10 Albums That Defined 2023
Whether it went viral on TikTok, influenced endless online discourse, or had you fighting for your life trying to secure concert tickets, there’s always a song or album that sets the tone for the year. Here are the top 10 albums that defined 2023, in no particular order:
JAGUAR II - VICTORIA MONET
Victoria Monet is done being the humble type and we couldn’t be more proud. “Jaguar II” is a dopamine-inducing R&B album that allowed Monet to showcase the beauty of being a multi-hyphenate artist. Before the release of “Jaguar II,” she made a name for herself amongst her peers in the music industry writing songs for artists like Ariana Grande, Doja Cat, Lucky Daye, Chloe X Halle, and more. “Jaguar II” makes it hard for anyone to deny Monet’s natural talents. It has that perfect blend of sensuality and songs that you can’t resist dancing to. Just when we thought the album alone was great, she topped it off with a tour and performances that had everyone applauding her magnetic stage presence. The Georgia-born artist ended the year with seven Grammy nominations including “Best R&B Album.” Needless to say, she’s ready to dominate the R&B scene and we’re always rooting for her.
RENAISSANCE - BEYONCE
Beyonce entered the world of house music with the release of “Renaissance” in 2022 to remind everyone she is That Girl. The Houston-born singer usually makes the world stop when she gifts us new music, but this year, she had “everybody on mute” during the 2023 Renaissance World Tour. Beyonce entered the world of house music with the release of “Renaissance” in 2022. Queen Bey always gives 110% to her work but this album was extra special because it was dedicated to her late uncle Johnny. There are absolutely no skips on this album and the 2023 world tour was all everyone talked and thought about this year. It’s been beautiful to watch how she was able to bring fans together during the tour and for the showing of “The Renaissance Movie” released in December. There is no denying Beyonce’s talent– she simply has no competition in the music industry.
GUTS - OLIVIA RODRIGO
Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” is the perfect release of teenage angst and female rage. Coming off her debut album, “SOUR” the 20-year-old singer-songwriter continues to showcase the kind of vulnerability we usually keep to ourselves. “GUTS” took us through the experience of heartbreak, revenge, insecurities, self-reflection, and the anxiety that comes with growth. Rodrigo’s music provides a shameless space that reminds listeners that it’s completely okay to not know what’s next, but the biggest takeaway from this album is the pure honesty it takes before blooming into the best version of yourself. No matter your age, there’s something about this album that will bring out your inner teen angst. We’ve all shared the experiences Rodrigo sings about and this relatability and openness will always keep her connected to fans.
HEAVEN KNOWS - PINKPANTHERESS
Whether you know her from her viral TikTok songs, her Ice Spice collab “Boy’s a Liar Pt.2,” or SoundCloud, there’s no denying Pinkpatheress is one of the most unique artists of our generation. Her 2023 album, “Heaven knows” encapsulates her growth as a songwriter and includes surprise collaborations with Central Cee, Rema and Kelela. The UK-born singer-songwriter produced twelve out of the thirteen songs on this album and during a Nardwar interview, she shared that making a song takes her “about an hour.” With a distinct, fairytale-like sound, PinkPantheress’ music takes us through a journey that blends pop and the UK garage genre to create an album that feels like it can be the soundtrack to a coming-of-age movie or TV show exploring love, crushes and interpersonal relationships. PinkPantheress’ sound allows her to collaborate with artists of all genres including Kaleela, Ice Spice and Central Cee; it’s so fascinating to see artists jump out of their comfort zone while working with her.
SOS - SZA
Though SZA’s “SOS” album was released in December 2022, it carried 2023. It’s hard to believe that “SOS” is only SZA’s sophomore album. ‘Ctrl’, released in 2017, was a hard act to follow. The pressure was on to see what SZA’s approach to music would be following her debut album that shifted the neo-soul and alternative R&B genres. But, the five-year wait was well worth it. SZA proved once again that she makes timeless music. SZA experiments with several different sounds on “SOS” each of which showcase her expert ability to make anything sound good. “SOS” melts down music styles and encompasses genres like R&B, Indie-rock, and Pop. Not to mention, she gives rappers a run for their money on “Smoking on my Ex Pack.” “SOS” reminds us that SZA’s pen game is one to be remembered.
NADIE SABE LO QUE VA A PASAR MANANA
Music is all about feeling and Bad Bunny’s album “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” proves just that. Latin music has grown exponentially within the past few years and has made its way into mainstream charts. The success of Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va Pasar Manana reminds us that Latin music is here to stay. On “Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana,” Bad Bunny dives into his Latin Trap roots while also mixing in the sounds of drill, reggaeton, Jersey Club and other electronic beats. The myriad of sounds, while all different on their own, come together in a blend that works perfectly. Bad Bunny takes a vulnerable approach to writing as he addresses major headlines about his relationship status, his adjustment to fame, and more. The album includes a variety of pop culture and sports references and samples Madonna’s “Vogue” on track 7, “Vou 787.” As Bad Bunny sings in both Spanish and English, he compels a diverse group of listeners and gives everyone the chance to sing along. The rhythm of Latin music is captivating and its sound creates a language of its own. While some listeners may not know the exact translation of each song on the album, the feeling it gives is universal and encapsulates the beauty of music.
THE PATIENCE - MICK JENKINS
“The Patience” is the latest album from Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins who has established a reputation in Hip Hop as a conscientious thought leader, emphatic writer and a poetic perfectionist as it relates to his delivery on any given track. The Patience is the latest depiction of Mick Jenkins, who’s speaking on the frustrations of reaching “a point where you have to wait. A point where the things that now need to happen to move you forward are no longer in your control...a period in one’s journey, no matter the length, where the unseen things must take place.” These frustrations manifest all throughout the 11 tracks, but especially in my favorite tracks: “ROY G. BIV'' produced by Vebba, Beat Butcha and Jake One; “Guapanese” produced by Stoic and Kulture; and “Smoke Break-Dance” featuring JID and produced by Stoic. Jenkins questions Hip Hop culture’s reliance upon industry metrics to assign value to the art, the ethics of this industry and the artists who oversaturate the landscape and the strain this ordeal places upon those who’ve committed to more traditional Hip Hop poetic that hones in on the art of Emceein.
PINK FRIDAY 2 - NICKI MINAJ
Nicki Minaj gifted us with first-class tickets to Gag City on Dec. 8. Her new album “Pink Friday 2” reintroduced the Queen of Rap with a nod to her infamous album Pink Friday. With perfectly blended samples and effortless bars, this album was a treat for Barbz all around the world. We’ve watched Minaj’s evolution since day one and we’ve waited for her to deliver everything we know she does with confidence. “Pink Friday II” is a celebration of her career and growth– the Nicki Minaj we all know and love. The rapper has never been one to shy away from new sounds and collaborate with artists– this album brought collaborations with top artists in the industry including Future, J.Cole and Drake and tapped into some of the most catchy samples. Needless to say, Nicki Minaj’s presence in the rap game was missed and it feels good to be in Gag City.
KAYTRAMINE - KAYTRAMINE
This was a collab album we didn’t know we needed and it lived up to every expectation we had. KAYTRANADA is the modern king of house music and Amine is known for his quick and catchy flow; the two came together to make “KAYTRAMINE”; an album filled with the kind of music you’d want to hear all summer whether you’re at day party or spending the day at the pool. When you see KAYTRANDA’s name on a track, just know you won’t be able to listen without bopping your head. This was a match made in heaven and we hope there is more to come from the duo.
LIKE..? - ICE SPICE
Ice Spice has taken her rightful place as the princess of drill. Ice Spice undoubtedly broke the “a one hit wonder” curse with her EP “Like…?” – though it wasn’t an album, she showed us that she still has more to show the world. The best thing about this EP is how the Bronx native was able to use some of the online discourse surrounding her come up in the music industry to her advantage to make catchy hits like “Princess Diana” and “Bikini Bottom.” There aren’t many artists that can say they’ve collaborated with the Queen of Rap early on in their career but luckily Ice Spice isn’t one of them. She collaborated with Nicki Minaj for both the “Princess Diana” Remix and “Barbie World” for “The Barbie Movie Soundtrack.” It’s always beautiful to watch a native New Yorker rise to success and we’re rooting for her to win her first Grammy in 2024.