We're in the endgame now. Just a couple more days before the ball drops and one more day before we reach the number one spot. In second place is Blood Orange with Negro Swan.

If Solange's A Seat At The Table and Childish Gambino's Awaken, My Love had a love child, it would grow up to be Negro Swan. This album has all the soul and carefree swagger of Childish's record, matched together with the poignant skits and and subtle but stellar production of Solange's. This was no surprise to me given that Dev Hynes is a long time friend and collaborator of Solange's, however there's a difference to this record in comparison to Dev's previous Blood Orange records.

The title alone strikes up feelings before you even delve into the music. The juxtaposition of something often associated with ugliness, with something only ever linked with beauty poses enough intrigue to begin with. Dev's focus on depression, anxiety and battling with being on the outskirts of so many labels comes through in his beautifully poetic lyrics. Those sprinkled over the mostly cheery and funky beats balance out juxtaposition in the phrase Negro Swan very well. It's an album that you can dance and cry to all in one and that's definitely me favourite kind of album.  

My favourite songs on this at the moment are "Jewelry", "Holy Will (feat. Ian Isiah)", "Nappy Wonder", and "Out Of Your League (feat. Steve Lacy)", but that's changed over the past few months and will no doubt change again. The choice of collaborators and feature artists on this album is well thought out and a great match for the songs that they're on. However, the lack of UK collaborators is quite clear in the album's overall sound, which makes sense in the context of the album. Although I would have liked to see Dev, having been raised in London himself, use this album to put some more eyes on his UK counterparts. That aside, this is a fabulous body of work that I will continue to return to over the next year and beyond.

Have a read of my thoughts on last year's runner up here.

It's been a long journey but we've finally come to the number one spot in my top ten albums of 2016. This album's meant so much to so many in so little time. Ladies and gents, the one and only Solange with A Seat At The Table.

This album could not have come into the world at a more necessary time. Every person I've spoken to about this album has had it touch their life in a personal way, whilst also hearing it talk to so many relevant issues going on in the world and grating issues we experience on the day-to-day. It also just goes to show how important timing is. Up until this I feel like to most, Solange was just "Beyoncé's sister" or "that chick from Bring It On" but it's not like she hasn't released many other great pieces, written many tunes for other artists or collaborated on so many other ventures. She's been working on this record supposedly since around 2008 and now in 2016 it couldn't be a more perfect time to hear it. If this had dropped back then, I doubt it would have had quite the same reception. I mean it still would've been appreciated because the quality is undeniable, but it might not have hit Number 1 on Billboard so easily. 

Music wise - it's always been "Don't Touch My Hair (feat. Sampha)" for me. First time I heard this song, I woke up with it stuck in my head almost every day for over a week. When a song is so good that it can inflitrate my dreams, that's a pretty good sign for me. As lyrically, instrumentally and just all around vibe-wise perfect the track "Cranes In The Sky" is, something about "Don't Touch My Hair" resonated more for me. My critic brain is telling me that Cranes is by far the better track but I know what my heart says here. Aside from those two big hitters, the rest of the tracks on this album don't fail to disappoint (interludes included). I don't feel like I've listened to another album recently that's made me as thoughtful whilst listening. I always come out feeling like I've just enjoyed a beautiful 52 minutes of music and had a dance and a sing, but then I remember how pensive I actually am throughout. As well as being an ultimate bop, it's an important think-piece...what more could you ask for?

Rounding up, I just have to mention the collaborators. The phrase "too many chefs spoil the broth" isn't always true in music I believe. Some of my favourite records come from artists who collaborate with many other musical geniuses. This record in particular has a lot of my favourites credited and so it's no surprise it took my top spot. If you somehow haven't yet listened, take a seat at the table.