The 2016 ‘best albums’ list was much harder than previous years to create, but these ten proved just enough to make the cut (see 2015 list here).

50. Cam and China – Cam and China (EP)
The Inglewood twin sisters with a no-nonsense attitude mix jerkin’ and trap music on their first full-length EP.

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49. Izzy Bizu – A Moment of Madness
“White Tiger” was an international success for Izzy, and her debut full-length release slightly builds on this momentum.

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48. Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife 2
Rae Sremmurd’s second album ups the ante for their signature sound with Mike Will Made-It, but falls flat as a cohesive project.

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47. Alex Newell – Power (EP)
After portraying Unique Adams on ‘Glee’, Alex Newell finally puts his signature vocals to great use on his debut solo project.

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46. A$AP Ferg – Always Strive and Prosper
Ferg’s latest release charted astronomically high for an A$AP Mob project, but the amount of guest features weighed this project down from its true chart potential.

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45. Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Slightly impressive first single aside, Bruno’s third album sounds just like his other two – way too much retro.

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44. Tweet – Charlene
Although her comeback is ten years overdue, ‘Charlene’ put Tweet back at the forefront of adult contemporary R&B with the album’s four successful singles.

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43. Skylar Grey – Natural Causes
Skylar’s third effort was quietly released just before the 2017 Grammy deadline, and would’ve received much more awards recognition if the album was promoted more.

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42. Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
Although Danny Brown’s discography gets more impressive with each release, the production (especially from Paul White) stands out on his fourth album ‘Atrocity Exhibition’.

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41. Chance The Rapper – Coloring Book
The latest mixtape from Chance The Rapper received multiple Grammy nominations for its rap/gospel hybrid, but I still don’t know who he is as a rapper.