The year is finally starting to heat up with the consistent release of new albums. This week, albums from several highly anticipated artists including Robert Glasper, Estelle, Nneka and Will Downing hit stores.
Robert Glasper Experiment – Black Radio – EMI
Before Robert Glasper took a leap into rhythm & blues and Hip Hop with ‘Black Radio,’ he had stamped his name in Jazz as a critically acclaimed pianist. Using his personal relationships with artists, Glasper was able to assemble an all-star list of collaborators including Eryka Badu, Bilal, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele amongst others for covers. The album includes a wide range of renditions from John Coltrane’s ‘Afro Blue’ to Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’
Estelle – All of Me – Atlantic Records
Grammy Award-winning singer, Estelle, ventures into a new feel-good soul, pop and melodic album untitled “All of Me.” The new project presents the West London girl four years after her breakthrough album ‘Shine,’ gave us the Grammy-winning single, “American Boy,” featuring Kanye West. The 15-track project, ‘All of Me,’ a collection of love songs, dancehall and rapping, showcases the ability of Estelle to bounce back and forth from one genre to another.
Nneka – Soul Is Heavy – Yo Mama’s Recording Co./Decon Records
Nneka follows up her sophomore album ‘No Longer at Ease’ with the release ‘Soul Is Heavy.’ The outspoken and political vocalist/rapper’s latest effort attacks the same issues that resonated on her previous recordings; she uses music as a platform to voice issues of capitalism, poverty and war.
Will Downing – Today – Purpose Music Group
Will Downing releases ‘Today’ EP, part two of his musical trilogy ‘Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.’ The leader of sophisticated soul’s new record presents a variety of romantic scores for wedding ceremonies and romantic experiences.