Amongst the stars setting The Agenda for Black music in 2021, few shone brighter than Dave. Expanding on the rich introspection of his debut, 2019’s PSYCHODRAMA, the South London rapper notched his second chart-topper with We’re All Alone in This Together—a record full of explosive collaborations that mixed masterfully witty lines with soul-searching candour. Dave wasn’t alone in crafting cinematic rap masterpieces: Little Simz and Ghetts in particular laid down grand, career-defining albums this year. Meanwhile, drill remained an irrepressible force, with Russ Millions and Tion Wayne scoring a momentous No. 1 with “Body”, and ArrDee—whose “Oliver Twist” left us wanting more—signalled his credentials for rookie of the year. Elsewhere, Ghanaian star Amaarae repped for the “Sad Girls”, R&B queens Jazmine Sullivan and Summer Walker returned with deeply personal albums and Tamera, Kali Claire and Jvck James progressed the UK’s R&B restoration with searing, forward-thinking music. Hear standout tracks from the rich pool of artists who helped redefine The Agenda in 2021—and if you hear something you like, don’t forget to add it to your library.