#6 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: J. Cole, Sons of Kemet, Jorja Smith, and More

“#6 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: J. Cole, Sons of Kemet, Jorja Smith, and More”

With so much good music being released all the time, it can be hard to determine what to listen to first. Every week, Pitchfork offers a run-down of significant new releases available on streaming services. This week’s batch includes new albums, projects, and EPs from J. Cole, Sons of Kemet, Jorja Smith, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, Giant Claw, and LSDXOXO. Subscribe to Pitchfork’s New Music Friday newsletter to get our recommendations in your inbox every week. (All releases featured here are independently selected by our editors. When you buy something through our affiliate links, however, Pitchfork earns an affiliate commission.)

J. Cole: The Off-Season [Dreamville/Interscope/Roc Nation]

North Carolina’s J. Cole had said the follow-up to 2018’s KOD was titled The Fall Off, but for now, he’s back with The Off-Season. He released the single “i n t e r l u d e” earlier this month. Applying Pressure, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of the album, arrived on YouTube this week.

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2021 JUSTIN FRANCIS

Sons of Kemet: Black to the Future [Impulse!]

According to Sons of Kemet bandleader and saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings, the jazz trio’s second album Black to the Future “depicts a movement to redefine and reaffirm what it means to strive for black power.” Arriving three years after its predecessor Your Queen Is a Reptile, the record features guest spots from Moor Mother, Angel Bat Dawid, and grime artist D Double E, plus Kojey Radical and Lianne La Havas on “Hustle.”

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Buy at Rough Trade

Jorja Smith: Be Right Back [FAMM]

Three years after her 2018 debut Lost & Found, English singer Jorja Smith returns with the eight-song Be Right Back. The project includes the previously released “Addicted” and “Gone,” following last year’s “Kiss Me in the Morning,” “By Any Means,” and the Popcaan collaboration “Come Over.” London rapper Shaybo joins Smith on “Bussdown.”

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Bad Boy Chiller Crew: Charva Anthems EP [Relentless/House Anxiety]

The northern England bassline crew, who came up on a wave of comedy and prank videos, have shared a follow-up to their 2020 debut album Full Wack No Brakes. The new five-song release is the latest from GK, Kane, and Clive, and it features the anthem “Don’t You Worry About Me.”

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Giant Claw: Mirror Guide [Orange Milk]

Columbus musician and visual artist Keith Rankin has released the latest full-length from his prolific sound collage project Giant Claw. Rankin is joined on Mirror Guide by NTsKi, Tamar Kamin, and Diana Gruber on guest vocals. It follows 2017’s Soft Channel.

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Buy at Rough Trade

LSDXOXO: Dedicated 2 Disrespect [XL]

Dedicated 2 Disrespect is the latest club-friendly EP from LSDXOXO, expanding on the 2020 mixtape Waiting 2 Exhale. Raised in New York and now based in Berlin, the DJ and producer shared “Sick Bitch” as the lead single from the four-track project in April.

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Listen/Buy at Bandcamp

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