Canal Street Confidential

The preternaturally relaxed rapper’s fifth studio album might be his strongest since 2011’s *Weekend at Burnie’s*—a feat considering he’s one of the most quietly consistent MCs of his era. Produced mostly by Purps—of the bruising Atlanta production team 808 Mafia—*Canal Street Confidential* balances Curren$y’s meditative flow with some relatively sinister beats, all flecked with the late-night atmosphere of classic soul. Opening with the Future-assisted trap of “Drive By,” the album features a few high-profile guests, including Wiz Khalifa (“Winning”) and Ty Dolla $ign (“Superstar”)—still leaving room for the solo workouts that made Curren$y’s mixtapes so great to begin with (“Boulders”).