"Clearing Out My Mind"

One of the defining aspects of hip-hop in 2019, was the distinct lack of starpower on display. For the most part, all of the genres biggest names stayed home with almost no album releases and very few significant singles. With the exception of J. Cole who would release “Middle Child” in January and eventually lead the way on Dreamville’s “Revenge of the Dreamers III” in July. It was an erringly quite year for the genre’s leaders. Hov, Cole, Kanye, Drake, Pusha T, even Travis, (although he would finish the year strong with "JackBoys" ), those who typically sit at the forefront of hip-hop had a surprisingly quite 12 months. However, as we approach the end of 2020’s 1st quarter, it feels like this trend is about to come to an abrupt halt. Of course, we're still expecting “The Fall Off” album which J. Cole promised for early this year, and Drake has been periodically and systematically leaking singles a lot over the first few months of this year. But in addition to t...

With Jhené having just dropped this weekend. Brent Faiyaz dropping the month before. Snoh Aalegra’s stunning tiny desk performance releasing earlier this year, alongside her 2019 album “-Ugh, Those Feels Again” continuing to receive widespread acclaim. All the while Summer Walker continues to go crazy on, and control, social media. R&B is in a great place. Personally, I can truly say, that this is the most diverse and widespread R&B has been in my adult lifetime. Almost, every other week, it feels like there is a new album, or new artist dropping great, soulful, emotional, thought-provoking and rhythmic music and carving out their own lane within R&B. Moreover, R&B’s growth in recent years is even more exceptional as the genre has grown, somewhat, void of the overt presence of its most prominent stars. Neither Beyoncé nor Rihanna have released a solo project since 2016. Bar a few throwaway tracks spattered about, Frank Ocean has remained his typically si...