The best new albums of this week include projects from legends, new guns, and quality veterans.
We’re going to sound a bit redundant here, but holy shit a lot of new music dropped today. It is New Music Friday and unless you have hours of free time, it’s almost impossible to wade through all the new albums out there to get to the good stuff.
That’s where Okayplayer comes in. On Friday morning, we are out here listening to as much new music as humanly possible. The biggest album to drop this week comes from Eminem, who dropped a sequel to his Music to Be Murdered By album. (An album that feels like it came out a decade ago.) After that, you got new albums from legends like Too $hort, E-40, and Snoop Dogg; new guns like Sheff G, Smoove’L, and Mario Judah; and quality veterans, like Ransom, Lianne La Havas, Murs, and more.
Check out the full slate of new albums below.
Eminem — Music to Be Murdered By (Side B)
At the top of the year, Eminem shocked the world when he dropped his 11th studio album Music To Be Murdered By Beyoncé-style. Now, with just two weeks left in the year, Em returns with the B-sides, featuring DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, and more.
Too $hort & E-40 — Ain’t Gone Do It / Terms and Conditions
Tomorrow, Two Bay legends, Too $hort and E-40, will meet for the latest Verzuz matchup. Before that, you can listen to the two legend’s collaborative album, Ain’t Gone Do It / Terms and Conditions. The project features 10 songs from each. Short Dog and 40 recently talked to The Breakfast Club about their upcoming battle.
Too $hort said:
“We would’ve [done] it a little earlier, but I was resisting at first… 40 wasn’t really into it… we’re cool as fuck. It seems like it was a war, where you gotta go against [your opponent] and talk bad, we thought it through like, ‘let’s do it for the Bay,’ because we basically are the foundation, where it started.”
Conway the Machine — From King to a God (Deluxe)
The year of Griselda ends with Conway the Machine adding five songs to his From King to a GOD album. The new songs feature production from 9th Wonder, Roc Marciano, Daringer, and HitMaka.
Sheff G — Proud of Me Now
Brooklyn rapper Sheff G dropped Proud of Me Now, his first album with RCA records. Speaking to Okayplayer about his new album, Sheff G said:
“Oh it’s very, very different. First of all, I made sure that I put different types of genre on the album so it won’t just be one whole sound. Everything is gonna have a different sound. That’s what I wanted to do. I don’t want people to listen to the album and feel like it’s one big ass song. It’s certain songs made for different moods, that’s what I wanted fans to do. That’s what they’re gonna do. They’re gonna tune in and they’re gonna see.”
Smoove’L — Ice Cups and Shootouts
Sheff G wasn’t the only Brooklyn drill rapper to drop some shit this week. Smoove’L — best known for “NEW APOLOS” — drops his second album of 2020, Ice Cups and Shootouts.
Tobe Nwigwe — CINCORIGINALS
Led by the fire posse cut “FATHER FIGURE,” Tobe Kwigwee has dropped a new album called CINCORGINALS.
EST Gee — I Still Dont Feel Nun
Jack Harlow might be the most notable rapper to come out of Kentucky. But he isn’t the only one. EST Gee is a gangsta rapper known for embracing Michigan’s breakneck street rap sound. He has dropped his second project of 2020, I Still Dont Feel Nun.
Ransom & Nicholas Craven — Crime Scenes
Veteran New Jersey rapper Ransom has a nice thing going with Montreal producer Nicholas Craven, who has worked with rappers like Mach-Hommy, Tha God Fahim, billy woods, Eto, and more. The two just dropped their latest collaboration, Crime Scenes.
Planet Asia & The Musalini — Pharaoh Chain
Planet Asia and The Musalini, two underground New York City rappers, released their collabo album Pharaoh Chain. Check out the video for their single “Rolling Up.”
Snoop Dogg — Funky Christmas
From gangsta music to R&B to gospel, is there anything Snoop Dogg can’t do? Apparently not. He dropped a quick two-song Christmas EP.
Mario Judah — Whole Lotta Red
Mario Judah, who is known for his batshit single “Die Very Rough,” has been trying to get Playboi Carti to release his Whole Lotta Red album. Mario gave Playboi Carti up until December 6th to drop the anticipated album. The date came and went. So Mario dropped his own Whole Lotta Red album. Mario spoke to Complex about what he’s trying to do:
“Everything I’m doing now is just trying to get this man to drop this album. I honestly don’t know what people might think about what I’m doing. But everybody has been glad that I’ve been doing it, because we’re starting to see results.”
Lianne La Havas — Live at the Roundhouse
Lianne La Haras had one of the best albums of 2020. And back in July, she did a special solo show at the Roundhouse, in London. Now you can listen to that performance on DSPs.
A$AP Ant — Little Black Jean Jacket 2
A$AP Mob might be in some uncertain times, but the members are still out here working. A$AP Ant just dropped a new tape called Little Black Jean Jacket 2.
Tadoe — No Guts No Glory
Tadoe, who is Chief Keef’s cousin, is back with his first full-length project in two years. Check out the video for “It’s Up.”
TOKYO’S REVENGE — lilium
Last year, TOKYO’S REVENGE’s life changed when his kinetic song “GOODMORNINGTOKYO!” went super virtual — mostly on TikTok. Now he’s back with a quick four-song EP. Speaking to Audiomack about his eccentric sound, which he feels is more welcoming in 2020:
“Being somebody who was younger back when it wasn’t as acceptable and being an African-American kid who was into alt stuff and things other people weren’t listening to, at least not where I was from… Being able to use that as my inspo now and make music that impacts people in a time where it’s acceptable to be a rapper, and someone who can make alt or pop or anything is dope. Back in middle school, if I told people I wanted to make that kind of music, niggas would look at me weird. I’m kinda glad the climate’s changed.”
J.I The Prince of N.Y — Hood Krisis Vol. 3
J.I The Prince of N.Y had one of the most popular New York City rap songs of the year with “Need Me.” Now he’s trying to stay on people’s necks. He just dropped Hood Krisis Vol. 3. In an interview with One37pm he talked about having ambitious goals from a young age:
“At a young age, I always wanted to do something big… For me, It was kinda like, it had to happen.”
Robb Bank$ — Tha Leak Pt. 2
Last month, Robb Bank$ dropped a collection of loosies and throwaways called Tha Leak. Now the Florida MC has the second installment of that series.
DJ Muggs — Winter
After a prolific 2019, DJ Muggs was quiet in 2020. He dropped his first album of the year, Winter, which features Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Cappadonna, and more.
Hayley Williams — PETALS FOR ARMOR: SELF-SERENADES
Hayley Williams has released an acoustic EP called PETALS FOR ARMOR: SELF-SERENADES. The three song project features new renditions of “Simmer” and “Why We Ever” – which was on the PETALS FOR ARMOR album. There’s also a new track. We spoke to Hayley earlier in the year and she talked about her creative process:
“Art is completely meaningless without community. It doesn’t bring me the same type of joy. As soon as I stopped trying to do everything myself, I realized, “what the fuck am I trying to prove?” I like working with my friends and making shit. As soon as that happened songs started pouring out.”
Jackboy — Love Me While I’m Here
Jackboy has already dropped more than 40 songs in 2020. Most are quite good. So it’s crazy that Jackboy has another album in him. Love Me While I’m Here features 42 Dugg, Sada Baby, Juelz Santana, and more.
Mina Aevum — Cold Tender Nite
Cleveland singer Mina Aevum has dropped a quick three-song EP called Cold Tender Nite. Tap into that ASAP.
Michael Christmas — Hiding
With the help of The Kid Mero, Michael Christmas returns with a new album, Hiding. The album features appearances from Kota the Friend and Luke Bar$.
Murs & DJ.Fresh — Love & Rockets Vol. 2: The Declaration
Murs has not stopped working this year, dropping numerous collaborative projects with artists like Slug and The Grouch. He dropped his new album with DJ.Fresh. Speaking about it, Murs said:
“I am a pro-Black, gang-banging, comic book reading, skateboarding, business owning, God loving, husband and father of three… After 20-plus years of putting out music, I feel like I’ve finally been able to put it all that together properly in one album. DJ.Fresh came with the right sound at the right time.”
Malik B. & Mr. Green — Unpredictable
Roots founder Malik B. died back in June. At the time, we talked with producer Mr. Green, who did an album, Unpredictable, with Malik back in 2015. That album hasn’t been on DSPs for a couple of years. That changed this week. Unpredictable is back and if you love Malik you should revisit. The album proves that, even in his later years, Malik could still go.
Kahlil Blu — Still Lonely: DOG XL
When not producing songs for rappers like Mavi, Medhane, or $ilkmoney, Kahlil Blu is rapping. He just dropped his new album, Still Lonely: DOG XL. It’s the second album to come from Kahlil this year. In an interview with BackSeatMafia, he talked about his process:
“I freestyle and write down the lines and then record them. I have no writers and never will. I make whatever comes to me. I’ve made plenty of beats that I have passed on to Medhane or $ilkMoney, just because I knew they would do it more justice than I could. Usually, in 10 minutes of making a beat, if I’m going to record to it, I immediately stop working on the beat and just freestyle lines. Then, I jot them down in my notes. It’s usually really easy because I put real life things in my music. Finish that process, then finish the beat and record that day, or sometimes even the next week or month.”