It’s definitely an interesting week from a musical standpoint. There’s no shortage of heat, mind you, but quite a wide variety of dope new releases from across the sonic spectrum. But fear not, we’ve got you covered with the best new picks this week.
De La Soul is back with “The Package,” and G Herbo drops Lil Herb, an album that he says is closing one chapter of his career; and Kehlani isn’t throwing love “Out the Window.” Not to be outdone, Danny Brown delivers his new project Stardust, plus we’ve got new music from Quavo with Yeat and BYNX.
There aren’t many artists more prolific than singer/songwriter/keyboardist PJ Morton, and his new album proves it. As always, the veterans are making it clear that they got somethin’ to say: Erick Sermon teams up with Snoop and the late Nate Dogg for his latest single; plus Cory Mo and Bun B drop off Way Mo Trill. One of the godmothers of soul, Mavis Staples, releases her new album, and frankly, it’s right on time.
Plus we’ve got the latest from Jim Jones and Reason finally drops his long-awaited Everything In My Soul.
Each week, Okayplayer will deliver a roundup of all the latest new heat from some of our favorite artists. Check out the latest offerings in our playlist below:
NEW SONGS
DE LA SOUL w/PETE ROCK - “THE PACKAGE”
The legendary trio from Long Island make their return with an assist from Pete Rock. Pos, Mase and the late Dave set the table for their forthcoming album with a standout first single.
KEHLANI - “OUT THE WINDOW”
A beautiful track about fighting to rediscover and hoping to reignite lost love. It’s a heartfelt look at accountability in a relationship. And knowing when it’s worth it to try.
QUAVO W/YEAT & BYNX - “NEW TRIP”
An adrenaline rush that punches you in the face with 808s, this is the sonic firebomb that highlights why Yeat’s star is rising and why Quavo rarely misses when he leans into his futuristic trap lane.
ERICK SERMON FEAT. SNOOP DOGG & NATE DOGG - “LIKE THAT”
East meets West as the Green Eyed Bandit and the Doggfather team up. His bold new project, Dynamic Duo’s Vol. 1, is set to be released in two weeks.
FERG - “P.O.L.O.”
Who doesn’t love a fly fashion anthem? Hip-hop songs about getting fresh will always hit — and this sounds like the perfect soundtrack for when you’re putting on your best drip and heading out.
VALEE & MVW FEAT. NIONTAY - “YEA I DO”
A snippet of what they’ve got cooking. After releasing VALEEdation in 2023, the duo is once again joining forces for a second full-length project, the forthcoming WHERE WERE WE.
SAVANNAH RÉ - “HOLD YOU”
She has a voice that just pulls you in — and the production is perfect. It’s a dreamy, intimate R&B track — perfect for fall days and late-night pillow talk sessions.
MARCO PLUS FEAT. BOLDY JAMES - “JAMAL CRAWFORD”
Sometimes you just need a showcase for great rhyming. Atlanta and Detroit come together for this lyrical showcase named after one of the most consistently lethal NBA players of his era.
BUSHY B - “MEET ME IN THE 305”
A love letter to his hometown that invites you to see Miami through his eyes. A track that captures the warmth, confidence, and magnetic energy that defines his artistry.
THE TWILITE TONE FEAT. COMMON & MADISON MCFERRIN - “I STILL NEED LOVE 2”
Classic hip-hop vibes. Reworking the classic from LL COOL J into a track about the need for love and connection amid an age of division, distraction, and digital noise.
MOONCHILD FEAT. LALAH HATHAWAY & CHRIS DAVE - “FOR YOURSELF”
The collab you didn’t know you needed. They continue to give fans these glimpses of what’s to come. And this track exemplifies soulful themes of self-love, healing, and resilience.
MOONCHILD FEAT. ERIN BENTLAGE - “STRONG”
And we get another dope track. Just because they’re generous, the other half of this double single is just as strong. Musically — their chemistry is off the charts.
THEARTI$T - “I NEED YOU”
From teaching preschool to opening for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie on tour, she’s shown that her gift is to transform her wealth of personal experiences into soulful, introspective music. And her new single is all about desire – an ode to yearning for someone special.
JAYMIN - “HELP!”
A throbbing slow jam with a slinky, effortless groove, it’s a tribute to that person you can’t see yourself without. But as the title suggests– it’s also a call for help. Because we all know you can lose yourself in those feelings.
NEW ALBUMS
G HERBO - ‘LIL HERB’
A focused and grandiose effort that Herbo has said represents him closing one chapter and starting another. He delivers his most polished and authentic work.
JOEY PURP - ‘ALASKA’ (EP)
The Chicago rapper’s keen knack for observation has always served him well and it’s front and center on this new EP that shows he’s got one of the most engaging personas in the game.
DANNY BROWN - ‘STARDUST’
The rap vet has found his most centered self without compromising his uniquely unbridled artistry. A stint in rehab means he’s definitely in a positive place — but Danny is still Danny. A beast.
BLK ODYSSY - ‘MOOD CONTROL’
A tightly wound collection that speaks to the paranoia and groupthink of our times, Odyssy’s latest is the perfect soundtrack to a chaotic 2025.
12K GOTTI - ‘800˚’
With features from MIKE, Niontay & Sideshow and others, the Cleveland rapper goes into his lyrical bag and unleashes a strong set carried by Midwestern swagger and production that doesn’t miss.
ALEMEDA, ‘BUT WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW’ EP
After her kinetic collab with Doechii, the East African artist with the knack for genre-bending and style-blending shows she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve on this excellent extended player.
YOUNG MIKO - DO NOT DISTURB’
After appearing on tour with the likes of Billie Eilish, the Puerto Rican rapper shows she’s got the goods to be a breakout star. All eyes are on her.
BUN B & CORY MO - ‘WAY MO TRILL’
The Lone Star State usually delivers greatness and you can literally hear the enthusiasm throughout this album. Texas greatness. Distilled but never duplicated.
JIM JONES - ‘THE FALL BEFORE THE RISE’
The Harlem capo has had an interesting year, and on his latest, he shows that he’s still capable of delivering what the fans want — no matter what else is going on.
PJ MORTON & AFRO ORLEANS - ‘CAPE TOWN TO CAIRO LIVE’
The guy stays busy. After dropping Cape Town to Cairo last year to strong reviews, the multitalented Morton revisits it as a live album with his unbelievable band.
RUM.GOLD - ‘IS THERE ANYBODY HOME DISC 2: ACT OF GOD’
He’s always been a soulful and ambitious artist and this half of his new project showcases his gift for personalized songwriting that doesn't spare an ounce of melody.
REASON - ‘EVERYTHING IN MY SOUL_BLUE’
His new album arrives less than a year after the release of I Love You Again. The former TDE artist is renowned for his gift for narrative and storytelling prowess, and he’s putting it all to good use here.
DJ SNAKE - ‘NOMAD’
He knows how to put a project together, folks. And he’s got a strong lineup here. With appearances from J Balvin, Don Toliver, Stray Kids, Dillon Francis, Damian Marley, and more,
MICKEY FACTZ W/AWSME J - ‘ONE ABOVE ALL’
A tight, all killer, no filler set. At eleven songs, it has the punchiness of a classic '80s album — and boasts appearances from Daylyt, London Moon Shareef Keyes and Ansolu.
DEXTERINTHENEWSAGENT - ‘TIME FLIES’ MIXTAPE
The singer-songwriter is working through her turmoil and her music has the rich earnesty of an artist wearing their feelings unapologetically on their sleeve. A musing on pain, grief and love.
ARMAND HAMMER W/THE ALCHEMIST/BILLY WOODS/ELUCID - ‘MERCY’
An album that invites you inside its densely layered universe, with Alc working the boards like a wizard and guest spots from Earl Sweatshirt, Quelle Chris, Cleo Reed, Pink Siifu, Kapwani, and Silka.
MAVIS STAPLES - ‘SAD AND BEAUTIFUL WORLD’
She’s one of the artists who shaped soul music and the former front woman of the Staple Singers is still inspired and engaging. Topical music for the soul and from the godmother.
