The first official day of summer was Friday, June 21, which means we're finally in the midst of our favorite season of the year for music. As we're all putting the finishing touches on our summer BBQ playlists, we were blessed with a handful of excellent albums and EPs from artists like Freddie Gibbs, Polo G, GoldLink, Lil Keed, Lil Nas X, and more. We've combed through all the releases over the past four weeks and picked out 14 essential projects. These are the best albums of June 2019.
Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, ‘Bandana’
The expectations for this record were sky-high after the critical love showered on the last collaboration between Gangsta Gibbs and Madlib, 2014’s Piñata. This long-awaited follow-up more than lives up to the hype. “There’s definitely not an album like this,” Gibbs told me when I met up with him earlier this year. I’ll be damned if he’s not right. The music, soul-inspired where its predecessor nodded more towards jazz, is second to none. And the frequent mid-song beat switches ensure that Gibbs is at his sharpest throughout, constantly finding new rhythms and approaches. The album is timely, dark, powerful, funny, challenging, and unlike anything else out there—exactly like its creators.—Shawn Setaro
Future, ‘SAVE ME’
Ever since he dropped DS2, the streets go crazy whenever Future announces that he’s releasing a new project. But as the years have progressed, it’s become more difficult to know what to expect. Save Me feels like the unofficial part two of HNDRXX. Future’s narrative remains misty, detailing his vices with substance and sex, but that’s why we rock with Future in the first place. This EP is a little sample of what's to come next from him, but it's seven summer trap hymns we needed nonetheless.—Kemet High
Polo G, ‘Die A Legend’
The music stemming from the drill scene in Chicago a few years back remains undefeated. And in 2019, it might be making a sneaky return. Chi-town bred Polo G gained mass notoriety for his charting single “Pop Out” featuring Lil Tjay, a promising testament to his skill and execution in making a hit. To no surprise, his new album Die A Legend is full of those. Polo G comes across like a mix between the gritty articulation of G Herbo, matched with the silky melodies of Lil Durk: a killer and refreshing combination that bleeds through tracks like “Lost Files” and “Effortless.” All 14 tracks frame the reality of his battles with the law and his faith, whether through music or ecstasy that kept him afloat. Even if that’s not your story, we flock to artists who are this good at telling it. —Kemet High
Tee Grizzley, ‘Scriptures’
In the heat of battle, Detroit native Tee Grizzley bares his teeth on his second studio album Scriptures, showcasing his versatility and growth from the work seen on his debut album, Activated. Grizzley delivers a war cry layered with heartache, reflecting on his parents' incarceration on “Locked Up,” yet not allowing it to shake his resolve to succeed, as he shows on “Million Dollar Foreign.” With the sole features coming from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and YNW Melly on “Young Grizzley World,” Scriptures is a reflection of Tee Grizzley’s journey out of the trenches and into stardom. —Jordan Rose
GoldLink, ‘DIASPORA’
Summer flings are complicated. There’s the initial electricity of lust coupled with the dizzying headrush of spontaneity, encouraging you to trade responsibility for the freedom to move and act impulsively. That is the story strung together by GoldLink on his first studio album, Diaspora. Like past projects And After That, We Didn't Talk and At What Cost, the DC artist continues to flex his narrative abilities here. Harnessing dancehall sounds in songs like “U Say” and “Spanish Song,” while maintaining hip-hop aesthetics with “Maniac” and “Tiff Freestyle,” GoldLink gives us what a warm breeze on a June dusk sounds like. Assisted by a star-studded cast (Pusha T, Khalid, Tyler, the Creator and Jay Prince among others) Goldlink continues to create mood music for the day party that transitions into night. —Jordan Rose
Lil Keed, ‘Long Live Mexico’
Credited to its original architect Young Thug, Slime Season is now a year-round affair. At the end of the YSL lineage is 21-year old Lil Keed, and his debut album Long Live Mexico maintains the new school legacy being built in Atlanta right now. Opening with “Ride The Wave,” Keed levitates with the same sauce that made us fall in love with Thugga. In his absence, Keed’s resemblance to Thug has previously worked in his favor, but the release of Long Live Mexico allows for him to brand his name as an artist able to stand on his own footing. The album features Roddy Ricch, NAV, Lil Uzi, and his labelmate Gunna, resulting in a compilation of distinct tracks that serve as a strong introductory to an exciting young artist. The race for Rookie of the Year just got a little more interesting. —Kemet High
Jean Deaux, ‘Empathy’
Jean Deaux demonstrates a tender ear on her latest release, Empathy. The EP is a soulful interpretation of the most eclectic parts of the past couple decades in hip-hop and R&B, and the 7-track project tends to a sensual vulnerability that the Chicago native’s previous EP, Krash, was missing. Singles like “Life Lines” and “Anytime” attest to this with the help of artists like Kehlani, ROMderful, DUCKWRTH, and Terrace Martin, who offer different perspectives on love, lust, relationships, and empathy. Packing a vibrant yet calming collection of songs into a short 22-minute project, Jean Deaux leaves a lasting impression with her second coming. —Zoe Johnson
Gucci Mane, ‘Delusions of Grandeur’
On his 14th official studio album, Gucci Mane has managed to do it again. Firing back with his second album in six months, Delusions Of Grandeur is a powerful follow-up to Evil Genius. This time around, Gucci focuses on piano-heavy sounds that pull in sweet melodies from guests like Justin Beiber and Jeremih. With producers hailing from places like Atlanta, Alabama, and Texas, this project is another Dirty South production that treads along the delicate lines between hip-hop and R&B. And, most importantly, it's full of summer bangers. —Zoe Johnson
ILOVEMAKONNEN, ‘M3’
ILOVEMAKONNEN is back. His new EP, M3, is a beam of light, guided by bubbly production from MAKONNEN himself, Tay Keith, and DMV newcomer Brenton Duvall. In just 17 minutes, he takes your ears on a rich auditory outing with tracks like “Spendin’” featuring Guwop, which for old fans, proves why they bumped his music in the first place. As for new fans, here he is, reintroduced with one of the best sleeper projects of the month.—Kemet High
Lil Nas X, ‘7’
Lil Nas X is not riding off into the sunset just yet. Coming off the heels of his record-breaking single “Old Town Road,” he works to maintain the spotlight with the release of debut EP, 7. The project boasts a feature from Cardi B, and despite including both iterations of “Old Town Road,” it also gives us standout tracks “Panini” and “Rodeo” which were both produced by duo Take A Daytrip (read more about their sessions here). In old western movie fashion, it seems Lil Nas X won’t allow his journey to be cut short, and with 7 projected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, it looks like we’ll be joining him for the rest of the ride. —Jordan Rose
Pi'erre Bourne, ‘The Life of Pi’erre 4’
It may be hard being a boss, but Pi’erre Bourne makes it look easy. Acting as the producer, writer, and performer of his first studio album, his latest release, The Life Of Pi’erre 4, is an effortless success. With 50 minutes of mid-to-low tempo tracks under his mechanical vocals, Bournes has created a fourth installment that was worth the wait. “Poof” opens the LP with a lighthearted trap love story before Pi’erre dives into tracks that divulge his difficulties with loneliness, relationships, trust, and sex. If The Life Of Pi’erre 4 is any indication of just what he can do without any features, just imagine the fifth installment packed to the brim with a superstar lineup. Either way, Pi’erre Bourne projects are always worth your time, and this is no exception. —Zoe Johnson
Mustard, ‘Perfect Ten’
Mustard just gave other producers a nice blueprint for how to make a solo album. With a 10-song tracklist, Perfect Ten is a concise project featuring a collection of artists (YG, Young Thug, Nipsey Hussle, Migos, and more) who all make sense together in Mustard's universe. And it's all tied together with a cohesive sound. Played top to bottom, this sounds like an actual album, not a collection of throwaways from other projects, which often happens on solo producer projects like this. Plus, the whole thing ends on a high note with a very tasteful posthumous Nipsey track, "Perfect Ten." Well done. —Eric Skelton
TJ Porter, ‘Voice of the Trenches’
Before releasing his debut album, TJ Porter told Complex, "I feel like [Voice of the Trenches] is going to boost me. It's going to show everybody: This kid is talented." Now that it has arrived, we have confidence Porter's notion will be proven correct. Throughout the 14-song project, the 19-year-old Harlem artist raps his ass off, but also manages to deliver a collection of sticky melodies and memorable hooks. There's something here for all generations. Or as he puts it, "I wanted to put it a certain way so the old school and the new school would get it." Mission accomplished. —Eric Skelton
J Balvin & Bad Bunny, ‘OASIS’
Back in September 2018, Bad Bunny and J Balvin teased a collaborative OASIS album during their Complex cover story. "It means more than just water," Bad Bunny said of the title. "It’s a rescue, a relief, to freshen up. When you go to an oasis, you go there to supply yourself with the vital things you are missing, things that you need. That's why it says water, because human beings can’t live without water." A year later, the album has finally arrived, and it was worth the wait. Hours after its release, it feels early to jump to any major conclusions quite yet, but during an initial spin, it's clear this thing is going to stay in rotation all summer long. —Eric Skelton
