Vince Staples - When Sparks Fly: Long Beach’s own Vince Staple released his 2nd album in as many years this week with “Ramona Park Broke My Heart”. Mustard produced a couple of tracks and the whole project has that modern Cali sound. I purchased the album 3 tracks in and it could be my favorite album this year so far. Early AOTY candidate. This track is a change of pace. A love song (as much of the album is) but it’s downtempo boom bap and he spits to his main damie and asks her not to break his heart. Do yourself a favor and go listen to “Ramona Park Broke My Heart” front to back, no skips. Thank me later.

Lil Baby - In A Minute: Lil Baby released a two pack this week with “In A Minute” & “Right On”. I loved them both but the tiebreaker goes to “In A Minute” for the “Pound Cake” sample. He talks about going from nothing to something, now he flys private with Goyard bags and plenty of women for him and all his friends to mingle with. He stays off the internet and even flexes that he shares the stage with Billie Eilish. He’s major now.

Fivio Foreign ft. Quavo - Through The Fire: I love the weeks where I find a new song that I keep running back. And this one of them ones! Fivio released his debut major label album “B.I.B.L.E.” mixed and mastered by the legendary Mike Dean. I love the album and “Through The Fire” is easily one of my favorite songs of the year. It’s a new wave for Fivi, he keeps the signature flow but the beat sounds like something Ye cooked up with the soul sample loop in the back. On it, Mr. Foreign describes how he gave his life to the Lord and he’s trying to escape the streets so he can stick around and be a good father to his kids. He knows one day he’ll die and he hopes that when that day comes he’ll earn his angel wings. And don’t forget about Quavo (skrr skrr). He has a great line “Fuck patience when you gotta get straightening”. Go check out this track and these other highlights from “B.I.B.L.E.”: 
What’s My Name (ft. Queen Naija & Coi Leray)
Hello (ft. Chlöe & KayCyy)
Changed On Me (ft. Vory & Polo G)
Can’t Be Us

Pusha T ft. Jay-Z & Pharrell - Neck & Wrist: King Push gearing up for an album release. The project’s called “It’s Almost Dry” (courtesy of a Desus & Mero interview). You get 2 of the best coke rappers ever on a Skateboard P beat and Magic is made. “Neck & Wrist don’t lie!” HOVs verse is in the Top 5 this year (I know I’m giving out a lot of annual accolades on this week’s list but maybe artists save the heat for right after the Grammy’s and right before Coachella **Jordan Shrug**) What more needs to be said?

IDK - Taco: The artist formerly known as Jay IDK dropped a loosie this week. Produced by KAYTRANADA (with his signature Electro-Funk/Hip-Hop Sound) IDK talks shit to the opps, calls them pussy and threatens to spin the block on them. The lyrical content with the upbeat instrumental is a mind blowing combo but it fits like a glove. (Not like that one Isotoner…) He’s on a whole notha page than them haters. Also the looping “slide” and the snaps sauce this shit up ever so perfectly.

Wiz Khalifa & Girl Talk - Ready For Love: Wiz,Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA and producer Girl Talk released a collab album this week called “Full Court Press”. My favorite track was this flip of Modjo “Lady (Hear Me Tonight)”. It’s a Wiz solo track and he delivers some of the lyrics in the same style that Ciara sings the chorus of Field Mob’s “So What” (another one I got in the Serrato). Dope track, dope project, go check out “Full Court Press”.

Schoolboy Q - Soccer Dad: Q’s returning from hiatus. He’s in a massive Nike campaign promoting Tiger Woods’ comeback at the Masters and it was the perfect commercial for him to be featured in as he dropped his first single in a minute (and I’d guess he may be gearing up for an album drop later this year). On “Soccer Dad” horns and snare set the mood as Q describes his come-up and how he’s catching his second wind. He tells the casual acquaintances that they were never friends. He strongly advises them to get off his nuts, and off his dick. “Damn, nigga, damn” His life is wavy, he keeps it low and stacks his chips up. He moves at God’s pace. He’s turning over a new leaf.

Coi Leray - Heartbreak Kid: Coi Leray released “Trendsetter” this week, her debut album. It’s full of Hip-Pop, pussy popping tunes she’s grown to be known for and also some introspective shit like “Heartbreak Kid”. On this one, Coi talks about falling love on the last shot (hella relatable). The beat has that country-rap sound with the guitar and the minimist beat. Dope track, I added to my personal playlist. Go check out “Trendsetter” if you love the Lord and pay your taxes.

Alicia Keys - City of Gods (Part II): The super-talented instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Alicia Keys lent her gifts to the Fivio & Ye joint “City of Gods”. She loved it so much she ran it back with just her for a more soulful, R&B rendition. Of course it’s an ode to the city, The Mecca, the Medina, the melting pot. She’s just asking the Big City to take it easy. She’ll always love NY and she hopes the city will always reciprocate.

42 Dugg & EST Gee - Spin: The joint album that the streets was waiting for finally dropped. Detroit’s 42 Dugg (prnounced Four Two Doog, not Forty Two Doug like niggas been saying since he came out) and Memphis EST Gee. I’m pretty sure they’re both CMG affiliated (Yo Gotti’s label) with Gee being a signed artist and 4-2 having a management partnership. Anywho the name of the project is “Last Ones Left” and it’s exactly what you expect from these big steppas. I really love “Spin” a track where they dig in these niggas ass (pause, unpause) and also supply the demand. 42 Dugg uses the chorus to say fuck some dude name Will and throw dirt on snitches. He asks the authorities to free his friends as they have all been wrongfully convicted. Gee spins the block in the name of love. After he drops an opp he sends teddy bears to his family (he’s a gentleman).

Action Bronson - SubZero: SubZero might be what Young Baklava weighs now. After committing to a workout regimen and a diet change, mans lost 100+ pounds. This track has a soulful, Jazz feel, cymbals and a scat beat. He talks about getting BJs from some dude’s wife (she drinks his man juice). Dragging deer in the swamp then smoking marijuana. He had to wrestle 2 bears for the title shot and it looks like he survived.

Syd ft. Kehlani - Out Loud: Syd released a solo album this week “Broken Hearts Club” which featured many of the dope tracks she dropped over the last year (all of which I loved). My favorite album cut was this Kehlani collab “Out Loud”. Syd wonders why her shawty hasn’t told her friends about their situationship. She encourages her to say it Out Loud. Run tell dat. She don’t wanna play the side. Instagram official, meet the folks, all that. Kehlani encourages her boo to speak up. He be making sounds when they be getting it in but he’s silent when it’s time to claim her. She lets him know, he don’t have to hide her. Be true and speak up or she gon get lost. Check out “Broken Hearts Club” If you’re in love, have ever been in love or may be in love in the future. It got everything on there.

Bia ft. J. Cole - London: When this track dropped the internet streets dubbed J. Cole the Best British Rapper. This beat is A1 times 10. One of the best beats of the year (here we go again) and UK spitta Bia kicks it off and lets us know she likes to go shop in the mall while in London. She prefers designer fashion like Prada, Louis Vouitton and Chrome Hearts. She also has hella tricks who CashApp her and after they send the bread through, she ghosts (cold world!) Jermaine uses a bit of a British accent for some of his top tier bars about popping the opps after he gets the drop on them, hopping off private jets at Heathrow, being a married man but also spending quality time with women who go both ways. He’s got no limits but he’ll still rock Crocs at O2 Arena. He even gets a bar in about TI’s budding comedy career. Tough Tune.

Jack Harlow - First Class: White Excellence! The Kentucky artist, who allegedly will co-star in a “White Men Can’t Jump” remake released a new track that samples Fergie’s “Glamorous”. It’s about Jack’s financial stability and how that allows him to fly the women in his orbit anywhere in the world First Class. He drinks pineapple juice so his ejaculate is sweet and all the women seem to love that. He talks about his come up and also dreams to buy his mom a new house. He believes that some of us don’t need Givenchy, we need Jesus (Amen!)

B-Lovee - Need You (Last Strike): The NY Driller dropped a project this week called “Misunderstood”. Best known for his lovey-dovey anthem “My Everything” which samples a classic soul song, on “Need You (Last Strike)” he samples a modern hit, Nelly & Kelly Rowland’s “Dilemma”. He only has relations with a woman once then switches up. He spins the block, drills, then goes and spends time with another woman (unless a previous woman was to his liking). He runs another play on the opp (and that’s the opp’s Last Strike). He smokes dead eye and tries to keep the dickriders at bay. When he lays pipe down properly shorty acts right. Go check out “Misunderstood” if you’ve ever been misunderstood and have been to Harlem at least twice.

Other Tracks/Projects That Dropped This Week

Chief Keef - Overhead

Jim Jones ft. Lil Wayne, Juelz Santana, Takeoff & DJ Khaled - We Set The Trends (Remix)

Rowdy Rebel - Rowdy vs Rebel

Tyga - Lifetime

Omar Apollo - Ivory (Album)

Gunplay - All Bullshit Aside (Album)

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