Boxcar Sessions cover

Boxcar Sessions

Released

Oakland’s entry into pure boom bap, Boxcar Sessions should be as big as Illmatic. The album starts off with the Skull Snaps getting chopped and goes from there—it’s part of the cohort for sure. Confusingly, Saafir’s producer is named Jay-Z, but it’s a different Jay-Z. Saafir has a deep, precise voice and a toolbox of flows and upright bass samples, too. A genuinely great album.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Suggestions
Aethiopes cover

Aethiopes

billy woods
Innocent Country cover

Innocent Country

Quelle Chris, Chris Keys
ensley cover

ensley

Pink Siifu
Deathfame cover

Deathfame

Quelle Chris
Mecca and the Soul Brother cover

Mecca and the Soul Brother

C.L. Smooth, Pete Rock
Prima Donna cover

Prima Donna

Vince Staples
FlySiifu’s cover

FlySiifu’s

Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin