RB Writer Picks: Top Albums of 2024
December 13, 2024
December 13, 2024
Most Anticipated Sets of Night 1: Decadence Arizona
As 2024 comes to a close and Spotify Wrapped makes its highly-anticipated appearance, many are reflecting back on their music highlights of the year. To join in on the fun, I asked the RB Writing Team to participate in a three-part series consisting of their top tracks, albums, and breakout artists of 2024. We kicked off the series two weeks ago with Top Tracks of 2024, followed by last week’s Top Albums of 2024, so let’s end the series strong with our writers’ top albums of 2024 below:
Jake Kwapiszeski
My breakout artist of the year is not just one artist, but four. Worship, which debuted at EDC Las Vegas in 2024, is a collaboration between four of the best drum and bass artists from the UK. While each of the artists may have been a big name in DnB before Worship, the collaboration between them has launched drum and bass into the stratosphere. Made up of Dimension, Sub Focus, Culture Shock, and 1991, Worship is one name that just keeps popping up in all the best places. From closing down Cosmic Meadow on Saturday of EDC to hosting their very own headline show at Red Rocks in 2025, they have all been putting in work to grow DnB across the globe. Worship is my standout artist in part due to the meteoric rise in the popularity of drum and bass across the US. From big drum and bass shows to stages dedicated to the genre, DnB has grown at a faster pace than most genres. Worship represents everything that is pure and good about drum and bass. With the firepower of these four superstars, there is no denying that they have the creativity and tunes to knock every set out of the park.
Marcus Arrieta
REAPER and OG Nixin are two artists that I’ve watched grow immensely this year. REAPER has been very influential on the growth of drum & bass in the United States while also showcasing a unique immersion of dubstep and DNB in his music. OG Nixin, the don of riddim, has been reaching new levels of success this year as well. His notable and filthy OG riddim sound is turning heads and breaking knees. It is amazing seeing REAPER and OG Nixin get the recognition they deserve.
Chase Courtney
Austeria was on fire in 2024. Her brand of spooky bass music was one of my favorite new discoveries of the year. She secured festival slots at Dusk Festival and Apocalypse and toured around the country. Austeria also dropped the cataclysm EP, expanding her sound and skillset. The title track is a chilling, wubby masterpiece that features vocals from The Lie Within Callie. The singles “NIGHTMARE” and “Shadows of Deceit” were among my favorite breakout tracks of the year. Creating vivid horror-inspired soundscapes. Austeria occasionally blends hip-hop elements into her tracks, further demonstrating her genre-blending skills. Austeria is a hidden gem in the world of bass music and I HIGHLY recommend giving her discography a listen.
Hana Hamdan
Max Styler is currently your favorite DJ’s favorite DJ! Throughout the entire year, we were constantly moving and grooving thanks to his limitless supply of IDs. He provided us with a much-needed new sound and vitality. Not only did he top the charts all year long, but his live shows were also packed with insane energy. His reputation as a creative and versatile producer was solidified through collaborations with industry icons like Gorgon City and John Summit. And let’s not forget—his latest release has been “On Repeat” for all of us. 2025 is set to be another stellar year for Styler, as his hype is just getting started.
Dayne Harris
Svdden Death is my breakout artist of 2024, and for good reason. This year, he leveled himself up with all of his exciting announcements, his tour, and great releases. The announcement of “Voyd Dome” at the Tacoma Dome, putting him alongside only two other bass artists who’ve managed to pull off something similar. His tour covered most of the U.S. and included some wild pop-ups, like performing with Marshmello on top of a hot dog stand in Chicago and at the Mall of America. Total Insanity.
On top of his touring and announcements, Svdden Death also dropped Mellodeath Tapes Vol. 1 and a handful of other bangers, including “Tormento” and “Ceremony,” all of which were absolute 10/10’s. It’s these achievements that have made him my breakout artist of 2024.
Jonathan Lee
My breakout artist of 2024 is none other than YDG. I came into this year not knowing who he was, to ending this year constantly playing his songs on repeat. YDG has captured widespread attention through his SoundCloud remixes that have garnered hundreds of thousands of listeners, and has built the momentum for him to release some of these officially. His style, best described as blunt dubstep that mixes your brain chemistry, has a unique flair to it, adding in new dimensions to an often oversaturated bass genre. I cannot wait to see what 2025 brings for him, as the sky is truly the limit!
Courtney Longhurst
My top breakout artist of 2024 would have to be Canabliss. I discovered her late last year, starting with her Bliss N Blaze [420 Mix], which I had on repeat at the gym for months. After digging a little deeper, I became a real fan and finally got the opportunity to see her twice last year, first at Electric Forest and again at Coconino Campout. I noticed her name on lineup after lineup this year, so it’s clear she’s starting to gain some traction, and for good reason. Can’t wait to see where her career takes her in the coming years!
