BuzzFeed Ranked The Best Albums Of 2024 So Far — Let's See If You Agree With Our Picks
2024 has been a truly exceptional year for music. From R&B and pop to hip-hop, Latin, country, and jazz, artists have been bringing it, creating music that not only entertains but leaves a lasting impression.
Here are 20 albums that we on the BuzzFeed pop culture team have been loving so far.
20.We Don’t Trust You, Metro Boomin and Future
We Don't Trust You launched a thousand (battle) ships through its sixth track, "Like That," the boppy anthem that sparked the back-and-forth between Drake and Kendrick Lamar and led to the buzzy summer anthem, "Not Like Us." Beyond that, there's a lot more goodness on the album.
Here, Metro displays his unique production style, his growth as an artist and producer, and his incredible ability to pair talent to amazing, mind-blowing results, whether that's with The Weeknd on "Young Metro" or Travis Scott and Playboi Carti on "Type Shit." Future is excellent here, too, effortlessly skating over the album's 17 tracks in a way that only an astronaut like him can. —C.S.
19.One of Wun, Gunna
YSL Records' dark knight rode into the summer with another banger, his fifth studio album, One of Wun. The free and easy lyricism familiar in previous albums like A Gift & a Curse (2023) or Drip or Drown 2 (2019) return for a no-skip 20-track project that includes the hottest collabs from Roddy Rich, Normani, Leon Bridges, and Offset on the lead single "Prada Dem."
There's a delicate precision to Gunna's straightforward sound that can't be overshadowed by the drama surrounding his career. Instead, One of Wun is a cohesive companion piece to the Georgia rapper's position compared to when his first mixtapes dropped on the scene. —M.T.
18.Don't Forget Me, Maggie Rogers
Maggie Rogers's third album, Don't Forget Me, is a welcome departure from her debut album, Heard It in a Past Life. It's an Americana blend of indie pop showing that other tortured poets in the game can pen songs and bring them to life with emotionally charged delivery.
It's clear Maggie's at a different stage of her career with this album, as presented in the title track and more uptempo tracks like "Never Going Home." Kacey Musgraves's Golden Hour producer Ian Fitchuk teamed up with Maggie on the album, and it's smooth like butter on a pair of pancakes. —M.T.
17.Fine Ho, Stay, Flo Milli
Sophomore albums are a tricky bag, but Flo Milli was deep in hers for Fine Ho, Stay. Since day one, Flo Milli has come in hot with hard-hitting lyrics that pull no punches, as heard in her mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? (2020) and her debut album, You Still Here, Ho? (2022). Fine Ho, Stay is a confident addition to the saga.
The lead single, "Never Lose Me," was certified on its own, but when SZA and Cardi B jumped in for the remix, I knew the album would fully explore everything Flo Milli can do with her lyricism. The melodies feel familiar, and the delivery is smooth. —M.T.
16.World Wide Whack, Tierra Whack
You will use your time wisely listening to Tierra's debut studio album, World Wide Whack. Following her 2018 mixtape Whack World, Tierra dropped a project six years in the making, which consists of 15 short and sweet tracks that speak to her wacky (pun intended) and polarizing hip-hop stylings. Tierra's delivery, which I consider colorfully poetic, balances between light and dark.
The lead single, "Shower Song," is an upbeat sing-along, while the closing track, "27 Club," is a dim, emotional anthem. It's her nature to hold the audience's short-span attention. Bouncing between singing here and rapping there makes it not feel like a chore to play the album without skips. —M.T.
15.American Dream, 21 Savage
21 Savage only gets better with time, and American Dream proves it. His flow and delivery are immaculate on the album and so are his use of samples and features. Songs like "prove it" with Summer Walker evoke the vibes of an old-school Ja Rule and Ashanti collab, while you can't help but nod along to his Travis Scott collab "née-nah."
Overall, American Dream shows that 21 has found his zone, sonically, and I'm excited to see what the self-professed slaughter king cooks up next. —C.S.
14.Scarlet 2 Claude, Doja Cat
Scarlet 2 Claude continues the journey of Doja’s 2023 Scarlet album with seven new tracks: “Masc,” “Gang,” “Rider,” “Urrrge,” “Hungry,” “Acknowledge Me,” and “HeadHigh.” While critics were split on the original due to its scattered style and perceived repetitive moments, Doja redeems herself in the second half, delivering a variety of bangers that are crisp, lyrically complex, and musically diverse. —C.S.
13.Coming Home, Usher
I was fortunate to attend Usher’s Las Vegas residency concert last year, and I can honestly say that he is hands down one of the greatest performers alive. That said, Coming Home is the clearest example of just how much Sin City has rubbed off on him. Littered with songs for the nightclub (“A-Town Girl”) and the bedroom (“Please U”), the LP has something for everyone.
Along with exciting musical guests like Latto, 21 Savage, Summer Walker, and Burna Boy, Usher appears to fully enjoy himself again. In case anyone forgot, Coming Home is a reminder that he hasn’t lost his Midas touch. It’s safe to say the King of R&B crown still belongs to Mr. U-S-H-E-R R-A-Y-M-O-N-D. —T.C.
12.Radical Optimism, Dua Lipa
Dua is giving us EVERYTHING on this album: vocals, melodies, grooves, great production... There are pop songs, breakup songs...but the breakup songs are so groovy that there surely won't be any crying here. (My single self thanks you, Dua.) All in all, it's a solid effort that's very old Dua-coded while continuing to showcase her growth and experimentation as an artist. —C.S.
11.empathogen, Willow
empathogen finds Willow Smith in her most vulnerable and experimental era. On “false self,” Willow lays this premise out plainly, singing, “Am I insane? Feel the answer change each day / I don’t wanna change / but I need to change.” Later, she croons, “My false self must die, it’s no surprise.” This is the work of an artist who’s unafraid to share the messiness of self-discovery on full display. —T.C.
10.Timeless, Kaytranada
This album is, without a doubt, incredible. Not only are all of the features remarkable, but the actual production of each song is near perfect, IMO. The project itself has so many musical influences, and manages to simultaneously give upbeat and chilled vibes. Overall, Timeless is rich, unique, and an incredible addition to Kaytranada’s discography. —L.M.
9.Brat, Charli XCX
One thing about Charli, she knows how to make FUN music. Brat is full of certified *Club Classics* — like, I can’t not dance when it’s on. “Rewind,” “Von Dutch,” “360” — just banger after banger. But the album is also so much *more* than eclectic party bangers; it’s raw, it’s nuanced, and it’s vulnerable. No notes, Charli. —L.M.
8.Orquídeas, Kali Uchis
If Kali has no fans, then I am dead. I had no doubt that Orquídeas would blow me away, and it absolutely did that. From start to finish, the album transcends multiple genres and sounds, and is just such an enjoyable, magical listen. Kali continues to prove that she KNOWS how to put a project together. Obsessed! —L.M.
7.Dopamine, Normani
Musical artists often promise their long-awaited projects will be worth the wait, just to deliver mixed results. In this case, it really was worth it. Dopamine arrived more than five years after Normani announced her first studio album, but with it came a trove of catchy and timeless hits I know I'll have in rotation for years to come. From "Big Boy" and "All Yours" to "Candy Paint" and the Gunna-assisted "1:59," Normani proves she's really that girl and to never doubt her. —C.S.
6.Eternal Sunshine, Ariana Grande
I absolutely LOVED Eternal Sunshine as soon as I first heard it. It’s a perfect mix of the genres that (in my opinion) Ariana does best (pop and R&B), along with bits of house and disco. “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” has (rightfully) received so much love online, but I’m *especially* obsessed with “bye” and “imperfect for you.” I haven’t revisited the album a whole bunch lately, but that’s probably because we’ve been fed so much new music this year. Blessed. —L.M.
5.Atavista, Childish Gambino
OK, it’s safe to say that Atavista — aka the reissued version of Childish Gambino's fourth studio album, 3.15.20 — surprised me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of 3.15.20 when it initially dropped four years ago, but it most definitely has my stamp of approval now. With a couple new songs, new features, and a tweaked structure, the new and improved version works so much better. Honorable shoutout to “Final Church.” Chef’s kiss. —L.M.
4.Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish
Billie's highly anticipated third studio album is the flip side of Happier Than Ever (2021) and delivers the next phase of the singer-songwriter's emotional evolution. Finneas O'Connell profoundly understands how to write, produce, and collaborate on the perfect album for his sister's sultry melodies.
It feels like 2024 is the year of the sapphic songwriters, and Billie's on the frontlines with the next chapter of her story with funky goth-pop and airy electro hymns making sweet love under the stars. The album directly answers the question When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go? That's easy — the beautifully oxymoronic dream that is her latest album. —M.T.
3.Tyla, Tyla
Tyla’s eponymous debut album features plenty of Amapiano-infused bops, including the viral TikTok and chart-topping singles “Water,” “Truth or Dare,” and the flirtatious single “Jump.” Her airy vocals and irresistible charm as a wordsmith play into her biggest strength as an artist. She’s unafraid to admit that she’s here for a good time, which makes her a formidable main pop girl for Gen Z’ers and millennials. —T.C.
2.Born in the Wild, Tems
Born in the Wild showcases Tems's rich and distinctive vocals as she explores self-love, insecurities, and heartbreak. Sade Adu’s influence is ripe, especially in songs like “Ready” and” Forever.” However, make no mistake, Tems is a unique artist in her own right. Born in the Wild is a near-perfect debut album that encapsulates where the Nigerian singer is now and leaves little to no doubt that she’s headed for even greater success. —T.C.
1.COWBOY CARTER, Beyoncé
As with everything she does, Beyoncé bucked convention when she released Cowboy Carter earlier this year. In lieu of a traditional country album, the Texas native dropped what she defines as “a Beyoncé album,” which means it's genre-bending in all the best ways possible.
“DAUGHTER,” a standout track, finds Beyoncé singing the famous Italian aria “Caro Mio Ben” over a Spanish-guitar-driven instrumental. Songs like “SPAGHETTII” and “RIIVERDANCE” reclaim the origins of the genre while also expanding what can be considered authentic country music. The end result is an album unlike anything we've heard from Queen Bey before.
Yes, Cowboy Carter is a history lesson; it explores what it means to be country and Black in the beguiled United States of America. With co-signs by icons like Willie Nelson, Ms. Parton, and unsung pioneer Linda Martell, Beyoncé has, once again, connected the past with the present. In doing so, she’s cracked open a pathway for the future, where no artist, regardless of their race, color, or creed, will be denied access to the rodeo —T.C.
