Nasty C — Zulu Man With Some Power

Two months after his collaborative ZULU mixtape with DJ Whoo Kid, Africa’s coolest kid fully becomes the Zulu Man With Power. Nasty C’s debut album, out via Def Jam, is rooted in his native South Africa while heavily influenced by contemporary American hip-hop, full of charismatic bars and melodic cadences. DC singer Ari Lennox and Atlanta rappers T.I., Lil Keed and Lil Gotit feature alongside frequent collaborators Rowlene and Tellaman.

Patoranking — Three

Three, the appropriately titled third album from Patoranking, is a celebration of love, life and happiness. The Nigerian afro-fusion artist has risen to superstar status over the last half-decade with a sound that connects Africa and the Caribbean by drawing on dancehall, reggae, afro-pop and more. Three features Tiwa Savage, Flavour, Sauti Sol and King Promise, along with lead single “Abule,” a tribute to Patoranking’s Ebute Metta hometown and ghettos around the globe.

Tiwa Savage — Celia

By the time Tiwa Savage released her debut single in 2010, the Lagos-born singer had cut her teeth for over a decade in the music industry as a backup singer, songwriter—even X Factor contestant. Since then, she’s established herself as Nigeria’s biggest pop star. Celia, her third album and first full-length in five years, is named after her mother and finds the artist experimenting across styles and collaborating with a mix of British and Nigerian talents, including Davido, Sam Smith, Naira Marley and Stefflon Don.

Luh Soldier & Big Yavo — Gorilla Warfare

Luh Soldier and Big Yavo sit at the forefront of a burgeoning Birmingham, Alabama rap scene. For Gorilla Warfare, a short-but-sweet joint tape between the two Cinematic signees, the two build off of each other's energy trading boasts and threats, Luh's more slurred vocals complementing Yavo's thunderous growl. A true Birmingham affair, the project features TLE Cinco, Li Heat and Donway1k.

redveil — niagara

At 16, redveil has crafted one of the year’s more impressive rap debuts, entitled niagara. The Maryland native, born Marcus Morton, raps about the world around him; you can hear both the optimism of youth and the weight of grief and trauma. Producing a majority of his own music, he favors the looped soul and jazz samples that form the backbone of recent work from artists like Mavi, Earl Sweatshirt, and MIKE.

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