Music-Drop Magazine

2016 was the year of Beyoncé more than any other music artist. It was the year where she became political, the year she got critical acclaim and the year she redefined the concept of a surprise album and the music video.  I’m not a fan of Beyoncé. Sure she’s released a fair few catchy pop songs that I’ve not minded and I’ve always appreciated that she has a good set of lungs, I also enjoyed her singing Etta James’ At Last at President Obama’s inauguration. I also didn't mind her sister Solange , but I’ve never been a fan of Beyoncé. Lemonade is an album I expected to hate, I expected to listen to it and think “why is this so well thought of?” then I’d complain until I bored even myself and then I’d never pick up the album again, that’s what I expected. The artwork for the sixth studio album of Beyonce released in April 2016.  Expectations though are made to be broken by Beyoncé. Because Lemonade is one of the best albums of the year, although I can’t ...

In contemporary R&B there’s no one who creates records with the same emotional depth as Frank Ocean, and his follow up to Channel Orange further pushes the notion that Ocean is one of the most interesting and enigmatic artists currently recording. Frank Ocean dominated 2016 from behind the scenes. His influence could be seen on the works of Beyoncé, Kanye or Rihanna and his own album Blonde created waves in an already R&B dominated industry. Channel Orange was a spectacular record, it was the perfect album for it’s genre, an odd comparison could be done by comparing it to Radiohead’s OK Computer, which was a perfect alternative rock album. The record was released in August 2016 and included guests like Andre 3000 and Beyonce.  Now, like Radiohead did with Kid A , Ocean has changed the game in a fell swoop of beeping sounds and emotional words, with significant undertones or politics and anthems for a maltreated young adult audience. Songs l...

Solange is probably best known for being the sister of Beyonce, Solange is popular, talented and cool but let’s be honest she’s still best known as Beyoncé’s sister. While she doesn’t particularly stray from the musical content of a Beyoncé record Solange has managed to create a rare, yet good, political pop album. However contrary to Beyoncé Solange has amassed more critical attention than popular, her 2008 record was praised for it’s neo soul sound and her 2012 EP True is one of the best EPs of recent memory. So A Seat At The Table had to compete with Beyoncé’s shadow and previous critical acclaim, plus the fact she hadn’t made a studio album in 8 years. The album artwork of Solange's third studio album. The album rises to the test though and it is one of the few pop albums of the year which is wholly enjoyable, some songs might be more hit than miss, and some interludes might annoy more than inspire, but overall it’s a pleasant well thought out record....