New Music Friday: New Albums From Lil Durk, NAV, Will Smith & More

New Music Friday is stocked full of offerings this week and is the most varied list we’ve put together this year so far.

Coming straight from the pen is Lil Durk‘s Deep Thoughts, an album recorded before he was arrested on murder-for-hire charges.

This is juxtaposed by Will Smith returning with his first album in 20 years and while he is no stranger to controversy (hi, Chris Rock), the rapper and actor is still someone the whole family can listen to.

NAV is also back with his first album in three years, while Boldy James could not have a more different approach to releasing music as he drops his fourth album of 2025 and it’s not even Easter.

There is also a surprise offering from superproducer Timbaland who has ventured off into a more experimental and jazzy space.

For those who still love the old school, KRS-One is back with Temple of Hip Hop Awareness.

Check out the best of New Music Friday below.

Lil Durk — Deep Thoughts

Features: Future, Lil Baby, Jhené Aiko, Hunxho

Production: Metro Boomin, Southside, Lil Yachty, Will A Fool, Benny Blanco

Label: Alamo / Sony

Currently behind bars awaiting trial on serious murder-for-hire charges, Lil Durk isn’t letting his legal woes slow down his music career as he drops his appropriately titled new album Deep Thoughts, which finds him exploring his more introspective side.

NAV — OMW2 REXDALE

Features: Playboi Carti, The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Don Toliver

Production: Metro Boomin, Wheezy, NAV, Rance, Allen Ritter, OZ

Label: XO / Republic / UMG

Headlined by a standout collaboration with man-of-the-moment Playboi Carti and The Weeknd, NAV’s first album in three years is expectedly moody and made for dark nights alone. OMW2 REXDALE is another example of that nocturnal Canadian sound pioneered by Drake and Abel.

Will Smith — Based on a True Story

Features: Big Sean, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Jaden, Joyner Lucas, Russ, Teyana Taylor, Fridayy, Sunday Service Choir, OBanga, B. Simone, Jac Ross, India Martinez, Marcin

Production: omarr, LeXoskeleton, LastNght, Kyle Townsend, FNZ

Label: Rave in the Wasteland / SLANG

His first album in 20 years, Will Smith is no longer the happy-go-lucky Fresh Prince rapping about high school. Now a 56-year-old Oscar winner, Based on a True Story offers an honest insight into a man that has been a public figure for almost 40 years.

Timbaland — Timbo Progression

Features: N/A

Production: Timbaland, Jordan Mosley, Justin Mosley

Label: Rave in the Wasteland / SLANG

Best known for his futuristic production for A-listers such as JAY-Z, Missy Elliott and Justin Timberlake, Timbaland’s new album veers into a wildly different direction as he explores free jazz, funk and African sounds.

Boldy James & Antt Beatz — Hommage

Features: Baby Money, Band Gang Lonnie Bands

Production: Antt Beatz

Label: Boldy James / Antt Beatz / EMPIRE

The most prolific artist in the rap game right now, Boldy James has dropped his fourth album of 2025 — with two more already scheduled to arrive before the end of May. Most artists would start to wane in quality with this level of output, but not Moochie.

Reuben Vincent & 9th Wonder — Hit Me When You Get Here

Features: Foggieraw

Production: 9th Wonder

Label: Self-released

Vory — You Made Me This Way

Features: Bay Swag, Tracy T, Swavy, alan vuong

Production: SkipOnDaBeat, Lily Kaplan, BEAM, Yegr, Smash David

Label: Ikonic Global

Sada Baby — Bridge Kard Blessings

Features: JMSN, Lakeyah, Skilla Baby,

Production: Mia JayC, JMSN, Derrick Milano, Primo Beats, Dux Jones

Label: Big Squad / Groundwerk / BMG

KRS-One — Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness

Features: N/A

Production: Credits unavailable

Label: R.A.M.P Ent Agency

Babyfxce E — M Block

Features: VonOff1700, Mello Buckzz, YN Jay, Raq Baby, E Monaleo

Production: Almighty Aczavier, JayTheProducer, Pooh Beatz, Go Grizz, Omar Grand

Label: Atlantic

Lord Sko — Piff

Features: Conway The Machine, Curren$y, MAVI, Grand Puba, Del The Funky Homosapien, POLO PERKS <3 <3 <3, Collard Production: Harry Fraud, Statik Selektah, Tony Seltzer, A Lau, Arlo Walker

Label: UPTOWN SH!T / Stimulated / Roc Nation Distribution