May 2023 was a month for unpredictable creative swings. Between long-awaited producer-rapper team-ups and pop veterans setting fire to their old radio formulas, here are the five records we couldn't stop playing.
KAYTRAMINÉ - KAYTRAMINÉ
Whenever two established artists announce a collaborative project, skepticism is healthy—too often they feel like rushed marketing exercises. KAYTRAMINÉ avoids that trap completely. Kaytranada's trademark syncopated kick drums and warm Rhodes chords mesh effortlessly with Aminé's goofy, self-deprecating verses.
On "4EVA," featuring vocal work and production assists from Pharrell Williams, they strike an easy late-night bounce. The album clocks in at a brisk eleven tracks, delivering a breezy, cookout-ready tape that knows when to wrap up.
Kesha - Gag Order
Anyone expecting the cheerful party-pop of "TiK ToK" was in for a rude awakening. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, Gag Order is an eerie, ambient-folk and electronic project written in the final stages of Kesha's brutal legal fight with Dr. Luke. It is dark, sparse, and completely unconcerned with radio charts.
On "Eat The Acid," she reflects on a bizarre spiritual warning from her mother over cold synthesizer pulses. Vocals are left unpolished and cracked, emphasizing the emotional toll of a decade spent fighting for her artistic autonomy. It marks the bravest creative move of her career.
IDK - F65
Maryland rapper IDK wrapped his fourth studio album around the aesthetic of Formula 1 motorsport, using the racing speed concept to sprint through a dizzying array of Black musical traditions. Over 22 tracks, he shifts between French jazz chords, Jersey club percussion, boom-bap, and Afrobeats.
Tracks like "Télé Couleur" and "Champs-Élysées" highlight how effortlessly he handles live instrumentation without losing his punchline rap sharpness. While trimming three or four tracks would have improved the pacing, his musical curiosity is hard to fault.
Armani White - Road to CASABLANCO.
After "BILLIE EILISH" blew up across TikTok in 2022, Armani White faced the challenge every viral artist dreads: proving he wasn't just a 15-second gimmick. His nine-track EP Road to CASABLANCO. clears that hurdle with sharp Philly wordplay and punchy boom-bap rhythms.
On "GOATED," featuring Denzel Curry, he matches rapid-fire bars over vintage horn stabs, while "PROUD OF YOU" addresses family grief and imposter syndrome. With features from veterans like Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, and N.O.R.E., White proves his hip-hop foundation goes far deeper than viral clips.
(G)-IDLE - I feel
In an industry where K-pop groups rarely control their own musical output, (G)-IDLE remains an anomaly. Group leader Soyeon once again wrote and produced the bulk of their mini-album I feel, tackling beauty standards and insecurity through the lens of early-2000s teen movies.
"Queencard" pairs distorted pop-rock guitars with a cheeky dancefloor pulse, while "Allergy" takes a refreshingly direct look at Instagram comparison anxiety. It's funny, self-aware, and shows why they remain one of the most distinctive acts in modern pop.
"We are breaking boundaries, shattering stereotypes, and amplifying the voices of a generation poised to change the world."
Views expressed in interviews belong to contributors and featured creatives.
