Best Music Of 2021

In 2021, Lil Nas X, whose single "Old Town Road" holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, delivered his debut album Montero and cemented his ability to bend media platforms to his will. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR/Getty Images hide caption

Oliva Rodrigo, Rico Nasty and C. Tangana were a few of our favorite Tiny Desk (home) concerts of 2021. Renee Klahr/NPR hide caption

Lil Nas X, Japanese Breakfast, Vince Staples (pictured above) and more share their favorite music of 2021 with NPR. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images; Album art courtesy of Polydor & Wolf Tone Records, Saddle Creek Records, Kemosabe & RCA Records hide caption

Bob Boilen at his Tiny Desk. NPR hide caption

Valerie June performed "Call Me A Fool" for WUNC. Graham Denholm/Getty Images hide caption

Mickey Guyton, Adia Victoria and Chapel Hart's Devynn Hart have made the industry a more welcoming place for others who look like them. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

From left, St. Vincent, Nathaniel Rateliff and Japanese Breakfast. Renee Klahr/NPR hide caption

Projects released by Rauw Alejandro, Camila Cabello, and Nathy Peluso are included in NPR Music's Best Latin music of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

Fatima Al Qadiri, Danny Harle, and UNIIQU3 all land on NPR Music's best electronic music of 2021 list. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

Projects released by Young Thug, Tyler, the Creator and Little Simz are included in NPR Music's best hip-hop albums of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

Projects released by Summer Walker, Shelley FKA DRAM and Jazmine Sullivan are included in NPR Music's best R&B albums of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

The composer Julius Eastman died in 1990, but his music is experiencing a renaissance. The Los Angeles-based group Wild Up's jubilant recording of his 1974 work Femenine is one of the most remarkable classical albums of the year. Ron Hammond hide caption

PinkPantheress, Wet Leg and María Becerra are among NPR Music's best new artists and breakthroughs of 2021. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption