Lockdown playlist: New albums to add to your library this week

Here’s our playlist of some albums to give a whirl while hitting the books or taking a groovy break in your lockdown lounge:

R&B

Kehlani – ‘It Was Good Until It Wasn’t‘

Kehlani is back with her fourth album. The album has an alluring and raunchy sound to it as does most of Kehlani’s music. This album is relatable and enjoyable in so many ways. Kehlani is currently sitting at #1 on the Apple Music South Africa charts.

Top-pick songs:

• Can I (featuring Tory Lanez)
• Everybody Business
• Hate The Club (featuring Masego)
• Grieving (featuring James Blake) 

Hip-hop

Drake – ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’

Drake Lovers would certainly enjoy this project by the Canadian rapper. Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a good mixture of “rapping” Drake and “singing” Drake. Although some might say this isn’t his finest project,it’s certainly worth a listen. Included on the album are previously dropped singles Toosie Slide and War.

Top-pick songs:

• Chicago Freestyle (featuring Giveon)
• Not You Too (featuring Chris Brown)
• Pain 1993 (featuring Playboi Carti)

Amapiano

Josiah De Disciple & JazziDisciples – Spirits of Makoela

One half of spectacular amapiano duo JazziDisciplies brings us an expressive and jazz-filled amapiano sound with Spirits of Makoela. One can never go around enough with a new amapiano album to refine some moves too. 

Top-pick songs: 

• Inhliziyio (featuring Mpura)
• Iye Iye Iye (featuring Rams De Violinist)
• Ya Ya (featuring Dali Wonga)

Jazz

Saul Madiope – ‘Ditoro Tsa Kolobe’ 

One of two jazz EPs released by Saul Madiope, a young man from Pretoria whose ear for jazz is undoubtedly impeccable. The uniquely named Project Ditoro Tsa Kolobe (translating to “Dreams of a Pig”) is for the quiet and self-reflective moments in the week.

Top-pick songs:

• A Reminder to Dreamers
• Ditoro
• Mama

Electronic

James Blake – ‘Assume Form’

Although released in 2019, this is an album I can’t seem to get enough of. James Blake is exceptional at patching together different sounds to create beautiful pieces of music. James Blake features a range of artists on the album, from Travis Scott and Metro Boomin, to André 300 and Moses Sumney. 

Top-pick songs: 

• Tell Them (featuring Moses Sumney and Metro Boomin)
• Can’t Believe the Way We Flow 
• I’ll Come Too