Catch up with Ghostface Killah’s mob saga and more in our 5 songs to stream

Ghostface Killah – Get the Money feat. Vince Staples

It’s not too often we get a hip hop record that delves into concept album territory  — and it’s even rarer that it’s good. Wu Tang’s Ghostface Killah not only decided to make a concept album, but he made a sequel. Released this week, Twelve Reasons to Die II (that’s 24 reasons to die, if you’re keeping score at home) is his followup to a 2013 album that puts Ghostface in the shoes of Tony Starks, an enforcer for an Italian mob family.

Returning to the storytelling well that birthed the original, Twelve Reasons to Die II is an improvement in almost every way. With the premise well-established, Ghostface is able to flex his capabilities as a lyrical craftsman and call in support to help tell the story. Get the Money utilizes both of these strengths, inviting young gun Vince Staples into the mix, as the two tear up the production provided by Adrian Younge.

Ezra Furman – Restless Year

Ezra Furman hasn’t always felt comfortable in his skin, but he seems much more comfortable when he’s able to talk about it. His latest release, Perpetual Motion People, captures the contradictions, especially on the lead single Restless Year. An aptly titled track that lays blanket-like coverage over Furman’s recent experiences, the song is relentlessly upbeat and bouncy in its sound. But the energetic track can’t fully eclipse the bit of doubt that lingers in Furman’s lyrics. And really, it’s not supposed to — The gloom is just as important as the glam.

Coheed and Cambria – You Got Spirit, Kid

Coheed and Cambria have been telling the same story for seven albums. It’s not that the music sounds the same or anything is recycled — the seven albums make up different acts in an ongoing tale called the Amory Wars. For the first time, the band is stepping away from that ongoing narrative and providing some stand-alone music. You Got Spirit, Kid marks the departure and displays some of frontman Claudio Sanchez’s personal perspective, as he tackles class, wealth, and societal structure.

Chelsea Wolfe – After the Fall

Do not allow Chelsea Wolfe to lull you to sleep. She’s capable of creating a dark, sleepy atmosphere like the one that creeps in at the start of After the Fall. That gothic lullaby, though slightly unnerving, can ease you into a sense of calm. Just as you arrive there, Wolfe kicks you out of that comfort with a bass-rattling, hypnotic buzzing that rises as she continues to sing, now with more urgency. Then, the song goes right back down into the quiet, haunting feeling.

Crystal Castles – Deicide

Crystal Castles lost Alice Glass last year, a vital presence in the electronic duo. Her departure left just Ethan Kath, who continues under the Crystal Castles name with a new vocalist, who’s known only as Edith. She’s finding her role nicely on the act’s latest track Deicide. The song features the impressive productions fans have come to know the band for, with pulsing synths and and a pounding beat. Atop that, Edith lays a mellow, cooing vocal performance.