Fresh Friday: Ella Mai, Rico Nasty, Ken Carson

Fresh Friday arrives as the July 4 holiday weekend begins, with several new music releases spanning rap, reggae, and Southern-style energy. The article’s featured projects include Kelissa’s The Good Side of Things, released after nine years, presenting a soulful reggae album rooted in faith, optimism, family, and legacy. It also highlights Ken Carson’s XPERIMENT, a 22-track project intended to push his experimental rap sound into more unpredictable territory. For upbeat holiday listening, Tonio Armani and Lil Jon’s Outside For The Summer is framed around backyard cookouts and summer nights, with featured artists including Snoop Dogg, Ying Yang Twins, and Nila Milan. Rico Nasty is mentioned as part of the lineup, and Ras Kass and Rylo Rodriguez round out the rotation, with Rylo’s S.K.A.T.E. described as a 23-track project led by Neighborhood Starz featuring Lil Baby and Kevin Gates.