Fresh Release Roundup

This week’s release calendar spans underground rap, alt-pop and major-label R&B, with new projects from Blu & Exile, Sir Michael Rocks, Sofia Isella and M.I.A. already out. (bandcamp.com, music.apple.com, undertheradarmag.com, rollingstone.com) Blu and producer Exile released *Time Heals Everything* on April 20, a 10-track album that Bandcamp and Apple Music list as the duo’s fifth full-length together. The set follows 2024’s *Love (the) Ominous World* and runs 48 minutes on Apple Music. (bandcamp.com, music.apple.com) Sir Michael Rocks followed on April 22 with *Rocks, Paper, Scissors: Choices*, a 12-song album released through Marriani and Fake Shore Drive. Apple Music lists the project at 12 tracks, while Amazon Music and Audiomack list an April 22, 2026 release date. (music.apple.com, amazon.com, audiomack.com) On the single side, Breez Kennedy’s most recent release on Apple Music is “Cycles,” which arrived February 20, 2026. His official site also lists recent tracks including “Need U Tonite,” “Like My Ex” and “At Your Worst.” (music.apple.com, breezkennedy.com) Two of the most-discussed non-rap releases in this window are Sofia Isella’s *Something is a shell.* EP and M.I.A.’s *M.I.7* album. Under the Radar said Isella’s independently produced EP arrived with a self-directed video, while Rolling Stone reported that M.I.A. released her seventh studio album on April 17 through OHMNIMUSIC. (undertheradarmag.com, rollingstone.com) M.I.A.’s album is built around a specific concept: Rolling Stone reported that the songs were written across seven countries, and Apple Music lists the finished record at 16 tracks and 64 minutes. Complex separately described the project as inspired by the Book of Revelation and noted that M.I.A. will join Kid Cudi’s North American tour beginning April 28. (rollingstone.com, music.apple.com, complex.com) The next major release on the calendar is Kehlani’s self-titled album, due Friday, April 24. Billboard and Atlantic Records both reported the release date last month, and Atlantic called it Kehlani’s new self-titled project after 2024’s *Crash*. (billboard.com, press.atlanticrecords.com) Reason is also in release mode, though his current run comes as an independent artist after his split from Top Dawg Entertainment. Sway’s Universe said Wednesday that Reason is now operating independently, and Vibe previously reported that he officially left Top Dawg after seven years. (swaysuniverse.com, vibe.com) Taken together, the week’s listening list is unusually broad: a veteran Los Angeles rap duo, a Chicago rapper’s new album, a teenage R&B singer’s latest single, an alt-pop independent EP and a global pop star’s seventh LP. By Friday, that mix gets one more high-profile addition when Kehlani’s album hits streaming services. (bandcamp.com, music.apple.com, music.apple.com, undertheradarmag.com, rollingstone.com, billboard.com)