December 2024 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month
Featuring Roc Marciano, Smino, and Mario, here are the best albums that came out in December of 2024.
A few weeks passed, and efforts identified fifty leading rap and R&B projects from 2024. December has departed for big releases, so the focus turns to six December releases that drew notice. Some arrived after finalizing the previous best-of list, while others may have been overlooked. Input in comments would help uncover more December highlights.
White Denim: 12
Without clinging to their early punk snap, 12 from White Denim adopts layered jazz-funk undercurrents and settles near a ‘70s/early-‘80s jam-rock feeling. Opening on “Light On,” a twirling rhythm dances close to what the Grateful Dead once explored. Sliding next into brisker territory, “Econolining” and “Flash Bare Ass” flash indie-rock ease. A synthetic flow emerges on “Look Good,” where liquid-like bass lines and Tameca Jones and Jessie Payo guest vocals glide over the foundation. Venturing outward, “Second Dimension” conjures visions of Bruce Hornsby’s keyboard touches. With a taste for variety, “Hand Out Giving” mixes country-gospel accents, proof that this band refines detailed structuring while keeping to an original voice.
Stress Eater: Everybody Eats!
Within Everybody Eats!, the trio known as Stress Eater, formed by Kool Keith, 7L, and Esoteric, presents unpredictable material marked by pointed lyrics, strange humor, and rugged percussion. Through these selections, Kool Keith’s unusual concepts mix with 7L’s adept beat-making and Esoteric’s incisive delivery, producing both disorderly and absorbing content. Present are Keith’s Bronx background and 7L & Esoteric’s Boston-honed methods from the Czarface projects, all deployed without hesitation. Advancing with unfiltered invention and refusing to follow usual patterns, the album shifts from the dusty grit in "Genuine Lifestyle" to the funk-based oddity of "Mecha & the Sole Brother." Inserted are interludes "Off the Bones" and "People Want Sugar" that add absurd undertones, amplifying the unpredictable nature. Despite this turbulence, Everybody Eats! remains coherent. The pairing of Keith’s eccentric angles and Esoteric’s force holds tension, while 7L’s production keeps the chaos grounded.
Kenny Segal & K-the-I???: Genuine Dexterity
K-the-I??? took part in the mid-2000s experimental hip-hop movement that influenced many later alternative rap artists. He left Cambridge, Massachusetts for Los Angeles at a time when Kenny Segal was developing work within Project Blowed circles. Although they knew of each other for years, they produced nothing together until Genuine Dexterity, which formed only after Kiki moved back east. Genuine Dexterity involves Armand Hammer, Open Mike Eagle, ShrapKnel, Fatboi Sharif, Self Jupiter, and Jesse the Tree, but K-the-I??? leads throughout. After a ten-year absence, he reappears with sharper diction and more controlled vocal strategies. Kenny Segal’s beats provide a clear framework for his evolving patterns. Armand Hammer delivers socially attuned commentary. Open Mike Eagle contributes personal anecdotes. ShrapKnel uses blunt, direct phrasing. Fatboi Sharif selects unusual word groupings. Self Jupiter shifts vocal emphasis regularly. Jesse the Tree opts for quieter passages. K-the-I??? responds to these varied inputs by adjusting timing and tone, demonstrating a higher level of discipline than before.
Mario: Glad You Came
After a long absence from major-label distribution, Mario reappears with Glad You Came under Epic. Within “Space,” “Questions,” and “I’m Sorry,” a careful survey of desire and uneasy intimacy emerges. Years spent maturing show through genuine lyrical framing. Working with James Fauntleroy brings clear language that connects personal thoughts to romantic concerns. Underpinning themes in “Keep Going (Aaaaahhhhh)” imply dedication amid imperfections.
Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost Ltd: Gucci Gambinos
Rooted in Detroit’s lesser-known circles, Mickey Diamond unites with Big Ghost Ltd on Gucci Gambinos, an effort echoing Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… This selection favors a cinematic feel, incorporating rugged samples that shape a confident street script. Diamond, recognized for consistent underground material, recruits Pro Dillinger to stand beside him on many pieces. Beginning with “Fruits of Wisdom,” the project introduces orchestral tones and no percussion, establishing a criminal undercurrent. Including Method Man on “Truth or Dare,” the sound draws from older aesthetics and direct wordplay. “Ice Cubes” contemplates hardships over soulful loops, blending coarse elements with private reflection. Dillinger’s forceful approach pairs smoothly with Diamond’s firm lower register, apparent in “Rusty Blades” and the record’s namesake piece. Gucci Gambinos references 90s street influences aligned with a more current perspective.
Advance Base: Horrible Occurrences
Later than many realized, the influence of Owen Ashworth shaped the current bedroom pop sphere through a steady output beginning in the late ’90s, first as Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and more recently as Advance Base. His label, Orindal Records, contributed to this momentum by releasing various artists’ projects. You Were Alone: An Owen Ashworth Almanac, the 2022 Dear Life Records tribute, presented covers by MJ Lenderman & Wednesday’s Karly Hartzman, Pedro the Lion, Dear Nora, Friendship, Bedbug, and others, providing a sampling of his presence. The new album Horrible Occurrences, released today on Run for Cover, breaks a six-year gap in original work. This collection resides within a fictional Richmond, a setting for unpleasant recollections. Sparse arrangements define these tracks, relying on quiet vocals, precise lyrical detail, and basic electronic instruments.
Smino: Maybe In Nirvana
Smino recorded Maybe In Nirvana long before Luv 4 Rent and She Already Decided but only chose to unveil it recently. After holding it back for a while, he released it under his Zero Fatigue stewardship, having parted ways with a major label setup. He told Billboard that these songs emerged right after his 2019 excursion encompassing Coachella, a time when he worked freely and pushed aside external distractions. Although he now regards himself as older and altered by passing events, he still values the maturity reflected here. The album’s core is rap, with melodic components and occasional reggae-leaning notes, addressing personal topics such as familial mourning. In addition, Ravyn Lenae, Thundercat, and reggie assist, and Bun B supplies a noteworthy dimension shaped by Texas rap traditions.
Out Of/Into: Motion I
Out Of/Into come together through Blue Note Records, merging the abilities of Clayton, Wilkins, Ross, Scott, and Brewer. The seven pieces in Motion I, forged amid a U.S. effort, highlight each player’s expertise and steady group alignment. “Ofafrri,” from Clayton’s pen, starts with Ross and Wilkins sharing direct, articulate statements. In addition, “Gabaldon’s Glide” pursues a gentler pace, letting Clayton’s piano carve defined lines within a measured ensemble setting. Their methods hold established references as they incorporate thoughtful adjustments without unnecessary flourish.
Roc Marciano & The Alchemist: The Skeleton Key
Heading into the year’s final weeks, Roc Marciano adds more after Marciology, pairing again with The Alchemist for The Skeleton Key. This forms their second joint effort following The Elephant Man’s Bones. Though The Alchemist juggled several other ventures this year, they return here to understated production. Repeat spins invite deeper absorption of these slow-burning, low-key arrangements.
Apollo Brown & CRIMEAPPLE: This, Is Not That
A recognizable online gag suggests that rappers aiming for introspection and jazz-inflected sounds often default to The Alchemist. In addition, some push back, noting that other producers, such as Apollo Brown, provide equally compelling grounds for reflective rap. While The Alchemist’s proficiency is widely acknowledged, Apollo Brown’s input is indispensable within this sphere. Hackensack, New Jersey’s CRIMEAPPLE, who had earlier partnered with DJ Muggs, Preservation, and Big Ghost Ltd this year, selected Apollo Brown for This, Is Not That. He applied tough, street-informed verses over laid-back, horn-laced instrumentals and drew on Willie the Kid and Sonnyjim to broaden the record’s voice. Apollo Brown’s balanced style reinforced Crimeapple’s delivery without showy distractions.