Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 110 Best Albums of the 2010s, representing a varied cross-section of artists, genres, and styles. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & album index here.
ELLA MAI | Ella Mai
10 Summers/Interscope (2018)
Selected by Daryl McIntosh
With executive producer credits going to the hot hand of the west coast’s DJ Mustard, Ella Mai had very high expectations for her debut album. Poised for the big stage, Ella not only delivers with a well-crafted LP, but creates one of those crossover hits that soars from nightclubs, to radio airwaves, and finds itself in the American lexicon. “Boo’d Up” became one of the unforgettable songs of the decade and is arguably one of the few modern gems known immediately by grandmothers, high school principals and even presidential candidates. Ella’s sophomore single “Trip” showed that she had more than one hit in her repertoire, while the duet “Gut Feeling” with H.E.R. added depth to the LP to prove that Ella is a serious vocalist with pop appeal, and one that should create many more memorable moments in the future.
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