Best National & Minnesota Music of 2021.5 (Jon Jon Scott)

As live music slowly comes back and we inch back to a pre-COVID world, Reviler writers are taking stock of the new music we’ve liked in the first half of 2021. We’re highlight both national and Minnesota music that has piqued our interest. We’re excited for our year-end lists where we will be able to add back in “favorite live shows” to the mix, but until then, let’s find out what we’ve liked in the first half of this year. Without further ado, check out Jon Jon’s 2021.5 best of lists below.

National Records

Madlib – Sound Ancestors 

Sault – Nine

Vince Staples -Vince Staples

Mustafa – When Smoke Rises

Sons of Kemet – Black to the Future

Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin – Smokebreak Ep

Anika – Change

Jorja Smith – Be Right Back

Black MIDI – Cavalcade

Lorraine James – Reflections

Angel Bat Dawid – Live

Minnesota Music 

I Self Devine – Rituals of Resilience 

Dosh -Tomorrow 1972

Juice Lord – Spread Love

26 Bats – Portal Party

Singles 

Dua Saleh – Macrodosing

Muja Messiah – Somali Homies

Lady Midnight – Tide Over

Metasota – I Am Him

Dua Saleh – Signs