The Best Albums of 2014 (So Far)

To be honest, 2014 has been a pretty weak year for music so far. Some of that's because the first half of the year is always pretty slow, a result of the music industry going quiet during January and February. Still, the album situation isn't looking great (songs is a different story).

Maybe we just got spoiled last year. In 2013, just about every major rap star released an album. By this time last year, Kanye West, J. Cole, and Mac Miller had all dropped albums (and all on the same day). Beyoncé albums were falling out of the sky last year! This year hasn’t been quite that interesting yet. (Sorry, Mariah.)

Of course, there has been some great music released this year. You just have to know where to look. A good starting place would be our list of the 40 Best Albums of 2014 (So Far).

RELATED: The 50 Best Albums of 2013

RELATED: The Most Anticipated Albums of 2014

RELATED: The 50 Best Albums of 2016

RELATED: The Best Albums of 2017

Related: The Best Albums of 2017

40. Michael Jackson, Xscape

Label: Epic/Sony Music
Released: May 13

An album we feared given the grim realities of its context: Michael Jackson died indebted, and so five years after his passing Epic Records is back at the grave site, mining the coffin. Xscape is leftovers from the 2000 Invincible sessions, and so the sound is driven by the dominant Timbaland and Darkchild influences of MJ's post-Quincy, post-Teddy hurrah.

"Blue Gangsta" and the title track preserve the lovesick rage as the gist of all Jackson's signature grunts and moonlit howls. "Love Never Felt So Good" is corn dogs and hand-holding at the roller-rink. You gotta resent both subtext and text-text of "Do You Know Where Your Children Are," but "Chicago" and "Loving You" are the best Usher impressions anyone could've hope from one legendary Baby Boomer. Not quite Invincible; by no means a disaster. A bit like riding a screen saver bass wave. We'll take it. —Justin Charity

39. Bas, Last Winter

Label: Dreamville/Interscope
Released: April 29

Earlier this year, Bas joined J. Cole as the only other rapper signed to Cole's new Dreamville/Interscope imprint, and with good reason. Born in Paris but raised in Queens, Bas has spent the last few years honing his skills on the mixtape circuit before rising to the occasion with memorable guest verses on Cole's Born Sinner and DJ Khaled's Suffering From Success in 2013.

Last Winter, his debut album, finds Bas on the front line of success, and for someone who is so close to Cole, he does a great job of distinguishing his voice with homegrown narratives and stellar production from close friend and in-house beatmaker Ced Brown. While Bas is clearly more comfortable working within this aforementioned space, cuts like "Your World" also prove he can step into a different lane and make a pop rap record. This will be the last winter you didn't know about Bas. —Edwin Ortiz

38. Mariah Carey, Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse

Label: Def Jam
Released: May 23

Mariah Carey hasn't aged a day or innovated a lick since her glorious transformation on Butterfly, when Stevie J slid her the proverbial first tequila shot and told her to go wild. Mariah's hip-hop forays used to be risque; now they're her signature, which, thankfully, doesn't smudge. Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse is Exhibit M in the case that even divas just wanna have fun. Half the songs about heartbreak ("It's a Wrap," "Faded") don't sound too broken at all; more like giddy and/or empowered commiseration among girlfriends.

There's nothing as simply appealing as her last hit, 2009's "Obsessed," though "You're Mine" tries and will likely suffice for Mariah fans, if not programming directors. "Camoflauge" seems out of place as the album's sole piano-gospel moment, made stranger by coming immediately after the disco fist-pump jam "Meteorite." "You Don't Know What to Do," a stand-out collaboration with Wale, is the most Bad Boy retro moment here. "Thirsty" is your irregularly scheduled reminder than Mariah Carey sings, sure, but she is undeniably hip-hop. Homegirl, when are we getting a mixtape? —Justin Charity

37. Kevin Gates, By Any Means

Label: Breadwinner's Association
Released: March 18

On December 1, 2013, Kevin Gates was arrested in Louisiana on a parole violation. Four months later he was released from jail and, within a matter of weeks, he released his new project, By Any Means. Recorded before Gates was locked up, the project is his most polished to date. But the polish can't remove the honesty from Gates' voice, as evidenced on "Don't Know," where he goes from rapping about his successes to rapping about getting into high-speed car chases in stolen vehicles while intoxicated. And while nothing comes close to the visceral energy of "Thinkin With My Dick," there's plenty of trunk-rattling goodness, boosted by the type of infectious choruses that are only possible with Gates' unique voice ("Amnesia," which features the late Doe B). As he continues to cement his grip on the South, projects like By Any Means will grow his reach nationwide. —Dharmic X

36. Iamsu!, Sincerely Yours

Label: HBK Gang/Warner
Released: May 13

With all the commotion around YG and his krazy life, Bay Area rapper Iamsu!'s Sincerely Yours got a little lost in the shuffle. It's a shame; his debut album is one of the most honest projects of the year. Deciding to curve the tropes of the Bay Area (hard 808s and minimal production), Su gets personal on songs like "Stop Signs" and "Ascension." When the MC decides to turn up, he does it in style, mixing his lyrical approach with a playful attitude on single "Only That Real" (one of the most slept-on singles of the year) and "I Love My Squad." —Justin Davis

35. Chromeo, White Women

Label: Big Beat/Atlantic Records
Released: May 12

Whether you love or hate Chromeo's sound, you have to admit that they're great at what they do. Demonstrating a more carefree approach to recording and themes, White Women (which takes its title from photographer Helmut Newton's first book) feels like a natural response to the '70s vibes of Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. Moving out of the disco era into an '80s-laced funk excursion, there are tons of guitar, loads of quirk, and features from the likes of Solange Knowles, Toro Y Moi, and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, among others. Somewhere in the stratosphere, there's a coming-of-age film about a Beverly Hills nerd with swag that's just itching to use White Women as its soundtrack. —khal

34. SZA, Z

Label: TDE/Interscope
Released: April 8

Torchbearer of moody R&B for TDE, SZA recorded a debut album that reaches for all the right heights. Her often idiosyncratic lyrics ("Your skin tastes like Brussels sprouts, I swear") get at the specifics of this young woman's experience of the world in a way that recalls Frank Ocean's Channel Orange. (Her attempts at poetically wrestling with social issues, like on "Green Mile," don't work as well as Ocean's, though.) The album is downbeat and chill, production-wise, which makes poppier songs like the bright "Julia" and the Toro Y Moi-produced "HiiiJack" stand out. If the sound of the day is still dark and druggy, SZA should strike out in the opposite direction more often. It suits her. —Ross Scarano

33. Wiz Khalifa, 28 Grams

Label: Taylor Gang/Rostrum
Released: May 25

Do not underestimate Wiz Khalifa's work ethic. When his single "We Dem Boyz" received a lukewarm reaction from critics and fans alike, Wiz pushed hard and made the record viral. But before he pulls back the curtain on his new album, Blacc Hollywood, he's returned to his roots with 28 Grams. The 28-track project doesn't disappoint, with Atlanta producers Metro Boomin, Zaytoven, Sonny Digital, and more adding legitimacy to his new "Trap Wiz" persona. —Justin Davis

32. 2 Chainz, Freebase EP

Label: T.R.U. The Real University
Released: May 5

Few projects in 2014 can match the fun of 2 Chainz's Freebase EP. In just six songs and a darkly hilarious skit from a drug addict in denial, 2 Chainz more than delivers on his goal of releasing quality music in between his major albums. Packed with exceptional features from Lil Boosie, Ty Dolla $ign, A$AP Rocky, and more, Freebase showcases all the greatness of mainstream trap music. 2 Chainz's simple but effective lyrics combined with standout production from Mike WiLL Made It, Metro Boomin, 808 Mafia, and C-Note, go together like, well, freebasing and cocaine. —Zach Frydenlund

31. Kid Cudi, Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon

Label: Universal Republic
Released: February 25

Satellite Flight is an album made for live shows. Or smoking a joint potent enough to make you feel like you're in outer space. This is an angsty, seemingly unfinished piece of work that finds Cudi relying on the emotional, otherworldly themes he's built his fanbase on. For his fans, and for anyone who enjoys seeing him live, it's an interesting look at how dark his life has become, even with his sobriety and separation from G.O.O.D. Music. "Balmain Jeans" is a fan favorite, but it's "Troubled Boy," where Cudi showcases his vocals over a soft guitar riff, that indicates a new direction for the artist. What if he goes full-on acoustic? Sounds like a dream. —Lauren Nostro

30. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, Pinata

Label: Madlib Invazion
Released: March 18

On paper, a Gangsta Gibbs x Madlib collab is a weird one. Gibbs is known for his connection to Jeezy's CTE label, while Madlib moves to the beat of his own drum over at Stones Throw and on his own imprint, Madlib Invazion. But after recording two ridiculous EPs together, there was little doubt that the world needed a full-length LP. Gibbs' machine gun raps and Madlib's left-field sampling style make for a beautiful match on Pinata; no bullshit, just a producer and a rapper feeding off each other. Roll something, sit back, and let Madlib and Gibbs take you on a soulful ride through the inner workings of two very distinct minds. —Angel Diaz

29. Isaiah Rashad, Cilvia Demo

Label: TDE/Interscope
Released: January 28

"I left my daddy around '97; he was lazy," is the first bar of Isaiah Rashad's "Soliloquoy," establishing that his demo is a work of autobiography. With shouts to OutKast, Scarface, and Master P, Rashad is TDE's Young Buck, with a drawl that's surprisingly at home. Temper your expectations—though a damn good one, it's a demo indeed—and defer to Rashad's cool over bombast, reflection over persuasion. Tales of the playground. Second-thinking self-injury and vice. "If I give my story to the world, I wonder if they'll book me for a show." —Justin Charity

28. Step Brothers (Alchemist & Evidence), Lord Steppington

Label: Rhymesayers
Released: January 21

Fans of Alchemist and Evidence have been waiting on this album for at least four or five years. Brought to you by two of the hardest working and most consistent artists in the game, Lord Steppington is an album both fanbases can appreciate. Ev's slow flow and ALC's funny raps, over some of the toughest beats you'll hear all year, will make you nod your head while also screwing up your face like somebody farted. (It's a complicated move.) You gotta wear a helmet and a JaVale McGee jersey when you listen to this. —Angel Diaz

27. French Montana, Coke Boys 4

Label: Coke Boys
Released: January 2

The fourth installment of the Coke Boys mixtape series had an all-star lineup: Diddy, Jadakiss, Meek Mill, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Chinx, Lil Durk, and production from Harry Fraud, Young Chop, and more. But with the same stories of money and drug-fueled raps, many considered it to be a lackluster project with the usual suspects referencing the usual lines. There are real standouts, though, with tracks like the "Paranoid" remix and the reworking of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” on “All For You,” plus a handful of skits that give the project a cohesive feel. So, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. —Lauren Nostro

26. Young Money, Rise of an Empire

Label: Cash Money
Released: March 11

First came We Are Young Money in 2009, the YMCMB compilation that put the spotlight on Drake and Nicki, who would go on to become two of the hottest rappers in the game. Then came Rich Gang, which had just one major song: "Tapout," a.k.a. "Million Dollar Pussy." So when YMCMB announced yet another compilation album this year, its success was far from certain. (Drake and Nicki don't need YMCMB, but YMCMB sure as hell needs them.) So, what works? Intro posse cut "We Alright" bangs, as does "Trophies" and "Lookin Ass." Add strong YG and Meek Mill features, plus a tremendous effort from Wayne on "Moment," and you've got an unlikely success. —Lauren Nostro

25. MC Tree, The MCTreeG EP

Label: Creative Control
Released: January 21

MC Tree has the voice of an old blues singer who smoked cigarettes and drank whiskey every night for a lifetime. Chicago doesn't lack for stories of pain and struggle, but Tree's growling delivery makes those stories impossible not to feel. It's modern hip-hop with soul, and even when he's talking about fucking another dude's girl ("Probably Knew It," the best song on this EP), he's delivering his tales with an impact that rappers with lesser voices could never achieve. The MCTreeG EP is a little all over the place, but when he hits those jazzy notes on "God Like," or flirts with gospel vibes on "Soultrappin/I Believe," Tree blends old traditions into contemporary hip-hop like no one else. —Jacob Moore

24. Young Thug & Bloody Jay, Black Portland

Label: Propane Media
Released: January 22

In the current age of rap, outstanding projects can come from nowhere. That was certainly the case with Bloody Jay and Young Thug's Black Portland mixtape, the 11-track project that not only expanded the Young Thug phenomenon, but also showcased up-and-coming Atlanta rapper Bloody Jay. The two MCs connect on standout tracks like "No Fucks and "Florida Water," combining two different styles of trap for one of the year's most surprising mixtapes. —Zach Frydenlund

23. RATKING, So It Goes

Label: XL
Released: April 8

It's not right that in the frequent "Bringing New York back" convo RATKING is seldom mentioned. The Harlem group is crafting a uniquely abrasive sound with unorthodox samples and features from non-rap guys like UK artist King Krule. Hak's cadence balances Wiki's rawness, and they clash head on with SPORTINGLIFE and RACERRA's chaos on the boards. In an NYC that's losing its soul, RATKING is breathing life back into the city with a sound that summons visions of graffiti-covered subway cars and dirty blocks. The rap industry in NYC needs to stop getting mesmerized by the skyscrapers and pay more attention to the underground. —Angel Diaz

22. Vince Staples, Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2

Label: n/a
Released: March 13

Following his standout appearance on Earl Sweatshirt's Doris, Vince Staples had fans waiting on his next project with bated breath. For this year's Shyne Coldchain Vol. 2, Vince enlisted the aid of No I.D. If anyone could help bring the Long Beach native's music to the next level, it would be Kanye's one-time mentor. Producing over half of the project, No I.D. supplied his new signee at Def Jam with a hard, aggressive soundscape that isn't rooted in nostalgia of any sort. But what impresses most here is Vince's lyrical maturity. He proves to be an adept storyteller on songs like "Nate," which describes his dad's drug addiction, and "Earth Science," where he talks about a high-school romance that left an empty place in his heart. —Dharmic X

21. Migos, No Label 2

Label: Quality Control
Released: February 25

A new Migos tape is always an embarrassment of riches. If this was 2004, you couldn't burn No Label 2 onto a compact disc—it wouldn't fit. If you're looking to get into the Atlanta trio and are wondering where to start, you're being way too analytical about this. But, quickly, you can cut No Label 2 down to "Contraband," "Add It Up," "M&M's," "Fight Night," "Birds," "Young Rich Niggas," and five or six others, and you have a mixtape so pure, the plug just did a somersault. Arguments about gimmicky flows become less interesting when the songs turn up the party as well as these do, with memorable hooks and hilarious lines. The production from Stack Boy Twan, Metro Boomin, and, of course, American master Zaytoven, flips piano loops into automatic trap hands. When Offset tells you he's got birds, chickens, and seagulls on, duh, "Birds," you can't help but smile. This music is impossibly fun, and no one should underestimate that. —Ross Scarano

20. Your Old Droog, Your Old Droog EP

Label: n/a
Released: June 3

"Truth be told some of these rhymes I spit end up being old/Only cause it took my whole life to write 'em." This is how the Coney-Island-native Your Old Droog starts his debut EP, a cohesive project steeped in boom-bap richness, raw samples, and crisp drums. The producers, El RTNC and DJ Skizz, aren't household names yet, and they act appropriately hungry. Take the M.O.P.-sampling "You Know What Time It Is"—the energy in the horns offers an update to the old "Ante Up" spirit. As for Droog himself, his gruff voice sounds tailor-made for these sounds. His dexterous flow and internal rhymes impress like the MCs of old. But, for the last time, Droog is not Nas. —Dharmic X

19. GoldLink, The God Complex

Label: n/a
Released: April 1

This is the year you're gonna wanna get familiar with Future Bounce. And if you're wondering what that is, GoldLink offers the perfect introduction with The God Complex. It's a term he's created and with his schizophrenic abilities to balance street rap and club bangers, his 9-track album will be the most refreshing thing you hear all year. The DMV artist's raps are hyperactive, and with the help of solid, shimmering production from (mostly) Louie Lastic and Fingalick, he's outside of any clichés and expectations in rap right now. Given the fantastic production and engineering quality, it's hard to believe that The God Complex was homegrown. It's only the start for the 20-year-old rapper. Pay attention. —Lauren Nostro

18. Rick Ross, Mastermind

Label: Maybach Music/Slip-n-Slide/Def Jam
Released: March 4

Like all of Rick Ross' albums, Mastermind is expansively gorgeous. It's cohesive without being "concept." Whether he's spitting his bounciest Weezy impression over the purple Prowler brood of "BLK & WHT," or answering Puffy's Vicodin-deprived rants with a Biggie memorial flow on "Nobody," the influences are clear.

Scott Storch, Puffy, Kanye, and Bink!—all doing their best to approximate the fun of a Mannie Fresh session—overwhelm the dynamite booms and trap claps favored on so many MMG projects. "The Devil Is a Lie," which features Jay Z, and "War Ready" are Mastermind's biggest, most lethal beats, bookended by blues and reggae relief. With time, "Sanctified" emerged as the post-Yeezus Kanye collaboration that a real thug would've killed for. This is a perfectly respectable third encore from a rap champion who, if the critics have their say, really could use one of those lavish vacations he boasts about. —Justin Charity

17. Lil Herb, Welcome to Fazoland

Label: n/a
Released: April 3

Chicago's violent streets have been well-documented in recent times by the likes of Chief Keef and Lil Reese, young soldiers in the rap game who have been heavily influenced by their environment. You can add Lil Herb to that list of MCs, though there's one thing you should stress when discussing Herb: He can rap really well. That distinction becomes even clearer on his debut mixtape, Welcome to Fazoland, where the 18-year-old shares menacing tales of growing up.

There's a sense of paranoia that comes with living in a city where your chances of surviving are much worse than anywhere else in the country, and Lil Herb brilliantly captures this feeling, maneuvering through the hard-laced production with one eye open. "We just fightin' to survive/It's a shame I gotta ride with this nina by my side," Herb raps on "Fight or Flight." Conscience do cost. —Edwin Ortiz

16. Duck Sauce, Quack

Label: Fool's Gold
Released: April 15

It's crazy to think that it's been four years since A-Trak and Armand Van Helden dropped their Duck Sauce single "Barbra Streisand," topping charts across the world. We've been hearing about an album-length project from the duo for the better part of the past year, and it's great to see Quack finally out there, even if it does arrive with old material like "aNYway" and "Barbra Streisand." The use of samples is prevalent throughout the project, with a barbershop quartet on "It's You" and the Members on "Radio Stereo." These two really let the gems that their dusty fingers happened upon guide them, creating hypnotic sonic beds that are perfect for the warmer spring and summer months. —khal

15. 100s, IVRY EP

Label: Fool's Gold
Released: March 6

The pimp game is alive and well thanks to 100s. A product of Too $hort and the freaky tales pioneered in the '80s, 100s delivers his own spin on the subject with IVRY, an eight-song EP that's filled with sexual swagger from the Berkeley native. He leaves little to the listener's imagination, seamlessly weaving clever narratives over funkafied production on tracks like "Ten Freaky Hoes" and "Can a Nigga Hit." And then there's "Thru My Veins," where 100s lays down the rules of engagement in the bedroom. IVRY serves as an impressive follow-up to 100s' debut mixtape Ice Cold Perm; this 21-year-old rapper won't be stopping anytime soon. —Edwin Ortiz

14. Ty Dolla $ign, Beach House EP

Label: Taylor Gang/Atlantic
Released: January 18

Even when he's putting together a slim, seven-song EP, L.A. R&B songwriter and dick-slinger Ty Dolla $ign can't resist a spoken-word intro. (How else are you gonna rhyme "penis" with "genius," though?) The multipart, string-driven opener "Work," with its chronicle of Ty's journey from loving these hoes to loving this money, is enough to make the EP worth your time. Stick around and you've got "Paranoid," which, wow, have you heard the word boogawolf before? Then there's "Or Nah," another slang expander that's sure to alter your day-to-day work conversations. "You gonna cc me on this email or nah?" If your R&B isn't changing your life, what's the point? —Ross Scarano

13. Low Pros, EP 1

Label: Fool's Gold
Released: May 6

Where does A-Trak find the time to make all this music? One minute he's living out his quirky disco fantasies with Armand Van Helden as Duck Sauce; the next moment he's kickstarting the Dipset wave with Cam'ron on Federal Reserve. As Low Pros, Trak and the mighty Lex Luger explore the 808-drenched sounds of trap music, which has blown up on the EDM scene over the last few years, bringing everyone from Mr. Collipark to Waka Flocka into the fold.

From the triumphant sounds of the Travi$ Scott-featuring "100 Bottles" to proper twerk anthems like "Muscle," which has a show-stealing assist from Juvenile, Lex and A-Trak really create tracks with hella heft. Tunes that will bring dance floors to their knees. Low Pros is a movement, and creates movement in the subs, which translates to loads of movement in the waist and hip areas. Don't deny it. —khal

12. Lykke Li, I Never Learn

Label: Atlantic
Released: May 6

After Lykke Li's 2008 debut album Youth Novels, it looked like the Swedish songwriter was on the path to becoming a pop star. What a shame that would have been. 2011's Wounded Rhymes was more mature and less sugary, and before her 2014 album came out, Lykke Li stated in several interviews that she wasn't interested in being a pop star.

She backed up that statement with I Never Learn, an album full of power ballads and severely depressing songs about love lost and heartbreak. But even when she's singing about never loving again, Lykke Li makes you want to sway and sing along. Her affinity for memorable melodies and dramatic choruses will make it hard for people to give up on her as a potential hitmaker, and that's part of the fun of watching her distance herself from pop stardom with each new album. —Jacob Moore

11. Mac Miller, Faces

Label: Old Jewish
Released: May 11

Mac Miller's music and career are in the best shape they've ever been in—even though that might not extend to his health. His latest mixtape, Faces, is his most ambitious work. But what's disturbing about the tape is the alarming amount of drug use and talk of overdosing and dying. The album's opener has Mac chanting, "Shoulda died already/I shoulda died already/Shit, I shoulda died already." As disturbing as that might be considering his past history with lean abuse, it seems like all those drugs have helped him find his lyrical zenith. On the ScHoolboy Q assisted "Friends" he holds his own, rhyming, "I'm not the devil, I'm a motherfucking Minotaur/Oh my God, look at how upset you are/Cause we out here winning, brought my dogs from out the reservoir/And I'mma let 'em bark, before you ready, my set will start/We forgot our roots before and trust me, things they fell apart." Hopefully, Mac can put his demons behind him. Hopefully, it's the music that saves him. —Insanul Ahmed

10. Gordon Voidwell, Bad Études

Label: Cantora
Released: February 7

If you can go to a slumber party with Prince for $50, we'd be willing to spend 10 times as much for an intimate show with Gordon Voidwell, an artist cut from a similar cloth as the Purple One. After his stunning debut tape in 2009—and collabs with Das Racist, Chiddy Bang, and Twin Shadow, to name a few—Voidwell returned with Bad Ètudes. The 17-track project showcases his lovely falsetto, his soulful and glittery production, and his ability to make a cohesive project without all-star production or a label deal. Bad Ètudes makes you feel young—if we're trying to bring New York back this year, this boogie down music is what we should be checking for. —Lauren Nostro

9. Little Dragon, Nabuma Rubberband

Label: Seven Four Entertainment/Republic
Released: May 13

After the slight disappointment of Little Dragon's Ritual Union, it's exciting to find the Swedish group putting out their most accomplished work to date. On Nabuma Rubberband, they get a hand from Dave of De La Soul (formerly known as Trugoy), who nabs a couple of songwriting credits, and an assist behind the boards from Robin Hannibal. There's an kinetic energy to these songs, both in the songwriting and the production, that was missing the last time around. Just listen to lead singer Yukimi Nagano as she lets loose on on the single "Klapp Klapp": "Falling through the floor on my broken butterfly wing." Her voice somehow squeaks and soars all at once. —Insanul Ahmed

8. Future, Honest

Label: Epic
Released: April 22

Time didn't treat Future well. In the two years between Pluto, his major label debut, and 2014's Honest, the buzz around the Atlanta MC/crooner diminished to the point where it became fashionable to shrug your shoulders at the mention of his name. And yet Honest is a great album. The guitar-driven beat of "Look Ahead" is perfectly urgent for an opener. (The lyric about pussy juice running into Future's lungs explains so much re: his life, inspiration, and what he's been up to lately.)

This is an album that knows it needs to win back your confidence, and it wastes no time. The 12 songs move from amazing dope slinging ("Move That Dope") to sweet, sweet love ("I Be U"). The closing number, "Blood, Sweat, Tears," makes his efforts plain, in case you missed the point. "You couldn't known what I did for this," he sings. Label fuckery might've screwed up the hype Future accumulated, but what do any of us know about that, really? With an album that has features as good as André 3000's on "Benz Friendz" and singles as excellent as "Honest," what more could you ask for? —Ross Scarano

7. St. Vincent, St. Vincent

Label: Loma Vista/Republic
Released: February 24

"I try to live at the intersection of accessible and lunatic," Annie Clark explained in an interview with The Guardian earlier this year. She's always created in this territory—with a knack for quirky-but-still-catchy rock and pop music—but on her fourth album as St. Vincent, she's mastered it. The self-titled project is decorated with jagged guitar work, alarming horn stabs, and frantic electronic elements to counter the gorgeous melodies and delicate vocals. It's a playful album, full of twists and very sharp turns, but it's all anchored by Annie's best songwriting to date.

Finding the balance between accessibility and unbridled creativity is a difficult task that often goes unrewarded, but it seems to be working out for St. Vincent. The reward: critical acclaim, an invitation to perform on the season finale of Saturday Night Live, and the subsequent what-the-fuck reactions from SNL viewers who weren't ready for the lunacy. —Jacob Moore

6. ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron

Label: TDE/Interscope
Released: February 25

Just as we all started wondering whether Kendrick's reputation would forever precede his teammates', ScHoolboy gave us a tape full of dope beats and aggressive rhymes. He's often growling, often haunting, like Freeway in his Roc-A-Fella prime. "Man of the Year" and "Break the Bank" are the obvious arena-pleasers, and they're obviously successful as such, but Oxymoron leads with Q's funkier foot. Featuring West Coast brethren Kurupt and Tyler the Creator, "The Purge" is, literally, a fire engine melody.Oxymoron is grim, and it's gangsta, without once forgetting to have fun. Ab-Soul's album is out next week. Q reset the bar. Oh, it's high all right. —Justin Charity

5. Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour

Label: Capitol
Released: May 26

Sam Smith doesn't fit the classic description of a soul singer. He's white, from the UK, and gay. These qualities are an afterthought, though, with an album as good as In the Lonely Hour. His first full-length picks up where his Nirvana EP left off, with Smith channeling the memories of one of the darkest moments in his life: an unrequited love. From the melancholy tone of "Good Thing" to the emotionally-charged "Lay Me Down," Smith's passion is everywhere as he copes with heartbreak. This disarming approach allows listeners to connect with his internal pain, even if they've never been in the same situation. Soul has a new face in 2014, and his name is Sam Smith. We wouldn't have it any other way. —Edwin Ortiz

4. Popcaan, Where We Come From

Label: Mixpak
Released: June 10

With the release of Popcaan's debut album, Where We Come From, there's been a lot of buzz about dancehall crossing over on a bigger scale than ever before. Like a Jamaican Drake, Popcaan is multi-talented, a singer and rapper who can hit you with an immediate pop hook ("Everything Nice") or a love song ("Love Yuh Bad") one minute, and mix gangster tales with Pusha T ("Hustle") the next. And, like Drake, Popcaan's secret weapon is the executive producer. His own Noah "40" Shebib is New York's Dre Skull, the boss of Mixpak Records. He incorporates hallmarks of hip-hop production and forward-thinking electronic music without ever losing the album's grounding force of traditional reggae and dancehall riddims. This is the sound of global pop music, and we're definitely on board. —Alex Gardner

3. Pharrell, G I R L

Label: Columbia
Released: March 3

Pharrell has been making hits for nearly two decades, but only now, at the age of 41, did the legendary producer finally hit his stride as a solo artist. We always knew he could sing, but we didn't know he could sing this well. And we knew he had ambitions outside of being a for-hire producer, but his 2006 solo album was a largely forgettable affair compared to the glory of G I R L. Pharrell even admitted as much, telling GQ that In My Mind now feels to him "cold and empty."

G I R L is anything but "cold and empty." The lead single is titled "Happy." Originally released in 2013 as part of the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, "Happy" went on to become not only a No. 1 song in the United States, but a No. 1 hit in nearly every country it charted in, from Poland to Portugal. The infectious energy of "Happy" percolates throughout the album. It's too bad it was released in March, because G I R L sounds and feels like a summertime album, the soundtrack for your BBQs and beach days. The album isn't without it's flaws (namely P's occasionally embarrassing lyrics) but clocking in at 46 minutes and featuring some of the warmest tunes you'll hear all year, the album hits you right where you need it. —Insanul Ahmed

2. Lana Del Rey, Ultraviolence

Label: Interscope
Released: June 17

Lana Del Rey hears your very earnest concerns about her pop authenticity and just doesn't give a shit. She cares so little, in fact, that she nearly forgot to make a pop album. Two years after Born to Die, she presents Ultraviolence, where, with help from lead Black Keys virtuoso Dan Auerbach, Lana steers the sound from late-'80s break beats and Kanye-ripe samples to a desert where real guitars twang and real drums buckle and thrash.

"West Coast," the first single, warps time, space, and sobriety with a bit of time signature funkery a la Radiohead's "Pyramid Song." Beyond California, which is name-checked in her grave lyrics, Ultraviolence longs for retreat and return to those other iconic American cities of debauchery and depression: Las Vegas and Detroit. The album's nostalgia for mid-century glory leaves you in a place where the past is dead, love is dead, everything dies, the end. Lana Del Rey sings the blues. Didn't you get the memo? —Justin Charity

1. YG, My Krazy Life

Label: Def Jam
Released: March 18

At this time last year, YG was struggling to get anyone excited about his debut album. A former teen rapper from L.A.’s jerkin’ scene who blew up on MySpace, he was picked up by Def Jam in 2009 and quickly scored the minor hit “Toot It & Boot It.” But by early 2013, his major-label debut seemed doomed, already three-plus years in the making with no sign of release. And yet somehow, here we are: YG has made the undisputed best album of the first half of 2014; a modern gangsta rap classic.

Released during the first week of spring, My Krazy Life felt like a gust of fresh air. It’s a loose concept album that follows a day in the life of YG as he navigates the highs and lows of his Compton—excuse me, Bompton—experience. He opens the album by narrating his initiation into the Tree Top Pirus on “BPT,” a scene where he was forced to fight back after getting jumped by four gang members: “'Hamad threw a right—duck—hit him with the left—bop-bop!/Two to the chin—bop!—one to the chest/One to the ribs, the haymaker didn't connect/Dropped him but didn't stomp him ’cause that's disrespect.” From there, he’s off.

YG isn’t the most flowery MC, but he’s got a dark sense of humor, an audacious attitude, and an eye for detail that make him an engaging rapper. For example, on the step-by-step home invasion lesson “Meet the Flockers,” he advises the listener/robber-in-training to “find a Chinese neighborhood, ’cause they don’t believe in bank accounts.” And while he mentions that his own “Bank of America account got six figures” (on the Drake duet “Who Do You Love?”), YG generally avoids grandiose boasting about wealth, focusing instead on the struggle and life’s simple pleasures. He’s even working the angles on his strip club anthem “Left, Right,” where he jokes, “I ain't trippin' baby girl, make that money!/Cause if I fuck her right, she just might give some to me!”

Speaking of women, YG spends much of the album reflecting on his relationships with them—mostly sexual, but sometimes emotional. On the gleeful sex jingle “Do It to Ya,” he seduces a lady by promising cunnilingus and reminding her, “I ain't the one you ask to buy you a purse/I'm the one to make your insides hurt.” Ouch. Things get more serious on “Me & My Bitch.” When his girl gets pregnant by another man, YG can’t hide his heartbreak: “She text me like ‘I love you’/I text her back like ‘fuck you.’”

But the most important woman in YG’s life—his mother—gives My Krazy Life its moral center and narrative arc. The album opens with her warning her son that he’s going to end up in jail like his “damn daddy,” and sure enough, he proves her right by the end. The pressures of life start building throughout the second half of the album, as heard on the stressful Kendrick Lamar duet “Really Be (Smokin’ & Drinkin’),” where YG worries, “My moms don't got a job, my pop's checks ain't enough/If ain't bringin' home that money, my whole family is fucked.” On the next song, “1 AM,” he gets caught by the cops while robbing a donut store, then his friends call his mom on “Thank God” to break the bad news. On album’s soulful, saxophone-laced closer, “Sorry Momma,” YG sounds sincerely embarrassed: “I'm sorry momma, I know I ain't shit/I know I lied a lot, I know I ain't slick.”

Storytelling aside, the thing about My Krazy Life that stands out the most is its nearly perfect production. YG’s longtime partner DJ Mustard became the hottest producer in black music some time last year, and he uses this project to prove that his “ratchet” sound—a fresh mix of retro West Coast genres like mob music, hyphy, and g-funk—can form the foundation of a full-length hardcore rap album, rather than just radio-friendly singles. At its best—like on the twin standouts “I Just Wanna Party” and “Bicken Back Being Bool”—Mustard’s beats have a minor-key menace, while still retaining a danceable levity thanks to hand claps and peppy “hey! hey!” samples on the upbeat. Contributions from Ty Dolla $ign, Terrace Martin, Metro Boomin, and Mikely Adam all add different colors, but fit in with the big picture.

While TDE’s excellent albums have a diverse, pan-regional sound, and Game’s music has always felt like a parody of the past, YG and Mustard have finally managed to create a big-budget West Coast album that feels directly linked with the lineage of LA gangsta rap, yet completely modern at the same time. In retrospect, taking four years to make his debut album is probably the smartest thing YG ever did. In an era when most albums feel rushed, My Krazy Life sounds like it was a lifetime in the making. —Brendan Frederick