Publications
Partners
- Drake has dropped his highly anticipated album For All The Dogs.
- Local acts Will Linley and Daliwonga have also released projects.
- Earl Sweatshirt also re-released his collaboration album with The Alchemist.
Hip hop fans rejoice! Drake has released his highly anticipated new album For All The Dogs, and Earl Sweatshirt with The Alchemist delivered on their promise of re-releasing their latest record Voir Dire.
This New Music Friday saw more than the two major hip hop releases, but the two local acts Will Linley and Daliwonga have also dropped new projects.
Here's a look at the highlights from this New Music Friday.
READ MORE | Ed Sheeran's seventh album drops, K.O, Jung Kook unveil fresh tracks
Drake - For All The Dogs
When Drake first announced his next album For All The Dogs, with a cover designed by his son Adonis, the Aubrey-heads were already foaming at the mouth.
Drake returns with a pretty standard release, with all the strengths and some of the weaknesses of his previous records. The album's greatest weapon is its eclecticism and raw emotional performances.
Drake covers a range of emotions and themes on the record, exploring the spectrum of his experiences. To accompany him, he invites his usual pals (21 Savage) and some fresh faces (Yeat).
But as a standard Drake release, nothing sounds too fresh or that exciting.
READ MORE | Drake taking a break from music over health issues
Daliwonga – Dali Dali
The singles were promising and the full-length album surely delivered. Daliwonga's new album Dali Dali, is an hour and nine minutes of sunny amapiano bliss.
With summery melodies and breezy production, Dali Dali is as much a chill-out record as it is a dance record.
It's only been big moves for the artist; last week he dropped a banger with future SA hip hop legend K.O and now he has come out with a product that topples all his previous works.
His ambitious vision has been met with his fantastic ear for delectable amapiano jams. The record also has a strong supporting cast, featuring DJ Maphorisa, Sha Sha and Mas Musiq.
Will Linley – Maybe
On the softer side, we have Will Linley releasing his single Maybe. It's a little pop gem, ready for endless radio play and spring listening.
The cleanliness of the song's production ensures all the disparate elements get the right amount of spotlight and clarity. It's short, but sweet, like many of his singles.
It bounces with youthful energy, but it's underpinned by a slight anxiety and uncertainty. He sings:
Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist - Voir Dire
Earl Sweatshirt's abstract, instinctively emotional verses and The Alchemist's dusty, soulful instrumentals are a match made in alternative hip hop heaven.
The duo previously released their latest effort through the Gala Music website in August along with 11 NFTs. Now it's finally on streaming, with a slightly altered tracklist.
Earl, who is the nephew of Hugh Masekela, delivers bars that are dense and somewhat cryptic, but touch on something deep and primordial. The Alchemist does what he does best and cooks up some deceptively simple, but addictive beats.
The project is to the point, its runtime being under 30 minutes.
