Cat Mayel's "FREE" arrived, not on a silver platter, but more like a rogue pigeon delivering a very important message – a crumpled napkin with profound scribbles. This Nigerian producer, composer, arranger, and all-around sonic sorceress has served up a single dose of alternative neo-soul that feels… well, free. As free as a shopping cart with a wonky wheel, anyway. It goes where it...

Yung Fume and King Yanz have made something truly special with "Ray." It is like seeing two great artists work together on the same painting, each adding their own unique brushstrokes to make something that neither could have done on their own. King Yanz, an artist with Congolese roots who was born in Finland, has been making waves with his conscious hip-hop style. He...