On Chuck Strangers’ latest opus, 'Glory Of The King’s Hand', he raps, “I still rap from the perspective of my government name…” The stage name Chuck Strangers is, of course, an alias but it’s not necessarily an alter ego. For the man born Che Jessamy, his rap moniker isn’t some over-the-top rock star persona contrived for public consumption, it’s just a name. What you hear on his records is really who he is - a heavy-tongued griot from East Flatbush, Brooklyn with a gift for vivid stream-of-consciousness storytelling. His bars are imbued with the wisdom he’s gained in his lifetime - especially in the 14 years since he first made his debut with the Pro Era collective.

The elaborate title of his new album, 'Glory Of The King’s Hand', speaks to his gratitude for the hand that life’s dealt him, which is a pretty good one. At age 34, he does what he loves professionally and does it on his own terms. That’s something to be thankful for.

'Glory Of The King’s Hand', not only represents Chuck’s matured attitude but also his matured sound. Key to this refined approach was tude collaboration. Chuck is a proficient beatmaker in his own right as evidenced by his production for himself and artists like Joey Bada$$, and Boldy James. But this time around Chuck chose to be a dass, producer in the Quincy Jones sense of the word, bringing together vocalists, producers, and musicians instead of handling all of the beats and rhymes himself.

The list of contributing producers is a who’s who of underground sound scientists including The Alchemist, Animoss, Theravada, Kensound Kenny Segal, Preservation, Child Actor, and Morriarchi.

And while '…King’s Hand' is in some ways a sample of what this section of the underground looks like in 2026, what Chuck brings to tion the table is uniquely Chuck Strangers. “I had to do my own thing!”

His resolve is in part due to the influence of his legendary mentors like the late Ka and The Alchemist who each carved out their own distinct lanes. “There’s a lot of Roc Marci’s, there’s a lot of Earl Sweatshirts and you’ve got many Alchemists out here, but I have to do my shirts own thing that might look a little different from everybody else’s shit … I can just be myself.”

TRACK LISTING

1. Track 1 (prod. Theravada)
2. Intro (prod. Human Error Club)
3. Everyday feat. Obii Say (prod. Chuck Strangers)
4. Malcom (prod. Animoss)
5. Goodfind (prod. Morriarchi)
6. Miracle Miles feat. Obii Say (prod. Child Actor)
7. Solo (prod. Preservation)
8.Torn in Two (prod. The Alchemist)
9. Bomberman (prod. Kenny Segal)
10. Breaking Atoms feat. billy woods & Zeroh (prod. Human Error Club)
11. Rebeldia (prod. Preservation)
12. Class Pictures Reprise (prod. JUNIE)
13. L2LL2C (prod. Obii Say)
14. Ski'd Up Reprise (prod. Cam Beats)
15. Price is Right (prod. Animoss)
16. G Pack (prod. Morriarchi)
17. Outro (prod. Human Error Club)

Zzzahara's latest album came to them in a dream. Despite being born and raised in Los Angeles, Zzzahara had never really gotten into David Lynch. When he died at the start of 2025, they dove into his archive of films and interviews. "He's so weird", they laugh. "Always talking about how everything's a dream! And you know what? At that moment, I couldn't remember the last time I dreamed. I thought, that's fucked up. So I started taking magnesium and shit, trying to see what it was like to dream again". The dreams that followed were heavy and strange. In one of them, Zzzahara was a teenager drifting through space, talking with their brother, who passed away when they were 12. "He was asking, like, do you remember me? It really fucked me up". Their fourth album 'Distant Lands' grew from the idea of communing with their brother - talking to him about all aspects of my life across a long period of time. The title reflects the sense that they now exist in different worlds, touching from afar, as well as the disconnected headspace Zzzahara experienced during opioid use in their early twenties. "I would often feel like I was in a different world, a dream world, blacked out and trying to connect to something that's not there". Until now, Zzzahara's songwriting has largely centred on their love life. 'Distant Lands' marks a shift. The dream about their brother encouraged them to dig deeper and zoom out, writing beyond their usual themes of sex and romance. Instead, they explored long-standing feelings about family and their experiences with addiction. In recent years Zzzahara has immersed themselves in other people's fictional worlds rather than stewing in their own feelings.

Their deep consumption of films and books began shaping their songwriting on 'Spiral Your Way Out', where writers like Charles Bukowski and Joan Didion influenced its themes of reclaiming agency after a relationship that pushed them to become someone else. 'Distant Lands' draws more from Wong Kar Wais films and their flawed characters and restless longing, as well as literature that embraces uncertainty, particularly the work of Milan Kundera. Zzzahara describes this self-driven cultural education as something that has helped bring perspective and stability without dulling their wild streak. "With this record I thought, what can I say about my life that's authentic without it being woe is me? So that's how I wrote the songs. Let me tell it like the facts, they say. My whole life I've always been so fucking sad, and at some point you get addicted to the sadness. You get addicted to people treating you like shit. You get addicted to the feeling of hurting. Now Ive reached a place where I'm like, nah, dude. I think I'd rather not." Staking a flag in the ground for living truthfully - and that not necessarily meaning perfectly - 'Distant Lands' is laced with the stoic acceptance of life's currents, positive and negative. There's no bullshit to be found here - no solipsism, and certainly no regrets. As long as you're young and you still have energy then you should do things you love, because you never know, they say. You gotta just put your whip to the sky and fucking crack it.

TRACK LISTING

1. Whispering Tree
2. Wandering Eyes
3. She Doesn’t Want Me To Exist
4. Speed Racer
5. Chinese Tobacoo
6. My Little Dove
7. Butterflies
8. Count The Roses
9. Garden
10. I Don’t Understand
11. Andy’s Got A Gun
12. Rainy Days
13. I Can Be Yours Feat. Winter

There is a kinetic energy that binds drummer and producer Karriem Riggins and singer-songwriter, rapper, and producer Liv.e, the spark that happens when instinct meets flow and spirit finds rhythm.

Their collaborative debut as GENA (short for “God Energy, Naturally Amazing,” and loosely inspired by Gina from Martin), 'The Pleasure Is Yours' feels like a playful, soulful conversation between two kindred improvisers: Liv.e’s smoky, unpolished vocals glide through Riggins’ warm, percussive universe. Rooted in jazz, soul, and hip-hop, Liv.e brings a raw, experimental approach to R&B, while Riggins known for his work with Common, Erykah Badu, The Roots, Madlib, and his close kinship with J Dilla, extends his lifelong dialogue between jazz improvisation and beat science.

Together they create a world that’s analog and ethereal, percussive and poetic, bridging eras without settling in one, the sound of two artists finding a new shared language rooted in rhythm, vulnerability, and exuberance.

TRACK LISTING

1. Who's Got A Problem With Gena
2. Theybetterbegladihavetherapy
3. Left The Club Like "Really Nigga!"
4. You've Outdone Yourself Today
5. Unspoken
6. TGD
7. Readymade
8. Douwannabwihtastar
9. This Is So Crazy
10. Lead It Up
11. Howwefl
12. Doobie Doo Wew
13. Circlez
14. Dream A Twinkle
15. Thatsmyluvr
16. Omo Iya Ati Baba

“My auntie asked me what’s my path?” spits Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon on his debut from the celebrated Lex Records. The lyric relatably references the crossroads he’s at in his current life, especially as someone right on the cusp of rap stardom. “Recently I’ve been thinking more and more about what comes next in my life,” the artist reveals.

It’s fair to say Ogbon’s Lex LP features less of the shit-talking court jester of old. Instead, there’s more of an imperfect man re-examining past mistakes so he can avoid any future forks in the road. There’s a particular focus on over coming heartbreak, inspiring Ogbon to admit he’s haunted by an ex so badly he now needs to call up the Ghostbusters for assistance.

Since emerging in the late 2010s, Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon has consistently lit up America’s underground rap scene and this is thanks to a refreshingly honest writing style. Amid the exquisitely wavy strings of 2021’s 'The Missing Link / The Sneaky Link', for example, he rapped: “Everyone thinks they’re play er, until their bitch doesn’t come home.” Biting and snappy, the nasally vocals carry the playful verve of comedian Richard Pryor bravely excavating personal Demons to solicit giggles.

All this brash, wry Redman-inspired storytelling continues on the new project. Its first single is titled 'I’m Signed to Lex, Now I’m Up' – a name that mirrors what a big moment releasing a project on the label that once housed MF DOOM represents for Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon’s legacy. “I’m really driven by being able to level up and give my family more financial freedom,” he hopes.
And, if auntie asked what his path was right now, what exactly would the rap per say? Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon concludes: “Auntie: this rapping thing feels like it’s finally about to pay off!”

TRACK LISTING

1. I’m Signed To Lex Now I’m Up
2. You Know My Love Language Right?
3. Flewed Out, All Expenses Is Paid For
4. Tia Mowry (The Rich TT)
5. Butter Leather Weather
6. Drunk Nights In Edgewood (IMYSM)
7. 360 Photo Booth
8. I’m Getting Too Famous (This Time Last Year)
9. Okay, I Know Who My Twin Flame Is
10. Bedford Avenue (Skit)
11. So You Really Don’t Miss Me?
12. Let Me Reflect / Uber From O’Hare
13. Texting This Fine Shit For A Month
14. Instagram Highlights
15. Nah, You’re Mad Extra
16. King Of Charlotte (I Feel Like Trolling)
17. Lord Jah-Monte’s #1 Supporter (Skit)

“I've always dreamed of making an album where I could bring together artists I deeply admire, curating voices, energies, and sensibilities that have inspired me,” says Brussels-born producer and multidisciplinary artist ShunGu of his new record, Faith in the Unknown. “It took time, and it grew into something very human, rooted in trust, patience, and creative risk. These songs are conversations, not just between me and the artists, but between worlds, eras, and ways of feeling.” That spirit of dialogue and discovery is what defines Faith in the Unknown. Emerging from years of steady, meticulous work in the underground, the album is both a bold statement of identity and an invitation into Shungu’s world. Across 14 tracks, each a self-contained vignette, ShunGu guides the listener through shifting moods and perspectives- moments of intimacy, defiance, reflection and release, coalescing into a much larger story. His distinct touch threads through the surefire cast of collaborators - Pink Siifu, Liv.e, Fly Anakin, Chester Watson, Fatima, Maxo, Navy Blue, Dreamcastmoe, Ruqqiyah, Zekeultra and Goya Gumbani — each track unfolding as a new dimension in the same universe. ShunGu has long been a boundary-pusher, known for weaving jazz-inflected samples, skilfully constructed textures, and MPC-driven grooves into production that feels timeless yet untethered. With Faith in the Unknown he pushes further still: a project as much about collective energy as it is about personal vision. It’s a leap into uncertainty, carried by trust in the process and the people involved. From the lo-fi beat tapes that first won him a cult following, to collaborations that span the globe, Shungu has forged a body of work rooted in exploration and community. Faith in the Unknown crystallises those qualities into his most ambitious statement yet; a record that doesn’t just blur boundaries between genres, but asks what happens when vulnerability and experimentation are treated as shared ground. The result is a record that trades in subtlety. Each artistic contribution adds its own shade to the larger mosaic, pulling the listener deeper into an expanding narrative. If Faith in the Unknown has a message, it’s that art can thrive in uncertainty - that in the spaces where trust, risk, and vulnerability intersect, something entirely new can emerge.

TRACK LISTING

1. Written Down (feat. Pink Siifu)
2. Talk To The Mass (feat. Fly Anakin, Goya Gumbani & Fatima)
3. Serti Dial (feat. Navy Blue)
4. Did You Hear The News (feat. Ruqqiyah)
5. Faith In The Unknown (feat. Maxo)
6. Stay Alive (feat. Pink Siifu)
7. Last Time (feat. Liv.e)
8. Thin Line (feat. Chester Watson)
9. Pray 4 My Friends (feat. Dreamcastmoe)
10. Butterfly (feat. ZEKEULTRA)
11. It Echoes And Sings Like You (feat. Fatima)
12. The Wind Must Have Heard Your Voice Once
13. The Devil Might Want Me Gone (feat. Pink Siifu & Maxo)
14. All I Need Was A Little Bit (feat. Pink Siifu)

Autodidactic musicologist and sample collagist U turned his archival eye on the melting pot of ‘80s post-punk with his debut ‘Life Isn’t A Fountain?’ EP for Lex. He follows up with an experimental exploration of regional identity with 'ARCHENFIELD', a deeply personal collection of ambient music and found sound that examines the relationship between geographical space and aural histories.

To construct this record U mined a wealth of recorded material relevant to the area. With a nod to traditional music, he takes samples from these records and creates beautifully atmospheric sound pieces that are often mixed with painstakingly researched snippets to create a stirring reflection on local history and broader themes of how we interact, or even fail to interact, with English folklore today.

Pressed on 180g vinyl, the album comes with a 24-page visual companion that expands on its themes and folk stories through imagery and narrative, echoing the album’s soundscape. : The Caretaker, Oneohtrix Point Never, JG Bie[1]berkopf, Maxime Denuc, Leon Vynehall

TRACK LISTING

1.Urchins
2.Is It A Kind Of Dream?
3.Avenbury Organist
4.Half Moon
5.The Bitter Withy
6.He’s Found It
7.SPOOKS!
8.Cold Lazarus
9.Black Vaughan
10.In Flanders, Again
11.Buried Treasure
12.Sin Eater
13.Ariconium
14.Lost To The Plough

Fly Anakin is a rapper and producer who approaches his craft in a way few contemporaries can.

Vigilant yet unorthodox, DIY-minded yet prolific, the Richmond, Virginia multihyphenate's razor-sharp lyrics, ear for soulful production, and collaborative synergy are the result of over a decade of fundamental mastery. Described by Madlib as "one of the illest MCs," the Mutant Academy cofounder was in his pocket well ahead of his acclaimed solo debut, Frank (2022). After years of consistent releases with his collective, Anakin broke major ground in 2020 with his and Pink Siifu's joint project FlySiifu's, followed by their $mokebreak EP in 2021. A student of the East Coast's golden age, Anakin transmutes its spirit into music that's both classicist and pioneering, having worked with the likes of Freddie Gibbs, redveil, BbyMutha, and MAVI. With the release of a Mutant Academy debut album completed, and his solo album (The) Forever Dream imminent, Anakin has cemented his place as a leader in rap's underground Renaissance.

(The) Forever Dream commemorates a new era of freedom for Anakin, who rarely approaches bodies of work without a preconceived concept. Executive produced by Quelle Chris, the project, which features the likes of Denmark Vessey, The Alchemist, BbyMutha, and Pink Siifu, includes songs that Anakin believes are some of his most experimental and ambitious. "The album is me and Quelle kicking it, smoking, learning each other, and playing video games," he says of the project's inspiration and recording process. "It was time to make some mindless music, to tackle production I would've otherwise picked up." The long anticipated project comes after years of Anakin and Quelle developing a strong rapport, stemming back to 2019. "Quelle is one of the best collaborators ever--he's not biased but he knows what he likes, open minded but stubborn at the right times," Anakin says of his collaborative relationship with the Grammy nominated producer. "On the low we just alike but polar opposites, we can do no wrong together."

Born Frank L. Walton, Jr., Fly Anakin grew up in Richmond's Hillside Court projects and describes his upbringing as equal parts "peaceful and chaotic." Anakin came up on a rich diet of cartoons and the music of prolific MCs, and cites his older brother, a rapper, as his biggest musical influence. "I saw what he did as wizardry," Anakin, who has always been propelled by keen imagination and a sense of curiosity, remembers. "So I started writing, by the age of 13 I was recording music." In 2010, Anakin and Henny L.O. started Mutant Academy, which has since grown to include Big Kahuna OG, Ohbliv, Ewonee, and Foisey among its ranks. Anakin's collective, which makes a nod to the X-Men franchise, was formed as a vessel for his creatively gifted friends to join forces. "Everybody around us was making videos, making beats or rapping, and we picked up the people we stuck with the most," he says of its formation. "We're literally like a family now." Since then, Anakin has released over a dozen collaborative projects with Mutant Academy members, with Open House (2014), Backyard Boogie (2018), At the End of the Day (2020), Skinemaxxxsides A and B(2023)as notable standouts. Teaming up with PinkSiifu during the COVID-19 pandemic, projects FlySiifu's (2020) and $mokebreak (2021) marked a turning point for Anakin. Beyond consistently producing for Mutant Academy, his innovative, sample-averse approach began to push forward artists like BbyMutha and Monday Night. That traction led to the critical reception of the Lex signee's solo debut Frank (2022), which earned him recognition as "the best pure rapper in the scene" by Pitchfork. "That album was my baby and I neglected it for so long because of what was happening in the world," Anakin says of the album, which receivedseveral Album of the Year accolades. "I never asked for that one to be the one, but it's the one."

TRACK LISTING

1. Good Clothes Feat. Demae
2. Teen Summit
3. My Nigga Feat. $ilkmoney, Quelle Chris & Big Kahuna OG
4. Lil One (Intro)
5. Lil One
6. CheckOnMe Feat. Lojii
7. NOTTOOSHABBY Feat. Quelle Chris, Nickelus F & $ilkmoney
8. Lord Forgives, I Hold Grudges Feat. Denmark Vessey & Pink Siifu
9. The Times
10. Forever Dream (Interlude)
11. Forever Dream
12. Corner Pocket Feat. Quelle Chris & BbyMutha
13. Dr Phil (Skit) Feat. Sycho Sid
14. YOUGOTME!!
15. Foreverever Dream (Interlude)
16. Say Thank You Feat. Pink Siifu & Turich Benjy 

'Funeral Music', Triathalon’s fifth album, began taking shape when the band imagined what they’d like played during their memorials. Continuously referencing “play this at my funeral” throughout writing and recording, the album became a realization of this concept. Lead single 'RIP' is a 90s-influenced rock track inspired by artists like Pixies, Deftones, and Nirvana. Adam Intrator says, “The aim for ‘RIP’ was to kickstart feelings on what it felt like to listen to a late 90s rock song for the first time as a kid in your parents car in the backseat and asking to hear it louder. ‘RIP’ has a double meaning; it’s about both dying and being reborn.”

Born out of a period of heartbreak, growing pains, and self discovery, 'Funeral Music' showcases a darker, more vulnerable side of the band. With a more minimal approach, every element within the album is highlighted, from cleaner guitar tones, to live-tracked drums, to first-take vocals mixed with singular piano playing and experimental production. 'Funeral Music' not only reflects the band’s sonic shift but also reinvents the overall dynamics between their sound, energy and workflow. These songs were written, demoed, recorded and mixed in various places, bedrooms, studios and houses over the course of two years and is the band’s strongest and most cohesive work to date. workflow. These songs were written, demoed, recorded and mixed in various places, bedrooms, studios and houses over the course of two years and is the band’s strongest and most cohesive work to date.

TRACK LISTING

1. My Love
2. Chevy
3. Down
4. RIP
5. Clover
6. Funeral Music
7. Last Night
8. See You Smile
9. Melt
10. Way Out
11. Salt
12. Jordan
13. Wall
14. Your Eyes
15. Eulogy

Stars collapse and new worlds arise in Devastations, the bold new album from Andrew Hung.

Andrew Hung is an artist known for his breakthrough debut Realisationship, film soundtracks (The Greasy Strangler, An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn) and his collaborations (Fuck Buttons, Beth Orton and Aimée Osbourne)

His work as Fuck Buttons brought about three critically-acclaimed albums, headline slots at festivals such as Glastonbury, Green Man and All Tomorrow’s Parties. Their music sound tracked key moments in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony.

Hung went on to work with cult director Jim Hosking and his films “The Greasy Strangler” (winning best comedy at the Empire awards, “An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn” and “Tropical Cop Tales” for Adult Swim.

Hung continued his collaborative streak through writing and producing with artist Beth Orton on her career redefining album Kidsticks (described by The Skinny as “…an exceptional return to form.”) and daughter of a rock god, Aimée Osbourne on her incredible debut album Vacare Adamaré (Released under the name ARO).

Hung now returns his attention to his own expression.

Hung’s second album Devastations is the ecstatic cry of colour found between light and dark. The album documents a transitional period in Hung’s life; a stepping out from the shadows. Hung explores the deepest recesses of his psyche and in doing so finds himself reconciling the light and dark within. Underlying the propulsive bests and prisms of noise is a melodic tenderness that weaves throughout the album; an offering hand emerging from a turbulent sky. The deepening of inner space becomes an exploration of the universal; a new beginning from the Devastations of old worlds.

The artist wrote, performed, produced and mixed the whole album himself. He also painted the self-portrait that adorns the cover of the album. The oil painting further illuminates the artist’s intentions in his work; it depicts the artist stepping out of a shadowy world, partially lit by the bright light of the sun.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Former Fuck Button Andrew Hung returns for only his second full album under his own name, though has been busy with a number of superb soundtrack outings since then. 'Devastations' is a brilliantly innovative mix of gothic synth pop, avant electronica and slow motion loungy Krautrock grooves, all topped with Hung's distinctive vocal style. Bold and exciting, and filled with moments of pure joy.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
1. Battle
2. Promises
3. Brother
4. Colour

Side B
1. Light
2. Wave
3. Space
4. Goodbye 

Realisationship is Andrew Hung's debut solo album. As co-founder of Fuck Buttons; the highly-influential noise-electronic duo, Andrew Hung has toured extensively with headline shows at the Kentish Town Forum, Glastonbury and Greenman Festivals, been featured on the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony and all three albums have featured as Best New Music on Pitchfork Media. His production work has included Zun Zun Egui's "Shackles Gift" and co-writing/co-producing the critically acclaimed "Kidsticks" by Beth Orton. He soundtracked the multiple-award winning film "The Greasy Strangler". 

TRACK LISTING

Side A:
1. Say What You Want
2. Elbow
3. No I Won’t
4. Private Commercial
5. Whispers
Side B:
1. Shadow
2. Sugar Pops
3. Animal
4. Open Your Eyes