Albums You Might Have Missed in 2019

ARIZONA BABY- Kevin Abstract 

Kevin Abstract drives into his creativity and emotions to create an enlightening piece of art. 

When first introduced to this album, I was nearly speechless. Kevin Abstract’s third studio album ARIZONA BABY is an immaculate and heartfelt album that includes crisp sound production and intricate lyricism. 

The album displays a new sense of what it means to be raw and real. Throughout the album, Kevin talks about problems he has had to face such as his sexuality, individualism, and love. He allows us to dive into these problems and listen to how they have affected him overtime, especially in his childhood. This idea is especially showcased in the song “Corpus Christi” where Kevin tackles being ridiculed by his family and friends.

Songs like “Crumble” and “Peach” showcase Kevin’s ability to conceptualize his emotions and use them to fuel his lyrical creativity. Whatever Kevin is feeling, whether it is anger, happiness, or love, he can make the listeners feel the same. 

The album's conceptual production allows the record to be the perfect example of a unique piece of art. It is musically and lyrically different while drifting off of the sounds of other artists like Frank Ocean and Lana Del Rey. 

Kevin Abstract is not unfamiliar with being, well, abstract. As a member of the rap group BROCKHAMPTON, he is used to being creative and diverse with his and the group's music. His music is not the type of music that you would traditionally hear when listening to the hip-hop genre, it in itself, is its own genre. Through his in-depth lyrics and massive music production Kevin has been better able to distinguish his voice as a solo artist rather than a member of BROCKHAMPTON. 

FOTO- Kota The Friend 

You may have never heard of Kota the Friend; however, after listening to this album, you will become a part of his family. 

Brooklyn raised rapper Kota the Friend may not be very well known in the hip-hop world. However, this does not mean he is not on the rise. Kota’s debut studio album FOTO is a silent success. Although Kota has released many projects in years past with songs and projects that consist of a young rapper just trying to get their foot in the door. This time around, Kota has found his voice and used what he has learned to create an immaculate masterpiece. 

FOTO is a conceptual album. Although it is not as in-depth as albums like Channel Orange by Frank Ocean or The Incredible True Story by Logic, it is still a conceptual album. It is not just a bunch of songs put into a record without any storyline or context, it is much more than that. In an interview with HxppyThxxghts, Kota states, “I want people to feel like they’re flipping through the pages of my life. I’m snapping vivid pictures with the lyrics.” With the album title, FOTO, being a play on words for ‘photo’, listeners can understand that this album is more than just music; it is an experience. 

FOTO indulges listeners into soft but strongly worded lyrics while creating a type of coffee house jazz beat. Kota takes influence from 80’s jazz and old soul R&B and applies it to his music. Songs like “Alkaline” and “Chicago Diner” allow Kota to showcase not only his lyrical ability but the sense of pride he takes in his work. As Kota stated, he wants the listeners to feel as if they are sifting through the different photos of his life. Kota takes this idea and applies it to his music in a very unique and creative way. You can hear throughout the album kids playing or birds chirping in the background. Kota does this to create an immersive experience for the listener which allows them to be apart of this everyday life. 

Kota goes above and beyond to make the listeners feel as if they are with him in his family home. Right off of the first track of the album,“Full Bloom” we hear an older man talking to, what we can assume to be Kota, about how his home is changing and how he has to embrace it while he still can. To further accommodate the listeners being a part of Kota’s family, the interludes throughout the album paint a sense in which different family members of Kota’s talk about their memories with one another. Rather than fake the sound of it all, the interludes are more than just music, they are Kota’s photos.