Ludicrous amounts of interesting music released today including albums from Blood Orange, Steve Gunn, Tei Shi, Jehnny Beth and others (posts to follow) but this definitely stood out from Che Noir’s latest album No Validation.
Tag: rap
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Che Noir – Painting Class
The opening track from Che Noir’s new LP The Color Chocolate 2 see the Buffalo-based rapper and producer in typically reflective form, with bars like “Family trees that we cherish with conviction / But the only thing that we inherit is addiction” passionately delivered over rich, evocative production.
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Saba, No ID – Reciprocity (feat. Ibeyi)
From The Private Collection Of Saba and No ID is a collaborative album between Chicago artists Saba and producer No ID. The project blends hip-hop, soul, and experimental production across a series of tracks and features various guest appearances while leaning in to No ID’s sample-driven, textured production and Saba’s lyrical focus and vocal versatility. There’s a lot to enjoy here, but the 90 second Reciprocity with vocals from Ibeyi is a definite highlight.
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JPEGMAFIA – either on or off the drugs
JPEGMAFIA may be too creative for his own good. Often his tracks have more ideas in them than entire albums from other artists. Sometimes this results of works of genius, at others it makes his music hard to keep up with; an overwhelming assault of samples, glitches, changes of direction and genre clashes. For me, his new album I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU is too much like hard work, but it does have its moments. either on or off the drugs is vibey, soulful bliss.: just don’t expect the rest of the album to sound anything like it.
https://jpegmafia.bandcamp.com/album/i-lay-down-my-life-for-you
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John Glacier – Steady As I Am
John Glacier has already released one of the best EPs of the year, and has now announced a second, Duppy Gun, alongside its lead single Steady As I Am. Lo-fi, hazy beats and Glacier’s icy delivery abound, and while it’s perhaps not quite as startlingly brilliant as the tracks on Like A Ribbon, it’s still very good. Looking forward to the EP which lands 20 June.
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John Glacier – Tripsteady
John Glacier’s new Like A Ribbon EP is incredible. Produced by Flume, Vegyn, Kwes Darko and others, it showcases Glacier’s deep connection to her origins, set against a backdrop of fantasy and personal reflection: unfiltered, poetic, and full of energy. Just five tracks long and clocking in at less that 15 minutes it’s still one of the most impactful and strikingly original releases of the year so far.
https://shop.y-o-u-n-g.com/release/438710-john-glacier-like-a-ribbon
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Che Noir – Vanilla Skies
Buffalo rapper and producer Che Noir kicks off 2024 with a four-track EP The Color Of Chocolate. The first of many projects expected from her this year, she dominates on every song, even when up against some talented guests. On Vanilla Skies she goes solo, and it’s all the better for it.
https://chenoir.bandcamp.com/album/the-color-chocolate-vol-1
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Kamaiyah – No Pape
Another Summer Night seems to have landed at least six months too late; I can’t really think of a title (or vibe) less suited to the general mood in the UK right now. However Kamaiyah is as bouncy as ever, and although this doesn’t really compare to her divinely brash and boisterous debut A Good Night In The Ghetto, it’s a diverting change from the rain-lashed misery we’re all currently sucking up.
Shabazz Palaces’ Ishmael Butler is one of the most consistently weird hip-hop innovators out there; a title his new album Robed in Rareness is only too happy to reinforce. Operating as a solo project since Tendai Maraire’s departure a few years back, Butler has surrounded himself with collaborators including Royce The Choice, Porter Ray, O Finess, Geechi Suede and Butler’s son Lil Tracy, none of whom dim the light of creativity that continues to burn bright as he enters his firth decade. Binoculars came out as the lead single a couple of months back and is just sublime.
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Kota The Friend – Elevator
Of the two rap albums released last week that I paid attention to – the other being 6LACK’s Since I Have A Lover – Kota The Friend’s To See A Sunset is definitely the most fun. I think I’ve used the word ‘breezy’ every time I’ve posted about his music, and I see no reason to break that habit here. Breeeeezy!
https://kotathefriendofficial.bandcamp.com/album/to-see-a-sunset-explicit
The Predatory Wasp 