All-Decade Second Team:
My Favourite Female R&B Albums
of the Decade:
Following on from last week's list I felt it only right to go back an explore my some of my favourite albums from my second favourite genre R&B. Now since last weeks list was void of any women I wanted to take this time to give credit to the female voices I've been rocking with throughout this decade.Similar to last week, I chose to only allow 1 album per artist. And again similar to last week, this is my favourite albums. I am by no means commenting objectively on which projects are the best.
#10
Album: A Seat at
the Table
Artist: Solange
Year: 2016
Favourite Song: Cranes in the Sky
Description:
I’m kicking
off this week’s list with arguably the best overall album on this list. ‘A Seat at the Table’, was a needed
album and a needed conversation and it came right on time. This album, similar
to a great number of the succeeding albums on this list did an amazing job of
combining and meshing a number of genres together to construct a quite beautiful
album. Mixing traditional and new age R&B with elements of Funk, Soul and Jazz
in a way that just sounds so good on the ears. And my favourite song on this
album ‘Cranes in the Sky’, is a perfect
example of this. The song-writing and story-telling on display in this song
alone are outstanding and it highlights just how superb Solange and this album
are.
Artist: H.E.R.
Year: 2017
Favourite Song: Best Part
Description:
Before first
listening to this album I remember hearing a lot of hype surrounding this women
and a I was hearing a lot of noise about how good this tape was. And upon
listening, it didn’t take me longer than 5 songs to realize why. This woman is insanely
multi-talented, and SO, so many of those talents are showcased on this album. Whether
it be vocally, in her song-writing, through her instrumentation or just musically, everything
H.E.R does on this album screams talent. This is some of my favourite type of
R&B, because its both musical and vulnerable. It feels experimental but
also feels like the work of a seasoned vet. What’s abundantly clear in
listening to this album, is that you’re listening to the birthing of a
superstar. And when you sit back a realize that H.E.R has 10 Grammy nominations
and two wins by the age of 22, its very clear she’s well on her way, if she
hasn’t already reached that superstardom.
#8
Album: Lost &
Found
Artist: Jorja
Smith
Year: 2018
Favourite Song: Goodbyes
Description:
Vibe. Vibe.
Vibe.
#7
Album: 4
Artist: Beyoncé
Year: 2011
Favourite Song: I Miss You
Description:
This was a
very tough conclusion to come to. Similar to “4 Your Eyez Only” and J. Cole in last week’s post, I was legitimately debating
between three Queen B albums which all could have been on this list. So, in deciding, I had to go back and listen to each in turn before coming this conclusion. I
sided with “4” over both “Beyoncé” & “Lemonade” because I believe it has the elements that I love in
both those albums and meshes them. “Beyoncé”
is an extremely fun album to listen to from any perspective to you look at it,
as the Queen put it herself
in an interview, she was on there talking shit. And I feel like “4” has many of those same traits
through songs like, ‘Love on Top’,
‘Party’ & ‘Countdown’. On the
other hand, by that same token, Lemonade is more message driven where the
song-writing and story-telling take center-stage. Much as it does on songs such
as ‘1+1’, ‘I Was Here’ & ‘I Care’ on “4”. Thus, when I put this altogether, I had to side with the
oldest sister of the group. Ultimately,
any of these three albums could have a place on this list and truthfully, I’m
just using this spot to wax lyrical about Beyoncé and the greatness she exuded
in all facets, throughout the past 10 years.
#6
Album: -Ugh, Those
Feels Again
Artist: Snoh
Aalegra
Year: 2019
Favourite Song: You
Description:
This is a
beautiful album. From top to bottom. This is just beautiful. If I had to describe
this album in one word, I’d choose ‘passionate’. Because that’s what this tape
exudes at all times. Passion. I don’t know if Snoh has the best vocals in the
world, but maybe bar Jhene Aiko, she probably has my favourite vocals in the world and
they’re put on display beautifully here. There’s not a single point on this
album which dips below the impeccable standard Snoh sets at the jump. There’s
no let up from minute 1 through to minute 40, it’s consistently brilliant. There’s a
story being told in every moment and every sound on this album, even down to
the groans that she lets out on ‘Toronto’.
I can’t really say more, because I’m honestly still in awe of how amazing
this project is. Just know I’m gonna be front and center on April 22nd,
and no one should bother me when I start hitting those high notes.
#5
Album: Anti
Artist: Rihanna
Year: 2016
Favourite Song: Same Ol’ Mistakes
Description:
Y’ all
remember when that Fenty lady used to do music? And when she used to be really
good at it? Like insanely good? Man, what a time. A great mix between ballads
and hits, Anti was a combination of Rihanna taking what she had always done
supremely well throughout her career, and mixing it with a lot of daring new
wrinkles to her artistry. All of which amalgamated into a classic for anyone
presently between the ages of 18-25, and one of the undisputed albums of the
decade. Furthermore, dropping January 28th, 2016, Anti set an
impeccably high standard and was a great way to kick off the momentous year in
music which was 2016. That Fenty Lady produced an extremely broad and
wide-ranging album with a lot of different sounds and a large array of
diverse content. The fact that as I write this, I’m just learning that Anti
has become the first album by a black woman to spend 200 weeks on the Billboard
200, speaks to the level of greatness which this album exudes. I’ve accepted
that unless she’s bored and has nothing to do that Fenty woman is never making
another album again, and if that is the case what an amazing culmination to an
amazing career.
P.S. Big
credit to PARTYNEXTDOOR for a lot of the writing on this album which is
absolutely stellar.
#4
Album: Shea Butter
Baby
Artist: Ari Lennox
Year: 2019
Favourite Song: Whipped Cream
Description:
#3
Album: CTRL.
Artist: SZA
Year: 2017
Favourite Song: 20 Something
I was so
happy when this album dropped. This album was scheduled for 2015. It was
delayed nearly two whole years (as seems to be the trend for TDE). And despite
all of that SZA didn’t disappoint. SZA killed this shit and everyone knew it
from the jump. In keeping with the overarching theme of this list, the writing
on this album was so impeccable. Sonically, this was just a pleasing album to
hear, it was just great to listen to this album musically, which I think is a
really understated trait in a lot of music. SZA was her typical raw self. She
was unfiltered, unabated and brutally honest. What I love about this album is
the beautiful way in which SZA blended vulnerability and empowerment within her
music. I love seeing artists fulfill their potential in the way SZA did with
CTRL. And I loved every second of this album. My only issue is just like
everyone else’s the song ‘Wavy’ is
way too short, but knowing him as an artist I have no doubt that was all James
Fauntleroy’s fault.
#2
Album: Souled Out (Deluxe)
Artist: Jhene Aiko
Year: 2014
Favourite Song: Blue Dream
Description:
9 out of 10
people reading this blog right now, guessed this would be on the list. And you
probably guessed it would be this high up. I remember reading somewhere that a
commentator described this as an album to overthink to, and I’ve truly never
heard anything more accurate. But at the same time, its also the perfect album
for those times you just need to take second an allow your mind the space to
breath. For me, this album has become my meditation album. When I get home and
I just need to unwind and disconnect my first thought is most likely to reach
for this album. Jhene in almost all her projects has an incredibly simple
formula which she doesn’t tend to stray from and said formula is on full display
here in all its greatness. Undoubtedly my favourite album from the new
PBR&B/neo-soul/sleepy R&B genre which developed this decade. Jhene was
as Jhene as it gets on this album. Slightly toxic, but supremely soulful.
#1
Album: Love Me Back
Artist: Jazmine
Sullivan
Year: 2010
Favourite Song: Excuse Me
Description:
This whole
list has featured amazing women, who produced amazing works of art. But this one sits
atop of the pack. It possess elements of each of the previously listed albums
and at times does the things that makes those albums great, better than they
do. One of my favourite artists across all genres was at her best here.
Jazmine’s AMAZING vocal range was on full display throughout this album.
However, she didn’t solely rely upon this to carry her. The story-telling on
this project can be put against any other women on this list and further, could probably rival the skill level of most rappers, which to me is a
sensational feat and skill in the context of R&B. Through the writing on
this album Jazmine Sullivan creates a soulful melodrama which to me stands
above anything else I’ve heard in this genre this decade. This project has a
near perfect hit to ballad ratio, and Jazmine shines bright throughout all of it.
And any album that has me hitting high-notes I have no business even
considering attempting, is doing something right. 
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