Asake — Mr. Money with the Vibe

Nigeria’s newest breakout star arrived on the heels of a smash EP and a Burna Boy cosign. To say 2022 has been kind to Asake would be an understatement for an artist closing in on 200 million streams globally on Audiomack. In 2020, Asake released “Mr. Money,” a banger of a tune that helped launch him as a rising artist. This week, he’s delivering a full-length album completing the circle of his first successful song: Mr. Money with the Vibe. I have a feeling this one’s going to break some streaming records.

Read more about Asake in our Re-Upped feature.

NAV — Demons Protected by Angels

Folks, he’s back. NAV delivers his first studio album since 2020—Demons Protected by Angels. Dubbed “Canada’s rap prince” by Complex, NAV has earned a career of astounding highs, but his chief concern remains the quality of his music. “I think we’re gonna hit and deliver, because I tried really hard, and I was very conscious about the song choices, topic choices, the lyric choices, everything,” he shared. The album’s packed tracklist boasts features from Lil Uzi Vert, Future, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Gunna, and more.

Ari Lennox — age/sex/location

It’s officially fall in this house, marked by the long-awaited return of Ari Lennox’s silky R&B. Over three years since her monumental debut album Shea Butter Baby, the Dreamville singer returns with her sophomore record, age/sex/location. In a text to J. Cole, Ari shared what her new album means to her: “Providing grace and compassion to myself.” Over 12 tracks, Ari tackles the transitional space she’s in, and sings her familiar odes to a distraction free love.

TiaCorine — I Can’t Wait

“One day I will wake up dressed like an emo, the next, I will look like a thug queen; that’s just me!” TiaCorine told Audiomack World in 2021. The North Carolina native’s musical range is just as expansive as her style. On her new album I Can’t Wait, the rapper stretches her animated and original flows across 15 tracks with production varying between blaring guitars (“Rockstar”) and warm samples (“Paris Hilton”). Wavy album standout “Chaka Khan” features production from Kenny Beats.

Read more about TiaCorine in our feature interview Step Into TiaCorine’s Animated Rap World.

Van Buren — DSM

Van Buren thrives within their own controlled chaos. The 13-member rap collective from Brockton, MA released their debut album Bad For Press in 2021, and today they’re back with DSM. This sophomore album shaves away any fat from the peaks of its predecessor. Needling bars and haptic beats are the norm here, with each member—rapper and producer—taking the spotlight without dimming any other member’s shine.

Read more about Van Buren in our feature interview Van Buren Is Massachusetts’ Chaotic Rap Collective.

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