A wave of summer releases ranges from veteran comebacks to rising-scene breakthroughs. Clipse returns after 16 years with a Pharrell-guided LP and an August stop at Milwaukee’s Rave; Burna Boy doubles down on Afrofusion with arena-ready rock flourishes; and Open Mike Eagle turns everyday neighborhood lore into high-concept rap. Jazz-samba pioneer Dom Salvador joins the Jazz Is Dead canon, London’s Kokoroko offer resilient Afro-soul, and a deluxe Harvey Scales anthology spotlights Milwaukee’s funk lineage. New R&B from Giveon, astral hip-hop-soul from Potatohead People & Slippery Elm, and Detroit up-and-comer Vinson round out a notably eclectic release week.
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
After a 15-year hiatus, brothers Pusha T and No Malice reunite for their most reflective work yet, with Pharrell Williams handling production duties across all 13 tracks. The Virginia Beach duo’s seasoned perspectives on mortality, faith, and ambition are bolstered by heavyweight guests including Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator, and John Legend. Pharrell’s characteristic minimalism provides the perfect backdrop for No Malice’s contemplative delivery on “The Birds Don’t Sing” and Pusha’s still-sharp wordplay on “Chains & Whips.” The album coincides with a U.S. tour that brings the duo to Milwaukee’s Rave / Eagles Club this August.
Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness
The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist pushes Afrofusion into stadium-ready territory across 16 tracks that blur genre boundaries with remarkable confidence. Rock riffs anchor “Empty Chairs” featuring Mick Jagger, while “Change Your Mind” finds unexpected common ground between country and rap through collaboration with Shaboozey. Travis Scott, Stromae, and producer Skread contribute to the album’s eclectic sonic palette, with Burna’s commanding baritone delivering messages of endurance and pan-African pride. The 47-minute journey showcases why Burna Boy remains Afrobeats’ most effective global ambassador.
Open Mike Eagle – Neighborhood Gods Unlimited
Chicago-raised art-rapper Michael W. Eagle II delivers his most personal statement yet through 14 tracks exploring childhood trauma, gig-economy struggles, and everyday heroism. Producers Kenny Segal, Child Actor, and others craft intimate lo-fi jazz backdrops that complement Eagle’s characteristically wry observations, particularly on standout track “contraband (the plug has bags of me).” Guests Video Dave and Still Rift enhance the album’s apartment-complex mythology, while the Project Blowed veteran’s tender approach to difficult subjects demonstrates why he’s become one of underground hip-hop’s most compelling voices.
Dom Salvador – Dom Salvador JID024
At 86, Brazilian piano legend Dom Salvador proves his rhythmic intensity remains undiminished on this live-to-tape collaboration with Jazz Is Dead founders Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad. The seven-track, 30-minute session captures Salvador’s samba-funk mastery enhanced by vintage analog synths and lush string arrangements. The recording revisits the pioneering spirit of his 1971 classic Som, Sangue e Raça, demonstrating how the Rio-born musician’s vision continues to influence contemporary jazz-soul fusion. The session’s analog warmth and spontaneous energy showcase why Salvador remains a first-call collaborator five decades into his career.
Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
London’s eight-piece ensemble refines their signature Afro-soul approach across 11 songs that prioritize gentle groove over aggressive attack. Muted horns, highlife-inspired guitar work, and lullaby vocals drift below 100 BPM for much of the set, though moments like the brit-funk brightness of “Sweetie” and the Fela-influenced horn solos on “Da Du Dah” provide dynamic contrast. Formed by trumpeter Sheila Maurice-Grey and percussionist Onome Edgeworth, the group continues channeling West African highlife through London’s jazz renaissance lens. The album builds on the momentum from their 2018 viral hit “Abusey Junction” while showcasing their evolved compositional sophistication.
Harvey Scales – Trying to Survive (Reissue)
Numero Group’s comprehensive 2-LP anthology finally gives Milwaukee soul insurgent Harvey Scales his due with 27 remastered Magic Touch and Chess singles spanning his most creative period. The collection includes the original 1967 “Love-Itis,” the raw funk workout “Broadway Freeze,” and the politically charged title track “Trying to Survive,” all accompanied by a detailed 24-page booklet. The package illuminates Scales’ crucial role in developing Midwestern funk during the late ’60s, years before he co-wrote Johnnie Taylor’s multi-platinum “Disco Lady.” This essential reissue preserves the legacy of Milwaukee’s self-proclaimed “Godfather of Soul,” who remained a local fixture until his passing in 2019.
Giveon – Beloved
The Long Beach baritone shifts toward live-band warmth on his second studio album, trading looped beats for cinematic strings, brushed drums, and Fender Rhodes under executive producer Sevn Thomas’ guidance. Lead singles “Twenties” and “Rather Be” frame Giveon’s signature lower register around honest explorations of relationship fatigue and emotional restraint. The 14-track album positions the Grammy-nominated artist as a torchbearer for quiet-storm R&B in an era dominated by trap-influenced production. Giveon’s commitment to organic instrumentation and vulnerable songwriting continues the revival of classic soul dynamics he began with his breakthrough Drake collaboration “Chicago Freestyle.”
Potatohead People & Slippery Elm – Emerald Tablet
Vancouver production duo AstroLogical and Nick Wisdom unite with Toronto MC/vocalist Slippery Elm for 12 tracks of astral-soul that merge dusty boom-bap drums with Rhodes chord progressions and hushed lyrical delivery. Standout single “Nightbird” exemplifies the album’s dreamlike existentialism, while live horn and string arrangements add organic warmth rarely found in laptop-based hip-hop production. CRUSH’s violin overdubs provide additional textural depth throughout the collaboration. The album represents the first full-length partnership between Potatohead People, who have released groove-laden albums on Bastard Jazz since 2015, and the versatile Slippery Elm, known for blending rap and neo-soul vocals.
Vinson – Rhythmic Pool EP
Detroit-born, L.A.-based producer-vocalist Vinson filters neo-soul falsetto through downtempo house and J Dilla-influenced swing across six tracks that showcase his vintage MPC programming skills. Opener “Million Words” layers live bass over dusty SP-404 snares, while “Still Alive” ventures into broken-beat territory with sophisticated rhythmic displacement. The EP positions Vinson as a bridge between Detroit’s electronic heritage and contemporary R&B, following his rap-and-synth-funk hybrid SoftSweetRadical from 2023. Wichita Recordings’ strategic rollout targets college radio and streaming soul playlists, reflecting the EP’s crossover potential between underground and mainstream audiences.
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