The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Ayra Starr was made to be a star. It’s a fact (and pun) too undeniable to avoid. The Nigerian Grammy-nominated singer, who is just a few weeks away from her 22nd birthday, not only embraces the spotlight but outshines the light that falls on her. Starr embodies this same spirit as we meet at Republic Records before a listening party for her sophomore album The Year I Turned 21. A big smile and her bubbly energy are hard to ignore as Starr and her team work on finishing touches for the night. “I’m blessed with being one of the most non-serious people on earth,” Starr tells me during a conversation before the party. “I try to have fun in every single experience. I’m blessed with that.” The reveling days of 19 & Dangerous are far from over for Starr, but The Year I Turned 21 proves that through the fun, she’s also grown up.
The Year I Turned 21 puts a stake in the ground as a time, place, and feeling to remember for Ayra Starr. The naivety is gone thanks to some new experiences in life and the industry, and in exchange for that comes added self-awareness as a career-sharpening tool. “I just wanted to be 19 & Dangerous,” Starr says, reflecting on her debut album. “With the sound, I was just trying different things. I’d never really worked on my sound, specifically. But I feel like with this album [The Year I Turned 21], I know exactly what I’m doing. I know my strengths and weaknesses.”
The album begins with the attention-grabbing quick strums of a violin on “Birds Sing Of Money” before equally quick strikes of a drum blare to welcome Ayra Starr to the stage. “It’s different from anything I’ve ever done,” Starr boasts of the song which she also called a “masterpiece in its own right.” She adds, “It’s such an iconic way to open an album [and] it’s definitely a genre I would like to try out more.” Records like these prove that Starr is more confident and comfortable than ever in herself and her artistry. “I don’t watch my tone ’cause I like how I sound, b*tch,” she quips on the song, before adding later, “I’m so careful with my energy, please never speak upon my name.”
The protection of peace and the promotion of enjoyment are the foundation of The Year I Turned 21, which supports a combative Ayra Starr ready to fight those that threaten her happiness. It’s the whole premise of “Commas,” a single from the album that grew to be one of Starr’s most popular records and one she says she’s “obsessed” with. “‘Commas’ is one of the most beautiful records I’ve made,” she adds. The sentiment was the same with fans who begged the singer to release the song after she posted a preview on social media. With lyrics like “Energy wrong, I log off” and “I carry God, so I fear nothing,” it’s no shock that an empowering Ayra Starr resonated with listeners. She manifested her inner strength and you can too.
These empowering moments are sprinkled throughout The Year I Turned 21 in different ways. “Goodbye (Warm Up)” with Asake, which has all the ingredients to be a surefire hit heading in the summer, is a celebratory departure from an inadequate lover with the comfort that better days are ahead. “Bad Vibes” with Seyi Vibez is a promise to only reap what her blessings have sowed her. It’s carried by a Yoruba proverb that reads, “Igi gogoro magun mi l’oju, mi o fọ” which loosely translates to “A tall tree does not poke me in the eye, so I don’t need to wash.” In other words, a big change or challenge doesn’t hurt me, so I don’t need to overreact to it. As she said earlier, Ayra Starr recognizes her strengths, and in putting them to action on The Year I Turned 21, she appears more free, more independent, and more of a force to reckon with.
This aura that so effortlessly wraps itself around Starr is one of the many reasons that collaborations like “Woman Commando” with Brazilian singer Anitta and American singer Coco Jones can happen. Starr, a self-described “girl’s girl,” aimed to create a record in the same vein of Beyoncé’s “Run The World (Girls),” and just like that, “Woman Commando” was born. When it came time to decide who would help make this feeling a reality, the decision of Anitta and Coco Jones was fairly easy for Starr. “I’ve [been] listening to Coco Jones since I was 11,” Starr said while recalling the time she begged her mother to let to watch the singer in her lead role on Disney’s 2012 movie Let It Shine. As for Anitta, that decision was a “no-brainer” thanks to a friendship already cemented between the singers.
“I love her, that woman is amazing,” Starr says of Anitta. “She’s my G, she’s the most hilarious person ever. We’ve just been chatting and sending each other memes. She’s so beautiful, her voice is stunning, and I feel like we kind of have the same background when it comes to music. She comes from and the favelas, and she wants to make it out. She’s already big in America, but she wants to be bigger and I respect it so much. Even having her on my album is just a blessing.”
Another feature Starr is proud of comes on “Last Heartbreak Song” with Giveon. The record, which grapples and eventually moves on from an unrequited love, was originally meant for 19 & Dangerous. However, after consulting with her team, Starr opted to save the song for another album. A couple of years and an additional Giveon verse later, “Last Heartbreak Song” takes space on the album it was “perfect” for. “I remember when I heard Giveon’s verse, I just started crying in the car because I felt like, ‘Thank God I waited,’” Starr says. “I called my A&R Rima and said this is perfect.” For Starr, this was undoubtedly another big moment in a career that has already produced so many, something she reflects on with “21.” It’s essentially the title track for The Year I Turned 21 as it documents the gravity of the years that prior and up to Starr turning 21. “I was at the house tryna figure out who the f*ck I am,” she sings about her first decade of life before noting the “big year” 18 was and the “big bag” she earned at 19 years old.
Mason “Maesu” Tanner, Starr’s friend and collaborator, is credited as the catalyst for this song as he gave her a demo of the record after hearing about Starr’s creative struggles. “I told him it’s so hard to write about my experiences I write about other people,” Starr explained. “It’s quite hard when it comes to me because I feel like I don’t see my experiences. I’m just living too much, there’s so much happening.” A month later, Tanner took everything Starr said and delivered the demo to her as a gift at her 21st birthday party. “I was like, this is perfect. I know what to do with this.”
The Year I Turned 21 is undoubtedly the start of a new era for Ayra Starr, one that will validate her as the growing global superstar we all know her to be. With future goals of learning how to produce her own records and how to dance, as well as getting more into her “fashion bag,” Ayra Starr’s star power is only going to increase by the second. Until then, Starr wants listeners to “feel inspired by the greatness” that is The Year I Turned 21. “I want them to feel very motivated because it is a coming of age story,” Starr says. “Through this album, they’re gonna know where I come from and where I’m trying to go.” She’s a star and it’s only a matter of time until everyone recognizes it and thinks the same, no matter where she goes next.
The Year I Turned 21 is out now via Mavins Global Holdings Ltd/Republic Records. Find out more information here.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Things changed very quickly for Anycia. In a matter of months, the Atlanta blossomed into the class of hip-hop’s next it-girls. It began towards the end of last with the release of “BRB,” a record that closes both her 2023 EP Extra and her newly-released debut album Princess Pop That, and elevated when she collaborated with Latto for “Back Outside.” Though Anycia admits that the newfound fame is overwhelming (“Chile, it’s overwhelming right now.”), she also knows that the stress is worth it.
“When I was working regular jobs, I was overwhelmed, and it wasn’t a good overwhelmed, so I like this overwhelming.” she tells me. Furthermore, she believes that being overwhelmed is a product of trying to elevate your life. “You always gonna be overwhelmed when you’re doing some sh*t, when you’re trying to get your life right,” she adds. “If you’re not overwhelmed or feel like there’s more to be done, then b*tch, you not doing nothing.”
Princess Pop That presents Anycia as both spoiled and feisty. Through 14 songs that clock in at just under a half-hour, Anycia enforces her rule over men and spiteful women with a playful authority that emphasizes the duality that exists in her artistry as much as it does in the album title. It’s a short, sweet, and concise that gets the job and leaves you wanting more, just as a debut album should do.
Together with the album’s release, Anycia took a moment to speak with Uproxx about the album, receiving princess treatment, her craziest experience with a man, and what she hopes her career brings her in the future.
“I don’t want to lose sight of my goals and I don’t want to be a parent that was like, ‘I used to do this,’” she notes. I don’t want to be no-used-to-be ass female like, ‘I used to be back in the day. I used to be running around with all them!’ No, we there. We in the moment.”
What’s your definition of a princess and how does it factor into the foundation of this album from the lyrics to production and the skits?
I grew up in a house [where] I’m the only girl out of all boys, and I’m the firstborn, so like I’ve always been literally the princess. My room was pink, I’m spoiled, I’m everybody’s favorite, so I’ve always been a princess. The “pop that” comes in hand because most b*tches that call themselves princesses try to be “tea party, chip chip cheerio.” No, it’s Princess Pop That because I’m still a princess, really a queen, I do as I please. I don’t touch a door, if I got some heavy bags, I don’t give a damn what man is right there, pick it up! It’s my world and everybody else is just living in it.
A princess is somebody who exudes confidence in any room that they’re in. A princess dominates every room that they’re in, even if they’re nervous, they’re able to defeat that feeling and demand the room. You just demand everything, in a nice way, in a princess way, in a cute way, [and] not in a b*tchy way. You’re that girl, everybody knows you’re that girl, you don’t have to say too much to be the girl. Think about when a queen or a princess walk through the room, they want everybody to shut the f*ck up.Except this princess be popping it. So I might slide through and [say], “Play that Sexyy Red!” You ain’t gotta be quiet, I want everybody to turn up.
I like the message on the “Poppin It Interlude,” because I think for a lot artists the message would’ve been “don’t cry over these n****s/don’t cry over no girl.” For you it’s, “I be sliding down the wall too hoe. But get you some motherf*cking money while you doing it.” What experiences for you influenced this message and being able to tell it this way?
My main goal with all of this is to be as transparent and personable as possible. I feel like nowadays, there are a lot of unrealistic expectations with our generation. I’m 26, I’m about to be 27 this year. I will be sitting here for days if I told you everything that I done been through. I feel like personally, with my music, with everything I do, when I talk, [and] when I do interviews and stuff, I have to stop myself sometimes. That’s why I commend Sexyy Red so much because I feel like she says a lot of things that [most] girls wouldn’t. Girls wouldn’t have been comfortable running around saying, “My coochie pink my booty-hole brown.” She exudes confidence, she doesn’t care, [and] she dominates. She puts it out there, and it makes the girls feel like, “Oh, maybe this is okay.”
I literally want to have that same feeling. When I said, “You can slide down the wall, just be that b*tch sliding down the wall,” I mean that because realistically, y’all could sit here and act like, “Oh, F that n****, we were going outside, we turnt up.” Girl, you know you hurting and it’s okay. It’s just not glorified to be an emotional creature, but emotions are real at the end of the day. Just make sure that when you’re emotional, you have that balance, and you’re able to snap back from it. Don’t ever be just sliding down the wall and just stay on the floor. You can side down on the wall, just make sure your nails are done, you got some money in your purse, [and] your car is filled up with gas. Cry and go pay the bills. Cry in the car with some Dior shades on baby, get it together. I just want everybody to know that it’s normal to be normal, but you can still be that b*tch and be normal and have emotions and feelings.
Between “Back Outside” and “Nene’s Prayers,” there are moments on this album that come from men really having you f*cked up. What was the worst situation with a guy that really had you ready to pop off like you never did before?
When I was 17-18 I had this boyfriend, and no shade to the boys who’re struggling a little bit or whatever, no shade. I was 17-18, we got a little job or whatever. My birthday rolled around and I told him that we don’t gotta do much cause I already know our situation. But baby, in Atlanta it was the middle of summer. My birthday is in in August. It feels like the devil’s asshole out here. You even been to Atlanta when it’s hot? You’ll be gleaming like a glazed doughnut that came up out of Krispy Kreme.
We up in the car everywhere, truth story I’m about to dropped dead, we had no air up in his car. He smoked black and milds too and one of the windows in the front broke, so he basically hotboxing this b*tch [and] it’s 4000 degrees outside. He driving around Atlanta talking about, “I gotta cash this check. I gotta cash this check.”. We done drove to like 80 different stores. Mind you, I never saw the check the whole car ride. Why we get to the place where you cash the check and its an $11 check? $11. When I tell you I was mad? I was so upset, I was mad, I was losing my damn mind [and] then, not to mention, he had the nerve to cheat on me!
What is the one message or piece of advice that you kept in mind as you created this project and why was it so important to you?
One of my friends told me, cause I’ve been going through a lot of friend stuff as far as, you know, the normal sh*t, so I lost a lot of friends in this process. But I was told that everybody’s on the same highway, but everybody gets off on different exits. That stuck me because, it’s true, we on the ride together, but now I’m getting off on this exit and you getting off that exit. It don’t necessarily mean like bad blood or nothing, but when we drive past each other again, we drive past each other again. Right now, I’m on my exit [and] we don’t live on the same exit so, I’ll see you in traffic.
If you could have a day where it’s just princess treatment from morning to night, what would that day look like?
I wake up in the morning, 17 blunts rolled to perfection exactly how I like it, right there all ready to go. Face things in order on my desk ready for everything. Toothpaste on my toothbrush, everything that I need for the morning is already set. Showered running, clothes picked out exactly to perfection. When I get up, my man is doing [all] this himself, he’s slaving trying to do this.
When I get out the shower, he need to already be downstairs at the front door opening the door for me to put my shoes on and everything. Then he need to take his ass out by the car, he need to open up that door, and he needs to start my car. Prior to doing all this, he needs to wake up early because he needs to take my car to fill it up with gas and vacuum it out because I was smoking the day before. Then he needs to have my car ready with everything put into my car. Then, he gives me $50,000 to go shopping and then I have nothing to do.
My phone is on Do Not Disturb. I don’t have much to do, this is a free day. I just made some money, something drops in my account because it’s something that I did, or I get the opportunity of a lifetime on the phone, nobody will be able to contact me to tell me nothing. The sun is out, I got on something that show my ass perfectly, [and] I look good. Hair is done, nails are done, and lashes are to a tee — everything is good. Then we’ll go get something real nice to eat. A nice big steak [and] loaded baked potato type of time, then a little surf & turf. We leave there and smoke two blunts. Then, we go home, we lay up in the bed, and we watch whatever we want to watch — crime documentaries, the worst gory movie you could possibly think of. My man already up in the bed and his… is out and we…. and then we go to bed.
What do you hope Princess Pop That does for your artistry and the career you want to build going forward?
Honestly, I’m just an open book. I’m doing a lot content wise. I’m never gonna stop putting out songs. I’m never gonna stop my consistency with music. I plan on dipping and diving in all different elements of myself and adapting to other people’s environments, and still being able to be myself and show everybody that I can still be myself. Showing different styles and just enjoying my woman experience. I’m really more so happy to see the impact that it makes. Of course, I’m excited about the money too, but I’m superduper excited about the impact that I make and building my platform so that I can use it in the correct ways. I’m excited about the future as a whole.
Princess Pop That is out now via United Masters LLC. Find out more information here.
Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in March. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.
2024 is here. And as the year brings about resolutions of change and a healthy dose of election-year dread, the certainty of a host of new music will help soundtrack the highs and lows that are ahead.
Some of the new albums have official titles and dates — including offerings from Kali Uchis, Usher, and The Smile — while other albums are more in the expected camp than fully confirmed, like new full-lengths from Dua Lipa, Playboi Carti, and Lil Nas X. But, it wouldn’t be a fun most anticipated albums list without some pure speculation, too, and you’ll find plenty of that below. And of course, our hopes are always high for a couple of albums you will not find below, the forever anticipated new releases from Frank Ocean and Rihanna.
Check out the most anticipated albums of 2024 below.
21 Savage
In the five years since his last solo album, I Am > I Was, 21 Savage has showcased his versatility. Through smooth, melodic grooves on his Drake collaborative album Her Loss, and scorching rhythmic beats on his Metro Boomin’ collab Savage Mode II, 21 proves that he can switch it up with ease, matching the energy of those he works with. But fans are long overdue for a reminder of what he can do at his own discretion. – Alex Gonzalez
Adrianne Lenker
Do we know for sure that an Adrianne Lenker album is coming in 2024? No. Does it look like one is? Absolutely. In December, the Big Thief leader, who has maintained an active solo career for the past decade, shared a new song, “Ruined,” and announced 2024 tour dates. All that’s left is an album announcement, and given that those tour dates start in late March, that news could arrive at some point before then. – Derrick Rossignol
Anitta
Brazilian superstar Anitta has been taking the world by storm. Through sexually-empowerment and pure, vulnerable, love, her music has made fans smile, cry, and most importantly, dance. Last August, Anitta released her EP Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story, a bridge signaling an era of groovy, funk-inspired tunes. If we’ve learned anything about Anitta throughout her illustrious career, it’s that she’s a survivor, and her upcoming sixth studio album will instill confidence and power on the dancefloor. – A.G.
While being the coolest dad in the world and working through an unfortunately-timed assault case, ASAP Rocky has also apparently been working on his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb. Throughout the year, he has released a handful of previews, premiering a new song at Rolling Loud Miami just days after dropping the single “Riot (Rowdy Pipe’n).” In January of last year, he said he was putting the “finishing touches” on the album, so at this point, it’s all a matter of timing. – Aaron Williams
You heard it here first: Ayra Starr will become a global star in 2024. She has all the talents that her successful peers Tems and Tyla have displayed in their respective rises to the top. Whether it be singing, songwriting, or dancing, Ayra Starr can do it. All that’s left for the Nigerian singer to do is release her debut album, which she said was “80%” complete back in July. With “Sability” and “Rhythm & Vibes” as the presumed lead singles from her debut, we can expect it to be just as good, if not better, than her 2021 EP 19 & Dangerous. – Wongo Okon
Bartees Strange
There’s not currently much to know about Bartees Strange’s next album. It hasn’t even been officially announced, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming: In response to his inclusion on a most-anticipated albums list, Bartees responded on X/Twitter with a wall of smiling devil emojis. A couple days later, he asked his followers for recommendations for the “best guitar shop in Toronto for older guitars, weird synths, etc.” So, let’s prepare, perhaps, for Bartees to continue expanding on his sound, which has made him a favorite since first emerging a few years ago. – D.R.
Billie Eilish
Finneas recently estimated that Billie Eilish’s next album is “85 percent done,” and I have never cared more about the 15-percent gap between 85 and 100. Eilish’s 2023 musical contribution was the multi-nominatedBarbie soundtrack standout “What Was I Made For?,” which helped her crack the code on crippling post-Happier Than Ever writer’s block. At the Barbie premiere, Eilish told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that she’s aesthetically “trolling these b*tches,” and we’ll have to see how (or if) that translates sonically. – M.A.
Bleachers – Bleachers (3/8)
With two singles — “Alma Mater” (which features Lana Del Rey on guest vocals) and “Modern Girl” — already out, Bleachers have built some serious anticipation for the upcoming self-titled album. Although it won’t be out until March, the record includes four bonus tracks, making it 18 songs in total. Fans will also get to hear the new tunes on the road, with both a UK and North American tour planned next year. – Lexi Lane
Brittany Howard – What Now (2/2)
Soul rocker Brittany Howard announced her sophomore albumWhat Now in October, sharing its sinuous title track along with a slew of tour dates extended well into the new year. In November, she followed up with the more experimental “Red Flags,” which suggested she’d continue the more left-field divergence from her bluesy work with Alabama Shakes which she began on her debut album Jaime. – A.W.
Camila Cabello
Save for a voice role in the movie Trolls Band Together, 2023 was mostly quiet for Camila Cabello. It turns out, though, that she was busy behind the scenes. Before the year ended, Cabello shared a series of social media posts looking back at 2023, and they indicated she’s been busy working on new music, which will seemingly be unveiled in the new year. In one telling Instagram Story featuring a selfie with a microphone, she wrote, “mostly the year of this [zippered mouth emoji] see you next year b*tches.” So, it certainly appears 2024 will yield Cabello’s first album since early 2022’s Familia… b*tches. – D.R.
Cardi B
For the past several years — at least since 2020 — there has perhaps been no more anticipated album in all of hip-hop than Cardi B’s expected follow-up to Invasion Of Privacy, which carries over from last year’s most anticipated list. In many ways, we have her history-making debut to thank for the delay; Cardi herself has said that she’s intimidated by the prospect of falling short of the insanely high bar the 2018 album set. Debuting at No. 1 and spawning two diamond-certified No. 1 singles, Invasionbroke every record there was for a woman-led rap album to break. So far, we’ve gotten a single, the Megan Thee Stallion-featuring “Bongos,” and a lot of promises from Cardi that she’s been in the studio working to ensure she tops her debut. – A.W.
Charli XCX
Charli XCX took a trip to Barbie world with a her infectious pop banger “Speed Drive,” and then her Sam Smith collaboration “In The City” demonstrated that the vibe could continue across her upcoming music. Although it is unclear when the next project will hit streaming platforms, Charli doesn’t typically stay dormant for long. And with Charli set to perform at Primavera Sound Barcelona 2024 in May, it wouldn’t be surprising if it was anytime in the next few months. – Flisadam Pointer
Childish Gambino
Donald Glover is a pretty busy guy. Even with the end of Atlanta and the turmoil surrounding his Lando spinoff, he’s got Mr. And Mrs. Smith and the Community movie coming up. So it was probably fair to believe him when he said he wanted to retire from music. And yet, here we are: with Glover promising a new album “soon” but otherwise remaining cryptic, despite Tyler The Creator’s advice. The best thing, though, is we have no idea what we could get. Will it be Camp rap? Awaken, My Love soul? 3.15.20-esque experimentation? Anything could happen, and that’s why we can’t wait to find out. – A.W.
Doechii
Doechii appeared on last year’s most anticipated list, with TDE founder/CEO Top Dawg Tiffith saying Doechii’s debut album was planned for a 2023 release along with projects from TDE OGs Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q, as well as her fellow freshmen Ray Vaughn and Reason. Then SZA’s second album happened, and a lot of attention was rightly diverted to keeping the gravy train rolling. But now that things have calmed down on that front, fans are undoubtedly hungrier than ever for the Florida rapper’s full-length — especially after she stole the show as an opener on Doja Cat’s Scarlet tour. Doechii hasn’t revealed when her album will drop just yet, but she has released a stream of strong singles, including “Booty Drop,” “Pacer,” and “Universal Swamp Anthem.” – A.W.
Dua Lipa
“Houdini” is the perfect (presumed) lead single for Dua Lipa’s forthcoming third studio album because the album has been eluding us for what feels like forever. Dua has teased it several times, dating back to early 2022, and the vision had “taken a complete turn” by the end of that year. Most recently, Dua shared she was “going for more of, like, psychedelic-pop vibe” when making it with Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Tobias Jesso Jr., Danny L. Harle, and Caroline Ailin. – M.A.
FKA Twigs
No two FKA Twigs albums sound alike, but that’s part of the allure. Over the years, she’s transported us into haunted club scenes, magical haunted forests, and technological, robotic soundscapes. It may be a bit until we get the next FKA Twigs project — due to the fact that 85 of her demos leaked to the internet last October and she scrapped what she was working on — but we look forward to where she’ll take us next. – A.G.
FLO
FLO made their mark as a British girl group set on impacting R&B, and in 2023, they did just that. Whether it be songs like “Fly Girl” with Missy Elliott, collaborations with Stormzy, or their The Lead EP which shot them into the mainstream light, FLO has proved their talents through these instances and others. Next up on the agenda for the girls is releasing their debut album, which they teased and updated fans on throughout 2023. FLO spoke about their album during an interview with Uproxx last summer. “That’s also what our album gonna be about,” Stella said, “just us and our journey and being honest about everything.” – W.O.
Flo Milli
When Flo Milli first burst onto the scene in 2018 with her breakout single “Beef FloMix” and its 2019 follow-up “In The Party” (thanks in large part to TikTok, natch), rap fans and music publications alike proclaimed great things for her future. She has, in most respects, lived up to those expectations, with two cheekily titled mixtapes — Ho, Why Is You Here? and You Still Here, Ho? — as well as a well-attended national headlining tour to her name. However, the true test will be whether her official debut album, Fine Ho, Stay, can live up to the hype. Her well-earned confidence is clear in its definitive title. – A.W.
Future & Metro Boomin
Future and Metro Boomin have long been one of rap’s most celebrated dynamic duos. In addition to gifting Metro one of his iconic producer tags (“if young Metro don’t trust you…”), Future has delivered some of his most storied performances on Metro’s beats, including “Jumpman,” “Mask Off,” and the fan-favorite mixtape Monster. Meanwhile, Metro is on a hot streak, coming off his second solo album, the latest Spider-Verse soundtrack, and Young Thug’s most recent album from behind bars. In January, Future called the project the “album of the year” (studiously avoiding noting which year), while Metro teased part of a new song in June. Although they didn’t finish by the end of 2023 (by this writing), Metro did promise that this album is his top priority — which is impressive, considering he’s also heavily producing ASAP Rocky’s upcoming album. – A.W.
Future Islands – People Who Aren’t There Anymore (1/26)
Future Islands reached their commercial crest with 2014’s Singles, and they’ve remained consistent since then, busting out a new album of high-quality, synth- and bass-driven indie rock every few years. (Speaking of what band members have been up to, props to Samuel T. Herring for his role in the 2023 Apple TV+ series The Changeling.) Their latest was 2020’s As Long As You Are, meaning they’re due. Right on schedule, People Who Aren’t There Anymore is set for January, which they announced in October with “The Tower, a driving and evocative single that fits nicely in the band’s soaring oeuvre. – D.R.
Glorilla
2024 is shaping up to be the year of the hip-hop it-girls, with expected releases from Ice Spice, Flo Milli, and more in the works. GloRilla slots right into that list thanks to her stellar breakout in 2022 with “FNF” and “Tomorrow 2.” Fans expecting her to release her debut album in 2023 wound up a little disappointed that she put it off for a year — but that might turn out to be a wise move. After all, it gave her a year to live and write, polishing her debut, which she teased in August in an interview with Good Morning America. – A.W.
Grandaddy – Blu Wav (2/16)
Grandaddy broke up in 2006, leaving behind Just Like The Fambly Cat as their final album. They later reunited, though, and dropped another album, Last Place, in 2017. Seven years later, the comeback continues with Blu Wav, the title of which represents a mash-up of “bluegrass” and “new wave.” Indeed, when sharing “Watercooler,” Jason Lytle said, “Listeners will also notice the pedal steel on this track and eventually on many others from the forthcoming new album. It’s a first for Grandaddy, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about this fact.” – D.R.
Green Day – Saviors (1/19)
Green Day made perhaps the defining political rock album of its era with 2004’s American Idiot, but they mostly kept that stuff out of the conversation with their latest album, 2020’s Father Of All Motherf*ckers. They have Saviors set to drop in January, though, and they’re getting back in the political saddle, with Billie Joe Armstrong saying, “This time, we brought it out, and we felt like it was the perfect time for it,” he said. “It takes those special, inspired moments to have a moment like ‘The American Dream Is Killing Me.’” – D.R.
Grimes
Grimes unveiled Miss Anthropocene in early 2020, and since then, it appears she has deprioritized her music career: Aside from becoming an AI influencer, she declared in early 2023 that music is currently her “side quest.” Still, she did promise to release her upcoming project, known as Book 1, and she did deliver new music in 2023 with songs like “Welcome To The Opera” and “I Wanna Be Software.” – D.R.
Halsey
Fresh out of the longstanding beef with their former record label and nestling into a new recording home, fans are eager to see what’s next for Halsey. According to them, new music is atop the list. With the creative blockage removed, Halsey’s next project is sure to shoot to the top of the charts. – F.P.
Helado Negro – Phaser (2/9)
Helado Negro broke through in 2019 with the album This Is How You Smile and followed it nicely in 2021 with Far In, his first album for 4AD. Now he’s got Phasor coming in 2024. He announced the project in October and explained that it was inspired in part by Lupe Lopez, a Mexican-American woman known for building amplifiers for Fender Guitars in the ’50s. Fans won’t have to wait long to hear the new batch of songs live, as Helado has a tour kicking off right after the album’s February release. – D.R.
Ice Spice
2023 was the year of Ice Spice. The breakout rapper weathered a tidal wave of criticism as she garnered an equally large wave of attention behind high-profile collabs with Nicki Minaj, PinkPantheress, and Taylor Swift. Her Like…? kept her momentum going but also merely whet fans’ appetites for the main course. Although she hasn’t said anything concrete about when her official debut album is coming, a viral video of an Ice Spice flag flying over the Capitol Records building in Hollywood suggests that the “Ice Age” is soon to begin and blanket the world in a cloud of Spice. – A.W.
Idles – TANGK (2/16)
British indie darlings Idles are turning up the heat on their upcoming fifth album, TANGK. With production by Kenny Beats, Nigel Godrich, and Idles’s own Mark Bowen, TANGK is shaping up to be unlike anything the band has ever done before — from the bravado displaying “Dancer” to the smooth, downtempo “Grace.” According to lead vocalist Joe Talbot, TANGK was born out a need for love, which will reflect in the album’s 11 tracks. – A.G.
J Balvin
J Balvin fans can expect a ton of new music from the Colombian superstar. In December, he released a new single, “Amigos,” which was accompanied by a cinematic arctic visual. He is also set to embark on the international Que Bueno Volver Al Verte tour, which will see him visit various arenas across the world. In addition to music of his own, Balvin also plans to drop a collaborative album with Ed Sheeran. – A.G.
J. Cole – The Fall Off
Philip Cosores
J. Cole’s upcoming, constantly-teased album is another holdover from 2023’s list as it appears it needed a bit more time in the crock pot to hit all the notes Cole is apparently looking for from his possible swan song. In November, he explained the title on an episode of Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Space, he hinted that “the fall-off” is a phase he never wants to actually enter, instead going out at the height of his powers and popularity. That’s a good indicator this one might be his last, as well as a prompt of what to expect: his best. – A.W.
Jay Rock – Eastside Johnny
Jay Rock’s long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s Redemption was slated for release in 2023, but you sort of have to give the artists of Top Dawg Entertainment a lot of leeway in that regard. The recent successes of Isaiah Rashad’s The House Is Burning and SZA’s SOS are all the validation you could ask for regarding their “tortoise” approach (as opposed to the “hare” from the fable). Rocky started rolling out Eastside Johnny in June with the raucous single “Eastside,” continuing in July with “Too Fast,” then “Blowfly.” with three singles out, it wouldn’t be a surprise if this wound up being a first-quarter release, but a much later one wouldn’t be out of the question at all. – A.W.
The 2020s have proven to be rough, and Jhené Aiko’s most recent album, Chilombo dropped almost four years ago, a week before the world went into lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot has changed between now and then, but Aiko’s music continues to be a timeless source of energy. By the grace of her magical Pisces energy, we’re sure a new project will give us the collective healing we all need. – A.G.
Jin
BTS’ ongoing hiatus was announced in October 2022 because, in part, the K-pop pioneers needed to fulfill their mandatory military service. Jin was the first to enlist, and BTS’ Army faithful missed him so much that BigHit had to formally request they stop sending any more letters and gifts. Jin recently shared a video message in which he expressed excitement about what he’ll be able to resume doing after completing his service in the coming months, including “working hard.” That could mean any number of things, but making music feels like a safe assumption, as does the possibility that his next release will be his most warmly received yet. – M.A.
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom has been quiet recently, but she has been patiently starting to reemerge in recent months. She was a surprise support act for Fleet Foxes in March, which was her first public performance since 2020. She’s also on the Kilby Block Party 2024 lineup, and she doesn’t make festival appearances every day. So, you can’t blame a fan for hoping that her first album since 2015’s Divers is actually, finally coming. – D.R.
Joyce Wrice
Nearly three years ago, Los Angeles-based singer Joyce Wrice released her debut album Overgrown, and the project was met with critical acclaim. In fact, many would say it is one of the strongest debuts that R&B has received in that timespan. Since then, she released her Motive EP with production alongside Kaytranada, collaborated with Mahalia, performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk, and recorded the new theme song for The Proud Family: Louder & Prouder series. Now, it’s time for Wrice’s next album and we can expect that in 2024 as she announced on X last fall that she is in “sophomore album mode.” – W.O.
Justin Timberlake
While nothing is on the record yet, it appears Justin Timberlake has some major plans for 2024. In September, there were reports of a potential NSYNC reunion tour. However, Billboard debunked those, with the cited reason being that Timberlake is planning his own solo tour, in support of a new solo album. If a new JT album indeed does materialize in 2024, it’ll be his first in a while, since 2018’s Man Of The Woods (although he was all over the Trolls World Tour soundtrack in 2020). – D.R.
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves stamped 2023 without releasing solo material. The six-time Grammy winner notched two Billboard Hot 100 entries as the featured artist on Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything” (No. 1) and Noah Kahan’s “She Calls Me Back” (No. 76). Most recently, Musgraves teamed with Madi Diaz for “Don’t Do Me Good,” a single from Diaz’s forthcoming Weird Faith album. Perhaps Musgraves’ collaboration choices instruct what direction her fifth LP will take, but we need her to confirm an album is en route before we can make any predictions about it. Whatever it is, whenever it arrives — hopefully, in 2024 — it will be her first since her 2021 “divorce album”star-crossed. – M.A.
Kali Uchis – Orquideas (1/12)
Colombian singer Kali Uchis came through on her word, promising two albums in the span of a year — one in English and one in Spanish. On 2023’s Red Moon In Venus, Uchis heals by way of nature and spirituality. On her upcoming second Spanish album (and fourth overall), Orquídeas, fans will get to hear Uchis navigate sex, heartbreak, and fame in her native tongue. If the songs “Muñekita” and “Labios Mordidos” are of any indication, Orquídeas may be a special gift crafted to empower the ladies. – A.G.
Katy Kirby – Blue Raspberry (1/26)
Kirby became an indie favorite with 2021’s Cool Dry Place, but now, she’s onto her third LP, Blue Raspberry. In a recent Uproxx interview, she said of the album, “I felt like I should honor the spirit of these songs, and let them be big, beautiful love songs, and not try to complicate that or to be squeamish about it. I think it would have been easier for me to make them a little smaller. But I was like, ah, they’re queer love songs; they deserve to sound like a big, romantic deal.” – D.R.
Kehlani
Kehlani has yet to go more than two years without a project which makes it likely that 2024 will present a new album from the Oakland native. This year is a special one for Kehlani as this August will mark ten years since she released her debut mixtape Cloud 19. Though she’s yet to release a single from this upcoming project, a post on her Instagram to close 2023 let us know that music is indeed on the way. “The labor of pure joy in the last 6 months provided a rebirth, there’s been break through, a redefinition,” she wrote. “When it’s time for Her, she will arrive,” later adding, “felt like i owed u an update. i’m almost done.” – W.O.
2023 was supposed to be Lil Baby’s year. Unfortunately, touring issues and subtle feuds clouded his artistic shine. However, with a string of new singles out, his recently announced social media break until his next album is done, and his 4PF label signee, 42 Dugg, getting out of prison, the chips are stacking up in Lil Baby’s favor to have an epic 2024 run. – F.P.
Lil Nas X
wrote AND directed my own music video for the first time. excited for y’all to see. it’s the best one yet!
A lot’s changed since “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X’s 2019 viral breakout single, both for him and the music business as a whole. “OTR” was arguably the song that put TikTok on major labels’ maps, upending decades of established marketing strategy and touching off the ongoing arms race for the latest viral sensation (to seemingly diminishing returns for all parties involved). Meanwhile, Nas himself has become a superstar; his debut album Montero peaked just short of the top of the Billboard 200 at No. 2, its title song (subtitled “Call Me By Your Name“) skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Hot 100, and Nas has become a charismatic controversy magnet whose trolling doubles as both forward-thinking music promotion and incisive commentary on his critics’ outstanding hypocrisy. He’s already teased some tidbits about his next album, such as a projected summer release date. We can’t wait to see what mischief (heh) his next album will bring. – A.W
Lil Uzi Vert – Luv Is Rage 3
The original Luv Is Rage, Lil Uzi Vert’s debut mixtape, landed in 2015, sparking a seismic shift in the hip-hop landscape. Its 2017 sequel constituted Uzi’s official debut album spawning the star-making single “XO Tour Llif3,” becoming an instant classic and fan favorite of the so-called SoundCloud era. In November, Uzi confirmed the third installment after teasing it for months prior while hinting that it could be their last album ever. Later, they doubled down on the claim, predicting a future career in women’s fashion. Rappers are constantly threatening retirement but rarely do they actually follow through. Whether or not Uzi does so after releasing Luv Is Rage 3, the Philadelphia rapper does have one thing such a heavily-anticipated swan song can afford them: the opportunity to go out on top. – A.W.
Lorde
Lorde has taken fans to the beach, a house party, and even the tennis courts. And while it’s unclear where she’ll be sonically driving fans next, they are all still strapped in for the ride. The pop star said previously that she takes quite a bit of time to research while making a new album. (It was about six years between her sophomore hit, Melodrama, and 2021’s Solar Power.) Yet, her social media activity has convinced fans that it might not be nearly as long, with a post recently teasing that she was “listening to myself.” – L.L.
Lucky Daye
You’ll be sure to find Lucky Daye atop the Mt. Rushmore of today’s day R&B landscape. His first two albums Painted and Candydrip are filled with evidence for why he holds that position and his upcoming third album will only add to it. Led by the Bruno Mars co-written and co-produced single “That’s You,” Lucky Daye has seemingly begun the rollout for album No. 3 with a project-defining single that should be as impactful as “Roll Some Mo” and “Over” were for Painted and Candydrip, respectively. – W.O.
Madi Diaz – Weird Faith (2/9)
Diaz earned herself some new fans in 2022 after opening for Harry Styles on his Love On Tour. She had just released the Same History, New Feelings EP at the time, and when she embarks on her own tour in February, she’ll be supporting a new album, Weird Faith. She has clearly earned favor in the pop world, as aside from the Styles nod, she collaborated with chart-topper Kacey Musgraves on “Don’t Do Me Good.” – D.R.
Mannequin Pussy – I Got Heaven (3/1)
In May, Marisa “Missy” Dabice told Uproxx that Mannequin Pussy doesn’t “necessarily want to be playing live because we’re just sitting on all these new songs and a new set that we are excited about playing but can’t just yet.” Months later, the band made the news official by announcing I Got Heaven in October. They’ve shared a couple singles so far, “I Don’t Know You and the title track, and both have a shoegaze-y vibe that’s gonna sound terrific in 2024. – D.R.
Megan Thee Stallion
New Year, new Stallion. The Hot Girl Coach finds herself in a much better place to begin 2024; she’s put both her legal dispute with her label and the Tory Lanez shooting case in her rearview, and she’s newly independent, meaning she’s the one calling all the shots on her next album. She kicked off her new era with the confessional return to form, “Cobra,” and predicted in September that her next album will contain “a lot of rawness, a lot of realness, a lot of sh*t talking,” while a more recent live stream promised she wouldn’t hold back, answering anyone who has called her out over the past couple of years. – A.W.
MGMT – Loss Of Life (2/23)
It’s been over 15 years since MGMT took over the indie landscape with hits like “Electric Feel” and “Kids.” That was essentially forever ago now, but through the years, the duo has continued to (relatively infrequently) bust out quality psychedelic jams. Their last album, their fourth, was 2018’s Little Dark Age, and they got Loss Of Life coming this year, which they teased in 2023 with Mother Nature and “Bubblegum Dog.” – D.R.
Miguel – Visera
If Miguel’s upcoming album, Viscera, boasts timeless classics like his breakthrough single, “Sure Thing,” fans know they are in for a treat. Over the past few months, the elusive singer has teased his fifth studio album by way of wild stunts, including hanging in midair through hooks pierced into his back. This, and surely his upcoming music, will prompt a visceral reaction. – A.G..
Omar Apollo
It seems unfair to expect Omar Apollo’s next album to find him more vulnerable than he’s already been, whether on his 2022 debut album, Ivory, which earned him a Best New Artist nomination at the Grammys, or across the four tracks of his October 2023 EP, Live For Me, especially his coming-out anthem “Ice Slippin” and its visceral video. But you also will never catch me questioning Apollo’s ability to do anything. It’s fitting that his first Billboard Hot 100 entry was 2022’s “Evergreen” because that’s the only word suitable for his artistry. Apollo hasn’t confirmed a 2024 album, but he captioned his Instagram post upon releasing Live For Me, “Love these songs so much. They’re a perfect transition for what’s to come.”- M.A.
PartyNextDoor – P4
PartyNextDoor’s 2020 third album PartyMobile came three years after PartyNextDoor 3, and with it, fans hoped that they wouldn’t have to wait as long for the OVO crooner’s next album, PartyNextDoor 4. The bad news on that is it’s been four years since PartyMobile, but the good news is that 2023 delivered two singles from the album, “Her Old Friends” and “Resentment.” Both Drake and PND himself have confirmed that the album is on its way, so it’s only a matter of time until PartyNextDoor 4 is in our hands. – W.O.
Playboy Carti – Music
Playboi Carti, hip-hop’s rebel child as many might call him, is days away from making another splash in the music industry. The rapper’s third album, tentatively titled Music, is moments from dropping as Carti released four YouTube-exclusive singles: “Different Day,” “2024,” “HoodByAir,” and “Backr00ms.” There’s no word on when Music will be released, but we can expect it to be as eccentric as pretty much everything that Playboi Carti has delivered to the world. – W.O.
Pusha T & DJ Drama
DJ Drama’s “Gangsta Grillz” mixtapes are a hip-hop institution, denoting either the highest levels of achievement at the craft of creating certified rap hits or the DJ’s seal of approval for up-and-coming bar smiths. Pusha T falls into the former category, but with the fervent fanbase of the latter. So when they revealed on Twitter Spaces (RIP) last Christmas that they’ve been working on a Gangsta Grillz installment, the announcement rightfully generated plenty of excitement. Considering the success Drama’s most recent work with fellow iconoclast Tyler The Creator and Pusha’s own improbably improving output after 20-plus years in the game, that excitement can certainly be considered justified. – A.W.
Real Estate – Daniel (2/23)
Real Estate fans have been eating. The breezy indie rockers released The Main Thing in 2020; Alex Bleeker had a solo album, Heaven On The Faultline, in 2021; and Martin Courtney dropped his second solo album, Magic Sign, in 2022. Now the group is getting back together for Daniel, their sixth album. That’s set for February and Real Estate announced it in November with “Water Underground,” which arrived alongside a delightfully nostalgic, The Adventures Of Pete & Pete-inspired video. – D.R.
Schoolboy Q
Top Dawg Entertainment fans have plenty to look forward to as the LA label moves into its post-Kendrick Lamar era. The roster has grown, with increasing emphasis being placed on its rookies and sophomores like Reason, Ray Vaughn, and Doechii, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten about the OGs. Now that Ab-Soul has made a triumphant comeback, the Black Hippy focus has shifted to impeding returns from both Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q, both of which Top has said are on the docket — although, true to form, they weren’t released quite on the original planned timeline. In June, Q said his new album — his first since 2019’s Crash Talk — is being mixed, which could mean a summertime release, if all goes according to plan. – A.W.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez was happy — thrilled, even! — to be rid of a relationship in her pop bop “Single Soon” from August, but she seems even happier now with rumored boyfriend Benny Blanco, which bodes well for Gomez’s previously stated goal to “have some fun” with her next album. Gomez earned her first-ever Grammy nomination with her 2021 Spanish EP, Revelación, but we haven’t enjoyed a full-blown album rollout since 2020’s Rare, and we’d need a full season of Only Murders In The Building to cover everything Gomez has been through since then. Luckily, Gomez plans to fill us in soon, as she confirmed via Instagram comment in early December that SG3 is due “in 2 months” (as per Forbes). Soak it up because it could very well be her final musical output, as she explained on the Smartless podcast. – M.A.
serpentwithfeet – GRIP (2/16)
serpentwiftfeet’s upcoming third studio album, GRIP is a love letter Black queer nightlife. Over the course of the album, serpent steps into his R&B bag delivering a captivating queer love story by way of smooth tunes. GRIP is also set to feature Ty Dolla $ign, Orion Sun, and Mick Jenkins, creating an alternate universe through modern hip-hop and soul grooves. – A.G.
Sky Ferreira – Masochism
Although Sky Ferreira has made the anticipated lists at music publications for years for her sophomore album, Masochism, it seems like 2024 might actually be a possibility for its official arrival. During her sold-out NYC show and other recent stops, she played new songs called “Innocent Kind” and “All My Lovers Die.” Last month, there was also speculation that Ferreira left Capitol Records, and it only took years of fighting since her 2013 debut. – L.L.
Sleater-Kinney – Little Rope (1/19)
The Sleater-Kinney reunion is nearly a decade old now (their comeback album, No Cities To Love, dropped in 2015). While there has been some change (the band’s latest album, 2021’s Path Of Wellness, was their first following the departure of longtime drummer Janet Weiss), Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker are trucking on in 2024 with Little Rope. They previewed the upcoming LP in October with “Hell,” a raucous lead single that impactfully plays with loud-quiet dynamics. – D.R.
Snoh Aalegra
Since dropping her debut album Feels in 2017, Swedish R&B sensation Snoh Aalegra has maintained a consistent release schedule of dropping an album every two years. However, she deviated from this schedule last year, two years after the release of her third album, Temporary Highs In Violet Skies. Still, she did drop some breezy singles, including “Wait A Little Longer,” “Sweet Tea.” and “Be My Summer.” With a promising three-pack, fans are waiting on pins and needles for new Aalegra music. – A.G.
SZA – Lana
While the wait was long between SZA’s first two albums, CTRL and SOS, it looks like SZA’s next project will arrive sooner rather than later. In recent weeks, SZA has taken to social media to tease Lana, her third album, which originally began as an expansion upon SOS. While making the album, SZA explained to Variety that the album has become its own musical universe. “It’s outtakes and new stuff, too — I added a couple of songs,” she said. – A.G.
Taylor Swift – Reputation (TV)
Taylor Swift’s original Reputation album served as a rebirth for her in a way, channeling the intense internet scrutiny into an energetic body of work. Now, it is one of the last two records she has to re-record, with many fans believing this will be her next Taylor’s Version drop. There have also been some snippets from “Delicate (Taylor’s Version)” and “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” in different television shows, suggesting the record is just waiting until the right release time. – L.L.
Tems
Tems delivered her last project in 2021 with If Orange Was A Place, but in 2024 that drought should end. She’s already shared two singles with “Me & U” and “Not An Angel,” which are truly promising signs of what’s coming for the Nigerian singer. Remember, Tems earned a Grammy and a collaboration with Rihanna in 2023, all in a year that saw her release three songs. So just imagine what could come out of 2024 for Tems. – W.O.
The Internet
It’s always a good year when The Internet drops an album. Nowadays, those years are far and few as the group’s last album arrived in 2018 with Hive Mind. Since then, members Syd, Steve Lacy, Patrick Paige II, and Matt Martians all released solo projects. Now it appears that it’s time for the band to reunite and their fifth and final album. The Internet shared images from a studio session all the members could be seen working hard and enjoying the process of creating new records. We’ll have the wait and see if this upcoming project is indeed the group’s last, but all we can do for now is enjoy the ride as there’s a good chance that the fifth album will arrive in 2024. – W.O.
The Smile – Wall Of Eyes (1/26)
Radiohead? Never heard of it! Not in the past few years, anyway. While the band has been on a sort of unofficial hiatus since 2016’s A Moon Shaped Pool, Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood have been teaming up with Tom Skinner for a new endeavor, The Smile. The band has one well-received album under its belt, 2022’s A Light For Attracting Attention, and another one that’ll presumably be similarly lauded is on the way: The Smile announced Wall Of Eyes in November with the title track, an atmospheric number that’s an eerie sign of things to come. – D.R.
Tierra Whack
Quite frankly, it’s time for Tierra Whack to shit or get off of the pot. Although her EPs Pop?, Rap, and R&B? are just two years old, the last robust body of work Whack has released (Whack World) is nearly six. From her viral online freestyles to her shout-out from Beyoncé, 2024 is the optical time for Whack her highly anticipated album (even if it is to simply shut me up). – F.P.
Twenty88
It’s been a while since we’ve heard new music from either Big Sean or Jhené Aiko. But all for good reason. In the past year, Aiko launched her own label, Allel Recording. She’s also released self-care mantras on streaming platforms. With Sean, the two welcomed a baby boy, Noah, who recently celebrated his first birthday. All of this makes for plenty of inspiration for new music. – A.G.
Tyla – Tyla (3/1)
On March 1, South African singer Tyla will release her self-titled debut album. It will be both the crowning moment and the start of a new chapter for the artist who saw her stock shoot up toward the stars in 2023. Her “Water” single became her best-selling release to date thanks to a remix from Travis Scott and a TikTok challenge that was the savory spice to an already flavorful song. “Water” helped put eyes from near and far on Tyla, and she used that opportunity to show them her versatility with another amapiano release in “Truth Or Dare,” the tender “Butterflies” which leans more on R&B, as does the upbeat and flirtatious “On & On.” All of these will accompany “Water” on Tyla, which by the looks of it, will be a project that taps into all sides of the singer. – W.O.
Usher – Coming Home (2/11)
Now that Usher has completed his Las Vegas residency (and attempting to woo seemingly every celebrity that came through, to wildly various effects), he’s turned his attention to his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Show headlining performance — and the album, Coming Home, scheduled to coincide with it. He explained the album’s title in an interview with Zane Lowe, saying, “In a sense, I’m coming home because I am in that comfortable space.” His single “Good Good” with fellow Atlantans Summer Walker and 21 Savage suggests that the release will see him employing his vocal gifts over contemporary production that is sure to please — the song peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100 and No. 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. – A.W.
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend’s last album was back in 2019, making it a few years since they released a project. However, through the group’s latest newsletter, they had a truly promising update for fans. “LP news by the end of the year,” band member Chris Tomson wrote. “It’s close to done and I feel like it just might be our best yet. 10 songs, no skips.” As for what to expect, lead singer Ezra Koenig had been taking raga singing lessons in Japan and writing seven of his all-time favorite songs for this record. – L.L.
Waxahatchee
Officially, there’s no word of a new album from Waxahatchee set to drop in 2024. But, there’s reason to hope. For one, she tends to drop something every year or two: Saint Cloud came in 2020, then she and Jess Williamson teamed up as Plains for I Walked With You A Ways in 2022. So, you could say she’s due. Furthermore, she’s on the 2024 Shaky Knees festival lineup for this May, so maybe that means she’ll have an album out by then. This is all speculation, of course, but new Waxahatchee is worth speculating about. – D.R.
Wisp
Wisp had a better 2023 than most other newcomers: The 19-year-old, San Francisco-based artist released their first song, “Your Face,” last year, and it’s currently sitting at over 30 million Spotify streams. She’s described her music as “like being underwater,” and that’s definitely accurate for the immersive shoegaze gems she’s released so far (just three songs so far). Back in May, Wisp indicated she had an EP on the way, and based on how promising her start has been, more new music can’t come soon enough. – D.R.
Wizkid
In the final weeks of 2023, Wizkid fired off a buzzer-beater with the release of his S2 project, short for Soundman 2, a follow-up to his 2018 EP. The four songs, which cover everything from amapiano to afro-fusion, are just a warm-up to his upcoming sixth album which we can expect to arrive at some point in 2024. It remains untitled and without a release window, but that won’t be the case for long. – W.O.
Zara Larrson – Venus (2/9)
A Zara Larsson project is guaranteed to have bops. But this summer, the Swedish pop sensation made a vulnerable reintroduction with her dance ballad “End Of Time.” We spoke with her via Zoom, as she was spending the summer at home, where she teased her upcoming third album, Venus. With Larsson’s peachy pop prowess, and Rick Nowels and Danja at the helm of production, Venus promises to be an incredible body of work. – A.G.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in January. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.
Friday, January 5
&TEAM — First Howling : NOW (Hybe Japan/Universal Japan)
French Montana — Mac & Cheese 5 (Coke Boys)
Pile — Hot Air Balloon EP (Exploding In Sound Records)
Sprints — Letter to Self (City Slang)
Friday, January 12
@ — Are You There God, It’s Me, @ EP (Carpark)
Armin van Buuren — Breathe In (Armada Music)
Bill Ryder-Jones — Iechyd Da (Domino)
The Clamps — Megamouth (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Folly Group — Down There! (So Young Records)
Hannah Wicklund — The Prize (Flatiron Recordings)
Harrison Storm — Wonder, Won’t You (Nettwerk)
Holler Choir — Songs Before They Write Themselves (Nettwerk)
Kali Uchis — Orquídeas (Geffen Records)
Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign — Vultures (¥)
Magnum — Here Comes the Rain (Steamhammer)
Marika Hackman — Big Sigh (Chrysalis Records)
Nailah Hunter — Lovegaze (Fat Possum Records)
Neal Morse — The Restoration — Joseph: Part Two (Frontiers Music)
Russell / Guns — Medusa (Frontiers Music)
RYUJIN — RYUJIN (Napalm Records)
Vacations — No Place Like Home (Nettwerk)
The Vaccines — Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations (Thirty Tigers/Super Easy)
Friday, January 19
90 Day Men — We Blame Chicago (Numero Group)
Birthmark — Birth of Omni (Polyvinyl)
Bolts of Melody — Film Noir (Outer Battery Records)
Conchúr White — Swirling Violets (Bella Union)
Cowboy Sadness — Select Jambient Works Vol. 1 (People Teeth)
Daniel Johnston — Alive in New York City (Shimmy-Disc)
Eddie Berman — Signal Fire (Nettwerk)
EKKSTACY — EKKSTACY (self-released)
Eliza McLamb — Going Through It (Royal Mountain Records)
ericdoa — DOA (Interscope Records)
The Fauns — How Lost (Invada)
Flat Party — Flat Party EP (Submarine Cat Records)
glass beach — Plastic Death (Run For Cover)
Green Day — Saviors (Reprise Records)
Hot Garbage — Precious Dream (Mothland/EXAG’ Records)
Judy Whitmore — Come Fly With Me (Tiger Turn)
Keyon Harrold — Foreverland (Concord Jazz)
Lil Dicky — Penith (The Dave Soundtrack) (BMG)
Lizzie No — Halfsies (Thirty Tigers)
Neck Deep — Neck Deep (We Are Triumphant)
PACKS — Melt the Honey (Fire Talk)
Selmer — Body Wash (777 Music)
Sleater-Kinney — Little Rope (Loma Vista)
Touché Amoré — Is Survived By: Revived (Deathwish Inc.)
TR3 — Watch It (MRI)
ZHU — Grace (Astralwerks)
Friday, January 26
Alkaline Trio — Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs (Rise)
Angry Blackmen — The Legend of ABM (Deathbomb Arc)
Anna Calvi — Peaky Blinders: Season 5 & 6 (Original Score) (Banquet Records)
Benny the Butcher — Everybody Can’t Go (Def Jam/Roc Nation/Agency78)
Black Polish — Forest (Monsters Live in the Trees) (Riptide Music)
Brad stank — In the Midst of You (Sunday Best Recordings)
Chatham County Line — Hiyo (Yep Roc Records)
Colin Newman — Bastard (Cargo Records)
Courting — New Last Name (Lower Third)
Dylan John Thomas — Dylan John Thomas (Assai Records)
Elena Setién — Moonlit Reveries (Thrill Jockey)
Finnoguns Wake — Stay Young EP (What’s Your Rupture)
Future Islands — People Who Aren’t There Anymore (4AD)
Goth Babe — Lola (Mom + Pop)
Gruff Rhys — Sadness Sets Me Free (Rough Trade Records)
James Arthur — Sweet Love (Columbia)
John Leventhal — Rumble Strip (RumbleStrip Records)
Katy Kirby — Blue Raspberry (ANTI-)
Mall Girl — Pure Love (Jansen Records)
New Model Army — Unbroken (EARMUSIC)
NewDad — Madra (Fair Youth/Atlantic)
Office Dog — Spiel (New West Records)
Papooz — Resonate (Half Awake Records)
Philip Glass — Philip Glass Solo (Orange Mountain Music)
Office Dog — Spiel (New West Records)
Quarters of Change — Portraits (Elektra)
Raffaella — Live, Raff, Love (Act II) EP (Mom + Pop)
Sarah Jarosz — Polaroid Lovers (Ad-Astra Records)
Slower — Slower (Heavy Psych Sounds)
The Smile — Wall Of Eyes (XL Recordings)
Terra Twin — Head Leaking EP (Amuse)
Tom Odell — Black Friday (MTheory/Virgin Music AU)
Torres — What an enormous room (Merge)
Ty Segall — Three Bells (Drag City)
William Elliott Whitmore — Silent, The Mind Breaks (Whitmore Records)
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of December below.
Keys had a striking start with her debut album Songs In A Minor, and she kept that success going with Diary Of Alicia Keys, her second No. 1 album. The latter LP turns 20 years old this year, so Vinyl Me, Please has come through with a gorgeous reissue. The 3LP release is pressed on gorgeous “piano key” vinyl and comes with a bonus disc of remixes and alternate takes, along with a live performance at Webster Hall.
Late footwork pioneer DJ Rashad ultimately only released one album during his lifetime, 2013’s iconic Double Cup. That project is now a decade old and it just got a reissue that comes with revamped artwork and a limited-edition gold vinyl pressing. There’s also a documentary in the works, so that’s something for Rashad fans to keep an eye out for.
Aretha Franklin — A Portrait Of The Queen 1970-1974
BMG
This 6LP set is a great way to get into Aretha Franklin, or to revisit some favorites you already know and love. The collection includes five albums from the early ’70s, plus a bonus LP of session alternates, outtakes, and demos. On top of that, the original albums have been remastered from the analog master tapes, so they’ve never sounded better than they do here.
Sheryl Crow — Tuesday Night Music Club (3oth Anniversary Reissue)
UMe
Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club didn’t get a proper vinyl release back in 1993, so here’s one now, on the project’s 30th anniversary. Bernie Grundman originally mastered the album, and he returned to remaster it from the original master tape for this reissue. In addition to a standard black pressing, a translucent sea blue LP is also available.
Violent Femmes have been at it for over four decades now and it all started with 1983’s self-titled debut album. As the album turns 40, the band has reissued it in an expanded collection. The set features the remastered album, along with rare B-sides, live sessions, and demo recordings, as well as “a book featuring new liner notes by journalist David Fricke and interviews with the band.”
The Cranberries — Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (Reissue)
Island/UMe
“Linger” by The Cranberries is often dubbed one of the best songs of the ’90s, and it comes from the band’s 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?. For the project’s 30th anniversary, the album has been pressed onto crisp gold vinyl, but do keep in mind that you might not want to waste time getting this one if you want it, as it’s a limited edition.
Willie Nelson — Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 Live At The Hollywood Bowl
Legacy Recordings/Blackbird Presents
Earlier this year, Willie Nelson celebrated a major milestone: he turned 90 years old. There was a literal celebration, too, via a star-studded concert at the Hollywood Bowl that featured performances from Nelson, Beck, Dave Matthews, Gary Clark Jr., Keith Richards, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Sheryl Crow, and Snoop Dogg. Now, that special night has been immortalized on vinyl.
For Big Thief, it all started with 2016’s Masterpiece, a boldly named debut album that lives up to the title. Now it’s gotten a reissue and the “evo-vinyl” edition is an opportunity for a fun surprise: The LPs are pressed on random recycled vinyl, so you won’t know what color record you get until you get it and open it up.
Gaucho was a major moment for Steely Dan, as the 1980 project was their last album before a lengthy hiatus, which they ended in 2000 with Two Against Nature. The band has been reissuing their old albums this year and the series continues with Gaucho, which just got a fresh remaster sourced from an analog tape copy.
Perhaps the most defining movie musical of all time, The Sound Of Music is a classic that still holds up, and now the film’s music has gotten a fresh reissue. This is the one fans have been waiting for, as this edition “collects every musical element from the film for the very first time,” including 14 previously unreleased tracks.
Afrobeats is one of the fastest-growing genres in the country. There are big names who have seen global success, but there are even more talented up-and-coming artists looking to achieve the same type of success. Finding those artists can be tough, but we’ve got you covered. Every week, we’ll share an update on the best new afrobeats songs you need to hear and hopefully, you can find someone new to add to your rotation.
Here are some more releases on the new music front that you should check out:
Mannywellz & Pink Sweat$ — “Attention” & “Better With You”
Almost six months after his Don’t Tell Anyone EP, Mannywellz returns with a pair of songs alongside Pink Sweat$. The two tracks, “Attention” and “Better With You,” are cut from a cloth closest to alté, a sound perfect for Mannywellz afrobeats and Pink Sweat$’s R&B backgrounds.
KCee — “I Pray” Feat. Oxlade
Weeks after releasing “Tuesday,” KCee checks in with “I Pray” alongside Oxlade. Together, the two singers strike up an energetic amapiano-inspired record that speaks to a higher power to thank them for their success and to protect them from the enemies that may lurk around them.
Teni — “Malaika”
Teni’s second album Tears Of The Sun arrives on November 19, and ahead of its release, she returns with “Malaika.” The third single on the project, joining “Lanke” and “No Days Off,” is built on the groove of afrobeats as Teni takes time to thank God for helping her through the ups and downs in her life.
Joeboy — “Only God Can Save Me”
In less than two weeks, Nigerian singer Joeboy will release his Body, Soul & Spirit EP. It appears to be a companion project to his second album Body & Soul, which he released back in May. He begins the EP’s rollout with the vulnerable “Only God Can Save Me” which Joeboy uses to discuss the lack of control we have over our destiny.
Victony — “No Joke”
During an interview with Uproxx back in May, Victony hinted at “really unique” records he had on the way. His latest single “No Joke” is seemingly the first, and it’s a groovy single that is both assertive and confident.
Minz — “Blessings”
We’re due for a project from Minz, but for now, we’ll take the singles the singer continues to deliver. “Blessings” joins “Sokoto” and a remix of “Wo Wo” as his drops in 2023, and on it, Minz takes a moment to celebrate the blessings and success that have rained on him in his life.
Morravey — Ravi
Much of the world was introduced to Nigerian singer Morravey thanks to her feature on Davido’s “In The Garden” from his Timeless album. She now steps out on her own with her debut EP Ravi. Through its five songs, Morravey shows her versatility through dance, reggae, highlife, and afro-pop records.
Tega Boi Dc — “Child’s Play” Feat. Shallipopi
If you love amapiano, Tega Boi Dc’s new record “Child’s Play” with Shallipopi is just the track for you. It comes after Tega Boi Dc’s summer record “Come For You” and after Shallipopi’s October release “Things On Things.”
Mellissa — “Henny Talk”
Ghana singer Mellissa is a name you’ve seen beside artists like Amaarae and BOJ, and now, she’s gearing up to stand out on her own with an upcoming EP. Ahead of that project, she drops “Henny Talk” which is a fun and steamy single that combines romance and a bit of liquor to show how feelings can run wild once both are combined.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in November. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.
Friday, November 3
Actress — LXXXVIII (Ninja Tune)
AJR — The Maybe Man (Universal)
Amor Muere — A time to love, a time to die (Scrawl)
Animal Hospital — Shelf Life (Sipsman)
Atreyu — A Torch in the Dark EP (Spinefarm)
Ava Mirzadegan — Dark Dark Blue (Team Love Records)
Bad Wolves — Die About It (Better Noise Music)
bar italia — The Twits (Matador)
Billy Joel — The Vinyl Collection, Vol.2 (Columbia Records/Legacy Recordings)
Cash Bently — Cash Corridos 3 (True Panther)
Chicago — Chicago Greatest Christmas Hits (Rhino)
Chick Corea Elektric Band — The Future Is Now (Candid)
Cody Johnson — Leather (COJO Music/Warner Music Nashville)
Cold War Kids — Cold War Kids (CWKTWO/AWAL)
Crystal Fighters — Light + ([PIAS])
Danielle Howle — Current (Kill Rock Stars Nashville)
Delilah Holliday — Invaluable Vol. 2 EP (One Little Independent Records)
Dirty Honey — Can’t Find the Brakes (Dirt Records)
Dirty Nice — Surrenderland (Chiverin Records)
Dove Armitage — Concernless EP (KRO Records)
Drop Nineteens — Hard Light (Wharf Cat)
Empty Country — Empty Country II (Get Better Records)
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Time always progresses, whether it be one day closer to when our taxes are due or one day closer to when our existence on Earth is over. The sun rises, it sets, and the moon appears. It progresses whether we’re ready for it or not. Sampha seems to understand that on his second album Lahai, his first body of work in six years and first since 2017’s Process.
However, for the London singer, accepting it is a more difficult task. Amid heartbreak and grief, it almost feels like Sampha hoped time would be courteous enough to wait for him, allow him to sort and recover from his feelings, and not be so fast to move on. The opening record on Lahai, “Stereo Color Cloud (Shaman’s Dream),” begins with a female voice that chants choppily, “I wish you, could, time / Time, missile, back, forward / I miss you, time, misuse / Time flies, life issues.” Though broken up and missing words, the message is still clear.
In “Jonathan L. Seagull,” Sampha poses a question that seems to be directed at this progression of time, among other things. “We’ve both dealt with loss and grief in separate ways / On the same track running at a different pace / Will I catch up or will you just race away someday?” Watching the world continue to spin as you work through grief or heartbreak can make the task of catching up insurmountable. The balance between the days where we fall behind and the ones we feel faster than the world keeps us on pace.
For someone who questioned so much in the face of loss, Sampha sings with hard-won clarity throughout the 14 songs on Lahai. He stands optimistic under blue skies and the bright sun, opposing pessimism under rain clouds with records that aim to be the light at the end of the tunnel for listeners who might be struggling with the latter. “Only” encapsulates Sampha’s existential questions well while also coming clean about the emotional damage that was incurred over time.
Sampha’s lyrics capture the swarm of uncertainties that lie in his head. Fluttering and erratic instruments are juxtaposed with Sampha’s soothing vocals as a way to show that peace can exist amid the whirlpool of the unknown as Sampha acknowledges the freedom to be him with love and protection from others on “Spirit 2.0.” Likewise, he conquers regression on “Can’t Go Back” as rapid drums and high hats dance in the background. There’s a mental and emotional fight at hand and Sampha excels at both telling, showing, and making us feel its existence.
Much of Lahai is inspired by Richard Bach’s 1970 book Jonathan Livingston Seagull. As Jonathan, a literal seagull, aims to discover more about the capabilities of their own body through their growing passion for flight and travel, Sampha seeks to accomplish the same level of self-discovery, growth, and more. In the book’s namesake track, he sings “Even though we’ve been through the same / Doesn’t always mean we feel the same
/ Doesn’t always mean we heal the same / You are not me and that’s okay” — a reminder that comparison is the thief of joy.
SLahai contemplates life, death, love, and the time to experience it all. Although the questions are neverending and the answers often don’t arrive as quickly as we’d like them to, there’s no fear in Sampha’s eyes. Instead, he runs head-on into and through the uncertainty that lies ahead of him. He’s now on the other side and proud of the progress he made.
Lahai is an enchanting display of growth and acceptance as a result of unfortunate events. His sophomore album was created with the intention of capturing both the swarming winds and settled dust that occurs on the journey. Six years gives you plenty of time to figure things out, and with that time available for him to use, Sampha made the absolute best of it.
Lahai is out now via Young Recordings. Find out more information here.
Travis Scott / Derrick Rossignol for Uproxx Studios
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
For a little under a decade now, Texas rapper Travis Scott has had his fingers firmly on the pulse of the hip-hop zeitgeist. Starting with his second mixtape Days Before Rodeo in 2014, Travis has embodied the sort of chaotic, disaffected energy anyone born after Y2K finds intrinsic to their nature. It’s sort of a combination of the shoulder-shrugging nihilism of Generation X, multiplied by the molar-grinding anxiety of the millennial generation, cut with the hyperspeed stream of always-on, instantly gratifying internet culture. The dude always seemed great at aesthetics and giving the impression of perspective without really having much to say, and that seems to be catnip for the algorithmically programmed YouTube junkies we’re all turning into.
Travis’ ascension to hip-hop supremacy seemed certified with 2018’s Astroworld, which finally alchemized all the components and influences he’d always jammed together into more than the sum of its parts. Hip-hop, for the better part of the next couple of years, sounded like Astroworld. Travis became the influence instead of just the living mood board showcasing his inspirations. His dominance appeared inevitable. Then, a pandemic happened. Then, just when it seemed things might be getting back to normal, Travis’ 2021 Astroworld Festival ended in disaster, and he was semi-forced into a year of exile, just when he was prepared to present the next phase of his stylistic evolution and pay off his potential in full.
Now, five years after Astroworld, Travis finally presents his vision of Utopia — and it seems that his aim, once so very true, is off for the first time in his career. The thing is, I’m not sure in which direction. It’s obviously forward facing, positing a view of hip-hop very different from its current trajectory. On the other hand, it seems like Travis has once again presented a project that is the sum of its influences, without being sublime enough to portend the future of the culture and the genre. Maybe it’s a dud or maybe, as with so many works of true genius, it’s just too ahead of its time.
It’s said in the fashion world — another realm in which Travis has always appeared to be intensely interested — if something goes out of style, just wait. In a decade or so, it’ll be back in style with a vengeance. In the case of Utopia, the common consensus appears to be that Travis is once again being moved by the spirit of his greatest inspiration, Kanye West. Unfortunately, it’s at a time when Kanye is not the hero to the world at large that he once was. Even worse, the album Travis chose to channel was one of Ye’s most controversial: Yeezus, the mercurial Chicago producer’s 2013 attempt at being deconstructionist and avant garde.
Like Yeezus, Mike Dean’s fingerprints are all over Utopia; distorted drum breaks blast through “Hyaena,” ghostly, stripped-down synths under-gird “My Eyes,” even a broken Nina Simone sample appears on “I Know?” It’s like Travis and Dean took the maximalist-minimalist approach from Yeezus and wrought it on a more massive canvas. Rather than the zoned-out groove of Astroworld, we’ve got the twitchy, nervous energy of Kanye right before his first breakdown, when it seemed like he stopped trying to impress us and started trying to see just what we’d let him get away with.
The thing is, Yeezus, for better or worse, was never really in style. Some critics loved it, some listeners hated it, but the thing is, there has never really been anything else that sounded like it in hip-hop since — until now. The culture, whether you believe it’s a hivemind or an algorithm or just advertising dollars being spent, went in other directions. In fact, Travis Scott’s sound was the one that seemed most in-demand, spawning a horde of imitators and collaborators from Future and Nav to Quavo and Young Thug. Everyone incorporated a little of what Travis did from 2014 to 2020, while Kanye seemingly moved on from his own experimentation by his next album, 2016’s The Life Of Pablo.
That avant-garde style sounds just as out-of-step now as it did ten years ago. Where hip-hop has decided to reincorporate its ’80s club sister sounds like house and techno (perhaps in an escapist effort to shake off the world’s looming problems through cathartic dance), Utopia perhaps more closely reflects the anxious, apocalyptic times we’re currently living through. If music is supposed to be an escape, Utopia sounds less like its namesake than a sharp-angled, iron-walled maze, a gilded cage, or a chair made of swords. It’s jagged and concussive and claustrophobic, while Travis’ raps haven’t really improved enough to feel like he’s trying to make any kind of a coherent statement about all of this.
So, I don’t see this album having the impact of an Astroworld. It’ll likely go No. 1, because in the world where listeners are fans of the person (or the persona, rather — cults of personality abound on Elon Musk’s Twitter) more than the music, there will surely be those who “Emperor’s New Clothes” their way into convincing themselves they’re enjoying the listen. But I can’t help but wonder if, should we wait another decade, we’ll finally start to see the true influence of Utopia — even if the world itself seems further away from the concept than ever.
Utopia is out now via Cactus Jack Records / Epic Records.
