Five Albums From Summer 2023 That You Might Have Missed
Graphic by Harry Sutton
By: Harry Sutton and Noah Weinberg
This summer brought us some massive rap albums like Travis Scott’s Utopia, Gunna’s a Gift & a Curse, and Young Thug’s Business is Business, but at Mixtape, we think a few albums might have gone under the radar. In case you haven’t been keeping your ear to the ground in the rap scene, here are five albums from the summer that you should be sure not to miss.
F65 by IDK
We weren’t expecting much from IDK’s latest race-car-themed effort, F65. Still, after listening through the tracklist, we were blown away by the Maryland rapper’s sonic growth. This record has character, musical texture, and thoughtful verses from the man whose acronym stands for Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge. The jazzy-trap fusion of “850 (We On Top)” is a highlight for its underlying string section and climactic beat switch, while “Thug Tear” has been in my rotation all summer because of IDK’s charming delivery behind joyous keys. There’s something for everyone on this album, including a Stevie Wonder cover and scat jazz outro. For one of the most addictingly diverse albums all year, look no further than IDK’s F65.
MID AIR by Paris Texas
Louie Pastel and Felix, more commonly known as the alternative rap-duo Paris Texas, released their debut album MID AIR this July after emerging from the Soundcloud underground. Although most of their instrumentation is inspired by punk and grunge, the pair’s deliveries and flows are heavily inspired by the likes of Outkast, Kendrick Lamar, and Lucki.
On MID AIR, the rap-rock tandem delivered some potent, chaotic tracks like “NüWhip” and “PANIC!!!,” but they also dedicated some serious time to experimentation. The 50-minute experience includes some intriguing sounds like the distorted brass centerpiece on “Closed Caption,” the “Where Is My Mind?”-reminiscent of “Ain’t No High,” and the EDM production on “Sean-Jared.” A feature of the year contender from Kenny Mason on “DnD” and a melodious bridge from Teezo Touchdown on “Full English” also thoroughly bolstered the album’s depth. With the pair’s Twitter-infused lyrical wit and penchant for boundary-pushing, MID AIR is one of the best alternative rap records of the year.
Sundial by Noname
Noname has long stood as a polarizing character for her aggressively progressive political views, and her first album in five years, Sundial, doesn’t shy away from controversy. But behind all of the vitriol that Noname spews, there’s still a stunning jazz-rap spectacle. Swinging bass and shimmering keys center this album’s production, and Noname’s wordsmithery is as poetic as ever. You may not agree or admire everything that comes out of Noname’s mouth on this album, but you have to respect how intricately she constructs her arguments. If you’re looking for a thought-provoking listen from one of Chicago’s most talented lyricists, Noname’s Sundial is for you.
The Patience by Mick Jenkins
Sticking in the Windy City, Mick Jenkins’ fourth studio album The Patience is one of the classier rap albums this year has offered, as the Chicago rapper elegantly glides over jazzy, percussion-heavy beats with clever wordplay and emphatic delivery. While it may not be his most ambitious record, The Patience delivers some of Jenkins’ best tracks since his 2014 breakout The Water(s).
Although the production maintains consistency throughout the record, Jenkins shows some impressive versatility when alternating between menacing, elegant, and insightful tones from track to track. Some of the many highlights from the nearly-28-minute record include the potent hook on “Show & Tell” transitioning into a fervent Freddie Gibbs verse, and the chemistry between Jenkins and JID on the smooth “Smoke Break-Dance.”
‘Decent by Tobi Lou and FARADA
On his fifth album, ‘Decent, Chicago rapper-producer Tobi Lou evolves from an amateur artist baiting TikTok virality to a confident beatmaker cultivating smooth instrumental palettes. Though the project takes up less than half an hour, it comes across as Tobi Lou’s most complete work thus far. Enrolling help from underground producers like Glassface and Internet Boy, ‘Decent creates a lush and spacey texture over which Tobi Lou delivers sleek, though admittedly nonchalant, rap verses.
The album feels like a collage of Tobi Lou’s future-facing sonic ideas, ranging from trap songs over glittery soul samples to Jersey club-inspired tracks like “Meteor Shower.” There’s even a song with Chief Keef rapping over acoustic guitar and sci-fi movie sound effects. Most of the record keeps a Chicago-only policy, enrolling Chief Keef, Saba, and Polo G for features, with a 12-second contribution from NBA All-Star Damian Lillard proving to be the only exception. Despite not aiming for insightful commentary through his lyrics, Tobi Lou’s performance on ‘Decent displays the ambition of an artist committed to finding new sounds.