L'Orange & Mr. Lif, "A World Without Music"
As is his penchant, Mr. Lif's 2016 album was a concept record, this one based around the idea of a society that had stamped out culture completely. As with his other concept albums, it connects better on some tracks than others, but I appreciate the ambition. Meanwhile, the collab with L'Orange on the beats is all great, so overall, it's another great record.
Childish Gambino, "Me And Your Mama"
This is the opening of "Awaken, My Love!", which made a clear statement that Gambino wasn't making his previous album again. It feels to me like a throwback to Funkadelic or Sly and the Family Stone. But not for the funk, although that's part of it, but for the restlessness on the album. Nothing is standing still here, and it's all over the map. What's impressive, though, is how well it all comes together. In that way, it's again like a vintage Funkadelic record, where the creativity can sell you on whatever is going on. If you haven't listened to this album, it should very much be a priority.
Action Bronson and Statik Selektah, "Time For Some"
I think I've pretty much made clear my opinion on Action Bronson around here, which is that he's perfectly enjoyable as long as you don't mind listening to Diet Ghostface.
The Queers, "She's A Cretin"
LOOK IN A MIRROR, THE QUEERS
Squarepusher, "Massif (Stay Strong)"
Squarepusher followed up the epochal Hard Normal Daddy just a few months later with the EP Big Loada (the US release has some extra tracks from other places appended to it), which continued in roughly the same vein. It's not quite as strong as Hard Normal Daddy, but that's not at all a fair bar. It's still excellent stuff, and this track is one of the highlights on it.