This summer was a very exciting season for rap. Many big artists dropped albums after a long hiatus. The following albums were my favorites.

“Come Home the Kids Miss You” – Jack Harlow

While this album brought out mixed emotions with online communities and fans, this album is far from horrible. Harlow has a talent for making radio hits and certainly does that here. Songs like “First Class” and “Dua Lipa” have been topping charts since release. While some of the album felt contrived, the rest seems to be exactly what was to be expected from Harlow’s sophomore release. 

“I NEVER LIKED YOU” – Future

“I NEVER LIKED YOU” is a clean album through and through. Future really tapped into his roots on this one. This album features big names such as Drake, Kanye West, Young Thug and more. There isn’t one vibe to describe this album, as it jumps from a “late night drive” to the “club on a Friday.” All around, a great release with tracks that will be played for years to come.

“Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” – Kendrick Lamar

As Lamar states in the opening track “United in Grief,” 1855 days have passed since his last album release. This long-anticipated project built upon the legacy Kendrick Lamar has created, while bringing fresh sounds and voices. Lamar has never been afraid to tackle harsh topics in his music, and it’s no different this time. “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” offers lyrics and instrumentation that speak to the heart, and a few of the biggest, loudest tracks of the summer all in one album.

“Vinyl Days” – Logic

This album marks this Maryland rapper’s second release post-retirement and his final album signed to the label DefJam. While a 30-song album might seem excessive, some of the tracks are skits or interludes. The tracks that are songs are certainly not lacking. Every song features a fresh presentation of Logic’s bars and unique beats. Logic sampled everything on this album from his personal vinyl collection, and the result is semi-nostalgic. Overall, “Vinyl Days” is a fantastic close to Logic’s commercial music career, and an excellent throwback tape.

“Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation” - $uicideboy$

This summer marked an important release for the once-underground rap duo, known separately as “Scrim” and “Ruby Da Cherry.” Fans of the group had mixed feelings on the singles that were released, but many were pleasantly surprised upon first listen of the album. The $uicideboy$ provide a dark and realistic take on finding wild success in the music industry. This album features fantastic production and a plethora of memorable lines and will go down as one of the duo’s most loved. 

You can find my highlights from these albums and The Slate’s pop culture jams of the summer in the playlist below.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/34XWQJELnaxce1Vg1ksbCh?si=ae07767c7b7640cc

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