A big month for music. September was filled to the brim with ear candy for fans of all genres, and as the month finally comes to a close, an overview is in order.

To start off the month, Destin Choice Route, also known as JID, dropped what could be the hip-hop album of the year. Atlanta rapper JID, who is a part of the established Dreamville collective, released his 3rd studio album on August 26th. After his last solo project, DiCaprio 2, JID’s 3rd studio album has been highly anticipated since 2018. Route blew the expectations out of the water when he dropped The Forever Story. With smash trap hits like “Surround Sound(feat. 21 Savage and Baby Tate)” and “Dance Now(feat. Kenny Mason)” and more soulful hip-hop such as “Kody Blu 31” and “Stars(feat. Yasiin Bey)”, this album checked every box across the board. If you are looking for an album that demonstrates impressive lyrical ability while fusing neo-soul and classic hip-hop, this record is a must-listen. Luckily, I had the privilege of seeing JID perform after the release of his new project, and it is safe to say he did not disappoint.

“His raw energy is amazing, you can really tell how passionate he is about his music. It is for sure one of the best performances I’ve seen,” stated fellow crowd member and North Penn student, Kyle McKeever.

For the older audience, this month was filled with nostalgic returns as well. The Red Hot Chilli Peppers have been touring their new album, Unlimited Love, for the past few months, and while on the road they released two new singles. With the release of “Eddie” on September 23rd, the “Tippa My Tongue” just a month prior, the legendary group continues to prove that they are still able to incorporate an older genre into a modern generation successfully.

The biggest night of the month was by far September 30th. Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, released what is likely his final full-length project before retirement, Entergalactic, in addition to the premier of his own Netflix TV show, also called Entergalactic. Mescudi hinted at his retirement from music after the release of this project and fans are, to say the least, opinionated.

“I listened to his recent album the other day. It wasn’t bad by any stretch but I personally don’t think it was close to his best work”, stated die-hard fan Jamie King, who was in attendance at the recent Kid Cudi concert in Philadelphia. “I had already heard of Cudi’s alleged retirement prior to my listening, making it into a bittersweet experience,” King said.

Fans truly form a deep emotional connection to Mescudi and his music, so hearing about his decision to transition from music to television was a hard pill to swallow for some.

“Of course, I’m disappointed by his retirement but he’s had an incredibly prolific career over the course of nearly 20 years. His shift toward a Netflix Series isn’t one that I expected but I’m all for it,” King stated.

Other great hip-hop drops on the 30th include Freddie Gibbs’s $oul $old $eperately, Tory Lanez’s Sorry 4 What, and the deluxe version of Denzel Curry’s recent album, Melt My Eyes See Your Future. These highly anticipated releases did not disappoint, especially Freddie Gibbs’s new record. While not as high quality as his previous album, Alfredo, fans still got a taste of that classic Freddie Gibbs we have all been missing.

The final drop of the month that stood out was Björk’s new record, Fossora. It has been 5 years since the Icelandic artist released a full-length tape, and on first listen it is clear she is pushing into a new creative realm.

These highlights of the month are merely the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of other songs and records were released during this time that some people have never even heard of. That’s the beautiful thing about music, there’s something for everyone.