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[Lazarus]

Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

Even with "Bodak Yellow" and that bangin' feature on Bruno Mars' "Finesse," plenty of naysayers doubted Cardi B had a long career ahead of her ? at least, until Invasion of Privacy dropped. Not unlike take-it-to-11 rappers Eminem and Nicki Minaj, Cardi's debut album reminded listeners that you can cultivate a cartoonishly oversized persona and still contain multitudes. "Be Careful" demonstrates vulnerability and confidence aren't mutually exclusive, the Bad Bunny/J Balvin collab "I Like It" makes it clear she's comfortable on the mic no matter the genre, and album closer "I Do" is a well-deserved gloat: "My little 15 minutes lasting long as hell, huh?" -- JOE LYNCH

CupcakKe, Ephorize

Chicago-based rapper CupcakKe came into the spotlight in 2016 when two songs off her debut mixtape, ?Vagina? and ?Deepthroat,? went viral for their absurdly vulgar lyrics. Her third studio album, Ephorize, offers up that same brand of raunchy, sex-positive lyrics, but now packaged in one of the slickest and boldest rap albums of the year. CupcakKe ranges from showing her love for the LGBTQ community on songs like ?Crayons,? to letting her detractors know who is the boss on tracks like ?Cartoons,? all while spitting some of her most expertly-crafted bars to date. -- STEPHEN DAW

J. Cole, KOD

J. Cole continues to raise the bar with KOD, the rapper?s fifth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Taking cues from its multiple-meaning title (Kids on Drugs, King Overdose, and Kill Our Demons), the RIAA Gold-certified set finds Cole segueing from the socially conscious ruminations of 2016?s 4 Your Eyez Only to confronting life?s joys and challenges head-on instead of escaping through drugs, alcohol or other addictions. Taking himself to task just as much as others, Cole skillfully strikes the right balance between preachy vs. concerned and melodic vs. rhythmic on additional standouts such as ?ATM,? ?Kevin?s Heart? and ?Photograph.? -- GAIL MITCHELL

Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer

Janelle Monae hits her stride with Dirty Computer, which came roaring in at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart (her first No. 1 on that list). Monae shimmies and shines on sex-positive tracks like "Make Me Feel" and "I Like That," weaving clever lyrics and beats baring her late mentor Prince's legendary fingerprints throughout. Monae also samples Dr. Martin Luther King?s ?I Have a Dream? speech on the soulful ?Crazy, Classic, Life,? fueling a conversation about freedom. And of course, we?ll never forget those instantly-iconic pairs of vagina pants she wore in the video for the empowering Grimes-assisted track "Pynk." Monae is ten steps ahead of all of us. -- GAB GINSBERG

Justin Timberlake, Man of the Woods

Bad marketing? Bad timing? Bad album? Much more the first two than the last for Justin Timberlake's fifth, and to date, least-successful full length: Man of the Woods suffered from a misguided rollout, with strange single and video choices leading up to a Super Bowl halftime gig fraught with controversy before it even began, and it was met with underwhelming-for-JT sales, reviews and radio play. But hey, don't forget about the actual songs: "Midnight Summer Jam" is a hootenanny and a half, "Montana" is the sexiest track about domesticity ever to be inspired by the Mountain Time Zone, and the Chris Stapleton-featuring "Say Something" is the rare pop-country collab that doesn't feel uncomfortably yanked in either direction. Destined for better-than-you-remember status, which every truly great pop star needs at least one LP of on their resume. -- A.U.

Kali Uchis, Isolation

Alt-R&B?s burgeoning renaissance is due in part to this soulful-voiced Colombian-American newcomer. Kali Uchis' debut album, Isolation, has rightfully garnered major critical acclaim as it spotlights the genre-defying talent that netted the singer-songwriter two Grammy nominations in 2017: one for best R&B performance (on the Daniel Caesar team-up "Get You), the other for the Latin Grammys' record of the year (on the Juanes collab ?El Ratico?). Guided by intuitive producers such as Thundercat, Gorillaz, Sounwave, and BadBadNotGood, Uchis? luscious vocals and insightful lyrics come to colorful life on key tracks like ?After the Storm? and ?Tyrant,? the latter of which features fellow R&B game-changer Jorja Smith. -- G.M.

Leon Bridges, Good Thing
When he emerged in 2015 with his debut set Coming Home, critics raved that Leon Bridges was Sam Cooke reincarnated, thanks to his soulful, 60's-inspired LP. On his sophomore effort, Good Thing, Bridges assembled an all-star lineup of songwriters (including Justin Tranter, Ricky Reed and Teddy Geiger, among others) to help realize Bridges' pop-crossover potential with honest, neo-soul tracks better suited for 2018. The notion is no more evident than on the track's jazzy, horn-driven single "Bad Bad News," which hit No. 1 on the Adult Alternative Songs chart. -- X.Z.

Migos, Culture II

Bloated though it unquestionably is, with 24 tracks clocking in at more than 100 minutes, Culture II still sparkles at its best moments, with ATL's trio of top trappers bobbing and weaving around each other and landing blow after blow. There may not be a meme-busting "Bad & Boujee" or a visual event like the "T-Shirt" video here, but "Stir Fry" is a strong addition to the canon, "Motorsport," with Nicki Minaj and Cardi B still feels like an event record half a year later, and less-hyped cuts like "Narcos" and "Made Men" make it worth diving into the album's deep end. -- DAN RYS

Nipsey Hussle, Victory Lap

In 2008, the West Coast penciled in Nipsey Hussle as the next artist to take over the rap game after Snoop Dogg. With a menacing flow and steely bars at his disposal, Crenshaw's biggest street disciple was ready for the throne. Unfortunately, several roadblocks, including a falling out with Epic Records in 2010, deterred him from snatching the elusive throne. Fast -forward to 2018: Nipsey has silenced his detractors with his long-awaited debut album, Victory Lap. Hussle's shrewd business tactics and expansive street knowledge makes Victory Lap a necessary listen for young creatives. Besides dropping gems, Nip thrashes his naysayers with his bravado: First, he callously mocks his haters on "Rap N----s," then declares himself this generation's Tupac Shakur on "Dedication." Though Nipsey was a couple years late to the party with his delayed debut album, Victory Lap ensures his overdue status as hip-hop royalty. -- CARL LAMARRE

Pusha T, Daytona

After playing the corporate role for the last three years as the president of G.O.O.D. Music, many wondered if Pusha T's love for hip-hop had dwindled. Late last month, he savagely quashed those claims with the seven-track album, DAYTONA. Executive-produced by Kanye West, Push stymies his foes with razor-sharp lyricism and drug-dealing tales that would make Frank Lucas blush. On "Hard Piano," he tap dances his way through the blistering instrumental before dropping jewels about dating Instagram models. His dark lyrics intensify when he takes aim at Drake on the album's now-infamous outro, "Infared" -- where in his attempt to dethrone the 6 God from his coveted seat at the top, Push fires staggering blows in regards to Drake's ghostwriting allegations, rapping: "How could you ever right these wrongs/ When you don't even write your songs?" Don't ever sleep on President Push, because he'll find a way to send shots over without a SWAT team. -- C.L.

The Weeknd, My Dear Melancholy EP

As his pop-star status soared higher, The Weeknd fumbled a bit with retaining the grim sound that made fans fall to their knees in the first place. But with My Dear Melancholy, the Toronto singer finally returned to the raw emotion found on his beloved mixtapes, just with a little more finesse. With the help of producers like Skrillex, Mike Will Made-It, and Gesaffelstein, The Weeknd sinks deep into a substance-laced haze fueled by heartbreak (thanks to ex-flames Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez). His emotional wails are sharper, the woozy synths rattle inside your brain even harder, and the lyrics are unabashedly horny. You?re left hungry for more addictive despondency after just six tracks. -- B.G.

Full list
https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8459029/best-albums-of-2018-so-far-top-50

[.betterwiseup]

Kali & Leon definitely

[BAPHOMET.]

  @ no City Girls

This list in invalid.

[LOONA.]

Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

Even with "Bodak Yellow" and that bangin' feature on Bruno Mars' "Finesse," plenty of naysayers doubted Cardi B had a long career ahead of her ? at least, until Invasion of Privacy dropped. Not unlike take-it-to-11 rappers Eminem and Nicki Minaj, Cardi's debut album reminded listeners that you can cultivate a cartoonishly oversized persona and still contain multitudes. "Be Careful" demonstrates vulnerability and confidence aren't mutually exclusive, the Bad Bunny/J Balvin collab "I Like It" makes it clear she's comfortable on the mic no matter the genre, and album closer "I Do" is a well-deserved gloat: "My little 15 minutes lasting long as hell, huh?" -- JOE LYNCH

Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer

Janelle Monae hits her stride with Dirty Computer, which came roaring in at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart (her first No. 1 on that list). Monae shimmies and shines on sex-positive tracks like "Make Me Feel" and "I Like That," weaving clever lyrics and beats baring her late mentor Prince's legendary fingerprints throughout. Monae also samples Dr. Martin Luther King?s ?I Have a Dream? speech on the soulful ?Crazy, Classic, Life,? fueling a conversation about freedom. And of course, we?ll never forget those instantly-iconic pairs of vagina pants she wore in the video for the empowering Grimes-assisted track "Pynk." Monae is ten steps ahead of all of us. -- GAB GINSBERG

[Nine]

Where's Joyride?

[Sovereign.]

I love ?Dirtying Computer? and Cardi?s record. I need to listen to CupcakKe?s.

[BAPHOMET.]

Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

Even with "Bodak Yellow" and that bangin' feature on Bruno Mars' "Finesse," plenty of naysayers doubted Cardi B had a long career ahead of her ? at least, until Invasion of Privacy dropped. Not unlike take-it-to-11 rappers Eminem and Nicki Minaj, Cardi's debut album reminded listeners that you can cultivate a cartoonishly oversized persona and still contain multitudes. "Be Careful" demonstrates vulnerability and confidence aren't mutually exclusive, the Bad Bunny/J Balvin collab "I Like It" makes it clear she's comfortable on the mic no matter the genre, and album closer "I Do" is a well-deserved gloat: "My little 15 minutes lasting long as hell, huh?" -- JOE LYNCH

Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer

Janelle Monae hits her stride with Dirty Computer, which came roaring in at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart (her first No. 1 on that list). Monae shimmies and shines on sex-positive tracks like "Make Me Feel" and "I Like That," weaving clever lyrics and beats baring her late mentor Prince's legendary fingerprints throughout. Monae also samples Dr. Martin Luther King?s ?I Have a Dream? speech on the soulful ?Crazy, Classic, Life,? fueling a conversation about freedom. And of course, we?ll never forget those instantly-iconic pairs of vagina pants she wore in the video for the empowering Grimes-assisted track "Pynk." Monae is ten steps ahead of all of us. -- GAB GINSBERG

N

[Nine]

Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy

Even with "Bodak Yellow" and that bangin' feature on Bruno Mars' "Finesse," plenty of naysayers doubted Cardi B had a long career ahead of her ? at least, until Invasion of Privacy dropped. Not unlike take-it-to-11 rappers Eminem and Nicki Minaj, Cardi's debut album reminded listeners that you can cultivate a cartoonishly oversized persona and still contain multitudes. "Be Careful" demonstrates vulnerability and confidence aren't mutually exclusive, the Bad Bunny/J Balvin collab "I Like It" makes it clear she's comfortable on the mic no matter the genre, and album closer "I Do" is a well-deserved gloat: "My little 15 minutes lasting long as hell, huh?" -- JOE LYNCH

Janelle Monae, Dirty Computer

Janelle Monae hits her stride with Dirty Computer, which came roaring in at No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B Albums chart (her first No. 1 on that list). Monae shimmies and shines on sex-positive tracks like "Make Me Feel" and "I Like That," weaving clever lyrics and beats baring her late mentor Prince's legendary fingerprints throughout. Monae also samples Dr. Martin Luther King?s ?I Have a Dream? speech on the soulful ?Crazy, Classic, Life,? fueling a conversation about freedom. And of course, we?ll never forget those instantly-iconic pairs of vagina pants she wore in the video for the empowering Grimes-assisted track "Pynk." Monae is ten steps ahead of all of us. -- GAB GINSBERG

N

v

[LOONA.]

Where's Joyride?

g

[LOONA.]

N

v

j

[Stunna Gor’]

So basically what I gathered is that music is a fucking FOOL

[Young]

Oh Billboard knows wtf is AHP huh

BTS Love Yourself : Tears

Leave it to BTS to break record after record in their ascent up the charts. The K-pop titans dropped a concept album about the loss of love, but there?s no love lost for Love Yourself: Tear: it clinched BTS?s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It's one of their most thematically cohesive yet sonically varied albums, with maximalist production erupting against lyrics about emptiness. The album?s kaleidoscopic genre-hopping is exemplified by the emo-inflected lead single, ?Fake Love? -- which is not so much a departure as an addendum to the septet?s sound. -- CAITLIN KELLEY

[Young]

Oh Billboard knows wtf is AHP huh

BTS Love Yourself : Tears

Leave it to BTS to break record after record in their ascent up the charts. The K-pop titans dropped a concept album about the loss of love, but there?s no love lost for Love Yourself: Tear: it clinched BTS?s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It's one of their most thematically cohesive yet sonically varied albums, with maximalist production erupting against lyrics about emptiness. The album?s kaleidoscopic genre-hopping is exemplified by the emo-inflected lead single, ?Fake Love? -- which is not so much a departure as an addendum to the septet?s sound. -- CAITLIN KELLEY

My favorite album this year

Then Tinashe

Then Cardi

Then Janelle

[Young]

Where's Joyride?

Wait she?s not on the list ?