New Music Friday: New Albums From NBA YoungBoy, Smino, Bun B & Statik Selektah & More

December is not typically album season, but New Music Friday does not let up where Hip Hop is concerned.

Coming straight at us this week is NBA YoungBoy‘s first full-length release of 2024, and also his first since being sent back to jail.

Lil Tjay is also back with some surprise heat in the form of a nicely wrapped EP, while Smino has dropped a project that he originally recorded in 2020.

Elsewhere, Bun B and Statik Selektah continue to bridge geographical gaps with the fourth installment in their Trillstatik series, which they again created in one sitting during a marathon livestream.

There is also Drakeo The Ruler‘s second posthumous album following his tragic murder three years ago, while R&B fans are treated to new offerings from Khalid and OVO Sound’s Roy Woods.

Check out the best of New Music Friday below and don’t miss this week’s new singles from Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Quavo and more.

NBA YoungBoy — I Just Got A Lot On My Shoulders

Features: N/A

Production: BNYX, No ID, OG Parker, DRoc, Str8cash

Label: Never Broke Again / Motown Records

The furiously prolific NBA YoungBoy has left it over a year since his last drop — an eternity by his standards — but the currently incarcerated star delivers a surprisingly mature album about the weight of fame and the responsibility that comes with it.

Smino — Maybe In Nirvana

Features: Bun B, Thundercat, Ravyn Lenae, reggie,

Production: Kenny Beats, Monte Booker, Thundercat, Sango, Phoelix

Label: Zero Fatigue Records

Recorded way back in the COVID-blighted days of 2020, Smino’s latest independent release is only being put out now and contains some of the eclectic star’s most invigorating music to date.

Bun B & Statik Selektah — Trillstatik 4

Features: Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Maxo Kream, Paul Wall, DJ Premier, Boldy James, Lil Keke, Termanology, Propain

Production: Statik Selektah

Label: Showoff Records

The fourth (and hopefully not final) offering in their coast-to-coast series, Trillstatik 4 was recorded live on Twitch earlier this week with some help from an impressive lineup of guest artists. A proper commercial and streaming release is planned for this Saturday (November 7).

Lil Tjay — Farewell

Features: Polo G, NLE Choppa, G Herbo, Rich The Kid

Production: ChopSquad DJ, TNT, Way9, Armas, Savant

Label: Columbia Records

A surprise release from the embattled Bronx native, this eight-track EP sees Lil Tjay at the top of his game, with the standout being his latest cut with frequent collaborator Polo G.

Drakeo The Ruler — The Undisputed Truth

Features: 03 Greedo, Ralfy The Plug, Icewear Vezzo, Baby Smoove, Ketchy The Great

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: Stinc Team

Drakeo The Ruler may be gone but his spirit lived on in Kendrick Lamar‘s GNX. His second album since his 2021 death fortunately bucks the trend of disappointing posthumous projects that has often plagued the legacies of late rappers.

Rich Amiri — War Ready

Features: OsamaSon, Internet Money

Production: Matt Cohn, Noah Mejia, Tazt Taylor, Synthetic, Sharkboy

Label: Internet Money Records / 10K Projects

Khalid — Sincere (Deluxe)

Features: Normani, Chloe Bailey, Ayra Starr

Production: Digi, Simon Says, Denis Kosiak, Jason Kellner, Blanda

Label: RCA Records / Right Hand Music Group

Roy Woods — Rolling Stone

Features: 03 Greedo

Production: Dimi, Banks, ENBE, Dolo, Frost

Label: OVO Sound / Santa Anna Label Group

Lakeyah — Keymix III

Features: N/A

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: CBE Records

Nettspend — BAD ASS F*CKING KID

Features: N/A

Production: Ok, Kenny Beats, RokOnTheTrack, Reklus1ve, Warren Hunter

Label: Nettspend / Grade A Productions / Interscope Records

Termanology & Tek — Teknology

Features: Bun B, Freeway, Paul Wall, Lil Keke, General Steele, Wais P, Ea$y Money, UFO Fev, Mia Jae, 5ive Mics, Flash Is Hip Hop

Production: Statik Selektah, Nottz, Cartune Beatz, Minnesota, SNDTRK

Label: ST. Records / Perfect Time Music Group

Apollo Brown & CRIMEAPPLE — This, Is Not That

Features: Willie Da Kid, Sonnyjim

Production: Apollo Brown

Label: Mello Music Group