3 New Albums Out this week you Should Listen to Now: The Alchemist, Nas, and Itzy
This week we highlight new music from The Alchemist, Nas, and Itzy.
The Alchemist – Cycles (Original Score)
The Alchemist might have just had one of the best years on record for a producer in recent memory. The Boston-born producer released 2 instrumental albums (Carry the Fire, Rapper’s Best Friend 6), 2 EPs (This Thing of Ours, This Thing of Ours 2), and 3 collaborative efforts (Haram with Armand Hammer, Bo Jackson with Boldy James, and Super Tecmo Bo with Boldy James). And that was before this latest, and maybe the last installment for the year. You can now tack on an original score to the mix. Cycles (Original Score) isn’t quite what one would expect from Alc as he’s known for working with hip-hop artists. This endeavor is an instrumental project, but don’t sleep on it. He’s a skilled craftsman that can flex his muscles no matter if it’s backing a rapper or an instrumental affair. The album is one of the shortest we’ve reviewed this year coming in at 16 minutes and 24 seconds. But it is some of the best music put on record this year. Let’s hope there’s one more album in him in this last week of 2021. At this rate, we wouldn’t be surprised. We’d welcome it.
Standout Songs: The Jump, The Cold, The Discomfort
8.6
Artist Links:
NAS – Magic
Christmas came a day early for Nas fans. The New York City rapper has released yet another album in 2021. Magic comes as a surprise and was announced only a day before the release. The album’s lone features of the album are with A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier on ‘Wave Gods.’ The nine-track LP continues the assault that Nas and Hit-Boy have been on. In the past year-and-a-half the two have released King’s Disease and King’s Disease II. And now, the trifecta concludes with Magic. With Hit-Boy on production, the duo pays tribute to Virgil Abloh, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and others on ‘Wu For The Children.’ Other stand-out tracks include ‘Speechless’ and ’40-16 Building’. On the track ’40-16 Building’ you can hear Nas reflect on his recent endeavors, “I’m in the studio lately…” And we’re glad he has been. Magic is packed with sick beats and Nas’ steady flow. What a way to close out 2021.
Standout Songs: Speechless, Ugly, 40-16 Building, The Truth, Dedicated
7.3
Artist Links:
Itzy – It’z Itzy
K-pop girl group ITZY has made their debut in the Japanese market with a new EP, It’z Itzy. The 6-track EP sees the 5 women singing over thick club beats. It’s a compilation album of songs that have been previously released but remixed for the Japanese and global markets. If your looking for an entry point into the world of K-Pop, here is your chance. The South Korean girl group was formed in early 2019 and has been on a frenetic pace since. In that time they have dropped 2 LPs and now this EP.
Standout Songs: Dalla Dalla – Japanese ver., Not Shy – Japanese ver., In the Morning – Japanese ver.
6.1
Artist Links:
When you’re done here lose yourself in our full library of 3 Albums Out This Week You Should Listen to Now.