We’re six months in to 2023, and so far the music I am enjoying the most is music being made from the Philadelphia region.
Not only do we have hometown heroes like Musiq Soulchild and Devon Gilfillian providing some soul and R&B excellence with joints like “white rice deja vu” and “All I Really Want To Do,” but you also have Jersey’s own Knxwledge reuniting with hip hop singer Anderson. Paak to form the duo NxWorries and drop new grooves such as “Day Dreaming.”
It’s not just about the stars, but it’s also the musical seeds that are continuing to show growth and creating new music. Songs like “Are You Sure,” “In The Rain,” “No Love,” from Re-Mus, Autumn Jones, and Noel Scales remind you how soulful the tri-state area can be. Tracks such as “Black Don’t Crack,” “Serrill Avenue Blues,” “Put You On Game,” from Shawn Smith, Amir Ali, and Ayebul remind you that writers from the city are talented when it comes to playing with words.
Yet it doesn’t just stop with soul, R&B, and hip-hop: other genres like folk, dance, and alternative have something to say as well. Tunes like “ceilings,” “Water,” and “Swindlers,” from acts like Lizzy McApline, Worldtown Soundsystem and AJAY show how diverse the music from the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection is.
Below is a playlist I put together of some of my favorite tunes from the tri-state area that have caught my ear so far in 2023. Enjoy!