What's Good (Week of 7/12/26)
End of another week, so you know what that means. Another dose of new music and dope stuff from around the web in the form of What's Good, my weekly blog dedicated to both those things. This week, we've got a great crop of 'em, including:
New Albums
- Brian Ennals & Blockhead
- Cargo Cults (ALASKA & Zilla Rocca)
- Nao Yoshioka
- Nia Archives
- Sankofa & August Fanon
- Steve Lacy
New Singles
- Deep Sea Diver
- Josaleigh Pollett & Crowd Shy
- Mastadon
- Mike D 5D
- Meshell Ndegeocello
- Tinashe
If it's your first time joining me and you'd like to keep in touch, be sure to subscribe to get the blog delievered to your mailbox every Friday as soon as I hit the 'publish' button.
For the folks in the first timer's club: Playlists are pretty self-explanatory, Bonus Beats are where I show off music related stuff I gathered from across the web, and Music is the main event of videos as well as purchase and streaming links for all the projects I dug this week. Let's get into it.
Playlists
TIDAL
TIDAL: What's Good Playlist - Week of 7/12/26
YouTube
Bonus Beats
Gary Suarez
Gary Suarez took a look at Jay-Z's recent series of Yankee Stadium concerts to celebrate The Blueprint, and particular the one missing piece of of that album that wasn't on the setlist:
Much of hip-hop culture is comprised of the stories we tell ourselves. And oftentimes those tales just so happen to be the ones that got through the filters of media and became accepted lore. Listening to "Takeover" or its similarly brutal counterstrike "Ether," it doesn't matter that Jay-Z and Nas effectively quashed their beef more than two decades ago. The narrative of that rivalry remains unchanged because of the way people consumed it back then–and how easily they still can now. (If nothing else, J. Cole's controversial decision to retroactively remove "7 Minute Drill" from 2024's presciently titled Might Delete Later insulated him from worst of the Drake vs. Kendrick saga, then and now and perhaps in perpetuity.)
Fans who spun The Blueprint in anticipation for the Yankee Stadium shows probably didn't skip "Takeover" when doing so. And why should they? Ahead of Max B's homecoming concerts at Brooklyn Paramount this year, I repeatedly streamed "She Touched It In Miami" and his feature on Cam'ron's Jay-Z diss "You Gotta Love It" knowing damn well he wouldn't be performing them live. But these are songs that exist as part of our fandom, woven into our justifications for loving or admiring these artists.
Beef has historically had its casualties, to be sure, and a younger generation of rappers in particular seem determined to bypass the pen and reach immediately for the proverbial sword. Unpacking that latter bit requires much more than a paragraph, but the suffocating tragedy of that chilling reality makes a war of words like "Takeover" vs. "Ether" feel like the platonic ideal. That Jay-Z and Nas could, at their big ages, continue to look past their prior barbs and perform together for tens of thousands of people is a fucking gift.
Pearl & The Oysters play the first single from last month's Monkey Mind at the Roland Warehouse and Creative Studio for FLOOD Magazine.
The Luke Titus Quintet's new EP Three Songs is out now and along with purchasing it via Bandcamp or Sooper Records digitally, you can see them recording it live from Lucy's Meat Market up above.
Tom Misch played a couple of joints from Full Circle over at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.
Automatic joined KEXP back in May for a few joints from Is It Now?, and an interview with Evie Stokes.
Black Ends posted their full set from Fool's Fest back in April up on their YouTube channel.
MIKE's Young World festival went down for its 5th installment in Brooklyn's Herbert Von King Park, and had sets from Max B, Yasiin Bey, SALIMATA, Niontay, and the man himself. For a more in-depth look at the festival on the ground, peep Dylan Green's profile for the New York Times, along with stunning photography from Marcus Maddox.
Music
Mastodon - Snakes For Dinner (From Marrow Deep, out on 8/28/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals, digital, and merch via Loma Vista Recordings, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
tricotX (aka tricot) - 260708_cybermotoko (From their ongoing tricotX project. Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Thee Marloes - Di Hotel Malibu (From Di Hotel Malibu, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals via Big Crown Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
DeevoDaGenius & BoriRock - Zing Tarentino (Out now, YouTube only for now.)
Supreme Cerebral & The Beat Junkies - Supreme Junkies (From Supreme Beat Junkies, out now. Purchase: Digital via Supreme Cerebral's Bandcamp | Vinyl via Perpetual Stew's Bandcamp (DO NOT BUY DIGITALLY HERE) | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Josaleigh Pollet & Crowd Shy - Bed of Quiet (From If I Let It Quiet, out on 7/24/26. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No) - Sasquatch feat. Boldy James (From Better Than McDonalds, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Deep Sea Diver - Teardrop (Massive Attack Cover) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Sub Pop Mega Mart | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Bugseed - The Basic (Out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Radamiz - CH (Strong Version) feat. Salomon Faye (From LIGHTMAN, Alive, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Lucy Rose - Am I Asking Too Much (Live at Union Chapel) (From The Complete Concert At Union Chapel, out on 8/14/26 digitally, vinyl out on 8/21/26. Preorder: Signed vinyl via Lucy Rose's store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Papo2oo4 & Subjxct 5 - Bacc Onna Roids (From PAP on P.E.D's 2: BACC ON THE ROIDS, out on 8/1/26. YouTube only, for now.)
Lava La Rue - Prince of Bologna (Out now. Purchase: Vinyl single via Speedy Wunderground | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Standing On The Corner - Mr. Postman, wait! (From the Mr. Postman, wait!, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Gavin Hellyer
Cargo Cults - Old Fogies feat. Breeze Brewin (From Kingdom Music For The Hard Rocks, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Action Figure 973 & DiMaggio - Relief Pitcher (From Polo Grounds, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Sankofa
Sankofa & August Fanon - Boxes, Blankets, Styrofoam (From Calm On Purpose, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Bandcamp Album of the Day Apr 18, 2023
Rocks FOE - Gang (Spin) (From Hot Pursuit, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Stik Figa & Heather Grey - New Year's Conflict Resolution (From Cold Comfort, out on date. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals via Mello Music Group | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Meshell Ndgeocello - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) feat. Cynthia Erivo (From Synonym, out on 10/2/26. Preorder: Physicals and digital via Blue Note | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Tinashe - Crash Out (From Popstar, out on 9/25/26. Preorder: Physicals via Tinashe's offical store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nia Archives - There Goes Ma Head (From Emotional Junglist, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl and CD via Island Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nao Yoshioka - Yet To Come feat. Keyon Harrold (From self, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
cropscropscrops & Wiser Times - ep. 7 of Beast Games (2025) (From Sink Me To Bits, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Nick Hakim - The Reason (From I CAN SEE, out on 7/24/26. Preorder: Vinyl via Nick Hakim's site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Larry June - Go Outside Intro feat. Wallo267 (From Who Coppin, out now. Purchase: Physicals, merch, and digital via Larry-June.com | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Leon Bridges - Tears of Joy (From Happiness Anytime, out on 9/25/26. Preorder: Physicals via Leon Bridges' official site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fetty P Franklin - THE AVENUE (From Bet The Bank On Frank, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
T.F & DJ Muggs - Poor Sports (From Don't Call Me Lucky, out now. Purchase: Vinyl via Soul Assassins | CD via Soul Assassins | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Mike D 5D - Crypto (From Thank You, out on 8/28/26. Preorder: Physicals and merch via Mike D 5D's official site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
WAYFARER - Perdition's Crossing feat. David Eugene Edwards (From the upcoming Riders of the Setting Sun. Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Tricky - Marinade feat. Mitch Sanders (From Different When It's Silent, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via False Idols | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Aisha Vaughan - Cascade (From Water World, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Leaving Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Elaquent - Foster Care (From Paradise, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
DøøF - SorayaMohamed (From DOOF&ESCEE 3, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Chandler Ward & Loman - On Me (Out now, YouTube only, looks like.)
Brian Ennals & Blockhead - Let It Burn (Live Usher) (From Boatshoes, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fa†e - WHID feat. Blu (From EVERGREEN, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
The Hidden Character & VISH - SUPERNINTENDO (From VICIOUSCHARACTERS, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Third Magician (Tokyo Cigar) - Threshold Echo (From Paris On Sunday, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
Steve Lacy - pure colour feat. Erykah Badu (From Oh yeah?, out now. Purchase: Physicals and merch via Steve's site, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
That does it for this week! If you enjoyed anything you found in this edition of the blog, be sure to share it with your friends and subscribe so you don't miss the heat each week. Take care of yourselves, have a good weekend, and as always, make good choices.
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