15 New Hip-Hop & R&B Albums You Should Be Listening To (Week of August 20)



Robyn Mowatt

Robyn Mowatt is a staff writer at Okayplayer where she…

AaliyahAaliyah

Photo Credit: Albert Watson

Releases from Aaliyah, Ty Dolla $ign, dvsn, Rod Wave, Cleo Sol and Tiwa Savage were a few of our favorite albums of the week.

This week is once again stacked with a bevy of releases, but this time around it’s filled with some pivotal drops. Of course, the highly-anticipated unveiling of Aaliyah’s One in a Million is the biggest news of this New Music Friday. Additionally, there are a few call-outs we are particularly excited about from Ty Dolla $ign, dvsn and Cleo Sol.

First up, even with the controversy, it’s clear that Aaliyah, the late singer who danced and sang her way into the hearts of millions is going to gain new fans as of midnight. One in a Million was a pivotal moment for R&B, it’s now available on streaming platforms. Speaking of R&B, Cleo Sol unleashed Mother, her newest album equipped with soft, emotional cuts worthy of giving some playback action. Then there’s Ty Dolla $ign and dvsn who never aren’t in the studio, their latest is Cheers to the Best Memories. As a whole it’s a sultry, seductive mixtape that’s getting added to our cuffing season playlist immediately. 

For the hip-hop heads, Rick Hyde’s Plates II and Blu x Mickey Factz x Nottz’s The Narrative EP should hold over your appetite for the next few weeks. The former is a smooth listen filled with a slew of guest appearances that made the release quite enjoyable (also the production is killer). The latter is only six tracks but it’s just enough to capture our attention. 

Tiwa Savage’s Water & Garri is another striking release that arrived on Friday; there’s also Rod Wave’s SoulFly (Deluxe Version) if you’re into the Florida-bred rapper; Amaria’s exquisite project Bittersweet is essential for neo-soul lovers.

More staples include Tha God Fahim x Nicholas Craven’s Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King, Gengis Don’s Sweet Pea and Chris Dave’s Thine People Vol. 2.

Aaliyah — One in a Million

Aaliyah One in a MillionAaliyah One in a Million

Photo Credit: Marc Baptiste

Rod Wave — SoulFly (Deluxe Version)

Rod Wave SoulFly DeluxeRod Wave SoulFly Deluxe

Photo Credit: Artist

dvsn x Ty Dolla $ign — Cheers to the Best Memories

Ty Dolla $ign Cheers to the Best MemoriesTy Dolla $ign Cheers to the Best Memories

Photo Credit: Artist

Trippie Red — Trip At Knight

Trippie Red Trip At KnightTrippie Red Trip At Knight

Photo Credit: Artist/10K Projects

Cleo Sol — Mother

Cleo Sol MotherCleo Sol Mother

Photo Credit: Artist

Tiwa Savage — Water & Garri

Tiwa Savage Water And GarriTiwa Savage Water And Garri

Photo Credit: Artist

Chyna — Drug Opera

Chynna Drug OperaChynna Drug Opera

Photo Credit: Artist

Blu x Mickey Factz x Nottz — The Narrative EP

The Narrative EPThe Narrative EP

Photo Credit: Artist

Amaria — Bittersweet

Amaria BittersweetAmaria Bittersweet

Photo Credit: Artist

Gengis Don — Sweet Pea

Gengis Don Sweet PeaGengis Don Sweet Pea

Photo Credit: Artist

Rick Hyde — Plates II

Rick Hyde Plates 2Rick Hyde Plates 2

Photo Credit: Artist

Chris Dave — Thine People Vol. 2

Chris Dave Thine People Vol. 2Chris Dave Thine People Vol. 2

Photo Credit: Artist

Lord Byron — A Portrait Of Fyador On Fire

Lord ByronLord Byron

Photo Credit: Artist

John Caroll Kirby — Cryptozoo: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

John Caroll KirbyJohn Caroll Kirby

Photo Credit: Artist

Tha God Fahim x Nicholas Craven — Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King

Tha God Fahim Dump Gawd Shot Clock KingTha God Fahim Dump Gawd Shot Clock King

Photo Credit: Artist