Kevin Gates - Scars: After setting the streets on fire with his “Super General” freestyle he dropped “Khaza”, one of the best projects of the year so far. He touches on a lot of stuff on the album including asking his shawty if he and the homie could have some fun with her (together) and he describes the tryst in detail (as Gates would). I loved the whole album and especially “Scars” where he interpolates his song “Get Up On My Level” throughout. His message on this one: you can cover up all your Scars with diamonds but it’s still gonna hurt. Beat super hard, shows love to his children and they mamas, his homies locked down, and removes the leeches. Only the strong survive in the streets and Kevin's one of dem ones. Do yourself a favor and give “Khaza” a listen and be sure to check out these tracks:
Intro
Bad For Me
Shoot My Shot
Truth Be Told
Hard To Sleep

Kay Flock ft. Fivio Foreign - Make A Movie: NY Drill’s Finest! Kay Flock dropped a new track this week with fellow NY superstar Fivio. The piano keys and chipmunked vocal loop gives this track some sauce. Kay been sliding for weeks and asks his shawty if she’s riding for him. The bullets do the punching, ain’t no boxing for Flock. Fivio slides on opps if he wanna. He asks the opps to prove their toughness by brandishing their firearm. He also cautions against dying over some booty because niggas will in fact die over a nut.  

Drake - Flights Booked: This week Drake dropped the most polarizing album of the year so far, “Honestly, Nevermind”. Some love it (me!) some not so much. Love it or hate it, it’ll be everywhere all summer. I loved the whole project, I fuck wit House and the Jersey Club vibes (I am from the Garden State if ya dunno). “Flights Booked” is a whole ass vibe. Drizzy knows it’s getting late and he’s struggling to let go. Although there’s distance between them, there’s no place he’d rather be. He asks shawty not to take her sweet ass time. “Don’t take forever, it’s been forever” He promises she will get The Boy’s heart if she’s able to bear with him. Other highlights from “Honestly, Nevermind”:
Texts Go Green
Currents
A Keeper
Sticky
Massive
Jimmy Cooks (ft. 21 Savage)

J Stone, Swizz Beatz & Jadakiss - No Time (Remix): Swizzy on the beat! Piano Keys provide the backbone. J Stone kicks it off and states the obvious, he’s a beast. He’s got it locked from East to West. Foreigns back to back in a major way. Ace of Spades pouring. Swizz handles the chorus. He has no time for the fakers, he got his middle finger up and a 9mm for the haters. He grinds for the paper and everybody talking but never touch the paper. Jada does it for those who lack direction. He puts in work, makes it home and that’s a blessing. All he needs is his fam, some trees, and some Effen and he’s good.

Logic ft. Langston Bristol & Curren$y - Clouds: Logic released his long awaited album “Vinyl Days” this week. It’s his last drop on Def Jam, he’s Indie now. Lots of dope features from OGs like RZA & AZ to recently established superstars like Action Bronson & Russ. I really like “Clouds”. Laid back vibe but Logic gets in his speedbag flow to let us know that everything gonna be alright. He’s in his room making beats, head up in the Clouds (but he’s coming down soon). He could give a fuck what you on but he’s really trying to put you on. Lowkey, he's been waiting for so long. Langston Bristol is trying to get trophies with his dogs (and not like the Westminster Show). He’s got a blueprint for success and he’s gonna be on a billboard soon. He only hangs with his teammates and all of them real, trill and stick to the code. If they start acting fake, they gotta go. The beat flips then we get the Hot Spitta. He talks about his family’s needs, and bomb weed (of course). Buds, nugs, all that. He makes time for the fam but also makes time to blaze (he’s got that balance in his life). Checkout out “Vinyl Days”, listen to the skits and make sure you don’t miss these tracks: 
In my lifetime (ft. Action Bronson)
Introducing Nezi (ft. Nezi Momodu)
Orville (ft. Like, Blu & Exile)
Carnival (ft. AZ)
Sayonara

Foogiano ft. Pooh Sheisty - 6 Months: Gucci Mane released a new project this week called “So Icy Gang: The Re-Up”. It’s a Deluxe and many of the new tracks dropped before this week so it has that compilation feel. My favorite of the new new tracks was this Foogiano & Pooh Sheisty collab (Free Them). Trap piano keys set the tone as Foo describes the work he put in and how he got rich in 6 months. He been trappin and robbin since a jit. He ain’t no rookie, he keep a Glock (legally of course) and stay on the block. He always goes for it and never punts. Big Brrr slides on and calls 100 racks petty cash. He’ll chop an opp up like a high top fade then do the dash in a Dodge. Check out “So Icy Gang: The Reup” if you ever had a family member incarcerated and you try not to mention it to your significant other as long as you can.

Powers Pleasant ft. Maxo Kream, Kenny Mason, Erick The Architect & Bas - Overseas: Producer Powers Pleasant dropped a new collab this week. Beat crazy (obvi). Houston’s Maxo Kream starts it off and describes how he mixes the lean with the Fanta. He moving pies like Dominoes, moving birds like Popeyes and taking shrooms like Mario & Luigi (amen to that!). He makes pornos like Ray J and his new chick looks like Kim K. ATL’s Kenny Mason is up next. He hops on and starts spelling shit (you gotta run it back a couple times to catch it all) but he says that he’s into hood rats, and he just got a few racks in his account. His niggas cause chaos and he warns against flexing as it’ll get you exposed. Erick The Architect is a member of the NY trio Flatbush Zombies (although his part in the video was filmed in LA). He’s big in his city and when he runs down on the opps they have no choice but to run their pockets. He’s one of one and he’s smoking a blunt stuffed with Zaza. Dreamville’s Bas is the closer. He asks a young lady to get off his nuts please (he’s polite.) She’s tryna fuck but he don’t want it. He said if she was the last dog in the kennel he wouldn’t blast off (damn…). He kicked her out and hit the spot because he knew he’d make last call. He laments the backstabbing that goes on like Game of Thrones. Cats copy his style but can’t stay in form. Tough Tune.

SoFaygo - Good Day: One of XXL’s 2022 Freshman, SoFaygo, dropped an EP this week called “B4pink”. I’m digging “Good Day” where SF proclaims that it will be a Good Day. He knows his homies still be in the streets clocking sales. He warns if you play with him, there’s gonna be some gun play. He can’t stay in the A too long, he’s gotta catch a flight to LA. One of his lady friends told him this is her favorite song and it’s been in her head all day. Go check out “B4pink” if you ever had dreads blocking your vision and you swung your head to the side like the Goth Kids on South Park.

Chance The Rapper ft. Joey Bada$$ - The Highs & The Lows: Chano has returned. After dropping an A1 track with fellow Chicagoan Vic Mensa, he’s back with this collab with fellow multi-hyphenate, rapper-actor Joey Bada$$ (whose album didn’t drop this week due to sample clearance issues). The beat feels like 90’s Hip-Hop (right up JB’s alley, pause). Chance describes the high highs (high enough to put Bol Bol on a poster) and the low lows (no bread and people you thought was with you giving you the cold shoulder). He keeps the faith through it all. Home life gets crazy sometimes too but nothing so stressful that a couple drinks can’t fix. Life can feel like a seesaw sometimes and he’s just trying to keep his eyes on the road and take the highs with the lows. Badmon was feeling lifeless so he had to cut his vices. He got so used to feedback from others it drowned out his inner voice. He also delivers one of the best bars of the year: “The best things in life on the opposite side of fear.”

Hunxho & WanMor - Heartless: New artist alert! I saw an article on Hunxho earlier in the week so when I was looking through iTunes to see what dropped and saw his new album “Xhosen” I had to give it a listen. It’s a great project and Hunxho talks about the struggle, the grind and pushing through (those subjects are my jam). My favorite was the opening track “Heartless”. It starts with some soulful keys and Hunxho uses autotune to talk about how he came from poverty and how he put in work in the streets (running around like parkour). He got locked up but ever since he got out he been locked in. He used to doubt himself and hard times almost made him lose his mind. He doesn’t wanna be Heartless and he’s gonna keep working and stay down until his whole team wins. Go check out “Xhosen” if you ever went to corner store with a dollar and came out with a paper bag full of an assortment of candy.

Hitmaka ft. Fabolous, Jeremih & Ivory Scott - Down Bad: The producer formerly known as Yung Berg and now known as Hitmaka dropped a new track this week. Island vibes on the summer anthem sure to get hella radio play. Ivory Scott starts it off and asks shawty who died and made her flawless. She’s a street chick but she’s polished. He doesn’t understand how she’s so blessed as he watches her wind in a sundress. Jeremih on the bridge. Shawty got him fucked up, luv drunk, she’s too much and he’s Down Bad. Fab gets in his Summertime Shootout bag and vows to summer like never before. Shawty has a big round ass and he knows she’s tryna hit the pool party. And if she need a ride, he got her (in more ways than one).  

Raury - Channel Zero: Georgia native Raury dropped a new project this week called “Strawberry Moon”. It’s a dope project featuring an eclectic mix of sounds and Raury’s introspective rhymes. My favorite track is “Channel Zero”. It's an upbeat bop where Raury describes his spiritual motors as overflowing, he realizes every breath is a blessing, and he enjoys life’s simplicity by sitting in a field and watching the tractor wheels go round and round. He describes how a lady friend of his reaches climax after cunnilingus is performed (I also am Team MunchDaBox). He doesn’t need the weed because he’s naturally high. He keeps his own mortality top of mind and sees no reason to work himself to the bone. He’s at peace with the moment and suggests we try to reach that state of bliss. Other standout tracks from “Strawberry Moon”:
2020 Vision
Feel Good
Her Smile

Smiley - Rush Hour Freestyle: OVO artist Smiley dropped a new loosie for ya head top. The best is super crazy. Smiley rides the beat and talks about the bad little bitties he kicks it with. Her ass is hella loud when she shakes it and her twerk skills have earned her the shotgun seat in his McClaren. She just left her man because he was boring. Smiley’s not boring and if she wants something Smiley buys. He knows he’s gonna win, the scoreboard always shows it.

Erica Banks - Trick: The Flow Queen dropped a new album this week called “Diary of The Flow Queen”. It’s packed with tracks tailormade for strip club playlists all over the world. Ass shaking, bottle popping, cash flying and bumpin beats. I love “Trick” (prolly because I’m lowkey a trick myself). It samples Project Pat’s “Chickenhead” and Erica raps about how she bleeds these niggas dry. Broke niggas that ain’t payin don’t get no play round her. You want a word with The Flow Queen, you better have that wallet ready and fly her private to islands and shit. If you like that bump in your trunk (pause) give “Diary of The Flow Queen” a listen and definitely check out these highlights:
Throw a Lil Mo (Do It)
Slim Waist
The Best
Toot That (ft. Beatking & DreamDoll)

Duke Deuce - I GET CRUNK: What da fuck! New Wave Crunkstar, Duke Deuce, dropped a project this week aptly titled “CRUNKSTAR”. Sounds exactly like you’d expect, high energy, meant to be played as loud as possible with all the homies in the whip. I really turnt up to “I GET CRUNK”. It’s a flip of LL Cool J’s smash hit “I Need Love”. DD fires up the zaza in public and warns the opps they will get they jaw locked if they go left. He rocks Reeboks (specifically AI Questions) as he gangster walks. He’s raging in the club and repping Memphis everywhere he goes. More standouts from “CRUNKSTAR”:
CRUNKSTARZ 
OPEN UP (ft. DJ Tootz)
JUST SAY THAT (ft. Glorilla)
BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS
RUNNING OUT OF LOVE (ft. Dante Smith)

Kota the Friend - Father’s Day: Father’s Day fallin on the last day of this week (or first really) provided the perfect opportunity for NY’s own Kota The Friend to drop his track “Father’s Day”. Kota is focused, over there where the growth is. He plants his flag as the Best Dad Ever (despite what others may say) and it has been confirmed by his child. He showers his son with love and promises to be there, win or loss, rain or shine. He wishes a Happy Father’s Day to his niggas. He knows it’s a thankless job and sometimes mom gets all the credit (see that classic [redacted] joke) but this track is a dedication to those men who stick around and help their seed grow.

Snoop Dogg & October London - Baila Conmigo: The new owner of Death Row Records, Snoop Doggy Dogg, dropped a new project this week showcasing the new Death Row stable called “Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022” and it features some of the OGs like Kurupt & Daz with the new blood. My favorite track is “Baila Conmigo” which I believe translates to “Dance wit me lil bih”. The vocals are provided by October London over a Latin-inspired beat. He encourages shawty to come closer so they can dance the night away. He hopes the vibes are here to stay. He wants to feel her body heat and the movement of her hips. Many calories will be burned. Go listen to “Snoop Dogg Presents Death Row Summer 2022” if you ever went to a cookout and they had good burgers and hot dogs but yo uncle wife fucked up the potato salad.

Other Tracks/Projects That Dropped This Week

Eminem & CeeLo Green - King & I

JID - 29 (Freestyle)

Lupe Fiasco - DRILL MUSIC IN ZION

Diddy ft. Bryson Tiller - Gotta Move On

FKA Twigs - Killer

Reason ft. Jay Rock - Is What It Is

iLoveMakonnen ft. NBA Youngboy - ALL MY SHIT IS STUPID

Lakeya - No Pressure (Pt. 1) (EP)

Westside Boogie - More Black Superheroes (Album)