This week, the already impressive list of expected albums were joined by a host of unexpected, surprise-released projects from Anderson .Paak, Gucci Mane, and many more. Check out Audio Plug’s most recent NMF below:

Coleman Hell – Summerland

Toronto’s ‘Sideways’ collective has been an underground favourite of the city for a while, and the group was really thrust into more mainstream attention with the release of Shan Vincent de Paul’s incredible debut album Saviours, a spiritual project that’s still on constant repeat for me. Coleman Hell, another member of the collective (who appeared on the track “Fight For Us”) just got off a recent high profile tour with Twenty One Pilots, and has now released his latest album: Summertime, a 13-track album with no features.

French Montana – MC4

Despite cancelling the album a week ago due to issues with sample clearances and a general dissatisfaction for the finished project, French Montana has nonetheless dropped the fourth installment of his Mac & Cheese series with MC4, his second studio album. Alongside “Figure It Out” and “Lockjaw” (featuring Kanye & Nas and Kodak Black, respectively), which both appeared on June’s Wave Gods mixtape, and French’s latest Drake-assisted single “No Shopping”, MC4 features A$AP Rocky, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Max B, and the late Chinx across the albums 14 tracks.

The Game – 1992

The Game’s been busy over the past year. After dropping his incredible two-album Documentary 2 project, he’s also dropped two soundtracks so far in 2016: Streets of Compton in June and Block Wars in July. Now, he’s returned yet again with his oft-delayed eighth studio album, 1992. The Game was 12 years old in 1992, growing up in Compton at the time of the LA Riots and OJ Simpson’s murder trial, and this album is meant to be an autobiographical look at his tumultuous childhood. Chicago singer Jeremih is the album’s lone feature, although Lorine Chia and Jason Derulo also provide some uncredited backing vocals.

Gucci Mane – Woptober

Only a few months after the release of Everybody Looking, Gucci’s fantastic post-prison album, the trap god seems to be returning to his characteristic release schedule by dropping a new full-length: Woptober, a 13 track project that features Rick Ross and Young Dolph. Despite announcing on Twitter that it’d be a free album, Woptober is available for purchase on iTunes.

 

Kevin ‘Chocolate Droppa’ Hart – What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa)

Kevin Hart has had a long and storied relationship with hip hop, and since appearing alongside Lil Wayne on a BET Cypher, Hart unleashes his rap alter ego Chocolate Droppa for his debut mixtape in support of his upcoming comedy special. What Now? features an incredible list of features: alongside a new Big Sean & 2 Chainz collab, Droppa spits bars with Migos, T.I., Tink, Akon, Lil Yachty, Wale, and BJ The Chicago Kid.

 

Nightlife – Chicago Paris

Chicago rapper Nightlife started gaining attention after collaborating with TDE’s Ab-Soul on his track “Good Shit” a few weeks ago. That track, as well as collaborations with Chicago rappers GLC, Twista, and G Herbo all appear on Nightlife’s debut mixtape Chicago Paris, available for free download on Datpiff.

 

 

NxWorries – Yes Lawd!

Anderson .Paak already dominated 2016 with his sophomore masterpiece Malibu, but now the soulful Oxnard musician returns with the first full-length from NxWorries, his collaboration with legendary producer Knxwledge. Yes Lawd! (a play on .Paak’s signature catchphrase) features the songs “Link Up” and “Suede”, of NxWorrie’s appropriately named 2015 EP Link Up & Suede, as well as previously released single “Lyk Dis” and “Get Bigger”. Knxwledge’s careful, experimental production is the perfect fit for .Paak, so expect this to quickly be acknowledged as one of the year’s best releases.

RJ – Taking N***as Beats 2

California rapper RJ is mostly known for his collaborations with DJ Mustard (he’s all over the producer’s 2015 release 10 Summers: The Mixtape, as well as Mustard’s latest Cold Summer album), and his contribution to YG’s “Thank God” alongside Ty Dolla $ign’s incarcerated brother Big TC remains one of My Krazy Life‘s best moments. Taking N***a’s Beats 2 is RJ’s fifth mixtape, finds him rapping over instrumentals like ScHoolboy’s “THat Part” and 2pac’s “Picture Me Rolling”.

 

Swet Shop Boys – Cashmere

Swet Shop Boys is a collaboration between Indian/American rapper Heems (formerly of Das Racist) and Pakistani/British rapper/actor Riz Ahmed, who you might recognize as Naz from HBO’s The Night Of. The Swet Shop Boys project premiered last year with the release of their self-titled EP, showcasing the salient political issues that the duo are representing on Cashmere, their debut studio album. Both call on personal experience on the racism they’ve faced based on their respective nationalities, and the music used in the album represents this same heritage. This is Heems’ first release since last year’s excellent Eat, Pray, Thug, and Ahmed’s second album of the year (after April’s Englistan).

Zed’s Dead – Northern Lights

Toronto electronic duo Zed’s Dead have been pumping out consistent EDM since their debut in 2010, but their latest release, Northern Lights, already seems to be their best, as it pairs the duo with a host of excellent feature artists and offers Zed’s Dead a chance to really experiment with new sounds. Artists on the album include fellow producers Diplo and Nghtmre; rappers Pusha T and Jadakiss; singers Rivers Cuomo and Twin Shadow; and fellow Canadian group Dragonette.

Also released: Boogie, Thirst 48, Pt. II; Conor Oberst, Ruminations; Derek Minor, Reflection; JoJo, Mad Love; JR Donato, Why So Serious?; Lord Narf, Witchcraft; Two Door Cinema Club, Gameshow; Various Artists, Say Yes: A Tribute to Elliott Smith