Leon Bridges feat. Terrace Martin — "Sweeter"
Released: June 8
Coming in the wake of the senseless killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, to name but a few, the neo-soul singer delivered this stirring exploration of the Black experience in America. As Martin's saxophone floats through the air over a sparse beat, Bridges sings of what's been taken from him and his community. "Somebody should hand you a felony/'Cause you stole from me," he admits. "My chance to be."
Chloe x Halle — Ungodly Hour
Released: June 12
Must-Listen Track: "Ungodly Hour"
The Bailey sisters are all grown up on their second studio album. Playing with a more mature and seriously funky soundscape, the harmonies have only gotten tighter—a feat we didn't think was possible for these two. We've said it before, but it bears repeating: These two are the future of music. And the future is now.
Beyoncé — "Black Parade"
Released: June 19
A Juneteenth treat from the Queen herself, Bey's first solo release of 2020 is a swirling salute to Blackness at a pivotal moment in this nation's history. "We got rhythm/We got pride," she ebulliently extolls. "We birth kings/We birth tribes." Expectedly excellent, if this is kind of energy we can expect from Black Is King, her forthcoming Disney+ visual album, then we're all in for a treat.
Teyana Taylor — The Album
Released: June 19
Must-Listen Track: "We Got Love" feat. Lauryn Hill
After her unexpectedly brief K.T.S.E. in 2018, Taylor made sure she did not hold anything back on her third studio album. And somehow, at a whopping 23 tracks, it all works. There's a track for every vibe, all buoyed by those singularly sumptuous vocals.
HAIM — Women in Music Pt. III
Released: June 26
Must-Listen Track: "I Know Alone"
For their third studio album, the Haim sisters (Danielle, Este and Alana) pushed themselves out of their comfort zone and into the future, experimenting with genre while still holding onto what makes the sister act work so well: those incisive and vivid lyrics.
Jessie Ware — What's Your Pleasure
Released: June 26
Must-Listen Track: "Spotlight"
Proving that disco is alive and well in 2020—not to mention, something we clearly can not get enough of—the English singer-songwriter devoted her fourth studio album to the throbbing basslines and shimmering synths of a once-bygone era. It's a luxurious LP, warm and opulent and practically beaded with sweat. We may not be able to dance together, but, like Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga before here, Jessie knows that doesn't mean we're not dancing.