“DON’T TAP THE GLASS” by Tyler, The Creator
On July 1, Tyler, The Creator released the album “DON’T TAP THE GLASS,” shortly after its predecessor “CHROMAKOPIA,” which was released less than a year earlier. Announcing a new album so soon after CHROMAKOPIA, without much time for the dust to settle, left fans questioning what this release would bring. The tracks encompassed Tyler’s iconic mix of alternative hip-hop and R&B, with songs like “Sugar On My Tongue” and “Ring Ring Ring” quickly climbing the ranks among his other top songs on Spotify. A few of these tracks even started trends on TikTok and other social media platforms, garnering millions of views.
In Tyler’s past discography, the tone of his songs switches from album to album, with more of a jazz rap sound in “Flower Boy” and, in contrast, the neo soul feel of “IGOR.” “DON’T TAP THE GLASS” features both of these sub-genres and more, with songs like “Big Poe,” the first song on the album, featuring Pharrell Williams and setting an upbeat hip-hop tone. Other artists featured on the album, such as Madison McFerrin, appearing on “Don’t You Worry Baby,” and Yebba, on “I’ll Take Care of You,” contrast the opening harsher tone with a sweeter and more electric one.
Tyler himself stated that his intent for the album was dancing. According to HotNewHipHop, Tyler stated that he had “asked some friends why they don’t dance in public and some said because of the fear of being filmed. I thought damn, a natural form of expression and a certain connection they have with music is now a ghost.” Furthermore, Tyler went on to say, “it made me wonder how much of our human spirit got killed because of the fear of being a meme, all for having a good time.”
The title of the album itself is a metaphor for how we are afraid to “tap the glass” and get out of our comfort zones. In creating this album, Tyler’s goal was to show people that it’s okay to dance and have a good time without worrying about what others think.
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“BITE ME” by Reneé Rapp
Released on Aug. 1, “BITE ME” is the second studio album from former Broadway star turned genre-bending pop artist, Reneé Rapp. The album took a different direction from Rapp’s previous release in 2023, “Snow Angel,” which came from a flurry of emotions in the artist’s life. Additionally, she had publicly come out as a lesbian and openly shared her relationship with Towa Bird, a guitarist and fellow artist from her “Snow Angel” tour. The production sound on “BITE ME” is drastically different and shows Rapp’s growth both musically and in her personal life.
“‘This album to me feels like ripping off all of your clothes, stripping naked and running down a street after you’ve been violently crying,’” Rapp said in an Apple Music interview.
From vulnerable ballads like “Sometimes” to raunchy hits like “Kiss It Kiss It,” Rapp expressed her new unabashed, unconfined sound as an artist.
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“Addison” by Addison Rae
On June 6, Addison Rae released her debut studio album titled “Addison.” Before the album’s debut, she released multiple singles featured on the album and sparked attention, popularity and trends on TikTok, building even more anticipation.
Starting her music career in March 2021 with her debut single “Obsessed,” Addison wanted to step away from her status as a TikTok influencer and dancer, yet the public still seemed to view her as a ‘TikToker’ rather than an artist. Addison continued to release music and collaborate with other pop artists like Charli xcx.
The album “Addison” was a way for the singer to define who she is after a drastic rise to fame in late 2019. With the youthful, nostalgic and energetic vibe to her music, the album explores fame and reinvention, which reflects on her journey from TikToker to rising pop star. Her single “Fame is a Gun,” featured on the album, depicts fame as something dangerous but something you must take advantage of.
“It was just this rainbow energy that really inspired the songwriting — how can I encapsulate every shade, every feeling, every emotion, every sound that gave me enough to feel everything?” Addison said in a Grammy interview.
After her successful debut album, Addison went on tour for the first time, starting Aug. 26 with 32 shows spanning across North America, Europe and Australia.
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“DeBI TiRAR Mas FOToS” by Bad Bunny
Jan. 5 saw the release of DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the sixth solo studio album from Puerto Rican sensation Bad Bunny. This energetic Spanish record was described by Rolling Stone as a “triumphant homecoming.” The album broke ground musically with experimental tactics characteristic to Bad Bunny’s previous album Un Verano Sin Ti. It was in the number one spot on Billboard 200 for a total of four weeks and garnered much international traction.
The album focused on themes such as Puerto Rican cultural identity, and came along with a short film challenging U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico. The album highlights these topics in a way that feels personal, with roots in Puerto Rican folk and salsa.
Bad Bunny has since won a spot at the Super Bowl LX, turning much attention to the artist and his music. The show is highly anticipated and will be a great opportunity to cap off his successful year.
