New Music Friday: New Albums From Cordae, Maxo Kream, Denzel Curry & More

New Music Friday this week boasts the return of Cordae, who despite rubbishing the focus on first-week sales, has put together an all-star album featuring the likes of Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Anderson .Paak with The Crossroads.

Joining him in dropping heat is the Lone Star State’s Maxo Kream, whose tales of Texan street life continue to punctuate on his fourth studio album Personification.

Quando Rondo, who appears to be growing up after years of being associated with controversy, has brought this newfound sentiment to his latest album Here For a Reason.

Young Nudy and Pi’erre Bourne also finally serve up the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s Sli’merre, while Denzel Curry delivers a deluxe update to his recent mixtape King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2.

On the female front, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige extends her reign with her 15th album, while Detroit’s own Kash Doll and G.O.O.D. Music staple 070 Shake also return with new offerings.

Check out the best of New Music Friday below and don’t this miss this week’s new singles from Lil Baby, Juice WRLD and Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd and more.

Cordae — The Crossroads

Features: Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Anderson .Paak, Joey Bada$$, Juicy J, Ty Dolla $ign, Jordan Ward, Ravyne Lenae

Production: Smoko Ono, J. Cole, BoogzDaBeast, FNZ, Hitmaka

Label: Atlantic

After expressing his contempt for first-week sales, Cordae’s priorities have been focused on putting together a worthy third album with The Crossroads, which boasts a surprise feature from Kanye West.

Maxo Kream — Personification

Features: Tyler, The Creator, Denzel Curry, That Mexican OT, BigXThaPlug, Rob49, Skilla Baby, Z-Ro, Josh Kream

Production: Hit-Boy, Tyler, The Creator, Nascent, CuBeatz, Beat Butcha, evilgiane

Label: Persona Money Gang / stomp down

The Houston hard-hitter’s first album in three years is worth the wait. The follow-up to 2021’s stellar Weight of the World, Personification shows Maxo Kream’s continued growth and evolution while also curiously recycling some past lyrics such as his Crip John Wick bar.

Denzel Curry — King of the Mischievous South

Features: Sauce Walka, Duke Deuce, Bktherula, Lazer Dim 700, Key Nyata, 454, Slim Guerilla

Production: FNZ, Charlie Heat, Powers Pleasant, Ben10k, 454

Label: PH Recordings / Loma Vista / Concord.

One of the most raucous rappers of his generation, Denzel Curry has offered a reworking of his mixtape from earlier this year, throwing in five new songs and playing around with the tracklist order.

Young Nudy & Pi’erre Bourne — Sli’merre 2

Features: BabyDrill

Production: Pi’erre Bourne

Label: PDE Records / RCA Records

A sequel to their 2019 collaborative album, Sli’merre 2 offers more of the same with plenty of juicy Pi’erre Bourne beats to sink your teeth (or ears) into.

Quando Rondo — Here For a Reason

https://open.spotify.com/album/7jN07oT32WQEuAipSXl1X5

Features: Winter Rae

Production: Kutta Beatz, Bos, ForeignGotem, 6element, Reuel

Label: Quando Rondo LLC / Never Broke Again / Atlantic

One of the most controversial rappers around today, Quando Rondo seeks to prove he is more than just a magnet for drama on Here For A Reason, on which he expresses emotional maturity following his conversion to Islam.

Kash Doll — The Last Doll

Features: Tee Grizzley, Yung Bleu, Tracy T, Tink, Shantel May, Ron E, MDG

Production: Hitmaka, Lex Luger, Cardiak, Go Grizzly, OG Parker

Label: Kash Doll Enterprises / MNRK Records

Mary J. Blige — Gratitude

https://open.spotify.com/album/6F5xlV2Y4NTIAB8rd1gbAy

Features: Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Fabolous, FERG

Production: Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, KAYTRANADA, D’Mile, Shaun “S. Dot” Thomas, DJ Cassidy

Label: 300 Entertainment

Dave East & araabMUZIK — Living Proof

Features: Benny The Butcher, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz, Giggs, Ransom, Millyz, Stacy Barthe, OT The Real, Quany Gz, Cruch Calhoun, Lyrivelli,

Production: araabMUZIK, Motif Alumni, Coleman

Label: FTD / Genre Defying Entertainment

Boosie Badazz — Cold Case Files

https://open.spotify.com/album/20uzfGin7Gg8MQcfrWFRtb

Features: N/A

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: Badazz Syndicate

MF DOOM — Mm..Food (20th Anniversary Edition)

Features: Count Bass D, Stahhr, 4ize, Mr. Fantastik,

Production: MF DOOM, Madlib, Jake One, Ant, Count Bass D,

Label: Rhymesayers

Berner — Hoffa

Features: Killer Mike, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Wiz Khalifa, Moneybagg Yo, Ty Dolla $ign, Larry June, Too $hort, Devin The Dude, Mozzy, Chevy Woods

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: Bern One Entertainment

Erick The Architect — I’ve Never Been Here Before: The Director’s Cut

Features: Joey Bada$$, George Clinton, Westside Boogie, Lalah Hathaway, Channel Tres, Baby Rose, BLK ODYSSY, FARR, Pale Ray, RÜDE CÅT, Boy Boy, Kimbra

Production: Erick The Architect, James Blake, Kaelin Ellis, T-Minus, Daoud

Label: Architect Recording Company

070 Shake — Petrichor

Features: JT, Courtney Love, Cam

Production: Dave Hamelin, Johan Lenox, Tyler Johnson, Carl Nordström, Jacob Mühlrad

Label: G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam

Desiigner — Rebirth

Features: N/A

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: L.O.D. Entertainment / RIVETING Music / Long Lost

Jon Batiste — Beethoven Blues

Features: N/A

Production: Jon Batiste

Label: Verve Records / Interscope

Pa Salieu — Afrikan Alien

Features: Bryon Messia, Black Sherif, ODUMODUBLVCK

Production: AOD, Felix Joseph, Ej Fya, Show & Prove, LiTek

Label: Warner Music UK