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All The New Albums Coming Out In August 2021

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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 August. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.

Friday, August 6

  • Andrea von Kampen — That Spell (Fantasy Records)
  • Andrew Rinehart — Have Fun Idiot EP (SonaBLAST Records)
  • Barbra Streisand — Release Me 2 (Legacy)
  • Barney McCall — Transitive Cycles (Heavy Machinery Records)
  • Benét — Game Over EP (Bayonet Records)
  • Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Adrian Younge — Brian Jackson JID008 (Jazz Is Dead)
  • Catbite — Nice One (Bad Time Records)
  • Circus Of Rock — Come One, Come All (Frontiers)
  • Colin Hay — I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself (Compass Records)
  • Crossing I’s Dotting T’s — Crossing I’s Dotting T’s EP (Riot Records)
  • Damon & Naomi with Kurihara — A Sky Record (20 20 20)
  • Ellen Foley — Fighting Words (Urban Noise Music)
  • Eluvium — Virga II (Temporary Residence)
  • Empty Streets — Age Of Regret (Cleopatra Records)
  • Ethan Slater And Nick Blaemire — Edge Of The World (Broadway Records)
  • Evan Giia — Endorphins EP (Astralwerks)
  • Fake Laugh & Tarquin — Fake Laugh & Tarquin (Republic of Music)
  • Foxing — Draw Down The Moon (Grand Paradise)
  • Gerry Gibbs — Songs From My Father (Whaling City Sound)
  • Hippo Campus — Good Dog, Bad Dream EP (Grand Jury Music)
  • Homeboy Sandman — Anjelitu EP (Mello Music Group)
  • Information Society — ODDfellows (Hakatak International Records)
  • Jeffrey Alexander And The Heavy Lidders — Jeffrey Alexander And The Heavy Lidders (Baked Tapes)
  • John Moods — So Nice EP (Arbutus Records)
  • Jordan Lehning — Three Colored Wall (Tree Tone)
  • Kalie Shorr — I Got Here By Accident EP (TMWRK Records)
  • Kanye West — Donda (GOOD Music)
  • Khruangbin — Mordechai Remixes (Dead Oceans)
  • Kississippi — Mood Ring (Triple Crown Records)
  • Larsen Leap — Second Wind EP (Golden Robot Records)
  • Laura Stevenson — Laura Stevenson (Don Giovanni Records)
  • Leah Blevins — First Time Feeling (Crabtree Records)
  • Liam Kazar — Due North (Woodsist/Mare Records)
  • Liars — The Apple Drop (Mute)
  • Lingua Ignota — Sinner Get Ready (Sargent House)
  • Lovelorn — What’s Yr Damage (6131)
  • MAY-A — Don’t Kiss Ur Friends EP (Atlantic Records)
  • Nick Wilson — Now I’m Falling (Never Fade)
  • Night Ranger — ATBPO (Frontiers)
  • Patricia Barber — Clique (Impex Records)
  • Paul Thorn — Never Too Late To Call (Thirty Tiger)
  • RZA — RZA vs. Bobby Digital (Uncle Yura Records)
  • Sleepersound — Idle Voices (Shimmy Disc)
  • The Steoples — Wide Through The Eyes Of No One (Stones Throw)
  • Stephen Chopek — Dweller (Declared Goods)
  • Suncraft — Flat Earth Rider (All Good Clean Records)
  • Troy Redfern — The Fire Cosmic (Red7 Records)
  • Willy Mason — Already Dead (Cooking Vinyl)
  • Wolf Castle — Da Vinci’s Inquest EP (Forward Music Group)
  • Zachary Knowles — Tendency To Be A Loner (Fader Label)

Friday, August 13

  • A Great Big Pile Of Leaves — Pono (Topshelf Records)
  • Bendigo Fletcher — Fits Of Laughter (Elektra Records)
  • Ben Platt — Reverie (Atlantic)
  • Bikini — Motor Function EP (Northern Transmissions)
  • Blackbear — Misery Lake EP (ALAMO/Columbia Records)
  • Bloxx — Pop Culture EP (Chess Club Records)
  • Boldy James And The Alchemist — Bo Jackson (ALC Records)
  • Brandee Younger — Somewhere Different (Impulse! Records)
  • Brijean — Feelings Remixes EP (Ghostly International)
  • Brogan Bentley — Diapason Rex (Leaving Records)
  • Charles Spearin — My City Of Starlings (Arts & Crafts)
  • Chorusing — Half Mirror (Western Vinyl)
  • The Cold Stares — Heavy Shoes (Mascot Records)
  • Dan + Shay — Good Things (Warner Nashville)
  • Devendra Banhart & Noah Georgeson — Refuge (Dead Oceans)
  • Dreamers — Atlas EP (Nettwerk)
  • Explorer Tapes — Explorer Tapes (Omnivore Recordings)
  • Grace Vonderkuhn — Pleasure Pain (Sheer Luck Records)
  • Hein Cooper — Turbulent Heart EP (Nettwerk Records)
  • Jade Bird — Different Kinds Of Light (Glassnote)
  • Jeremy Garrett — Wanderer’s Compass (Organic Records)
  • Joey Cape — A Good Year To Forget (Fat Wreck Chords)
  • Joseph Taylor Sutkowski — Of Wisdom & Folly (Danger Collective Records)
  • Josienne Clarke — A Small Unknowable Thing (Corduroy Punk Tracks)
  • Jungle — Loving In Stereo (Caiola Records)
  • Junior Mesa — Cirque Du Freak EP (Nice Life Recording Company)
  • Kalie Shorr — I Got Here By Accident EP (TMWRK Records)
  • Katz — Only You EP (Dot Dash Recordings)
  • The Killers — Pressure Machine (EMI)
  • Lee Dewyze — Ghost Stories (RCA)
  • Luke Hemmings — When Facing The Things We Turn Away From (Arista Records)
  • Matthew Whitaker — Connections (Resilience Music)
  • Media Jeweler — The Sublime Sculpture Of Being Alive (Fire Talk)
  • Meet Me @ The Altar — Model Citizen EP (Fueled by Ramen)
  • Mountain Movers — World What World (Trouble In Mind)
  • Nick Garbett & Mike Majkowski — The Glider (Banksia Records)
  • OhGeesy — Geezy World (Atlantic Records)
  • Pachyman — The Return Of Pachyman (ATO Records)
  • Pole — Tanzboden EP (Mute)
  • Raven Bush — Fall Into Noise (PRAH Recordings)
  • Rebel Priest — Lost In Tokyo EP (Batcave Records)
  • Roy Montgomery — Rhymes Of Chance (Grapefruit Record Club)
  • Sally Decker — In The Tender Dream (NNA Tapes)
  • Still Woozy — If This Isn’t Nice, I Don’t Know What Is (Still Woozy Productions Inc.)
  • Stuck — Content That Makes You Feel Good EP (Exploding In Sound)
  • Supreme Love — We Are All Together EP (Animal63)
  • Susanna And David Wallumrød — Live (Susanna Sonata)
  • Trash Boat — Don’t You Feel Amazing? (Hopeless Records)
  • Watchhouse — Watchhouse (Tiptoe Tiger Music/Thirty Tigers)
  • Willie Nile — The Day The Earth Stood Still (River House Records)
  • Wing Vilma — Spirit Practice (Young Heavy Souls)

Friday, August 20

  • Alisa Tully — Holy Isle EP (Dalliance Recordings)
  • All Good Things — A Hope In Hell (Better Noise Music)
  • Anderson East — Maybe We Never Die (Low Country Sound)
  • Angel Olsen — Aisles EP (Jagjaguwar)
  • Badge Epoch — Scroll (Telephone Explosion)
  • Bambies — Summer Soon (Spaghetty Town Records)
  • Becky Hill — Only Honest On The Weekend (Polydor)
  • Between The Buried And Me — Colors II (Sumerian Records)
  • Black Light Animals — Playboys Of The Western World (Fat Beats Records)
  • Bnny — Everything (Fire Talk)
  • Chris Acker — Odd, Ordinary, & Otherwise (Gar Hole Records)
  • Chris J Norwood — I Am Not Cool (State Fair Records)
  • Cinema Cinema — CCXMDII (Nefarious Industries)
  • Connie Smith — The Cry Of The Heart (Fat Possum Records)
  • Darrin Bradbury — Artvertisement (ANTI- Records)
  • David Duchovny — Gestureland (GMG/King Baby)
  • The Dead Deads — Tell Your Girls It’s Alright (Rumble Records)
  • Deafheaven — Infinite Granite (Sargent House)
  • Debbie Gibson — The Body Remembers (Stargirl Records)
  • Eric Hilton — Ceremony (Montserrat House)
  • Ester Poly — Wet (Hummus Records)
  • G. Brenner — Brushfire (Very Jazzed)
  • George Lynch — Seamless (Rat Pak Records)
  • Girlpuppy — Swan EP (Royal Mountain Records)
  • James McMurtry — The Horses And The Hounds (New West Records)
  • Jeremiah Cymerman — Citadels & Sanctuaries (5049 Records)
  • Joe Troop — Borrowed Time (Free Dirt Records)
  • Johnny Yukon — Flight Plan 001 (Elektra Records)
  • The Joy Formidable — Into The Blue (Soundly Distro)
  • Justus Proffit — Speedstar (B.A.R.N.O.N.E. Records)
  • Khartoum — Vultures EP (Young Poet)
  • Kool & The Gang — Perfect Union (Omnivore Recordings)
  • Kunzite — Visuals (Lowly/Wilder Records)
  • L.A. Exes — Get Some (Black Rainbow Records)
  • Lorde — Solar Power (Universal)
  • Lorkin O’Reilly — Marriage Material (Team Love)
  • Mae Powell — Both Ways Brighter (Park the Van Records)
  • Maggie Rose — Have A Seat (Starstruck Records)
  • Mano Le Tough — At The Moment (Pampa Records)
  • Martha Wainwright — Love Will Be Reborn (Pheromone Records/Cooking Vinyl)
  • Martin Gore — The Third Chimpanzee Remixed (Mute Records)
  • Mildreda — I Was Never Really There (Dependent Records)
  • Molly Burman — Fool Me With Flattery EP (Prolifica Inc)
  • Morly — ‘Til I Start Speaking (Cascine)
  • Nathan Salsburg — Psalms (No Quarter Records)
  • Occurence — I Have So Much Love To Give (Archie & Fox Records)
  • Orla Gartland — Woman On The Internet (New Friends)
  • Rick Hyde — Plates 2 (Black Soprano Family)
  • Sam Williams — Glasshouse Children (Snakefarm)
  • Shannon & The Clams — Year Of The Spider (Easy Eye Sound)
  • Shining Bird — Deadlands (Spunk Records)
  • Shire T — Kingdoms In Colour (Ninja Tune)
  • Sierra Ferrell — Long Time Coming (Clear Summer Nights)
  • Strange Bones — England Screams (FSKT/300)
  • Sturgill Simpson — The Ballad Of Dood And Juanita (High Top Mountain Records/Thirty Tigers)
  • Switchfoot — Interrobang (Fantasy Records)
  • Telethon — Swim Out Past The Breakers (Take This To Heart Records)
  • Tropical Fuck Storm — Deep States (Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • Various Artists — The Bob’s Burgers Music Album Vol. 2 (Sub Pop)
  • Villagers — Fever Dreams (Domino)
  • Vistas — What Were You Hoping To Find? (Believe)
  • Wanda Jackson — Encore (Big Machine Records)

Friday, August 27

  • A Great Big World — Particles (Epic Records)
  • Anamanaguchi — Summer Singles 2010/2020 (Polyvinyl Records)
  • Arjuna Oakes & Serebii — First Nights EP (Innovative Leisure)
  • Bendik Giske — Cracks (Smalltown Supersound)
  • Ben Stalets — Everybody’s Laughing (WhistlePig Records)
  • Big Red Machine — How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? (37D03D/Jagjaguwar)
  • Born Without Bones — Pictures Of The Sun EP (Pure Noise Records)
  • Botanist And Thief — Cicatrix/Diamond Brush (Prophecy Productions)
  • Bram Weijters’ Crazy Men — The Return (SDBAN Records)
  • Brian Setzer — Gotta Have The Rumble (Surfdog Records)
  • The Bronx — The Bronx VI (Cooking Vinyl)
  • Chubby And The Gang — The Mutt’s Nuts (Partisan Records)
  • Chvrches — Screen Violence (Glassnote Records)
  • Clifford / Wright — For All The Money In The World (BFD)
  • Cold Hart — Every Day Is A Day (Epitaph Records)
  • Comet Control — Inside The Sun (Tee Pee Records)
  • Container — Creamer EP (Drone)
  • E.VAX — E.VAX (XL)
  • EG Vines — Through The Mirror (Nowhere Special Recordings)
  • Emma-Jean Thackery — Yellow (Movementt)
  • Evann McIntosh — Character Development (Mom+Pop)
  • Ex Deo — The Thirteen Years Of Nero (Napalm Records)
  • Eyedress — Mulholland Drive (Lex Records)
  • The Faux Paws — The Faux Paws (Great Bear Records)
  • Field Guide — Make Peace With That (Birthday Cake)
  • Field Works — Maple, Ash, And Oaks: Cedars Instrumentals (Temporary Residence Limited)
  • Fotocrime — Heart Of Crime (Profound Lore Records)
  • Gord Downie — Coke Machine Glow: Songwriters’ Cabal (Arts & Crafts)
  • Granfalloon — Positive Songs (Cosmic Glue)
  • The Grascals — Up All Night (Mountain Home)
  • Gretta Ray — Begin To Look Around (EMI)
  • Halsey — If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (Capitol Records)
  • The Immediate Family — The Immediate Family (Quarto Valley Records)
  • Indigo De Souza — Any Shape You Take (Saddle Creek)
  • I See Hawks In L.A. — On Our Way (Western Seeds)
  • Isla — The Mediterranean Gardener (Yep Roc Records)
  • Jason Sharp — The Turning Centre Of A Still World (Constellation Records)
  • Jinjer — Wallflowers (Napalm Records)
  • Jo O’Meara — With Love (Metrophonic)
  • Joakim — Second Nature (Tiger Sushi)
  • Kabir Sehgal — Threshold EP (Tiger Turn)
  • Kat Von D — Love Made Me Do It (KVD/Kartel Music Group)
  • Kenny Garrett — Sounds from The Ancestors (Mack Avenue Records)
  • Kiefer — When There’s Love Around (Stones Throw Records)
  • King Calaway — Midnight EP (Stoney Creek Records)
  • L’Freaq — Showgirl EP (Position Music)
  • La Bonte — Don’t Let This Define Me (Anxiety Blanket)
  • Lewloh — Michigan/Missinghim (Where Are The Fruits Records)
  • Lindsay Munroe — Frogs And Birds (Troubadour Music)
  • Low Flying Hawks — Fuyu (Magnetic Eye Records)
  • Macy Rodman — Unimaginable Animals (Accidental Popstar Records)
  • Madi Diaz — History Of A Feeling (Anti- Records)
  • Maisie Peters — You Signed Up For This (Gingerbread Man Records)
  • Marisa Anderson And William Tyler — Lost Futures (Thrill Jockey)
  • Mirabai Ceiba — The Quiet Hour (Terrorbird)
  • Molly Herron — Through Lines (New Amsterdam Records)
  • Mouse Rat — The Awesome Album (Dualtone/Entertainment 720)
  • Nite Jewel — No Sun (Gloriette)
  • Ocie Elliott — A Place EP (Nettwerk)
  • Opus Orange — Object Lessons (Emoto Music)
  • Phinehas — The Fire Itself (Solid State Records)
  • The Poppermost — Hits To Spare (Think Like A Key Records)
  • Robert Ellis Orrall — Surf And Gun Club (Fixation Records/Infinity Cat Recordings)
  • Roxy Girls — Roxy Girls Are In The Drink EP (Moshi Moshi Records)
  • Scarypoolparty — The Act Of Forgiveness (Hollywood)
  • Snowy Band — Alternate Endings (Spunk Records)
  • Sonta — Chocolit (Machine Entertainment Group)
  • Southern Avenue — Be The Love You Want (Renew Records/BMG)
  • Spirit Adrift — Forge Your Future EP (Century Media Records)
  • Steve Gunn — Other You (Matador Records)
  • Straytones — Magic Green River Swimmin’ & Stunning Tarzanka Experience (Robustfellow Productions)
  • Sugar Horse — The Live Long After (Small Pond)
  • Suzanne Santo — Yard Sale (Soundly Music)
  • Terence Blanchard — Absence (Blue Note)
  • Thalia Zedek Band — Perfect Vision (Thrill Jockey)
  • Thyrfing — Vanagand (Despotz Records)
  • Tim Easton — You Don’t Really Know Me (Black Mesa Records)
  • Trace Adkins — The Way I Wanna Go (Verge Records)
  • Tré Burt — You, Yeah, You EP (Oh Boy Records)
  • TSHA — OnlyL EP (Ninja Tune)
  • Turnstile — Glow On (Grand Jury)
  • Velvet Starlings — Technicolour Shakedown (Sound x 3 Records)
  • Yann Tiersen — Kerber (Mute)

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

On ‘We’re All Alone In This Together,’ Dave Finds A Happy Medium Between Sympathy And Empathy

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz/Neighbourhood Recordings

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.

“I tell my fans we’re all alone in this together.” These words arrive from Dave towards the end of the intro track on his sophomore album. They’re delivered on a plate that presents equal parts blunt honesty and comforting, yet unorthodox reassurance. It’s a unique way for the British rapper to console those who wake up every morning to take a swing at life with the hope that they can return to bed with things less broken than they were at sunrise. “We’re all in this together” is already reassuring in itself, but the addition of “alone” uncovers something many of us hope to avoid amid life’s greatest qualms: reality.

On We’re All Alone In This Together, Dave reminds us that rap hasn’t exempted him from life struggles. The things that money can’t solve still affect the British rapper daily and he alludes to it on “We’re Alone.” “You can trust me, all the sh*t that you been feelin’, you’re feelin’ with me,” he candidly raps. “We all the took the wrong turns in different streets / We all cry the same tears on different cheeks.” There’s a fine line between sympathy and empathy and Dave is very much aware of it. He creates a middle ground between the two in order to support his fans and quite frankly, anyone who takes a moment to hear his words. Dave may not be able to walk in your shoes but he faintly recognizes them as they’re not too different from the pair that cover his feet.

Dave does so much with cut-throat intention. Not in the sense of placing the necessary piece into a puzzle he aims to solve. The London native is responsible for the landscape that the intricate pieces unveil when connected. He’s the puppetmaster and the puppet at the same time. Dave knows what he’s trying to tell his fans and exactly how to tell it. Take this for example: the first song on the album is titled “We’re All Alone” and the last words Dave utters on it are “in this together.” Through the various topics he touches on throughout We’re All Alone In This Together, it’s clear that the rapper wants to make sure the album title is understood to the fullest capacity by the last time he says it.

In a profile with Ciaran Thapar for GQ, Dave points out that as his 2019 debut Psychodrama was centered around the element of fire, We’re All Alone In This Together shifts its attention to water through the visual representation of the sea on it’s cover. “I’ll probably go wind and then earth and then I don’t know if I’ll go anywhere from there,” he says, speaking about future albums. This is Dave’s world, and while he knows what it looks like in his mind, we as listeners slowly watch it come together with the very things that make it move.

So what is it that Dave feels like we’re alone in together? Long story short, it’s a culmination of everything. There’s the destruction of love far beyond repair on “Both Sides Of A Smile” with James Blake or the frustration with a system that operates with a racist lens on “Three Rivers.” Brighter moments arrive on “System” with Wizkid, an afro-fusion effort that sees the acts showering their partners with equal amounts of love and expensive treatments. “Clash,” the laser-sharp lead single from We’re All Alone In This Together, finds Dave calling on good friend Stormzy to ride beside him and flaunt their top-notch confidence. Lastly, the recruitment of UK rappers Fredo, Meekz Manny, Ghetts (who tears through his verse), and Giggs for a captivating posse cut on “In The Fire” provides fiery raps that render the passion the quintet have while leaving their egos unchecked for a moment. All in all, the album presents emotions and feelings that — at their simplest levels — are relatable to us as listeners as we too have experienced them in our own lives.

The word “alone” presents a negative connotation more often than it does a positive one, but Dave successfully uses both on his second album. He acknowledges and accepts the idea of being a nomad on We’re All Alone In This Together. At the same time, the London native reminds us that while we all have our own nomadic experiences, the loneliness we feel isn’t because no one cares. More times than not it’s because we all have our issues to solve, with most requiring our full attention to complete. On “In The Fire,” Giggs raps, “Can’t walk in my shoes / You could be riskin’ a bunion.” Our shoes are only our shoes to walk in as no one else can live life for us. This is the solo expedition Dave speaks about on his second album, We’re All Alone In This Together. Our hardships may be unique, but the London native reminds us that we all have our own to deal with.

We’re All Alone In This Together is out 7/23 via Dave/Neighbourhood Recordings. Get it here.

The Best Rap Verses Of 2021 So Far

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Rap gets compared to basketball a lot, but I think it’s probably because the sport provides some of the aptest one-to-one comparisons to the art form. For instance, a lot of practice goes into both, and the most skilled practitioners make each look easy, even though the average person might find what they do incredibly hard. For another, fans of both love to debate who the “best” of each is, even though we all use different criteria to determine what “best” means.

For me, the best rappers aren’t the ones who rap the fastest or drop the most explosive, tongue-tying cadences, although that’s part of it. Nor am always impressed by the cleverest punchlines, which are in essence just dad jokes that rhyme. They can be pretty amusing though. I like rappers I can relate to, but I also like the ones who give listeners something to aspire to. Storytelling and concepts are important, too.

Overall, though, the best raps give some sort of insight into the person reciting them, then use that insight to reflect something true about the world, something universal. It’s a quality that’s a little difficult to explain, but it’s a little like Ted Lasso’s description of the offsides rule in association football: You know it when you see it. Each verse here has that quality, that thing that makes your ears prick up, that sets off sparklers in your brain, that makes you reach for the rewind button because you know something special just happened. These are the best verses of the year so far.

21 Savage on J. Cole’s “My Life”

21 Savage returns the favor J. Cole once paid him on his own hit single “A Lot,” popping in with a verse that shatters the myth that he only has one mode. Sure, he starts out there, justifying his homicidal tendencies with the trauma of watching his friends lost to street life, but then he slings some wicked wordplay (“I disrespect you respectfully”) and juxtaposes his menace with a mean sense of humor (“I got a good heart, so I send teddy bears every time we make they mommas cry”).

Chika on “Save You”

The Alabama rapper’s March EP Once Upon A Time was shamefully overlooked, especially as a document that explains exactly why she is who she is. While the first verse is a masterclass in petty, it’s the second verse that impresses, summing up Chika’s sense of betrayal at one-way relationships and the dangers of her anxiety and workaholism. Yet, she still ends on a positive note, reflecting the steely optimism that sustains her — and setting the example for listeners to snap their own metaphorical chains.

Guapdad 4000 on “Stoop Kid”

This might be cheating, but from the extended “porch” conceit that extends throughout the song, I’m going to consider both verses here as one verse that was broken in half for song construction purposes. Taken in this way, it may very well be the best verse of the year — or at least my favorite kind, one that sets a scene in vivid, glowing detail. It’s a concept that is fully written through and contains every spectrum of emotion, from warm nostalgia to brokenhearted paranoia.

Jay-Z on “Sorry Not Sorry”

Maybe it just sounds cooler in contrast to Nas’s nerdy Bitcoin boss talk, but Jay’s verse is a study in casual intricacy as he weaves multiple meanings throughout its repeated opening lines, juxtaposes his rags to riches, compares himself to a Messiah figure, and advocates fad diets all over a glittering Street Runner production that evokes the luxuries settings and items he describes. I know we’re all supposed to frown at such materialistic delights (pandemic’s still on, y’all) but damn if he doesn’t make them sound cool.

J. Cole on “Applying Pressure”

Here’s a controversial take: I really like when J. Cole raps over old-school beats about regular-guy things. The character he describes here isn’t just a straw man; it’s him, it’s me, it’s every disgruntled late-’90s backpacker who thumbed their noses at the popular kids and the Hot 100 hits, thinking his condescension made him cool. Here, Cole subtly admonishes that jerk we all used to be (or still are), reminding him/them/us that hating is bad for their/your/our health.

Lil Baby on “Pride Is The Devil”

I know a lot of these verses are coming from the same album but when the whole point of that album was getting bars off… I mean, mission accomplished, right? Here’s where I make a concession to the mainstream; Lil Baby’s verse here provides a strong argument toward defending his current placement in the upper echelons of hip-hop royalty, which I frankly never really understood. But I got an inkling here. Anyone who can make “schedule” rhyme with “forever” and “negative” is thinking on a different level.

Megan Thee Stallion on “Thot Sh*t”

In a song full of gems (“I walk around the house butt-naked / And I stop at every mirror just to stare at my own posterior,” “I’m the shit per the Recording Academy”), it’s the third verse that really unloads and showcases all the traits that have endeared Meg to her legions of loyal supporters. There are the unsubtle boasts, the clever punchlines, the unabashed self-confidence, the assured sex appeal, and the sort-of wholesome kernel at the center (Meg’s kind of a good-girl geek, what with her collegiate ambition), and that’s just in the first eight bars.

Nas on DMX’s “Bath Salts”

The Queensbridge veteran redeems himself on this gritty cut from DMX’s posthumous album, switching from his Escobar persona (which has always been kind of corny) back to Nasty Nas (a mode he should find himself in more often) for a braggadocious, pseudo-intellectual spin through some of the slickest sh*t talk he’s delivered in a decade. “I’d still be this fly if I worked at Popeyes,” he boasts and for once, he sounds — and I cannot stress this enough — utterly, completely believable.

Skyzoo on “I Was Supposed To Be A Trap Rapper”

For the past decade, Skyzoo has been one of the most consistent, creative, and criminally overlooked rappers in hip-hop. Even so, longtime fans can’t help but hold out hope for a breakthrough, when music listeners at large realize there isn’t that much of a difference between supposedly high-minded lyricists like Skyzoo and the more straightforward appeal of the dominant trap rap genre. Sky makes as much plain on this standout from his latest, All The Brilliant Things.

Tyler The Creator on “Lumberjack”

Sometimes, it’s more the context than the content that makes a verse stand out. Ty is more confessional on “Massa,” more observant on “Manifiesto,” and more unhinged on “Corso,” but “Lumberjack” was the first indication of what his new album Call Me If You Get Lost would be and it was a world-stopper. It’s Tyler in his bag, utterly confident, totally self-possessed, swaggering, cool. Plus Jasper and DJ Drama’s ad-libs just accentuate some top-notch, traditional “look at me”-ass rap.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Vince Staples’ Inviting Self-Titled Album Balances Bone-Chilling Stories And Comforting Production

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

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.

In the week leading up to the release of his latest, self-titled album, Vince Staples, Long Beach native Vince Staples appeared on Apple Music’s Radio 1 show to premiere the single “Are You With That?” for host Zane Lowe. In describing the record’s new, more mainstream-friendly sound, Vince said this: “I was just having a lot of conversations with a lot of people around me… and people always say, ‘Oh, you used to always say these stories and this and that, and I don’t notice much about these specific things. Why don’t you put it into the music?’ And it’ll be stuff that has been in songs for years. And then I realized the backdrop wasn’t right for certain things I was saying or vice versa.”

To translate: Civilians missed the pungent reality of Vince’s detailed storytelling and trenchant, hard-won observations because they couldn’t get past the admittedly sometimes bonkers beats he shared them over. Now, Vince Staples is way too good of a rapper with way too much authenticity behind his rhymes to be getting overlooked this way — a flag I’ve been waving since first hearing him tearing up Common’s “Kingdom” back in 2014 — so it was one of those problems that needed correction, despite being a much better problem to have than the ones he describes in his music.

Vince is currently at a place in his career where this approach makes all the sense in the world. I’ve had conversations about his music similar to the ones he described to Apple Music, where fans of all ages and affiliations would argue that they just couldn’t get past those alarming beats — even those who were inclined to see past his galling comments about the ‘90s being overrated or his profuse praise for Millennial whipping boys like Bow Wow and Ray J. Rap, for all the noise its greatest proponents make about the importance of lyrical innovation, is prefaced by the beats that rappers choose to rhyme on, making the production every bit as important as the bars themselves.

To that end, he’s recruited longtime friend and frequent collaborator Kenny Beats to recalibrate the abrasive soundscapes that scared away potential listeners who warily approached his music after finding that they loved his incorrigible online personality. Rather than the bombast of a “Blue Suede” or the mid-apocalyptic futurism of his work on Big Fish Theory, listeners are now confronted with the easygoing haze of “Are You With That?” The subject matter is no less harrowing but now, the spoonful of honey helps mask the flavor of the bitter medicine with which Vince laces each of his stony-eyed recollections — which even he sometimes seems to feel ambivalent about.

We saw a little bit of this with FM!, the bouncy collection of summery bangers from 2019 that saw Vince leaning a bit toward the territory of radio friendliness, but here, he finally wholeheartedly embraces the role of an artist — something he always claimed he wasn’t. Now that he sees value in sharing the sometimes grim stories that have made up his oeuvre in a more accessible fashion, Kenny’s beats make his responsibilities a much lighter lift. It’s easier to sink into the fatalism of “Sundown Town” when the song sounds almost like a PBR&B standard made for lounging on a lazy summer day.

Likewise, “Take Me Home” would be right at home on a YouTube lo-fi station, even with its sobering depiction of gangbanging activities and their deleterious effect on his relationships. And the mellow mood of the top-down cruising anthem “Taking Trips,” camouflages the paranoid tension sizzling just below the surface without undercutting it. Instead, chill-inducing lines like “Can’t even hit the beach without my heat, it’s in my trunks” hit harder because of the relaxed atmosphere — just like an outbreak of gunshots on a warm summer day, right when you least expect it.

Clocking in at a truly breezy 22 minutes and with two interludes among its 10 tracks, it’s an even quicker listen than FM! — yet, due to its comforting sonic palette, it feels more cozy than disappointing, prompting repeat playthroughs to try and catch the witty wordplay and cushy vibes of Kenny Beats’ production. Vince Staples is just one of two planned projects this year, marking an uptick in productivity for the young rapper and as functions as something of a checkpoint delineating the break between Vince Staples, the defiant upstart, and Vince Staples, the potential star.

Vince Staples is out now via Blacksmith Recordings/Motown Records. Get it here.

Snoh Aalegra’s ‘Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies’ Willingly Clings To Fantasies While Avoiding Reality

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

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.

I stumbled upon a tweet recently that read, “No Swedish-Iranian white woman should be this good at R&B but here we are.” Comedic commentary aside, the music Snoh Aalegra creates is oftentimes mind-blowingly good. She thrives in a pocket of her own that’s equidistant from the trapsoul artists of the world and the traditional R&B vocalists that lay on the other side of the spectrum. Both her 2017 debut Feels and subsequent sophomore effort, Ugh, Those Feels Again shine brightly on her portfolio and provide proof towards her impressive artistry. However, the aforementioned tweet begs the question that needs answering: What makes Snoh Aalegra so good?

The answer to that question can be approached from many different angles. However, using her newly-released third album, Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies, as a starting point seems fitting enough. The effort arrives less than two years after Ugh, Those Feels Again, a short return time compared to her R&B contemporaries. In this brief period, Aalegra was able to create a shift in her outlook towards love. It went from deeply longing for a forever partner as she unveils on her first two albums to make the very most of these perfect moments on Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies, regardless of its brevity.

One thing to note about Snoh Aalegra is her ability to string the most impactful words together without the fiery dose of infatuation, sadness, or anything in between that conveys the expected emotions on a given song. Actions speak louder than words, but for the singer, her most heartfelt moments appear with grace, and the painful ones arrive with elegance while her words, quite literally, do all the talking. Staying cool, calm, and collected seems to be her forte, one she portrays so well.

To introduce the album, Aalegra begins with “Indecisive,” a steady-paced effort driven by her nonchalance as chants repeat through the song — “I don’t really care” — but it’s a mere scratch compared to the other things she says on the track. Other lines like “Let me make it clear / Everything is not about you” and “You should have thought about that while you was with me,” cut much deeper. These nonchalantly wrapped declarations come from a hurt place, but the singer stays in control to deliver her message exactly how she wants to. Similar sentiments are expressed to close the album on “Save Yourself.” On it, she bids goodbye to a relationship that proved to be nothing but a failure and dismisses them with one final reminder: “But just know I’m good without you.”

This control and taming of emotions that Aalegra exhibits may not be a natural quality, but rather, a choice to alter her perspective on situations and expense her energy or what’s worth it in her eyes. Perhaps the best example of this comes from the best song on Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies: “Tangerine Dream.” The song is a dreamy tale of two lovers who depart on their separate paths but not before one last run-in on a flight. The potential reignition of their relationship only exists in the clouds their plane flies through, providing a double entendre for a temporary high. In Aalegra’s eyes, it’s better to spend her time at cruising altitude immersed in the warm thoughts that she and her co-passenger once shared. It’s a far better option than fixating on the separate path she’ll walk on once she retrieves her bags from baggage claim.

Her love for these brief moments in paradise turns her into a frequent flyer of sorts as she admittedly revisits these temporary highs to reside in the violet skies she loves so much. Aalegra blatantly ignores the poor qualities of an insufficient lover on “Lost You” simply because they bring her a healthy dose of euphoria. “I won’t hold the past against you,” she sings. “When you hold me, I forget to / I can never draw the line with you.” She clings to cloud nine and avoids addressing the issues that pain her on “We Don’t Have To Talk About It” while “Dying 4 Your Love,” the lead single from the album, seeks the answers she wants rather than the ones that stand so obviously before her.

Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies is a testament to enjoying the moment and keeping the mind off what might happen next, whether it be an inevitable end or an uncertain future that lies ahead. It’s an approach that Aalegra makes clear on “In My Eyes,” an outlier record of sorts on the project thanks to upbeat production from The Neptunes. “Some things don’t work and that’s the way love goes,” she sings on the record. Love guarantees nothing, and Aalegra is very much aware of this, which is why she indulges in these temporary highs as often as she does, an attribute that points to what makes her great. The singer uses the briefest emotions of love, pain, and everything in between to create pieces of art that portray the most-telling worlds, just like she did on “Tangerine Dream.” Keeping your head in the clouds is a bad thing, as some might say, but the way Snoh Aalegra tells it, these Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies are everything and more.

Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies is out now via Atrium Recordings/Roc Nation Records. Get it here.

All The New Albums Coming Out In July 2021

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iStock

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 July. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.

Friday, July 2

  • Attawalpa — Patterns EP (White Label Collective)
  • Bobby Gillespie And Jehnny Beth — Utopian Ashes (Third Man Records)
  • Broken Fires — New Friends EP (Phwoar & Peace Records)
  • Caitlin Mae — Perspective EP (Monstercat)
  • Chinatown Slalom — Meet The Parents EP (September Recordings)
  • Cloudland — Where We Meet (HeyHey Studios)
  • Cub Scout Bowling Pins — Clang Clang Ho (Rockathon Records)
  • Dennis Lloyd — Some Days (Arista Records)
  • Desperate Journalist — Maximum Sorrow! (Fierce Panda)
  • Earl Slick — Fist Full Of Devils (Schnitzel)
  • G Herbo — 25 (Machine Entertainment Group)
  • The Go! Team — Get Up Sequences Part One (Memphis Industries Records)
  • Izzy True — Our Beautiful Baby World (Don Giovanni Records)
  • Laura Mvula — Pink Noise (Atlantic Records)
  • Molly Lewis — The Forgotten Edge EP (Jagjaguwar)
  • Mr Jukes & Barney Artist — The Locket (The Locket Records/Virgin Music)
  • The Quireboys — A Bit Of What You Fancy 2 (EMI)
  • Risely — Meantime Fades (self-released)
  • Sebastian Plano — Save Me Not (Decca Records)
  • Snapped Ankles — Forest Of Your Problems (The Leaf Label)
  • Steve Marriner — Hope Dies Last (Stony Plain Records)
  • Stone Giants — West Coast Love Stories (Nomark)
  • Sun Crow — Quest for Oblivion (Ripple Music)
  • Supermilk — Four by Three (Specialist Subject Records)
  • Vince Mendoza — Freedom Over Everything (Modern Recordings)

Sunday, July 4

  • Lana Del Rey — Blue Bannisters (Interscope/Polydor)

Friday, July 9

  • The Academic — Community Spirit EP (Capitol Records)
  • Arushi Jain — Under The Lilac Sky (Leaving Records)
  • Attacca Quartet — Real Life (Sony Classical)
  • Charlotte Day Wilson — Alpha (Stone Woman Music)
  • Dylan Cartlidge — Hope Above Adversity (Glassnote Records)
  • DZ Deathrays — Positive Rising: Part 2 (Alcopop! Records)
  • Eden James — All The Good Blank Are Taken (Dandy Ram Records)
  • The Flatlanders — Treasure Of Love (Rack’em Records/Thirty Tigers)
  • Foodman — Yasuragi Land (Hyperdub)
  • Half Waif — Mythopoetics (Anti-)
  • Hannah Dasher — The Half Record (Sony Music Nashville)
  • Hardline — Heart, Mind And Soul (Frontiers)
  • IDK — USEE4YOURSELF (Warner Records)
  • Jahvillani — Dirt To Bentley (VP Records)
  • Jeremy Ferrara — Everything I Hold (AST Records)
  • Jerome Thomas — That Secret Sauce EP (Rhythm Section)
  • Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis — Jam & Lewis Volume One (Flyte Tyme Records)
  • JOON — Dream Again (Italians Do It Better)
  • Junaco — Blue Room EP (Side Hustle Records)
  • Justin Pierre Courtney — The Price Of Salt EP (Epitaph Records)
  • LA Guns — Cocked & Loaded Live (Frontiers)
  • Lords Of Altamont — Tune In, Turn On, Electrify! (Heavy Psych Sounds)
  • Mads Christensen — 5212 Helvete (Edged Circle Productions)
  • The Maine — XOXO: From Love And Anxiety In Real Time (Photo Finish Records/8123)
  • Meggie Lennon — Sounds From Your Lips (Mothland)
  • Murray McLauchlan — Hourglass (True North Records)
  • Museum Of Love — Life Of Mammals (DFA Records)
  • Real Sickies — Love Is for Lovers (Stomp Records)
  • Serj Tankian — Cool Gardens Poetry Suite (Serjical Strike Records)
  • Soda Blonde — Small Talk (Velveteen Records)
  • Soul Asylum — Stand Up And Be Strong EP (Legacy)
  • Spice Girls — Wannabe25 EP (UMe/Virgin)
  • Thought Leaders — In Wastelands (King of Sticks Records)
  • Tkay Maidza — Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 EP (4AD/Dew Process)
  • Toni Sauna — Denise (Def Pressé)
  • Twin Shadow — Twin Shadow (Cheree Cheree)
  • Typical Sisters — Love Beam (Joyful Noise Recordings)
  • Various Artists — Space Jam: A New Legacy Official Soundtrack (Republic Records/WaterTower Music)
  • Vince Staples — Vince Staples (Def Jam)
  • The Wallflowers — Exit Wounds (New West Records)

Friday, July 16

  • Ampersounds feat. Rufus Wainwright — West End EP (West End Records)
  • Anya Hinkle — Eden And Her Borderlands (Organic Records)
  • Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band — Expansions (Big Crown Records)
  • Barenaked Ladies — Detour De Force (Vanguard)
  • Big City — Testify X (Frontiers)
  • Charli Adams — Bullseye (Color Study)
  • Charlie Worsham — Sugarcane EP (Warner)
  • Chet Faker — Hotel Surrender (Detail Records/BMG)
  • Clairo — Sling (Fader/Republic/Interscope)
  • Dave McMurray — Grateful Dedication (Blue Note)
  • Dave Mullen — Solace (Mullsoul Music)
  • Felicity — Dear Universe (Adventure Cat Records)
  • The Flaming Lips — The Soft Bulletin Companion (Warner Bros.)
  • GOAD — La Belle Dame (My Kingdom Music)
  • Hollie Kenniff — The Quiet Drift (Western Vinyl)
  • The Hornets — Heavier Than A Stone (Go Down Records)
  • Ida Mae — Click Click Domino (Thirty Tigers)
  • Inhaler — It Won’t Always Be Like This (Polydor Records)
  • James Vickery — Songs That Made Me Feel (Th3rd Brain Records)
  • James Vincent McMorrow — Grapefruit Season (Sony Music UK/RCA Records)
  • Jayla Kai — Epitome EP (Everybody’s Music)
  • John R. Miller — Depreciated (Rounder Records)
  • Johnny Lloyd — La La La (Xtra Mile)
  • Kate Vargas — Rumpumpo (Big Machine)
  • Kenneth Whalum — Broken Land 2 (Secretly Canadian/Broken Land Records)
  • KSI — All Over The Place (RBC Records/BMG)
  • Lawrence Rothman — Good Morning, America (KRO)
  • Leila Abdul-Rauf — Phantasiai (Cyclic Law)
  • Lovelorn — What’s Yr Damage (6131)
  • Lou Price — Parkside Grooming EP (Hand In Hive)
  • Marc Ribler — The Whole World Awaits You (Wicked Cool Records)
  • Nathaniel Rateliff — Red Rocks 2020 (Stax Records)
  • Nene H — Ali (Incienso)
  • Oscar Lang — Chew The Scenery (Dirty Hit)
  • Rodrigo Amarante — Drama (Polyvinyl)
  • Runnner — Always Repeating (Run For Cover Records)
  • Smile Machine — Bye For Now (Exploding In Sound Records)
  • Stephen Fretwell — Busy Guy (Speedy Wunderground)
  • Thadeus Gonzalez — Opposite Faces (Ripple Music)
  • Toby Hitchcock — Changes (Frontiers)
  • Tommy Ward — From This Moment On EP (Le Coq Records)
  • Tones And I — Welcome To The Madhouse (Bad Batch Records)
  • Trampolene — Love No Less Than A Queen (Strap Originals)
  • Umphrey’s Mcgee — You Walked Up Shaking In Your Boots But You Stood Tall And Left A Raging Bull (Nothing Too Fancy Music)
  • U-Roy — Solid Gold U-Roy (Trojan Jamaica/BMG)
  • Velvet Insane — Rock n’ Roll Glitter Suit (Wild Kingdom Records)
  • Wavves — Hideaway (Fat Possum)
  • Willow — Lately I Feel Everything (MSFTSMusic/Roc Nation/Polydor)
  • The Zolas — Come Back To Life (Light Organ Records)

Friday, July 23

  • Alexis Marshall — House Of Lull, House Of When (Sargent House)
  • Anne-Marie — Therapy (Asylum)
  • Bardo — Everywhere Reminds Me Of Space (Yemayá Sol Records)
  • Chiiild — Hope For Sale (Avant Garden Records)
  • Clay Melton — Back To Blue EP (Cheree Cheree)
  • Dallas Burrow — Dallas Burrow (Subliminal Hymnal)
  • Darkside — Spiral (Matador)
  • David Crosby — For Free (BMG)
  • Descendents — 9th & Walnut (Epitaph Records)
  • Jackson Browne — Downhill From Everywhere (Inside Recordings)
  • Jazzparty — Nobody Gets Away (Remote Control)
  • Joshua Radin — The Ghost And The Wall (Nettwerk)
  • The Jungle Giants — Love Signs (Amplifire Music)
  • Krist Rogers And The Dirty Gems — Still Dirty (Wicked Cool Records)
  • L Devine — Near Life Experience: Part 1 EP (Warner Bros. Records)
  • Leon Bridges — Gold-Diggers Sound (Columbia)
  • Leslie Winer — When I Hit You You’ll Feel It (Light in the Attic)
  • LOLAA — La Marea (Arts & Crafts)
  • Maya Beiser — Maya Beiser x Philip Glass (Islandia Music Records)
  • Mega Bog — Life And Another (Paradise of Bachelors)
  • Molly Burch — Romantic Images (Captured Tracks)
  • Montezuma’s Revenge — S.W.I.M. (DTH Records)
  • Oh Baby — Hey Genius (Burning Witches Records)
  • Rodney Crowell — Triage (RC1)
  • Shiny Joe Ryan — Shiny’s Democracy (Spinning Top)
  • Sleep Waker — Alias (UNFD)
  • Vaines — Electric Blue EP (Hopeless Records)
  • Woods — More Strange (Woodsist)
  • Yngwie Malmsteen — Parabellum (Music Theories Recordings)

Friday, July 30

  • Alan Vega — Alan Vega After Dark (In the Red)
  • Alex Rex — Paradise (Neolithic Recordings)
  • Big Big Train — Common Ground (English Electric)
  • Billie Eilish — Happier Than Ever (Darkroom/Interscope Records)
  • Bleachers — Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night (RCA Records)
  • Blues Traveler — Traveler’s Blues (Loud & Proud)
  • Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! — Gone Are The Good Days (Fearless Records)
  • Clay Walker — Texas To Tennessee (Show Dog Nashville)
  • Dee Snider — Leave A Scar (Napalm Records)
  • Dot Allison — Heart-Shaped Scars (SA Recordings)
  • The Effens — Eventually EP (Hidden Pony)
  • Erasure — The Neon Remixed (Mute Records)
  • Grizfolk — Grizfolk (Virgin)
  • The Halluci Nation — One More Saturday Night (Radicalized Records)
  • Jelani Aryeh — I’ve Got Some Living To Do (Imperial/No Matter)
  • Jeremy Squires — Unravel (Blackbird Record Label)
  • King Woman — Celestial Blues (Relapse)
  • Lantlos — Wildhund (Prophecy Productions)
  • Leela James — See Me (BMG)
  • Los Lobos — Native Sons (New West Records)
  • Lump — Animal (Partisan Records)
  • My Idea — That’s My Idea EP (Hardly Art)
  • Naia Izumi — A Residency In The Los Angeles Area (Sony)
  • Prince — Welcome 2 America (Legacy Recordings)
  • Ric Robertson — Carolina Child (Big Machine)
  • Seether — Wasteland — The Purgatory EP (Fantasy Records)
  • Skirts — Great Big Wild Oak (Double Double Whammy)
  • Sleep Moscow — Of The Sun (Majestic Mountain Records)
  • Son Volt — Electro Melodier (Transmit Sound)
  • Sonny & The Sunsets — New Day With New Possibilities (Rocks In Your Head Records)
  • Sycco — Sycco’s First EP (Future Classic)
  • Torres — Thirstier (Merge Records)
  • The Tubs — Names EP (Prefect Records)
  • Tush — Fantast (Do Right! Music)
  • The Wandering Hearts — The Wandering Hearts (Decca Records)
  • William Cashion — Postcard Music Remixes EP (Ideas For Housecrafts)
  • Yola — Stand For Myself (Easy Eye Sound)
  • ZRL — Our Savings (American Dreams Records)

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Best Vinyl Releases Of June 2021

by
Uproxx

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 June below.

The Roots — Do You Want More?!!!??! (Deluxe Edition)

Geffen/Ume

The Roots have been one of hip-hop’s finest groups for a long time and their ascent began with their 1995 major-label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??!. Now, they’re celebrating the iconic release with a slew of new reissues. The most expansive is the 4-LP edition, which includes a 24-page booklet and a whopping 18 bonus tracks, some of which have never been released and all of which were curated by Questlove.

Get it here.

2Pac — Until The End Of Time (20th Anniversary Reissue)

2Pac

Before Tupac was prematurely taken from us, he had a hell of a career, to put it lightly. One of the highlights, his album Until The End Of Time, turns 20 this year, and now it’s available on “high-quality, 180-gram audiophile grade vinyl” for the first time in two decades. This 4-LP release is a special one, as it comes with previously unseen photos and even a tracklist handwritten by Tupac himself.

Get it here.

PJ Harvey — White Chalk and White Chalk Demos

UMe/Island

PJ Harvey has essentially become the cornerstone of his monthly vinyl rundown with her regular rereleases. Her latest project to get the reissue treatment is White Chalk, her well-received seventh album from 2007. Also shared was a collection of demos, which were previously unreleased and are also available on CD and digital formats.

Get White Chalk here. Get White Chalk Demos here.

Dave Chappelle — 8:46

Third Man Records

Last year, Dave Chappelle famously released 8:46, the title of which references how long Derek Chauvin had his knee of George Floyd’s neck before his death. Now the comedian is extending his special’s reach with a new Third Man Records reissue, which is pressed in a color edition that is limited, appropriately, to just 846 copies.

Get it here.

Alicia Keys — Songs In A Minor (20th Anniversary Reissue)

RCA Records/Legacy Recordings

Alicia Keys came blazing out of the gate with her 2001 debut album Songs In A Minor. Now the chart-topping, multi-platinum release has gotten a fresh reissue that includes some enticing goodies. Most excitingly, there’s a pair of previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original album recording sessions: “Foolish Heart” and “Crazy (Mi Corazon).” Additionally, there’s also “Fallin’ – Ali Soundtrack Version” and “I Won’t (Crazy World),” the latter of which was previously available on the 10th Anniversary Physical Deluxe edition, meaning this is the first time it’s available to stream.

Get it here.

Lady Gaga — Chromatica

Interscope

Lady Gaga had one of 2020’s defining pop albums with Chromatica, and now she has come out with the ultimate edition of the album for diehard fans. This one is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and comes with a trifold embossed jacket, a new 28-page booklet, and a 40-page fanzine.

Get it here.

Rod Stewart — Rod Stewart: 1975-1978 (Box Set)

Rhino

Although Rod Stewart had a No. 1 album early in his career, he needed a boost after 1974’s Smiler, which was a relative chart flop in the US. He followed that by signing with Warner Bros. Records and busted out a quartet of prosperous albums, three of which were top-two on the charts: Atlantic Crossing (1975), A Night On The Town (1976), Footloose & Fancy Free (1977), and Blondes Have More Fun (1978). Those four pivotal records have been compiled on this new box set, which also features studio outtakes from each of them. Stewart himself says of the collection, “It’s extraordinary for me to look back on this era of my career. I think fans will enjoy experiencing these songs on vinyl. I know I did.”

Get it here.

Ludacris — Word Of Mouf (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)

Vinyl Me, Please

Ludacris remains a pop-culture force today, and that was especially true when he released 2001’s Word Of Mouf, which features hits like “Area Codes” and “Move B*tch.” In celebration of the record’s 20th anniversary, it has gotten a slick new reissue via Vinyl Me, Please, which is pressed on “orange galaxy” vinyl and has a gorgeous overall presentation.

Get it here.

Sharon Van Etten — Epic Ten

Ba Da Bing

Sharon Van Etten came up with a great way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her album Epic: Re-release it alongside a version of the album covered by other artists. Participating in the project are folks like Courtney Barnett, Justin Vernon, Fiona Apple, and others. Van Etten says of the reissue, “Epic represents a crossroads for me as an artist. Going from intern to artist at Ba Da Bing, from solo folk singer to playing with a band for the first time and beginning to play shows on tour where people showed up. I am in awe of the artists who wanted to participate in celebrating my anniversary and reissue, from young inspiring musicians, to artists who took me under their wing, who I met on tour, and to artists I’ve looked up to since I was a teenager. Each one of these artists continue to influence my writing and provide a sense of camaraderie during this new era of sharing music.”

Get it here.

The Avalanches — Since I Left You (20th Anniversary Reissue)

Astralwerks

June was a big month for 20th anniversaries, because here’s another one. This time, it’s Since I Left You from The Avalanches, and it features a handful of bonus tracks, including new mixes from Black Dice, Leon Vynehall, Sinkane, Carl Craig, and MF Doom. The Doom contribution is previously unheard vocals on “Tonight May Have To Last Me All My Life (MF Doom Remix),” which adds to the icon’s posthumous legacy. The box set collection that houses this anniversary set is essential for fans of the project.

Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Best Vinyl Releases Of June 2021

by
Uproxx

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 June below.

The Roots — Do You Want More?!!!??! (Deluxe Edition)

Geffen/Ume

The Roots have been one of hip-hop’s finest groups for a long time and their ascent began with their 1995 major-label debut, Do You Want More?!!!??!. Now, they’re celebrating the iconic release with a slew of new reissues. The most expansive is the 4-LP edition, which includes a 24-page booklet and a whopping 18 bonus tracks, some of which have never been released and all of which were curated by Questlove.

Get it here.

2Pac — Until The End Of Time (20th Anniversary Reissue)

2Pac

Before Tupac was prematurely taken from us, he had a hell of a career, to put it lightly. One of the highlights, his album Until The End Of Time, turns 20 this year, and now it’s available on “high-quality, 180-gram audiophile grade vinyl” for the first time in two decades. This 4-LP release is a special one, as it comes with previously unseen photos and even a tracklist handwritten by Tupac himself.

Get it here.

PJ Harvey — White Chalk and White Chalk Demos

UMe/Island

PJ Harvey has essentially become the cornerstone of his monthly vinyl rundown with her regular rereleases. Her latest project to get the reissue treatment is White Chalk, her well-received seventh album from 2007. Also shared was a collection of demos, which were previously unreleased and are also available on CD and digital formats.

Get White Chalk here. Get White Chalk Demos here.

Dave Chappelle — 8:46

Third Man Records

Last year, Dave Chappelle famously released 8:46, the title of which references how long Derek Chauvin had his knee of George Floyd’s neck before his death. Now the comedian is extending his special’s reach with a new Third Man Records reissue, which is pressed in a color edition that is limited, appropriately, to just 846 copies.

Get it here.

Alicia Keys — Songs In A Minor (20th Anniversary Reissue)

RCA Records/Legacy Recordings

Alicia Keys came blazing out of the gate with her 2001 debut album Songs In A Minor. Now the chart-topping, multi-platinum release has gotten a fresh reissue that includes some enticing goodies. Most excitingly, there’s a pair of previously unreleased bonus tracks from the original album recording sessions: “Foolish Heart” and “Crazy (Mi Corazon).” Additionally, there’s also “Fallin’ – Ali Soundtrack Version” and “I Won’t (Crazy World),” the latter of which was previously available on the 10th Anniversary Physical Deluxe edition, meaning this is the first time it’s available to stream.

Get it here.

Lady Gaga — Chromatica

Interscope

Lady Gaga had one of 2020’s defining pop albums with Chromatica, and now she has come out with the ultimate edition of the album for diehard fans. This one is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and comes with a trifold embossed jacket, a new 28-page booklet, and a 40-page fanzine.

Get it here.

Rod Stewart — Rod Stewart: 1975-1978 (Box Set)

Rhino

Although Rod Stewart had a No. 1 album early in his career, he needed a boost after 1974’s Smiler, which was a relative chart flop in the US. He followed that by signing with Warner Bros. Records and busted out a quartet of prosperous albums, three of which were top-two on the charts: Atlantic Crossing (1975), A Night On The Town (1976), Footloose & Fancy Free (1977), and Blondes Have More Fun (1978). Those four pivotal records have been compiled on this new box set, which also features studio outtakes from each of them. Stewart himself says of the collection, “It’s extraordinary for me to look back on this era of my career. I think fans will enjoy experiencing these songs on vinyl. I know I did.”

Get it here.

Ludacris — Word Of Mouf (Vinyl Me, Please Reissue)

Vinyl Me, Please

Ludacris remains a pop-culture force today, and that was especially true when he released 2001’s Word Of Mouf, which features hits like “Area Codes” and “Move B*tch.” In celebration of the record’s 20th anniversary, it has gotten a slick new reissue via Vinyl Me, Please, which is pressed on “orange galaxy” vinyl and has a gorgeous overall presentation.

Get it here.

Sharon Van Etten — Epic Ten

Ba Da Bing

Sharon Van Etten came up with a great way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her album Epic: Re-release it alongside a version of the album covered by other artists. Participating in the project are folks like Courtney Barnett, Justin Vernon, Fiona Apple, and others. Van Etten says of the reissue, “Epic represents a crossroads for me as an artist. Going from intern to artist at Ba Da Bing, from solo folk singer to playing with a band for the first time and beginning to play shows on tour where people showed up. I am in awe of the artists who wanted to participate in celebrating my anniversary and reissue, from young inspiring musicians, to artists who took me under their wing, who I met on tour, and to artists I’ve looked up to since I was a teenager. Each one of these artists continue to influence my writing and provide a sense of camaraderie during this new era of sharing music.”

Get it here.

The Avalanches — Since I Left You (20th Anniversary Reissue)

Astralwerks

June was a big month for 20th anniversaries, because here’s another one. This time, it’s Since I Left You from The Avalanches, and it features a handful of bonus tracks, including new mixes from Black Dice, Leon Vynehall, Sinkane, Carl Craig, and MF Doom. The Doom contribution is previously unheard vocals on “Tonight May Have To Last Me All My Life (MF Doom Remix),” which adds to the icon’s posthumous legacy. The box set collection that houses this anniversary set is essential for fans of the project.

Get it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The Best New Hip-Hop Hip-Hop This Week

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Getty Image / Paul Rosales

The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Doja Cat, Tyler The Creator, and more.

This week saw the releases of Jaden’s “Bye,” Jazz Carter and Buddy’s “Two Of Em,” Mick Jenkins’ “Truffles,” Joyner Lucas’ “Legend” with Rick Ross, Kyle’s “Love Me Like You Say You Love Me,” Big Sean’s “Freshman 10 Freestyle,” Rexx Life Raj’s “Lockheed Martin,” and EST Gee’s “Capitol 1,” along with the releases listed below.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending March 19, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Doja Cat — Planet Her

Sure, it’s not technically a hip-hop album, any more than it is strictly pop, dance, or R&B. But Doja’s third effort features some of her sharpest rapping, tapping into a number of contemporary styles from Cloud rap to EDM, always with an eyebrow-raising punchline or clever twist on a familiar cadence. This is creativity personified; what’s more hip-hop than that?

Juicy J — The Hustle Still Continues [Deluxe]

Juicy has evolved over time into a shepherd and mentor of the modern-day, hedonistic trap rap scenes that take so much inspiration from his work with Three Six Mafia. This deluxe version of his 2020 album adds an astonishing number of new songs and collaborators, bringing in bright new stars like Lil Baby, Pooh Shiesty, and Rico Nasty.

MIKE — Disco!

Back in the late ’90s, MIKE would have been considered a backpacker. Now, he’s something of a contrarian presence, the rare traditionalist who isn’t pursuing an agenda to “bring back real hip-hop,’ instead locking in on his own iconoclastic trajectory of rebellious super rhyming style.

Ski Mask The Slump God — Sin City

The South Florida firestarter returns after a long hiatus to resume his campaign of punk-rap terror in a world in which he’s less of an exception than the prototype of an entire movement — a movement that’s closer to the mainstream than ever before.

Tyler The Creator — Call Me If You Get Lost

Tyler delivers his own version of DJ Drama’s popular Gangsta Grillz mixtape series, splitting the difference between gruff-voiced, braggadocious rhymes and the tender soul of Igor and Flower Boy. The effect is intoxicating.

Singles/Videos

ASAP TyY — “1990”

Yes, I know: There are soooo many members of ASAP Mob, you probably forgot all about TyY. Well, shame on you, because he’s every bit as charismatic and clever as his more mainstream favorite homeboys.

Beanz — “As Seen On TV” Feat. Benny The Butcher

Beanz, a truly underrated rapper, gets to shine alongside one of the more popular purveyors of straight-up, bruising bars, which may lead to her finally receiving her due when her debut album Tables Turn drops this summer.

Bfb Da Packman — “Weekend At Solomon’s”

Dropping his debut album this week, the hilarious Flint, MI rapper employs a number of hip-hop’s most hyped names on the tracklist, from XXL Freshman Coi Leray to standup comic turned rapper Zack Fox, but he goes for dolo here, and this track is all the more entertaining for it.

BlueBucksClan — “Rap City”

LA party rap duo BlueBucks has taken the city by storm, between their infectious beat choices and sports-related rap references, they’ve quickly become a favorite of the block party/house party set — whichever set they claim.

KenTheMan — “I’m Perfect”

Look at that title. KenTheMan’s name has been buzzing on the social media streets as the successor to the crown passed from Cardi to Megan to Latto to Flo Milli, and this track is the — ahem — perfect example of why.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Doja Cat’s ‘Planet Her’ Cements Her Weirdo Pop Star Status

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

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.

It’s been a while since mainstream pop stars got absolutely weird. Thankfully, artists like Doja Cat are carrying on the legacy of the likes of Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, while saving the mainstream pool from getting dull.

“All the goofy kids, or the kids who don’t put themselves on a pedestal, or are just not normally accepted — I feel like making that example is good for those kids,” Doja said in her April Billboard cover story. “Because maybe they felt like they could never make it in an industry where everybody is so serious. It’s important that they know they have a lane.”

Staying true to her guts is mainly the reason for the 25-year-old’s rapid ascension, who thrives off of testing a whole myriad of boundaries. Whether it’s refusing to stick to one lane (she flips through rap, R&B and pop with ease), unleashing various renditions of “Say So” because she grew tired of performing the original version, or rocking the kookiest of outfits (2018’s viral “Mooo!” look being the most notorious), it’s clear Doja Cat lives for the thrill. So much so that she left Planet Earth and invited fans inside her new Planet Her album.

Arriving today, the 14-song collection finds the artist at her most confident. 2018’s Amala debut and 2019’s Hot Pink showcased her impressive versatility. Those albums were a yummy trail mix of talents, and Planet Her is the glue that brings it all together.

The album opens with the Afrobeats-inspired “Woman”, drifting listeners not to another planet — but the motherland. Similar to Amala’s “Wine Pon You” featuring dancehall star Konshens and Hot Pink’s “Won’t Bite” that samples 1945 Swahili love song “My Angel (Malaika)“, “Woman” is a hip-shaking celebration of the African diaspora. While bringing her heritage to the forefront (Doja’s father is South African), she shout outs Rihanna’s admirable CEO status as well as her own “divine feminine” allure. Later on “Alone,” Doja channels Rih’s come-hither attitude.

Women’s bodies double as a place of worship, and Doja Cat continues to highlight every inch of her curves on “Naked.” The artist has grown even more comfortable in her skin, and embracing sexuality is an integral theme on Planet Her. It’s best executed on the seductive “You Right.” Here, Doja reunites with The Weeknd, whom she previously collaborated on his “In Your Eyes” remix last May. The Weeknd, who is fresh off his ‘80s-inspired After Hours era, has retired the red suit and briefly returns to the dark sluttiness that longtime fans have been longing for. “But this sex will cloud your memory. A couple strokes will put an end and you’ll belong to me,” he urges in hopes Doja will leave her man.

One of Doja’s best traits is how she shapeshifts her sound to compliment guests. Along with “You Right,” she’s a gracious host on Planet Her, melding her tone to pair with Ariana Grande’s signature sultry coos on “I Don’t Do Drugs” and pumps up Young Thug for a glorious battle of the rap weirdos on “Payday.”

But there are stale moments to be avoided on Planet Her, including the forgettable “Been Like This” and “Imagine.” “Get Into It (Yuh)” is a SoundCloud rapper parody, which may or may not be a nod to when she first blew up on the streaming platform with 2012’s “So High.” What saves the track is the absolutely adorable Nicki Minaj shoutout towards the end, a reminder that the OG rapper is not only an inspiration but the one who pushed the “Say So” remix to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.

And then there’s the shadow of Dr. Luke: In 2014, Kesha hit the pop producer/songwriter with various allegations including rape and emotional abuse. The year prior, Doja Cat signed to his Kemosabe Records and hasn’t acknowledged the working relationship. Dr. Luke’s career has remained intact and has credits on “Need To Know,” “You Right,” and “Kiss Me More,” which is difficult to shake off.

But songs like “Ain’t Sh*t” and “Need To Know” help the album achieve its vision. The former, which Doja first previewed on Instagram Live last April, will satisfy fans who’ve awaited its official version. The stripped piano melody of “Ain’t Sh*t” calls back to Elton John’s 1974 classic “Bennie And The Jets,” but that original song’s sincerity is sharply juxtaposed with Doja’s beloved dry humor and a rightfully fed up attitude of the opposite sex (“You should’ve paid my rent / Got get a f**king job!).

“Need To Know” is the best song on Planet Her: an otherworldly joyride driven by the mad scientist that is Doja Cat. She’s in true alien form here: a raunchy freak, cooing baby, helium sucker, and frantic spitter over a galaxy of ice-cold trap melodies. Lyrics like “I don’t play with my pen / I mean what I writе” and “Oh, wait, you a fan of the magic? / Poof, pussy like an Alakazam” is Doja getting deep in her cocky rap bag and it’s exciting to hear.

If Doja Cat’s multiple live performances that highlight her classically trained dance skills, the feast of music videos that call back to the glory days of Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott, or the expertly twisted wordplay weren’t enough, then Planet Her will solidify her star status. As Earth continues to slowly crumble — from climate change to social injustices — I’ll gladly book a one-way ticket and escape to Planet Her.

Planet Her is out now via Kemosabe Records/RCA Records. Get it here.