What's Good (Week of 2/22/26)
The Horrors™ continue, but we made it through to another week, and I've got What's Good for you to celebrate your survival. Take a breather with me and all this new music, including:
New Albums
- Cise Greeny & Lungs
- GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins)
- Gorillaz
- Mitski
- RJD2 & Supastition
- Sideshow
New Singles
- Bruiser Wolf
- Courtney Barnett
- Nolan The Ninja
- SALIMATA
- Squarepusher
- underscores
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Mercy Charity Giveaway
Before we get into the blog proper, do remember that I'm running a charity giveaway for my extra copy of Mercy by Armand Hammer & The Alchemist on vinyl.
Make a charitable donation to any of the following:
- Trans Youth Emergency Project: A project from the Campaign for Southern Equality, offering logistical and financial support to families affected by laws restricting or banning care for transgender children across the United States
- Al Otro Lado: An organization providing legal and humanitarian aid for immigrant communities in the U.S. and Mexico, with litigation services, family reunification, and a number of other programs.
- The Women's Foundation of Minnesota's Immigrant Rapid Response Fund: A fund directing resources to organizations across the Twin Cities metro area and Greater Minnesota that provide basic needs, urgent legal services, and advocacy resources for communities impacted by immigration-related harm.
And fill out this Google form with proof of your donation. I'll close out the form on 3/31/26, then I'll contact a randomly selected one of you for an address to send the record to.
If you're looking for other ways to help in Minnesota specifically, check out the mutual aid and support resources at Stand With Minnesota.
In light of the just passed Kansas state law that invalidated driver's licenses for transgender citizens, in addition to the Trans Youth Emergency Project up above, some Kansas-specific resources include:
- Trans Continental Pipeline: A Colorado organization that assists with relocation efforts for queer people living in unsafe environments. With Colorado being on Kansas' border, they've undoubtly gotten a lot busier very suddenly.
- Our Spot KC: An LGBTQ+ community organization in Kansas City that operates Lion House, a transitional housing space aimed at fighting LGBTQ+ homelessness.
- The Center of Wichita: Secures resources and educational opportunities for Wichita's LGBTQ+ community, including hosting a central meeting space in downtown Wichita.
Now let's get on with the music.
Playlists
TIDAL
TIDAL: What's Good Playlist - Week of 2/22/26
YouTube
Bonus Beats
Elmattic
Elmattic achieves Unc satori by giving flowers to the platonic ideal of Hip Hop duos, EPMD, while drunk on negronis.
There’s no deep textual analysis or tragic drama or explicating at length how they slot into the history. They were part of the Golden Age’s second wave, call it the Silver Age, the demi-gods. They weren’t militant, or godly, or gangstas, or tricksters, or smooth pimps, or roughnecks: they were just two cats who rapped and laid down the beats. That’s it. And it was enough. Oh, lords of the fields and plains, witches of the highways and byways, kings and queens of the bodegas and the Suzuki Samurai jeeps, it was enough.
No one — no one — has ever debated with any serious fervor EPMD vs. anyone. No, EPMD are not better than Eric B. & Rakim or Public Enemy. No, there is no percentage in arguing EPMD vs. Naughty By Nature. There’s no frequency to it, Kenneth.
They didn’t invent anything or re-invent it or carve a new sound. They weren’t high caliber lyricists. But as far as good, solid, crafted, unimpeachable early ’90s rap, they’re top tier. You don’t see them on a Mount Rushmore or whatever the fuck, they don’t get their florals. That’s the tragedy. Legions, generations, missing out on the joy, the feeling of fresh gear and Timberland boots and nodding out while making that “damn this is tight” lip-tucked-in face.
NPR's World Cafe captured a mini-set from Soccer Mommy at XPoNential Music Festival in Camden, NJ.
Pranav Trewn
Pranav Trewn highlights San Francisco's Noise Pop amid the increasingly troubled landscape of independent live music venues for Passion of the Weiss.
Dan Strachot is a managing partner and talent buyer for San Francisco institution the Rickshaw Stop. He illustrated for me how even bands that would want to go independent for their tour struggle to stay true in the face of corporate incentives. “Live Nation can afford to take a chance on a band that is coming through the market for the first time and pay them a little more than us, in the hopes that they can scale them up to a larger venue in the future and make more money then,” Strachot said. “They can offer a $1,500 gas card to offset their costs on the road, and all these other perks that we can’t compete with.”
Once they keep talent away from the independent venues, they can further exercise their pricing power over audiences. As Strachot explained: “If you operate many music venues and larger ones, the higher priced tickets and volume of sales lets you afford to do poorly on some shows. Goldenvoice put nearly every one of their shows on a two-for-one sale this month. They can lose money to get people into the venue, we can’t afford to do that.”
Gorillaz are back, and they've got a short film covering three songs from their new album The Mountain to go along with it (I've included "The Moon Cave" in this week's drop as well).
And the brains behind Gorillaz, Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett sat down with Novena Carmel for KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, chatting about the new album, Gorillaz lore, and the countless features they've racked up over the years.
Do you miss stuff like Directors Label, or MTV doing 'the making of' featurettes for the splashier videos that would hit the network? Well, JMSN's got you, with almost an hour behind-the-scenes of his video for "Dirty Dog" from ...it's only about u if you think it is.
Music
Bruiser Wolf - Why They Play Me feat. Babytron (From Push & Paint, out on 3/13/26. Preorder: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Chyna Baejing & Boneweso - HELLOKITTY feat. The Hidden Character (From BAEJING BALLAD, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream "HELLOKITTY": Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Hurray For The Riff Raff - Rhododendron (Live at Old Town School of Folk Music) (From Live Forever, out on 3/20/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Phyiscals/Digital bundles, via Nonesuch Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Whitney Johnson, Lia Kohl, Macie Stewart - Laundry | Blood (From BODY SOUND, out on 3/20/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Darko the Super & MF Grimm - Rock On (Coffee & Cigarettes) (From Beware of Bob, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Sideshow - ALOVENARCOTIC (From TIGRAY FUNK, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | 10k Global | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Mick Jenkins - Tai Chi (From A Black Ass Kung Fu Flick, out now. Purchase: Digitally via EVEN)
DeevoDaGenius, Kil The Artist, & BlueHillBill - SNOWONTHECUFF (From Angels With Filthy Souls, out now. Purchase: Digitally via E11evation Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Larry June, Curren$y, & The Alchemist - Drive Alone (From Spiral Staircases, out now. Purchase: CDs and Cassette's via Larry June's store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Courtney Barnett - Mantis (From Creature of Habit, out on 3/27/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch bundles via Ambient Inks, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Tom Misch - Slow Tonight (From Full Circle, out on 3/27/26. Preorder: Physicals and merch via Tom's store | Qobuz | Other retailer, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nothing - never come never morning (From A Short History of Decay, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch via Nothing's Shop | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Squarepusher - K2 Central (From Kammerkonzert, out on 4/10/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Phyiscals and Digital via Squarepusher's site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Mitski - If I Leave (From Nothing's About to Happen To Me, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals, digital, and merch via Mitski's Official Store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
The Womack Sisters - You Went Away Too Long (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nolan The Ninja - EGOH feat. Open Mike Eagle (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
underscores - Tell Me (U Want It) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
SALIMATA - Supastar Livin (Out now. Purchase: 10k Global | Qobuz | Other retailer, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Squadda B - Diamond Heart (In-Studio Performance) (YouTube loosie.)
CRIMEAPPLE & Evidence - Pinto feat. Blu (From War Cash, out now. Purchase: Bigger Picture Recordings | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
The Toadies - The Charmer (From The Charmer, out on 5/1/26. Preorder: Vinyl and CD via Spaceflight Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Cise Greeny & Lungs - FINGERBONES (From SPACEHEATER, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Conway The Machine - Hold Back Tears (From You Can't Kill God With Bullets, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals via Roc Nation | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
KILLVONGARD - abandon all shape. (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
THE ARCHITECT - ASCINTIONS (From The Greatest Story Never Told, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Ghais Guevara - History of Violence (From the upcoming Goyard & The Kayfabe Reveal. Purchase "A History of Violence": Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Ronesh - Sad Raps (Eric Bledsoe Tweet) (From You Say Compartmentalize Like It's A Bad Thing, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
MC Paul Barman & Kenny Segal - Somebody Say Hooo (From Antinomian Pandemonium, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp | Vinyl w/lyric zine via Fused Arrow Records)
Nondi_ - Death Juke (From Nondi..., out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via Planet Mu. | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Boldy James & Rome Streetz - Like Biggie Did (From Manhunt, out now. Purchase: Physicals and merch via Boldy James' shop | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) - Douwannabwitastar!? (From The Pleasure Is Yours, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Lex Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Dillon & Paten Locke - Pallbearers feat. Willie Evans Jr. & Cool Calm Pete (From Rations, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Full Plate | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
dj riffelblech
RJD2 & Supastition - Expiration Date feat. J-Live (From According To..., out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 3, 2016
K-Rec & Birdapres - Say Goodbye To Your Friends feat. Moka Only (From Say Goodbye To Your Friends, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Sonnyjim & Sumgii - Muse (From Chinatown Chicken Tour, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fabiano Do Nascimento - Valsa (From Vila, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via Far Out Recordings | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Gorillaz - The Moon Cave feat. Asha Puthli, Bobby Womack, Dave Jolicoeur, Jalen Ngonda, & Black Thought (From The Mountain, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch via Gorillaz Official | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Bandcamp Album of the Day Oct 30, 2020
Rap Man Gavin - Ritual of Art feat. Jesse The Tree (From Garden Dance, out on 3/27/26. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Roy Rutto - GROWN (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
That'll do it for this week, friends. As always, if you enjoyed the blog or discovered anything new, be sure to share it with your friends. Also, don't be afraid to hit me up in the comments or on social media to let me know what you're rocking with.
Take care of yourselves, enjoy the weekend, and make good choices.
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