• Eight notable new releases arrive this week across hip-hop, electronic, punk, and experimental music.
• Nas teams with DJ Premier for Light-Years, their first full-length album together.
• 21 Savage returns with a darker, street-focused record; Fred Again.. expands his “USB” project.
• Highlights also include Conway the Machine, Hercules & Love Affair, Leif, This Is Lorelei, and Fucked Up.
This week’s highlights
The latest New Music roundup brings a diverse batch of releases, from veteran rap pairings to forward-thinking electronic work. Standouts include a long-awaited full LP from Nas and DJ Premier, a menacing new set from 21 Savage, and a sprawling update to Fred Again..’s infinite USB project.
Nas & DJ Premier — Light-Years
Nas and DJ Premier finally deliver Light-Years, the first full-length document of a collaboration that began with Illmatic-era sessions. The album folds decades of rap lore into a cohesive statement, pairing Nas’s incisive storytelling with Premier’s signature boom-bap production. For fans of classic New York hip-hop, Light-Years is both a nostalgic nod and a present-day consolidation of two artists who helped define a genre.
21 Savage — What Happened to the Streets?
21 Savage returns to a darker, nocturnal mood on What Happened to the Streets? Announced at Art Basel and featuring cover art by Slawn, the record sinks into murkier, night-crawling beats. Guests including Drake, G Herbo, and Lil Baby add to the album’s tense atmosphere, as 21 leans into menace and nihilism more than introspection.
Fred Again.. — USB002
Fred Again.. continues to expand his “USB” concept, turning the project into an evolving, near-infinite album. USB002 grows the roster with names like Caribou, Floating Points, Danny Brown, and Amyl and the Sniffers, delivering a wide-ranging set that blends club energy with experimental textures.
Other new releases to check
- Conway the Machine — You Can’t Kill God With Bullets: Griselda alum Conway doubles down on sample-heavy, East Coast production with guests including Timbaland and the Alchemist.
- This Is Lorelei — Holo Boy: Nate Amos revisits and re-records decade-spanning tracks, resulting in breezy power-pop and experimental turns.
- Hercules & Love Affair — Someone Else Is Calling EP: Four hypnotic techno tracks fronted by Elín Ey.
- Leif — Collide: An otherworldly experimental album that blends ambient, neopsychedelic dance, and free-jazz influence.
- Fucked Up — Grass Can Move Stones Part One: Year of the Goat: The first chapter of the band’s ambitious Zodiac series finale, mixing prog and punk.
How to listen
All eight releases are streaming on major platforms this week. Whether you prefer classic boom-bap, pitch-black street rap, or boundary-pushing electronic and punk, this roundup offers something to start with. Add Light-Years if you search for nas-led hip-hop milestones, or dive into Fred Again..’s USB002 for a genre-blurring set.
Keep an eye on these artists over the coming weeks — several projects hint at continued singles, companion pieces, or evolving versions to come.
Image Referance: https://pitchfork.com/news/8-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-21-savage-this-is-lorelei/