Spotify Wrapped '23 + Who's Got Next
A recap of my top artists and top songs on Spotify as well as predictions for up and coming artists in 2024
As I kick off my posts for this Substack, I thought I’d give more insight into who I am by sharing one of the mediums that consumes a lot of time: music. I listen to a ton of music, and I am VERY opinionated about it, but rightfully so. I simply know good music, and those around me who have been fortunate enough to study the craft either as musicians themselves or academically in a classroom setting have consistently shared and valued many of my opinions regarding music. You could call me a music buff of sorts, and thus I decided to share my Spotify Wrapped ‘23, some of favorite records that got me through 2023, and a few artists that I think you should keep your eye on for 2024.
Disclaimer: I am not one of those lowkey/indie bitches who looks for artists with three listeners on Spotify or whatever, so if you judge me because my artists are a bit too mainstream, this is not the place for you. But also please reflect and admit that there is some power in numbers. If the artist you love is unpopular, maybe you should consider the possibility that they actually just aren't good 🤷🏾♂️.
I am using Spotify and other platforms that can access Spotify to do my top 10 lists instead of top 5 because I think it’s a bit more interesting. First up are my most streamed artists:
Destroy Lonely
SZA
Drake
Beyoncé
Jordan Ward
Victoria Monét
Nicki Minaj
Yeat
Lucky Daye
Daniel Caesar
Unsurprisingly, my list is split between rap and R&B — objectively, the two best genres. It’s a bit on the nose for me culturally, and I tried to diverge from said culture to come off as more interesting and cool. But, I can’t make the best genres not sound so amazing; plus, it’s difficult to hear true emotion in music not made by my people since we pioneer all creative ventures in America. Nevertheless, each of these artists below satisfies a unique and particular itch within the realm of music that they cover. Without going into exhaustive detail, I will instead recap some of my most listened-to songs of the year so that you can listen to them on your own:
WHITE CROCS - Jordan Ward ft. Ryan Trey
TURNITUP - Destroy Lonely
Smoke - Victoria Monét ft. Lucky Daye
NEVEREVER - Destroy Lonely
Ghost in the Machine - SZA ft. Phoebe Bridgers
Fukumean - Gunna
On My Mama - Victoria Monét
BLITZ - Destroy Lonely
No Pole - Don Toliver
Snooze - SZA
Honorable Mentions: “Superpowers” - Daniel Caesar; “Hours in Silence” - Drake, 21 Savage; “Far” - SZA; “Careful” - Teezo Touchdown; “Rebuke” - KAYTRAMINÉ, “Shhhh” - Yeat
Of these songs, I have to say I think SZA had my favorite tracks; her album in particular grew on me over the year. Jaded by the cultural impact of CTRL, I craved a similar-sounding album. So when I received the “poppified” album of SOS from SZA, I was a bit underwhelmed. Nevertheless, heavy-hitting R&B tracks like “Snooze” and “Far” had me constantly returning to the album. The diversity of sounds from the breathy and ghastly tones of “Ghost in the Machine” to the pop/rock tunes of “F2F” made for a complete project with so many vibes to offer, which is why I consider this to be my favorite album of the last year (although officially released in 2022). Here are some of my other favorite records that I listened to a significant amount during the past year. These are not ranked by how much I listened to them, but by how much I qualitatively enjoyed these tracks:
Favorite Albums
Love Sick (Deluxe) - Don Toliver
NEVER ENOUGH - Daniel Caesar
JAGUAR II - Victoria Monét
Pink Tape - Lil Uzi Vert
Volcano - Jungle
AftërLyfe - Yeat
Gemini Rights - Steve Lacy
Everything I Know About Love - Laufey
(self-titled) - KATRYAMINÉ
emails i can’t send fwd: - Sabrina Carpenter
Favorite Songs
Tummy Hurts - Reneé Rapp, Coco Jones
beauty supply - Noname
Let Her Go - Don Toliver ft. James Blake
Treasure in The Hills - Leon Thomas
Your Obedient Servant - Leslie Odom Jr., Lin Manuel-Miranda, Original Hamilton Cast
Never Lose Me - Flo Milli
Van Cleef Island - Trippie Redd
Old Ojai - Josh Dillard
good things 2 - skaiwater (with tana)
Stick Icky (Roll Det) - Sexyy Red
Each of these albums and songs served its purpose during various times of the year. No matter what I was going through, there was always a tune that could uplift my mood. Please give these songs a listen if you have a chance. From pop, dance, rock, jazz pop, alternative R&B, and more, there is something for everyone above. But if you want to be even cooler and impress your friends, give these up-and-coming artists below a good listen. Maybe add them to your playlists or library and familiarize yourself with their discographies while they’re still on the rise or rebranding themselves.
Jordan Ward (Courtesy of Zekaria Al-Bostani for Wonderland Magazine)
From St. Louis, Missouri, Jordan’s creative resume is pretty impressive, as one of the dancers who performed during Beychella. Jordan is one of the few emerging artists who can both dance and sing. And I mean actually dance. His latest project “FORWARD,” and deluxe edition “moreward (FORWARD),” were really simple and unorthodox takes on the R&B/Soul genre. After being cosigned by major artists like Tyler the Creator, I really think 2024 is going to be his year. His very chill yet elegant sound is multi-purpose: you can dance to it, work to it, relax to it, turn up to it, or just vibe. Whenever you get a chance, give his music a listen. It is a really pleasant experience, and his discography is VERY easy to get into. And if you prefer live music like I do, check out his Tiny Desk Concert as well. The best tracks to get into his music are the following: “WHITE CROCS,” “PRICETAG/BEVERLYWOOD,” “MUSTARD,” & “ZOOMIES.”
Lil Yachty (Courtesy of Prince Williams via WireImage/Getty Images)
A household name who has been in the industry for a while now, Yachty’s discography is both highly controversial and highly varied. The latter most likely influences the former. But regardless, his creativity and ingenuity cannot be disputed. As a fellow ATLien, he possesses a trait that no other city fosters to such a high degree within their population: an unshakeable and unique sense of self and identity that just exudes creativity of the highest forms. With recent hits such as “Strike (Holster),” “drive ME crazy!,” & “Poland,” I am excited for what Yatchty has in store for us this year, and I really do believe that whatever he releases will be one of the top projects of the year while also transforming the landscape of hip-hop/rap.
Doechii (Courtesy of John Jay for Elle Magazine)
I am proudly a member of the Coven — the namesake of Doechii’s fan base! Doechii has been a breath of fresh air for myself and fans alike. A dark-skin queer icon who can sing, rap, AND dance. Doechii truly does do it all. If I had to compare her, she reminds me of Doja Cat in a lot of ways where her stage presence is unparalleled, and a Nicki Minaj for her writing/wordplay as well as her ability to traverse genres. She has pop, rap, and R&B hits, all of which she is able to perform in a multitude of ways. One thing Doechii knows how to do is work a stage and refresh a song. Not only that but unlike many artists of today, Doechii knows how to WORK. Last year she was booked and busy from opening one of Beyoncé’s concerts to performing at the LA New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. I am betting and manifesting that she gets her flowers this year as a clear top talent within the music industry. My favorite tracks of hers include the following: “What’s Your Name,” “60 seconds,” “Black Girl Memoir,” “Persuasive,” and “Girls.”
Tyla (Courtesy of Todd Owyoung via Getty Images)
Taking the world by storm with her “Water Challenge,” Tyla is putting South Africa and Amapiano-adjacent sounds on the (Western) map. She has such a fresh sound while integrating genres of Afrobeats, Amapiano, and R&B together to create a beautiful mix. And just like two of the other artists mentioned, she is a PERFORMER. Tyla’s hips and body flow just like her hit single: water. She can captivate any audience with her airy-toned vocals, amazing stage presence, and wicked moves. I’m excited to see what’s in store for Tyla this year, as I’m sure it’ll be great things. Although limited in her discography, this is the best time to become a fan before she skyrockets. Take a listen to her best tracks: "Water” and “Truth or Dare.”