RUN THAT BACK — April 2021
Let’s take a look back at all the music that April had to offer, including new hits from Shelley FKA Dram, Miguel, Jorja Smith, Wale and more. Be sure to comment your favorite music from April or @ us on Twitter @ IGotTimeBlog.
If you missed any music from March, make sure to check out last month’s edition:
ALBUMS
Ran it back all April: Shelley FKA DRAM — Self Titled
Dropped: April 30, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
Alright so maybe I didn’t play it all April since it dropped on literally the last day of April, but I was anticipating this album for the whole month, especially after hearing “Exposure” and “Cooking With Grease.” This is DRAM’s, now Shelley FKA DRAM, first new project since 2016’s Big Baby DRAM, and he’s completely revamped to a more mature neo-soul sound. Shelley talked about taking a step away from the sound of Big Baby DRAM and getting back to his core sound in his YouTube talk show series called The Shelley Show. This is also why he wanted to start using his birth name, Shelley. I, for one, am a major fan of the change-up and love the more mature vibe in Shelley’s music, while still keeping a little of his comical flare.
The album was beautifully sung and wonderfully produced. Features from Summer Walker, H.E.R., and the incredible Erykah Badu also help elevate the ethereal tone of the album. The first half of the album is truly an ode to a beautiful love. The type of stuff that you’d play on a candlelit, solo, dinner with your significant other as you look into each other’s eyes and fall deeper in love. But once you get to “ ’93 Acura Vigor,” that’s when the fairytale love comes to an end and the infidelity starts to come in. But the way that Shelley sings about it is so beguiling (but I can’t say I condone sleeping with a married woman).
My favorite track is probably the H.E.R. and WATT-assisted “The Lay Down,” which has an accompanying video (where H.E.R. looks absolutely gorgeous) which you can check out below. The other videos from the album include Cooking with Grease, All Pride Aside, and Exposure, which are performed as “live” performances on the Shelley Show.
2. Afgan — Wallflower
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8.3/10
3. Charlie Heat — Valentine’s Son
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8/10
4. Moneybagg Yo x A Gangsta’s pain
Dropped: April 23, 2021
Rating: 7.7/10
5. Lil T jay— Destined 2 Win
Dropped: April 30, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
6. Matt Martians — Going Normal
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
7. DJ Khaled — KHALED KHALED
Dropped: April 30, 2021
Rating: 7/10
8. BROCKHAMPTON — Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 6/10
9. Young Stoner Life (Young Thug, Gunna) — Slime Language 2
Dropped: April 16, 2021
Rating: 6/10
EPs
Ran it back all April: Shantel May — Don’t let them see you cry
Dropped: April 2, 2021
Rating: 9/10
Okay, now, this is one I ran back all April! And let me just say, the EP’s ate in April. Discovering Shantel May was certainly a highlight of my month. Shantel is a Toronto native, and has been a backup singer for DVSN and has toured with them, as well. You may also recognize her from being featured on the closing track of DVSN’s A Muse In Her Feelings, “…Again.” But Shantel is coming into her own with this debut EP centered around not letting a failed lover know that they have any bearing over your emotions.
The EP has just one feature, coming from Westside Gunn. His feature was less than spectacular and honestly could’ve gone without it, but I ain't mad at it. May’s singing is spectacular throughout the project and the lyrics just be hitting something different. Especially on “No Ratings” and “Waiting.” When May said “You’re like your daddy you never met” I felt second-hand hurt on that. She was cutting deep. A lot of the songs are also just very catchy and I can’t help but sing along. That’s also assisted by the production of the songs, with a few of the songs being produced by DVSN’s Ninteen85. I think this was a great jump start for Shantel, and I can’t wait to get more music from her and hopefully more DVSN features and maybe even a Drake or PND feature too.
As far as videos, May has videos for “Don’t Wanna Pretend” (my favorite track), which you can peep below, and “It’s Better This Way.” For “Don’t Wanna Pretend,” y’know, I’m not really sure how the video connects with the song. It’s Shantel and her girls driving to a spot to have a smoke session? But I’m still vibing with it. The song is great and Shantel and her girls look amazing, so no complaints from me. “It’s Better This Way” is set during a photoshoot back in May’s hometown and it’s cool to see a day in the life.
2. Tay Iwar — Love & Isolation
Dropped: April 16, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
3. NBDY — Tunnel Vision
Dropped: April 16, 2021
Rating: 8.3/10
4. Elhae — Aura III
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8/10
5. Miguel x Art Dealer Chic 4
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8/10
6. Cordae x Just Until….
Dropped: April 22, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
SINGLES
Ran it back all April: Sonder, Jorja Smith — Nobody But You
Dropped: April 22, 2021
Rating: 10/10
I play this song entirely too much. At first, I thought Sonder was just Brent Faiyaz’s original stage name but turns out Sonder is a group comprised of producers Dpat and Atu, with Brent Faiyaz as the lead singer. This collaboration between them and Jorja Smith is sublime. It gives the perspective of both a man who obviously had some communication issues and a woman on the other end who felt slighted by that lack of communication and reassurance. The back and forth duet of Brent and Jorja is precisely what my ears needed.
2. Sinéad Harnett — Hard 4 Me 2 Love You
Dropped: April 14, 2021
Rating: 10/10
3. H.E.R., Chris Brown — Come Through
Dropped: April 23, 2021
Rating: 9.5/10
4. Jorja Smith — Gone
Dropped: April 19, 2021
Rating: 9.3/10
5. JMSN — Rolling Stone
Dropped: April 23, 2021
Rating: 9/10
6. Doja Cat, SZA — Kiss Me More
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 9/10
7. Phabo, Destin Conrad — Slippery
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
8. Kirby — Boyz II Men
Dropped: April 8, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
9. Brian Puspos — Skin Deep
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8.5/10
10. Andra Day — Phone Dies
Dropped: April 16, 2021
Rating: 8/10
11. Dirty Bird — Cartz 3
Dropped: April 20, 2021
Rating: 8/10
15. The WRLDFMS Tony Williams, Wale — Everybody Knows
Dropped: April 16, 2021
Rating: 8/10
12. Majid Jordan — Waves of Blue
Dropped: April 9, 2021
Rating: 8/10
14. Benny The Butcher, Ransom — Spineless
Dropped: April 23, 2021
Rating: 8/10
13. Niko Walters, Kiana Lede — not my neighbor
Dropped: April 15, 2021
Rating: 7.7/10
16. Kaien Cruz — Weekend
Dropped: April 2, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
17. Ari Lennox, Queen Naija — Set Him Up
Dropped: April 8, 2021
Rating: 7/10
REMIXES
Ran it back all April: Tiana Major9 — At sixes and sevens remixed (Album)
Dropped: April 2, 2021
Rating: 8/10
Tiana Major9 dropped an album of remixes to her 2020 project “Back At Sixes and Sevens,” with features from Jvck James, Haile, Vince Staples, SiR, and Beam, and included the Lucky Daye-assisted track, “On Read.” I loved the original album and the remixes didn't taint any of the songs. I think every feature did they thang on their respective song. My favorite has to be the Same Space remix with SiR. Tiana and SiR have such soothing voices and I think they complimented each other very well on that track.
2. Rina Sawayama, Elton John — Chosen Family
Dropped: April 15, 2021
Rating: 8/10
3. Vedo, Yung Bleu — You Got It (remix)
Dropped: April 2, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
4. Di’Ja , Tiwa Savage, UNIIQU3, Mavins — The way you are (remix)
Dropped: April 1, 2021
Rating: 7.5/10
