Seven notable projects landed this Friday, headlined by Erykah Badu's first album in 16 years and a rare same-day cluster of veteran rap and R&B releases: Fat Joe, Rod Wave, Majid Jordan, DJ Dahi, Trippie Redd, and Sy'Rai all dropped alongside her — a heavier week than last Friday's roundup.
Uristocrat — New Music Friday, August 28
Erykah Badu & The Alchemist — Before The World Blows
Badu's first album since 2010's New Amerykah Part Two is a full joint project with The Alchemist, recorded over 18 months between Dallas and Los Angeles. The 16-track record features Westside Gunn, Thundercat, Steve Lacy, Earl Sweatshirt, Kamasi Washington, and DRAM, and the pair will tour North America with De La Soul and Smino joining select dates.
Fat Joe — Organized Rhyme
The Bronx veteran's 12-track album, produced by Cool & Dre, plays on the phrase "organized crime" and pulls in Pusha T, Jadakiss, Remy Ma, and Yung Miami. It's a return to the boom-bap and gangster-rap sound Joe grew up on, previewed Wednesday at a Roc Nation listening party.
Rod Wave — Don't Look Down
Rod Wave's seventh studio album via Alamo Records runs 27 songs across 81 minutes, built off three pre-release singles: "Feed the Streets," "Piece of Your Love," and "Hustle." He'll support it with a 25-city North American tour featuring FRIDAYY.
DJ Dahi — Black Boy (Alternative)
The producer behind records for Kendrick Lamar and Drake steps out with his debut LP as a lead artist, an 11-track project featuring Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, Vince Staples, Moses Sumney, Channel Tres, and Fousheé. The Kendrick collaboration "How to Pray," featuring Amber Mark, closes out the rollout Donald Glover previewed on his GILGA Radio show last month.
Majid Jordan — Two Roads
The Toronto duo's fifth studio album arrives via OVO Sound, 15 tracks deep into their signature atmospheric R&B. The title reflects 15 years of creative partnership rather than a split, and the pair kick off a run supporting Bryson Tiller's 61-date "Neo Trapsoul Tour," including stops at Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks.
Trippie Redd — #NDA
Trippie Redd's companion album drops exactly two weeks after NDA, the sixth studio album he released August 14. The 25-song follow-up continues the emo-rap, SoundCloud-era energy of the first installment.
Sy'Rai — Cold War
Brandy's daughter releases her debut EP, eight songs exploring heartbreak and identity via Hitmaker Music Group. Lead single "Bullseye (Nice Shot)" arrived in July; Sy'Rai has said her mother taught her to "know your worth" heading into the project.
Singles & tracks worth pulling
- Olivia Rodrigo — "Serena Joy": a politically charged single released August 24, first debuted on a limited-edition CD at Analog Records in Orange County before hitting streaming.
- Post Malone — August 26: his 2016 debut mixtape finally hits streaming platforms this week, remastered and pressed to vinyl for the first time.
- Alex Warren — WILDCHILD: his second album, working through grief, love, and healing.
The week in context
Seven projects from established acts — Badu, Fat Joe, Rod Wave, Majid Jordan, DJ Dahi, Trippie Redd, and Sy'Rai — landed on the same Friday, a heavier concentration of veteran-artist releases than recent weeks. Trippie Redd's #NDA is also a rare same-artist, two-week sequel release, following NDA from August 14.
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