The Urban Albums That Deserved More Love In 2018

As December approaches, music writers fret over assembling their 'Best of the Year' lists. This process inevitably throws up the albums that 'flopped' or slipped under the radar – R&B and hip hop included. Many of these were poorly promoted – major labels' global marketing increasingly laissez-faire. Some albums simply fade from popular consciousness due to audiences' short attention spans – like Beyonce and JAY-Z's collab project EVERYTHING IS LOVE, issued as The Carters. Yet other releases were dismissed too readily. Kanye West's ye was overshadowed by his (since repudiated) controversial endorsement of President Trump and all things MAGA and immediately cancellable. But, with 808s & Heartbreak as the touchstone, Yeezy delivered a compelling rumination on his mental health. (Besides, how did we miss the OMG involvement of Murder Inc's Irv Gotti and 7 Aurelius on Violent Crimes?)

Then there are artists whose music doesn't garner wider exposure because they are considered niche. The Alabama soul survivor Candi Staton is famed for her '70s disco smash Young Hearts Run Free and, later, the gospel house classic You Got The Love (remixed by The Source). In August, at 78, the comeback queen presented her 30th album, Unstoppable, with Lambchop's Mark Nevers producing. Nevertheless, Staton's set of socially-themed soul, funk and indie primarily attracted attention from legacy and specialist media. Here, OG Flavas ranks the 2018 albums that deserve more love.

1. MNEK, Language

The British singer, songwriter and producer MNEK has been unusually candid about his disappointment with the performance of that long-anticipated debut, Language. He tweeted, "yo even if this album goes triple plexiglass, i'm trying to stay positive !!!!" Indeed, the album didn't even make the UK Top 40. MNEK (born Uzoechi Emenike) is a high achiever. At 24, he's penned songs for everyone from Beyonce to Dua Lipa to, latterly, Little Mix. Emenike has featured on numerous songs, too – most notably Stormzy's Blinded By Your Grace, Pt 2. And he's released solo tracks. With Language, Emenike chronicles his experience as a black gay man from London – acknowledging the highs, lows and moods. Though the official lead single was Tongue, a queer af garage anthem, Language also encompasses 2017's Paradise – awesomely sampling the guitar riffs from Ultra Nate's 1997 Free. Emenike's steez recalls early Craig David with his love of '90s urban, sleek garage and pop classicism. Plus he possesses a sublimely soulful and sensual voice. Crucially, Language has bops such as the Afrobeat Colour with US starlet Hailee Steinfeld. Emenike did promote Language, visiting Australia earlier this year. The album's commercial failure has prompted several op-eds, with commentators asking if it's latent racism and homophobia. Just don't sleep when y'all can party.

2. Mac Miller, Swimming

When, in September, Mac Miller, 26, passed from a drug overdose, there was a huge outpouring of grief – and love. But, a month prior, the Pittsburgh MC/producer/musician unveiled a deeply personal album, Swimming, to surprisingly little fanfare. It didn't help that Swimming dropped the same day as Travis Scott's much-hyped art-rap opus ASTROWORLD. Possibly Miller minimised press to avoid intrusive questions about his split from girlfriend Ariana Grande. Regardless, Swimming was afforded negligible promo in Australia, where Miller has a dedicated fanbase. He first toured with Big Day Out in 2014, returning last year for Listen Out. Miller intrigued with his evolution. Having broken out with the fratboy rap of 2011's debut Blue Slide Park, he revealed a psychedelic, experimental impulse on Watching Movies With The Sound Off, before signing to Warner. Mind, Swimming stands as Miller's most cerebral work. The album has studio input from composer Jon Brion, Dev Hynes and Miller's old pal Flying Lotus. Swimming follows the soulful trajectory of 2016's The Divine Feminine, but it's synthier – and spacier (the preface Come Back To Earth). Miller reflects on his break-up, psychic wellbeing and, ultimately, growth – the album anchored by Self Care. In fact, Swimming did chart respectfully, reaching #3 in the US (and Top 10 here). It's bound to appear in 'end of year' lists.

3. Ray BLK, Empress

South London's Ray BLK (Rita Ekwere) generated much buzz when, in 2017, on the back of two EPs, she became the first unsigned artist to win the BBC Music Sound Of… poll. Ironically, that year she released only two songs, including Patience (Freestyle) – aside from guesting on Gorillaz' Humanz. Early this year Ekwere signed to the UK's Island Records. Now she's presented a "project", rather than an album, in Empress. The eight-tracker highlights Ekwere's unfolding pop sensibilities – among her collaborators Fraser T Smith, Mr Hudson and the US Oak (Miguel). Empress takes in the bassy lead single, Run Run, about racialised police brutality and gang culture. But Paradise is an understated Emeli Sande-ish beat ballad. The title-track diverts into acoustica. Ekwere should be in high rotation along with the UK's other new R&B queens, Jorja Smith and Ella Mai.

4. Denzel Curry, TA13OO

A seminal Florida cloud rapper, Denzel Curry has often alluded to the perception that he's slept-on. In 2016 he tweeted, "I'm not underrated you're just unaware." Saliently, 'Zel has remained independent in spite of overtures from the likes of Eminem's Shady Records. In July he issued an ambitiously conceptual third album, TA13OO (Taboo), which only cracked the US Top 30. Curry may be infamous for his forceful flow, and hardcore-fuelled trap, but on TA13OO he ventures into R&B and synth-funk – not so random after he reworked 2015's cult hit Ultimate with BADBADNOTGOOD. The mood of TA13OO is sombre as Curry explores topics such as personal trauma, psychological malaise, and music industry machinations in the digital age (the buzz CLOUT COBAIN/CLOUT CO13A1N). In the declaratory opener, TABOO/TA13OO, he addresses a partner's history of childhood abuse. Curry unleashes his most explicitly political track in the DJ Dahi-helmed SIRENS/Z1RENZ (featuring JID and Billie Eilish) as he protests Trump. TA13OO closes with the rap rave BLACK METAL TERRORIST/13MT – The Prodigy-meets-Yeezus. Curry, who toured Australia in 2017, is back for Laneway. Be aware.

5. Ella Mai, Ella Mai

In 2018 the Brit R&B stylist Ella Mai Howell – or just Ella Mai – has enjoyed a sleeper hit in the US with her seductive groove Boo'd Up – actually first aired early last year. The Californian DJ Mustard discovered the sometime X Factor contestant via social media, signing her to his 10 Summers Records. The singer would release three EPs – culminating in Ready, housing Boo'd Up. In October, Howell shared her eponymous debut – Mustard super hands-on (previously known for rap, he also recently guided Mariah Carey's With You). Like Kehlani and NAO, Howell is about throwback '90s R&B, but with an avant 'cool'. She duets with John Legend on Everything. Still, she's bigger Stateside than anywhere else – boo!

6. Plan B, Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose

The UK's Plan B (Ben Drew) has forged a dual musical career as an MC and soul singer. He introduced himself as a street rapper in the early 2000s, recording with Paul Epworth ahead of Adele. Switching to soul, Drew blew up internationally with The Defamation Of Strickland Banks. In 2012, the East Londoner re-established himself as an MC with the British hip hop masterpiece ill Manors, accompanied by a film he wrote and directed (and he toured Australia). But then Drew disappeared, focussing on family. In the interim, James Arthur emerged as a new Plan B – and that post-dubstepper James Blake recast UK soul. This year Drew resurfaced with Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose – again singing, but dipping into R&B, reggae and EDM. Though Heaven… sounds out-of-time production-wise, Drew's songwriting is ever-credible. At any rate, he's made a decent comeback in the UK, his album going Top 5. It wasn't prioritised here. Sadly, Heaven… doesn't contain 2017's compelling ballad In The Name Of Man.

7. Cool Out Sun, Cool Out Sun

Melbourne's Cool Out Sun is a supergroup formed by N'fa Jones (the ex-frontman of the rock-hop 1200 Techniques), Sensible J (from REMI), Lamine Sonko (leader of The African Intelligence) and Nui Moon (The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra). Jones vibed with Sensible J for his 2014 album Black + White Noise – a lost avant-rap classic on Drapht's label The Ayems (mythically, De La Soul's Maseo graced the listening party). Cool Out Sun's music is an empowering diaspora blend of Afrobeat, funk, dancehall and hip hop. The quartet are contentedly grassroots, their rep based on fervent live performances. In October, they issued a self-titled album via REMI's House Of Beige stable with the singles Fire For (Fire Four) and Oui Play. The record has percussive jams as well as groovy lounge cuts. Now festival faves, Cool Out Sun are booked to play WOMADelaide in March.

8. The Carters, EVERYTHING IS LOVE

Could EVERYTHING IS LOVE signal the demise of the stealth album that Beyonce herself pioneered with 2013's Beyonce? Two months on from April's acclaimed headlining slot at Coachella, Queen Bey united with her husband JAY-Z for the On The Run II Tour. On their final night in London, they announced EVERYTHING IS LOVE. But, despite its immediate impact, the album has proven depressingly transitory – the novel roll-out conceivably a factor. Fans are most likely to remember the sublimely symbolic video for the sole single APESHIT – filmed at The Louvre. EVERYTHING IS LOVE has the unhewn quality of a mixtape. The LP disconcertingly shifts between Hova's beloved vintage soul 'n' B (the reggae-inflected SUMMER) and Drunk In Love-mode trap (APESHIT), the curation ad-hoc. Nonetheless, Beyonce shines, flexing serious rap skills. Complementing Beyonce's LEMONADE and JAY-Z's 4:44, the braggadocios EVERYTHING IS LOVE fulfils a narrative arc about The Carters' marriage, domestic life and living the black American dream. And who doesn't need a 'Happily Ever After' right now?

9. CLOVES, One Big Nothing 

Today, Australia is producing stellar soul divas such as KAIIT, Meg Mac and Odette – Odette hipsterfying the 'Adult Contemporary' genre with her album To A Stranger. But Melbourne's Kaity "CLOVES" Dunstan hasn't received comparable attention, partly because she's currently living in London and so less visible. The former The Voice Australia contestant lately premiered with One Big Nothing behind singles like Better Now. Impressively, she's built a solid writing partnership with Justin Parker, renowned for penning Lana Del Rey's Video Games. Dunstan has been equated to Amy Winehouse, but she accentuates the blues in 'R&B' – cue Bringing The House Down, produced by the heavyweight Ariel Rechtshaid. Dunstan's songs deal with intuiting social spaces and overcoming relationship upheaval. The stand-out is the finale, and title-track, which might be a soulful Florence Welch.

10. Ryland Rose, DORK

Drake has inspired a fresh wave of rapper/singers in Australia like Allday who write about their insecurities rather than floss. However, Melbourne's engaging Ryland Rose – who's branded himself as a rapper, singer and Uber Eats driver – is less nihilistically sardonic than relatably droll as he opens up about Gen Z suburban hustling. And, connecting with producer JakeOnKeys, he's developed a slickly hooky electronic hip hop that works on triple j and Spotify alike. In 2017, Rose debuted independently with Almost Famous & Broke, home to the hit title-track and Brooke Shields. This year he followed with DORK – led by Blindfold, which has a genius video. Rose is industrious: he just dropped the hilariously self-effacing non-album track Worst Rapper Alive. He's launching DORK at Boney on Saturday.