By Emily Bracher

The summer of 2021 gave us album drop after album drop. Big names like Tyler the Creator, Doja Cat, and Billie Eilish all released music, some topping charts within weeks. Other artists such as Lizzo dropped singles such as Rumors ft. Cardi B, which is a preview of her upcoming album. 

Planet Her featured multiple hits that swept over many social media platforms. Songs including Need to Know and Woman blew up on Tik Tok, used for dances and videos. Doja Cat used the same technique here as she did in her last album Hot Pink, which created a sense of female independence and confidence. Earlier in 2021, Kiss Me More ft. SZA soared in the Billboard Top 100 and is considered one of the year’s biggest hits. 

Willow Smith, more known by her stage name WILLOW, released her first album in 2019. Lately I Feel Everything is a mix of rock and pop, containing the unique sound she has maintained in her albums. It was initially previewed when the first track, t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l, was released earlier this year, hitting 76th on the Billboard Top 100. 

At 19, Billie Eilish has already released her second studio album, Happier Than Ever. Compared to her previous songs, there is a considerable difference. A change in sound is noticeable. Many claimed that her older music was “just whispering.” In contrast, in Happier in Ever, she has included more of an upbeat sound.

 Call Me if You Get Lost peaked at number 1 of the Billboard Top 200 albums shortly after its release on June 25th. Topping charts isn’t new for Tyler the Creator, as it is his sixth Top 10 hit, the last one being his 2019 album Igor. There is a flow to the entirety of the tracklist, each song having a connection to the previous. One of the most noticeable pieces is SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE (feat Brent Faiyaz &Fana Hues), which is almost 10 minutes. A dramatic change occurs from the beginning to the end of the song to the end, going from SWEET to I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE. In February of 2022, Tyler starts touring with guest performers, including Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown. 

Upcoming albums to look forward to are Bruno Mars’s An Evening With Silk Sonic and maybe even Kanye West’s Donda.