​Kendrick Lamar - Rich Spirit: Industry clear-out for K Dot. Almost no drops this week as Mr. Lamar dropped his last album on TDE “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”. It’s already receiving high praise (100 on Metacritic) and has the best first day streaming numbers of any album of 2022. Needless to say, this is a top tier Hip-Hop project and my 2nd fav Kendrick album after “Good Kid Maad City”. It’s a great mix of the artsy, slam-poetry hip hop and the catchy, radio-ready bops. He included Kodak Black multiple times on the project (2 interludes, one feature and one name drop) which rubbed some people the wrong way, but part of his thesis on the album is “fuck Cancel Culture”. He believes in second chances, giving grace, and his actions reflect that (featuring Kodak, his ruminations about R. Kelly). I loved the whole album and think it’s a shoe-in for the Best Rap Album Grammy. Rich Spirit is one of my absolute faves due to its replayability. A snap beat with Kendrick talking his shit “Bitch I’m attractive”. He’s just tryna keep balance in his life while staying strong and keeping the lames at bay. He praises the Lord and also rocks an Audemars Piguet watch. I don’t have to tell you to go listen to “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers” because you’ve heard it multiple times by now.

Vic Mensa & Chance The Rapper - Wraith: 2 of Chicago’s finest linked for this exercise in lyrical mastery. The title refers to the Rolls-Royce vehicle (not the bad guys vehicle in Halo). Vic starts off talking about the war going on in his hood and shouts out one of the local community organizations (Black P Stones). He puts money on the Securis phone so his incarcerated homies can reach him. Vic is balling like Irving. Chance talks about breaking up with a previous flame. He’s back in the studio like back in the day. He talks about neo-colonialism and he wants to free everyone from prison.

Post Malone ft. Roddy Ricch - Cooped Up: Posty’s back, gearing up for an album release in a few weeks. After Guapdad dropped “Black Iverson” last week, he knew he had to come out of hibernation. Radio-ready bop carried by keys and bass. Post been feeling cooped up, sipping Bud Lights pushing a Suburban, but now he’s back in the mix (Return of the Mack). He’s wearing designer and he’s ready to resurface and toast up with his loved ones. Roddy is bout to pull up in a black mink with some pill popping bitties. Everybody round him getting money, it’s contagious. Also, he reveals Posty actually took him on tour for the first time and now he glowed up. Full circle.

Mozzy ft. Shordie Shordie - Tell The Truth: 2 of my favorites linked out the blue. I’d never think these two would collab. Mozzy being from Cali and Shordie from DMV, didn’t think they ran in the same circles, but I’m glad they did. Beat hard, Mozzy tells the story of the opps and all their goofy antics. He encourages them to be honest (with themselves at the very least). Shordie handles the hook and reiterates the message. Superb storytelling and a great track to bump in the E300 with the windows down and the Tec-9 in your lap for protection (legally purchased of course).

Cyhi The Prince & Jacquees - Tears: Another unlikely duo produced a fire track. Jacquees sings the hook. Tears for everything, joy, pain, lust, anger, he hopes those tears bring change. Cyhi raps about the homie poppin two opps now he gotta tat two tears. He lost his cousin to a drug overdose (mo tears). He used to get picked on because he didn’t have new gear (mo tears). But now he’s up and he buys new jewelry. He used to be on the corner but now he hustles beats & rhymes. The guys are trying to stay strong and hold the tears back but they understand it’s healthy to let it out sometimes. Tough Tune.

M Huncho ft. Yung Bleu - Who We Are: UK & US link on this one. A melodic Hip-Hop joint. The guys climbed up from the trenches, covered in scars and never forgetting who they are. MH starts off by saying Clout is one helluva drug (he’s right). He never expected to make it past 22 and now he’s pushing an Audi with 22 inch rims. Yung Bleu encourages us to never forget who we are because we’re superstars. He knows the yayo sells itself but tells us to think twice about taking that risk. Even though he goes through depression he still puts on for his city.

DaBaby ft. Pooh Sheisty - BONNET: Big Baby Jesus dropped a 2-pack with this track and “Wig” ft. Moneybagg Yo. “Bonnet” has a unique minimalist beat, perfect for both Baby & Pooh’s flows. DB talks about having money and smacking women on the ass cheeks (consensually of course). He threatens the opps with violence (per usual) and also about how he’s chocolate (and women love chocolate according to him). He instructs his bittie to tat his name so he knows it’s real. Pooh hops on and talks about hopping out the wide body with a missile (a legally purchased one of course). He looks up to El Chapo and is looking to one day have cake like him. His jewelry makes it look like a light show.

Dreezy & Hitboy ft. Coi Leray - Balance My Lows: With Hitboy on the beat, you know you in for a treat (new tag perhaps?) Anyways, Coi Leray lends her vocal talents to this track and she fits perfectly. She’s trying to balance liquor with her lows, going through some shit that no one knows. She’s got a 40 caliber firearm on her hip and she may use it. She feels like her back is against the ropes but she gotta fight back and get more money. Dreezy takes the 2nd verse and reminisces on fuck niggas. She tried to put mans on game but she was on a new level. She turned those hurdles into lessons.

Other Tracks/Projects That Dropped This Week

DaniLeigh - Dead To Me

Tory Lanez - Shot Clock Violations

Vory ft. Yung Bleu & Nav - Do Not Disturb

Mark Ronson ft. Lucky Daye - Too Much