We're almost halfway through 2022 (what?!?!) --- so music nerds, get to work and start assembling your "the year so far" lists.

I feel like it's been a weird one, with quite a few weeks in a row that where there was way too much new stuff of interest, but also quite a few weeks in a row with very very little. It'll be interesting to see what's held everyone's attention. I'll be back soon with some picks.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

1. billy woods - Aethiopes
2. Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis
3. Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
4. Tomas Fujiwara - March
5. Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
6. Daniel Rossen - You Belong There
7. Xenia Franca - Em nome da estrela
8. Angel Olsen - Big Time
9. Silvana Estrada - Marchita
10. ELUCID - I Told Bessie

----------
https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

Good to see you!

>3. Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
>5. Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
>9. Silvana Estrada - Marchita

These are among my favorites so far, too. I think Dragon... is a few cuts too long, and it wouldn't be hard to choose two or three songs to drop. Some of the sequencing is strange to me, too. But man, talk about an album where just about every song stands on its own.

BCNR isn't a surprise but I think I like this one more than the debut.

Silvana Estrada's new to me and the album is quite wonderful. Not sure if you know but she does some vocals on Sly5thAve & Roberto Verastegui's Agua de Jamaica project.

Will need to spend more time with Angel Olsen's new one. I liked it enough to go back several times already but it feels a bit thin to me, especially coming off the songwriting weight and big arrangements of All Mirrors.

>4. Tomas Fujiwara - March
Saw this was on your list yesterday and I hadn't checked it out yet. Took it for a spin and it was great! That closing drums-only track is bananas and literally made me stop what I was doing for a good portion of its 17 minutes runtime (!). Can't wait to go back.

>2. Mary Halvorson - Amaryllis
>6. Daniel Rossen - You Belong There
>7. Xenia Franca - Em nome da estrela

All on my to-listen-to list for sure, especially the two Halvorson records and the Xenia Franca record. Just got around to the Halvorson record with Sylvie Courvoisier not long ago as well, which was really great.


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

I definitely understand thinking the Big Thief album is a few cuts too long even though I would disagree. To be honest, although I agree that the sequencing is kinda of nonsensical at times, I love every track. It's like a musical jukebox of what I love about the band.

I also agree that the new BCNR is their best, definitely a big step up in songwriting / structure in general. Shame their lead vocalist left the band.

In regard to the new Angel Olsen, it is a huge switch up from All Mirrors, and is, musically speaking, definitely more sparse and straightforward in comparison. That said, I think it really, really works and to be honest, I might like the simplicity of that record more than All Mirrors, and I love All Mirrors. Big Time has this warm, intimate quality that I love. I can't stop playing it.

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https://93millionmilesabove.blogspot.com/
https://rateyourmusic.com/~Kosa12

Mine so far...some other ish still catching up on though...

Bonobo "Fragments"
Homeboy Sandman "There In Spirit"
Elzhi/Georgia Anne Muldrow "Zhigeist"

...Wish I could hear this new Black Star, but no one wants my money for it...

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

They Hate Change - Finally, New (Pretty easily my most played. Love this sound. Rap with UK Rave production styles)
Draama-Helmi - kuistilla (female rapper from Finland, I've loved every album she's done. Just a really relaxing, but eerie vibe https://draama-helmi.bandcamp.com/album/draama-helmi-kuistilla)
Defcee & Boathouse - All Debts Public and Private (I feel like this is an album for everyone annoyed that so many high caliber MCs are rapping over drum-lite beats.)
Spote Breeze & OG Jarin - Cascade Viewing (Beats are a step down from his last IMO, but still a very enjoyable listen)
Bird's Eye Batang - Flood Format (This is from a member of Korean band Mid-Air Thief, which is some really nice indie-electronic rock that kind or reminds me of older Caribou. But this album is way more experimental electronic.)

Honorable Mention: Aeon Station. This came out in December but I picked it up this year and have listened to it a ton. For anyone awaiting the Wrens' follow up to Meadlowlands, this is as close as we'll get. It's really good IMO

----
I check for: Serengeti, Zeroh, Open Mike Eagle, Jeremiah Jae, Moka Only.

>They Hate Change - Finally, New (Pretty easily my most
>played. Love this sound. Rap with UK Rave production styles)

This is the only one on your list I've listened to so far. Really interesting and liked it a lot but need to spend more time with it for sure.

Looking forward to checking out the rest.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Billy Woods - Aethiopes (reminds me I need to listen to ELUCID's album)
Hikaru Utada - BADモード
Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
Asian Glow - Stalled Flutes, means
Parannoul - White Ceiling / Black Dots...
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain...
The Weeknd - Dawn FM (kind of wish "Best Friends" wasn't on there as it does nothing for me, but this is the first album of his I've enjoyed in a long time)

Good but need more time with or might just be a little below the above choices:
foxtails - fawn
Blind Girls - The Weight of Everything
Beach House - Once Twice Melody
Messa - Close
JYOCHO - Let's Promise to Be Happy
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez...
Boldy James & Real Bad Man - Killing Nothing
Conway - God Don't Make Mistakes
Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 4
I kind of can't recall too many songs from Vince's release aside from "When Sparks Fly" and "Player Ways." Need more time with Kendrick too. Haven't even heard the Black Star album yet.

Favorite and most repeated songs this year have been fromis_9's "DM" and Utada's "BADモード" (both just put in the best mood).

>Hikaru Utada - BADモード

Thanks for sharing this on other threads. Might not love it as much as you but it's definitely gotten some play from me. I think I saw she has some sort of performance on Netflix too, fyi

>Beach House - Once Twice Melody
I think this will make an honorable mention list for me but I haven't loved it as much as I expected. Track-by-track, I love just about every tune and their arrangements are perfection as usual. But as an album it's just too long and starts to feel monotonous pretty early on. It's totally possible that I'll put this on one evening and feel completely the opposite, but I've come to appreciate it more on shuffle for a few songs here and there than as something to listen to start to finish.

>Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez...
This will probably me on my list even though it's primarily for that opening run of the first four or five songs (which is amazing). The T-Pain track and a few others right in the middle just drag it down for me as an album. But tracks 1 - 5 is probably one of my favorite opening album sequences in a while.

Quite a bit on your list that sounds interesting or that I haven't gotten to yet. Thanks for sharing!



-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>>Hikaru Utada - BADモード
>
>Thanks for sharing this on other threads. Might not love it as
>much as you but it's definitely gotten some play from me. I
>think I saw she has some sort of performance on Netflix too,
>fyi

I like some tracks a lot more than others, but the sequencing somehow has my favorites popping up just about every other track. Not sure if I'd say it's my overall favorite of hers yet, but it's up there, and the highs on here are really great. I really hope she continues to work with Floating Points for future projects.

>>Beach House - Once Twice Melody
>I think this will make an honorable mention list for me but I
>haven't loved it as much as I expected. Track-by-track, I love
>just about every tune and their arrangements are perfection as
>usual. But as an album it's just too long and starts to feel
>monotonous pretty early on. It's totally possible that I'll
>put this on one evening and feel completely the opposite, but
>I've come to appreciate it more on shuffle for a few songs
>here and there than as something to listen to start to
>finish.

I was pretty happy with each of the smaller releases, but I'd agree that it's too long altogether, and it doesn't help that the final release was my least favorite.

>>Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez...
>This will probably me on my list even though it's primarily
>for that opening run of the first four or five songs (which is
>amazing). The T-Pain track and a few others right in the
>middle just drag it down for me as an album. But tracks 1 - 5
>is probably one of my favorite opening album sequences in a
>while.

The T-Pain track is actually one of my favorites on the album, but I skip "X-Wing" a lot because of the hook. I kind of have a weird take on the album, because a lot of his rhymes and lyrics sound so preditable to me, and a lot of the record sounds like a "how to write conscious rap songs 101" to appeal to a certain aesthetic and demographic. I don't think the album is disingenuous, but there's just something about how formulaic most of it is that feels off to me. But at the end of the day he's a competent enough rapper, and most of songs are solid too, so I can't knock it too hard.

>>>Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez...
>>This will probably me on my list even though it's primarily
>>for that opening run of the first four or five songs (which
>is
>>amazing). The T-Pain track and a few others right in the
>>middle just drag it down for me as an album. But tracks 1 -
>5
>>is probably one of my favorite opening album sequences in a
>>while.
>
>The T-Pain track is actually one of my favorites on the album,
>but I skip "X-Wing" a lot because of the hook. I kind of have
>a weird take on the album, because a lot of his rhymes and
>lyrics sound so preditable to me, and a lot of the record
>sounds like a "how to write conscious rap songs 101" to appeal
>to a certain aesthetic and demographic. I don't think the
>album is disingenuous, but there's just something about how
>formulaic most of it is that feels off to me. But at the end
>of the day he's a competent enough rapper, and most of songs
>are solid too, so I can't knock it too hard.

I've seen this expressed elsewhere too. I kind of get it -- some of the old school references and the way certain themes are approached do have a bit of a too-on-the-nose flavor. But I really like his energy (literally his rapping energy) and I feel like, if anything, he fits more of a general backpacker mold than a specifically conscious one, and even at that he adapts it to his own context and time (esp via his pop culture references).

And although it's unlikely he'll ever be a top-tier contender, he's definitely got a good feel for wordplay and quotables. I'd put him at least a few notches above just competent.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Conway - God Don’t Make Mistakes
Benny - Tana Talk 4
Boldy James - Killing Nothing
Big KRIT - Digital Roses
Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Curren$y/Alchemist - Continuance
Phife Dawg - Forever
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

>Benny - Tana Talk 4

Yeah, this is definitely up there for me, too. There hasn't been a whole lot of hip hop that's really caught my ear so far this year but Benny did. The opener with the J Cole feature sets a high bar but I don't think there's a a bad cut on the album.

>Boldy James - Killing Nothing

Thanks for reminding me, I haven't checked this yet.

>Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart
>Curren$y/Alchemist - Continuance

Or these!

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>
>>Benny - Tana Talk 4
>
>Yeah, this is definitely up there for me, too. There hasn't
>been a whole lot of hip hop that's really caught my ear so far
>this year but Benny did. The opener with the J Cole feature
>sets a high bar but I don't think there's a a bad cut on the
>album.

Agreed. Great opener, and everything else is at least solid. Alchemist and Daringer with Benny spitting is a can’t miss sound IMO.

>>Boldy James - Killing Nothing
>
>Thanks for reminding me, I haven't checked this yet.

Had never heard of Real Bad Man, who did the beats - but I really like most of those beats.

>>Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart

To me, one has a few standouts, and then pretty much else everything else is ok-good. “When Sparks Fly” is one of my favorite songs of the year so far.

>>Curren$y/Alchemist - Continuance
>
>Or these!
>
>-thebigfunk
>
>~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Needed this post. Props.
(thebigfunk, where have you been at?)

+ FAVORITES SO FAR THIS YEAR
Cypress Hill - Back In Black (again, Black Milk killed it)
Carrtoons - Homegrown (I like Saturday Mornings better, but this is solid)
Lucky Daye - Candydrip (inconsistent, but the highs are high)
Brandon Coleman - Interstellar Black Space (dr. claw called it: Real george duke flavor here)
ZAC - Serene (Jehan from The Music Snobs told me about dude)

+ I DIG IT BUUUUUUT I NEED MORE TIME
eLZhi - Zhigeist
Ruby Francis - Archives
BIG K.R.I.T. - Digital Roses Don't Die
Black Star - No Fear Of Time
The Rurals - Watching Waves

+ PROBABLY PLAYED ONCE. HAVEN'T RETURNED
Sault - AIR
Phife Dawg - Forever
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

+ NON-2022 STUFF I'M PLAYING
Floating Points - Promises (took me a few listens, but I get it now)
Joao Donato - Quem e Quem
Butcher Brown - #KingButch
Children Of Zeus - The Story So Far
Teena Marie - John Morales Presents Teena Marie – Love Songs & Funky Beats (these edits...wooo)

https://digife.com

Diggin this "The Rurals" projects...appreciated...

Integrity is the Cornerstone of Artistry...

It had been a minute since I had checked for them, so I bought it without even hearing it.

Not sure it'll rise to the top of my favorites, but it's solid.

https://digife.com

That album would’ve likely slipped by me, otherwise. Very good album!

I need to give Elzhi more listens too. Heard it once and liked it, but just got busy playing other stuff (I think KRIT dropped around the same time and I got into that one, and Benny the Butcher dropped the same day and got more of my attention) and haven’t gone back yet.

Had I not been in my car, I may not have posted this.
But that car test really secured it for me.
And I'll be honest, I haven't checked for Cypress Hill since the mid 90s.

>I need to give Elzhi more listens too. Heard it once and
>liked it, but just got busy playing other stuff (I think KRIT
>dropped around the same time and I got into that one, and
>Benny the Butcher dropped the same day and got more of my
>attention) and haven’t gone back yet.

I'd also like to hear him and GAM do this live.
The music lends to that more organic feel.

https://digife.com

>+ FAVORITES SO FAR THIS YEAR
>Cypress Hill - Back In Black (again, Black Milk killed it)
>Carrtoons - Homegrown (I like Saturday Mornings better, but
>this is solid)

I needed reminders on these! Especially the Cypress Hill.

>Lucky Daye - Candydrip (inconsistent, but the highs are high)

I have to admit I wasn't won over on a few listens. But I need to go back. I think I prefer him more on duets/features?

>Brandon Coleman - Interstellar Black Space (dr. claw called
>it: Real george duke flavor here)

I think he's coming out of Kamasi's band, is that right? This is on my to-listen list, for sure.

>ZAC - Serene (Jehan from The Music Snobs told me about dude)
>Ruby Francis - Archives

Completely new to me, thanks!

>eLZhi - Zhigeist

Definitely on my top 10 albums of the year right now, might be my actual most played. It actually made me appreciate Elzhi a lot more than I have in the past. King Shit is probably one of my favorite songs of the year, too.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>I needed reminders on these! Especially the Cypress Hill.

Like I told DJR above, I haven't checked for Cypress Hill since Black Sunday. This was the perfect avenue for me to check for them again.

>>Brandon Coleman - Interstellar Black Space (dr. claw called
>>it: Real george duke flavor here)
>
>I think he's coming out of Kamasi's band, is that right? This
>is on my to-listen list, for sure.

Yep. A Kamasi guy. I honestly keep getting him and Anderson Paak's guy mixed up.
But yeah, I think you'll dig it. I need to check for his debut album as well.

https://digife.com

Krit - Digital Roses
K.
BlackStar
Bonobo
Lucky Daye
Glasper

---------------------------------------------------------------

If you can't understand it without an explanation

you can't understand it with an explanation

Spinning that ELUCID album heavy rn

I'm from the lost black tribe of Israel, the Yos

http://coolehmag.com/frontEnd/

I've been meaning to make a thread, but have been unable to take the time to make a proper one.

AOTY for me pretty easily.

It deserves one

I'm from the lost black tribe of Israel, the Yos

http://coolehmag.com/frontEnd/

Just added to my wishlist.

https://digife.com

AOTY

I'm from the lost black tribe of Israel, the Yos

http://coolehmag.com/frontEnd/

1) KRS-ONE - IMAMCRU12
2) Cyhi - EGOT the EP
3) Fashawn - All Hail the King (technically end of 2021)

Beach House - Once Twice Melody
Toro Y Moi - Mahal
ELUCID – I Told Bessie
billy woods - Aethiopes
Destroyer - Labyrinthitis
Author & Punisher - Krüller
Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia
Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Cate Le Bon - Pompeii
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Nilüfer Yanya - Painless
Pusha T - It's Almost Dry

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

What individual songs have had you hooked so far this year?

I'll start:

Borderline (Blood Orange Remix) - Tame Impala
https://youtu.be/6NB8wVFgK5Q

Blood Orange practically built a whole new song from the original and wonderfully so. It keeps Tame Impala's sort of psych-pop vibe but melts it down over a loose, minimalist, simmering bass-led groove. Late night driving song if ever there was one.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

fromis_9 - DM
https://youtu.be/4gXmClk8rKI
"Live" version
https://youtu.be/3GRAlqUxaFk?t=81
Kind of a perfect pop song in my books. The retro, disco-y elements aren't on the nose or played out, killer bassline and sweet melodies, vocals are sequenced thoughtfully and utilize the members' different vocal timbres, and the impressive and tasteful whistle notes in the bridge are the cherry on top. The vocals in the "live" version sound too clean and processed to my amateur ears, but the instruments provide a fresh yet familiar listen. Maybe too (K)-poppy for most Lessonheads, but I love it.

billy woods - Asylum
https://youtu.be/Jprzsxj5k8U
"Mengistu Haile Mariam is my neighbor" raps. I don't know what to say; it's just incredible. Often takes me a long time to begin listening to the rest of the album because I replay it so much.

The Weeknd - Out of Time
https://youtu.be/2fDzCWNS3ig
Feels like we've maybe met full saturation for city pop when even The Weeknd is using samples (original: https://youtu.be/KZyS-ms6-RA), and I'm still waiting the backlash when it'll be deemed uncool, but I don't have any criticisms.

The Weeknd - Here We Go...Again feat. Tyler
https://youtu.be/_WMkhkbF6js
The first half sounds beautiful even if The Weeknd is kind of going doing his typical thing lyrically and stylistically, and it transitions smoothly and effortlessly into Tyler's verse.

Hikaru Utada - BADモード
https://youtu.be/VJGCeAWIfEA
Live version (believe this was done for the album's pre-release and is now on Netflix like you mentioned)
https://youtu.be/T6hGvAkuzbM
Perfect opener for album that always puts me in a better mood, and I really like this live version as well. Love that Utada was able to create this kind of album deep into their career and is getting some international recognition and reaching new fans too.

I'm writing more than I expected, so I'll just list the rest and mostly let the songs speak for themselves.

Hikaru Utada - 気分じゃないの (Kibunja Naino) (Not In The Mood)
https://youtu.be/uctD_1SKqtM
Please work with Floating Points more.

Denzel Curry - Walkin
https://youtu.be/fOO1mWLGhh8

MONDO GROSSO - 最後の心臓 feat. suis
https://youtu.be/VrY1VdonZZo
Love the contrast sonically and lyrically between the verses and chorus.

Black Country, New Road - The Place Where He Inserted the Blade
https://youtu.be/YPrs3DqraWM

Big Thief - Flower of Blood
https://youtu.be/T053RL-OwXw
Might be the kind of Big Thief I want to hear more of most.

Parannoul - Ending Credit
https://youtu.be/YlO7ijyVGTQ
Didn't realize how much I needed a somewhat typical and cathartic post-rock climax in 2022.

Vince Staples - WHEN SPARKS FLY
https://youtu.be/5fFV0dWpQPE
The sample makes this song for me (https://youtu.be/3PsP3ITNNIU). I am too experienced and have listened to too much hip-hop, so I realized the gun metaphor on the first listen, but I thought he did it well, and I am glad that Vince thinks a little more highly of his audience than to pull a Nas "I Gave You Power" moment.

Can't wait to dig into this list. If more folks chime in, I'll throw up a playlist somewhere.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

Cities Aviv - Catalogue
https://youtu.be/s4lEqpFvUzs?t=3090

Lori - RoyalPine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuVPr769Rps

Professor Creepshow - Court of the Blue Giant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol-g_z21BQE

Nao Yoshioka - Tokyo 2020 (Kaidi Tatham Remix)
https://youtu.be/dBYG0MZVkLo?t=191

MAUIMØON - Sweeta (feat. Joshua Baraka & mau from nowhere)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTtQQLxMy0o

Nookie & Ruth Royall - Love Less Chaos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOgOtKGPsLQ

Jaala - Funny Shapes
https://youtu.be/NnEsyrhnKL4?t=113
**November 2021

Billy woods - Aethiopes
Quelle Chris – Deathfame
Action Bronson – Cocodrillo Turbo
Nerves Baddington – micro/macro
Chris Crack – Growthfully Developed
Phife Dawg – Forever
Cypress Hill – Back in Black
Jay Worthy, Larry June & LNDN DRGS – 2 P’z In a Pod
Elzhi & Georgia Anne Muldrow – Zhigeist
Benny the Butcher – Tana Talk 4
Curren$y & The Alchemist – Continuance
Czarface – Czarmaggedon
Elucid – I Told Bessie
Conway the Machine – God Don’t Make Mistakes
Black Star – No Fear of Time
Tha God Fahim – Six Ring Champ
Defcee & Boathouse – For All Debts Public and Private
Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
Kendrtick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Lu Chin Chen – NA Meeting
Hus Kingpin - Bjorkpin
Fly Anakin – Frank
Raw Poetic & Damu The Fudgemunk – Laminated Skies
Big Cheeko – Black Barry White
Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyes, See Your Future
3 The God Way – Mt. Olympus

EPs:

Pretty much everything else by Your Old Droog, Mach-Hommy, and Hus Kingpin

YOD & Tha God Fahim - Wolf of Wall Street 2
YOD & Nicholas Craven - YOD Wave
YOD - YOD Stewart
Mach-Hommy - All three "Triz" EPs
Hus Kingpin - Bjorkpin (B-Sides), Adult Swum, and Threesome 3

-----------------

www.albumism.com

Checkin' Our Style, Return To Zero:

https://www.mixcloud.com/returntozero/

5 Favorite Albums So Far:

-BANKS - Serpentina (which I'm impatiently waiting for vinyl of, once she left the whole "not saying actual lyrics" thing behind things started working again, plus the best songs being produced by Beat Butcha helps alot)

-Elzhi & Georgia Ann Muldrow - Zhigeist (this album works so much better than I thought it would, hope there's a part 2 one day)

-The Cool Kids - Before Shit Got Weird (the only mistake they did was not waiting until the summer to release it....now that it's hot out please go back and spin this)

-Tinashe - 333 Deluxe (Very surprised to see that my favorite song on here was produced by an underground rap producer: M-Phazes on "Naturally")

-Bonobo - Fragments (It was on my most-anticipated list...and totally lived up to the hype I had for it)

5 Sleepers that I didn't see much talk about:

-Warpaint - Radiate Like This (they waited far too long to drop a record, but hopefully they don't wait another 7 years for another one)

-Kehlani - Blue Water Road (lani let off the gas of the ignorant shit and everyone's sleeping)

-Homeboy Sandman - There In Sprit (Sand is the most prolific rapper going IMO)

-Lady Wray - Piece of Me (I know some artists left the "making old music on purpose" trend....but I'm still rocking with it. That Sunday music is still going for me)

-Girl Talk - Full Court Press (promotion always matters, because I don't think people know this is a Wiz Khalifa,Big K.R.I.T. & Smoke DZA album....Creative Control lives even if Dame Dash is dead in the water)

5 Albums I Haven't Gotten To Yet (but I did skim):

-Syd - Broken Hearts Club (kinda wish we gotten another Internet LP before the round of solo projects but whatev.)

-Curren$y & Alchemist - Continuance (haven't been listening to much ALC this year besides 1 song, plus I'm salty I missed out on the burgundy vinyl lol)

-Lykke Li - EyeEye (I'm not sad enough to play this....but when I am I know it's gonna HIT

-Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyes:See Your Future (Some of my friends think this is the rap album this year, we'll see)

-Toro Y Moi - MAHAL (Gotta get to this one soon....Toro is hit & miss with me but I think this one might work)

5 Things I'm looking forward to the rest of 2022:

-T-Pain resurgence (I think we'll see Pain on a legit radio hit soon.)

-Sampha (rumors is he's dropping this year, and being on Kendrick's album is a good platform to launch off of IMO)

-Puff Daddy's R&B Album (judge me if you want, but Last Train to Paris was FLAMES, and this is just gonna be Puff getting the best work from all the singers he can grab it's gonna be good).

-SZA,Ab-Soul & Schoolboy Q (they all lumped in together because now that Kenny dropped the green light should be on for TDE, how many can they dropped before the end of 22?)

-Beyonce (is dropping the day after my birthday....c'mon man lol)

phemom's the name, all-star writer/
searching 4 journalistic fame, mindframe igniter....www.twitter.com/hayabusaage

Kevin Gates - Khaza
The Weeknd - Dawn FM
Elzhi & Georgia Anne Muldrow - Zhigeist
Action Bronson - COCODRILLO TURBO
Curren$y & Alchemist - Continuance
Curren$y & Fuse - Spring Clean 2
Brainorchestra - Big Brain
Tha God Fahim - Six Ring Champ
Nahmir - SUMN2SK8TO
Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Sir Michael Rocks - BABY OIL STAIRCASE
Killah Priest - Horrah Scope
Snoop Dogg - B.O.D.R.
Lucky Daye - Candydrip
Girl Talk, Wiz Khalifa, Smoke DZA & Big K.R.I.T. - Full Court Press
Rex Orange County - Who Cares?
Coast Contra - Apt. 505
Quelle Chris - DEATHFAME
Fly Anakin - Frank

Honorable mention to Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim, Yung Pinch, THERAVADA, BLASS 89, Buckshot, etc. who all put out dope EP's this year but I don't count EP's on my year-end list.

Esteemed author of the celebrated, double-platinum post: "Drake - Wu-Tang Forever".

First tier (most played, most favorite):

Kendrick Lamar "Mr Morale..."
Alchemist/Curren$y "Continuance"
Benny the Butcher "Tana Talk 4"
Quelle Chris "Deathfame"
Fly Anakin "Frank"

Next tier:

toro y moi "Mahal"
Conway the Machine "God Don't Make Mistakes"
Phife "Forever"
Elzhi &Georgia Ann "Zhigeist"
Elucid "I Told Bessie"
Logic "Vinyl Days"
Homeboy Sandman "There in Spirit"
Chris Crack "Growthfully Developed"
Denzel Curry "Melt My Eyez See Your Future"
Your Old Droog "YOD Stewart"
Action Bronson "Cocodrillo Turbo"
Kno & Sadistik "Bring Me Back...."
Earl Sweatshirt "Sick!"


The rest (some I haven't had a chance to fully dive into and could move up, others were solid and had some joints):


Chris Crack "Let Her Hold it..."
Elaquent "Long Drives to Nowhere"
Curren$y and Fuse "Spring Clean 2"
J. Rawls "#jazzhop"
Fat Jon "Plaything: Cipher"
Vic Spencer "Still Here"
Czarface "Czarmageddon"
Pusha T "It's Almost Dry"
billy woods "Aethiopes"
Wildchild "Omowale"
Pete Rock "Petestrumentals 4"
Coast Contra "Apt. 505"
Tha God Fahim "Six Ring Champ"
Cypress Hill "Back in Black"
The Other Guys "Winter in Analog: Season 3"
Nicholas Craven "Craven N 3"
Your Old Droog "YOD Wave"
Your Old Droog & Tha God Fahim "Wolf on Wallstreet 2"




Most disappointing: Black Star "No Fear of Time". Annoying roll out, disappointing outing by all parties including Madlib. The only song that made me perk up and revisit was "Supreme Alchemy".


__
I don't like the beat anymore because its just a loop. ALC didn't FLIP IT ENOUGH!

Flip it enough? Flip these. Flip off. Go flip some f*cking burgers.(c)Kno

Allied State of the National Electric Beat Treaty Organization (NEBTO)

Figured I'd do this month-by-month only to find that January was *huge* for me. This doesn't include more instrumental-leaning records.

~~~ Top-tier Favorites/Most Admired ~~~

FKA Twigs - CAPRISONGS. Liked it right away but this has really dominated a good amount of my return listening. In a time when the overwhelming amount of good music can make even quality stuff start to feel forgettable, she's a reminder of how much art and refinement can be brought to this shit and how skill and execution genuinely matters. Fav song: HONDA.

Silvana Estrada - Marchita. It feels unfair to compare her w/Natalia Lafourcade as if all Mexican female singers who incorporate traditional sounds are the same or something. But on first listen, it really was Natalia who I thought of, and I meant it as a compliment to Silvana. A lot of these arrangements are fairly minimal/acoustic-ish yet simultaneously lush, and - like Natalia - the real star is Silvana Estrada's voice. The songwriting is excellent, too, at least on the music end (my Spanish isn't good enough to make much of the lyrics yet, lol). Fav songs: Carta; Ser De Ti.

Elujay - Circmvnt. Bummed I haven't seen this mentioned more. New name to me -- the album is modern r&b-ish but with a lot of 90s/00s nods. A lot of moments that remind me quite a bit of the eclectic/alt-r&b scene of the late 90s/early 00s, folks like Esthero --- but that might just be because there's a legit drum & bass outro on one of these tracks, lol. These songs all feel very whole and thoughtful, from the lyrics to the melodies and arrangements to the production details. His voice isn't great but it works for what he's doing. Fav songs: Ratrace; Switchsides; Luvaroq.

Maverick Sabre - Don't Forget to Look Up. Wrote about this one in its own post.

Combo Chibita - IRE. Exceptional genre-breaking Colombian band, this record feels like the musical spirit and sounds of the Afro-Caribbean are being refracted through some sort of psychedelic prism. It's awesome and I can't do it any justice with words. Favs: Babalawo.

Modern Nature - Island of Noise. New artist to me and another great surprise. It's one part singer-songwriter and one part chamber pop, and I'd feel comfortable listing them alongside someone like Patrick Watson as a reference point -- but there's also an experimental edge, most notably through bursts and detours of saxophone, that gives a sort of unexpected edge. The project itself is also related to The Tempest somehow but I've not yet unpacked that part, as it's good enough to stand on its own. Favorites: it definitely feels like an *album* and so haven't picked it apart track-by-track yet, usually just listen as a whole.

Pom Poko - Our House EP. Super short outing from one of my favorite bands right now yet it feels like as satisfying as a longer album. I don't know who to liken these folks to. They match some of the weirdness and math-rock/progginess of bands like BCNR/Squid that are currently getting a lot of critical attention, but they have a bit of power pop behind them, making their tunes unexpectedly hummable even though they can break into fits of noise at any moment. They also have a spirit that feels a lot more youthful and --- fun? Last year's EP was my intro to them and is also top-notch. Favorites: the whole damn thing, it's only 13 minutes long, lol.

~~~ Also Really Enjoying/Need More Time With... ~~~

* YOD/Fahim - Wolf of Wall St II

* Bonobo - Fragments

* Amber Mark - Three Dimensions Deep (wrote a post on this one)

* Lady Wray - Piece of Me

* Samm Henshaw - Untidy Soul (wrote a post on this one)

* THEMBA - Modern Africa, Part I - Ekhaya (can't remember which OKP recommended this but it's really great!)

* Jana Horn - Optimism (folk-ish singer-songwriter with a beautiful sense of lyricism, as an example "Jordan" is a *ridiculous* tune)

* Les Louanges - Crash (Quebec-based nu disco/r&b that brings a touch of epicness to its vision -- see the brilliant breakdown and moodshift on "Bolero")

* Punch Brothers - Hell on Church St (a much more reined in version of Chris Thile's progressive bluegrass band, this is probably their first truly "accessible" record. I've seen mixed reviews but I think it's great --- not every song needs melodic lines a mile long, lol)

* Jake Xerxes Fussell - Good and Green Again (this may very well bump up a tier -- beautifully arranged, super poignant folk/chamber folk. If you like Sam Amidon, this might be for you -- like Sam, most of these tunes are trad tunes, and also like Sam, Jake's voice is fairly deadpan. Everyone should listen to "Carriebelle," it's so beautiful!)

* lilblackkids (Georgia Anne Muldrow and Keith Rice) - Planet of the Blues part 1. (Short EP of GAM-laced funk - Hope this is really a part 1 and that there's more to come!)

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>FKA Twigs - CAPRISONGS.
>Elujay - Circmvnt.

I'm just now starting to incorporate the streaming aspect of Apple Music with my own collection.
At moments like this, it helps cause I can check these albums out now.
I've seen FKA Twigs featured on a ton of stuff, but never checked a full LP.

I'm usually in and out of these posts all year but I'm starting w/ these two.

https://digife.com

lol -- We're all old around here at this point! But I hear you.

I almost shouted you out on the Elujay, I have a feeling you'll dig that. Not sure on the Twigs but eager to hear what you think. She's got like ten different personalities inside of her and she's not afraid to show them all off at once.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

>I almost shouted you out on the Elujay, I have a feeling
>you'll dig that.


Ha. I mess with this. Just copped on Bandcamp.
"Pandemia" and "Ratrace" are immediate favorites.
Is the earlier work checking for?
Was surprised this was his 4th LP.

https://digife.com

I feel like February was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, some really big indie rock-ish releases (Animal Collective; Beach House; Big Thief; Spoon; Black Country New Road --- all in one month!) --- all of which I liked well enough, even the AC (who I don't tend to like as much), but really only the Big Thief and BCNR truly got into my ears and under my skin, with Beach House not far behind. On the flip side, some mostly-new-to-me names really wowed me, and some vets turned in projects that I liked more than I expected to. On the whole though, a lot less here than January (which was unreasonably overflowing with interesting stuff).

~~~ Top-tier Favorites/Most Admired ~~~

BCNR - Ants From Up There. I think I enjoy this one more than their first. Nothing I can say about these folks that hasn't been said.

Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain... I started getting into BT in 2019-2020, mainly through Two Hands and then backtracking from there. There's a lot of discussion about them right now in indie circles and beyond, trying to pin down what their popularity represents (or doesn't) --- but for me, they're just a really really *warm* band, whether they're playing in more of a folky or rock mode. Even their most jarring, angry, or dark moments feel comforting and all-encompassing somehow (the songwriting is key here, too). I would resequence this and possibly cut off a few tracks but it will likely be in my top of tops for the year.

Raveena - Asha's Awakening. This is one of the poppiest records I've enjoyed this year and I can't recommend it enough. Its incorporation of Indian instruments and sounds into more a more American/Euro r&b-pop aesthetic sometimes walks right up to the line of being kitschy but never crosses it; instead, the mixture always feels fresh vibrant, complementing the lightness and openness of spirit that pervades the whole record. And I think that lightness comes from precisely that blend --- there's some genuinely cool stuff happening musically, particularly in terms of the percussion and the use of certain Indian rhythms/motifs, that feels really natural in a pop context. It's also very measured, opting more for subtlety and minimalism than the type of sonic density a lot of today's pop has, and very *fun*. It's hard not to dance through this album. Hard to pick favorites but I especially love the back-to-back punch of Magic, Kismet, and Kathy Left 4 Kathmandu.

Gonora Sounds - Hard Times Never Kill. I can't explain how happy this record makes me. A family band from Zimbabwe swoops in with all the energy you could ask for: everything is simultaneously simple and complex, rhythms, melodies, all of it. The drums in particular are just right on point. I've definitely been spending a lot of time with music from Africa lately and this is one of my favorite newer records from the continent -- all the better that it's from Zimbabwe, whose music I don't have much knowledge of.

Khruangbin/Leon Bridges - Texas Moon. My favorite of the series so far and I think it made me appreciate the first EP more. "B-Side" can be played on endless repeat, easy.

~~~ Also Really Enjoying/Need More Time With... ~~~
* LNDFK - Kuni. I'm putting this at the top because it's likely it will edge into my absolute favs of the month, I only just heard it a few weeks ago. I don't know what to make of it, in a good way, but I will say that it reminds me a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote. There's hip hop and r&b with proggy twists and turns but also pieces that border on something ambient. The drums take the cake -- can't tell if they're programmed or live or a mix but they're KILLING.

* Beach House - Once Twice Melody. I think this is a record that will take time to appreciate and find space for.

* Moonchild - Starfruit. They're not my favorite but they're good at what they do: a rather rigid, maybe too on-the-nose version of Dilla-leaning neo-soul that still jams in spite of its flaws (confession: I'd like them 10x more without the lead singer's voice, as harsh as that sounds). The band got some nice features here too including Lalah, Alex Isley, Rapsody, Tank and the Bangas, and guitarist Josh Johnson.

* Big KRIT - Digital Roses Don't Die. Think I talked about this elsewhere.

* Ivy Sole - Candid. She's new to me but has been around for a while and I might have given her a chance because there's a Topaz Jones feature --- but this is a solid record with her flexing as both a rapper and a singer. It's hard to balance those talents across a single record but I think she does it really well here, showing off her lyricism on tracks like the opener "Easy to Kill" but also her ear for vocals/melody on songs like "Nights Like This." Her singing voice reminds me a lot of Meshell and I feel like a lot of the production takes cues from that brand of neo-soul as well. This record keeps growing on me, might edge its way higher over time.

* Erin Rae - Lighten Up. Classic country-infused singer/songwriter with a really good ear for arrangements. A good comparison in sound might be someone like Weyes Blood but with a bit of Waxahatchee thrown in. Honestly, this is *mainly* getting on here for the song "Cosmic Sigh" which is one of my favorite songs of the year but there's a lot to love on this record. The opening track is great too ("Candy+Curry"). Beautiful voice and just about every tune will work its way into your brain if you let it. Produced by Jonathan Wilson who produced Angel Olsen's new record (among other recent big lps).

* Robert Glasper - Black Radio 3. I like this *way* more than I expected to (which was very little, lol). Worth the price of admission for the Q-Tip/Esperanza Spalding cut ("Why We Speak") which is definitely a favorite song of the year so far. The whole album is very dialed in to a certain R&B/neo-soul sound that isn't necessarily out of Glasper's normal terrain but feels more focused than usual.

* Nicholas Craven - Craven n 3. Nothing unexpected: Craven's beats here are solid but true to form, and the same with his features (Stove God, Boldy, Evidence, YOD, so on) --- yet this feels really coherent for a producer EP and is definitely worth return listens. YOD's "YOD Body" is the top cut for me and I'm kind of mad he didn't save it for one of his own albums.

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

An easier month to sum up, at least on the more popular-ish sort of things. (Although this list also includes two jazz vocalists, so that's not even quite right.)

Cecile Mclorin Savant - Ghost Song
* Favorites: Wuthering Heights; Optimistic Voices/No Love Dying; Thunderclouds

Nilufer Yanya - PAINLESS
* One of my most played records so far this year, every listen pulls me further in. It's not exactly a style I often listen to - what to call it, exactly? - but there's something seductive about it.
* Favorites: shameless; midnight sun; I almost always listen start to finish so it's hard to pull out tracks

Somi - Zenzile: The Reimagination of Miriam Makeba
* I honestly don't know a great deal of Makeba's music. This has made me go back and start digging. Some of it is a bit too clean, recording-wise, but the performances are just untouchable, Somi's voice is formidable, and there are some moments where the energy is just palpable. It's only flaw is its too long -- but what to cut? This is apparently connected to a play/musical put together by Somi as well.
* Favorites: Umhome; Love Tastes Like Strawberries; Khuluma; Nonqonqo; Ring Bell, Ring Bell; ok, any song depending on the day

Elzhi & GAM - Zhigeist
* Favorites: Every Moment; King Shit; Pros and Cons

Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez...

Destroyer - LABYRINTHITIS
* Favorites: the title track; It Takes a Thief; The Last Song

Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity
* Half of my love for this LP is the opening cut, "Protection from Evil." But the whole thing jams and reminded me of how much I love their past records, too.

YOD - YOD Wave
Favorites: maybe Purple Rain Freestyle, Fela Kruti

Benny - Tana Talk 4

Ego Ella May - Fieldnotes II
* Favorites: Why?; for the both of us


-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

With some notes for April but just a list for May, which was pretty slow from what I can see in my listening and lists. Going to try and get to June soon then do a monster instrumental/jazz-ish list for the first half of the year, which I've mostly kept out of these lists so far.

April 2022

Frontperson - Parade. I have a thing for powerpop bands with both male and female vocals --- I blame the New Pornographers. Which, actually, is what this record reminded me a lot of, and for good reason --- one-half of the duo is Kathryn Calder of the New Pornographers. Fancy that. Like TNP, there are big melodies and big harmonies here, but on the whole a gentler, maybe more personal/intimate sound. Some really smart arrangements that make me keep going back for another closer listen. Needs resequencing but a really promising debut.

** Some Favorites: "Table of Contents"; "Messy Roomz"; "Fastest"

Congotronics International - Where's the One? Wrote about this elsewhere.

CZARFACE - Czarmageddon! Belongs in that slept on post, now that I think about it. Who would have thought that Deck would be the most reliable and proficient Wu member to be doing it the late 2010s/2020s? It might be a bit on-the-nose as nostalgia boom bap rap at times, but it's often much more than that.

** Some Favorites:

Patrick Watson - Better in the Shade (EP). An act I often forget to check in on for a few years, then something reminds me of him and I have to play catch up. Watson was the vocalist on Cinematic Orchestra's To Build a Home and although his voice is often the star of whatever he touches, he's a pretty spectacular and eclectic artist and composer in his own right. This is a darker, quieter, more mysterious outing - I keep thinking "blurry" - that plays like a suite. It's true to his sound: sparse, singer-songwriter-ish but unafraid of longer instrumental passages that often drift toward the minimalist/experimental. Some beautiful interwoven male/female vocals throughout, such as "height of the Feeling" and "la la la la".

** Some Favorites: "Height of the Feeling", "Little Moments", "Blue"

Gerald Clayton - Bells on Sand. Did I write about this elsewhere? God this is such a good record. I think I did write about this elsewhere. It's kind of a swerve away from some of the overt trends in modern jazz/improvisational music, too, where a lot of bands are starting to sound like generic afro-funk bands with a bit of a dilla drag, lol. I appreciate the effort and it pays dividends here. Clayton's been on several other top records this year, too. This is probably in my top of the tops of the year.

Julmud - Tuqoos. Was it an OKP that put me on to this? Whoever it was, thank you. A Palestinian beat tape that at times feels like a collage of field recordings laced with heavy drums. Truly transporting, never boring, and I can't think of much else that sounds like it.

Kaelin Ellis - THE FUNK WILL PREVAIL. Another beat tape/short instrumental thing that doesn't overstay its welcome. There's a little bit of everything that Kaelin does here, all with a bit of funk and dirty swing. Complemented by his recent collab with The Count, too.

Molly Tuttle - Crooked Tree
My obligatory bluegrass/country-ish pick of the month, lol. On first listen this was too clean and rigid for me. It could still loosen up for me but the songwriting is infectious and there's some really great playing. It's a really fun record and you don't always need more than that.

Petestrumentals 4 - Another for the slept on post.

Alex Isley/Jack Dine - Marigold. This was definitely an OKP rec. I honestly didn't like it much at first but it's really grown on me, turning into a once a week listen.

Jordan Klassen - Glossolalia. Have I written about this yet? Another chamber pop/singer-songwriter pick from thebigfunk, lol. I want to hate this because of the combination of his hushed, raspy voice and slightly twee (?) delivery but he's killing it lyrically, melodically, harmonically, and in overall song structure, enough that I can get over the vocal delivery.
Favorites: "Pangea" - https://youtu.be/gaf8Ze7k8oE ; "Niko" - https://youtu.be/lJRoBsYAjMI

Romero - Turn It On! Every once and a while a more straight up rock/punk band with a bigger sound gets my attention and it's usually something like this: stripped down, almost garage rock with a lot of rhythm and energy. All the better that this is female-led. Honestly, this isn't a record I've played through top to bottom a lot, but I've shuffled it a number of times and every cut works.

Whatever the Weather - s/t. Wrote about this elsewhere. Lorraine James's ambient-ish outfit which drifts into the ambient jazz space at times, I think?

Defcee/Boathouse - For All Debts Public and Private. Definitely another okp rec and definitely a keeper. Another straight beats + rhymes lp that just goes.

Daniel Rossen - You Belong There. I have intentionally kept my listenings to this somewhat sparse so far bc I don't want to ruin *that* quality that it has in spades. That quality that is both epic and hushed. Just a deep, rich well of something verging on the profound here, but I don't know quite what's profound about it yet and that's ok with me.

------
May - some general picks, asterisks are some clear favs but all in my tops for the year

Sabrina Claudio - Based on a Feeling. *
Warpaint - Radiate Like This
Obongjayar - Some Nights I Dream of Doors. *
Quelle Chris - Deathfame
The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
Mary Halvorson - Belladonna/Amaryllis *
Brandon Coleman - Interstellar Black Space *
Mavis Staples/Levon Helm - Carry Me Home
Deca - Smoking Gun*
Jean Carn - JID012
Nikitch/Kuna Maze - Back & Forth
Wilco - Cruel Country

-thebigfunk

~ i could still snort you under the table ~

June releases are a bit fresh so those may drop. I wouldn't put too much stock in the order.

Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion
eLZhi & Georgia Anne Muldrow - Zhigeist
Lucky Daye - Candydrip
Pusha T - It's Almost Dry
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez, See Your Future
PJ Morton - Watch The Sun
Buddy - Superghetto
Sunni Colon - JuJu & The Flowerbug
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
LNDN DRGS & Larry June - Two P's in a Pod
Ivy Sole - CANDID
Big K.R.I.T. - Digital Roses Don't Die

Tiana Major9 - Fool Me Once (EP)
Your Old Droog - Yod Stewart (EP)
Phro. & Guilty Simpson - Guilty By Association (EP)


It's been an interesting year. A lot of "big" current rappers dropped albums this year and there were some really good ones. Yet it feels like there hasn't really been an amazing project yet. Maybe Lupe but I need to give it more time. I cooled off a tiny bit on Elzhi, it's great but not perfect. Denzel is maybe the one getting the most spins for me. I finally cooled some on the Kendrick too. I still think it's great but there are some skips for me.

Two P's does have bad bars but man the beats are just so funky that they get a pass.

I could name some honorable mentions but then where do I draw the line? lol

What I will say is that Snoop has had a solid year. 3 releases in my top 50.

2. Wun Two - Boranda EP

Beach House - Once Twice Melody
Toro Y Moi - Mahal
ELUCID – I Told Bessie
billy woods - Aethiopes
Destroyer - Labyrinthitis
Author & Punisher - Krüller
Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia
Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Cate Le Bon - Pompeii
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Nilüfer Yanya - Painless
Pusha T - It's Almost Dry

Santigold - Spirituals
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Coby Sey - Conduit
Danger Mouse x Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Launder - Happening
Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever
The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
The Mars Volta - The Mars Volta
Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob

Beach House - Once Twice Melody
Toro Y Moi - Mahal
ELUCID – I Told Bessie
billy woods - Aethiopes
Destroyer - Labyrinthitis
Author & Punisher - Krüller
Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia
Vince Staples - Ramona Park Broke My Heart

Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Cate Le Bon - Pompeii
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Nilüfer Yanya - Painless
Pusha T - It's Almost Dry
Santigold - Spirituals
Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Coby Sey - Conduit

Danger Mouse x Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Launder - Happening
Soccer Mommy - Sometimes, Forever
The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
The Mars Volta - The Mars Volta
Lupe Fiasco - Drill Music in Zion
Nas & Hit-Boy - King’s Disease III
billy woods & Messiah Musik - Church

Wu-Lu - Loggerhead
Big Joanie - Back Home
Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately
Alvvays - Blue Rev
Duster - Together
Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork
Daniel Avery - Ultra Truth
Roc Marciano x Alchemist - The Elephant Man's Bones

******************************************
Falcons, Braves, Bulldogs and Hawks

Geto Boys, Poison Clan, UGK, Eightball & MJG, OutKast, Goodie Mob