Wednesday Roundups #17: 16 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Stream releases from BLK ODYSSY, 7xvethegenius, aja monet, Amaarae, Maeta, Shafiq Husayn, Statik Selektah, and more.
Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!
The seventeenth outing of Wednesday Roundups returns.
It might be challenging to prioritize your music listening when so much new music is available. Shatter the Standards provide a weekly summary of newsworthy releases on streaming platforms. BLK ODYSSY, 7xvethegenius, aja monet, Amaarae, Maeta, Shafiq Husayn, Statik Selektah, Sipprell, lophiile, LAVI$H, Tiffany Gouché, LeVelle, Tay Iwar, B.K. Habermehl, MAJOR., and Col3traine were among the artists with new albums or projects last week. Watch for weekly music drops every Wednesday for suggestions of lesser-known albums.
Here are your roundups for today!
BLK ODYSSY — DIAMONDS & FREAKS (Hip-Hop/Soul/Funk) [Listen]
BLK ODYSSY has gifted us with a delightful and unexpected audible erotic novel, taking listeners through lust, love, grief, and moral conflict. The four-act LP explores themes through a lens of religion and personal pleas for divine assistance. Acts include "DOPAMINE & HENNESSY," "COOCHIE & BIG BOOTY," "THE DIVINE STANK," and "DIAMONDS & FREAKS.” Contributions from Bootsy Collins, Cory Henry, Rapsody, and Eimaral Sol, among others, enrich the album.
7xvethegenius & DJ Green Lantern — The Genius Tape (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
7xvethegenius collaborates with DJ Green Lantern in a new mixtape, The Genius Tape. Hailing from Buffalo's Eastside, she now works under Conway’s Drumwork Records imprint, her musical influence extending from Buffalo to Atlanta. The Genius Tape highlights 7xvethegenius’s superior lyrical talent and creative brilliance.
aja monet — when the poems do what they do (Jazz) [Listen]
The debut record of 2019 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award winner Aja Monet, when the poems do what they do, conveys the poet's call to action through potent mechanical and emotional narrative.
Amaarae — Fountain Baby (Pop) [Listen]
The second full-length offering from Amaarae, Fountain Baby, draws upon a diverse musical palette. Ranging from dancehall to Japanese folk, the Ghanaian-American artist ambitiously builds upon her successful 2020 debut, The Angel You Don’t Know.
Maeta — When I Hear Your Name (R&B) [Listen]
Roc Nation's Maeta unveils a new album that explores the complexities of romantic relationships in the modern world. Despite potential criticisms, Maeta confidently commands her musical narrative, aided by features from Free Nationals, Ambré, James Fauntleroy, Ty Dolla $ign, and Lucky Daye.
Shafiq Husayn — So Gold (R&B/Hip-Hop/Jazz) [Listen]
Shafiq Husayn, celebrated producer, and Grammy winner, leads The Dove Society in their new album, So Gold. The record is a testament to the vibrant collaborative effort featuring artists like Anderson .Paak, Syd, Peyton, Thurz, Jimetta Rose, and Speed Walton.
Statik Selektah — Round Trip (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Producer Statik Selektah presents his tenth studio album, Round Trip, featuring the single "Unpredictable" performed by some of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Round Trip follows several collaborative albums since The Balancing Act in 2020.
Sipprell — Peace In the Madness (R&B) [Listen]
Sipprell unveils her new album, Peace In the Madness, a deeply personal record written during her pregnancy. With its meditative quality, Sipprell's new album resonates with universal emotions.
lophiile — The Good Days Between (Electronic) [Listen]
lophiile releases The Good Days Between, an 8-track EP inspired by his time in London. Combining jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, the EP highlights lophiile’s innovative production skills.
LAVI$H — You Made a Big Mistake (R&B) [Listen]
LAVI$H debuts a psychologically captivating EP that attests to the power of creative collaboration. The project, You Made a Big Mistake, is recommended for a complete listening experience.
Tiffany Gouché — The Found Album (R&B) [Listen]
The new album from Tiffany Gouché showcases her mastery over musical storytelling, exploring themes of euphoria, intimacy, and introspection with a sensual and jazzy flair.
LeVelle — Promise to Love (R&B) [Listen]
LeVelle, the emerging star of the traditional R&B revival, returns with his new album, Promise to Love. The album features collaborations with Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony Hamilton, and Zacardi Cortez.
Tay Iwar — Summer Breeze (Afrobeats) [Listen]
Tay Iwar, the Nigerian R&B artist, introduces his latest project, Summer Breeze. The eight-track EP is enriched by collaborations with artists such as Juls, Twelve XII, IDK, and Kojey Radical.
B.K. Habermehl — Mirror Neurons - EP (R&B) [Listen]
B.K. Habermehl debuts her six-track EP, Mirror Neurons, showcasing her strong, passionate vocals and personal songwriting. The project features collaborations from Money Jezu$, DJ Khalil, Amaire Johnson, Gorden Campbell, and others.
MAJOR. — The Hope of My Soul - EP (R&B) [Listen]
Americana soul artist MAJOR. returns with a new EP, The Hope of My Soul. This is the first collection of music from MAJOR. since 2018’s Ever More includes the previously shared track "Baby Will You Love Me."
Col3trane — Chekhov’s Gun - EP (R&B) [Listen]
Col3trane returns with his latest EP Chekhov’s Gun. The follow-up to last year’s Lush Life features six tracks with previously-released singles, including “Simp,” “Queen’s Disease,” and “Champagne Dial.”
Bonus: Aliah Sheffield — These Songs Are for Anyone Sick of Earth (R&B) [Listen]
Aliah Sheffield, the thoughtful singer-songwriter and skilled instrumentalist, made her notable entry into the mainstream music industry through Def Jam Recordings with this year’s releases, "Boo Boo the Fool" and "Some of Your People." Now, she presents her new EP, These Songs Are for Anyone Sick of Earth, available today.