Friday, October 9 brought a deep batch of hip hop and R&B: two long-awaited R&B albums, a solo album from half of EARTHGANG, Gunna starting a new era with Coco Gauff, and a Cardi B song for one of the biggest video game soundtracks of the year. Here’s what dropped since last Friday and what we think of each one.
Albums and Projects
Joyce Wrice, MACHIKO. Released October 9. Her first album in five years is named after her middle name (“Machi means city, Ko means girl or child”) and plays “like a movie,” she told The FADER. JID, SALIMATA, Rio Da Yung OG, Odeal, Mack Keane and Eem Triplin all appear, and Ty Dolla $ign hops on a “Crack the Code” remix (Trill Mag).
Our take: The R&B album of the week. The five-year wait shows in how complete it feels.
Johnny Venus, THE 11TH HOUR. Released October 9. The EARTHGANG MC’s 12-track solo album features 6LACK (“SO BEAUTIFUL”), Ink and Alissia (“SARAHTONIN”), and Spillage Village with Asha Imuno (“CAN YOU PRAY FOR ME”) (HotNewHipHop).
Our take: A Spillage Village feature on a Venus solo album is a treat for longtime fans.
Ovrkast., STRIKING. Released October 9. The rapper-producer follows 2025’s While The Iron Is Hot with 12 tracks featuring Joey Bada$$, MAVI (Charlotte’s own), Samara Cyn, Niontay and more (HotNewHipHop).
Our take: Rap built around the writing and the beats, with a strong Carolina connection through MAVI.
Dawn Richard, creole culture. Out now via Merge Records. Co-executive produced by Katalyst, the album blends alt-R&B, pop and electronics as a tribute to the melting pot of New Orleans (Clash).
Our take: Dawn keeps finding new ground. This one sounds like home.
Ledisi, For Dinah (Deluxe Edition). Released October 9 (Baller Alert, Rated R&B). Rated R&B files it under jazz.
Our take: A deluxe run for the grown folks. Ledisi’s voice is always worth another listen.
Also out October 9 in R&B: Danielle Ponder, Everything Has Changed (per Rated R&B’s release calendar).
Singles
Gunna, “Pop It”. Released October 9. It’s his first solo release since 2025’s The Last Wun and the first on his own SB THE LABEL, in partnership with Atlantic. Tennis star Coco Gauff appears in the Spike Jordan-directed video (The FADER).
Our take: A new label, a new era and a Grand Slam champ in the video. That’s Culture x Sports in one rollout.
Offset feat. Don Toliver, “Every Night”. Built on a sample of Jodeci’s 1995 classic “Freek’n You,” it previews Offset’s fourth solo album GMFU, which is due October 23 through Motown (Complex).
Our take: Anytime you flip Jodeci, you’d better get it right, and Don Toliver’s melodies carry it.
Jessie Reyez feat. Samara Cyn, “For Sixxx In The Mornin”. Released October 9 as a standalone single (HotNewHipHop).
Our take: Samara Cyn keeps landing in the right rooms. She’s in today’s Who You Should Hear for a reason.
Lil Baby feat. Bally Baby & Fatt Smaxk, “Coast 2 Coast”. Released October 7 with a party-bus video (Baller Alert).
Our take: Lil Baby putting his people on. It’s built for the function.
More October 9 singles worth a spin: Young Nudy, “Who Dat Is”; Ray Vaughn, “Set It Off”; French Montana feat. Max B, Skepta & D-Block, “Ever Since U Left Me”; BigXthaPlug feat. Ava Max, “Burn”; Rick Ross with Kemar McGregor, “Loaded”; and LaRussell, Reecebeats, Tietta & Splash, “It’s All Love” (Baller Alert, HotNewHipHop).
Soundtracks
Cardi B, “Don’t Chart” (Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album). Released October 9 as the latest preview of the game’s 34-song soundtrack album, which comes out November 19. Vinylz produced it, and Pardison Fontaine co-wrote. Travis Scott and Future with Yung Lean were shared from the album earlier (Stereogum).
Our take: A song called “Don’t Chart” on the biggest game of the decade is going to chart.
Sources
- The FADER: Joyce Wrice steps out on Machiko
- Trill Mag: Joyce Wrice’s Machiko
- HotNewHipHop: THE 11TH HOUR
- HotNewHipHop: STRIKING
- Clash: Dawn Richard shares creole culture
- Rated R&B: 2026 R&B Album Release Calendar
- Baller Alert: New Music Friday
- The FADER: Gunna and Coco Gauff “Pop It” shoot
- Complex: Offset and Don Toliver “Every Night”
- HotNewHipHop: For Sixxx In The Mornin
- HotNewHipHop: Albums & Songs Dropping October 9
- Stereogum: Cardi B “Don’t Chart”
