Wednesday Roundups #26: 12 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time

Stream releases from Nick Grant, Paradime, K. Michelle, DJ Premier, Kiefer, TA Thomas, Fielded, MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist, EarthGang, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Marco Plus, and OTG.

Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!

The twenty-sixth outing of Wednesday Roundups!

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. Nick Grant, Paradime, K. Michelle, DJ Premier, Kiefer, TA Thomas, Fielded, MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist, EarthGang, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Marco Plus, and OTG were 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!

Nick Grant — SUNDAY DINNER (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Nick Grant’s album SUNDAY DINNER has been seven years in the making, with the rapper reshaping it multiple times. The album is a personal journey for Grant, inspired by his grandmother, who raised him while his parents battled addiction. Grant reflects on his childhood and the effects of oppression on his self-worth in the opening track. He delves into deep introspection and vulnerability to create his best work yet. The album features collaborations with singer Rikayah Crawford and includes purposeful production, addictive hooks, and storytelling. Grant’s art is emblematic of overcoming adversity, and he hopes to contribute to the collective movement of hip-hop.

Paradime — PERIOD. (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Paradime recently released his album PERIOD. after a 12-year sabbatical. He collaborated with Kid Rock, Uncle Kracker, and D12 during his initial rise and earned multiple awards for his hip-hop MC skills. Despite taking a break from his solo career, Paradime never stopped rapping and continued to refine his skills. Collaborating with Wayne Gerard and Charlie Beans, he created a collection of songs that reflect his personal experiences and struggles, including addiction and faith. Paradime’s return to the music scene was encouraged by close friends, including Apollo Brown, and his album caught the attention of Mello Music Group, leading to its release. This comeback album showcases Paradime’s raw lyricism and storytelling abilities, solidifying his place in hip-hop.

K. Michelle — I’M THE PROBLEM (R&B) [Listen]

K. Michelle, a well-established R&B artist, surprised fans by announcing her final R&B album and transition into country music. The album, I’M THE PROBLEM, consists of 19 tracks that delve into her complex relationships with raw and relatable lyrics. She reflects on her actions and takes accountability in songs like “Blame Yourself.” Additionally, she expresses excitement for new love in tracks like “Scooch” and “Love Language” and shows resilience after heartbreak in songs like “Hurt Sh*t” and “No Pain.” The bonus track “Tennessee” tells a story of a breakup caused by an abusive partner, where she finds solace in returning home and starting anew with her alter ego, Puddin. This album marks the end of her R&B career while signaling the beginning of a new chapter for the artist.

DJ Premier — Beats That Collected Dust, Vol. 3 (Instrumental Hip-Hop) [Listen]

DJ Premier has released the third installment of his Beats That Collected Dust series. The mixtape features exclusive beats that other artists never used. Premier has a long history as a respected producer in the hip-hop industry. Each track on the tape has its unique backstory.

Kiefer — It’s OK, B U (Electronic) [Listen]

Kiefer’s It’s OK, B U marks his return to solo playing and production. The 16-track set showcases his tenderly introspective and melodic style, with inventive rhythm tracks framing his stellar piano skills. The album blurs the boundaries between jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, electronic, and pop, challenging traditional notions of composition and performance. The songs vary in length and style, with each track offering something unique. Collaborations with Luke Titus and guest bassist Pera Krstajic add depth and texture to the album. While It’s OK, B U may not break new ground like his previous release, it continues to showcase Kiefer’s creativity and skill in composing, playing, and producing.

TA Thomas — Caught 2 Between Worlds (R&B) [Listen]

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Ta Thomas has released his debut solo EP, Caught Between 2 Worlds. Executive-produced by CAMPER, the EP explores themes of love, temptation, complexity, passivity, and potential loss through a fusion of classic and contemporary R&B sounds. It features previously released singles “June 15,” “W.I.A (Where I’m At),” and “Pros and Cons” that collectively garnered 4 million streams. The project delves into the emotional journey of vulnerability, self-reflection, and relationship growth. Ta Thomas draws from personal experiences to create a masterful exploration of relationship dynamics.

Fielded — Plus One (R&B) [Listen]

Brooklyn-based artist Fielded, also known as Lindsay Powell, is set to release a new album titled Plus One. The album features various collaborations with renowned indie musicians, including billy woods, Felicia Douglass, Kenny Segal, They Hate Change, DJ Haram, Wolf Weston, The Lasso, Child Actor, and Steel Tipped Dove. Executive produced by billy woods, Plus One explores Fielded’s vision of adding depth and flourishes to their stories through these artists. The album showcases Fielded’s genre-bending vocal style and their reputation as a sought-after collaborator. Plus One is a collection of rich and sometimes heartbreaking stories that take listeners through valleys, cities, and landscapes. With a diverse lineup of collaborators, Fielded creates a weird, outstanding, and honest work that values and welcomes every contribution.

MIKE, Wiki & The Alchemist — Faith Is a Rock (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Producer The Alchemist has announced the release of his collaborative album Faith Is a Rock with New York emcees MIKE and Wiki on September 22. The album follows their EP One More and features MIKE, who also appeared on Alchemist’s recent LP Voir Dire alongside Earl Sweatshirt. The trio will embark on the Voir Dire Tour in November, with stops in various cities across the US. In a recent interview, Sweatshirt discussed his partnership with Alchemist and praised the collaborative environment. Navy Blue produced Wiki’s last album, while MIKE released a mixtape called Beware of the Monkey and hosted the Young World Festival in Brooklyn.

EarthGang — EarthGang vs. the Algorithm: RIP Human Art - EP (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

EarthGang has released a new EP called EarthGang vs. the Algorithm: RIP Human Art, the first part of a three-part series. The five-track tape challenges algorithms and embraces true human artistry. It is their first project since the deluxe edition of Ghetto Gods, released in February 2020. The EP includes previously released singles “Die Today” and “Bobby Boucher,” along with three new songs. EarthGang received praise from actor Adam Sandler for their tribute to his character in The Waterboy.

Dominique Fils-Aimé — Our Roots Run Deep (R&B) [Listen]

Our Roots Run Deep tells a story of growth and resilience. It explores themes of self-discovery, change, and overcoming challenges. Dominique’s unique musical language creates a spacious and dreamlike sonic experience. The album features catchy vocal licks and innovative melodic structures. A talented group of musicians accompanies the songs, and the album was produced, mixed, and engineered by Jacques Roy.

Marco Plus — JOINTS (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Marco Plus’ latest release is the one for smokers. JOINTS released on Smoke DZA’s Smoker’s Club Records, with thirteen tracks with a mix of bangers and bars.

OTG — MAN OF A FEW (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

OTG released his debut album with MAN OF A FEW. Known for working with Little Simz, his latest work showcases the range of live instrumentation in nine songs.

BONUS: Torae & Marco Polo — Midnight Run (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Torae has teamed up with beatsmith Marco Polo for their third album together. The album, titled Midnight Run, showcases Torae’s hardcore lyricism over Polo’s signature boom-bap production. The tracks range from grimy boom bap to soulful and tender approaches.