Have you ever listened to an album where you were obsessed with every track, and can’t skip a single song? Don Toliver’s newest album, “Octane,” was released on Jan. 30, 2026, emulating an energetic and luxurious vibe, inspired by the Mount Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles.
In an interview for the Los Angeles Times, he described the inspiration for his album.
“Astronomers would sit at that telescope for hours and hours waiting for a planet to be visible. It’s the same concept as being in the studio… Making music can be sitting there, waiting for a sign or a feeling to be visible for me to understand what I’m doing and connect to it.”
“Octane” is Don Toliver’s fifth studio album, with 18 tracks. He features award winning artists including Yeat, Rema, Travis Scott, Teezo Touchdown and SahBabii. Rema especially stands out flaunting his extraordinary vocals alongside Don Toliver in the catchy song, “Secondhand.” It stands out from other songs on the album because it blends afrobeats, melodic hip-hop/trap, and R&B.
The album opens with the songs “E85” and “Body.” They both share similar hypnotic beats that send you into a trance and create a floating feeling. These songs are the perfect way to start off the album, really accentuating the space-like feel.
Toliver’s 8th track, “Rosary,” featuring Travis Scott is another personal favorite. It has fast-paced and gritty lyrics, yet the melody remains chill and dream-like, making it a highlight of the album.
“Excavator,” another stand out, has a similar vibe but with a higher intensity than the rest of the album. Its utilization of heavy bass amplifies the dreamy space vibe while the thrilling vocals hook you into the song like no other.
To finish off strong, “Gemstone,” the 14th track on the album, maintains the consistent excellence of the project. Not only does it have remarkable vocals, but begins with an astonishing instrumental, teleporting me to the observatory. The track utilizes a composition of trumpets and drums that creates this triumphant background to the song.
Overall, Don Toliver outdid himself with such a great album. This is by far the best album he has ever made, and an incredible listening experience I can’t recommend enough.
