March 2024 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month

Featuring Beyoncé, ScHoolboy Q, and Roc Marciano, here are the best albums that came out in March of 2024.

As we enter the month of March, the anticipation for the musical landscape of 2024 begins to build. The advent of spring brings a rush of energy required for a wider analysis of the year’s potential, with the stack of contenders growing higher by the week. Judging by the strength of the releases mentioned above, as well as the solid offerings littered throughout January and February, 2024 is off to a flying start compared to last year. If the next nine months can maintain this level of quality, 2024 may very well be remembered as a particularly fine vintage in the decades to come, hopefully.

Beyoncé: COWBOY CARTER

Suppose RENAISSANCE was a tribute to the Black and LGBTQ roots of club culture. In that case, COWBOY CARTER is an operation of cultural reappropriation of Country music (even though it isn’t a “Country” album; it’s a Beyoncé album), but also a speech on the State of the Nation by Beyoncé. It is monstrously long (one hour and 20 minutes) and full of music, stimuli, and references; there are a few too many off-topic songs and many notable moments. The result is a work of selection and refinement of almost 100 songs that lasted five years. It’s not particularly obvious, but the album seems organized like a cinematographic, theatrical, or radio representation in which some transmit (she and her guests, and therefore her community) and those who receive (us). It all comes back: Black and white, analog tradition and digital gossip, history and present, love and star power, Country and soul. Beckys of this world, step aside: Beyoncé is still number one.

ScHoolboy Q: BLUE LIPS

After the depressingly equal “crash talk” and a handful of singles that left one torn out of the context of the album, initially somewhat perplexed, I was already prepared to find that ScHoolboy Q contributed his part to rap with a number of modern classics, but has now lost his powder and continues his way into insignificance with the new album. The opposite is the case. BLUE LIPS sounds like broken dead ends, sweat, and endless hours of hard work in the studio until all the samples, unconventional sound ideas, and breakneck crazy rap flows sit. It’s an album that rolls over hip hop like a bus in some tracks, in others as outrageously casual and light-footed as the competition, as only someone who has reconciled the inner golfer with the gangster and brings both sides to maximum creative development.

Roc Marciano: Marciology

Consistency is a hallmark of Roc Marciano’s artistry, and his latest album, Marciology, is no exception. Listeners can expect a generous serving of eerie boom-bap production and sinister bars reminiscent of mid-‘90s New York City. The album’s punchlines are delivered over beats from Alchemist, Animoss, Roc Marciano himself, and others. Marciology features fellow ‘90s devotees Flee Lord, Larry June, Jay Worthy, CRIMEAPPLE, Knowledge the Pirate, T.F., and GREA8GAWD, who all contribute to the album’s success. Roc Marciano’s dedication to his craft is evident as he continues to make every syllable count.

SiR: Heavy

SiR’s fourth LP is a deeply personal and introspective work that delves into his struggles with depression, substance abuse, love, and rehab. The album chronicles SiR’s journey from addiction to sobriety across 16 tracks, exploring themes of personal shortcomings, relationships, the challenges of staying sober, healing, and forgiveness. The album finds the Inglewood, California native grappling with the pressures of fame and the expectations that come with it, serving as a therapeutic letter to himself as he confronts his issues head-on.

Ledisi: Good Life

Ledisi celebrates a new chapter in her musical career by releasing her 11th studio album, Good Life. This latest project, released by Listen Back Entertainment/BMG, showcases her artistic growth with a nuanced blend of soul, R&B, and jazz influences. The album includes the Billboard Adult R&B chart-topper “I Need to Know,” the evocative “Sell Me No Dreams,” and the warmly received “Perfect Strangers,” featuring Kenny Lattimore. Ledisi continues to spread her wings with her sound, her work infused with heartfelt lyrics and soulful arrangements. Her music reflects a dedication to her craft and is an ongoing exploration within the contemporary music landscape.

Real Bad Man & Lukah: Temple Needs Water. Village Needs Peace.

A thought-provoking collaboration between producer Real Bad Man and Memphis rapper Lukah, delving into the core of community, spirituality, and transformation. The 15-track album, featuring contributions from billy woods, Adrian Utley (Portishead), and Shabaka Hutchings, explores themes of unity, leadership, sacrifice, and renewal, reflecting on personal and spiritual achievements, the duality of knowledge, unseen forces, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The project celebrates growth, resilience, duty, ancestral wisdom, and the healing power of words, ultimately seeking inner peace and communal harmony.

Blu & Shafiq Husayn: Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue, the long-awaited joint album from emcee Blu and Grammy-winning producer Shafiq Husayn of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, has finally been unveiled. Immersed in Shafiq’s intricate sonic landscapes, the album showcases Blu’s spiritual street talk and delivers bass-heavy L.A. anthems. With Shafiq Husayn at the helm of production (except for one contribution from Dibia$e), the project features an array of guest artists, including MED, Exile, Chuuwee, Thurz, Speed Walton, and Freestyle Fellowship members Myka 9 and Self Jupiter.

Enoch: Waiting for Something to Happen

A long-time member of CYNE, Enoch has released his solo LP, Waiting for Something to Happen, a project born from a mix of emotions and the existential dread of modern life. The album features a diverse array of underground hip-hop luminaries, but it is not a hastily assembled compilation; rather, it is a cohesive work meant to be experienced from start to finish.

Gary Clark Jr.: JPEG RAW

Gary Clark Jr. has consistently pushed the boundaries of his primary genre throughout his illustrious career. His latest offering, JPEG RAW, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to creating music that resonates with his artistic vision rather than conforming to the expectations of his audience. Clark has fearlessly explored various musical styles, from fuzzy rock to funk to Prince-inspired psychedelia. JPEG RAW continues this relentless pursuit of new fire as he collaborates with his trusted longtime collaborators (guitarist Zapata, keyboardist Jon Deas, bassists Elijah Ford and Alex Peterson, and drummer J.J. Johnson) and enlists the talents of some iconic veteran ringers.

Moor Mother: The Great Bailout

The Great Bailout marks Moor Mother, aka Camae Ayewa’s ninth studio album and her third release with ANTI- Records. The album features production contributions from diverse artists, including Mary Lattimore, Lonnie Holley, Vijay Ayer, Angel Bat Dawid, Sistazz of the Nitty Gritty, Aaron Dilloway, and more on various tracks. Ayewa, whom Pitchfork has dubbed “the poet laureate of the apocalypse,” creates music that contains multitudes of instruments, voices, and cacophony. Her work delves into themes of Afrofuturism and collective memory, drawing inspiration from the forebearers of jazz, hip-hop, and beat poetry.

Jae Skeese & Superior: Testament of the Times

Jae Skeese, the inaugural signee to Conway the Machine’s Drumwork Music Group imprint, has joined forces with Superior to release their collaborative effort titled Testament of the Times. The album boasts guest appearances from talented artists, including Rome Streetz, OT the Real, Ty Farris, and Kota Savia.

MIKE & Tony Seltzer: Pinball

MIKE, the prolific rapper from New York, has reunited with producer Tony Seltzer for the new full-length album Pinball. Seltzer, who previously collaborated with MIKE on the beloved 2017 release May God Bless Your Hustle, infuses the project with trap influences. The musicians offered a preview of the album with the single “R&B,” the whole release features guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt, Tony Shhnow, Niontay, and Jay Critch.