5 New Albums You Must Listen To! – May 2023

By Philippe Martin 06/10/2023

There are many great releases for the month of May as a varied group of artists have blessed us with their creative output. The fifth month of the year just solidifies Conway the Machine’s position as one of the most consistent rappers of the year. The duo KAYTRAMINÉ makes the spring even hotter and IDK proves that he once again knows how to craft amazing albums.

With that being said, here are the best albums of May 2023. This list contains many independent placements from artists who dropped great albums and some mainstream releases that deserve the attention they have been getting. Let us know in the comments what you think about these and if any other albums deserved to make this list.

Conway the Machine - WON'T HE DO IT

With his third studio album “WON’T HE DO IT”, Conway the Machine is cementing his position as one of the top independent artists in the rap atmosphere. The LP is a natural evolution from his previous project “God Don’t Make Mistakes”, where the Drumwork Music leader assumes his role as a business boss without sacrificing the street grittiness that made his reputation. Filled with great features and producer collaborations, the 14-track effort is well-curated and diverse enough to draw in new fans that may want to discover the Buffalo artist.

Released in the excellent Paris-based video in April, “Quarters” and “Brucifix” start the album with a bang. Westside Gunn has a solid verse on the second track, showing the world that he can still go bar-for-bar with great lyricists like Conway. “Stab Out” is a grimy and violent track that features a savage verse by Ransom. With a long intro that sets the mood for a different kind of instrumental, “Water To Wine” is luxurious and grandiose. Featuring a cold hook and a classic-sounding beat, “Brick Fare” sees Conway using the Griselda formula at its most dark and moody.

Released 05/05/2023

KAYTRAMINÉ, Aminé & Kaytranada – KAYTRAMINÉ

Forming the duo KAYTRAMINÉ, the California rapper Aminé and the Quebec producer Kaytranada make for a wild summer event with the release of a full-length studio album named after their group. They teased the project with the dynamic singles “4EVA” and “Rebuke” and the rest of the 11-song effort simply proves that their talents blend like pie and cheese. They bring along for the ride a bunch of talented artists such as Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean, Amaarae, Snoop Dogg, and Pharrell Williams.

For 34 minutes, sounds of hip-hop, electro, dance, and pop mix to result in a very actual and fun album. You’ll want to dance on “letstalkaboutit”, but the strong verses from Aminé and Freddie Gibbs make you listen in more closely. “Westside” and “UGH UGH” are cool and breezy while “Sossaup” and “EYE” are groovy and spacy. After the 2-part closer “K&A”, you’ll wonder why there aren’t any more songs to keep the party going, but the quick answer is that it’s quality over quantity here.

Released 05/19/2023

IDK – F65

Featuring an F1 theme throughout the project, Maryland artist IDK is back with his new studio album “F65”. It starts with the album’s cover art that puts the young rapper in the driver’s seat, but it quickly builds on that theme with the help of quick skits that put you directly in a racing event soundscape. The connection between the music and the sport is never clear, but it does create a unique vibe from start to finish.

Over a lengthy 53 minutes, IDK does as he usually does: make melodic and intelligent music that manages to hit every emotional note. The rap-heavy songs like “Salty” and “850 (We On Top)”, respectively with NLE Choppa and Rich The Kid, are well-produced easy bangers that keep le lyrics simple and the energy high. The slower and more musical cuts off “F65” are beautiful and artistically interesting. “Mr. Police” and “Superwoman” are great examples of this.

Released 05/05/2023

Belly – Mumble Rap 2

The Canadian artist is back with the second installment of his “Mumble Rap” series. Produced entirely by Hit-Boy, the project packs a solid punch over its short runtime of 26 minutes. Like the 2017 original mixtape, the approach of building songs without any clear theme is still present and works well most of the time. By being lyrically above most of his peers, it was initially a critique of the modern trend of rappers not saying anything intelligent in their mumbled rhymes over trap beats. Belly has managed to stay relevant 6 years later, proving that his hi-hop grounded approach has paid off.

The XO and Roc Nation Records artist sounds like he’s still fighting his personal demons, but the lyrics show him in a balanced state where he’s in full control of his life. The lead singles “American Nightmare” and “Ambiance” represent well the overall sound and vibe of Mumble Rap 2”. With features from his XO peer NAV, the 1017 general Gucci Mane, and the Maybach Music leader Rick Ross, the tracklist flows naturally in the rap landscape. Hit-Boy’s production is stellar as always, showcasing classic-sounding drum patterns and well-placed looped melodies.

Released 05/19/2023

Jay Worthy & Roc Marciano - Nothing Bigger Than The Problem

The Los Angeles and Vancouver native Jay Worthy knows how to create great collaborations with the help of talented individuals that complement his unique style. That’s why the match with Roc Marciano feels so organic since the April release of the first album single “Underground Legend”. Roc’s silky production and Worthy’s laid-back flows mix beautifully to give the listeners a calm and cool experience to ride around the sunny streets of the neighbourhood.

There are 10 featured guests on the 12-track album, making this a packed, but well-executed experience. Ab-Soul and Jay 305 give strong verses, adding a layer of complex bars over beautiful production. “Wake Up” is the best song of the album because of the stellar sample choice and the presence of the only verse by Roc Marciano.

Released 05/26/2023