On Nov. 22, one of hip-hop’s most beloved icons, Kendrick Lamar, released his sixth studio album “GNX” by surprise. Although there were no singles or promotions for this release, there was certainly no lack of anticipation after his feud with Canadian rapper and music superstar Drake. This beef was one of the ugliest and most vicious rap beefs, with scathing accusations made on both sides. The battle between the two hip-hop moguls was capped off with Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” — which does not appear on this new release — debuted at  #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning over 900 million streams over just a few months.

Tyler, the Creator dropped his most personal album to date Oct. 28. “CHROMAKOPIA” explores themes about Tyler’s struggles with love, sexuality and the idea of fatherhood. To get a full week of Billboard chart tracking, artists typically release new music on Fridays at midnight, but Tyler chose to release his album on a Monday at 6 a.m. instead. He said he wanted his fans to be able to listen to the album with their full attention. He also made the creative decision to hide his features upon release, so they do not distract fans from listening to the full album.

Pixies has come back to haunt October with their spooky spectacular ninth studio album “The Night the Zombies Came.” The album holds a theme of horror with stories of zombies, hypnosis and being chased from the perspective of a decapitated chicken. The band has been long known for its imprint on rock music in the 1980s and early 1990s, but as of March this year, its bassist Paz Lenchantin left the group and fans have been eager to hear what the band’s new sound will be. Emma Richardson, the new bassist, pulls through with her smooth vocals on various tracks in the new album. Bass lines are the glue to any song and Richardson proves her ability to keep up with the large shoes left for her to fill, while also adding her own style.

On Sept. 20, Hippo Campus released its fourth studio album. Although the title “Flood” can evoke auditory memories of the band’s past triumphs like singles “Monsoon” or “Bubbles,” the album has neither the emotion of the former nor the ingenuity of the latter. Hippo Campus’ new album does not exhibit the same musical quality that put the band on NPR Music’s favorite new artists list in 2017. 

On Sept. 20, Katy Perry released her seventh studio album titled “143,” her first album since “Smile” in 2020. While she is known for creating catchy pop songs that can be described as feel-good, “143” gives off more of a club vibe with a synthetic sound, featuring collaborations with artists like Kim Petras. “143” explores two very important things in Perry’s life: motherhood and female empowerment. Throughout the album, Perry unveils her experience of being a mother while also sending a message about female empowerment, especially in the midst of a tense election season. Perry explains the title as her “angel numbers,” a belief that certain numbers grouped together are a message from angels. Perry describes the numbers as meaning “I love you” and “We got you,” two statements of affirmation that fit into the theme of the album.

Suki Waterhouse’s newest album, “Memoir of a Sparklemuffin,” has been a long time coming. Released Sept. 13, the album is quintessentially Suki, a collection of smooth lyricism, punchy pop, powerful rock and atmospheric ballads. Waterhouse’s sophomore album is an amalgamation of everything that has gotten her to where she is now. 

In “Manning Fireworks,” MJ Lenderman — an indie rock singer-songwriter most known for his distinct alt-country style — broke away from his folky, energetic strings. He tapped into a slower beat, letting his vocals carry him through nine well-composed tracks. Although his gravelly voice was the most highlighted across the songs, Lenderman’s instrumentals were what made almost every song distinct. The album starts off strong with its title track, imitating a young Bob Dylan’s aching voice.

Eighteen years ago, Paris Hilton released her debut album “Paris,” during an era that saw her as nothing more than a party girl or reality TV star on the hit show “The Simple Life.” Hilton’s new album “Infinite Icon” brings in a new level of maturity for Hilton. After overcoming backlash in the media, abuse at boarding schools and institutions for “troubled teens” and an ADHD diagnosis, Hilton returns to the music industry with a fresh start. 

Ashlyn Rae Willson, better known as Ashe, is no stranger to redefining her own name. With her new album, “Willson,” she is now setting a new precedent for what her name stands for. “Willson,” released Sept. 6, is both Ashe’s third studio album and the third piece of her self-titled series. This album is her first independently-released album because her first two albums –– evidentially titled “Ashlyn” and “Rae” –– were created under a record label, whereas “Willson” is completely owned by Ashe. This self-ownership serves as a metaphor of independence because “Willson” marks Ashe’s resurgence into the music industry, the reconciliation of her wounded past and the start of her self-rediscovery.

After experiencing brief stardom at the age of 15 on Britain’s Got Talent, James Smith largely dropped out of sight. Now, with his first album release — after a series of variably executed EPs — Smith shows listeners what exactly he was doing with all that time out of the spotlight. On Aug. 23, he released his record “Common People.”

On June 7, Charli XCX dropped her new album “BRAT,” which arguably set the tone for the summer. Music in general is compelling and can influence moods, society and perspectives, which is exactly what “BRAT” did.

Former Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter released her sixth studio album “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23. This release followed the success of summer hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please,” which are the two singles of the album. She delivers an album that is diverse in themes and genres, with lyrics touching on lustful mistakes, passionate love, infidelity and even heartbreak. Her songs are not only catchy, but surprising as listeners are met with an experimental genre blend of R&B, pop and folk-country, giving it a nostalgic but timeless melody.