The Rotation: Albums We're Listening to Right Now

Albums still matter. Here are the ones we're into at the moment, including Baby Keem, Clairo, Young Thug, JPEGMAFIA, EarthGang, and more.

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Every month, we try to keep up the daily onslaught of new music, and every month we highlight the best new artists. But what about the albums? In today's non-stop streaming economy, singles and playlists are more popular than ever, and the traditional full-length project has become less of a priority.

To most music fans, albums still matter, and a good album is an opportunity for an artist to present depth and versatility. Since we're usually focused on sharing all our favorite new singles, we realize that we don't talk about albums enough, so we're starting a new feature.

Each month, we'll ask some Pigeons & Planes contributors and friends of the brand to share which albums they're currently listening to and what they like about them. Here is the first installation of The Rotation.

Baby Keem - 'DIE FOR MY B*TCH'

baby keem

Favorite songs: "APOLOGIZE," "INVENTED IT," "ORANGE SODA"

When Pigeons & Planes covered Baby Keem in 2018, he was releasing music as Hykeem Carter. At that point, he was coming off a big break after he sent a pack of beats to the TDE email and ended up working on the Black Panther soundtrack. His own EP Hearts & Darts showed major potential, but his latest album DIE FOR MY B*TCH is a legitimate contender for a personal top-five album of the year so far.

I don't think of Baby Keem as a particularly lyrical rapper, but he's got a unique voice and an even more casually peculiar way with words. His strongest lines appear out of nowhere like a bunch of possums in a grill, and he's got an impeccable ear for production and song structure. Also, I just want to say this: "APOLOGIZE" is a perfect song. It's a song that, if in other hands, could probably be a charting hit. In Keem's hands, it's a lot more rough around the edges, and that's what makes it so perfect to me. I could see Keem making his own actual hits in the not-so-distant future, but there's nothing as satisfying as hearing a great song that hasn't been overproduced into boringness, and Keem is doing that better than any other rapper right now.–Jacob Moore

EarthGang - 'Mirrorland'

mirrorland

Favorite songs: "UP," "Swivel," "Tequila," "Wings"

When I was thinking about this blurb I decided to start the "talk about EarthGang's new album Mirrorland without mentioning Outkast challenge." I've already failed. From Twitter to Teen Vogue, comparisons to another trailblazing, left-field Atlanta rap duo follows EarthGang (Olu and WowGr8). Although they share a sonically adventurous spirit and melody heavy approach with Andre and Big Boi, the actual sound of their music doesn't hold up to direct comparisons. They aren't the second coming of OutKast, they're the first coming of EarthGang.

"To keep it real, [the comparison] used to bother me low-key,” WowGr8 told Teen Vogue. “But after a while, I started to see that people compared us to them [...] because we were having some of the same effects on them as ‘Kast had on their fans coming out. We were bringing something they ain’t never heard before. And we definitely saw that once we started touring and touching different places and people.”

EarthGang's tours have taken them around America with Mac Miller and across Europe with Billie Eilish, and it seems as if they've made a concerted effort to reach beyond rap fans with songs that pull from funk, trap, R&B, gospel, blues, and psychedelia with a carefree spirit. The Mirrorland album is inspired by The Wiz and celebrates Atlanta as seen through EarthGang's eyes. Whether you listen front to back with that in mind or pick a favorite song to play at a party, whether you've been to any of the Atlanta landmarks they name check or not, there is so much to explore and enjoy on this essential album.–Alex Gardner

Clairo - 'Immunity'

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Favorite songs: "Sofia," "Bags," "Alewife"

I'll be honest—I was worried about Clairo. When we first interviewed her in 2017, she had just gone viral with a homemade video for the song "Pretty Girl," and she was quickly lumped in with other so-called "bedroom pop" artists. The difference between Clairo and most of the other young DIY and lo-fi artists is that Clairo went from being unknown to having over a million fans overnight.

Instead of having time to experiment and evolve in relative privacy, there was pressure on Clairo. She was already in the spotlight, and that can be an intimidating position for any artist, especially one still in her teens and finding her voice. It wasn't easy—Clairo herself admitted that she didn't want to forever be stuck in the box some listeners created for her based only off "Pretty Girl," but that's what a lot of people expected.

On her debut album Immunity, Clairo—now 21 years old—doesn't pander to expectations. There's nothing lo-fi about this project. Immunity is polished and full of sophisticated arrangements and subtle touches that give every song depth and texture. The songwriting is also more mature, shedding the playful goofiness of songs like "Pretty Girl" and "Flaming Hot Cheetos." Still, Clairo accomplishes the kind of compelling intimacy that makes you feel like you're right there with her, except instead of the bedroom, we're in the studio now.–Jacob Moore

JPEGMAFIA - 'All My Heroes Are Cornballs'

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Favorite Songs: "JPEGMAFIA Type Beat/Grimy Waifu," "PTSD," "Free the Frail"

Veteran was the perfect breakthrough for JPEGMAFIA, skittery and unnerving with plenty of scenic detours. It was the current socio-political climate distilled into a sound, antagonistic but often pointedly and even funnily so. If you've ever gotten into a dumb Twitter fight, which is something I've been guilty of, then you'd know that Veteran would make for an ideal soundtrack. But honestly, that comparison gets a little muddied the more I dive into it, because Veteran is also marred by real world violence and chaos. While a lot of rappers, and even some critics of his work, might not realize the internet is now as real-life as it gets, this is the space that JPEGMAFIA thrives in. He doesn't simply remind the listeners of this fact, he rubs it in their faces.

All My Heroes Are Cornballs, the ambitious follow-up to arguably his most accessible release to date, is imperfect. Upon first listen, it appeared underwhelming and disheveled, as though it hadn't been pieced together so much as blurted out. Throughout more listens, it became evident that this was not only the intention, but also the reason it works so well as a curveball of a sequel. The sounds never get quite as intense or bombastic as they did on Veteran, and Peggy uses this in his favor. The moments of beauty and melody that seep in are given more of a chance to shine, even if they're not as frequent as one might hope. It's harder to categorize than anything he's done before, and as a result it's not as immediate as the rest of his discography. It's easier to pin down what the album isn't than what it is.

Cornballs grows and mutates; it's his most challenging release by virtue of its almost complete lack of structure. I muttered out loud, "what the fuck," at least six times upon first listen. Over 50 or so listens later, those reactions haven't dulled, they're just in a different, more welcoming context. In a month that gave us a lot of over-polished, inoffensive mediocrity, the schizophrenic and imperfect brilliance of Cornballs deserves to be celebrated.–Joe Price

Young Thug - 'So Much Fun'

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Favorite song: "Just How It Is"

Aside from Young Thug, I haven't been living with much from the last few months. I think a few upcoming projects might be more compelling for me. I'm also noticing that I'm preferring EPs more lately, so I don't know what that means. Not sure how to add anything to the chorus on this one, but I'm still listening to it. Honorable mention (not a new album): I've probably played Green Twins from Nick Hakim in its entirety on a weekly basis all this year. Definitely a cool one to revisit.–Dom Maldanado

Megan Thee Stallion - 'Fever'

megan fever

Favorite tracks: "Best You Ever Had," "Ratchet"

Summer is officially over, but I hope Megan Thee Stallion’s hot girl summer is forever. Of all the incredible albums artists have delivered this year, Fever is the only one that has yet to leave my rotation since its release this spring. Megan isn’t new to rap, but with this mixtape and how she handled her dizzying rise, she proved herself a true generational talent. I feel as proud of her achievements as I would any one of my friends, whether it’s landing an opening spot on the Legendary Nights tour with Meek Mill and Future or just getting a fit off on Instagram. I was already sold on Meg before, but the quick wit, undeniable charisma, and sharp delivery she showcases on Fever made her my favorite rapper.–Tiffany Wines

George Clanton - 'Slide'

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Favorite songs: "Living Loose," "Dumb," "You Lost Me There"

I'm late to this album and George Clanton in general. I found it on a backlog list of albums from last year that I had meant to check out. This thing is an epic taffy puller, rather than a "melting pot," of an album, churning dream pop, shoegaze, and breakbeats with a vaporwave edge as a textural update and a "post-chillwave" pop sensibility. It sounds like a kid tossing their SEGA dreamcast at the wall in anger or in joy and that moment's resonance 20 years later. This album utilizes nostalgia in a different way than I've heard done this decade. People have made music inspired by these 90s-centric lineages and done it really well (i.e. Beach House), but it doesn't feel like this. Maybe it's the turn of a new time, a new perspective of our past's future, maybe it's just George, but either way I'm obsessed.–Quiet Luke

SAINt JHN - 'Ghetto Lenny's Love Songs'

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Favorite songs: "Wedding Day," "I Can Fvcking Tell," "94 Bentley"

SAINt JHN's got some big collaborations on Ghetto Lenny's Love Songs: A Boogie, Meek Mill, Lil Baby, and motherfucking Lenny Kravitz. Some of those features probably drive up streams and introduce the rising Brooklyn artist to new fans, but my favorite moments on this album are all solo tracks. SAINt JHN has always had mainstream ambition, and we're starting to see his star potential realized. But beyond his rockstar charisma, luxurious fashion choices, and quest to be a household name, SAINt JHN is also just a really good songwriter.

This album has a little of everything—hard-hitting rap, Swae Lee-esque summer jams, and emotionally driven ballads—but the common threads are quality and confidence. SAINt JHN's ideas are never half-baked or unsure of themselves. Whether he's singing over an acoustic guitar ("I Can Fvcking Tell") or mixing up a strange cocktail of grunge-y trap anthem ("94 Bentley"), everything sounds expensive and sturdy. SAINt JHN has been doing this for years and his experience as a behind-the-scenes songwriter has paid off. Now when he has a song idea, he can make it exactly how he wants. Turns out he has a lot of good ideas.–Jacob Moore

Lil Candy Paint - 'Over Come Anything'

Lil Candy Paint cover

Favorite songs: “James Harden,” “Yvonne”

Lil Candy Paint is in a world of his own. He’s from Atlanta and his small roster of collaborators, like Slimesito and SenseiATL, is mostly from the same area. He’s not heavily interactive with mainstream press, but underground rap YouTube channels and Reddit threads have helped amass a Candy Paint fanbase that's strong and growing with every release. 

In the past few years that he’s been putting out music, Lil Candy Paint has been consistent—particularly in his beat selections, which are oftentimes reminiscent of video game instrumentals. A lot of his songs are surprisingly sentimental and emotionally mature, though he still flexes driving in Hellcats and blowing bags at Chanel. Still, his melodic, casual vocal style removes a lot of the pretentiousness.

His latest and strongest release is Over Come Anything, a 13-track project from earlier this year. Like most of his other work, the project was critically overlooked, but his maturation on this project is impressive, and I found myself returning to it all summer.–Caitlin LoPilato

Kano - 'Hoodies All Summer'

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Favorite songs: "Trouble," "Good Youtes Walk Amongst Evil," "Pan-Fried"

Nearly 20 years, six full length albums, and multiple mixtapes into his music career, London rapper Kano is sounding sharper and more focused than ever. Rap tends to be a young man's game, but Kano deftly avoids pitfalls like trying to fit in with the current hot sounds or coming across as preachy old head on his latest album Hoodies All Summer. It's a concise 10 tracks with a runtime of 39 minutes, but there's a lot packed in, from reflections on knife crime and race to celebrations of success, love songs, and an abundance of quickfire rapping. 

Kano's always been an engaging MC, but here he knows when to let the beat or his guests (who include Sampha, Popcaan, a choir, and more) take the lead. "Every entrance to a door has a footprint left by the ones that came before," Kano raps as album closer "SYM" reaches fever pitch, and in the landscape of British music and entertainment, many of those footprints are now Kano's own.-Alex Gardner 

100 gecs - '1000 gecs'

1000 gecs

Favorite songs: "money machine," "hand crushed by a mallet," "800db cloud"

This hyperactive album is 23 minutes of relentless overstimulation, and it's one of the most exciting listens of the year so far. Nothing is off limits on 1000 gecs, and no other album has sounded quite as insane as 2019 feels.

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