What I’m Listening To Right Now 04
Happy New Year!
If you’re reading this likkle preamble, thanks. The vibe lately has been very slow and sentimental. For me, the newness of the year doesn’t really like it kick-in until late February-March. I think the projects below reflect how I’m feeling rn pretty well and I hope you’ll find something that you enjoy.
Much love,
✌🏾
1 OF 8
Mother by Cleo Sol
Soul, RnB
- Promises
- 23
- Build Me Up
- Don’t Let it Go to Your Head
So full and soothing. Several moments sound and feel like church. Also, given the subject matter, there’s lots of loving quotables and affirmations. Some of Cleo and Inflo’s best work.
2 Of 8
Black Life, Red Planet by gum.mp3
Electronic
- Blue Period
- Mars and Its Moons
- Deimos
- Believe
Hypnotic. The intro feels like you’re being transported away to another dimension. There’s elements of footwork, jungle, soul, jazz, house, baile, and more and it all blends together very nicely. Love how ambient and vibey it is.
3 Of 8
CONGLOMERATE (DELUXE) by Fimiguerrero, Len & Lancey Foux
Hip-Hop, Rap
- Spanish Guitar
- All My Cards
- Midas Touch
- Twist Da Key
Okay this one is definitely not calm or soothing lol. Instead, it’s honestly the most fun I’ve had with an underground rap album in 2024. The trio of UK and African artists manage to blend themselves and their backgrounds together so well here. Beats are so polyrhythmic, go incredibly hard and the energy is next to none.
Honestly, I think this is why I never really liked Utopia by Travis Scott despite a similar aesthetic. It always felt so empty and like he was biting off of Playboi Carti’s rager/rockstar image but with no real ambition behind it. That along with the personality and recognizable enjoyment that this album has in spades. The ending to the first song alone really sets the tone and shows just how much these guys mean it. “Shout out my worldwide n*s” fr.
4 Of 8
Songs About You Specifically by MICHELLE
Pop, RnB
- Missing on One
- Akira
- Cathy
- Painkiller
I don’t know if I’ll ever make a journey out to NYC but MICHELLE is always what I think it would be/feel like living in some of the trendy (and gentrified 😔) neighborhoods as a young person. Very pop-potpourri, artsy-cutesy and queer (non-derogatory)1. I’ve been a fan of their wholesome, coming-of-age sound for a while, especially as they were releasing music in the early 2020s when I was in school. To me they’ve only gotten better since then. A rag-tag group that always manages to offer up something comforting.
5 OF 8
Blowout Comb by Digable Planets
Rap, Hip-Hop
- Dog It
- Borough Check
- 9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
- Graffiti
This is one of those album’s that makes me feel like that ‘Dead Mike’ clip from CB4 2. I’ve listened to other conscious hip-hop greats like Rakim, The Roots and A Tribe Called Quest but pretty sparingly and often only the hits. This has been a really fun one to get into and is also pleasantly minimal and jazzy. Easy to bop your head to and comb through words with a fine-tooth afro pick. I also really love the lo-fi tone of the album, the piano and the wind instruments on each song especially.
Looking back at hip-hop like this also really exposed to me how evolved and content-dense rap has gotten today. Honestly, a lot of references and clever wordplay ends up going over my head. During the beef last year especially, I would regularly YouTube more educated breakdowns on the music. so shout outs to Open Mike Eagle3, ABSAFCKNLUTELY4, and Professor Skye 5.
6 OF 8
TsundereBoys for Naka-Kon 2024
Electronic, Club
- 3:15
- 9:33
- 17:12 (and that build to 19:40 cuz what ? !)
- 27:50
Icon. Legend. As a black nerd I love and appreciate this moment so much. The hype and curation here is perfect.
7 OF 8
Afro-Harping by Dorothy Ashby
Jazz, Soul
- Games
- Little Sunflower
- Afro-Harping
- Come Live With Me
Pristine. Dorothy Ashby is a legend for her cinematic arrangements and ambitious use of the harp during a time in Jazz where women were mainly only allowed to be voices. Interestingly enough some parts it’s almost like the harp is singing. Very ahead of it’s time blending Contemporary Jazz with African and Afro-Latin styles and instruments. This is a great album to shimmy to. Highly recommend checking out the 2024 reissue for bonus tracks and alt takes.
8 Of 8
SOS Deluxe: LANA by SZA
Pop, RnB
- What Do I Do
- Drive
- BMF
- Crybaby
The voice of a generation. I remember a criticism some people had for SOS was that it’s like ‘SZA Radio.’ Especially with this extended release, I see this description as a massive compliment more than anything. Like one of those stations on GTA you would rely on and play all the time. There isn’t a style, feeling or messy intrusive thought that this woman can’t tap into at this point. Play this one front to back, back to front, sideways, on shuffle, with a crossfade; do it all.
