5. “i” by Kendrick Lamar

Nothing to see here, just the current king of West Coast rap teasing a second landmark album. Kendrick is following up “good kid m.a.a.d. city” exactly where he left off: boldly molding the Los Angeles style while making stands for positivity and commentary against gang culture. “i” is the upbeat, funk-and-soul-infused anthem in which everyone deserves to love themselves. And while that kind of proclamation is overplayed by some like Jack Johnson, Kendrick Lamar’s take on self-belief is fresher and more substantial, stemming from his experiences growing up in Compton.

More broadly, while some artists like those on the GOOD Music label are pushing rap beats in a darker, more stripped down direction, here, Kendrick Lamar is loudly fighting for the opposite trend, laying down almost maximalist beats with background vocals, guitar, even a shredding bass solo at the end. The anticipation he’s building for 2015 is almost uncomfortable.

– Kyle Somers, A&E Associate Editor