"Good to see him finally getting his flowers" — Netizens react to Leon Thomas' Mutt being crowned best R&B album of 2024 by Billboard

Billboard released its list of the top 10 best R&B albums of 2024, wherein Leon Thomas ranked first position for his album Mutt. Billboard mentioned that Thomas was best known for his "precocious songwriting abilities", however, he took "leaps and bounds as an artist" when he released his album Mutt, indicating growth along the lines.

Mutt is Leon Thomas' second studio album which was released on September 27, 2024. The album consists of guest features from Ty Dolla $ign, Baby Rose, Wale, and Masego. Netizens quickly took to X to comment on Thomas' album making it to the top spot in Billboard's best R&B albums list for 2024.

Commenting on how the Europa singer is getting the recognition he deserves, an X user tweeted:

"Good to see him finally getting his flowers, that album is incredible."

"Leon has been putting in work for so many years. Well deserved!" an X user mentioned

"It really was 🔥" another X user complimented Thomas' album Mutt

"dude been cooking up waiting his turn 🔥🔥" an internet user commented

"Let’s goooooooooo been pumping this album since it dropped me and all my crash fam" another internet user said

Additionally, some netizens commented on how Leon Thomas doesn't promote his music and is an underrated artist for many, questioning if his album should've been considered in the first place:

"love him but— this album was not streamed, not talked about, and no one knew it even existed. shouldn’t how well an album does be included in the determination process?" an X user tweeted

"This is my man but his music isn’t really known despite him being a really talented singer, songwriter, producer, and, overall, musician. If they’re not basing it off popularity, but, instead, off the things I just listed, then it makes sense, but I think there were better albums❤️" a netizen mentioned

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"The title track – and lead single – is as tantalizing as ever": Billboard staff writer comments on Leon Thomas' album, Mutt

Billboard's list of the top 10 best R&B albums of 2024 was curated by the music publication's staff writers Carl Lamarre, Gail Mitchell, Damien Scott, Angel Diaz, Heran Mamo, and Kyle Denis.

Kyle wrote about Leon Thomas' album ranking at number 1 on Billboard's list. He is a staff writer at the music publication, specializing in R&B/ hip-hop, country music, pop, and reggae/dancehall. Kyle referred to Thomas winning his first Grammy in 2024 for co-producing SZA's track Snooze with Babyface.

The Billboard writer mentioned that Mutt featured the sounds and styles that soundtracked Thoms' childhood and brought back the "bluesy rock 'n' roll influences" that the singer established with tracks like Aquarius. Kyle Denis said that Thomas spends most of the Mutt album paying homage to the Black Sabbath and "Black Rock Coalition-approved parents".

Commenting on the tracks in the album, Kyle mentioned:

"While the title track – and lead single – is as tantalizing as ever, it’s the way Leon strings together old-school balladry (“Answer Your Phone”), delectable bites of contemporary R&B (“Yes It Is”), and guitar-shredding rock (“Dancing With Demons”) that truly flaunts his eye-popping range and versatility."

The Billboard staff writer said that at the center of Thomas' album is his voice and that the Love Jones singer can "rip through a breakneck riff as easily as he can assume the staccato cadence of a melodic rapper". Kyle added that Leon Thomas' Mutt is the "most stunning R&B album of 2024" because of the singer's thorough examination of singlehood, a vast range of Black music, and examination of romance in the time of social media.

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On December 19, 2024, Leon Thomas took to X to acknowledge his album making it to the top rank on Billboard's best R&B albums list. Thomas said that he was "beyond grateful" to have his album featured on the music publication's best R&B albums list and that he was honored to be included alongside other incredible artists and albums.