What's Good (Week of 9/13/26)
Time for another edition of What's Good, my new music blog where I don't cover everything that's dropping, but I cover everything that sounds good to me. We got a chunky one this week with:
New Albums
- Asal Hazel
- Curly Castro
- Emma Ruth Rundle
- Okonski
- Rhiannon Giddens
New Singles
- Aesop Rock & Blockhead
- mars kumari
- Miguel-Atwood Ferguson
- Remy Banks
- Rhys Langston
And that's not even the half of it. Let's get started.
Playlists
TIDAL
TIDAL: What's Good Playlist - Week of 9/13/26
YouTube
Bonus Beats
Maurisio Tapia of Los Retros put together a short film in Blender for "Secret Admirer" from his most recent album Odisea, inspired by his love for the Nintendo 64. Check it out up above, and see his behind the scenes look at his process down below.
Gary Suarez
Gary Suarez of CABBAGES chopped it up with Curly Castro on the eve of the blade spitter's new album Yaphet.
"I have the GZA bug," he says, before remarking on the "fanciful" monikers assigned to both heroes and rogues cited therein. "Whether you get the reference or not, it still sounds somewhat beautiful."
Later on Yaphet, which incidentally is produced by the Milwaukee-based Locust, Castro introduces a trio of up-and-coming underground spitters–shemar, blackchai, and Sunmundi–via the posse cut "New Mutants," another nod to the Marvel machine but also so much more. "They're young and they get it at that age," he says of their still-emerging talents. "When I was young, I didn't necessarily get it, so it's really encouraging to see cats that really want to put the work in."
At Castro's grown-ass age, one more or less parallel with that of yours truly, it's an altogether new phenomenon to encounter folks from the next-next generation of artists who, in their art, reflect in some way what you and your peers do. "Especially when you delve in obscurities or indie pockets," he says, "you don't know if people are paying attention in terms of and inspiring their work."
Paul Thompson
Castro also spoke with Paul Thompson over at POW MAG about the album, delving further into his process of working with producer Locust, his evolution as an artist, and the Blaxploitation framing of Yaphet:
When I think about Blaxploitation filtered into music, I think about the stuff RZA was sampling for Ghost. But I hit play on this album and was just bowled over by the drums.
Now the music was always important with Blaxploitation films. Music was in there. And I think it’s a matter of, even if it was serious, there was a little dash of fun, like in the Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby joints. I think also I had to do some reverse engineering. When I grew up, I took the term too literally: I saw Blaxploitation, I just kept seeing exploitation, exploitation, exploitation. So I skipped them. I remember not liking Dolemite. I was just like, “They’re making fun of us.” I didn’t know these were our Black superheroes in the ‘70s, real live heroes that we had on alternative media. It wasn’t super mainstream. This is underground. I’m in the underground now. That’s what it was. And so I had to reconfigure thinking about it and really appreciating them and going back to watch them and see them for the gems they are and the stars who emerged from that, whether that be Richard Roundtree, Pam Grier, and the like. I had a whole methodology for this record: The plan was watch a Blaxploitation film, listen to one of the beats Locust sent me, and write the song. That didn’t work out. I was sitting there, I was four movies deep, I had no bars whatsoever. I said, OK, this is enough. Let’s just make some songs. And I think I made “SuperDOPE” and “Cheese N Bread Riddum,” and then that got me rolling.
And then when I rounded it out, when I finally had the full plate, I was like, “Oh, there’s still Blaxploitation elements in there.” There’s still attempts to be a superhero. I always grew up wanting to be that. I always felt like I was a mutant. My mom would agree [laughs]. You know what I’m saying? And so I just went with that. And then also doing that, my facets got facets. I’m multifaceted. I started revealing some personal items and personal issues and things. And so I think it gives a good glimpse. If you want to know what Castro’s about, this tells you a little bit about my childhood, my adolescence, my adulthood, and possibly my afterlife.
Wino Willy cooked up some heat on live stream for his YouTube channel.
mary in the junkyard performed "Blood" from their debut Role Model Hermit for Live From The Heavens (which is blank as a channel right now, but I'm assuming it's going to be a studio performance series?).
Squadda B's producer interview series returns, as he sits down with ANTICON co-founder and producer Jel.
Music
LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON - Flewed Out, All Expenses is Paid For (From As of Now, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Lex Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Camphor Freya - Waiting on a Full Moon (From the upcoming Heirloom. YouTube only, for now.)
Larry June - Better Decisions (From Who Coppin, out now. Purchase: Physicals and digital via Larry-June.com | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
J. Rawls - STILL (From Dig, Sample, Chop, Sequence, out on 10/2/26. Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Jeremiah Chiu - In Visibility (From Edge Conditions, out on 10/9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Genevieve Artadi - There's Always A Dream Come True (From GVA!!!!!, out on 10/30/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple)
Dillon & Paten Locke - Cruisin Down Buford (New video for 2016's Side Dishes EP. Purchase: Bandcamp | Limited edition vinyl w/instrumentals via Full Plate | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fatima Al Qadiri - 7ilween feat. Bobo Secret & Lama3an (From 3TWI, out on 10/9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl and digital via Hyperdub | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Anna Butterss, John Raymond, and Ben Lumsdaine - Beginningless (From Beginningless, out on 11/13/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl and digital via Northern Spy Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
@ - Bird (From Autosmile, out on 10/16/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals via 4AD | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple)
Fielded - G.O.A.T. (From Some Kind of Animal, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Vinyl via EveryDejaVu | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fat Ray & Raphy - Santa Rosa (From Santa Rosa, out now. Purchase/Stream: Bandcamp)
MX LONELY - Ex Rae Punk (From PERFECT HOUSE, out on 10/2/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Jacques Greene - Everyone feat. SEES00000 (From jg, out on 10/16/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via LUCKYME, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Thee Sinseers - Oh Love (From Love Stories, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and digital via Colemine Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Aesop Rock & Blockhead - Trouble Trouble (From Trouble Mountain, out on 11/13/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals, digital, and merch via Aesop Rock's official site | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Kenny Segal - Free Being (From the Dome of Doom 15 Year Anniversary Compilation, out on 9/25/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Dome of Doom, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Raveena Aurora - Blissed Out (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Asal Hazel - You're out of it, Again! (From Blushing, out now. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Ghais Guevara - SpinozaRuntz (From Cantos of Ghais, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Wun Two - Valentine's Hill feat. Declaime (From alps, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
mars kumari - Seventh Ring feat. Del The Funky Homosapien (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Rhys Langston - y'all make foreground music with background music energy feat. Phiik (From to live and die in E.U.L.A., out on 10/9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Fused Arrow Records, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Ex:Re - Radio Station (From Save As, out on 10/30/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Physicals via 4AD | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Illingsworth
Illingsworth - hawtiez (From Kusain Holt, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: YouTube)
Slauson Malone 1 - Porcelain (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Digital via Warp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Soccer Mommy - Rings Of Saturn (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Winter - nicotine feat. Eyedress (From Romantix Mixtape, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Cassette and T-Shirt via Winspear | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Oscar Goldman - NYQUIL (From Such A High Horse, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
DeevoDaGenius & Kil The Artist - Knowledgegod Pt. 1 & 2 (Part 1 from UNTITLED 008, out now. Part 2 from the upcoming KILTECH. Purchase UNTITLED 008: Digital, including movie poster with purchase via E11EVATION Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
pattyboo81
Kemp Dupri & August Fanon - PIROGUE BOATS (From THE GREEN BOOK THEORY, out now. Purchase: Digital via Kemp Dupri's Bandcamp page | CD via DITCD's Bandcamp page)
Remy Banks - supreme. (From the upcoming sole nero. Purchase "supreme.": Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Curly Castro - Railroad Spikes feat. Margel the Sophant (From Yaphet, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals, digital, and merch via Backwoodz Studioz | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Haruomi Hosono - Stella (Your Sincerely Version) (live from LIQUIDROOM) (From the "Stella Edition" of Your Sincerely (looks to be just the OG release with this track added on), out now. Purchase Yours Sincerely: Bandcamp | Physicals via Ghostly International | Qobuz | Purchase the Stella Edition via Qobuz, Stream "Stella": Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Fetty P Franklin & Bandplay - GOT EM HATIN' (From The Frank Play, out on date. Purchase: Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
blackchai - no man immortal feat. illohim (From Making Sense, out on 10/16/26. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Rhiannon Giddens - Hope Is The Thing With Feathers (From Hope Is The Thing With Feathers, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals and merch via Rhiannon's webstore | Physical and digital bundles via Nonesuch Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alva Noto - Conversation 1 (From 12 Conversations, out now. Purchase: Physicals and digital via Bleep | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
BBBBBBB - Ogreman feat. JOHNNASCUS (From Poop Disco, out 10/9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp | Vinyl via Deathbomb Arc, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Jared Evan - Calm Flame (From Jared Evan's unreleased new album. Purchase: Purchase directly from Jared via his site, Stream "Calm Flame": Tidal | Apple | Youtube Music)
Emma Ruth Rundle - Catherine Wheel (From These Killing Times, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Physicals via Hello Merch | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Bad Snacks - stargazer (Out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
michael rütten
Patrick Shiroishi & Jason Nazary - lovesong of the square root of negative one (From here i am no i, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple)
The Waffle King - Dusable (From USUWE 93 Beat tape Vol. 2, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Youtube)
Kooley High - Seasons (From Clear The Air, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Okonski - Flying feat. Cochemea (From Additions, out now. Purchase: Bandcamp | Cassette and digital via Colemine Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Compassion feat. Flying Lotus, Immanuel Wilkins, and David Virelles (From Ananta: Spirit of Coltrane, out on 10/30/26. Preorder: Physicals and digital via Verve Records | Qobuz, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
Resavoir - Stratosphere (From Above The Clouds, out on 10/9/26. Preorder: Bandcamp, Stream: Tidal | Apple | YouTube Music)
That's it for this week! As always, thank you for rocking with me. If you enjoyed any of the music or features, be sure to share the blog with your friends. Don't be afraid to reach out either down in the comments, or on social media. Enjoy your weekend, take care of each other, and make good choices.
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