June 2024 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month

Featuring Lucky Daye, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Lalah Hathaway, here are the best albums that came out in June of 2024.

Staying on top of everything is a challenge with the constant deluge of new music, particularly the unexpected drops. To assist in navigating this sea of sounds, we’ve compiled a selection of ten notable albums from June 2024 that caught our attention. It’s likely that some excellent June releases slipped through the cracks or didn’t get the thorough listen they deserved, so they’re not included here. We’re curious about your top picks from last month—share them in the comments below. And now, let’s dive into the list, which is presented without ranking or specific order.

Lucky Daye: Algorithm

Lucky Daye’s career trajectory is a unique tale of success. As a teenager, he captured the nation’s attention with a stellar performance on American Idol, securing a spot in the top 20. His talent as a songwriter later shone bright with the penning of “She Got Her Own,” a track that climbed to number two on the R&B/hip-hop charts. It took another ten years for him to emerge under the moniker Lucky Daye, but his rise to fame was swift and dazzling, amassing six Grammy nods that spanned both classic and contemporary R&B genres for his works Painted, Table for Two EP, and Candydrip. In close collaboration with D’Mile, a long-standing musical stalwart, Lucky crafted Algorithm and his previous trio of albums. Their partnership is evident in every note, with the pre-album singles hinting at the unique nature of the LP—a blend that defies easy genre classification. From R&B to Pop to Yacht Rock, Lucky Daye proves he will continue raising the bar in his field.

Hiatus Kaiyote: Love Heart Cheat Code

Love Heart Cheat Code captures the essence of four musicians in synchronous harmony, teetering on the creative brink. This album, comprising 11 vibrant and lively tracks, radiates an effervescent glow; despite Hiatus Kaiyote’s reputation for intricate compositions and accolades, including Grammy nominations for their opulent soundscapes, the most striking aspect of LHCC is its uncontrived simplicity. The band’s creative process is not one of straightforward intention; it evolves through spontaneous jam sessions that stretch into the wee hours, shared meals, and playful experimentation with instruments and each other’s company. Amidst the mundane reality of packaging art into ‘product’ for today’s world, Hiatus Kaiyote finds comfort and joy in the individuality of each piece and song, imbuing them with a transcendent and resplendent musical charm.

Lalah Hathaway: VANTABLACK

Determined to make even the bleakest moments feel joyful once more, Lalah Hathaway named her eighth solo album the Blackest way possible and delivered the very same heartfelt melodies. Those approaching the Honestly follow-up with four guest MCs might shudder at the puritanical purity of the singer’s journey away from its straightforward title. Instead, VANTABLACK was created by Hathaway alongside Phil Beaudoin, Ariza, and Warryn Campbell, rotating at the controls as well as Eric Dawkins, With adjectives like “modern” or throwback” already implying a degree of soul, plus hip-hop, folk, and dance, Lalah delivered her most diverse album yet.

NxWorries: Why Lawd?

NxWorries’s sophomore effort, Why Lawd? is an equally bleak and introspective journey as Anderson .Paak sifts through anxiety-fueled loneliness on halfway home. It’s the witching hour, and based on the liquor in his cup and the slow jams on his stereo, his demons seem especially powerful. The raw tones of Paak’s voice weave through the basement beats as he buries himself in words and an assembled choir of doo-wopsters-possibly powered by one exterior streetlight-croon, along in unison. They’re known for their debut album from 2016 (Yes Lawd!), which sees them choosing to dig into what sound they think will work best, diving deep into a love of the 70s to create a breezy, bump-and-flare mix of smoldering R&B and sunshine-hued hip-hop that Knxwledge is known for. In an attempt to graft the art of modern-day songwriting onto old genre forms, Paak frequently alludes to having strong influence and producing wonderful sound, but it almost seems like a parody (which isn’t a bad thing). The duo doesn’t necessarily simplify their genre-agnostic ways on Why Lawd?, but there’s a sense of embodiment that’s been previously missing.

Marsha Ambrosius: Casablanco

Marsha Ambrosius has consistently served her fans with enchanting singing and relatable songwriting, whether as part of the R&B duo Floetry or as a solo artist. Her collaboration with the renowned producer Dr. Dre on Casablanco started when he sought her distinct voice for some of his productions. Soon, they decided to work on a full album together. Earlier this year, Ambrosius returned with “Thrill Her” and “One Night Stand,” an atmospheric soul anthem that showcases her signature honeyed voice while painting a picture of unfettered romance. Clearly, Ambrosius and Dre were a match made in R&B heaven.

ShrapKnel: Nobody Planning to Leave

The duo known as ShrapKnel, comprising Curly Castro and PremRock, emerged from the creative haven of Backwoodz Studioz. Over the course of five years, they’ve built a formidable discography with two EPs and two albums, establishing themselves as a staple in the music scene. Their latest offering, Nobody Planning to Leave, showcases their evolution, with production entirely handled by Controller 7, a seasoned Californian indie music producer with a storied history working alongside Anticon. While ShrapKnel has always been known for their exceptional soundscapes—ELUCID and Steel Tipped Dove, two pillars of the label, crafted the beats for their previous albums—their latest release raises the bar. As early admirers, it’s thrilling to witness ShrapKnel continuously scaling new creative peaks.

Lupe Fiasco: Samurai

With his latest release, Samurai, Lupe delves into his depths to deliver his most intimate work. The album traces the journey of a battle rapper, chronicling their development from the sharpening of their lyrical sword in the arena of spoken word warfare to the highlights of their professional escapades. The album’s title and theme are inspired by a snippet from the 2015 film Amy, where Winehouse’s voicemail to Salaam Remi, in which she refers to herself as a “samurai” due to her freshly penned battle-style verses, serves as a creative springboard. Comprising eight tracks, Samurai is sleek and thought-provoking, overflowing with conceptual richness while simultaneously shining a light on Lupe’s unwavering passion for the craft of rapping and his dedication to the service of hip-hop culture.

Fana Hues: Moth

There is nothing more romantic than Fana Hues’ voice; whether she’s wafting you into sweet bliss with new loves on the brain or tapping into that all-too-human ennui, her tone carries a luxuriance of longing. Hues’ third studio album, Moth, is where she proves herself to be the most dependable songwriter, vocalist, and lover on a solid emotional footing. The album’s title references the bug it resembles—she’s shedding fear and uncertainty, seizing on an obsessive love of living in the moment. On “Rental,” which sounds pretty close to the club floor, she likens a laid-back game to enjoying the excitement of motoring in a sleek vehicle. Before, Hues’ vivid portrayal of the deepest recesses of her heart was convincingly enough; here, her prose shines like a precious stone caught in random beams of sunshine, reflecting every fluctuation of life, including those moments that might resemble deciding one’s fate.

Previous Industries: Service Merchandise

Service Merchandise is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for rappers Open Mike Eagle, Video Dave, and STILL RIFT. They vividly recall the now-shuttered shopping mall, using it as a backdrop to express their feelings about heartbreak, loss, and the disposable nature of modern life. Over beats crafted by Child Actor, Quelle Chris, and Smoke Bonito, they spin a fresh narrative from remnants of the past. While the song may not have catchy melodies, it compensates with exceptional rap verses brimming with sharp insights, wit, and clever wordplay. Whether it’s their strong camaraderie or wealth of experience, these seasoned MCs showcase their lyricism as they seamlessly trade verses, creating a dynamic and engaging hip-hop experience reminiscent of a collaborative art piece.

ESTA: Francis

Born and raised in Temecula, AKA producer ESTA is best known as an arbiter of the L.A. beatscape over the last decade or so; his production career displayed clear similarities to 1990s soul music via his collaborations with Soulection. His full-length debut, Francis, is a carefully designed 10-track album that showcases the collaborative efforts of his talented circle of friends and artistic partners. This remarkable debut features a lineup of renowned hitmakers, including Leon Thomas, Kenyon Dixon, Ambré, Joyce Wrice, DUCKWRTH, Jayla Darden, Tone Stith, Arin Ray, Phabo, Mack Keane, and Brandon Banks. Together, they elevate contemporary R&B to new heights and do not miss out on this gem.