May is a month of new life. It is full of hope and the music that releases in the spring generally reflects that.
We dropped the ball on doing a report last week, but you were probably all just listening to Kendrick Lamar's diss tracks — and maybe Drake's. WILLOW dropped her eclectic "empathogen" album and over the weekend, Derek Minor released his motivational "Made Me Better" single.
This week, we get some solid southern goodness with a souful touch. And one of the biggest stars in the rap game brought fresh life to a Gwen Stefani hit from 20 years ago. If you don't feel old with that fact, think about it being the 30th anniversary of Weezer's self-titled album...
Here is the KTC music report for May 10:
Dee-1 ft. Project Pat — "All Glory to God" Single
Few people are able to work with such a variety of artists and maintain their sound and message like Dee-1. On his new single, "All Glory to God," the New Orleans MC teams up with Three 6 Mafia legend Project Pat for a gritty track straight out da south. The tingling piano sets the scene before the snare drums kick in and both rappers spit fierce verses about overcoming hardship, giving all the glory to God. "Ain't no opps, only opp I got is opportunity... If Jesus Christ the bread of life, I eat for free like EBT," are some of Uno's many superb bars. It's a slapper.
Andra Day — "CASSANDRA (cherith)" Album
Singer-songwriter Andra Day released the soulful "CASSANDRA (cherith)" album based on her given name. Coming on the heels of singing the Black National Anthem at the Super Bowl in February, this is the first release of her own music since 2021. The Grammy-winning artist croons a story of love and longing over a woozy soundscape that includes distorted piano and smooth drum patterns. "Probably" couldn't be more straightforward as she declares her affection for her love interest. It's followed by the haunting "Narcos (H.C.D)." Wale makes a pleasant appearance on "Heavy on my Mind" where he flexes some melodies with some flirtarious bars. The album concludes on the reflective "Real" showing gratitude for the consistency of love even through the hard times and it flows effortlessly into the final track, "Thank You God," which serves as a sort of refrain while acknowledging rest in a higher power.
That Mexican OT — "Comin Down" Video
That Mexican OT is part of the movement of blending Chicano music with mainstream, but is making a name all his own. He dropped a visual for " Comin Down," a single off his "Texas Technician" album, which he released in March. Along with the video, he shared the ChopNotSlop Remix version of the album as a tribute to his Texas roots. In the video, he, OTB Fastlane and some friends ride around on ATVs against the backdrop of the organ-infused track with soulful vocals from Hannah Everhart. And there's an F1 shirt in the cut!
Fredo — "Top G" Single
One of the best British rappers out right now, Fredo, released the cinematic single, "Top G." Set to the backdrop of a haunting opera croon and sharp snares, Fredo reflects on his ascent in the industry. It comes with its own heaviness of paranoia and the continued battle against the street life.
Weezer — "The Making of 'Buddy Holly' (Vevo Footnotes)" video
It's been 30 years since Weezer released its self-titled album, commonly known by fans as "The Blue Album" because of its Jolly Rancher-colored cover. To celebrate, the band released a behind-the-scenes look at its "Buddy Holly" video via Vevo Footnotes. The visual pays tribute to the beloved show "Happy Days" and wove footage from the actual program with modern lookalikes. The man who introduces the band is Al Molinaro, who was in the original show, and The Fonz himself was influential in letting the band have permission to recreate the scene. But maybe you don't care about that.
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