New Music Fridays: August 19th, 2016

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This week’s been insane for album releases (insane enough for me to have to do a midweek music roundup), and New Music Friday has come to cap it off with some incredible releases. Today also saw the first release by Jeffery (fka Young Thug), an all-star Usher remix, and the announcement of a new A Tribe Called Quest album

EDEN – i think you think too much of me

Ireland’s EDEN has an ear for atmosphere, as evidenced by last year’s short End Credits EP. Today, he’s returned with i think you think too much of me, which features previously released tracks “Drugs” and “Sex”. A brooding mixture of alt-pop, R&B, and EDM has made EDEN someone to look out for. Check him out on his upcoming North American Futurebound tour.

Frank Ocean – Endless

Disclaimer: THIS IS NOT BOYS DON’T CRYBoys Don’t Cry isn’t even Boys Don’t Cry anymore, apparently, as Frank has decided to scrap that name in favour of something else. The album formerly known as Boys Don’t Cry is set for a release sometime this weekend (if you believe Rolling Stone), but last night Frank unveiled Endless, an eighteen-track visual album that concludes his warehouse livestream. I’ve talked more about the album here if you want to learn more. The video is only available if you have Apple Music, so if you do, catch it here.

Madeintyo – Thank You, Mr. Tokyo

Madeintyo’s “Uber Everywhere” is becoming one of the most-remixed songs of all time (see versions by Travis Scott, Kodie Shane, and Steve G. Lover, to name only a few). Today, the promising Atlanta native has returned with his first project since his debut: Thank You, Mr. Tokyo, released on Soundcloud and Datpiff. The 10-track mixtape contains no features, and productions come only from frequent collaborators K Swisha and Richie Souf.

Tory Lanez – I Told You

When he’s not taking potshots at Drake or freaking out over Rich Chigga, Toronto’s Tory Lanez has been putting out some pretty excellent music. I Told You, released today on iTunes, is the debut studio album from Lanez, following a run of fifteen mixtapes since 2009. The album showcases Lanez’ dual abilities as a singer and rapper with no features, and production comes via Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat, Frank Dukes, XXYYXX, and many more.

Watsky – x Infinity

Spoken word poet/author/rapper George Watsky is not a conventional rapper by any means, but his wordplay and speed have made him one of the most impressive artists in the game right now. The followup to last year’s All You Can Dox Infinity is executive produced by Def Jam founder Russel Simmons (as well as frequent collaborator Kush Mody), and includes collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Wax, Dumbfoundead, Grieves, Daveed Diggs, and Joshua Dun (of Twenty One Pilots). The album is available to stream off Soundcloud or purchase of iTunes.

704 – Heart Of The City

North Carolina isn’t a state that’s necessarily known for its hip hop scene, but rapper 704 has set out to change that with his first album, released today on Datpiff. An all-star cast of features showed up for the debut, including YG, Big K.R.I.T., Young Scooter, Verse Simmonds, and Nipsey Hussle.

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