9 min read what's good

What's Good (Week of 8/17)

The cover of 'Live, Laugh, Love'. Earl Sweatshirt squinting at the camera with a lit joint hanging precariously from his lips. He's sitting in front of plants outside.

You know the time, the weekend's here and it's time to dig into What's Good. This week's been a strong one with:

New Albums

  • Case Oats
  • Earl Sweatshirt
  • Ghostface Killah
  • Linda May Han Oh
  • Teller Bank$

New Singles

  • Automatic
  • Deniro Farrar
  • keiyaA
  • Makaya McCraven
  • Wednesday

And a ton more. As a reminder before we get into the meat of the matter, if you like what I do and want to make sure you don't miss it each week, you can either add me to your RSS feed with the link up above, or subscribe to get me in your inbox.

Playlists

TIDAL

TIDAL: What's Good Playlist - Week of 8/17/25

YouTube

Bonus Beats

Anysia Kym stops by The Lot for a set of dance music.

Low Key took us along on a trip to LA's edition of the Flip A Beat Club.

This is Real Life: The Definitive Rosco P. Coldchain Interview | Passion of the Weiss
The Philly legend, Rosco P. Coldchain, sits down for a career-spanning interview with Te P, about on life, prison, rap music, and getting a second chance.
Passion of the WeissTE P.

Over at Passion of the Weiss, Te P sat down with Philly legend Rosco P. Coldchain for an in-depth interview on his life, his time away in prison, and his music:

Te P.: “Music wanted by masses / the only question they askin’ / “When’s the album droppin’?” / your opportunity’s passing.” You even say in the ad-libs after the questions, “I don’t know.” There’s such an understanding of where you are. And a willingness to say that you don’t know.

Rosco P. Coldchain: Let me tell you something about the “Disappointment” record. I remember where I was when I did it. I was off of 51st and Walnut. It was a spot called The Garage. I remember doing the record and thinking to myself because I had a lot going on. I hadn’t gone to court yet. I had a lot of court cases going on. I had an attempted murder. I had custody of my children. I was looking at life in another state. I remember what I felt at that time. The despair of it. I was thinking that I did everything I possibly could fucking do, bro. Musically but also trying to become legitimate. It’s like having a big bro telling you to get your life together and do the right thing. And I’m doing everything I can do. But, bitch, this is what I know. Because, if this is what I know and I do something wrong – I’m not gonna know. ‘Cuz wrong is my normal. That’s what that song was about. So, don’t become frustrated. Don’t become disappointed with me under these circumstances of me trying to understand legitimacy. If I knew better, I’d do better. I’m trying to figure it out, bro. Slow down. Give me some time. But wasn’t no time.

Fresh off his great new album with Preservation, Gabe 'Nandez got up to the roof with Peter Rosenberg for a freestyle.

RECESSION SPECIAL — Uncommon Nasa
The short story is I’m reducing prices of vinyl, CDs and tapes that have been released by Uncommon Records . Now, the longer version. Back in the days as everyone who’s ever been to Fat Beats in NYC knows, a few doors down was the great Gray’s Papaya. At Gray’s Papaya you could always get the “R
Uncommon NasaUncommon Nasa

Uncommon Nasa's reducing prices at his label Uncommon Records, and makes a broader statement about out current economic reality:

We live in an era of 3-figure priced vinyl releases and $500 nose bleed concert tickets when you can’t even get a highway lunch for less than $20. Shit makes no sense. I think in the music business there is extreme greed, the high prices of vinyl releases have done one thing for sure - they’ve driven the prices to press vinyl through every roof imaginable. We have created our own inflationary movement that would not have occurred without our own greed. The rising prices of some of these releases admittedly played a factor in our own pricing, but now I hope that today we can influence other labels and artists take similar steps to change this. Or at the least I hope it becomes obvious that prices are too high across the board and similar ideas come about.

In a video essay for POW Mag, William Reed details how our obsession with being armchair A&Rs has made being a music fan insufferable. You can peep the written version over at Passion of the Weiss.

Sankofa, Underground Rap’s Unstoppable Juggernaut
The lyrically minded Fort Wayne, Indiana indie emcee breaks down his prolific process in an exclusive interview.
CABBAGESGary Suarez

Gary over at the almighty CABBAGES gives you a peek at an exclusive interivew with What's Good fave, Sankofa (whose new single "Ministry of Noise" you can check out in this week's drops down below). For the full text of their interview, you'll need to heed the words of Sers Erick Sermon and Too Short and buy you some:

Gary: At what stage did you find an IRL hip-hop community of people who you could be around who got it?

Sankofa: Well, on the Internet, we had these crews, right? Some of my friends who I then mentored under–Kashal-Tee, JON?DOE, Spon–we were part of a crew, Sons of Zadok, which would become Society of NIMH. The in-real-life started with those message boards back in '95, '96, and I maintained those relationships and those are the dudes I was writing letters to back and forth. I didn't have internet access when I was in China, as will not surprise you at all. I was writing a letter a day and then walk into the post office with the actual pasted on stamps, past the culture war veteran who's smoking these giant doobies in the post office and no one messed with him. He'd been through it all. And these guys would eventually send me mixtapes or they'd send me these huge sprawling letters. I got to go to them and I got to learn.

When I came back from China to Minnesota, working graveyard, I was like, I got to learn how to do this. So I went and flew to my man Kashal-Tee over in Sweden and he's breaking down the basics for me. I recorded my first song, and I came back to Minnesota. Then I visited JON?DOE, who was at that point in San Louis Obispo, and I recorded a couple tracks with him down at Click Da Supah Latin's studio.

Music

Wednesday - Bitter Everyday (From Bleeds, out on 9/19. Preorder: Bandcamp | Merch and Physicals via Wednesday's Store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Spectacular Diagnostics - If Not Now feat. Mr. Lif, Jehst, & Illogic (From the upcoming Blah Records Presents: Sorcery compilation. Preorder the single: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Thee Marloes - I'd Be Lost (From the I'd Be Lost b/w What's On Your Mind 7", out on 9/29. Preorder: Bandcamp | Big Crown Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Paz Lenchantin - Hang Tough (From Triste, out on 10/17. Preorder: Hideous Human Records)

Frak & John Mackk - Created Player (Out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Afternoon Bike Ride - Miss Universe (From Running With Scissors, out on 9/19. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

AJ Suede - Don't You Go Hollow (From Throne Away, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Automatic - Lazy (From Is It Now?, out on 9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals via Stones Throw, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

The Other Guys - Stay (From Summer '92, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Larry June & Cardo Got Wings - Gotta Be Love (From Until Night Comes, out now. Purchase: Merch and phyiscals via Larry June's Store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

End It - Could You Love Me? (Maximum Penalty cover) (From Wrong Side of Heaven, out on 8/29. Preorder: Bandcamp | Merch and physicals via Flatspot Records, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Ariel - Layaway Luv (From Symfonia, out now, released on vinyl for the first time on 11/28. Purchase: Bandcamp | Preorder the vinyl via Mello Music Group, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Nilüfer Yanya - Where To Look (From Dancing Shoes, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl and Digital via Ninja Tune, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Maxo - Ludacris (From MARS IS ELECTRIC, out now. Purchase: Vinyl via Maxo's Store | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Hans Peter Neergård - Voggesong (From Evening Light, out on 9/19. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Ministry of Noise, by Sankofa
from the album Diatribalism
SankofaSankofa

Sankofa - Ministry of Noise (From Diatribalism, out on 9/1. Preorder: Bandcamp)

Makaya McCraven - Imafan (From Popup Shop, one of 4 EPs released altogether as Off The Record out on 10/31. Preorder: Bandcamp: Popup Shop digitally, Off The Record on vinyl | Off The Record on Vinyl or CD via None Such Records, | Physicals and Digital via XL Recordings, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

claire rousay - just (feat. m sage) (From a little death, out on 10/31. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals and Digital via Thrill Jockey, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Show Me The Body - One Train (New recording, originally from 2014's Yellow Kidney, check out original video here) (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

keiyaA - stupid prizes (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Rhinestone Cowboy Freestyle, by Zilla Rocca
from the album Easy Street Mixtape
Three Dollar Pistol Music LLC

Zilla Rocca - Rhinestone Cowboy Freestyle (From Easy Street Mixtape, out on 9/19. Stream: Bandcamp)

Teller Bank$ - BENNY & WE$: The Whole Brivk feat. Rent Moneyy (From DRUG$$$, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Linda May Han Oh w/Ambrose Akinmusire & Tyshawn Sorey - The Sweetest Water (From Strange Heavens, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | , Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Earl Sweatshirt - TOURMALINE (From Live Laugh Love, out now. Purchase: Phyiscals, Digital, and merch via Earl Sweatshirt's Store, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Deniro Farrar & Marc Spano - Vintage Levi's (From Stellar Reputation, out on 9/19. Preorder/Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Pearl & The Oysters - Halfway Where? (Live) (From Planet Pearl, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Stones Throw, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Apollo Brown & Bronze Nazareth - Enough Lord (From Funeral For A Dream, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch via Escapism Recordings, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Case Oats - Tennessee (From Last Missouri Exit, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Merge Records, | Merge Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

WildChild - Welcome Home feat. MAYAH (From Child Of A Kingsman, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | WAV files via BBE, | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Ghostface Killah - The Trial feat. Raekwon, Method Man, GZA, PiLLZ, & Reek Da Villain (From Supreme Clientele 2, out now. Purchase: Vinyl via Get On Down | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

Big Kahuna OG & Foisey - On Ya Baby (Out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)

That'll do us for this week. As usual, if you enjoyed this or discovered anything new, be sure to share me with your friends and folks. Have a good weekend, take care of each other, and make good choices.

DJ Regular

DJ Regular

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