The Weeknd is the biggest artist of our generation. Or at least some would argue so. 

Also known as Abel Tesfaye, this Canadian-born artist dropped arguably the biggest album of 2020 in late March; his 4th studio album After Hours, with the hit single “Blinding Lights” garnering 4.5 billion streams alone globally across all platforms and becoming the biggest song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2020.

Also released in March was everyone’s favorite up-and-coming pop princess Dua Lipa’s sophomore record, Future Nostalgia. It racked up over 3 billion total streams by the end of the year. 

But forget the statistics. What album do students argue is the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the A1 album of 2020?

Cornell Franklin-Smith ‘23, says, “Modus Vivendi by 070 Shake is probably the best album of the year. The song “Guilty Conscience” is extremely good, like the production along with the lyrics is a match made in heaven.” 

Going for a mix of genres is Karen Santoyo, ‘24, who added, “Fiona. Apple. God, Fetch the Bolt Cutters is such a good album. Definitely deserves album of the year for sure. Bad Bunny’s YHLQMDLG is also probably in my top 5 albums this year, as well as BTS’s Map of the Soul: 7.”

Kyle Wilson, ‘22, aims for a more rap-geared list. He mentions albums such as Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist, and RTJ4 by Run the Jewels. “Although those are all really good albums, I’d probably have to give my album of the year award to Mac Miller. Circles is an incredibly good album. You can tell how well-planned and thought out it was, from the tracklist to the fact that the last chord of the last song is a musical circle into the first chord of the first song. Mac Miller is an absolute genius and I wish he was still here to see the success of this album.”

The recipient of this award is widely debated, and many contenders are in the race. Who do you think deserves album of the year?