5 New Albums You Must Listen To! – June 2023

By Philippe Martin 07/04/2023

June is a quiet month for the mainstream scene, but that doesn’t stop the underground from releasing amazing albums like Statik Selektah’s « Round Trip » or Mike Dimes’ « Texas Boy ». Killer Mike makes a statement on his very diverse-sounding and profound project “MICHAEL”. Also, make sure to check out the talented emcee 7xvethegenius and her new project with DJ Green Lantern.

With that being said, here are the best albums of June 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.

Killer Mike - MICHAEL

Killer Mike is surely one of the best rappers and one of the most charismatic public figures to come out of Atlanta. He can talk about any subject and deliver clever punchlines. He can switch between multiple flows and give a unique energy on every track. Mostly known today for his work with El-P as the duo Run the Jewels, Killer Mike finally releases a solo project that puts him in the spotlight with a masterful vulnerability.

Surprisingly, he is able to deliver a very personal project that is packed with great features. CeeLo Green, Mozzy, Young Thug, 6LACK, Ty Dolla $ign, 2 Chainz, and many others bring their A-game to “MICHAEL”. The most ambitious song is probably the James Blake-produced “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” which features incredible performances by André 3000 and Future. Throughout the 54-minute runtime, Killer Mike talks about a wide variety of subjects, going from his difficult childhood to his complicated relationships.

Released 06/16/2023

Statik Selektah - Round Trip

The legendary New York producer Statik Selektah releases another great album that embodies everything hip-hop is about: skillful rapping and timeless beats. He recruits a wide range of artists from all over the United States to make some great solo songs and eye-opening collaboration choices. To name a few, he gets the help of Ransom, AZ, Benny the Butcher, Ab-Soul, IDK, Boldy James, Joey Bada$$, Wu-Tang, and Termanology.

With 20 songs and almost 1 hour of complex rapping, “Round Trip” can be a difficult listening experience in one sitting, but it gets better every time you dig deeper into the tracklist. “Unpredictable” and “The Code” are some classic-sounding gems that deserve recognition for being true to the hip-hop art form. The solo songs by Redveil, G-Eazy, and Logic are quick and efficient, showing the rappers in their comfort zone as they rap about their inner demons.

Released 06/09/2023

Mike Dimes – TEXAS BOY

Following the excellent singles “OFF THE PORCH”, “KISS N’ TELL”, and “HEAVY METAL”, the young artist out of Texas releases his new full-length project “TEXAS BOY”. Mike Dimes keeps his song structures and overall deliveries on the simple side, never wasting a second on unnecessary skits or skippable songs. Except on one or two slower cuts, the 14-song album is a high-energy experience that features many great verses and production choices.

Fortunately, the featured artists bring a nice switch in vocal deliveries and personalities. Denzel Curry, Wiz Khalifa, Joey Bada$$, Dro Kenji, and Maxo Kream are some of the relevant voices that appear throughout “TEXAS BOY”. The cold collaboration “ARSENAL” is the perfect banger to get hyped at the gym. “UNDEFEATED” will get you motivated to do anything and “ALL 4 YOU” will help you catch your breath for a quick moment before going back to the contagious trap-fueled universe that Mike Dimes navigates flawlessly.

Released 06/16/2023

Curren$y & Harry Fraud – VICES

Veteran New Orleans rapper Curren$y is back with another collaborative project with the very talented producer Harry Fraud. It’s been 2 years since the excellent “Regatta” tape dropped, so “VICES” marks the return of a very efficient duo. In the current streaming era where the songs replay potential outvalue the albums, the 9-track effort was surprisingly released with no lead single to promote it. Nonetheless, it drops at the perfect time to go on a boat ride and enjoy the cool music.

« Black Point Boat Launch » is a 2-part song that shows Harry Fraud’s talent when it comes to changing mood while staying consistent with the main theme. The Larry June collaboration on « Marble Columns » is smooth as a clean baby and will give you the will to go spend money on yourself. The bar-heavy features from Benny the Butcher on “Stingray” and Rome Streetz on “86 Testarossa” are a nice touch when compared to the laid-back flow of Curren$y. Overall, “VICES” feels like a quick project that the two artists created for themselves to soundtrack their lives, and the listeners are just lucky to catch a ride.

Released 06/30/2023

7xvethegenius & DJ Green Lantern - The Genius Tape

Learning how to properly pronounce her name should be on top of your to-do list, as 7xvethegenius (Love the Genius) is easily one of the best lyrical rappers to come out of the whole Rap Renaissance era led by Griselda. Signed on Conway the Machines’ label Drumwork Music, she releases her first collaborative project with DJ Green Lantern “The Genius Tape”. With 10 songs and 29 minutes of great music, the album is easy to go through in one session, but will demand multiple listens to fully understand all her clever punchlines.

With the Drumwork leader appearing for a solid verse, “Brainstorming” was an excellent lead single. DJ Green Lantern creates a modern sound with old ways as he makes boom-bap drums fit with moody loops. This gives 7xvethegenius room to introspect and show the wide range of subjects she can rap about. The punchlines are intelligent and the flows always mix perfectly with the chosen instrumental. The opener “Meditation” is a great example of how she can captivate the listeners attention.

Released 06/09/2023