A. Harmony

Thanks to her latest effort, Fountain Baby, the Ghanaian-American artist no longer has to wonder about African music's impending domination — because she's helping to usher it in.

Raven's unstructured, experimental feel may be unsettling for some, but the project's only other downside is that eventually, it ends.

Although it captures the feeling of a bygone era with such accuracy, An Evening with Silk Sonic still feels current and avoids sounding parodic. .Paak and Mars each contribute their own modern take on the music rather than trying to mimic greats of the past.

The crown jewel on this album is Yebba's remarkable delivery. Vocally, she is limitless; there is no sonic challenge too great. Throughout Dawn, she exhibits wit and exemplary control and the blurred genre lines on the album are her playground.

Though Gunn's vintage sound might not work for everyone, Pray for Paris is a total delight for those who want to reminisce without feeling stuck in the past.

Though Gambino takes himself a bit too seriously at times, 3.15.20's pleasant moments make up for his missteps.

At least a quarter of the swollen, 20-song track list is a repetitive slog that could have stayed on the cutting room floor. With the clutter removed, the best songs of the bunch could have had a chance to really shine.

Brent Faiyaz blends the bitter with the sweet on his latest EP, Fuck the World.

However difficult it might be to ingest his candour, there is also a maturity about Miller in which to take solace. There's a sense of growth and lessons learned.

Like the best of old-school R&B, - Ugh, those feels again has a heavy hip-hop influence and an aura of feel-good innocence throughout, even on darker songs like "Love Like That" and the infectious, call-and-response number "Nothing to Me."

Despite its wrinkles, Shea Butter Baby is a strong start for Lennox. What it lacks in sophistication, it makes up for in heart.

Sharp, cohesive, and refreshingly different, Lady Lady is a peerless effort with major replay value. If you weren't yet convinced of Masego's star power, this album will win you over.

Smooth, mellow and delightfully warm, Hive Mind is a much-needed feel-good album that is well worth the three-year wait.

On his surprise effort, Freddie, Indiana spitfire Freddie Gibbs delivers a layered, delightfully clever offering that punches above its weight in a very hectic month.

Overall, soil is a courageous effort where serpentwithfeet's bravery pays off.

Thanks to the lack of coherence or variety though, nothing on Die Lit really sticks. It's fun enough but, save for a few keepers, has the lifespan of a mayfly. Rock to it for the summer and forget most of it by September.

Lush, sensual and eclectic, Isolation is a sure-footed declaration of independence, and each track presents one of Uchis's different facets.

Although there's some room for improvement, Victory Lap is still a solid effort with the promise of better to come. Hussle approaches his career like a marathon, not a race, and his best days still feel ahead of him.

It won't be a white-hot success, but November is another solid effort from SiR that's ripe with potential.

No_One Ever Really Dies is the group's most futuristic and experimental effort to date; it's gutsy and more than a little weird, but there's a slick tidiness underpinning the chaos from start to finish.

Even in its weighty moments, the simple melodies, infectious hooks and liberal dashes of humour will keep your spirits up from start to finish. Good For You is a satisfying, well-rounded effort.

There aren't too many MCs from Jay-Z's era who had the opportunity to reach their full potential. In that sense, 4:44 is a refreshing, full-circle moment for hip-hop lovers — and a true pleasure to hear.

DAMN. is the first time in Lamar's career that he hasn't broken new ground, explored old themes in new ways or exhibited sonic growth. That said, it's a small blemish on an otherwise spotless catalogue.

Courageous and passionate, Bada$$ is a well-timed soundtrack to social and political struggle.