DJBooth has released a list of the 75 best hip-hop and R&B albums of 2019 and Nigeria’s Burna Boy made the cut at number 18 with his Grammy-nominated album, “African Giant”.
Speaking of “African Giant”, Ronnia Cherry, a creator and writer based in Kingston, Jamaica wrote:
“With African Giant, international Nigerian superstar Burna Boy created more than a masterpiece. He created a social statement and global experience. Burna paints a spiritual picture, one that is uniquely his own, yet still feels like it belongs to all of us. African Giant is undeniably Naija, dipped in history and Yoruba dialect, leaping over language and cultural barriers. Burna’s lyrics are poignant, coasting over production charged with Afrofusion anthems, dancehall riddims, and hymns. The 19-track album is not just a vibe; it’s a victory.”
Little Simz who closes the top 5 is a UK-based Nigerian and born Simbiatu Abisola Ajikawo is a UK-based Nigerian. Tyler the Creator who takes No 1 spot has a Nigerian father but never met him.
The eligibility period for this list is December 24, 2018, through December 9, 2019 while projects labelled as EPs were disqualified.
DJBooth made it clear the list belongs to its team as it does not expect everyone to agree with the picks which had Tyler the Creator’s “IGOR” top at number one.
DJBooth writes that it selected “IGOR” as the album of the year because:
“IGOR is the album of the year because it was the most ambitious and wrenching record of 2019. IGOR is an album you hold tight and play deep into the night and then play again when the sun comes up, and your eyes are crusted. It’s the album you remember during your last fight, and the album you play when you’ve achieved apathy in the face of pain. It’s the album for when you care too much, and for when you sincerely hope they’re happy. IGOR is as spectacular as the heartbreak itself.”
Check out the full list below:
75. Radamiz — Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes
74. Wale — Wow… That’s Crazy
73. Lil Peep — Everybody’s Everything
72. MIKE — Tears of Joy
71. Deem Spencer — Pretty face
70. Yung Baby Tate — GIRLS
69. Baby Keem — DFMB
68. Medhane — Own Pace
67. YG — 4REAL 4REAL
66. Kaina — Next to the Sun
65. 03 Greedo & Kenny Beats — Netflix & Deal
64. Big K.R.I.T. — K.R.I.T. Iz Here
63. Roddy Ricch — Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial
62. Dreamville — Revenge of The Dreamers III
61. Wiki — OOFIE
60. Malibu Ken — Malibu Ken
59. Summer Walker — Over It
58. Jack Harlow — Confetti
57. Jhay Cortez — Famouz
56. Young Dolph & Key Glock — Dum and Dummer
55. Grip — Snubnose
54. Roc Marciano — Marcielago
53. Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne — Sli’merre
52. SiR — Chasing Summer
51. Kano — Hoodies All Summer
50. YBN Cordae — The Lost Boy
49. Flying Lotus — Flamagra
48. Injury Reserve — Injury Reserve
47. Kevin Abstract — Arizona Baby
46. SAINt JHN — Ghetto Lenny’s Love Songs
45. Griselda — WWCD
44. Maxo Kream — Brandon Banks
43. Kemba — Gilda
42. Mereba — The Jungle Is The Only Way Out
41. Baby Rose — To Myself
40. Lucky Daye — Painted
39. KOTA The Friend — FOTO
38. Future — Future Hndrxx Presents: The WIZRD
37. Quelle Chris — Guns
36. Toro y Moi — Outer Peace
35. James Blake — Assume Form
34. Bad Bunny — X 100PRE
33. Kyle Dion — SUGA
32. Kehlani — While We Wait
31. 2 Chainz — Rap or Go to the League
30. slowthai — Nothing Great About Britain
29. Maxo — LIL BIG MAN
28. Lizzo — Cuz I Love You
27. Anderson .Paak — Ventura
26. GoldLink — Diaspora
25. Solange — When I Get Home
24. Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats — Anger Management
23. billy woods — Terror Management
22. Ari Lennox — Shea Butter Baby
21. Polo G — Die A Legend
20. Snoh Aalegra — -ugh, those feels again
19. DaBaby — Baby On Baby
18. Burna Boy — African Giant
17. Boogie — Everythings For Sale
16. Little Brother — May The Lord Watch
15. EarthGang — Mirrorland
14. Rapsody — Eve
13. Beyoncé — HOMECOMING: THE LIVE ALBUM
12. Danny Brown — uknowhatimsayin¿
11. Megan Thee Stallion — Fever
10. Young Thug — So Much Fun
9. FKA twigs — MAGDALENE
8. MAVI — Let the Sun Talk
7. billy woods & Kenny Segal — Hiding Places
6. Denzel Curry — ZUU
5. Little Simz — GREY Area
4. Dave — Psychodrama
3. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib — Bandana
2. Jamila Woods — Legacy! Legacy!
1. Tyler, the Creator — IGOR
