7 New Jazz, R&B & Hip-Hop Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week Of February 24)
Braxton Cook, Tink, Theo Croker, and Ego Ella May unleash new albums that caught our attention this week.
Today Braxton Cook revealed a superb offering, his new album Who Are You When No One Is Watching? The artist and saxophonist delivers a modern jazz album that feels urgent. The album is compelling and it hit us squarely in the chest when we listened to it a few moons ago.
Maxo drops off Even God Has a Sense of Humor featuring Madlib, Pink Siifu, Liv.e, and KeiyaA. Elsewhere Key Glock releases GLOCKOMA 2. Tink shares Thanks 4 Nothing featuring from Ty Dolla $ign and Yung Bleu. Yeat also shares AfterLyfë. Don Toliver also releases Love Sick, on it he's joined by Future, James Blake, and a few others.
In case you missed it, THEO CROKER and Ego Ella May recently collaborated on BY THE WAY.
Braxton Cook – Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
Saxophonist Braxton Cook’s latest jazz-R&B fusion album is refreshing. He’s joined by Masego for the breezy cut “‘90s,” which might be our favorite on the release.
Standout Tracks: “90s,” “Black Mona Lisa”
THEO CROKER & Ego Ella May – BY THE WAY
Buckle up for the fantastical music journey that is THEO CROKER and Ego Ella May’s lush EP BY THE WAY. As a duo, the two are excellent at making soul music together.
Standout Tracks: "SLOWLY Ft. D'LEAU," "IF I COULD I WOULD Ft. D'LEAU"
Maxo – Even God Has a Sense of Humor
The follow-up to 2019’s Lil Big Man is a rap-heavy rollercoaster filled with ups and downs. Maxo brilliantly laces each track with his heady lyricism too.
Standout Tracks: “Still,” “48 Ft. Pink Siifu,” “Both Handed Ft. Liv.e,” “Falls Down”
Don Toliver – Love Sick
There’s a distinct warmth heard throughout Don Toliver’s newest album. It’s a sticky and love-struck album filled with a lot of feelings. There are some feel-good moments on it via Charlie Wilson and Brent Faiyaz.
Standout Tracks: “If I Had Ft. Charlie Wilson,” “Bust Stop Ft. Brent Faiyaz”
Key Glock – GLOCKOMA 2
On his new full-length, Key Glock puts on for South Memphis. The beats are excellent and for much of the EP he’s serving up his own take on Southern trap rap. Memorable moments on the project include the intro track and also “From Nothing.”
Standout Tracks: “Dirt,” “Designer Down”
Tink – Thanks 4 Nothing
Songbird Tink unleashes an R&B album filled with songs about toxicity, jealousy and failed partnerships. She’s pouring her heart out throughout it.
Standout Tracks: “I’m The Catch,” “Let Down My Guard Ft. Ty Dolla $ign”
Yeat – AfterLyfë
You can try to ignore Yeat if you want to, but at this point his rise in rap is undeniable. On his latest, he breezes through melodic beats with his distinct voice. He’s joined by one of the internet’s favorite rappers on this release that serves as a follow-up to Lyfë.
Standout Tracks: “Sum 2 do,” “Shmunk Ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again”