Alongside all of the big name releases that happened in 2016, the year brought an array of great albums from lesser known artists that are fresh and you should take notice of in 2017. Broaden your horizons and check out these albums! 

Aha Gazelle, Trilliam
Dropping a free album, Free Barrabas, in 2015, Aha Gazelle turned some heads and had people wondering "who is this guy and where did he come from?" Aha has a singing/rapping style that flows well with today's rappers. He has skills on the mic. So when the Trilliam EP dropped, I was more than stoked, and he did not disappoint. He went for broke on "All White Party" and "Carpool." He totally flips the script midway through "Mathematics." There is even a chopped and screwed version of the album for all of you folks that still like the H-Town vibe. 
Buy the album here.
Get the Chopped and Screwed Version here. 

Curvine, Death to Chances
Curvine has been traveling, rapping and ministering for 10+ years in churches, youth facilities and more. To fully appreciate him, seeing a live performance is a must. His energy, passion and delivery will command your attention from the beginning to end of his concert or set. He pulls no punches in his music, and seeing revival in the land is huge for him. Hearing the perils of the sex trade through Christine Caine, Curvine spits about his reignited flame on "Freedom Arise." It continues on "Let It Burn," which is a banger about a girl who falls into sex trafficking after living in a broken home. My head nods, fist pumps and my face scrunches with "Revival or Riot." I love the prayer of intercession in the form of "For the Ones You Love," which is reminiscent of a Hillsong United ballad. If you want something different, full of passionate ministry dealing with life, look no further. 
Buy the album here.

Aaron Cole, If I Can Be Honest
Aaron Cole came out of the gate firing when he debuted on Mixed Bag Records. This 17-year-old is a talented singer/rapper who shared some heat on his free seven song EP If I Can Be Honest. Heaters like "Can't Tell Me Nuthin" definitely got my attention, and though he has a nice flow, that hook is catchy. It's definitely encouraging to hear someone his age speak of being grateful for not being aborted on "Shouldn't Be Here."  He features two other talented teens, Kaleb Mitchell and Alic Walls (of the Walls Group), on "Got No Choice." Aaron Cole is the real deal and an artist to watch out for. 
Get the album for free here. 

Ruslan, Americana
This is Ruslan's best album and definitely one of the best bodies of work of 2016. His flow is more polished, and the bars are dope. He is a complex rapper who takes a multilayered approach to dealing with the social ills of America. He dares to mention and acknowledge things such as white privilege while talking of his experience as a Russian immigrant with a black wife and mixed child. He makes me smile on "Petty" while showing how he goes against societal norms with "I'm That Guy." His ode to the west code ("Left Coast (featuring John Givez)") will have you throwing up the "dub" even if you are not from the west. This album has the organic feel of the albums that you can listen to from start to finish. 
Buy this album here. 

Michael Bethany, Yours Forever
Michael Bethany is a worship leader and amazing singer who gained notoriety working with Fred Hammond for 9 years in the capacity of a backup singer/lead vocalist/songwriter/General Manager and more. Aside from that, he also leads worship at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship where Dr. Tony Evans is the pastor. His debut album, Yours Forever, deserves so much more attention because of songs that will draw you into God's presence. There is a little urban gospel with CCM wrapped in. Acoustic guitar and smooth vocals are melded with Michael's vocals as he seeks to "Live." Songs like "First and Last" and "Beautiful Jesus" are two other vertical ballads that help to make this a very spirited album. This is another gem of 2016. Watch out for his 9 year old son also, who is learning acoustic guitar and has a big heart for worship.  
Buy the album here. 

Major, I Am Major
Major is not a Christian artist per se, but he is definitely a Christian who took the R&B world by storm in 2016. One of the major reasons is the new wedding song "Why I Love You" from the album, I Am Major. His falsetto is on point, and he has been to such places as the Soul Train Awards to perform to rave reviews. This brother can sing! He has been able to work with his idol Stevie Wonder on several occasions. There are several inspirational songs, such as the head-nodder "Hit the Road" featuring Mali Music, and the song about life, "The Way of the World." "Change Right Now (feat. Amber Riley)" reminds me of those real songs that Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield used to put out that had so much substance and meaning. Major and Amber sing of the power of uniting and building bridges racially. 
Buy the album here.