It’s almost time for turkey and you might feel a little overstuffed with all the dope, new music dropping this week. There are a ton of hot singles, to be sure, but there are some especially strong albums you’re going to want to dive headfirst into and a few deluxe editions that should get fans excited.
Of course, this week marks the return of De La Soul who drop their bittersweet ninth album, Cabin In The Sky — their first release since the death of longtime member Trugoy aka Dave aka Plug 2. And Ne-Yo’s single will have you thinking about “Simple Things.”
Polo G delivers his new single “High Tolerance,” and the country rap revolution continues with BigXThaPlug and his new album, I Hope You’re Happy. Ransom & Conductor Williams join forces for The Uncomfortable Truth.
And just for good measure, Tems has dropped Love Is A Kingdom, a surprise EP; plus Rico Nasty has some “Pepper” for you.
Meanwhile, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone and Flesh-N-Bone are gifting fans the latest Bone Thugs-N-Harmony track, “Road Nights.”
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
BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY - “ROAD NIGHTS”
The iconic Midwestern speed rappers are back with a new track that evokes late nights and long roads. Produced by John E. Qwest, it’s a great showcase for three of the quintet’s emcees that allows each one to flex.
NE-YO - “SIMPLE THINGS”
The R&B crooner has long been one of the best singer-songwriters in the game; and his latest is a foray into country music. He sounds right at home, and it’s not entirely new — he’s talked about how country influenced earlier hits that he penned like Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable.”
POLO G - “HIGH TOLERANCE”
His storytelling has become a hallmark of his artistry, but he’s also shown a real flair for personalized songwriting, inviting the listener into his psyche as he examines the highs and lows of the world around him.
RICO NASTY - “PEPPER”
As spicy as the title suggests. She always keeps things cranked up to ten and this is the perfect anthem for a drunken bar fight. The energy is off the rails and Rico is at her brazen best.
SADBOI - “BE ME”
She has been extremely prolific in what has been about 8 years of recording, and her new single suggests that fans should be excited for what she has coming on her new album.
LEIGH-ANNE - “FRIENDS”
The My Ego Told Me To Tour is coming in 2026, and she’s getting the fans ready. The Little Mix alum appears to be primed and ready to take the next step in her career.
FLIPPA T - “LAMAR JACKSON”
The Georgia rapper has built her name steadily, and her latest is a supremely catchy track that should get some love from the NFL star. Perfect synths and trap-lite percussion. An anthem.
RSVP - “LAY YOU DOWN”
This is what they do, right? The R&B supergroup (that consists of Ray J, Sammie, Bobby Valentino and Pleasure P) returns with this smoky, seductive slice of bedroom music.
MOB TIES & ICEWEAR VEZZO - “MY LIL WETTA”
Flipping “When A Woman’s Fed Up” into a bit of sex trap, the Detroit spitter’s gravelly flow is front and center on this smooth late-night cut.
LÉA THE LEOX - “WAY TOO COLD”
She’s working with Nariah and got a deal with Haagen-Dazs — so of course she’s primed for a chilly track tailor-made for Christmas! She drops this holiday-themed single just in time for the season.
LIL BABY - “REAL SHIT”
The chest-thumping you’ve come to expect–tempered with these flickers of heartache. The track’s nervous undercurrent is palpable as the superstar leans into the violin-driven beat and flexes his flow over the skittering beat.
JHENÉ AIKO - “BREAK”
Tongues are wagging about the status of her relationship with longtime beau Big Sean. But regardless, fans are eagerly awaiting her fourth album. In the meantime, here’s an ode to loss and heartbreak. It’s the kind of love-on-her-sleeve forlornness that nobody does as well as she can.
A$AP FERG - “BIG DAWG”
He’s clearly been in an experimental mood, but it sounds like the rhymer is actually reinvigorated by switching things up. His new style may be a bit of an adjustment, but it’s cool to hear him sound inspired by it.
TANK - “CONTROL”
Reimaging the iconic 1986 Janet Jackson hit, the R&B superstar takes the spirit of that Jam & Lewis classic into a new direction. Produced by Bizness Boi, Abi, Crater, Oh Gosh Leotus and Dylan Hyde, it morphs into a smooth ballad.
MAYA JADE - “PEACE OF MIND”
The Canadian singer-songwriter has perfected her unique brand of sultry R&B. And her latest single is a polished diamond of a track that never lets the production overpower the true star of the show.
KEM AND MARSHA AMBROSIUS - “ROCK WITH ME” (MARSHA AMBROSIUS MIX)
The kind of heart-on-my-sleeve soul singing that some folks say doesn’t exist anymore. Their vocals are perfectly suited together over this lush remix.
CHRONIC LAW W/FRENCH MONTANA AND CJTHECHEMIST - “NY GIRLS” (REMIX)
A smooth, sway-inducing banger. Cjthechemist is one of the most intriguing producers in music right now, and he brings his Carribbean flair to this remix and the sound sits somewhere between trap R&B and smooth dancehall.
DDK FEAT. KAREN - “CREME BRULEE”
The best kind of head nodder that’s playfully catchy and evokes strolls on a Saturday afternoon with your significant other. Lyricism complemented by Karen’s coos and ad-libs.
KONCEPT - “UNDER THEY SKIN”
Sounds better with every repeat. Bass-heavy in a way that sounds sinister and ominous but strangely triumph, this is a track that speaks to the '90s boom bap fan in the best way.
TAY B FEAT. BABYFXCE E - “U FEEL ME”
The sleepy, woozy flow sits atop the off-kilter production. But the synths take the track to an entirely different place. It’s all so polished, you might not notice how dark the lyrics are.
BEO LIL KENNY FEAT. G HERBO - “ONE OF ONE”
Production that manages to sound sparse despite all that it has going on, it’s a perfect bit of bravado-driven trap courtesy of these two. It sounds like an anthem.
LIL MOSEY - “SOLDIER”
Following his EP, Fall City, with this sterling single. With his effortless flow, he’s more than in his comfort zone over an ethereal melody and infectious beats. Gotta love the history — capturing the carefree vibe.
AMBRÉ - “SHE”
Themes of conflict and desire exist in the same space. This is a song that captures the push-and-pull of a relationship that’s equal parts irresistible and unstable.
SAILORR - “LOCKED IN”
The Florida alt-R&B singer had a massive year with her Coachella appearance and a collaboration with Summer Walker. Her new single comes as she’s set to be opening for Doja Cat on the Asia, Australia, and NZ leg of her headlining tour worldwide.
NEW ALBUMS
DE LA SOUL - ‘CABIN IN THE SKY’
The legends from Long Island return with their first album in almost a decade. Since Trugoy’s passing, fans were waiting to see what would become of De La Soul, and let’s just say the group that famously “killed” itself in 1991 is thriving and as vital as ever. Props to Preemo.
BIGXTHAPLUG - ‘I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY’
His foray into country rap may have been somewhat unplanned and impulsive, but he dedicated himself to crafting a sound that delved into the pain and catharsis the genre is known for. The result is his most experimental, but also his most rewarding, work to date.
LIHTZ - ‘HOPELESS’
He may wear a mask, but his music is a good indicator of how he sees and what he feels, and he has some of the sharpest, most observant lyrical showcases. The Philly native has already solidified his second act, now he’s pushing forward.
RANSOM & CONDUCTOR WILLIAMS - ‘THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH’
A strong set that showcases the best in this pair. Their collaborative energy is undeniable, but it’s helped by the fact that Ransom is leaning into his own world-weary, lived-in perspective. This is the best kind of grown man rap.
BEN REILLY - ‘SAVE!’
After years of building up his unique persona as an artist and performer, it now feels like the Brooklyn native is allowing for a peek behind the mask, so to speak. Arguably his most personal–and personalized–music to date.
SHORDIE SHORDIE - ‘LOVE LOST’
The Baltimore talent has always known his way around a hook and that knack for infectious singalong choruses serves him well here. Since he broke through with Peso Da Mafia, he’s been an innovator and one of the brightest lights out of his city, but now he’s part of something bigger.
TREVOR JACKSON - ‘I LOVE YOU, GOODBYE (THE GREATEST BREAKUP ALBUM OF ALL TIME)’
The multi-hyphenate has been releasing music throughout the year that traces his perspective on love, loss and relationships. Following two EPs in the same vein, he fully shows his skill set and opens his soul on this release.
DRE DIOR - ‘THERAPY’
The melodic, introspective Pittsburgh rapper for raw honesty and compelling storytelling – qualities that have helped establish him as an artist of the highest order. As evidenced by the title, he’s not afraid of going inward.
SUMMER WALKER - ‘FINALLY OVER IT (THE AFTERPARTY)
How much more can she do? She just dropped one of the year’s strongest and she’s giving fans a deluxe edition. We truly don’t deserve her.
JENNIFER HUDSON - ‘THE GIFT OF LOVE (EXTENDED HOLIDAY EDITION)’
This extended version is a perfect soundtrack for the holidays. Hudson has repackaged the critically acclaimed collection that was originally released in 2024, adding goodies like her breathtaking rendition of “Mary Did You Know.”
OBONGJAYAR - ‘PARADISE: NOW AND FOREVER’
The deluxe edition of Paradise Now is expansive. This new version of his acclaimed project also arrives alongside his latest single, “Lipdance”, and his U.K./EU tour. This deluxe release adds five new tracks to the original album.
ROY WOODS - ‘FLOWER CITY HEARTBREAK’
The Canadian rapper/singer and OVO signee delivers his sixth EP and reaches for greatness as he strives to showcase how much he’s grown. Even 10 years into his career, he still has a git for spacy and melodic alt-R&B.
EEM TRIPLIN - ‘IF I WANTED TO’ (EP)
The PA-born rapper/producer melds his uniquely atmospheric production with a bombastic swagger via his melodic, braggadocious flow. His skill set is on full display – as are the talents of his co-producer, Matt Cohn.
ODEAL - ‘THE FALL THAT SAVED US’
The follow-up to his previous EP, The Summer That Saved Me, and it feels as autumnal as the season the title references. This time around, he’s painting in decidedly solemn tones and the results are intriguing.
TEMS - ‘LOVE IS A KINGDOM’ EP
She’s a household name and her latest proves she’s not slowing down. Over a year after her stellar debut, the Nigerian singer-songwriter surprise drops this new EP, a collection of new material that should further satiate fans eager to hear something new from the uber-talented superstar.
ELUJAY - ‘A CONSTANT CHARADE’
Ambition and introspection exist in the same space and in equal measure across this debut from the Oakland, CA product. His gift is his ability to mine decades of classic music and across a wide array of genres for a surefooted and surprisingly cogent sophomore effort.
ROY HARGROVE - ‘LIVE AT KNKX’
Four previously unreleased live tracks recorded with Roy's quintet at Seattle's KNKX Public Radio in 2009 and 2017. A must-have for fans.
ANDRE LAWRENCE - ‘Corduroy’
Following up Dustrial Denim, the kid from the Upper West Side returns with a new collection of songs. Tap in to check it out below.
KIANA LEDÉ - ‘CUT TIES’ (DELUXE)
In recognition of her widely-hailed third album reaching it’s one year anniversary, the singer-songwriter has re-released the project in an expanded deluxe edition. It boasts features from Chloe Bailey, Queen Naija and BJ The Chicago Kid.
