things
4. Brent Faiyaz – Mercedes
3. Mo3 and OG Bobby Billions – Outside
2. SZA – Good Days
1. Robinson – Fayahh

Albums:
Boldy James Bo Jackson
Summer Walker Still Over It
CEO Trayle Happy Halloween C4
DJ Harvey The Sound of Mercury Rising Vol III
Lil Poppa Blessed, I Guess
Emeka Ogboh Beyond the Yellow Haze
Kitten Personal Hotspots
DJ Manny Signals In My Head
Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales
Young Thug Punk
Tinashe 333
Poppy EAT (NXT Soundtrack)
Terms If Orange Was a Place
Musgo Temazcal Perverso
Doja Cat Planet Her
EST Gee Bigger Than Life or Death
Kareem Ali Quantum Blackness
Vincent Neil Emerson Vincent Neil Emerson
Rio Da Yung OG & Nuez Life of a Yung OG
Mr Twin Sister Al Mundo Azul