15 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of August 20)

Releases from Aaliyah, Ty Dolla $ign, dvsn, Rod Wave, Cleo Sol and Tiwa Savage were a few of our favorite albums of the week.

This week is once again stacked with a bevy of releases, but this time around it’s filled with some pivotal drops. Of course, the highly-anticipated unveiling of Aaliyah’s One in a Million is the biggest news of this New Music Friday. Additionally, there are a few call-outs we are particularly excited about from Ty Dolla $ign, dvsn and Cleo Sol.

First up, even with the controversy, it’s clear that Aaliyah, the late singer who danced and sang her way into the hearts of millions is going to gain new fans as of midnight. One in a Million was a pivotal moment for R&B, it’s now available on streaming platforms. Speaking of R&B, Cleo Sol unleashed Mother, her newest album equipped with soft, emotional cuts worthy of giving some playback action. Then there’s Ty Dolla $ign and dvsn who never aren’t in the studio, their latest is Cheers to the Best Memories. As a whole it’s a sultry, seductive mixtape that’s getting added to our cuffing season playlist immediately. 

For the hip-hop heads, Rick Hyde’s Plates II and Blu x Mickey Factz x Nottz’s The Narrative EP should hold over your appetite for the next few weeks. The former is a smooth listen filled with a slew of guest appearances that made the release quite enjoyable (also the production is killer). The latter is only six tracks but it’s just enough to capture our attention. 

Tiwa Savage’s Water & Garri is another striking release that arrived on Friday; there’s also Rod Wave’s SoulFly (Deluxe Version) if you’re into the Florida-bred rapper; Amaria’s exquisite project Bittersweet is essential for neo-soul lovers.

More staples include Tha God Fahim x Nicholas Craven’s Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King, Gengis Don’s Sweet Pea and Chris Dave’s Thine People Vol. 2.

Aaliyah — One in a Million

Rod Wave — SoulFly (Deluxe Version)

dvsn x Ty Dolla $ign — Cheers to the Best Memories

Trippie Red — Trip At Knight

Cleo Sol — Mother

Tiwa Savage — Water & Garri

Chyna — Drug Opera

Blu x Mickey Factz x Nottz — The Narrative EP

Amaria — Bittersweet

Gengis Don — Sweet Pea

Rick Hyde — Plates II

Chris Dave — Thine People Vol. 2

Lord Byron — A Portrait Of Fyador On Fire

John Caroll Kirby — Cryptozoo: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Tha God Fahim x Nicholas Craven — Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King