Call it the current rotation, the soundtrack to our days, or the albums we just can’t shake, these projects have a hold on us. From experimental R&B to jazz-laced confessionals, each record brings something worth sitting with.
If they’re not already in your queue, you’re missing out on some of the best storytelling and sound design happening right now.
JAWAN.mp3: Reverie
With Reverie, JAWAN.mp3 presents a 14-track odyssey that reimagines his 2021 EP, The Abstract, as a fully realized body of work.
Produced alongside long-time collaborator Tonye Ayeba, the project explores romance, vulnerability, and emotional well-being, building a sonic landscape that is both abstract and deeply personal.
Featuring the original tracks from The Abstract alongside eight new songs and exclusive alternate versions, Reverie stands as a sophisticated evolution of his artistry, modern R&B steeped in self-exploration and delivered with striking cohesion.
Destin Conrad: wHIMSY
Destin Conrad embraces spontaneity and playfulness on wHIMSY, a free-flowing dive into alternative jazz.
Created in just two weeks in Los Angeles, the album captures the unfiltered joy of experimentation, with Conrad crafting a “whimsical world” meant to be experienced from start to finish. Featuring Terrace Martin, James Fauntleroy, Vanisha Gould, and Ambré, wHIMSY feels like a personal passion project that reintroduces jazz to a new generation while honoring its roots.
It’s bold, warm, and proof that freedom fuels creativity.
Juicy J: Caught Up In This Illusion
A pioneer of Southern hip-hop, Juicy J takes an unexpected but masterful turn with his second jazz album, Caught Up In This Illusion.
Across 12 tracks of live instrumentation from saxophones and pianos to cellos and guitars he fuses his signature Memphis flow with lush, layered arrangements.
Co-created with bassist Endea Owens and featuring artists like Black Thought and Cory Henry, the project feels both intimate and expansive, offering a rare glimpse into Juicy J’s emotional and artistic depth.
Khamari: To Dry a Tear
Khamari’s To Dry a Tear is a masterclass in modern soul, an intimate reflection on heartbreak, healing, and the quiet power of self-awareness.
With stripped-down production and cinematic arrangements, the album channels the spirits of D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and Jeff Buckley while crafting something uniquely its own.
Khamari’s voice and pen are equally arresting, grounding each track in honesty. He’s not just R&B’s next star, he’s shaping the genre’s future.
Odeal: The Summer That Saved Me
British-Nigerian artist Odeal mixes Afro-fusion, R&B, and soul into an immersive soundscape that feels like late-night introspection wrapped in warm production.
The Summer That Saved Me plays like a coming-of-age diary, vulnerable, rhythmic, and deeply intentional. It’s a record that reveals more with every listen, marking Odeal as one of the most compelling voices shaping the next wave of R&B.
Which of these albums are you adding to your playlist this weekend?
Check out The Gentlemen’s Soundtrack below.
