Photos by Ariana LaBarrie/fresh pair of iis

We are done with the first half of 2019, and it is time to reflect on the best music so far that was released this year. Looking at the first two quarters of the year tends to be hard regarding the music industry since a lot of the big albums come out in the summer or the fourth quarter. However, there have been some gems that have made up the soundtrack of my 2019 so far. Check out my picks below.

Trevor Jackson: Rough Drafts, Pt. 2

This is a new one to the arsenal, since the album was just released last month. However, after seeing him in concert, I have been listening to Rough Drafts, Pt. 1, that was released in 2018, and Pt. 2 non-stop. I love the mix of R&B and rap and reminds me a bit of Chris Brown.

Favorite Song: “Puddles”

Kehlani: While We Wait

I love Kehlani, and SweetSexySavage was one of my favorite albums on 2019. While We Wait feels like a nice bridge to what hopefully is a new full length project. It showed a bit of a sweeter side to her, which may have come with her pregnancy at the time. I also loved how she still released videos for this project, even though she was pregnant. She still kept going which is admirable.

Favorite Song: “RPG”

Lil Nas X: 7 EP

I definitely thought it was more than likely that Lil Nas X was going to be a one hit wonder with “Old Town Road,” however, he proved me wrong with the 7 EP. I love the different mix of genres. I think its also notable that the longest song is only 2:42. Lil Nas X really knows how to get to the point and doesn’t waste time on songs.

Favorite Song: “Old Town Road-Remix”

Ariana Grande: thank u, next

When fans started to say that Ariana Grande was going to release a new album very shortly after 2018’s Sweetener, I really didn’t believe them. But I was proven wrong when she released another full length project that was actually better than the previous album that received all the marketing and hype.

Favorite Song: “Needy”

What is your favorite music form 2019 so far?