Wednesday Roundups #29: 9 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time
Stream releases from Jamila Woods, L’Rain, JMSN, MIKE, Paul Wall & Termanology, Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud, Ot the Real & Araabmuzik, TOBi, and Gotts Street Park.
Our pick for song of the week is Bradd Marquis’ “O U.” This song captures the initial electric encounter between Marquis and his wife, conveying the instant chemistry that ignited between them. Bradd Marquis, a talent under the SOULMAN Music Group, is reinvigorating the somewhat languishing field of urban adult contemporary. Slated for release is the I Choose You EP; Marquis is setting a new agenda for Black music, creating a space that honors both the present moment and future promise.
Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!
The twenty-ninth 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. Jamila Woods, L’Rain, JMSN, MIKE, Paul Wall & Termanology, Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud, Ot the Real & Araabmuzik, TOBi, and Gotts Street Park 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!
Jamila Woods — Water Made Us (Pop/R&B) [Listen]
In Water Made Us, Jamila Woods adopts a more introspective lens. This record is organized to reflect the natural progression of a romantic relationship, capturing the emotional nuance of its various phases, from the initial encounter to the inevitable parting. Woods demonstrates her eclectic influences throughout this 17-track album. Her artistic versatility allows her to fluently draw from various genres, including indie pop, funk, spoken word, hip hop, and synthpop. Such diversity amplifies her ingenuity as an artist, capable of owning an array of sounds and sentiments.
L’Rain — I Killed Your Dog (Alternative) [Listen]
In her sophomore album, Killed Your Dog, L’Rain exhibits diverse musical styles. Ambient pop is evident in tracks such as “I Hate My Best Friends” and the eponymous song, while she leans towards traditional pop in “New Year’s UnResolution.” The track “Clumsy” showcases her skills as a singer-songwriter, and she layers arpeggiated guitars over indie rock melodies in “5 to 8 Hours a Day (WWwaG).” The record isn’t devoid of skits or jazz influences either; both are present but reach their peak in the heartfelt piece “Our Funeral.” This album is an eclectic mix of moods, themes, and music genres that surpasses even its impressive predecessor, Fatigue. It’s genuinely exciting to witness how effortlessly L’Rain manages this complex blend.
JMSN — Soft Spot (Alternative) [Listen]
A modern music maverick, JMSN consistently defies categorization by continuously evolving through each manifestation of his authentic self, most recently with Soft Spot. This Detroit-raised talent has been a constant presence in the industry since the early 2010s, handling everything from writing and directing to producing and performing. His unique sound and incomparable style have garnered admiration from fans and fellow artists alike, eagerly anticipating his next move. From the Miami Bass-inspired title track to the gospel-like “Love Me,” JMSN fearlessly uncovers every facet of himself.
MIKE — Burning Desire (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
A few weeks back, MIKE collaborated with Wiki and The Alchemist for an album release. Following this collaboration, Wiki announced another upcoming album this week; meanwhile, MIKE surprised fans by releasing one out of nowhere titled Burning Desire. This 24-track collection proves that MIKE’s abstract rap style remains timeless. True to his signature style, he blends jazz-infused soul samples with stream-of-consciousness rants, creating an intriguing mix.
Paul Wall & Termanology — Start Finish Repeat (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Reuniting for another collaborative effort, Paul Wall from Houston and Termanology, hailing from Boston, have dropped their second collaborative album, Start, Finish, Repeat. The project deftly builds on the foundation laid by their well-received 2022 project, Start 2 Finish. The chemistry between the two veteran rappers is evident from the word go, transparent in how their relaxed deliveries and skill in lyricism dovetail with almost preternatural ease. Accompanying their well-matched talents is a roster of top-tier producers. Names like Statik Selektah, Large Professor, and Diamond D contribute to the audio landscape, crafting beats primarily rooted in boom-bap but peppered with variety.
Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud — THE AM3RICAN DREAM (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah, and Harry Fraud reconvene, elevating their creative partnership to a grander scale. The fruits of their collective labor materialize as a cooperative album titled THE AM3RICAN DREAM. Comprising nine tracks meticulously produced by Harry Fraud, the project is a confluence of diverse styles united in sonic harmony. Among the guests are Guapdad 4000, Buddy, Max B, Ty Dolla $ign, and DRAM, each bringing a distinct texture to the soundscape. The project features production styles heavily tinged with boom-bap elements, exuding a smooth finesse that pairs intriguingly with the occasionally gritty lyrical approaches of Worthy and Kamaiyah.
Ot the Real & Araabmuzik — ZOMBIE (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
In closing the chapter on 2021, OT the Real paired his lyrical talents with DJ Green Lantern to gift audiences the project known as Broken Glass. Fast-forwarding to 2022, he chose Statik Selektah as his next collaborative counterpart for Maxed Out. Yet the Philly-based rapper shows no signs of slowing down; this time, he has joined forces with the production ingenuity of Araabmuzik to unveil a new joint album dubbed ZOMBIE. With Benny the Butcher at the helm in an executive production role and an impressive list of featured collaborators—such as Conway the Machine, 38 Spesh, and Rome Streetz—the latest project leaves listeners little choice but to keep it on a continuous loop.
TOBi — PANIC (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Born in Nigeria but honed in the artistic environment of Canada, TOBi has returned to the musical scene with a freshly minted collection that his fans have eagerly awaited. The thirst for new material is understandable; it’s been a triennial gap since his previous comprehensive work, ELEMENTS Vol. 1, hit the shelves. Before that, his initial foray into the music industry came in 2019 with his album STILL. TOBi’s stylistic choices span hip-hop, rap, R&B, and soul, all united by his effortlessly velvety vocal delivery with his latest release, PANIC.
Gotts Street Park — On the Inside (Alternative) [Listen]
On the Inside marries the qualities of the soul with the rhythm-infused elements of R&B, marking a confident initial offering. By layering hints of indie and pop alongside alternative influences, Gotts Street Park distinguishes itself amid a crowded contemporary R&B milieu. The record’s instrumental dimensions form the foundation of the group’s striking musical capabilities, skillfully amalgamating nuanced auditory environments that evoke sentiment and visual texture. As an initial foray into the recording industry, this LP distinguishes itself commendably, achieving recognition for its skillful composition and genuine emotional depth.
Bonus: AJ Suede & steel tipped dove — Reoccurring Characters (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Reoccurring Characters brings together incredible rap talent in a sonic universe. With rich, clever, and poignant lyrics, AJ Suede showcases his rap skills alongside a chaotic, smooth instrumental framework created by steel tipped dove. The album features guest appearances from other talented artists, each delivering impressive word flow mastery. The listener is transported to a nomadic phonic world, exploring new and rare places through the music.
Bonus: Guilty Simpson — Escalation (Hip-Hop) [Listen]
Guilty Simpson releases his seventh full-length LP titled Escalation. The album showcases a significant elevation in sound, drawing inspiration from Guilty’s past collaborators and influences such as J Dilla and Sean Price. The production handled by Uncommon Nasa features a mix of synth-laced, hollow, and boom-bap beats, creating a diverse sonic landscape. With standout tracks like “Stakeouts” featuring Quelle Chris, the album demonstrates Guilty’s storytelling and solidifies his status as one of Detroit’s consistent MCs.