2023 Royale Awards

I must admit I'm late to the Coco Jones hype train but after seeing this performance I finally listened to her album, and wow... I've been missing out!

From UGK to Paul Wall to Megan Thee Stallion, Texas rap has been on. That Mexican OT is its latest arrival. His most recent album: Lonestar Luchador features a unique combination of regional Tejano music with Southern trap on songs like Barrio to making straight-up saloon music with a modern twist on songs like Cowboy Killer. With a flow that is as smooth as it is interchangeable That Mexican OT embodies Texas rap while pushes it into a bold new direction.

You’re at the club by yourself just chillin until you see him. He’s at least 6’4, a dreadhead with a skunk patch of blonde bleached hair that nearly turns you feral, but he’s having an animated convo with his friends, and is that a neck tat??? Oh my god. You have to talk to him. But you also don’t wanna intrude. Finally, you muster up the courage to talk to him he disappears into the crowd. Time passes, the club keeps playing terrible EDM mixes of your favorite R&B songs. You’re ready to go tbh. Then you see him again…Press play.

Dalie is a group project where everyone did their part, from Kamo Mphela, the hook’s headliner and star of the video, to Tyler ICU, one of the producers. Tyler ICU, by the way, is a certified hitmaker. From Mnike to Dalie, he has produced some of the most infectious Amapiano records of the year. I pray for the day I hear this at a party.

I have been watching Beyoncé's performances since Get Me Bodied at the 2007 BET Awards. 16 years later, I finally got to see her live in concert and I was still not ready. Like Lizzo said during the 2023 Scammy’s Beyoncé is the artist of our lives. Moreso on that she is the performer of our lives. Seeing and hearing her in concert, I was in awe, I was gagged, I was crying, I was dancing, I was living… For the three hours that she performed, I was teleported out of the queerphobic, anti-Black world and into a space where I could just let loose while listening to an angel sing.

I feel like I need to record a video like this for Chloe because first social media begged Chloe to release solo music even though Chloe X Halle was a legendary duo. Then once she did; they immediately turned on her and like... For what??? She’s an amazing performer with a voice that sounds even better live than it does on the record. Seeing her live, she is quite clearly Beyoncé’s protégé. As long as she doesn’t let the industry bring her down she has a long career ahead of her. She’s super thick, super pretty, her body is tea, what more do y’all want from Chloe? 

Spotify told me that I played this song for the first time on January 6th which is fitting because this song is chaotic, but like it’s also perfect(?) It samples Kool & Gang’s Get Down On It which shouldn’t fit this song as well as it does. This can be attributed to Sada Baby’s wordplay and flow. Which are as fresh as it is entertaining. Aktivated has more than earned its spot at the helm of my Spotify Top 5. PS: if you like this song you should check out Free Joe Exotic.

I’ve been a fan of Rema since I heard Bounce. Lyrically and structurally this song is way more intricate than Bounce, but Imma be honest a big reason why I love this song is I like to get sky-high and listen to the Slow/Reverb version to transcend to the next plane of existence.

Whenever Tinashe drops new music there’s always that one song that I have on replay, replay, replay. Needs is a certified bop. Sigh I wish everyone loved Tinashe as much as I love Tinashe.

You know I love a good slow jam and with a catchy ass chorus like this one’s, it’s impossible not to love this song.

The first song I heard from the former Voice and American Idol contestant Adanna Duru was POP!. The hypnotic Afropop lead single of Nappy Hour, her debut EP. Through Nappy Hour Adanna Duru weaves between soulful R&B with its title-opener Babies (which begs to be belted in the shower) to more groovy songs like Stay In and Write on Me.

In her last album Dirty Computer, Janelle rebels against dominant conservative forces to remind us of the collective power of Black Queer Femmes. Age of Pleasure feels like the direct sequel where the protagonist of Dirty Computer has triumphed over conservatism and is now free to relax, lust, and love. I just love Janelle Monae’s artistry! Through her albums, she creates clear cohesive concepts that flow from track to track. The album segment from Phenomenal to The Rush with its iconic Nia Long feature practically melts into each other. This is the quintessential summertime album.

Sexploitation is great on its own (minus Wig), but what made it a standout for me is how the music videos for the album are directed like a musical! That’s such a cool concept. I look forward to seeing her perform this live in January.

I honestly would not have listened to Kiana Ledé’s Grudges if a friend hadn’t invited me to her concert, but boy I’m glad I did. Grudges is my everything. It’s an album largely discussing the collapse of a relationship and the grudges that you hold onto. There’s the jealousy, the lingering lust, the frustration, the hurt that you just can’t seem to let go of, the realization you’ve both made a mistake. On Grudges, Kiana Ledé's angelic voice takes us through the motions with great guest appearances from Elle Mai, Bryson Tiller, and Khalid. She ends it with Magic concluding that even though someone can go through all of that, it’s still possible to fall in love again. I was surprised by how much I liked this album then I was surprised again when I saw her live and she sounded even better than she did on the record. Like my god. I was a fan of her music before, but now I’m really a fan.

The Reigning Queen of Rap is at her best when she’s rapping and not beefing with nobody. Nicki alluded to these industry clashes herself during her opening monologue at the VMAs. But for the Kingdom of Minaj, it’s been a peaceful year albeit not a quiet one . Nicki has had a whirlwind year: she’s hosted the VMA’s, made her debut on the US Cover of Vogue, become the first Black artist to win Best US Act at the MTV EMAS, all while releasing several hits. One of which : Barbie World was featured in the highest-grossing movie of the year. All of this has been leading up to her highly anticipated fifth album: Pink Friday 2. Nicki Minaj has had a great year and is positioned to have another once she begins the Pink Friday 2 Tour next year. But Nicki unless you're interacting with the Barbz please stay off of Twitter..

Sexyy Redd broke out this year, rising with the release of Pound Town. The perpetually viral rapper is inescapable online and it makes sense why; she’s raunchy, relatable, and real.  Every month, a new song of hers has gone viral, and for good reason; she’s a hook wizard whose style faintly reminds me of 2 Chainz’s on Based on a True Story. I included an interview with Sexyy rather than a song because I feel like anyone who’s been outside or online this year has heard one of her songs but probably hasn’t seen any of her interviews. Sexyy Redd is just now breaking out, but she’s always been with us, it’s time she finally has her moment in the sunshine.