Today ended up being one of the biggest days for new music in 2016, with more than a dozen projects dropping from some of hip hop’s biggest names. From up-and-comers to established veterans, take a look at this week’s new music:

Ab-Soul – Do What Thou Wilt

TDE’s Anthony Tiffith promised six projects from the label in 2016, and with this latest release from Ab-Soul, he’s only managed to fall just short of his goal. Do What Thou Wilt is the fourth album from Soulo, and following the underwhelming and underselling These Days…, the LA rapper had a lot to prove with his latest album. He more than delivered with one of his strongest projects to date, a multilayered album that features his trademark knack for finding political and religious conspiracies in everything. From sexism in the bible and puppets in the White House, to taking shots at Jay Electronica and Troy Ave, to opening up about the tragic suicide of his former girlfriend Alori Joh, Soul speaks on a massive range of subjects on the sprawling, 16-track album. Mac Miller, Rapsody, ScHoolboy Q, Da$h, Bas, and SZA all appear on the project, and producers include Tae Beast, Rahki, Bentley Haze, Sounwave, and Wondagurl.

Bladee & ThaiBoy Digital – AvP

Stockholm rapper/singer Bladee started gaining attention due to his many collaborations with breakout star Yung Lean, most recently on Lean’s latest single “Hennessy & Sailor Moon“. AvP is Bladee’s second project of the year, after Eversince, and it teams the performer up with fellow Swedish producer ThaiBoy Digital for a seven-track EP. The only feature comes from Ecco2k, a former member of the Gravity Boys collective (which included both Bladee and Digital).

Charles Hamilton – Hamilton, Charles

One of the strongest voices in rap’s late-2000s internet era, Charles Hamilton broke out with his debut mixtape Crash Landed in 2008, and the world was introduced to a unique voice in hip hop who was obsessed with the color pink and Sonic the Hedgehog. Since then, Hamilton’s dropped 181 mixtapes; been signed, shelved, and dropped by Interscope; and endured intense controversy and media scrutiny after untreated bipolar disorder started making him more and more erratic. Today, eight years after debuting, Hamilton has finally released his debut studio album and first retail project, Hamilton, Charles, as a new signee to Republic Records. Hamilton hasn’t missed a beat, retaining his knack for intimately personal writing, and his production abilities seem to have only gotten better with age (Hamilton, Charles was entirely self-produced, with the help of Grammy-nominated production trio the Invisible Men). The album was also released in conjecture with a documentary on Charles Hamilton, titled The Phoenix that Rose from the Ashes, available to watch on Red Bull TV.

CJ Fly – Flytrap

As a member of the NY rap collective Pro Era, CJ Fly follows Joey Bada$$, Kirk Knight, and Nyck Caution with his breakout studio album Flytrap. Following his critically acclaimed 2013 mixtape Thee Way Eye See, Fly’s latest album features Eryn Allen Kane and Devontée, and production from Kirk Knight, SmokeyGotBeatz, Hannibal King, and Fly himself.

 

 

The-Dream – Love You to Death

As singer and Grammy-winning multiplatinum songwriter The-Dream preps his upcoming seventh album, Love Affair (due next March), he dropped off a quick 5-track EP with Love You to Death. The-Dream’s been involved as a songwriter on some of the year’s biggest albums, including Solange’s A Seat at the Table, Rihanna’s Anti, Beyoncé’s Lemonade, and Kanye’s TLOP (which he also contributed vocals to).

 

DJ Critical Hype & DJ Clyde – Chance The Dropout

Chance has always worn his Kanye influence on his sleeve, repping his Chi-town older brother constantly and even naming the intro to his breakout album (“Good Ass Intro“) after an unreleased Kanye project. The two have collaborated a couple times this year, but DJs Critical Hype and Clyde had the fine idea that a mashup album was necessary. Thus, Chance The Dropout was born, a two-year project that placed Chance’s vocals over Kanye’s beats, and the result is honestly a joy to listen to.

Hodgy – Fireplace: The NotTheOtherSide

Since disbanding, Odd Future has almost been delegated as a simple starting-off point for Frank Ocean, Tyler the Creator, the Internet, and Earl Sweatshirt, and unfortunately many of the other up-and-coming rappers get delegated to sideline status. Hodgy Beats is out to prove himself, though, with his first full project: Fireplace: TheNotTheOtherSide. Following a couple mixtapes earlier this year, Hodgy’s debut studio album has a couple high-profile features from both Busta Rhymes (on early single “Final Hour“) and Lil Wayne. The list of production is frankly incredible as well, featuring Knxwledge, BADBADNOTGOOD, Nottz, and 88-keys. Hodgy’s got an impressive regiment of flows and singing styles, and his songwriting’s the best its ever been.

J. Cole – 4 Your Eyez Only

It came as a massive surprise last week when a preorder for a new J. Cole album appeared on iTunes. Now, two years to the day after his last album, Cole has dropped off 4 Your Eyez Only, an introspective, personal follow-up to 2014 Forest Hills Drive. There’s nothing really new here that wasn’t on the last album, and Cole’s decision to go featureless once again (he went double platinum the last time, in case you haven’t heard) means that there’s little opportunity for variation in the sound, but production from Frank Dukes, Vinylz, Boi-1da, Blvk, and Nate Fox gave the album a jazzier feel. Cole keeps up his position as one of the most consistent rappers in the game, delivering honesty and intimacy as he delves into his career, his relationships, and the recent birth of his first child.

Lloyd – Tru EP

Although once a staple of R&B and rap hooks, New Orleans singer Lloyd has been pretty quiet since releasing his last album five years ago (aside from key placements like Childish Gambino’s “Telegraph Ave“). Tru s a five track EP released as Lloyd prepares his upcoming fifth album, Out My Window, and it features Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and 2 Chainz on a remix to the title track.

 

Post Malone – Stoney

It’s been a while since Post Malone abruptly entered the scene with his now triple-platinum single “White Iverson“, but his oft-delayed debut album Stoney has finally arrived. Released seven months after his underwhelming mixtape August 26th, Stoney tends more towards the R&B influenced hip hop that appealed to fans on the first place and veers more from the country/rap sound Post seemed to be toying with. Kehlani, 2 Chainz, Quavo, and unlikely tour-mate Justin Bieber all appear on the project, and production comes via Pharrell Williams, Metro Boomin, DJ Mustard, Frank Dukes, and Fki 1st.

Tech N9ne – The Storm

Say what you will about Tech N9ne, but the man’s been hustling for a long time: seventeen albums and more than 2 million sales is no small feat for an artist who’s been fiercely independent his entire career. His latest project, The Storm , is a sequel to his 1999 debut Calm Before the Storm, and the deluxe edition clocks in at an overwhelming 32 tracks. The album is almost entirely produced by longtime collaborator Seven, and has appearances from Logic, Problem, Joyner Lucas, Boyz II Men, Korn’s Jonathan Davis, Gary Clark Jr., Krizz Kaliko, and Big Scoob. The last few tracks also include solo songs by newer signees to Tech’s Strange Music label, including Ces Cru, JL, Darrien Safron, and Mackenzie Nicole.

Willow Smith – Mellifluous EP

Quickly following the release of her brother’s latest single, Willow Smith dropped off her first project since last year’s Ardipithecus album. Mellifluous is a quick three-track EP from Will Smith’s youngest child. It’s a continuation of her trademark abstract R&B sound, and a testament to the impressive musical ability of the Smith children.

 

 

Yasiin Bey – December 99th

This album… hasn’t been released yet. Check back later for updates.

 

 

 

 

070 – The 070 Project: Chapter 1

New Jersey rap collective 070 started making waves on the scene after Shake, a female rapper/singer from the group and possible GOOD Music signee, started getting attention for tracks like “Sunday Night” and “Make It There“. While Shake has yet to release a solo project, her whole team got together to release The 070 Project: Chapter 1, a collaborative record to show off the whole 070 collective. Alongside Shake, rappers Phi, Ralphy River, Treee Safari, Malick, Beheard, and Bheeshma all appear on the 17-track project.