​Kembe X, Isaiah Rashad & REASON - The Basement: Kembe might be dropping a project soon as this is his second loosie this year. This one is special and he got TDE’s Isaiah Rashad and REASON to bless the track. It has a wavy Boom Bap-ish vibe. They keep the screw and the blunts and they stay winning & sinning and sometimes venting. They never complacent and they been making quality raps in the Basement.

Deanté Hitchcock ft. Shamba - Zodiac: DH dropped a new album this week called “Once Upon a Time”. Super dope project with a lot of tracks for the Valentine’s Day playlist. He also dedicates a track at the end to his daughter. My favorite track is “Like That” and the 1st track on the album that I had on repeat was “Zodiac” which samples Dru Hill’s “Tell Me” and features Shamba. The pair ask “What’s your sign?” They tryna see if compatibility is high, and if so, they wanna explore where the relationship can go. 

Veeze ft. Lil Uzi Vert - GOMD (Remix): Uzi is one of the new Remix kings. I remember when Lil Tracy dropped “Like a Farmer” and LUV hopped on the remix and sauced it up. Uzi did the same with Stay Solid Rocky’s “Party Girl”. Now, Uzi’s done it again on Veeze’s “GOMD”. Uzi talks that shit about all the things they have copped with their immense wealth. Veeze has that New Detroit sound and he been running plays and smoking the Za. He knows the shade comes with the game and he trying to keep his hands clean as he climbs the Rap ladder.

Heem B$F ft. Style P & Benny The Butcher - Mob Business: BSF’s Heem dropped a new project this week “From the Cradle to the Game” and it’s one of my favorite projects of this year. I like the polished Boom-Bap sound and when the barsmiths go in over soul beats. This project has plenty of both. My favorite track is the collab with Styles and Benny because the beat is one of the best on the album and you got 3 of the best lyricists in the game on one track. I’ve also had “Tears of Blood” and “Mamie Lee” on repeat. Check out “From the Cradle to the Game”, you won’t be disappointed.

Lil Durk ft. J. Cole - All My Life: What a pleasant surprise! After hinting at an album drop, Smurk came through and dropped a loosie with one of the titans of Hip-Hop, J. Cole. The message is a positive one too. All their lives, people were trying to keep them down. The doubters never thought the guys would make it out, but they kept grinding and never let the obstacles stop them from moving forward. Durk overcame jail, opps, and child support. He’s trying to better himself and change his image. J. Cole made it out and is lapping the game. He reminds us to humble ourselves because our blessings can be gone in an instant. He also laments finding out about rappers after they die (death shouldn’t be their career climax) and warns the bloggers about profiting off their deaths (because they’ll get tagged with that culture vulture tag expeditiously). 

JasonMartin & The Melodiks ft. Terrace Martin - 1200 (Holding On To Your Hand): The artist formerly known as Problem dropped a new project this week called “I Owe Myself”. My favorite track “1200” has a jazzy, soulful feel with the “Holding on to your hand” vocals in the back, the organ keys, and Terrace Martin on the sax. JM knows niggas that sold they soul for 1200 dollars. He thanks God he’s still alive. He survived the dark times, danced with the Devil, and fought back. Real niggas always survive.  

Killer Mike ft. Eryn Allen Kane - Motherless: Killer Mike might be dropping a solo project soon as this is the 2nd track he’s dropped in the last month or so. This one is deeply personal. His mama dead and his grandmama dead. He gets depressed and sometimes feels scared. He pens an open letter to his mama and lets her know that he misses her jewels and wisdom. He still carries on as a leader and voice of the culture. Eryn Allen Kane’s vocals add a dope layer to the track.

Janelle Monae - Lipstick Lover: Janelle set the internet on fire when she dropped a promotional tweet for this track (you can see for yourself). The song is dope, grown and sexy, island vibes as Janelle confesses to liking lipstick on her neck. She likes it nasty and wants to tongue down her lover. She wants to make a movie and ride it. For her boo’s love, she’ll take her time and wants to feel their hips on hers.

$uicideboy$ - 5 ‘N The Mornin’: Dem Boys dropped their 2nd EP in as many weeks with “YIN YANG TAPES: Summer Season (1989-1990)”. My favorite track “5 ‘N The Morning” has that classic chopped n screwed Memphis sound that the guys are known for. It sounds like it could be 8-Ball spitting. Great track to cruise to as they express gratitude for life (even though it can be fucked up). They like to get lifted, cruise in their whips, and they know the dead locs are looking down on them, proud of all they’ve accomplished.

Chase B, Travis Scott, Don Toliver, Quavo & Ty Dolla $ign - Ring Ring: Do I really gotta say anything? Just look at the artists on this track. You’re welcome.

Russ - Blow The Whistle: Russ dropped “Chomp 2.5” a pseudo-Deluxe of his last project. I loved the opening track “Wicked Race” and my favorite track is the Statik Selektah produced “Blow The Whistle”. Russ promises this project is just the appetizer to the main course coming soon. He bigs up his parents and then talks his shit including how he ran the money up and now resides in a mansion.

Joyner Lucas - What’s That?: Joyner has an album dropping soon and this is the 3rd single he’s dropped in the lead up. Joyner warns the opps that he got homies that’ll hop out and squeeze. He pats himself on the back because he feels he doesn’t get the props he deserves (that’s true). He also requires fellatio at least 3 times a day and if an interested woman cannot provide this,  he lets her know she can kick rocks.

Chinx ft. French Montana & Lil Crody - Candy Rain: Chinx’s peoples dropped a new posthumous album for the slain rapper this week called “Cocaine Riot 7”. Dope project, especially since it’s been a minute since he’s passed and I’m pretty sure there have been 2 album drops since his death so far. It speaks to his work ethic and his ability to produce both quality and quantity. My favorite track is the opening track “Candy Rain” which is a flip of Soul 4 Real’s hit of the same name.

Keke Palmer - Standards: Keke Palmer dropped “Big Boss” a new album this week (her first album in 10 years according to the streets). Super dope R&B project. My favorite track “Standards” finds KP letting us know that she ain’t got time to waste and she’ll never settle for less because she has Standards.

NBA Youngboy - Hurt My Heart: YB dropped “Richest Opp” this week, his second project of this year. He’s back to dissing some of his rap colleagues including Durk and Soulja Boy. This projects has those aggressive New Orleans slaps Youngboy is known for and also the melodic heartfelt tracks. My favorite track “Hurt My Heart” is one of the latter. It finds YB calling to God and explaining all the pain he’s felt from a broken heart. He’s not a fan of his main damie’s homegirls and thinks she might be smashing his homies. He’s had enough and now he’s kicking her to the curb.

Jorja Smith - Little Things: Jorja is 2 for 2 with these singles she’s dropped in the leadup to her next project. “Little Things” finds Jorja singing about all the intangibles in a lover. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and for her it’s the Little Things that get her hot and bothered. It has an uptempo club-ready, radio-ready, Dance beat. Can’t wait for this full project to drop.

Soulja Boy - Baby Bop: Soulja dropped a new project this week called “Soulja Season”. My favorite track “Baby Bop” is a certified slap and it samples the same track Ye & Cudi sampled on the “Kids See Ghosts” track “4th Dimension”. The track has a Club bass loop and Soulja promises to always have the stick on him, and if the opps get outta pocket, they gonna get Bopped.

KayCyy & Gesaffelstein - Roll The Dice: The artist and the producer dropped a collab EP not too long ago and the streets is saying they have a full-length album coming soon. I’ve loved what they cooked up so far and this new track is fire too. It has a hypnotic Weeknd-esque vibe. KayCyy encourages his shawty to Roll The Dice and ride with him side by side. Together they can make time stop. Every time it turns out fine. A second without her is like breathing without oxygen.

Pap Chanel & Fredo Bang - Summertime: GA spitter Pap Chanel dropped an EP this week called “PAPTIVITIES”. My favorite track is the collab with Fredo Bang “Summertime”. True to its title, it has Summertime vibes. PC is a self described flashy lil ghetto vibe and invites a lucky suitor to lick all over her. With her, it’s Summertime all the time and she’s down for a vacay. She’ll brighten up your day, and if you wanna be with her, there’s a long waiting list. Fredo will buy CC just to get a chick close to him. He’s a 90’s baby and likes to smash to 90’s R&B (like Jodeci). He gets the ladies all wet and then takes them on a one way trip to Pound Town.

VV$ Ken & Hotboii - Dabs: Another week, another dope find on the Apple Music New Hip-Hop playlist. “Dabs” immediately hooked me (the song not the smoke). The beat has laid back vibes with acoustic strings. Ken rides with his shawty in his Cullinan or his AMG. He’s dripped out with diamonds and always has the pole loaded to deal with any fuckery. Hotboii sends his opps to the clouds. Everybody wants to be down but doesn’t wanna put in the work. He’s confident, not cocky and he keeps the G-lock for self-defense purposes.

Lil Tony - What You Bang For: ATL’s Lil Tony dropped a new project this week called “TKEY”. My favorite track “What You Bang For” finds LT promising never to speak on shit that he don’t know. He knows chicks be cappin on IG like they his main but he’s unbothered. He also doesn’t pay attention to the broke boys. He keeps the .223 if you’re thinking about robbing him so you better think twice.

Kevin Gates - Do It Again: This one of those Kev anthems. Super catchy with the repeated refrain “Do It Again”. Motivation music, he knows he was born to lose but he decided to win and turned things around. He falls down every time he tries something new but he always gets up and keeps going. If at first Kev doesn’t succeed, he gon’ Do It Again ‘til he gets it right or the goodLord tells him to pivot.

Other Tracks/Albums That Dropped This Week

Yeat - Already Rich

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & G-Eazy - MVP

Lil Tecca - Need Me

Cousin Stizz ft. Tony Shhnow - Coming For Everything