NEW MUSIC MONDAYS. An interstellar litany of marvelous music from an amazing cacophony of talent. Jalen Ngonda, Vince Staples, Lizzo, and more

Jalen Ngonda — Doctrine of Love

(Daptone Records)

If you are looking to get completely swept away by pure, unadulterated retro-soul perfection, Jalen Ngonda is here to deliver the holy grail with his sophomore album, Doctrine of Love. This man possesses a once-in-a-generation falsetto that sounds like it was cloned in a 1960s Motown studio, but he infuses it with a crisp, modern perspective that feels entirely fresh for the airwaves. He stepped into the live room with producers Vince Chiarito and Michael Buckley, alongside a killer backing band featuring members of Charles Bradley’s Extraordinaires, to mine absolute gold.

The record beautifully expands his sonic palette, trading the 70s Marvin Gaye vibes of his debut for a wild mixture of 50s New Orleans R&B, driving James Brown funk, and massive gospel-kissed background choruses. When the title track kicks in with that subtle, cinematic Spaghetti Western intro before resolving into a heavy, soulful strut, it will literally give you chills. It is a stunning, high-emotion masterclass in analog groove that positions Jalen as the absolute future of soul music.

Lizzo — Bitch

(Nice Life/Atlantic)

Lizzo is back, she is completely unfiltered, and she is throwing an absolute temper tantrum on the dancefloor with Bitch. If you thought she was going to play it safe, think again—this project is a loud, sweaty, high-octane masterclass in holding your head up high and telling the haters exactly where to go.

Sonically, she takes us on a joyride back to the 1980s, serving up thick synth-funk basslines mixed with that raw, double-time Washington D.C. go-go bounce. The absolute highlight has to be when she links up with the legendary Missy Elliott, and the two of them just start showing off, trading high-energy bars over a beat that will shake your rearview mirror. It is big, brash, unapologetic fun that demands to be played at maximum volume.

Vince Staples — Cry Baby

(Section Eight Arthouse/Loma Vista)

Vince Staples is completely allergic to doing what you expect him to do, and Cry Baby is his latest wicked curveball. He completely ghosted the icy, digital electronic beats we’ve grown used to and instead walked into a live room with a roaring, gritty garage rock band to drop some of the most intricate, world-weary bars of his career.

He keeps the guest list incredibly tight and mysterious, but bringing in the brilliant Blood Orange to lay down some hazy, melodic alternative-soul backing elements is pure genius. It creates this wild, moody contrast where Vince is sounding cool and deadpan while everything around him is practically on fire. It’s punk, it’s hip-hop, and it proves once again that Vince answers to absolutely nobody.

Black Milk — CEREMONIAL

(Computer Ugly)

Detroit’s finest sonic wizard Black Milk is back in his laboratory with his brand-new album Ceremonial, featuring the gorgeous standout track “Dreams Not Only Made At,” and the vibes are just incredibly immaculate. This man has spent decades making some of the crispest percussion in the game, and here he drops a masterclass in blending neck-snapping boom-bap with live, warm jazz instruments that feel like a Sunday afternoon cookout.

He invites his frequent partner-in-crime Quelle Chris and a handful of incredibly slick neo-soul musicians to jam with him, and it sounds less like a standard rap album and more like an elite underground session where everyone is just feeding off each other’s energy. It is deep headphone music that still bumps hard enough to rattle your trunk, wrapped up in pure, analog soul grease.

Oddisee & Heno. — Dear Younger Me

(Outer Note Label)

***Editors Note: I have to admit, on occasion a stellar project doesn’t quite make it on my radar and for that I apologize but, one of my favorite artists dropped this project at the end of April, and I could not sleep well if I didn’t include it here on NEW MUSIC MONDAYS. Please forgive me. If you need a record that feels like a good talk with your wisest homie, Dear Younger Me by Oddisee and Heno. is exactly what the doctor ordered. This is a brilliant, concept-driven link-up where these two indie-rap powerhouses literally write musical letters to their past selves, breaking down everything from trauma to triumph.

They bring along the underground legend Homeboy Sandman to drop a guest verse that will make you want to rewind it three times just to catch the wordplay. The production is packed with warm, dusty jazz samples and gorgeous vocal hooks that feel incredibly nostalgic without feeling old. It’s mature, it’s loose, and it’s the exact kind of high-IQ bar-fest we love to champion on a Monday.

Freddie Gibbs — You Only Die 1nce (Deluxe)

(Warner Records)

Freddie Gibbs decided that his Halloween classic wasn’t quite dangerous enough, so he pulled back up with the deluxe edition of You Only Die 1nce, stuffing an extra 10 unreleased tracks into his duffel bag. Gangsta Gibbs is in absolute peak form here, floating over luxury soul loops one minute and spitting razor-sharp street reporting over aggressive, dark trap beats the next.

The crown jewel of these new tracks is the “Ruthless Remix” where he recruits R&B powerhouse Leon Thomas. Leon drops this incredibly smooth, velvety hook that acts like a velvet glove over Gibbs’ iron fist of a verse. It’s grimey, it’s luxurious, and it proves that Freddie Gibbs can out-rap almost anyone alive while making it look completely effortless.

Joji — Piss in the Wind

(88rising/Warner)

Joji is ready to ruin your emotional stability in the best way possible with Piss in the Wind. He takes his signature brand of beautiful, cinematic, lo-fi heartbreak and blows it wide open by inviting one of the most star-studded guest lists of the year to join him in the rainy-day blues.

We are talking about Giveon bringing that deep, haunting baritone to “Piece of You,” the viral internet phenom 4Batz floating over “Fade to Black,” and Don Toliver setting off absolute vocal fireworks on “Fragments”—plus a wildly chaotic trap pivot featuring Yeat. It is moody, it is lush, and it feels like driving through the city at 3:00 AM with your thoughts keeping you awake. If you need a good late-night cry that you can actually dance to, this is your holy grail.

Lakecia Benjamin — We Dream

(Ropeadope)

Jazz titan Lakecia Benjamin is here to completely blow the roof off your studio with We Dream. Armed with her powerhouse alto saxophone, she leads her band through a blazing, high-intensity tornado of hard-bop jazz, explosive funk, and old-school R&B grit that will have you sweaty just listening to it.

This project is a massive celebration of musical community, bringing in the brilliant Esperanza Spalding and an elite squad of legendary instrumentalists who turn every track into a spiritual experience. The energy is absolutely electric, with Lakecia blowing. It is triumphant, high-octane music that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go until the final note rings out.

Various Artists — Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album

(FIFA Sound/Def Jam)

Alright, we are kicking the doors down on a massive global scale today because the world is officially locked into the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album. This project is a straight-up sonic passport—it doesn’t care about borders, it just cares about keeping your heart rate up. They threw mainstream hip-hop, heavy Afrobeats percussion, and regional Mexican brass into a blender to create the ultimate soundtrack for the beautiful game.

The collaborative energy here is wildly fun, especially when they trap global megastar Burna Boy in the same room as Peso Pluma alongside an absolute army of heavy-hitting international producers. It feels less like a corporate sports compilation and more like the wildest, most chaotic international block party you’ve ever been invited to. This is engineered to be blasted out of car windows all summer long.