It’s that time of the week: New Music Friday’s, featuring today’s most notable releases:

Alicia Keys – Here

For her sixth studio album, Alicia Keys stripped the production for a far more minimalist, piano and guitar sound that allows her amazing voice to shine through. A$AP Rocky is the sole feature (on standout single “Blended Family (What You Do For Love)”), and production comes predominantly from Keys herself, husband Swizz Beatz, Erika Rose, and Pharrell Williams.

 

Big Scoob – H.O.G.

Big Scoob has been releasing music since the late 90s, but found his biggest fame after signing to Strange Music in 2009. H.O.G. is the Kansas City rapper’s third solo album, preceded by singles “Bitch Please” and “Walk the Line”. Featured on the album are Strange Music president Tech N9ne; labelmates Wrekonize and Krizz Kaliko; and some surprisingly big names like E-40, Killer Mike, Paul Wall, and Bumpy Knuckles.

 

Blu & Union Analogtronics – Cheetah In The City

Blu’s had a busy year: in 2016 alone, he’s released collaborative projects with both Nottz (Titans in the Flesh) and Fa†e (Open your Optics to Optimism). For his latest project, Cheetah in the City, the underground legend teamed up with Paris production duo Union Analogtronics. The features on this album are mostly Blu’s usual collaborators, including Dam-Funk, Frank-N-Dank, and Oliver Day-Soul.

 

Common – Black America Again

Common is a well-established Chicago legend, a revered songwriter responsible for classic albums including Be and Like Water for Chocolate. At 44 years old, he’s still going strong with the release of his eleventh album, Black America Again, a rallying political cry that makes subtle reference to Donald Trump’s ridiculous slogan. All of the production for the album is handled by Karriem Riggins, Robert Glasper, and Frank Dukes, a team that’s sure to stay true to Common’s jazz-inspired sound. The features on Black America Again come from some of the biggest names in soul and R&B, including Stevie Wonder, Bilal, Marsha Ambrosious, Syd (of The Internet), John Legend, BJ The Chicago Kid, and more.

Czarface – A Fistful Of Peril

Czarface is the name taken by the collaborative duo of Wu-Tang’s Inspectah Deck and Boston production duo 7L & Esoteric. Their first two albums, Czarface and Every Hero Needs A Villain were incredibly well-received, and their comic book-inspired aesthetic drew comparisons to (and a feature from) MF DOOM. The duo simply descibed their latest album, A Fistful of Peril, as “excelsior”, and grabbed Meyhem Lauren, Conway the Machine, Rast RFC, and Blacastan for the 13-track album.

Dae Dae & London On Da Track – The DefAnition

Atlanta rapper Dae Dae started attracting attention after releasing his 4 Reasons mixtape six months ago. He returns today with The DefAnition, a collaboration with producer London On Da Track, who’s mostly known for his work with Young Thug and Rich Gang. The DefAnition is available for free download through HotNewHipHop, and receives a solitary feature from 21 Savage. Dae Dae’s a guaranteed up-and-comer in Atlanta’s modern trap scene, and this has all the potential to be his breakout tape.

Jared Evan – The Blanket Truth

Known for his work with Boston producer Statik Selektah, NY singer/rapper Jared Evan has been steadily growing in independent circles due to his unique blend of soul, boom-bap, and old school hip hop. After a couple collaborative records with Statik and a mixtape released just last year, The Blanket Truth marks Evan’s first solo album. Along with an excellent appearance by Allan Kingdom on “The End Game”, The Blanket Truth features R&B singer Lloyd, and production from Arcitype, Statik, and more.

Johnny Cinco – Same Time, Every Time

Quality Control Records has a remarkably successful roster, with artists like Migos, Rich the Kid, Lil Yachty, and OG Maco signed to the Coach K-headed label. Johnny Cinco is one of the label’s most recent additions, and he’s out to prove himself with Same Time, Every Time, a nine-track EP with appearances from Lil Yachty, Jay 5, and BirdGang Greedy.

 

 

Slug Christ – The Demiurge

Slug Christ is one of the most divisive artists on the already divisive Atlanta label Awful Records. He’s known for a laidback, lazy, often off-tempo flow that’s more respected for inspiring emotion than for actually being recognizably articulate (a la Playboi Carti). The Demiurge, a collaboration with producer Keyboard Kid, features Awful labelmates Stalin Majesty, Ethereal, and Archibald Slim.

 

Tinashe – Nightride

Pop/R&B singer Tinashe has been working on her sophomore album Joyride for a long time now, even cancelling half of her last tour to finish working on it. To tide fans over while she continues to finish her album, Tinashe released Nightride, a commercial mixtape that serves as a prequel to her upcoming album. Nightride has no features (Young Thug’s verse was even removed from “Party Favors”), and production comes via Metro Boomin, The-Dream, Boi-1da, and more.

 

Also released: Bones, SoftwareUpdate1.0; Keke Palmer, Lauren; Peewee Longway, Longway Sinatra; Sims, More Than Ever