New Music Tuesday #76

billy woods, Thom Yorke, Fiona Apple and book recommendations.

May 13, 2025

Did you guys know that there are charts on Substack? I did not know about this but I found out because apparently one day last week this newsletter was #35 on the Music chart which is kinda crazy.

I also don’t fully know how this ranking works. Is it based on subscribers? E-mail open rates? Who knows! All I know is that I appreciate you guys subscribing, reading and sharing!

I am currently writing this from my couch in Brooklyn but by the time you read it I’ll be in an airplane headed to Ohio for a graduation. I will have also attended the Webby awards the night before and skipped out on the after party because I have an early flight the next day.

Something about thinking about my day this far in advance is kinda soothing.

SHOWS

5/15 - I’m back at Dick & Janes for another installment of the R&B Lounge. They just got a new sound system so I can’t wait to get back on the decks. It’s free

5/16 - I’ll be at Isola Brooklyn for the Fool’s Circle Comedy Festival Afterparty. I don’t know if it’s free but I do know that I’ll be on the set. Check their Instagram page for more information about the event.

5/22 We’re back at Nithawk’s Prospect Park location for Shouting At The Screen. This time around we’ve got Brittany Carney sitting in with us. Would really love it if you guys helped us pack this one out! TICKETS

The 5/12/25 episode of Too Much Rap is out now on Mixcloud along with a few other mixes I’ve done. It’s sorta like the audiobook version of this newsletter haha.

NEWS

I know that you guys like reading my writing (thank you, thank you) but here are a few books that are on my spring reading list right now.

Dean Van Nguyen: "No generative AI was used in the making of Words For My Comrades" — Bluesky

I just got a copy of a book titled Words For My Comrades: A Political History of Tupac Shakur and I am very excited to dig into it. From what I can tell it explores a side of Tupac that has kinda been washed away by his Death Row era antics and subsequent death. You can check out a sample of the book’s audio here.

Amazon.com: In My Remaining Years: 9781250857538: Grae, Jean: Books

I am still making my way through Jean Grae’s excellent book and I’ve switched to the audio version because it’s fun hearing Jean read her own writing. I highly recommend the reading or listening to the book. Or you can go full immersion and do both simultaneously. I hear that is the best way to enjoy the work. Pick up a copy here.

Enough is Enuf' book explores the centuries-long effort to simplify English spelling | Here & Now

And while we ‘re on the subject of books my friend Gabe Henry just released a book titled ‘enough is enuf’ which explores several attempts made over time to simply the english language. He actually interviewed me for the book and says that I am cited pretty heavily in one of the chapters. You can pick up a copy here and after you read it let me know what page I’m mentioned on!

VIDEOS

I love Fiona Apple so much. This song is the result of her becoming a court watcher for two years and seeing countless women be locked up because they couldn’t afford bail. This song is about raising awareness and funds to help stop it. Visit LetHerGoHome.org for more details

I know Moses Sumney existed long before The Celebrity but in my mind he is the dude from The Celebrity. I know that sounds reductive and I also know that he is incredibly talented. Hayley Williams is also in this and I only know one song from her group Paramour but I also love that song so she is batting 1000% with me.

Who is the guy in this video? I am pretty sure that it’s not R.A.P. Ferreira. This song is dope.

Leikeli47 took off the mask! Maybe it’s been off for a while but this is news to me!

Jose James’ short film is finally here and it’s a really fun/quirky homemade kung fu flick. Shouts to the whole crew over at Rainbow Blonde and pre-order Revenge of the Dragon here.

ALBUMS

Fresh and Parental dropped an absolutely refreshing album. Pick up a copy or three.

billy woods back with another opus.

MIKE and Tony Seltzer linked up again for another game of Pinball.

Knowkege the Pirate is back with Roc Marciano riding shotgun.

Imani Nichele is an algorithmic find. The album is short and sweet. I have only heard a little but i really dig it.

Haven’t heard this but I figure it’s worth putting a pin in to check out later.

I don’t know much about this album at all. I heard maybe 1.5 tracks while writing this. I just know that whatever Thom Yorke does is gonna get some attention from me.