9 min read what's good

What's Good (Week of 1/19)

The cover of "Goyard Ibn Said", Winslow Homer's painting "After the Hurricane, Bahamas", inside a cream colored matte.
Since the alt text won't allow for more text, a more thorough description of Homer's "After The Hurricane, Bahamas" can be found at The Art Institute of Chicago.

The Horrors™ persist, but so do we. If you made it here, I'm glad to see you, have a little bit of What's Good. This week's music drops include:

New Albums

  • Black Taffy
  • Count Bass D
  • FKA twigs
  • Ghais Guevara
  • YGTUT

New Singles

  • 44th Move w/Quelle Chris
  • AJ Suede
  • Chester Watson
  • De La Soul
  • Larry June, 2 Chainz, and The Alchemist
  • Scowl
  • sleepingdogs
  • SUMAC and Moor Mother

And a whole lot more. But first up, some music news and writing from around the web with Bonus Beats.

Bonus Beats

Donate to Providing Relief for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires, organized by Flavor Flav
The wildfires in Los Angeles have had a heartbreaking impact,… Flavor Flav needs your support for Providing Relief for Black Families Impacted by LA Wildfires
gofundme.comTeam fundraiserFlavor Flav and BMAC Team are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of GoFundMe Org.

Flavor Flav is working with GoFundMe to organize funding efforts for Black families in Altadena and Pasadena, using the database from CommunityAidDena I shared with you last week.

The Black community in Altadena shares a rich, historic, and resilient legacy, one spanning multiple generations. They paved a way for themselves through the Great Migration, segregation, redlining, and more to establish a community where their families could build, grow, and celebrate life together. Now, generations later they face an unimaginable tragedy brought on by the LA county wildfires.
Grants will be distributed by GoFundMe.Org. Thanks to the work of Community Aid Dena, AFROPUNK, WalkGood LA, and several more who have collaborated, GoFundMe.org will be able to source recipients directly from this spreadsheet. Grants to community-based nonprofits and other community projects may be considered, pending funding available. GoFundMe.org is committed to a swift and equitable distribution to the Black community
Donate to Support for Bonnie after Altadena Fire, organized by Andi Wilson
Our amazing friend, and musician, Bonnie Bloomgarden has been displaced from her ho… Andi Wilson needs your support for Support for Bonnie after Altadena Fire
gofundme.comTeam fundraiserAndi Wilson and David Dickenson are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Bonnie Bloomgarden.

Bonnie Bloomgarden from Death Valley Girls could use some help, with her home being uninhabitable due to smoke damage and other safety concerns, so some friends have put together a GoFundMe that you can chip in to.

TV-MA in a whirlwind of money with their arms outstretched, surrounded by the details of the show.
New Flyer, New Date, Same Funeral

TV-MA's Boob Funeral was postponed due to the fires, but is back on this Sunday at Spearmaiden at 6PM PT. If you're in LA, pull up on them with a suggested donation of $10 or more, or if you can't make it out, hit up their GoFundMe, or pick up the fantastic The Light at the End of Decay.

A posterboard cover for 'Da Hard Ov Frayser' by MC Money & Gangsta Gold done with polaroids and marker.

Torii MacAdams is republishing the entirety of his liner notes for The Story of Memphis Rap boxset on Medium since–at least for the foreseeable future–only 600 people have them:

The boxes––9 albums pressed on 11 180-gram LPs encased in an angular, two-piece slipcase, with extensive liner notes––were rather expensive to produce in their entirety. Financial turbulence at VMP, and subsequent corporate restructuring, meant that, of the 1000 boxes contractually promised, only 600 or so were made. The albums contained therein have been reissued for individual purchase by Now-Again, but the liner notes have yet to be reproduced in their entirety. (If you prefer brevity, an abridged version of the notes is included with those individualized reissues.)
I’m posting the liner notes on Medium in six parts because, though I’ve long since accepted that there will be no meaningful financial or critical recompense for my work, I believe them to be an important contribution to a broadly misunderstood––and frequently misappropriated––rap sub-genre. There are, I hope, more than 600 people who’ll find these notes informative and edifying. If you find my work helpful for commercial and/or academic purposes, please cite it properly. Don’t be a dick.

Part 1 is linked to the image up above, you can read part 2 right here.

Like, producer and one-third of Pac Div dropped a vinyl set over on YouTube full of great Samba, Jazz, and Jazz Fusion joints. Ramsey Lewis, Willie Bobo, Stan Getz, Lenny White, Quincy Jones and much more. If you like what you heard and are in LA, you can catch him spinning live at Offhand Wine Bar every Saturday from 8PM to Midnight, or peep the archived sets at The Vinyl Vineyard.

An ornate silver box with the Wu-Tang "W" logo resting on a blue and white marble counter.

The homey Elmattic talked about RZA and Cilvaringz's mythical album...museum piece...vaporware? Once Upon A Time Shaolin. Given that this is one of the preliminary guidelines:

All date notations will be +/- OUATIS, from its sale in 2015 that started the 88 year clock.

You should buckle up.

There is something about OUATIS that sparks a visceral, overcharged reaction in Wu fans: they either hope with religious fervor it is the Holy Grail of Wu albums, or they’re nauseous and outraged, feel betrayed they can’t hear it and certain it’s complete garbage. Yes, it is a huge fuck you to all of us who aren’t multimillionaires or can’t fly to Tasmania. Making the most expensive album of all time is not an achievement. But there’s an also element that validates RZA’s intent of re-valuing music in an age of streaming disposability: we’ve become too entitled, too spoiled by instant gratification.
It’s also because the Wu are unique in creating an iconography, a mythology, starting from the quantum Shaolin/Staten vibe — a lore to compete with deadly, depressing reality. The masks on the first album cover, the logo that can be put on anything. The alternate names, the uncleared sample versions. RZA walking and walking across Staten Island, in meditation for what will come. And The Floods: RZA’s basement awash, 500 beats lost, most of the original solo records soaked away, and then a second time. And what is OUATIS but an Ark?
Douglas Martin’s Dirty Shoes: The Best Rock Albums of 2024
Better late than never: Douglas Martin documents the greatest in underground rock music last year.
Passion of the WeissDouglas Martin

The good brother Douglas Martin broke down the best underground rock albums in 2024 for the almighty Passion of the Weiss, and I wouldn't have known about one of last year's "We wild like rockstars who smash guitars" honorees (Black Ends) if not for him, so you should take heed.

Music

AJ Suede - Pruitt Eye Go (From The Duke of Downtempo, out 2/4/25. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Chester Watson - Glimpses of God (From his upcoming EP with Elaquent, out on 2/7/25. Purchase "Glimpses of God": Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

FESTIVAL66 PROD. OHBLIV, by SEKWENCE
from the album SURVIVING OUTTA SPITE
SeKwenceBandcamp New & Notable Jan 10, 2025

SeKwence - Festival66 (From SURVIVING OUT OF SPITE, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)

Khadija Al Hanafi - Bounce It On The Flo (From !OK!, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Flawed Skin, by PATHFINDERS
track by PATHFINDERS
blackchaiBandcamp New & Notable Jan 10, 2025

PATHFINDERS (blackchai and Illohims) - Flawed Skin (From their upcoming self-titled collaborative album. Purchase/Stream "Flawed Skin": Bandcamp)

Henry Canyons & Fresh Kils - Show And Tell (From Educated Guesses, out 2/14/25. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Roc Marciano & The Alchemist - Rauf (From The Skeleton Key, out now. Purchase: Digital version with two extra tracks via Roc Marciano's Site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Cold macaroni, by Ill-sugi
from the album SWAMPTIME
ILL-Sugi

ILL-Sugi - Cold macaroni (From SWAMPTIME, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)

The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble - Las Olas (From Gemini, out 3/28/25. Preorder: Bandcamp | "Earth Haze" vinyl exclusively via Colemine Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Scowl - Not Hell, Not Heaven (From Are We All Angels, out 4/4/25. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl and merch via Secretly Store, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

YGTUT - WWTB (From Wash My Hands, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Frak & Passwurdz - Airplane Mode (Out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Conductor Williams - Get Away! feat. Rome Streetz (From Conductor We Have A Problem 3, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

44th Move - The Move feat. Quelle Chris (From Anthem, out 3/14/25. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

SUMAC & Moor Mother - Scene 1 (From The Film, out 4/25/25. Preorder: Bandcamp | Thrill Jockey, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

santpoort - a beautiful earth (From dinosaur valley, out 2/28/25. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Larry June, 2 Chainz, & The Alchemist - Bad Choices (Out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Bianca Oblivion - 'Til Tomorrow feat. Machinedrum (From NET WORK, out 2/21/25. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Ghais Guevara - Bystander Effect feat. E L U C I D (From Goyard Ibn Said, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Fat Possum, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Salami Rose Joe Louis - Arm fell asleep (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

De La Soul - Bigger feat. Choklate (A never before released bonus track, recorded during The Grind Date sessions. Released ahead of the 20th anniversary edition of The Grind Date, out 3/21/25. Preorder: We Are De La Soul, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Richie Rich - We Different feat. E-40 and V. White (From Richard, out now. Purchase: Even, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

He’s a B-Boy, by Count Bass D
from the album Player Programmer
Count Bass DBandcamp New & Notable Nov 3, 2020

Count Bass D - He's a B-Boy (From Player Programmer, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | CD with Digital Download via CountBassD.com, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Milc, Televangel, and Nacho Picasso - Twins (Out now on streaming for the first time, from last year's excellent Montage Music. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

sleepingdogs (andrew & Jesse The Tree) - piece of mind (Out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Blockhead - That Olde Timey Sourcery (From It's Only A Midlife Crisis If Your Life Is Mid, out 2/21/25. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

FKA twigs - 24hr Dog (From Eusexua, out now. Purchase: Vinyl and physicals via FKA twigs Official Store, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

JUICEB☮️X - Call You Love (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Soo Joo - Take It Off (From No Ghost, out 2/14/25. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Vinyl Factory, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Willy T Ribbs, by GIALLO POINT x WINO WILLY
from the album THE CRASH TEST
MarQ SpektMarQ Spekt

Giallo Point & Wino Willy - Willy T Ribbs (From The Crash Test, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)

Black Taffy - Spiral of a Faune (From Out Moon, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Sleepdealer - Dreamland (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Roc Marciano - Vintage Limo (Out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Playlists

TIDAL

What's Good - TIDAL Playlist (Week of 1/19/25)

YouTube

DJ Regular

DJ Regular

Game and Music Lover. Writer. Unfortunate optimist. "Spare me the Hallmark Karl Marx."
SF Bay Area