NEW MUSIC MONDAYS….A superb week of releases from marvelous artists old and new and fresh for you. Newness from Blxst, Kelsey Lu, Tori Kelly, Fly Anakin, Wiki, Brian Jackson & Masters at Work, Infinity Song and Conway The Machine.

Blxst

Labor Of Love (Empire)

Blxst comes through completely self-produced on Labor Of Love, serving up his signature buttery West Coast R&B bounce. He doubles down on the melodic hooks and crisp drum pockets that have made him a staple for summer soundtracks, maintaining a flawless balance between smooth street lyricism and late-night vulnerability. By taking full sonic control of the boards, he ensures that the instrumentation perfectly mirrors his vocal cadences, relying on warm basslines, syncopated claps, and lush Rhodes chords that evoke classic California sun-drenched afternoons. The sonic centerpiece arrives with a killer vocal assist from Sasha Keable on the standout single “Ruin,” adding a deep, soulful dynamic that elevates the entire project’s premium daytime radio appeal. This collaboration provides a brilliant vocal contrast, pushing Blxst out of his usual melodic comfort zone and into a richer, more expansive vocal arrangement that sets a high-water mark for the rest of the project. It is the definitive modern urban alternative record for listeners who want their R&B polished but deeply rooted in authentic groove.

Kelsey Lu

So Help Me God (Dirty Hit)

Kelsey Lu is back with So Help Me God, delivering a beautifully dark, avant-garde masterpiece that pushes alternative music into bold new territory. The project is co-produced by powerhouse heavyweights Jack Antonoff and Yves Rothman, who build an expansive, cinematic atmosphere around Lu’s classically trained cello arrangements and soaring vocal performance. Together, the production team strips away predictable R&B song structures, opting instead for shifting movements, eerie electronic textures, and sweeping orchestral crescendos that feel alive and unpredictable. The tracklist is further elevated by crazy, mind-bending guest contributions from Sampha and Kamasi Washington, making this a complex, boundary-pushing listen that demands to be heard on a high-end sound system. Sampha’s spectral backing vocals weave hauntingly through Lu’s own melodies, while Washington’s explosive sax solos provide an incredible jazz-fusion intensity to the album’s climax. It is a stunningly original achievement that bridges the gap between classical composition and futuristic, left-of-center art-pop, cementing Lu as one of the most daring visionaries in the game today.

Jessie Reyez

A LITTLE VENGEANCE (Island Records)

Jessie Reyez goes straight for the throat on A LITTLE VENGEANCE, channeling toxic heartbreak, resilience, and raw emotion into an uncompromising alt-R&B canvas. Her signature raspy, powerhouse vocals are on full display as she floats effortlessly between acoustic vulnerability and heavy, trap-infused soul rhythms. Every track feels like an uncensored diary entry, with Reyez baring her soul over acoustic guitars that suddenly morph into thunderous sub-bass lines and crisp hi-hats. Featuring a stellar, show-stopping collaboration with Muni Long, the album serves as a masterclass in modern storytelling and independent fire that functions like instant emotional therapy for the listener. The vocal chemistry with Muni Long is absolutely electric, blending two distinct eras of contemporary R&B songwriting into a fierce anthem of empowerment and boundaries. Reyez proves once again that she does not need radio-friendly pop tropes to command attention, using her brilliant pen and unfiltered delivery to construct a world where pain is transformed into ultimate artistic triumph.

Tori Kelly

God Must Really Love Me (Epic Records)

Tori Kelly leans completely into pure vocal luxury and late-night R&B vulnerability with God Must Really Love Me, marking a massive creative milestone in her discography. Ditching generic commercial pop templates, she anchors the tracklist in warm basslines, live percussion, and intricate vocal layering that honors the lineage of classic 2000s neo-soul. The record is an absolute masterclass in vocal production, showcasing her legendary runs, flawless whistle register, and a rich, mature tone that feels more grounded than ever before. It is a sweeping, deeply personal performance full of massive melodies and organic instrumentation that instantly commands a front-to-back, uninterrupted listen. The live horn sections and vintage Fender Rhodes arrangements give the entire album an analog warmth, making it feel less like a clinical studio recording and more like an intimate late-night jam session. For the day-one R&B heads who have been waiting for Kelly to fully embrace her soul roots, this project delivers on every single front with undeniable grace and sophisticated musicianship.

Fly Anakin

(The) Forever Dream – Deluxe Edition (Lex Records)

Fly Anakin drops the deluxe edition of (The) Forever Dream, expanding on his original critically acclaimed underground canvas with an absolute vengeance. The mutant-academy lyricist packs the extended tracklist with rich, loop-driven underground flows, unreleased bonus tracks, and gritty sample flips that highlight his status as one of the sharpest wordsmiths in independent hip-hop. The new additions integrate seamlessly into the original tracklist, offering a deeper look into his creative process with dusty, jazz-infused production that feels like it was pulled straight from a crate-digger’s dream basement. Backed by dusty, soul-stained production, the album gives purists exactly what they want while adding fresh, high-energy dynamics to his live performance catalog. Anakin’s relentless, dizzying multi-syllabic rhyme schemes are balanced perfectly by soulful vocal chops and off-kilter drum breaks that keep the listener on their toes. This deluxe package isn’t just a collection of throwaway B-sides; it is an essential expansion of an already stellar album, solidifying his role as a crucial voice keeping the spirit of raw, alternative hip-hop alive and thriving.

Wiki

Ancient History (Wikset / Independent)

Wiki teams up with producer Tony Seltzer for a masterclass in raw, sample-heavy storytelling on their latest collaborative project, Ancient History. The album completely captures the fast-paced, unpolished essence of gritty New York street poetry, utilizing off-kilter drum loops and jazz fragments to frame Wiki’s unmatched, conversational cadence. Seltzer provides a sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and completely refreshing, leaning into distorted basslines, warped brass samples, and minimalist percussion that allows Wiki’s vivid lyricism to take center stage. It is a brilliant, hyper-local portrait of city life that feels incredibly urgent, keeping the underground rap underground while delivering premium alternative curation. Wiki navigates these complex tracks with his signature breathless delivery, painting portraits of corner stores, late-night train rides, and personal introspection with the precision of a seasoned novelist. For listeners who appreciate hip-hop as a pure, unfiltered storytelling medium, this record stands as an essential piece of contemporary urban alternative culture.

Brian Jackson

Now More Than Ever (BBE Music)

Legendary arranger and long-time Gil Scott-Heron collaborator Brian Jackson joins forces with house music icons Masters at Work (Kenny Dope & Louie Vega) for Now More Than Ever. This record is a breathtaking bridge between classic funk lineage and progressive club culture, driving live Rhodes piano, heavy horn sections, and Afro-soul rhythms straight onto the dance floor. Jackson’s timeless jazz sensibilities provide a sophisticated foundation, while Kenny Dope and Louie Vega infuse the rhythm section with a thumping, irresistible house pocket that connects the roots of Black music straight to modern electronic spaces. The project features incredible, show-stopping guest spots from Raheem DeVaughn, Lisa Fischer, and UK soul king Omar, making it an essential, multi-generational masterpiece. DeVaughn brings an unmatched neo-soul silkiness to his tracks, while Fischer’s legendary vocal range adds a spiritual depth to the sweeping, horn-heavy arrangements. It is a brilliant, celebration of Black musical history that manages to feel completely urgent, fresh, and custom-built for summer festival stages and late-night underground club sets alike.

Infinity Song

Infinity Song (Roc Nation)

The vocal harmonies are strictly heavenly over on Infinity Song’s new self-titled project, Infinity Song, proving exactly why their organic acoustic-soul sound is taking over the culture. The sibling group delivers pristine, tight-knit vocal arrangements that feel simultaneously nostalgic and entirely modern, blending folk guitar strumming with rich R&B foundations. Their ability to weave their voices together with telepathic precision creates a massive, wall-of-sound effect using nothing more than live acoustic instruments and pure vocal talent. It is an uplifting, beautifully minimalist collection of tracks that relies entirely on pure talent, acoustic precision, and undeniable songwriting prowess. By steering clear of heavy digital vocal tuning or over-produced trap drums, the project allows the raw beauty of their songwriting to take center stage, creating an incredibly warm, inviting atmosphere. This self-titled effort feels like a breath of fresh air in the current musical landscape, offering a timeless, soul-stirring alternative that will easily resonate across multiple generations of music lovers.

Conway the Machine & DJ Whoo Kid

I Heard You Paint Houses (Drumwork Music / EMPIRE)

Conway the Machine links up with legendary mixtape champion DJ Whoo Kid for I Heard You Paint Houses, delivering a cinematic grime masterpiece. Conway spins cold-blooded, hyper-detailed street bars over luxury sample loops and hard-hitting boom-bap production, showing zero signs of slowing down his legendary run. The production here is grand and theatrical, utilizing sweeping string samples and dramatic choir chops that make every verse feel like a scene from an elite mobster film. Hosted and curated with that classic, high-energy mixtape feel by Whoo Kid, the project acts as a gritty, unvarnished balance to the week’s smoother R&B drops. Whoo Kid’s signature ad-libs and high-octane pacing give the album an undeniable urgency, mimicking the legendary mixtape eras of the 2000s while maintaining a sleek, modern commercial finish. Conway’s pen is sharper than ever as he navigates his position as an elder statesman of street rap, delivering a brilliant, heavy-hitting project that balances out the softer soul records of the week with pure, unadulterated hip-hop grit.