
This week has been peppered with excellent releases, including albums by Jamila Woods, Juicy J, and Fetty Wap, but Fridays are the accepted release day for new music in the industry. Here’s some of the best projects released today:
21 Savage – Savage Mode
XXL Freshman 21 Savage has been receiving massive acclaim since he started releasing music last year. The young Atlanta rapper just released his fourth project, Savage Mode, a collaborative album with super-producer Metro Boomin. 21 is known for his violent lyricism, and for good reason: previous mixtapes Slaughter King and the Slaughter Tape are the product of a life that saw the rapper attending funerals for five of his friends in the past year, and being shot six times on his twenty-first birthday.
Abra – Princess
As part of Atlanta’s Awful Records crew, Abra has been carving her own lane by releasing seventies-influeced R&B. Princess, her first EP and third project, finds the singer having fun with her music, while still keeping to her moody approaches to sex and relationships. The only feature on the EP is label mate and Vancouver native Tommy Genesis, who plans to release her second album later this year.
AFRO – AFRO Polo
This deep-voiced teenage rapper from Los Angeles began making waves last year after winning RA the Rugged Man’s YouTube freestyle contest in 2015. Counting hip hop legends such as Rakim and Kool G Rap among his biggest influences, the eighteen year old rapper has been hailed as the “savior of rap” for his dedication to old-school styles and mentality. Today, he released AFRO Polo, a collaboration with Canadian producer Marco Polo, that features appearances from Pharaoh Monch and Eamon.
Blu & Nottz – Titans in the Flesh
Titans in the Flesh marks the second time underground favourite Blu has teamed up with influential producer Nottz. This tape, which features Bishop Lamont and Mickey Factz, among others, pairs Blu’s lyrical expertise with the skillful, time-tested production that has seen Nottz work with everyone from Biggie to Kanye West.
Clams Casino – 32 Levels
Clams Casino’s psychedelic, laid-back production has been a major part of A$AP Rocky’s sound, and has found the producer working with a range of artists including Mac Miller, Joey Bada$$, and Danny Brown. Today, Clams has released his first studio album, titled 32 Levels. Guest appearances include features from Lil B, A$AP Rocky, Vince Staples, Future Island’s Sam Herring, and alt-j’s Joe Newman.
Cousin Stizz – Monda
Boston rapper Cousin Stizz builds off of the themes and sounds that made last year’s Suffolk County one of the year’s biggest underground triumphs. Monda is pretty much all Stizz, with just one feature from Larry June, and continues the rapper’s penchant for excellent narrative wordplay.
Dem Atlas – mF deM
Rhymesayers rapper Dem Atlas, who received acclaim as one third of group Sifu Hotman, has released his biggest solo project to date. mF Dem, available for free download or purchase off of Fifth Element, finds the artist rapping exclusively over previously-released MF DOOM beats.
Dreezy – No Hard Feelings
Chicago rapper Dreezy, dubbed the “princess of Chicago rap” by Noisey in 2014, started growing to acclaim after working with local rappers Sasha Go Hard, Lil Durk, and Mikey Dollaz before releasing her first mixtape in 2014. A feature on Common’s Nobody’s Smiling helped make Dreezy one of the most-watched up-and-comers, and today she’s released her first studio album after signing to Interscope Records. No Hard Feelings finds her working with high-profile artists Gucci Mane, Jeremih, Wale, and T-Pain.
Kembe X – Talk Back
Chicago rapper Kembe X has been steadily growing in notoriety since the release of his first mixtape, Self Rule, back in 2011. His work with TDE rappers Isaiah Rashad and Ab-Soul, along with pictures on his twitter of him wearing a TDE chain, led to speculation that he was signing with the label, but those rumors have since been dispelled. Talk Back is Kembe’s first studio album, and it features appearances from usual suspects Alex Wiley and Hippie Sabotage.
Sadat X – Agua
The second rapper with an X in his name to release music today, the Brand Nubian member has released his twelfth studio album with Agua. The tape finds him working with RA the Rugged Man, Rhymefest, and AFRO (see above), and features production from a range of veterans including Pete Rock and DJ Scratch.