First Year – The Forever Story (Extended Version) – JID

Recommending: “Raydar,” “Dance Now,” “Just In Time,” “2007”

If you know that “Just In Time” has been my alarm for the past 4 years, we’re probably close enough for me to feel pretty self-conscious that you’re reading this.

Shoutout to Nik for recommending this album to me when we first met in September of 2022. I genuinely think that this was the first album I listened to front to back. I am glad it was, because JID is a masterful storyteller. I have never had a stronger introduction to an artist. When I listen to this album now, I think about how much of a rush I was as a freshman. JID’s constant flow switches remind me of how eager I was to prove myself to everyone I was meeting. JID was also the first artist I ever bought a concert ticket for, and he did not disappoint.

Although this album does not make me feel the way it used to, I really enjoyed revisiting it while writing this.

Second Year – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar
Recommending: “Mirror,” “Savior,” “Count Me Out,” “Father Time”

Honestly, it was difficult to pick an album for my second year. Think 2018-19 Clippers. Denzel, Thee Sacred Souls, Jordan Ward, Vince Staples, and Little Simz all dropped solid records that made the year greater than the sum of its parts. MMATBS, though, would be Lou Will.

I love how tender this album is. You can hear the pain in Kendrick’s voice in the tracks. To be transparent, I didn’t like this album back in first year, especially when I compared it to DAMN. However, I found myself revisiting this album many times in second semester, as I was getting taught a lesson about humility in my personal life. With the extra brownie points from the 2024 beef (euphoria>), I feel closer to this album than any of the other HMs.

Third Year – Luv 4 Rent – Smino
Recommending: Listen to the whole album.

This album is proof that my attention span is not THAT bad.

If I ever make a movie or any media, I would want Smino as the music producer. I actually heard most of L4R for the first time live, because Smino and JID were co-headlining their 2022-2023 tour. Although I went for JID, Smino’s performance left such a strong impression. In my third year, I would often take a walk down the green and quiet Rosedale Valley Road, and the album would end right when I got to the end of the trail. It’s funny that an album about communal joy was what helped me learn how to spend time alone. If you don’t listen to rap and hip-hop, this will be your favourite out of the four. Smino flexed his versatility with this album; anyone could have fun with it.

Fourth Year – learn 2 swim – Redveil
Recommending: Listen to the whole album.

Back in my first month in Toronto, “pg baby” was recommended by the algorithm, I gave the album a listen, and the rest is history. I still cannot believe Redveil wrote and produced it independently before he turned 18. If not for the past 3 months, I would have put l2s down for second year. Honestly, it probably ties with The Forever Story for first year too.

So what happened in the past 3 months? I learned that misfortune does not announce its visit, and it’s better to do things scared than not do anything at all. To me, this album is about quietly becoming the person you promised your loved ones you would become. It’s a reminder that even though you are not there yet, you will be one day if you keep going.

Outro

Graduating soon as a member of the class of 2026 (hopefully, at least), I look back at how much I have changed since I graduated high school back in Shanghai as a member of the class of 2022. This was originally going to be a simple “4 albums that got me through U of T” music review/personal essay. Listening to entire albums was something I started doing after arriving in Toronto, and I wanted to reflect on how the albums I keep coming back to have been a constant in my life, almost like a friend, since I came to this city. After spending a week reviewing about a dozen candidates, I realized that the four albums that I played the most were coincidentally all released in 2022, hence the pivot to this “Class of 2022” idea. I really do wish I had a higher word count, though, because I barely scratched the surface on the good things I can say about each of these albums.

I love that I not only grew into these four albums, but I was able to grow with them. Each one had a breakout year in their own fashion. I’m certain that I will keep revisiting these 4 albums for the rest of my life, and I know that “Just in Time” will still be my alarm for the foreseeable future. Now y’all know too 😀