Kanye West - “Donda”: I don’t do album reviews. My bag is praises where praises due. Highlights and favorites. This album… I can’t pick just one. To me there is not one true skip on the album. Some I like better than others and I like most of the originals vs the Pt 2s (except for “Jesus Lord” with the bonus Lox verses). Admittedly I’m a Ye stan. I went to the Chi for the 3rd listening event, shit was fire (and that nigga set himself on fire, I have the footage). Prolly got Corona too, but it was worth it (you should hit Pequod’s if you ever out there, that and Lou Malnati’s are the Deep Dish Pizza Kings!) Let’s get to the shits. Kanye has evolved into a hip hop composer. He was always a producer but “Runaway” is the first huge song of his I can remember where it seemed like the beat played longer than there were actual lyrics. And because his tracks now have repeated chants, or hums or sounds (see “Junya”) it’s harmonic, melodic but to some people not the Old Kanye. Guess what? I. Don’t. Give. A. Fuck. The music makes me feel. I could right an essay on this nigga, but I’ll just reccommend you give it a once through (maybe split in parts because it’s like 2 hours long) and see what you think. “Jail” “Hurricane” “Praise God” and “Off the Grid” are the people’s faves so far but I’m on my 3rd listen and haven’t skipped a track yet. “24” and “Come To Life” are my jams too but the whole thing is amazing, “Pure Souls” with Roddy Rich? Are you kidding me!? Those of us who grew up in church, listening to Gospel will be more partial to “Donda” but this genre-bending sonic motion picture has something for everyone. Go buy it ya filthy animal.

Baby Keem ft. Kendrick Lamar - family ties: TDE unloading the clip in 2021. After Kendrick let us know he’s finishing up his last TDE album, his lil cousin (and fellow TDE signee) Baby Keem, teased a song with K Dot and he dropped it when he said he would… (not a shot at Kanye, ok maybe a light jab). Anyways Kendrick uses the track to repeatedly say he “Smoking on our Top 5’s”. He had some shit to get off his chest and it definitely built anticipation for his album. Major “Control” vibes where he called out the top dawgs by name and said he was the King of NY. Hip Hop is missing that bravado (not everywhere, niggas beef everyday B, but from the huge acts it’s definitely not commonplace to beef with the other Titans). And Baby Keem said #2 is in his girl DMs and being that J. Cole is married with a kid, I think both Kendrick and Keem had one person in mind...

Belly ft. The Weeknd & Nas- Die For It: Belly dropped a new project this week titled, “See You Next Wednesday”. After dealing with depression, and some time off from music the Canadian artist is back with the shits and this standout track features both his music brother The Weeknd and Rap God Nasty Nas. Belly talks about his traumatic upbringing and how the good and evil spirits were intertwined with his journey. Nasir encourages the young rappers to stay out the streets and focus on the craft so they can make it to retirement and dodge the feds and the grave. Check out these other highlights from “See You Next Wednesday”:
IYKYK
Better Believe (ft. The Weeknd & Young Thug)
Zero Love (ft. Moneybagg Yo)
Requiem (ft. NAV)
Two Tone (ft. Lil Uzi Vert)
Wu Tang 
Scary Sight (ft. Big Sean)
Can You Feel It

Joyner Lucas ft. Lil Tjay - Dreams Unfold: This a vibe! Joyner spitting bars and gets into his melodic bag. The levels have his voice track matching the beat and they fit hand and glove (no OJ). The guys talk about working hard, grinding and watching those seeds of hard work lead to their dreams unfolding. Way too lit!

Lil Tecca ft. Trippie Redd & Chief Keef - CHOPPA SHOOT THE LOUDEST: The teen heartthrob known as Lil Tecca aka LT Nasty released the follow up to his hit album this week, “We Love You Tecca 2”. Whole album fire! I was not expecting so much heat but when artists find a pocket and evolve, great art is created. The album balances him getting in his lovey dovey bag and the braggadocious rap that we all love and which we could yell in the face of some people in our lives… On this one the three youngins talk about their legal firearms, the property they own, the trees that they blow, and the women who they spend their evenings with. Listen to “We Love You Tecca 2” and you’ll for sure love these tracks:
REPEAT IT (ft. Gunna)
NEVER LEFT
CAUTION
SEASIDE (ft. iann dior)
INVESTIGATION
BANK TELLER (ft. Lil Yachty)

Ray Vaughn - Not Allowed: Before this week, I had never heard of Ray Vaughn (Stevie Ray Vaughn yes, Ray Vaughn, no). He’s a new TDE signee and with Kendrick on his way out, this unleashing of Ray Vaughn shows that Top and Punch got the farm system stocked with young hungry talent ready for the big league. He released a three song EP this week called “Peer Pressure” which features this track, “Not Allowed” which is an impressive display of lyrics, cultural awareness and a firm grasp of quality music making. He also stopped by Power 106 in LA and had one of thee best LA Leakers Freestyles this year over the “Lay Low” and “Can’t Feel It In The Air” beats. You heard it here first folks, Ray Vaughn’s a star.

OhGeesy ft. Mo Faygoo - Coochie: OhGeesy (One half of Shoreline Mafia) released a solo project this week called  “GEEZYWORLD”. Dope features, dope beats, Bay Area sound from the artist that hails from LA. This track is quintessential Geezy, west coast bop about bops. With collaborator Mo Faygoo they strike gold when they realize they getting coochie tonight. Road head, side chicks, coke, molly, lean, robberies, marijuana, Reese’s Pieces, running trains, this song has it all. Also from “GEEZYWORLD”: 
Intro 
Who Else (ft. BlueBucksClan)
Get Fly (ft. DaBaby)
Keeper (ft. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie)
Po’ Up

Max B - 75 In The Can: Old school West Coast beat, with an NY legend. The former Dipset affiliate talks his shit with the title referring to his 75 prison sentence he received for allegedly taking part in a robbery that led to life lost. He talks about the life he led and all the things that came with the life good and bad, owning land, luxury automobiles, chicks ridin meat like a seesaw, diamonds, shooting the opps and of course Sour Diesel. He’s scheduled to be released from prison sometime this year and when he is, his ace boon coon French Montana will be waiting.

Rich the Kid ft. Polo G - Prada (Remix): “I been waking up to racks bish” Rich the Kid kicks it off with his unique flow over this super hard beat (this might be the best on this list). Rich and Polo like designer clothes, blowjobs and leaving skeet skeet on the ladies bottom lip after those blowjobs. They also bust their guns and stack paper up to the heavens.

Icewear Vezzo ft. Lil Baby - Know The Difference: From the D to the A! Vezzo loading up for his album and got one of the dopest out to collab with on a track. Baby kicks it off on a beat carried by drums and keys. He really upped his stock when he started rapping uptempo. Vezzo matches the tempo and both flows are tailor made for this beat. They talk the usual shit about shooting niggas and being rich but the flows and the beat are what makes this one stand out.

Jaden - “CTV3: Daytripper’s Edition”: C.Syre Smith dropped a Deluxe to last year's project, this one titled: “CTV3: Daytripper’s Edition”. It’s more of a re-rock of the original but it’s fire. I think Jaden is one of the most underrated in the game. He was a child star so I think people tried to put him in a box early on as some pop, Kidz Bop bullshit, but he’s grown and evolved as a human and as an artist. It was super dope when I got PS5, popped in Spiderman Miles Morales and the first thing I heard was one of my favorite songs of his “On My Own” with Kid Cudi. You don’t get that spot unless you that nigga. This project is definitely something for the lovers (or the heartbroken). I realized this week that I dig the hip-hop emo wave that has become popularized with XXXTentacion, JuiceWrld, Trippie Redd, and Jaden. Perfect music for psychedelics or when you just chilling or if you in the mood for some mellow in your feeling shit. Some other standouts from “CTV3: Daytripper’s Edition”:
Circa 2013 
What It Is 
Laurel Canyon
Summer

Other Tracks/Projects that Dropped This Week

Meek Mill ft. Lil Baby & Lil Durk - Sharing Locations


Babyface Ray, Big Sean & Hit-Boy - It Ain’t My Fault

ShooterGangKony - JumpMan

DaBaby - Whole Lotta Money (Freestyle)

Herb Sims & Swoosh God - Wussup

Kash Doll ft. Wale & Eric Bellinger - Single & Happy

Eric Bellinger & Sevyn Streeter - What About Us

Headie One - 2 Chains

Kranium ft. Young T & Bugsey - Life of the Party

Kodak Black - Before The Album (EP)

Curren$y & Trauma Tone - Highest In Charge (Album)

42 Dugg - Free Dem Boyz (Deluxe)

Wizkid - Made In Lagos (Deluxe)

Mo3 - Shottaz 4Eva (Deluxe)

Halsey - If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power (Album)

Nelly - Heartland (Album)