Black Sherif — The Villain I Never Was

Black Sherif makes drill sound spiritual. Since 2021’s “First Sermon,” the Ghanaian rapper has enjoyed a staggering ascent as one of Africa’s most promising new stars. “I fell in love with what I was doing,” Sherif shared with Audiomack World. With just a handful of songs—each bigger than the last, culminating in the introspective smash “Kwaku The Traveller”—Blacko quickly became one of the most-streamed artists on Audiomack. This week, the Black Sherif debut album arrives with 14 heartfelt tracks that range from hustle anthems to deep cuts that will be IG caption fodder for years to come. The Villain I Never Was is Black Sherif at his apex, rattling off moving bars without missing a beat.

Read our feature #UpNow interview “Black Sherif Is Chosen”

G Herbo — Survivor’s Remorse

G Herbo is a young OG. One of the key artists who brought Chicago drill to the world, Herbo’s cutting music spills out of him across a series of albums that deal head-on with his trauma. A mental health advocate, Herb’s prolific output fits neatly in the “music is therapy” box. On Survivor’s Remorse, the rapper finds new ways to crack himself open on the track. His flows are hounding and he breaks down some of the most painful memories he’s made across his 26 years on earth. G Herbo’s perspective has come a long way from his days as Lil Herb.

Read our feature interview "Getting to Know G Herbo"

Watch G Herbo perform a medley of hits for Fine Tuned

Toosii — Boys Don’t Cry

“Whether people liked it or not, this is what I like,” Toosii told Audiomack World in 2021. The rapper carved out a lane within the soulful sing-rap niche by being an individual and not worrying about public reception. The fire comes from within for the Raleigh and NY-repping artist. On his new EP Boys Don’t Cry, Toosii leans further into his R&B bag, pouring out heartbreak thoughts over moody guitar-driven instrumentals. Since his breakout in 2018, Toosii has developed a poetically painful sound, one that lets listeners know they’re not alone in their hurt.

Read our feature #UpNow interview “Toosii Is Forging His Own Path”

Jean Dawson — CHAOS NOW*

Jean Dawson has a shot of becoming the digital underground’s next rockstar. He attempts as much on his new album CHAOS NOW*, a punk-inflected and unbound record that brings in the core fuck-off mentality and sincerity that marks all good hip-hop in 2022. Even on the more gentle tracks—“BAD FRUIT*” sounds like running off into a sunrise—Dawson unravels expectations of what it means to be a genre-bending artist of color. Features include Earl Sweatshirt and Isaiah Rashad.

Samaria — Didn’t Start With You

There’s nothing like a good break-up song. Bay Area singer Samaria honors this tried and true R&B tradition with her new EP, Didn’t Start With You. Blending notes of soul with older pop sensibilities, the EP tracks the healing process when love falls apart. “I spent my 2020 forcing myself to unlearn a lot of bad habits. I felt it was an opportunity to give myself a lot of room to stop and breathe,” she shared with Pop Dust. Didn’t Start With You plays like the byproduct of someone totally comfortable being with themselves.

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