Terrace Martin is bringing fans a new concept album this week.
Tuesday, the Grammy-nominated artist announced details for his upcoming new album Drones, featuring the just-released new single “Leave Us Be.” A trailer for the album also aired on ESPN. The concept for Drones, as well as the Kendrick Lamar-featuring title track, stems from a philosophical discussion the two had six years ago.
Among the additional features on Drones are Snoop Dogg, Cordae, Ty Dolla Sign, and more. Stream the featureless “Leave Us Be” below.
“There are touches of R&B, touches of jazz, touches of hip-hop, touches of classical, Cuban music, West African music, house music,” Martin said in a press release when breaking down what fans can expect with the full Drones experience. “You’re going to hear all elements of Black music within this record. It’s not one element I can leave out if I call myself a true Black artist.”
Below, see the Drones tracklist:
- “Turning Poison Into Medicine”
- “Drones” f/ Kendrick Lamar, Ty Dolla $ign, James Fauntleroy & Snoop Dogg
- “Leave Us Be”
- “Work It Out” f/ Cordae
- “This Morning” f/ Arin Ray & Smino
- “Tapped” f/ Channel Tres & Celeste
- “Reflection” f/ James Fauntleroy
- “Leimert Park”
- “Griots of the Crenshaw District” f/ Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper & Hit-Boy
- “Evil Eyes” f/ YG & Malaya
- “Sick Of Cryin” f/ Leon Bridges & D Smoke
- “Don’t Let Go”
- “Listen” f/ James Fauntleroy, Kim Burrell & Robert Glasper
In an interview with Stereogum, shared Tuesday, Martin went even deeper on the larger Drones concept, connecting it to the continued prevalence of phone-reliance in modern life.
“Everybody always says the younger generation is so on the phone, but naw, everybody is addicted to the phone,” Martin said. “Everybody. So [Kendrick Lamar] went in there, man, and he just started saying what being a drone means to him, and… the song ‘Drones’ itself is pretty much a statement that we are all one and we are all even robots as one.”
Dronesis out Nov. 5 via Sounds of Crenshaw and BMG.
