Summer Listening!

Nas released his latest album.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

PROTECT BLACK WOMEN! 

STOP ASIAN HATE!

PROTECT AAPI WOMEN!

FREE PALESTINE🇵🇸!

WEAR A DAMN MASK! SAVE A LIFE! TRUST SCIENCE AND MEDICAL EXPERTS! THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IS FUCKING REAL!

GET VACCINATED! IF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE VACCINES ARE AVAILABLE, GET IT WHILE IT'S STILL FREE! THE MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY THE VACCINES DO WORK AND IT REDUCES THE RISK OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTION.

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE NOW! VOTE THESE DUMBASS LAWMAKERS OUT OF OFFICE! STOP SUPPORTING ALL FORMS OF EXTREMISM!

GIVE PUERTO RICO, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS! GRANT STATEHOOD TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. MAKE IT THE DOUGLASS COMMONWEALTH.

GOOGLE'S BLOGGER IS STRAIGHT UP TRASH! THE BLOGGER INTERFACE IS A TOTAL DISASTER AND IT'S RIDICULOUS!

WHITE PRIVILEGE IS REAL! IT'S "SUIT AND TIE" WHITE SUPREMACY ON TELEVISION, RADIO, THE INTERNET AND AMERICAN POLICY!

WE'RE NOT THE ESTABLISHMENT! WE ARE THE VOTERS WHO SUPPORT CANDIDATES THAT AREN'T THE NOISE! REJECT EXTREMISTS ON THE LEFT AND ESPECIALLY ON THE RIGHT!

YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!

EXPECT MORE!

So we're going to go ahead and get some of my Summer listening out of the way. I've been delaying the postings due to the Google Blogger interface being trash and I'm starting to get bored with the blog.

Not saying that I'm going to just move on, but I am going to consider 2022 as a slow down period.

We still have roads to cross, bridges to build, places to go and things to accomplish. In the United States, the pandemic has driven folks into madness. So many Americans are refusing to wear facial masks, getting vaccinated, pushing conspiracies about the election, stopping Americans from voting, pushing racism under guise of patriotism, sowing discourse and showboating. 

It can be frustrating.

But hey we still have the music.

So today, I'll give you five of the albums I've going to listen to.

The Off-Season from J. Cole.

1. J. Cole - The Off-Season

The North Carolina rapper/media personality released his album on May 14 on Dreamville Records, Roc Nation and Interscope Records. It is his sixth album and was executive produced by J. Cole, Ibrahim Hamad and T-Minus.

The album features guest features from 21 Savage, Morray, Bas, Lil Baby, 6lack and has production from Cole, Boi-1da, DrtWrk, Don Mills, Tommy Parker, Wu, 10, Frank Dukes, DJ Dahi, Mario Luciano, Tae Beast, Jake One, Timbaland, Sucuki, Coleman and Maneesh. 

The album has 12 tracks. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200.

2. Tyler, the Creator - Call Me If You Get Lost

The Odd Future frontman has come out as a member of the LGBTQ community. He is openly bisexual. He released the album CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST on Columbia Records and it's his sixth album on the label. 

He is the executive producer of the album and has features from DJ Drama, 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Wayne, Teezo Touchdown, Domo Genesis, Brent Faiyaz, Fana Hues, Jamie xx, Daisy World, Lil Uzi Vert and Pharrell Williams. His album has 16 tracks but a bonus feature on deluxe album. The production includes Tyler himself with Jamie xx, Jay Versace, Pharrell Williams and Lil Uzi Vert in assistance.

3. Nas - King's Disease II - The sequel to the Grammy award winning album King's Disease. This is the 14th album release from Nasir Jones. The Queens-based rapper and media mogul released his album on Mass Appeal, LLC with association to Def Jam. He and Hit-Boy are the executive producers of the album.

Most of the production is coming from Hit-Boy with one of the tracks assisted by Big Ax-D. 

The album is expected to peak at No. 1. It was released on Friday and it already has Grammy buzz.

The album has features from EPMD, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, YG, Blxst, Hit-Boy, Eminem and Lauryn Hill. The surprising appearance of Lauryn Hill. The two haven't collaborated since Nas released the It Was Written in 1996.

4. Isaiah Rashad - The House is Burning 

This is the third album from the Chattanooga based rapper Isaiah Rashad. The album was released on July 30 and will likely get Grammy buzz. The rapper and singer has released the album on Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Records. 

Isaiah Rashad's The House is Burning is a certified hit.

He has 16 tracks to this album and it features Lil Uzi Vert, Duke Deuce, Smino, 4r Da Locals, Amindi, Jay Rock, Jay Worthy, YGTUT, SZA and 6lack.

The album has production from Devin Malik, Kal Banx, Banshee The Great, Keanu Beats, Hollywood Cole, J.LBS, Groove, Henry Was, Rory Behr, Amaire Johnson, Kenny Beats, TIGGI, Free P, Crooklin, Pete (Scum) and Nebula.

5. Lil Durk & Lil Baby - The Voice of the Heroes

The collaborative studio album from Chicago rapper Lil Durk and Atlanta rapper Lil Baby. Released on Quality Control, 4 Pockets Full, Wolfpack, Only The Family, Alamo Records, Geffen Records, Motown and Capitol Records.

The two worked on the album between 2020 and 2021 and released the album on June 4. 

The two have guest features from Travis Scott, Meek Mill, Young Thug and Rod Wave.

The production on the 18-track album includes: Touch of Trent, Haze, Forever Rollin, Flex OTB, Chi Chi, Young TN, Wheezy, London on da Track, Tone Def, Rockin wit Slime, Nile Waves, Iroc, DJ Young Pharaoh, Nick Papz, KJ, MFoss, Section 8, Noah, ATL Jacob, DannyProd, Turbo, Russ Chell, Harris, TnTXD, Luke C and Murda Beatz

Bonus 

Migos - Culture III

The group consist of Quavo, Takeoff and Offset. The three have released solo albums and often collaborate on many projects associated with Quality Control. They released Culture III on June 11.

The group is signed to Quality Control, Capitol Records and Motown Records. The rap group's album debuted on No. 2 on Billboard Top 200.

The album has production from longtime producer DJ Durel but also Quavo as well. The other production includes: Wallis Lane, Azul Wynter, LoMastro, Preme, Atake, Sluzyyy, Slime Castro, Nuki, Osiris, Murda Beatz, Tay Keith, Pooh Beatz, Rvnes, Section 8, Ciaga, Nas Moore, Diaz, Mars, Smash David, OG Parker, Fox, Buddah Bless, Pvlace, Zaytoven, Trauma Tone, Danny Wolf, Carnage, Nils, DGudini, Sonic, Oz, Keanu Beats, Aguilar, L'Etranger, Kid Hazi, Will Major, Squill, Pyrex and DUn Deal.

The album has features from Drake, Cardi B, Polo G, Future, Justin Bieber, Juice Wrld, Pop Smoke and YoungBoy Never Broke Again. Juice Wrld died in 2019 after having a fatal seizure. Pop Smoke was killed in 2020 after a home invasion. The four terrorists were criminal charged with his murder. The suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Polo G - Hall of Fame

The third studio album from Polo G on Columbia Records. The album debuted No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200. He is a Chicago based rapper who is associated with the drill music music. He was nearly joining Juice Wrld in 2019 after having a near fatal seizure from ecstasy and Xanax mixed in his drink.

This album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. 

His album was released on June 11.

The album features guest vocals from Kid Laroi, Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, Scorey, G Herbo, Rod Wave, DaBaby, Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, Nicki Minaj, Pop Smoke and Fivio Foreign.

The album production includes 1040, Yung Fuel, E. Bankz, Synco, Taz Taylor, Ryder Johnson, Mason Wu, Jkei, WizardMCE, Tahj Money, D Mac, LondnBlue, Kartlin Bankz, Angelo Ferraro, 12Hunna, Spaceman, BJ, Aiden Han, Damn Mikey, Daniel Magnusson, Varohl, Kid Culture, BKH Beats, Lil Mosey, Nick Mira, NicoNiceWitt, Ben Billions, David Mescon, Terrence Rolle, Wheezy, Fizzle, Boby Raps, SephGotTheWaves, CashMoneyAP, Finesse, Menace, Axl Beats, SAFE and S.Dot.

The album has 20 tracks.

Pop Smoke's vocals were added late into the album. The Victor Victor label cleared the release of unreleased lyrics and features.

Vince Staples - Vince Staples

Rapper/actor/singer Vince Staples is a member of the Cutthroat Boyz. He is a rapper from Long Beach, California and is signed to Motown Records. Universal Music split the Motown label from Def Jam. 

Staples also has a distribution deal with Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records.

This is his fourth album and first eponymous. The album received acclaim from critics. The album has 10 tracks but last only 22 minutes. 

It has no featured guests on the album. His main production comes from Kenny Beats. But also associated production comes from WahWah, James Harper Gordon and Monte Booker.

You can listen to them on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, Deezer or purchasing them from your local retailer. I endorse these albums for your listening pleasure.