​Paul Wall, Termanology, Bun B & DeAndre Nico - No Apologies: Paul Wall and Termanology are set to drop their collab album “Start Finish Repeat” soon. This is the 3rd track they’ve dropped in the lead up and they’ve all been gas. This new one has a Bun B feature and DeAndre Nico on the hook. The guys drop words of wisdom including to stay focused on grinding and not material things. Success brings jealousy but you just gotta keep pushing. I loved the optimism on the hook and the beat is one that seems custom made for Paul, Bun & Term. Can’t wait for the project. 

Cash Kidd & Bfb Da Packman - Man Up: I’ve listened to Cash Kidd more than anyone this year. He dropped a new album this week “No Socks 3” and it’s the project I ran to at Midnight Friday (and the only album I purchased). Project is A1 and the samples he chose are all fire including this “Stand By Me” flip with Bfb Da Packman. The Detroit connection and both guys' humorous bars makes this one of the standouts.  

NBA Youngboy - Testimony & Heard of Me: YB dropped 2 bombs this week. I’ve had “Heard of Me” on repeat and YB’s geeked up delivery with the 90’s West Coast production makes this shit slap in the whip. “Testimony” is signature YB. It has that bounce and has him using the melodic delivery to ask for a blessing as he’s been on the grind and wants to see some fruits of his labor. I know he’s got an album coming (he drops like 5 a year) and if they’re all going to be like these, it’s gonna be an instant purchase for me.

Lil Wayne & The NightAftr - Tity Boi: Staying in New Orleans, Weezy F dropped a new mixtape this week called “Tha Fix Before Tha VI” which seems to indicate Carter 6 is otw. The song “To The Bank” with Cool & Dre is a certified bop and “Tity Boi” was my favorite. It has an EDM/Jersey Club vibe and finds Weezy chanting “Titties”. If I’m in the club, I want this to come on for sure.

Rick Ross & Meek Mill - Shaq & Kobe: The Maybach brothers are back, locked in, and it looks they have a project coming soon. This was the 1st single and it’s classic Ross & Meek, hustler/luxury bars over a wavy beat with a dope hi-hat/snare loop. 

SCY Jimm - Bound to Hit: Florida man SCY Jimm dropped a new project this week called “Highly Favored” (homage to the common Christian reply “Blessed & Highly Favored”). Dope project, “Bound to Hit” is my favorite track (and I’ve been playing it a lot since it dropped). If Jimm shoots, he’s gonna hit his target eventually, he’s Bound To Hit. He hustled hard and now he can provide for his family.

Lil Durk & Kid Cudi - Guitar In My Room: Cudders and Smurk dropped this collab track in conjunction with Lyrical Lemonade (with a video to boot, duh). The production features a guitar as the main thread (duh) and some soulful background vocals. They use a melodic delivery to ask us to accept them for them and don’t judge them off their past. It’s addressed to the ladies and it definitely has a grown & sexy vibe. It’s also 5 minutes long which is unheard of at this point in time.

Kenyon Dixon ft. RL - 2000’s R&B: R&B really came through this week. Kenyon Dixon dropped his new album “The R&B You Love” and the album lived up to its name. Fully fleshed out project with interludes and A1 features this RL collab track finds Kenyon singing in the Rain like 2000’s R&B on production that samples Case’s hit “Missing You” and with lyrics that reference numerous 2000’s R&B anthems. And, who better to represent for 2000’s R&B than Next frontman RL as he was the soundtrack to some of the greatest 2000’s bops. Check out “The R&B You Love”. You won’t be disappointed. 

Lil Yachty & J. Cole - Secret Recipe: Firstly, Yachty slid on this. He’s surprised a lot of people with his rapping ability, his versatility ,and his cult like fanbase (see him walking out to the festival stage while “Coffin” is playing). Cole has reached out to the younger generation numerous times. And while we expect to hear him with guys like Cordae, it’s a surprise when he links with Yachty (and they cooked up heat). Some are calling Cole's verse one of the best of the year (and I wholeheartedly agree). He sends some jabs at quite a few people and you gotta listen a few times to catch everything. 

Yo Gotti, EST Gee & Big30 - Soldier: Yo Gotti and CMG dropped a new compilation album this week called “Gangsta Art 2”. Super dope project that showcases all of their artists. The Mozzy track is special. I also love “Soldier” with Gotti, Geeski & 30. It's a flip of 2pac’s “Dear Mama” and the guys rap about growing up and having to be a Soldier. They put in work in the streets and now they up up. They made it out alive and now they getting money the legit way. 

DaBaby - Trickin: DaBaby is making a comeback. After his much publicized controversy, he bounced back this year with a smash single. He’s been making appearances all over the place, most recently to speak to the Colorado Football team at the request of Deion Sanders. He dropped this new track and the production is made for the radio, bouncy, pop-y and incorporates the guitar. He spits about all the ways a niggas be breaking bread for the bitties. He tells the ladies to juice the guys, go up, make them feel special, then upsell them (if he’s offering the baby Benz, decline and ask for the Tesla).

Tyga & YG - Get Me Litt: Cali heavyweights T Rawr and YG400 dropped a new collab project this week called “Hit Me Up When U Leave the Klub: The Playlist”. Dope project full of that new West Coast bop. They dropped the leadup single “Brand New” with Wayne and it had Eminem singing Weezy’s praises. My favorite album cut is “Get Me Litt” which is a phrase the late great Pop Smoke said in his now viral Genius interview (now a meme). This one samples Trillville & Lil Scrappy’s classic “Some Cut” and also features the infamous bed squeak. This will go up in the club and will be in heavy radio rotation.

Latto ft. Baby Drill - Issa Party: Latto is one of the hottest artists in the game right now. And being a Georgia native it’s only right she sampled fellow Georgian Waka Flaka and his smash hit “Grove Street Party” for “Issa Party”. Definitely one that will be playing at kickbacks the rest of the year. And, the video she dropped… Just go watch it. Thank me later. 

Destroy Lonely & Ken Carson - Money & Sex: Destroy Lonely dropped the Deluxe to his most recent project, this version called “If Looks Could Kill (Directors Cut)”. This Ken Carson collab stood out (first because the beat kept dropping out and I thought something was wrong with my phone). Then the beat comes on and it’s straight out the emo rappers beat pack, so you think it may not be lit, but it’s super catchy. I found myself running it back, something about this just hooked me.  Maybe their flows, but this one had that “it” factor.  

Jungkook ft. Jack Harlow - 3D: BTS member Jungkook has been putting out solo records and collabing with Hip-Hop artists (I think he has a track with Lotto and BTS as a whole has collabed with other rappers. The JuiceWrld collab I still have in rotation). He linked with Jack Harlow for this track that’s sure to be played on the radio everyday. They wanna meet up with their love interests, IRL, in 3D. They can’t touch her through the phone so they suggest that if she’s ready, and if she lets them, they're ready to see it in motion, in 3D.

Mac Critter - Spinning Til The End: Memphis rapper and 1017 signee Mac Critter dropped a new project this week called “HIM 2”. I loved the track “Thank You God” which has the opposite message of this other highlight “Spinning Til The End”. On this one, he vows to spin the block on his opps until he hits his mark. And if you Google his name, you can see that he lives his rhymes.

6lack & Jessie Reyez - Homicide: 6lack dropped a 2-pack with this track and “Mean It”. “Homicide” is a certified bop. From the acoustic guitar that is the main thread of the production, to 6lack’s vocals, to Jessie’s raunchy lyrics, I vibe out to this one. Super catchy. 

Tyler Cole & Baby Tate - I Don’t Wanna Dance: So Tyler Cole’s new album “Existential Crisis Boy (Pt. 1)” was listed under the Hip-Hop section of Apple Music but it’s labeled Alternative. Listening to it, I could see hear its Hip-Hop influences (including the Baby Tate & Teezo Touchdown features). “I Don’t Wanna Dance” is a slap and it samples that one song (you’ll know when you hear it). It’s uptempo and Baby Tate slays on the chorus, singing the title. Tyler uses both a melodic delivery and spits bars. It sounds Gorillaz-esque. Little Rap, Little Rock, All Gas.

Armani White - REDEYE TO PHILLY. (FREESTYLE): Couldn’t wait to write this review. I’ve been bumping Armani for years and one of my favorite tracks of all time that I never skip is his song “Grown Adults”. Lately he’s been making radio-ready hits with mass appeal and mainstream production. But on this one right here… He went all the way in. All bars, no hook. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him rap like this and he got flow and a crazy pen. With this kinda versatility, his next project is bound to be a smash (as long as the label doesn’t box him in). 

YBN Lil Bro ft. Babyface Ray - Fear: I don’t think I heard of YBN Lil Bro before this week but I definitely heard of “YBN” and if I had to guess, Lil Bro is related to Nahmir (sounds like him). He dropped a new project this week called “Slime City 2” and it has some certified slaps including this collab with Ray. It has a Detroit-type beat and finds the guys asking for a blessing because they’ve been dancing with the devil. 

Boosie & BG - My Dawg: This is a special track (and video). Boosie dropped this to celebrate the release of his friend and fellow Louisiana Native, BG. The video shows them coming up together in the rap game and Boosie raps about how BG held him down when he did his bid and never did he imagine he had to hold it down for BG (when BG got locked up). Boosie even looked after Gizzle’s moms on Sundays and you can tell their brotherly bond is stronger than ever. It’s good to have real ones in your corner.

Cleo Sol - Only Love Can Wait: Cleo Sol dropped her second album in the last month with “Gold” this week. Both projects are Top Tier and on this track “Only Love Can Wait” from the new album is my favorite. It’s a ballad (zero drums). Piano keys and Cleo’s sultry voice are the only instruments needed. She sings to her bae, and highlights all the great things about him. The piano keys and the repeated “Only Love Can Wait” is a mood setter for sure and it’s a great track to play with candles lit in a hot bubble bath (with or without your boo thang).

Maxo Kream & Luh Tyler - Whatchamacallit: Maxo been on a hot streak. After dropping “BONECRUSHER” with  Key Glock a couple weeks ago, he’s back with another one. This one features rising star (and XXL Freshman) Luh Tyler. They both slid, and they be hopping out the wussaname smoking Whatchamacallit. They rock out at they shows and pop out with that dough. They dripped out in diamonds (courtesy of Johnny Dang). Like a dentist they be flossing.

Rome Streetz ft. Boldy James & Double Dee - Stunna: Rome Streetz dropped a new project this week called “Noise Kandy 5”. Of course it features that Griselda, New Boom-Bap sound. My favorite track is this collab with Boldy & Double Dee (and I’ve had it on repeat). The beat is crazy with wavy keys and all 3 gents bar it up. Great track to cruise in the whip to.

Jay Worthy, Kamaiyah & Harry Fraud - 9 AM: Jay Worthy dropped this A1 track over Harry Fraud production and with fellow Bay Area Titan Kamaiyah. He uses the triumphant, soulful beat to give us a look at a day in his life (and he starts from 9 AM). Kamaiyah advises all of us to mind our business. Her exes try to spin the block, but she’s on to the next. She’s made millions because she’s taken risks. 

Jorja Smith ft. Lil Iké - Greatest Gift: Jorja Smith dropped a new project this week called “falling or flying” after a pretty long rollout (with some fire tracks). The heat continued on the album especially with “Greatest Gift”. She sings to her special someone and highlights how he makes her feel and expresses her gratitude for his presence in her life. He’s the sweetest thing she’s known. He’s her greatest gift.   

TOBi - Someone I Knew: TOBi dropped a new track and it looks like he’s dropping a new project “Panic” next week. His last drop “Flatline” with Kenny Mason was a bop and this one slaps too. It samples a socially conscious soul song and has a choir singing “How much longer til we’re through”. The spirit of the track is “fed up” over boom-bap production Tobi raps about where he was when the Twin Towers fell, and when his homie died. He puts his faith in God and knows that the lies that we’re told only cloud our vision. The guitar and horns really sauce this one up. Can’t wait to hear the rest of “Panic”. 

HBK & Payroll Giovanni - Deserve To Win: HBK & Payroll Giovanni dropped a new project this week called “Kid & Pay”. Dope project, the Dej Loaf collab is a bop and I love “Keep Bossin Up” with Lanna. The last track “Deserve To Win” is one of my favorite tracks this year. It’s motivational, aspirational, and it cuts through all the bullshit to let the underdogs know that if you keep grinding all winter, you’ll be balling all summer long. Stay focused, keep your shit together. All the losses make the wins feel better.

Lil Uzi Vert - NFL: So Uzi was supposed to drop a new project, then the streets said it was canceled, but now I’m hearing it may be back on. He dropped this new track that has that signature, emo Uzi sound. He tells the bitties not to call his phone just ‘cause they heard he’s doing well. He don’t give 2 F’s like a Fendi belt. So NFL might mean No Fucks Left.

Sha Ek - Last One Left: NY Driller Sha Ek dropped this new track this week and when it first came on, I didn’t have my phone to see who it was. I was thinking “Who is this? This is heat!” Well it was Sha Ek, and it sounds a lot smoother than his previous work. It usually sound like this nigga yelling, but this one’s more melodic. The beat has a Latin twist and the bass still knocks. Sha made it out even though he didn’t go to college. He never worried bout shit because he got the pole tucked. He be going through shit but he never folds. His mama is happy because she sees him getting old. 

Lil Yee - WHO IS BITA?: Another week, another great find on the Apple Music New Hip-Hop playlist. This week it comes from Lil Yee. After listening, I still don’t know Who BITA is but I know this shit is a slap. It has a Detroit-type beat and he has a Detroit flow (so I’m guessing that’s where he’s from). He bigs up all his people and warns the internet bangers that he gets it back in blood. He likes the freaks and pouring up a deuce. He got the pills on deck, and he’s all about his pape. He’s Cita’s son and he keeps a gun. 

Other Tracks/Projects That Dropped This Week

Logic & JRB - D.A.R.E.

Sexxy Red - Shake Yo Dreads

Peezy & BabyTron - Psylocibin

Icewear Vezzo - Motion

The Plug & Stefflon Don ft. Swae Lee - Run Through

AZ - GOAT

Sada Baby - Lenny Cooke