From the unknown Kanye West to Kid Yugi: the records of the week

Will Kanye West, waiting to see him in concert in Italy, release the new album or postpone it for the umpteenth time? We will see. But new works by Kid Yugi, Marta Del Grandi and Angelica Bove will certainly be released on the Italian front, while on the international front the projects by AG Cook and Labrinth are worth mentioning. In short, a Friday 30 January full of releases and publications. Below are Rockol’s advice.

Ye – “Bully”

Kanye West returns with his new album “Bully”, out on January 30, 2026. The album represents a return to more personal and experimental sounds resulting from largely his own productions. Recorded between 2021 and 2025, the project has been postponed countless times. The album once again mixes hip-hop, singing and melodic experiments, breaking away from the more traditional rap forms. Some songs have been previewed on social media with work-in-progress versions and on streaming platforms. “Bully” was born in a period of public controversy that influenced the perception of the project. The work maintains the provocative and innovative style that distinguishes Ye.

Kid Yugi – “Even heroes die”

Kid Yugi’s new album “Even Heroes Die” is released on January 30th. The project was anticipated by a cinematic trailer featuring actor Filippo Timi. It follows the success of “The Names of the Devil”. The boundary between good and evil, the analysis of contemporary society, the relationship between what is right and what is wrong, together with literary and cinematographic references, remain the central themes of the rapper’s writing. Some singles, such as “Berserker” and “Push It” with Anna, have already been released. The work was accompanied by a documentary and an urban installation in Milan. Kid Yugi wants to confirm his role among the protagonists of the rap scene. The release is awaited by fans as one of the main Italian musical events of 2026.

Marta Del Grandi – “Dream Life”

Marta Del Grandi releases the new album “Dream Life”. It is his second studio album, three years after “Selva”. The album was preceded by some singles including “Antarctica” and “Neon Lights”. The work explores themes between dream and reality with profound and poetic lyrics. The sounds range from alternative pop to art-rock with careful arrangements. The production was handled with Bert Vliegen in the Robot Studio in Ghent. The title track and the video show intimate and reflective atmospheres. The album reflects a growing artistic maturity and a recognizable personal style. “Dream Life” offers a poetic look at the present and contemporary anxieties. This work confirms Marta Del Grandi as an original voice of Italian music today.

Angelica Bove – “Tana”

From X Factor to Sanremo, passing through the debut album “Tana”. From 24 to 28 February he will be among the singers competing at the Festival, among the “Nuove Proposte”, with his “Mattone”. Meanwhile Angelica Bove releases her first official album, “Tana”. The project arrives two and a half years after the participation of the Roman singer, now 22 years old, on X Factor. The artistic direction of the album is entirely handled by Federico Nardelli, former right-hand man of Gazzelle and producer, among others, of Ultimo, Colapesce and Dimartino, who is also co-author of the songs together with Matteo Alieno and Angelica herself.

AG Cook – “The Moment”

Her name entered the public domain two years ago thanks to Charli XCX and her “Brat”. In one of the songs from the album that made the British singer-songwriter a worldwide phenomenon, “Club Classics”, Charli sang: «When I go to clubs I just want to hear the classics / I want to dance to my songs and those of AG». Thus everyone learned to know AG Cook, the stage name of Alexander Guy Cook, a genius of British electronic music born in 1990, whose popularity had until then remained confined to the electronic scene. Now comes “The Moment”: the album is the official soundtrack of the film of the same name directed by Aidan Zamiri. This is the first soundtrack signed by the musician, who has three solo albums to his credit: “7G” (2020), “Apple” (2020) and “Britpop” (2024). For this new project, instead of a traditional album, Cook chose film as a narrative and sonic platform, a decision that reflects his drive to push the boundaries of pop and music production, after nearly a decade of shaping the aesthetic of contemporary pop with artists like Charli XCX.

Labrinth – “Cosmic Opera: Act I”

Three years after “Ends & Begins”, Labrinth returns, real name Timothy Lee McKenzie, a British musician who in recent years, working alongside artists such as The Weeknd, Beyoncé and Rihanna – and also with “our” Damiano David, for whom he produced “Silverlines”, the single that anticipated the release of “Funny Little Fears”, the debut album of the Måneskin singer – has redefined the role of the producer-songwriter, demonstrating how you can write for great pop while maintaining a very recognizable signature and touch. Many know him best for the “Euphoria” soundtrack, which influenced a generation of producers and musicians with monumental orchestrations, layered voices and tense silences. “Cosmic Opera: Act I”, his new work, deviates from the classic pop album and approaches a conceptual and cinematic project, which winks at classical music in the division of the story into several acts. On the record, orchestral sounds are intertwined with complex electronic productions.