Here is a list of my favorite albums from November 2021, featuring Nightmares on Wax, Amerigo Gazaway, Terrace Martin + more 🔈

Not sure if this list is for you? My musical tastes vary widely, but you’ll generally always find hip-hop, jazz, funk, or a blend of each in the selections along with the occasional country, rock, and reggae album. I’m always looking for new (and old) music so any recommendations are welcome!

Want more? Check out my other favorite music posts.

Also, you can find a playlist of tracks that I love on my Right About Now playlist. 🎧

Nightmares on Wax

Shout Out! To Freedom…

I haven’t listened to George Evelyn aka Nightmares on Wax for many years but this album found its way and it is a strange, eclectic, addictive mix of beats, reggae, hip-hop, and R&B that seems right for any time of day.

Napoleon Da Legend and Amerigo Gazaway

The World Changed

Just the way I like my hip-hop. Dope beats and dope rhymes. No filler or other pretense. Reminiscent of Gang Starr, Common, Masta Ace. This one goes high up on my list of best hip-hop albums this year.

Terrace Martin

Drones

Like another artist on my list this month (👉🏻 McCraven) I like pretty much everything that Terrace Martin does. His production is on another level and he makes everyone sound better. This album is my night time standard these days.

Makaya McCraven

Deciphering The Message

Another Blue Note remix album? Yup, and it’s great. Makaya continues to be a master at mixing samples and new recordings into something new.

McCraven’s mastery of the loop is akin to hip-hop’s most celebrated beatmakers like J Dilla & Madlib, both of whom have also remixed Blue Note classics, but McCraven’s unique approach also incorporates newly recorded elements including his own drums, Joel Ross’ vibraphone, Jeff Parker’s guitar, Marquis Hill’s trumpet & more.

Blue Note Records

The War On Drugs

I Don’t Live Here Anymore

This album almost didn’t make it, but then I spent the weekend driving through the country on a sunny day and that is what War On Drugs is made for: roadtrips, fields buzzing by, big skies. I loved their previous two albums immensely, and this grabbed me finally. How do they get that epic sound!?

Honorable mentions ✌️

The new (anti) album from Curtis Harding, If Words Were Flowers, is on constant rotation as it the new album from My Morning Jacket. Both could have easily made my top five if it weren’t such a packed month. Also for more hip-hop I’m digging the latest from Mick Jenkins. Another surprise was Hard Feelings, a side project by Joe Goddard of Hot Chip. Finally, I missed this Utopia album from Darius earlier this year but not anymore.