Wednesday Roundups #16: 6 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time

Stream releases from McKinley Dixon, Full Crate, Keyze AriZona, CJ Fly, Cisco Swank, and No Guidnce.

Welcome back to Shatter the Standards!

The sixteenth outing of Wednesday Roundups returns.

It might be challenging to prioritize your music listening when so much new music is available. Shatter the Standards provide a weekly summary of newsworthy releases on streaming platforms. McKinley Dixon, Full Crate, Keyze AriZona, CJ Fly, Cisco Swank, and No Guidnce were among the artists with new albums or projects last week. Watch for weekly music drops every Wednesday for suggestions of lesser-known albums.

Here are your roundups for today!

McKinley Dixon — Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

McKinley Dixon is a Maryland-born artist who spent much of his childhood moving between Maryland and Jamaica, Queens. Dixon's music is deeply inspired by these experiences, which spurred a sense of longing and a desire for escapism through music. This longing and escape are central to his music, especially his new project​. The album explores various themes, including restlessness, gun violence, grief, and loneliness, featuring a mix of live instrumentation from keys to strings to gentle bass. Ultimately, Beloved! Paradise! Jazzz!? represents a journey into the psyche of McKinley Dixon, reflecting the peaks and valleys of his life and his commitment to making his stories accessible while staying true to what he loves​​.

Full Crate — A Kid from Yerevan (R&B) [Listen]

In his maiden album, A Kid from Yerevan, Full Crate bravely reveals a more sensitive aspect of his persona, exploring the internal fears that restrain him and his profound romantic encounters. Moreover, this remarkable collection of songs illuminates Full Crate's distinct personal narrative and heritage. The LP shows his genuine self-expression as a multifaceted artist - showcasing his talents as a musician, vocalist, songwriter, and producer.

Keyze AriZona — i wonder! IS GOD REAL? (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

Keyze AriZona releases i wonder! IS GOD REAL? The album features seventeen tracks with a mix of hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and many other influences.

CJ Fly — HEALING FROM OUR WOUNDS (Hip-Hop) [Listen]

HEALING FROM OUR WOUNDS is an album by CJ Fly that showcases his eloquent thought process and narrative approach. The album captures the challenges and experiences of being a young Black man in America, with the tracklist delving deeper into these issues and parts of his own personal narrative. The album is described as rich in textured layers, and his music is a means of healing, as reflected in the album title. CJ Fly's storytelling is highlighted, with a focus on the beauty within it.

Cisco Swank — More Better (Hip-Hop/R&B) [Listen]

Cisco Swank released his debut solo album More Better via THANKS Recordings. This album comes after his 2022 joint project with Chicago-based producer Luke Titus, Some Things Take Time. The new album showcases Swank's versatility as a jazz-trained rapper, blending different genres, including R&B, gospel, jazz, and hip-hop, into a cohesive 12-track project. The LP also features his longtime friends Yoshi T. and Laura Elliot, along with an appearance by Titus. Swank views this album as a collection of sonic vignettes of his life and experiences over the past five years. He aimed to make it relatable by including elements that everyone can connect with from various genres. He describes it as a culmination of everything he grew up listening to and wishes to pay homage to, emphasizing that the album is about getting through​.

No Guidnce — Is It a Crime? - EP (R&B) [Listen]

The EP Is It a Crime? is a debut four-track offering by London R&B group No Guidnce. The group has gained attention on the TikTok stage at the Great Escape and is known for its substantial social media presence. The EP represents their bold, creative gesture, offering a soulful array of songs ideal for the summer season. The production and writing of the EP involved vital collaborators, including Victoria Monét, JR Totem, Akeel Henry, Lunchmoney Lewis, and Theron Thomas.