What I’m Listening To Right Now
enjoy the selection! click the covers to take u to the album.
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1 OF 9
The Breeze Grew a Fire by Mereba
Singer-Songwriter, RnB/Soul
- White Doves
- Phone Me
- Meteorite
- Ever Needed
Calm and refreshing. Mereba is gold. There’s many moments in this project that have brought me to tears or just helped realign my focus. It’s a helpful reminder to just breathe. Let the tracks play so you can feel. A perfect early morning/late afternoon exchange.
2 OF 9
The Starrr Of The Queen of Life by DEBBY FRIDAY
Pop, Club/Electronic
- Higher
- Bet On Me
- Alberta
- Darker The Better
Polaris Prize winning Canadian-Nigerian artist-producer extraordinaire. Her new sound is exquisite and blends intense feels with vulnerable writing. Love her work, her diaries and candid takes on insta , and have learned a lot from her promotional run this round.
3 OF 9
Kampire for Resident Advisor – RA.995
Electronic, Global Club
- 3:45
- 20:30
- 34:20
- 44:40
Kampire is an unstoppable force that demands your active participation. Always delivering hard-hitting beats and educational cultural dives. Satiating and selection as stellar as ever.
4 OF 9
Neighborhood Gods Unlimited by Open Mike Eagle
Hip-Hop, Rap
- michigan j. wonder
- wide leg michael jordan generation x jeans
- unlimited skull voices
- almost broke my nucleus accumbens
This plus that new Clipse album… Unc’s are really on top right now. It feels so genuine and uniquely him. All heart no bullshit. Something only Mike from Chicago could make. Honestly, I didn’t like at first because of feeling like I know the dude but in a heavily para-social way via YouTube . Almost felt like hearing a friend’s mixtape and I Initially judged it because of not seeing him as the artist yet. Profoundly clever and enjoyable listen.
5 OF 9
(*EGO) by Hayley Williams
Singer-Songwriter, Alternative
- Zissou
- Glum
- Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party
- Ice In My OJ
What the fck is happening? Is this a project? Is the confusion the point? Where are we? anyways, thanks hayley *u*
6 OF 9
Black British Music (2025) by Jim Legxacy
Pop, Rap
- new david bowie
- d.b.a.b
- tiger driver ’91
- dexter’s phone call
So vibrant and so touching. Jim’s creative growth and soundscape has been fun to witness. He’s openly vented a lot of his recent hardships including the passing of his younger sister, as mentioned in the song “issues of trust.” Each track carries this general feeling of angst and vulnerability. Something you can especially feel on songs like ‘06 Wayne Rooney” and “stick“
Despite the sorrows, the installment is still so bright, engaging and undeniably catchy. This current younger UK pop and underground scene has many great acts and Jim is no exception. Reclaiming his identity as a black artist in UK music is essential. Whether the Britain likes it or not, black people really have been “making asses shake since the Windrush.”
7 OF 9
Attrition by Slikback
Electronic, Experimental
- Sekli
- Trars
- Taped
- Duality
≽🇰🇪≩x–≽. I N T E N S I T Y .≼ –x≨🇰🇪≼
8 OF 9
Long Suffering by Charmaine
Singer-Songwriter, Alternative
- Solstice to Equinox
- Heaven Type Beat
- Eternity
- New York Excuses
A literal siren. Charmaine is a local KC artist with a lovely and emotionally gripping sound that resonates to me in so many ways. Something so Midwest. There’s plenty of intentionality when it comes to her textures, vocal layering and the spacious ambience she offers. A very real and needed artist in an age of artificial.
Definitely dig into the discog too! Currently obsessed with her new song “Jasmine Shredder”
9 OF 9
BLACK★STAR by
Amaarae
Pop, Dance/Electronic
- Fineshyt
- FREE THE YOUTH
- Dream Scenario
- ms60
- 100DRUM
Album of the Year. No Contest.
I’ve been a massive fan of Amaarae ever since I got put on to the Afro-Alté scene in 2018-2019 coming out of West Africa. Amaarae stands out in many ways specifically in her distinct, futuristic identity. BLACK STAR is new a striking, hypersonic blend of
Ghanaian/African music, Global Electronic, and Pop. A melting pot of Black music. Although challenging at first, as this mixing demands your attention to detail and spending time with it. I’ve learned that trusting the artist, especially one who has consistently delivered quintessential pop hits with cultural impact, will pay off. Similar to the reaction to Renaissance by Beyoncé which has gone down as a legendary project the more time has passed.
I think this album proves that we are in a era of distinct identity and artistic integrity — and honestly maybe that’s always been the case. You can run through so many playlists, trending sounds, venues, unique voices, talents, and producers. They could have all the acclaim in the world, critical and popular. But do they have a point of view? A story to tell with a voice of intention? Commitment to craft and development? A sense of freedom? Are they offering people something real and tangible? Are they actualizing a vision that can resonate?
Black Star boldly answers all of these questions. Succeeding in delivering a body of work with high levels of passion and clear vision. It’s about time the world catches up to her.
“My soul can’t rest until I feel like I’ve made a project that resonates in a really huge way globally. The last frontier is to make both a commercial and critical success.”
Amaarae for Rolling Stone