BIG30 — Last Man Standing

The Big Blrrrd debut album has landed. A frequent collaborator and childhood friend of breakout Memphis star Pooh Shiesty, BIG30’s 2021 King Of Killbranch mixtape was packed with blistering bars and established him as a solo rap force. Last Man Standing drops its predecessor’s litany of guest features in place of cohesion and letting BIG30’s gruff vocals shine.

Baby Tate — Mani/Pedi

Baby Tate is the self-declared pettiest bitch out. On her new album Mani/Pedi, the #UpNow alum brings electronic twinkles into her colorful rap world. “Karma” and “Pedi” are playful anthems, with a hint of worry that Tate might run up on you if you’re not careful. “Honest” is a bare centerpiece as well, true to its name and reveals a deeper side to Tate. The album follows her smooth late 2020 project After The Rain.

Read our #UpNow interview: “Baby Tate Is Georgia’s Rainbow”

Kenny Mason — RUFFS

“Angelic Hoodrat” Kenny Mason shows off another side of the new class of Atlanta artists. Leaning heavily into dog imagery (“They survive on loyalty,” he told me in 2021), Kenny brings together rock and brute-force rap into a potent sound that’s decorated his last few records and his latest mixtape. RUFFS sees Kenny stretching his voice to the fringes. The grunge influence is heavy, particularly on “MAMA DON’T KNOW,” which plays like a forlorn ballad before Kenny hits that sweet pocket. Even on the more rap-focused tracks—“SPIN N FLIP” is a great one—we’re a long way from his elastic breakout single, “Hit.”

Read our feature interview: “Kenny Mason Doesn’t Need to be Saved”

Show Dem Camp — Palmwine Music 3

“We do not follow trends,” Tec of Show Dem Camp told Audiomack World in 2021. The prolific rap duo have been a fixture in Nigeria’s music scene for over a decade, delivering equal parts social commentary and escapist vibes in their music. On Palmwine Music Vol. 3, the pair continue their beloved series of lively jams. “The Palmwine series actually involves living the experiences and going out,” rapper Ghost said. “But in some of the records, it is not all about the groove. There are some thought-provoking records, too.”

Read our feature interview: “The World Belongs to Show Dem Camp”

EKKSTACY — misery

“I wanted something heavy, fast, and goth,” EKKSTACY told me of his sophomore album earlier this week. Ready to open the pit worldwide—Stacy was just in Europe on tour—misery finds the pop anti-hero embracing aggression. Album standout “christian death” rocks with pain and intensity. The song cracked the code for Stacy, who used the tones of the lead guitar to help drive the experience of the rest of the album. Following last year’s negative, EKKSTACY was hit with a deep writer’s block, and worried he was out of ideas. misery is the byproduct of an artist rediscovering their wellspring of creativity.

Read our feature interview “EKKSTACY Beat Writer’s Block to Make his Best Album”

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