Likewise to 2020, while it may have been a good year for music, it was also a trying year for artists as they continued to create art whilst in a pandemic. Art, particularly music, has historically been a reflection of the artist's reality. When their reality has been impacted the way millions have across the globe, with family members passing and their everyday life changed for the foreseeable future, they may not be as inspired, which could show in their art. However, despite these circumstances, stellar EPs, beautiful mixtapes, and amazing albums were released this year.

From Wale's Folarin II and J. Cole's The Off-Season to Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Kanye's DONDA, and Tyler, The Creator's CALL ME IF YOY GET LOST, rap had another outstanding year. Along with the game's biggest stars, we also received projects from up-and-coming artists like EST Gee's Bigger Than Life or Death, Lute's Gold Mouf, and Will Hill's Bring The Bottled In. You could literally find any sub-genre of rap you could want to listen to this year. But the real MVP of music year that goes to R&B. Jazmine Sullivan's Heaux Tales, Cleo Soul's Mother, Joyce Wrice's Overgrown, and and Mac Ayres' Magic 8Ball are just the tipping point of the level of music we received from all of the great R&B artists this year.

To help you out, we put together an amazing playlist that includes records from all of our favorites of this past year that you can stream below.

Cheers to more musical blessing in the new year.