The 30 best albums of 2015

Yohana Desta, Tricia Gilbride and Chris Grasinger

It’s been real, 2015. This year has given us instant rap classics, expertly crafted bubblegum pop, the return of an R&B music icon and surprise albums that still haven’t left our minds.From the experimental world of Kamasi Washington to the pop-driven notes of Adele, we’ve whittled down the year’s releases to our absolute favorites. Though the last few weeks of December could possibly give us surprise gems from the likes of Rihanna (Anti), Drake (Views from the 6) and Kanye West (Swish) — a la 2013’s Beyonce and 2014’s Black Messiah — please know that if you’re reading this, it’s too late.Here are Mashable’s picks for the top 30 albums of the year.