Pairadime Music co-host Gray Thomas shares his 10 favorite albums of 2015:
10. D.R.A.M. - #1EpicEP
D.R.A.M. is not just the "Cha Cha" guy. I mean, he is, but that's not all. The EP that the salsa-inducing jam resides on is outrageously solid as a whole, and I'd say that "Cha Cha" is my 4th favorite behind the amazingly inspiring "$", "Mind Gone", and the dreamy "Gotta Go". His crooning is infectious and almost inexplicably intoxicating. This is a short listen and one that I think most people would walk away saying "The Cha Cha guy is actually really good!" Donnie Trumpet of The Social Experiment did a remix to "$" that is definitely worth a listen. D.R.A.M. dropped another mixtape this year that is also extremely good, but this is the best starting point and a little bit better project to me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOHBOaoDk6E
9. Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late
Drake may be the most self-aware music superstar of all time, I'm not sure. His out-of-nowhere album drop of IYRTITL took the internet by storm and prompted half a million sales over the weekend. It was pushed as a mixtape, but it was for sale, so that line is blurred and it will be discussed as an album. It's not as polished as a Drake album usually is, but he finally started to come out and boast his disdain for his contemporaries around him that he notices need him much more than he needs them. The production is as good as any album this year, save for Kendrick's, and yielded too many pop culture moments to count. Personal favorites "You & The 6", "6 Man", "Legend", "6PM In New York" and "Star67".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxRVQIp-do
8. Future - DS2
If you're "not a fan of Future", this album isn't for you. It's unabashedly Future in his true form that built his cult like following. MetroBoomin shines on production as Future waxes poetic about his relationship with Ciara, drugs, and the state of affairs in HipHop. He used the 2007-2009 Lil Wayne method of putting out an onslaught of material, and it not only worked, but culminated in a surprise album that is as good as any rap release this year. Don't be lazy and say Future mumbles; look at the lyrics and realize he is actually going deeper into his status as a man and artist than most of your favorite artists this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfmc5pyISeE
7. Gary Clark Jr. - The Story of Sonny Boy Slim
There's an outrageous amount of soul in this album from one the artists we must protect. We need more Gary Clark Jr.'s. His ability to float between blues, rock, soul, and funk is truly something amazing. He sounds at home in every sound he's attempted, and this is his most ambitious project and a "lighter" listen than his last album. Personal favorites: "Church", "Star" and "Our Love". He's another artist that makes timeless music that you could play for anyone you know and it would resonate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgbUcJA6ivE
6. Bryson Tiller - T R A P S O U L
Bryson is my favorite new artist that I discovered this year. He's a unique combination of Drake, PartyNextDoor, & Jeremih at times. There's something about his music and rise that just sounds and feels authentic. His breakout song was "Don't" that garnered him a lot of attention, including Timbaland's, who produced "Sorry, Not Sorry" on the album. Those two + "Rambo" & "Exchange" all sound like major singles from a person who will surely be topping the charts soon. It's almost a 2015 version of Usher's "Confessions" with more rapping and current generation production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7cVLE4SaN0
5. Goldlink - And After That, We Didn't Talk
Goldlink's music is the future, it's as simple as that. His dance tempo beats accompanied with Frank Ocean-like crooning (if Frank Ocean weren't an angel) and electric raps are the perfect combination for a star of this decade in the making. AATWDT is one of the most complete listens from top to bottom all year and is one of the few albums you can listen in order or shuffle your way through and be just as pleased. I recommend "Palm Trees", "Polarized" and "Unique" feat. Anderson Paak.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ya4jsYQAne0
4. The Internet - Ego Death
This was the most unassuming album for me in 2015. I slept on The Internet's first album after reading tons of good reviews and knew the skillset was there, but hadn't checked it out for myself. Ego Death opened my eyes to how talented Syd from Odd Future and the rest of The Internet really is. "Just Sayin/I Tried" is one of my favorite songs all year and all the features on the album from Vic Mensa, James Fauntleroy, Janelle Monae and more are perfectly in sync with their place on the album. One of the smoother listens all year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmY8mG4_3j4
3. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment - Surf
Chance the Rapper is here to save us all, and the team up with Donnie Trumpet (Neco Segal) and a few other Chicago musicians for The Social Experiment yielded the most positive, enjoyable listen of 2015. Not a single feature was listed when the album dropped for free, so the listening experience was truly an experience... guessing who would be on what song, who that voice belonged to, etc. The album is fun, happy, thoughtful, and beautiful all in one. I couldn't recommend it more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4ooH8frBWg
2. Leon Bridges - Coming Home
Aside from Fetty Wap's Billboard dominance, Leon Bridges is the breakout star of 2015. His Sam Cooke like voice and tone were a welcome addition to the amalgam of current sounds out today. It's timeless music that will strike a cord with your soul. Without a doubt, my future kids will listen to this album someday. Those are hard to pinpoint nowadays. It's tied with Kendrick's for my album of the year and easily my most listened to album of 2015. He will also be on Macklemore's new album, so you pretty much won't be able to miss him in 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTrKkqE9p1o
1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly
The best rapper in the world put out the best produced HipHop album in the world with his decision to go left and use live instrumentation to focus on funk & jazz as the backdrop to his sophomore effort. During the current turbulence in our social and racial climate, Kendrick's album was not only appreciated, but desperately needed. It's a calculatingly complex album that is a lot to chew on, but certainly worth the time and effort to absorb it all.
