-billy woods

It’s the first Friday and May, and it’s time again for another Tuned In spotlighting the best new releases this week. We’ve got hip-hop, hardcore, and neo-soul for your ears. What are you checking out? What did we miss?

billy woods x Kenny Segal-Maps

billy woods pulled a one-two punch last year, releasing two stellar albums which unseated The Weeknd for AOTY. In his third release in 13 months, the NY rapper teams up with a third producer, Kenny Segal, whom he last collaborated with on 2019’s Hiding Places. Segal brings a different sound and energy than was found on Aethiopes and Church. It’s very percussive, but not any less underground sounding. There are elements of rock, psych, and jazz, but channeled through the lens of a paranoid freakout. The tonal shifts between tracks are manic and seizure inducing. woods’ lyrics and delivery are still top of the game, with a surprising number of references to food of all things. And the guest spots include fellow Armand Hammer alum ELUCID, Backwoodz Studioz up-and-comers Shrapknel, and lyricist king Aesop Rock. But the standout, to me, was Danny Brown. His nasal, commanding delivery provides such an interesting juxtaposition to wood’s laidback tenor and flow. I would love to hear more projects from them. Maps was highly anticipated for me and did not disappoint. Stream it HERE.

Durand Jones–Wait Til I Get Over

Neo-Soul singer Durand Jones is out with his first solo album sans The Indicators. Jones inhabits an interesting space along with a host of other artists who exist as if soul and r&b never evolved past the early days of Motown and Stax. To some, that may not seem like the most expansive way to do music. But after the glam of the 80’s gave way to the dance of the 90’s and over-the-top sheen of the early 2000’s, going back to the roots of soul is so refreshing. And it’s so dang…soulful! There’s a reason that Jones is a big name in touring and on the festival circuit. If you’re a fan of classic soul crooners like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding, then stream Wait Til I Get Over HERE.

Drain–Living Proof

California hardcore party band DRAIN has released their follow-up to 2020’s California Curse. After an impressively melodic cover of Descendents “Good Good Things,” DRAIN return to their straightforward hardcore sound which creates plenty of opportunities for circle pits, two-stepping, and pit-dancing. With 10 songs clocking in at over 25 minutes, DRAIN sets themselves apart from many of their contemporaries by creating an album that fans can sit with longer. And all of this comes ahead of a MASSIVE US tour with support from some of the best fresh hardcore bands out there, including MS Paint, Gel, and Drug Church. Stream it HERE.

Atmosphere–So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously

Minneapolis rapper has fully embraced the dad-rap genre. And stands at the top of this interesting mountain of artists who started young but whose art has come to reflect their own maturity. It may seem weird, especially to younger fans, to hear rappers opine about children and family. But what’s even weirder (to me) is when more seasoned rappers continue to rap about the street as if they haven’t created lives for themselves beyond it. So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously is the 16th album released by the duo, and they somehow manage to keep things interesting. Ant improves upon the unique sounds that put Minneapolis and Rhymesayers on the map. And Slug is still one of the best storytellers in all of rap. If you haven’t jumped on Atmosphere yet, now’s the chance. It’s incredible that this workhouse group has managed to release an album or EP every year or two since 1997, and there is no indication that they are running out of steam. Stream the new album HERE.