The Round-Up: Best Songs of The Week - ft. Raphael Saadiq, Little Brother, Rapsody and More [Playlist]

Slip into weekend mode with a fresh haul of essentials.

Happy Release Day, good people. The final stretch of the fairest season is upon us and there's a mountain of new drops to excavate. So let's dig right in.

The week commenced with the surprise landing of a resurgent and vital Little Brother. And though he passed on the reunion album, 9th Wonder was present and potent on production roster of Rapsody's towering tributary, Eve. Speaking of comebacks, Raphael Saadiq's new album, Jimmy Lee, is a brooding and entrancing send-up to his late brother. For her first official drop since 2005's The Cookbook, Missy Elliott demonstrated her staying power with a brief, but brawny, four-track EP. And rounding out the drop docket, new projects from Snoh Aalegra, Joy Postell, and Jidenna, should keep you (not just) knee-deep in your feeling well into 2020.

On the singles side, Mahalia returned with a heavy haunt on "Square 1." Gavin Turek flipped into an anthemic r&b mode with "2AM." Jazz Ingram's "blue gatorade" is the off-kilter fix for a late night with too much kush to kiss. Syd and Charlie Heat link on a sleek and seductive mid-summer bop. Vince Staples snuck back into the cipher with a new heater (and a show to boot.) Smino stormed in with a buoyant, face-crunching, loosie. Kindness brought it back to the dance floor with a brilliant blend of gospel and house. But that's just the half the script.

Hear it all in this week's episode of The Round-Up below. Hit the link to subscribe to Okayplayer's Spotify channel and never wonder what's next in the rotation.

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