5 min read what's good

What's Good (Week of 11/17)

The cover to Blockhead's MORTALITY IS LIT! Four cartoons leaping in the air posing triumphantly in spite of mortal injuries.

Need something to listen to when you're taking a break from the new Kendrick? I got you, with another loaded edition of What's Good. This week we've got plenty of great new joints for your ears like:

New Albums

  • Blockhead
  • Boldy James & Harry Fraud
  • Casual & Albert Jenkins
  • Kim Deal
  • Jeff Parker + ETA IVtet

New Singles

  • Al Green
  • Brutus
  • DāM-Funk
  • illuminati hotties
  • Ela Minus
  • Miguel

And a whole lot more, but first up, some Bonus Beats.

Bonus Beats

Art Imitates Strife Or How I Learned To Love Battle Rap
Dispatches from the absurdist subterranean of battle rap, which Steven Louis argues is a high form of social intelligence and an enduring space for authenticity.
Passion of the WeissSteven Louis

Steven Louis breaks down the contemporary battle rap scene for Passion of the Weiss, from Scribble Jam to the regional and international leagues like URL, Grind Time Now, and King Of The Dot.

Boxcar Sessions: Saafir’s Eulogy
David Ma pays tribute to the late Oakland emcee Saafir, reflecting on his singular ability to deliver savage cadences and runic ideas.
Passion of the WeissDavid Ma

We lost another one of them ones this week. This time, the Saucee Nomad, East Bay's own Saafir left us at the age of 54. I couldn't fathom putting together more words for another titan of rhyme leaving us too soon, and thankfully I don't have to. David Ma did so over on Passion of the Weiss, along with a few clips. If you haven't already be sure to check out the short film chronicling the Hiero vs. Hobo Junction battle on Sway & Tech that cemented his legendary status.

Nelson Bandela premiered his live multi-media experience “Portrait of a land” on YouTube, and be sure to check out another live set of music just released: Live On Lexington.

Colin Stetson's new album, The Love It Took To Leave You (Bandcamp), gets a full visual experience, directed by Derrick Belcham.

Issue #77: A case for local music, and thinking outside the hubs by Don't Rock The Inbox

Seeking country without limits, from North Texas to the world

Read on Substack

Natalie Weiner covers the local music scene in North Texas, taking a look at Ryan Bingham's The Great Western festival, T Bone Burrnet in Dallas, and Leon Bridges Fort Worth. She also rings the alarm about her upcoming streaming music show on KNON Now, premiering 12/5.

Music

Psalm One & Optiks - Safe Spaces (From Is This A Safe Space?, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

NAHreally - Do Not Say Thanks (From Secret Pancake, out on 1/10/25. Download the Single (requires email and save on Spotify): Motumbo Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More (From Nobody Loves You More, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | 4AD, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

DJ Muggs, Crimeapple, & RLX - Stirring (From Los Pollos Hermanos, out now. Purchase: Vinyl and other physical formats via Soul Assassins, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify | YouTube)

Ab-Soul - I, Myself, & Me feat. Doechii (From Soul Burger, out now. Purchase: Merch and vinyl via Top Dawg Entertainment, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Al Green - Everybody Hurts (R.E.M. cover) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Audrey Nuna - Mine (From Trench, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

D2x - The Theme Song (From THE HUNGER ERA, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Ela Minus - UPWARDS (From DIA, out on 1/17/25. Preorder: Bandcamp | Domino, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Marlon Craft - Long Game Outro (Live on Courtside Sessions) (From The Long Game: A Collection of Songs by Marlon Craft, now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Casual & Albert Jenkins - The Design feat. DJ Platurn (From Starduster EP, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Thelonious Martin - Shhhhh. (The Gap Band "Outstanding" remix) (Out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)

Slick Devious & Janeiro Lockhart - Rain Puddles feat. AJ Suede (From When It Rains, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

[K S R] & Konny Kon - Faded From The Jump (From Part of the Plan/Faded From The Jump, out now. Preorder/Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Support - Parfum feat. Departure (From The Beach, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Soundcloud)

Baby Rose - Landlslide (Fleetwood Mac cover) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Amanda Whiting - Skating (Vince Guaraldi Trio cover) (From A Christmas Cwtch, out on 12/2. Preorder: Bandcamp | First Word Records (UK), Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Michi - If You Want Me (Knxwledge RMX) (From Michi: Knxwledge Remixes, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Apollo Brown & CRIMEAPPLE - Almanacs feat. Sonnyjim (From This, Not That, out on 12/6. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Mello Music Group (Cassette and Compact Disc also available), Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Paul Wall - Underground Ambassador feat. Big K.R.I.T., Berner, Freeway, Termanology (From Once Upon A Grind, out next month. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Sly5thAve - Water Suite (Thirst) (Kassa Overall Remix) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Boldy James & Harry Fraud - Pillar to Post (From The Bricktionary, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Brutus - Paradise (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Daringer - Omars Coming (From 348 VOL 2. Instrumentals, out now. Purchase: Vinyl and digital via Daringer Records, Stream: Individual tracks available via Daringer's YouTube channel)

Lee Scott - Bedtime Resistance (Volkoff Edit II) (Out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp

André 3000 - Moving Day (From Moving Day, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Jlin & Moor Mother - V. We've Been Through So Much (Grief) (From From the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, TRA​И​Ƨ​A, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Waajeed - All The Way Thru (Original Mix) (From Get Me In The Zone EP, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Jeff Parker ETA IVtet (feat. Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose & Josh Johnson) - Freakadelic (From The Way Out of Easy, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp)

Blockhead - Earth's Farewell Tour (From Mortality Is Lit!, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Blockhead's store, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify | YouTube)

7X3=21 & August Fanon - Moving Along (From The Intentional Whatever, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Scottie Spitten - Barface (From Album Title, out on date. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)

Danny Miles - This Song Is About You feat. NiLLa (From Beautiful Music (The Ruined Version), out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

DāM-FunK - Morphing (From DJ-Kicks: Steven Julien, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | !K7 Records, Stream (Full Single): Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Kenny Segal & K-The-I??? - Crushed Heavenly feat. ShrapKnel (From Genuine Dexterity, out on 12/6. Preorder: Cassette, Digital, & Vinyl via Backwoodz Studioz)

illuminati hotties - December (Neck Deep cover) (From Hopelessly Devoted To You: 30th Anniversary, out on 12/6. Purchase: Hopeless Records | Purchase the Single on Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Miguel - Always Time (From Moving Day, out now. Stream: Tidal | Apple | Spotify)

Playlists

TIDAL

BNCMPR

YouTube

And that's a wrap! Share this with your people, and be sure to sign up so you can drop a comment down below to let me know what you're feeling. Take care, and make good choices.

DJ Regular

DJ Regular

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