Music week in review: PARTYNEXTDOOR, Kamasi Washington, Ibeyi, & more
Today featured some truly great releases from some more low key artists.
As we get further away from the heat of summer, the vibe of the releases is definitely switching up a little bit.
With new shit that should satisfy all of your musical inclinations, let’s dive into a truly dope week of new music.
PARTYNEXTDOOR – Seven Days
Drake’s right-hand man PARTYNEXTDOOR is back with the thirstiest 7-track EP in recent memory. With features from Halsey (who Party starts his worldwide tour with today) and Rick Ross, Seven Days is a how-to manual of contemporary R&B.
PARTYNEXTDOOR produced all of the tracks, and his intricate drum programming will keep you guessing where the next snare is coming from. Party is leading the new generation of young R&B crooners who rap and sing in equal measure.
Seven Days displays Party’s ridiculous skills in production, songwriting, and vocals. We could’ve used like 10 more tracks on this project, but this will just have to work for now. It’s a perfect soundtrack to your new autumn cuff.
Kamasi Washington – Harmony of Difference
There’s not a lot of good jazz music these days. For those retrophiles out there bumping Duke Ellington on the subway (especially the A train, fire jazz reference whattup) I’ve got some new-age jazz for you in the form of Kamasi Washington.
The Inglewood native helped arrange Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and all of that dope jazz shit you heard on Kendrick’s album was courtesy of Kamasi Washington. His new EP is a tour de force of impeccably composed jazz music.
He’s a saxophonist by trade, so the horns are the first thing you notice on Harmony of Difference but the crashing drums and bass lines will keep you toe-tapping through the all-to-brief 6-track project.
If you’re trying to have a very adult party this weekend or trying to woo an intellectual, throw on Kamasi Washington. Everyone will be very impressed with your taste.
Knox Fortune – Paradise
Chicago’s Knox Fortune has produced for the likes of Joey Purp and Vic Mensa, as well as singing on Chance The Rapper’s “All Night,” but his new record is a far departure from his hip-hop appearances.
On Paradise, Knox Fortune kicks grooves full of indie and chillwave sounds. Real name Kevin Rhomberg, the Chicago artist is truly a musical chameleon, able to throw on a bunch of different masks to make an all-encompassing album.
The single “Lil Thing” is an obvious standout that will take summer vibes far into September, but all of Paradise is a fun ass record. At times, Fortune sounds like early Beck, comparisons to Toro Y Moi have been common, but ultimately Rhomberg is a pretty individual artist. Paradise is a dope record.
Ibeyi – Ash
Cuban-French twins Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz come together to form the duo Ibeyi. Ibeyi translates to ‘twins’ in the West African Yoruban language and this album is as expansive as the Diaz twins’ heritage.
With sounds from all over the globe, Ibeyi’s sophomore album is a sleek project full of stylistic goodness and dope grooves. The project is rooted in Western hip-hop, but also full of neo-soul instrumentation and West African drums.
Ibeyi brought in Kamasi Washington from earlier on this list to play some sax and even sample a Michelle Obama speech at one point. Ibeyi are a really intriguing pair of musicians and Ash is a truly impressive album. We’re here for it.
A Boogie With Da Hoodie – The Bigger Artist
After landing on the XXL Freshman list earlier this year, Bronx rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie has dropped his debut album The Bigger Artist.
Powered by smash single “Drowning,” with Kodak Black, A Boogie has garnered a bunch of hype in the game. What got people so excited about “Drowning,” was A Boogie’s surprising musicality as he vibed over a piano-backed beat.
The Bigger Artist shows a lot of these same skills as A Boogie can really sing. It’s not really a quintessential ‘New York hip-hop’ record, but it’s a very 2017 record.
Full of production from the hottest producers around and features from the aforementioned Kodak, as well as 21 Savage, Chris Brown, and PnB Rock.
A Boogie is a big talent in the new wave of hip-hop.
Majid Jordan – “My Imagination” (feat. dvsn)
It’s fall, so we’re gonna get all the OVO releases.
Party dropped today, dvsn are dropping their album Morning After October 13th, and now Majid Jordan have stopped by (with dvsn) to drop the first jawn off their upcoming The Space Between album, set for release on October 27th.
This is a vibey track as Majid Jordan bemoan a girl that broke their heart over French house drums. It’s the kind of release that shows why Majid and dvsn are such vital parts of the OVO hit factory.
Rich The Kid – “New Freezer” (ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Rich the Kid keeps getting all the hype. Now he’s joined up with King Kendrick for their new jam “New Freezer.”
Shit is definitely a jig, but you gotta know throwing Kenny on your track may embarrass you, even if you are legitimately nice. Kendrick kills this shit.
DRAM – “ILL NANA” (ft. Trippie Redd)
DRAM has had a wild couple years. After “Cha Cha” in 2015, he dropped “Brocolli” last year to massive reception (“Broccoli” has over 400 million streams on Spotify).
He’s another artist to mix both singing and rapping to very impressive results.
DRAM might be one of the hottest artists in the game. “ILL NANA” is a fun, bouncy record that will definitely garner DRAM some more plays.