New Music Friday: 9 albums to stream this week

Whether he’s giving Satan a lap dance or giving birth on camera, Lil Nas X has been known to make a bold statement. The pop star has come a long way since his humble beginnings with breakout single “Old Town Road” 2019 – a track that became the longest running No 1 single in US history. But while critics wrote him off as a one-hit wonder, Lil Nas X wasn’t going to be deterred. With high-concept (and high-budget) music videos, like “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Industry Baby”, as well as headline-grabbing appearances at the VMAs and BET Awards, Nas put himself – a proudly-out gay, Black man – front-and-centre. His fearless artistry has solidified his status as a defining star of this generation.

His full-length debut Montero is an extension of Nas’ music to date. Featuring star-studded contributions by Doja Cat, Elton John, Jack Harlow, Megan Thee Stallion, and Miley Cyrus, the 15-track album is impressively eclectic, pulling on everything from trap beats to early 00s R&B to stadium rock. Nas’ lyrics are refreshingly honest explorations of love and loneliness, from having an affair with closeted man in “That’s What I Want” to heartfelt reflections on depression in “Void” and fame in “Industry Baby”.

Elsewhere, Aaron Cartier drops a gargantuan 30-track record, hyperpop prodigy p4rkr releases their debut album, and RP Boo hits the dancefloor on Established!.