Jeff's Best of 2024 - #5: Elsy Wameyo - Saint Sinner

In a year where rap was consumed with the Kendrick/Drake feud, with a new Tyler, The Creator album, with Eminem's return of Slim Shady and the law finally catching up to Diddy, my favorite rap album of the year was by a Kenyan-born Australian rapper named Elsy Wameyo.

There is no lack of ink spilled on women who rap, of whatever the expectations might be that go along with that. Trying to apply an American lens to Elsy Wameyo, therefore, seems utterly pointless - what she provides in her debut is instead a bold confessional that feels distinctly her own while also having that familiarity that goes a long way. She reminds me a lot of Little Simz in delivery, but the sort of poetic confessional in lyricism and heart that people love Kendrick Lamar for. And her range is borderline unmatched: "Sinner" is one of many standouts on this record, but my money is on "Umva," a grime-tinged track that feels like it should be on every rap tastemaker's playlist if they know what's good for them.

In a banner year for rap music, this one was well above the rest for me. Can't wait to see what the trajectory is going to look like for someone with this level of talent.

Songs of note: "Umva," "Sinner," "Conquer," "Piny Lara"