19 Dec Best Albums 2024: Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Kendrick
2024 was the year genre boundaries stopped mattering to anyone. Beyoncé went country. Charli XCX made club music for people who’ve never set foot in a club. Kendrick Lamar dropped a diss track that racked up two million streams in one hour. And everyone was right.
Key Takeaways
- Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter”: Country album of the year – despite initially mixed reception from the genre’s establishment
- Charli XCX’s “Brat”: Critics’ consensus pick for album of the year – and a cultural phenomenon
- Kendrick vs. Drake: “Not Like Us” became the most-streamed diss track of the streaming era
- Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” made her the year’s top-performing debut artist commercially
“Cowboy Carter” – Beyoncé Arrives in Nashville Uninvited
“Cowboy Carter” was the boldest move of the year. Beyoncé released a country album in March – on a genre’s turf historically inhospitable to Black women artists. The album presents an artist both making history and rewriting it: it reminds listeners that country music’s roots lie in Black musical traditions.
Country radio stations initially refused to play the album. Fans bought it anyway – topping the charts in 30 countries.
“Brat” – Charli XCX and the Aesthetic of the Year
If 2024 had a single defining sound, it would be the synth-bass signature of “Brat”. Charli XCX’s album was crowned Album of the Year by nearly every major music publication: Pitchfork, NME, The Guardian – all in agreement.
What makes it special? It doesn’t sound like an album crafted for award juries. It sounds like an album made for a specific moment at 2 a.m. – and yet, somehow, it works everywhere.
Kendrick vs. Drake: The Feud and Its Aftermath
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake began in March 2024 and escalated within weeks into one of the most intense public confrontations in hip-hop history. Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” racked up 2.5 million streams in its first hour. Drake fired back – and landed his shots.
By year’s end, Kendrick had won – not only musically, but also by the verdict of fans and the press. Drake went silent.
Other 2024 Highlights
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” was the year’s commercial breakthrough. Billie Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” marked her most mature album to date – less hype, more substance. Vampire Weekend returned with “Only God Was Above Us”, reminding listeners what indie rock can sound like on a good day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the best album of 2024?
Charli XCX’s “Brat” was named Album of the Year 2024 by the majority of music publications. Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and Kendrick Lamar’s series of diss tracks were also widely regarded as defining releases of the year.
What was the Kendrick vs. Drake beef in 2024?
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake escalated in March/April 2024 with a rapid-fire exchange of diss tracks. Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” garnered 2.5 million streams in its first hour and is widely seen as the decisive statement closing the cycle.
Why was Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” controversial?
Beyoncé released “Cowboy Carter” – a country album – despite country radio’s historically limited airplay for Black women artists. The album foregrounds the Black roots of country music and reached No. 1 in 30 countries, even amid initial radio resistance.
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