NEW MUSIC MONDAYS: Lovely new music from Ella Mai, J. Cole, Sasha Keable, Bobby Digital (RZA) and Aquakultre

Ella Mai – Do You Still Love Me?

(10 Summers/Interscope)

“What’s up! It’s New Music Monday on HYFIN, and if your weekend was anything like mine, you’ve had the new Ella Mai LP, Do You Still Love Me?  on absolute repeat since it dropped this past Friday, February 7th. (Without question we DO still Love you, Ella Mai!) Look, Ella isn’t playing around with the ‘soft launch’ anymore; this is a grown-woman record that leans all the way into that ‘grown and sexy’ era she’s been teasing. Mustard is back at the helm as executive producer, but they’ve swapped the pop-radio sheen for a dusty, 90s-heavy architecture that feels like a love letter to the era of SWV and Mary J. Blige. The standout for me—and what we’re spinning today—is ‘Move It Along’ featuring the multi-Grammy-nominated Leon Thomas. That track is a masterclass in vocal stacking and churchy guitar licks, and when you pair it with other heavy-hitters on the project like ‘100’ and the Kirk Franklin-assisted finale ‘No Angels,’ you realize Ella just delivered the most expansive, soulful body of work of her career. If you miss when R&B actually had a bridge, a breakdown, and a heartbeat, this LP is def gonna be your new favorites from the UK soul sensation! 

J. Cole – The Fall-Off

(Cole World Inc./Interscope)

The long-rumored “final” flight has finally landed, and it’s a 24-track behemoth that serves as a masterclass in technical penmanship and rap biography. Split into two arcs—the “29” disc reflecting on his rise and the “39” disc tackling fatherhood and legacy—the album avoids modern trend-hopping for a sound that is “vibrant, messy, and maximalist.” While Cole’s bars remain elite, it’s the uncredited vocal assists from Tems, Future, and Erykah Badu that add texture to the Alchemist and T-Minus produced soundscapes. Highlight: “What If,” a chilling rumination on a world where 2Pac and Biggie survived. Truly remarkable way to “fall off” with some of his most thought-provoking bars and top-tier production we have ever heard Cole over.

Sasha Keable – ACT II

(The Flight Club Records)

British R&B siren Sasha Keable finally gave the people what they were “bullying” her for with Act II, a deluxe expansion that turns her 2025 Act Right EP into a full-blown cinematic experience. Released on February 6th, this project is “honey-sticky” soul that’s as sophisticated as it is unapologetically raw, anchored by that smoky, powerhouse vocal that sounds like a cross between Amy Winehouse and a midnight jazz club. Producers Eddie Lopes, Charlie Pitts, and Kent Azares lean into the “negative space” of R&B, giving Sasha room to explore everything from toxic loops on “Can’t Stop” to the euphoric, bedroom-focused surrender of the standout single “Tell Me What You Want.” The features are elite but surgical, with Leon Thomas adding a churchy, melodic warmth to “Move It Along” and BEAM bringing a jagged, dancehall-infused energy to “Work.” It’s a “deluxe” in the truest sense—not just extra tracks, but a deeper narrative dive into a woman finally accepting the high-level love (and energy) she knows she deserves. Truly one of the most excellent writers and performers out there. Spicy!

Bobby Digital Presents: Juice Crew

(36 Chambers/DNA Music)

Look, if you told me in the 90s that the Abbot and the Juice Crew would be locking in for a full project in 2026, I would’ve told you to lay off the digital wheat—but here we are, and it is absolute “foundation-shaking” excellence. Bobby Digital Presents: Juice Crew is a 26-minute masterclass in how to age with style without losing the grit. RZA swaps the kung-fu flick samples for a wide-screen, cinematic R&B-soul backdrop that gives these titans the space they deserve. Big Daddy Kane sounds like he hasn’t aged a day on “Open Ya Eyes,” while Roxanne Shanté delivers a vulnerable, tear-jerking performance on “Roxanne The Truth” that proves why she’s the blueprint. Seeing Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Craig G, MC Shan, and even the late, legendary Grand Daddy I.U. all under one roof feels like a high-fidelity family reunion that the culture desperately needed. It’s “grown-man” rap that still knows how to kick a hole in the speaker. Hip-Hop continuing to reign supreme with a legendary producer and iconic crew connecting is exactly what us oldheads appreciate!

Aquakultre – 1783

(Next Door Records)

If you’re looking for that ‘deep-pocket’ wisdom, Aquakultre’s 1783 is the mandatory Monday spin that bridges the gap between historical weight and pure sonic luxury. Lance Sampson has crafted a soulful time-capsule, channeling the ‘negative space’ of 70s icons like Crack of Dawn and the rhythmic grit of D’Angelo to tell the story of the Black Loyalists. Under the guidance of producer Erin Costelo and the Grammy-winning touch of mixer Qmillion, tracks like the haunting, gospel-drenched ‘Gallows‘ and the brass-heavy nostalgia of ‘The Avenue‘ feel like a warm hug from the ancestors delivered through a high-fidelity 2026 lens. It’s a lush, organic masterclass in ‘Black Canadianana’ that respects the lineage of traditional hymns while pushing the low-end into the future—proving that the best R&B doesn’t just move your feet, it moves your perspective all while celebrating the beauty and cultural heritage of Nova Scotia. One-of-one and insanely creative and FUNKY!!!