Staff Picks: Mika Sunga's Top 5 Album of 2017 So Far
Mika Sunga, Social Media Manager
The only albums of the year I've played cover-to-cover...repeatedly.
Source: Twitter
1. Syd - Fin
It's easy to get lost in Syd's sultry voice the second she starts singing. Syd got me. A cool blend of soul, hip-hop, R&B and fun, Fin is one of those albums that you can listen to with that special someone in those night-time-is-the-right-time moments. Fin has a mixture of intimacy and confidence that Syd pulls off beautifully.
2. Sango - De Mim, Pra Voce
De Mim, Pra Voce finds Seattle's Soulector exacting his full range as a producer. From high-tempo freakouts to quieter but layered and intense suites, we learned there is no depth to Sango's excavations of Brazilian sounds and rhythms. A standout, "A Chamada (Ritmo Muleke)," hits with a crazy high pitched voice that mesmerizes then slowly it takes you by the hand and walks you through a daydream.
Source: Twitter
3. Drake - More Life
This album was everything Views was supposed to be. From the production and features to the right mixture of singing v. rapping Drake, who at no point hogs the spotlight with a predictably loaded guest list. "Passionfruit, " a smooth house vibe that gets you to the floor in a hurry, may be the year's (and his own) most shameless delicacy to date.
Source: iTunes
4. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.
Kind of a no-brainer. Kendrick's already a legend and his music is lead-heavy, anchored in dense lyricism that cuts with the best of em. Whether entertaining the "reverse narrative" theory or just taking the album for its cryptic cinematic component, DAMN. is a layered rap masterpiece front to back (or as the theory suggests, back to front, as well.)
Source: Twitter
5. Goldlink - At What Cost
Goldlink is a young artist that gives me hope that not all new MCs are trash. On At What Cost, Goldlink crafts a living, breathing ode to the DMV. It's personal, autobiographical and vivid. "Herside Story", a love song with a little swag, sticks out and holds you close. A testament to his hometown's resilience and scope of influence that reaches far beyond go-go and mambo sauce.
Honorable Mentions:
Oddisee - The Iceberg
Jonwayne - Rap Album Two
Tuxedo - Tuxedo II
Smino - blkswn
