Kendrick Lamar’s Album Isn’t Here Yet, But Joey Bada$$’s Is & It’s Amazing (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let us fight through it for you and only supply you with the good stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been before. Not only are we able to go back and listen to all of our favorites, at the click of a button, there is also a ton of great music still being made by artists, young and veteran alike…if you know where to look.

To help with that task, we’ve created 2 playlists. One features more recent music–songs that have been released within the last year or so–while the other is throwback, focused on the 80s and 90s. We will update each of these playlists regularly, so, if you like what you hear, subscribe to follow us on Spotify.

This Throwback Playlist Celebrates The Hip-Hop That Is Never Played-Out. (Audio)

Today, we celebrate the newer music. Over the last couple of weeks, much attention has been focused on the impending arrival of a new album by Kendrick Lamar. Based on his warning at the end of recent freestyle, “The Heart Part 4,” that MCs had until April 7 to get their sh*t together, most, including Ambrosia For Heads, believed the album was coming today. On Thursday (April 6), an unlabeled 14-track project began appearing on streaming services, under the Compton MC’s profile, with simply black artwork, and “Humble” listed as song number 8. However, it turns out the April 7 date is only the pre-sale for the album, and it will arrive on April 14.

In the meantime, for the last couple of months, Joey Bada$$ has been quietly going about the business of releasing some of the best music of his career. Beginning in January, he released the potent “Land Of The Free,” a scathing indictment on the current state of America, and Joey’s most political song to date. That has been followed with “Rockabye Baby,” the charged up collaboration with ScHoolboy Q, and “Legendary,” a duet with J. Cole that showcases two of today’s most promising MCs at their best. Now, he has released his sophomore LP, All-Amerikkkan Bada$$. At a tight 12-songs totaling 50 minutes, the album is lean and mean, and Joey’s most cohesive work to date.

We’ve included several choice cuts from All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ on our playlist, and you can listen to the full album here. In addition, you can hear new music from Kendrick, J. Cole, Big Sean, Oddisee, Raekwon, Freddie Gibbs, Logic, Evidence, Rick Ross, Nick Grant, Sampha, Keith Murray and more. They join Nas, Pusha T, De La Soul, Solange, Anderson .Paak, Elzhi and too many great artist to name. There’s Hip-Hop, Soul and Funk, because no one can live on Hip-Hop alone.

The newest songs, including those from Joey’s album, are up top. Press play and let it ride, or hit shuffle. Either way, enjoy the great new music that’s out there, and don’t forget to follow us on Spotify.