Ab-Soul ft. Ambré - Art of Seduction: After a hiatus, TDE titan Ab-Soul dropped a new project this week titled “Herbert” (his government name). Project is fire, I don’t remember Solo going in over production like this (lots of boom-bap tracks). My favorite track is one he made for the ladies “Art of Seduction”. It has a boom-bap foundation with chipmunked vocals in the background. Ab’s bars and Ambré’s sultry vocals come together synergistically and create a masterpiece. Check out “Herbert”, no skips.

Birdman & Juvenile - Ali: Cash Money Brothers reunited for a loosie this week under the Rich Gang imprint. Both men are goated (like Muhammad Ali). Their career ain’t got no ceilings and they ain’t got no feelings. They smoke the Za, sip the Yak, and keep it low. They live by a code and that’s how they've been able to have longevity and achieve Legendary status.

Jacquees - Start Over: The self proclaimed “King of R&B” dropped a new project this week called “Sincerely For You” and it’s one of the best R&B offerings of the year. I loved the range of features (he got 21 Savage & Gospel icon John P. Kee). And he talks about the good & the bad when it comes to relationships. My favorite track “Start Over” finds Quees admitting he's wrong and looking for a second chance. He’s smart enough to apologize and ask for a mulligan. Check out “Sincerely For You” and these highlights:
Sincerely For You (Intro)
Woman’s Worth
I Remember
Be With You (with Tory Lanez)
The Mud (with 21 Savage)
One More Time (with John P. Kee)

Morray - Da Rant: NC’s own Morray dropped this new loosie and the title is a play on Kevin Durant’s last name (see the artwork). Dope track, the beat sounds like some shit straight out the Drake vault with the background vocals and the piano progressions. Morray spits about running with the wrong crowd, and niggas switching up on him. He was broke but he fixed it. He balling like he’s Bron, D-Wade, Kobe & KD. He asks God for forgiveness and it looks like the man upstairs has been answering his prayers. He spits for 3 minutes straight. No hook, all bars.

Young Dolph & Gucci Mane - Roster: Long Live Dolph! His first posthumous album “Paper Route Frank” was released this week. It’s a slapper and I’m not surprised Dolph had this much heat in the tuck (he was a grinder). My favorite track is the Gucci Mane collab “Roster”. Beat knocks as the guys talk about the various women on their Roster (only baddies). Go listen to “Paper Route Frank” 23 tracks of straight gas.

Tyga & Chris Brown - Nasty: You already know what these two do when they get together. They make anthems and they dropped a new one this week. This one is a smooth, hypnotic, radio-ready tune. Tyga uses a melodic delivery to describe his Nasty girls. She shaking ass all night, bringing it back, throwing it in a circle while T Raw makes it rain cash. Brown likes to pull shawty hair when he gets down and dirty. She busts it down for hell of it and he loves when she brings more bitties into the equation (that’s when it really gets Nasty).

Masego - You Never Visit Me: Masego’s probably had an interesting month. Fetty Wap re-rocked a track he made a year ago (with Devin Morrison) and turned it into a viral hit with 2 official remixes (one with Wiz Khalifa and the other with R&B/Soul legends Charlie Wilson & Ron Isley). The internet came to his defense but he let it be known that it’s all love and he signed off on Fetty’s version. He’s back with a new track of his own called “You Never Visit Me”. It’s Funk/Soul and the title explains it all. Shawty never comes through. The live instrumentation really sauces this one up and so does Masego’s jazzy delivery. All he’s asking for is a little quality time and once shawty hears this one, she’ll be over in a jiffy.

Boldy James & Cuns- Earned Not Given: Griselda’s Boldy James dropped a new collab project this week with producer Cuns called “Be That As It May”. If you know Bo Jack, you know this one is packed with boom-bap & bars. My favorite track is “Earned Not Given” and this one has a soul beat that sounds like a could be an old Isley Brothers song. He spits about his come up, moving packs, and how his Respect is Earned and Not Given. Check out “Be That As It May” and these standouts:
FOOT PRINTS
GOD SPEED

YeloHill, Suga Free & Hit-Town - Vice City: Y’all know I’m a sucker for a sample and as soon as I heard the beat drop, I was hooked. This track samples the Rene & Angela classic “Ill Be Good” the same track was sampled by Hov & Foxy on “I’ll Be” and was featured on one of the radio stations in the hit video game “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City” (hence the song title). YeloHill & Hit-Town pop their shit while Suga Free spits that pimp shit. I’ll have this one on repeat for awhile.

KA$hDAMI - Out The Spot: Teen sensation KA$hDAMI dropped a new EP this week called “18” (probably commemorating his 18th birthday). My favorite track is “Out The Spot”. He lets the bitties know if they not giving top they should get Out The Spot. He don’t catch feelings for chicks, he only got feelings for the guap. His stock’s going up and you better buy now before his price gets too high.

JMB Juvie - Exposed: JMB dropped a new loosie this week. Beat silky, Juvie discusses everything from dealing with his girl’s baby daddy to drilling the opps. He splits wigs but also likes to lay back and get top. He dares the opps to catch him if they can, and they better get to him first ‘cause he gon’ bring the smoke to they door.

Rah Swish - Expensive: NY Driller Rah Swish dropped off a new project this week called “The Old Me”. Dope project of drill anthems. My favorite track “Expensive” sounds like Drake’s “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2” from “Nothing Was The Same”. Of course it’s got that Drill sauce and an epic vibe to it. Rah Swish has Expensive pain like Meek. He’s a real shooter, a real woo, and he warns shawty before she gets in the big body with him. He shoots 2-2-3’s and he makes it rain on the opp’s block like a thunderstorm.

Doley Bernays ft. R Baron - The Deli: Another week, another great discovery on the Apple Music New Hip-Hop playlist. The uptempo beat with the chipmunked soul sample is super catchy. Doley spits some gems, warning his dogs not talk wild on the phones. He used to move that work in the deli and he spent his evenings with many different ladies (much to the chagrin of his main damie).

NoCap - Standing On Lies: Alabama spitter NoCap dropped a new project this week called “The Main Bird”. Dope project, my favorite track “Standing On Lies” has guitar chords that gives it a Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, funky feel. NoCap is shutting the door on the bullshit. Some that were once close to him are now Standing On Lies and he’s good all by his lonely. His Lambo sits low to the ground but his head is high. He knows the risks he takes could lead to the pen or the graveyard so he gotta keep his circle tight with people he can truly trust.

Rich The Kid - No More Friends: Rich might be gearing up for a new album. After dropping “Motion” two weeks ago, he’s back with “No More Friends”. He obviously spits about being Rich (a long way from when he was broke & hustling). He now uses his wealth to take care of his mama and teach others how to get rich. He warns the opps that he don’t do no tussling, he’s pulling the stick out.

Little Simz - Broken: Firstly, I’d like to say Little Simz is one of the best lyricists in the Rap game right now full stop. That was proven again with her newest album this week “NO THANK YOU”. 10 tracks of the most well crafted bars with actual substance. She reminds me of a British Rhapsody, but Simz is riding her own wave (I don’t really like comparing either). My favorite track is definitely “Broken”. The first thing that caught me is the background vocals that sound like the kids choir in the Justice track “D.A.N.C.E.”. She speaks about the dark side of life and how we can suffer in silence. She talks about the system, our obsession with climbing the corporate ladder, questions whether we are enough, and how Mental Health is taboo in the Black community. It’s a 7 and a half minute lyrical masterpiece. Check out “NO THANK YOU” and these highlights:
Angel
Silhouette
No Merci
Heart On Fire
Control

Zach Fox - triflin’: The Fantastic Mr. Fox dropped a new EP this week called “wood tip”. It’s 4 tracks of melodic bops (no bars on this one). I really love the opening track “triflin’”. It has an 80’s R&B vibe. Zack sings to his bae and lets her know that he’s OK with her dipping because he knows that he’s a triflin’ ass nigga (self awarness on a million). He hopes in time that the can at leastl be friends. 

Leon Thomas - Breaking Point: Cali Multi-hyphenate Leon Thomas dropped a new track this week called “Breaking Point”. Title says it all, it’s about when a relationship hits that fork in the road and you gotta make that tough decision to go your separate ways. The production gives it a classic R&B feel and Leon sounds very D’angelo-esque. Top Tier Tune.

$uicideboy$ & Germ - Center Core Never More: Suicideboys dropped a new project this week with producer Germ called “DIRTIESTNASTIEST$UICIDE” . I thought this project dropped previously but maybe it didn’t (and that would explain the title of the track Sorry For The Delay). The project has their quintessential sound and subject matter. My favorite track is “Center Core Never More”. The beat & background vocals gives it a classic Memphis vibe (and they definitely Lean into it, wink, wink). Of course they talk about their mortality, popping pills, pistol whipping pussies, and pushing wood grain steering wheel-ed whips.  Other standouts from “DIRTIESTNASTIEST$UICIDE”:
Sorry For The Delay
Champagne Face

Russ - Home: After appearing on 2 tracks on Ab-Soul’s album “Herbert”, Russ also dropped some heat of his own with this loosie “Home”. It’s got some “Song Cry” vibes but this one is dedicated to his old lady. When he’s with her, it feels like Home. When he’s away from her, he misses her so much that when he sees her again the first thing he does is kisses her passionately. His mission each day, outside of grinding and consistently elevating himself and his career, is to make it Home to shawty.

Peewee Longway - My Type: Memphis’ own Peewee Longway dropped a new album this week called “Live A Lil”. Peewee has found a nice balance between the street tracks and the more melodic lovey dovey tracks (and I think he sees the numbers running up on the girl songs so he’s been doubling down on those.) My favorite track on the album is one of those lovey dovey songs, “My Type” (which looks to have a music video now, so this must be one of Peewee’s favs too). Over a snap beat laced with keys, Longway berates snitches, and lets all the shawtys know that if she don’t get wet like water, then she ain’t his type. He quickly retracts his statement and confesses to fuckin anything with a pussy and a pulse. Give “Live A Lil” a spin and don’t miss these highlights:
Together
Without You
Comfy
Boondoccs

Meechy Darko ft. Flatbush Zombies & Col3trane - Sliders: Meechy Darko and his crew The Flatbush Zombies dropped this collab track with singer Col3trane. It’s a departure from their gritty street bars as they cooked up something for the ladies. Super dope track that I’ve had on repeat. Meechy also talks about the opps and how they better Slide properly and also how much cash he has on hand at a given time.

Cory Gunz & David Bars - Curtains: NY’s own Cory Gunz (of Young Money fame, son of Peter, 1st of his name) and David Bars (who I was introduced to by Parks of the Joe Budden Podcast) dropped a collab project this week aptly called “Gunz x Bars”. Project is packed with super dope beats and witty wordplay. My favorite track is “Curtains” which has a funky beat and finds the guys spending quality time with their main thangs. All they want is for shorty to come through, close the Curtains, and get to work.  She got hella ass and they just wanna see it up close and personal. Check out “Gunz x Bars” and these standouts:
Like Us
Next Season

Neek Bucks & Ivory Scott - Count On You: NY back to back on The Hit List! NY’s own Neek Bucks dropped a loosie with Ivory Scott this week. Produced by Hitmaka, this one is about the ladies and whether or not the guys can count on her. They know she only be around for the Chanel (the double C) but they're hoping that the loyalty and love is reciprocated.

Ransom, 38 Spesh & V Don - Hit List: Ransom dropped his like 10th project of the year (jk looks to be his 3rd according to Apple Music). This one is called “Chaos Is My Ladder” and it’s a collab with V Don. You know with Ran he’s gonna give you A1 Bars and on “Hit List” he enlisted fellow barsmith 38 Spesh to go back and forth on the boom-bap beat. It’s my favorite track on the project for obvious reasons.

Allstar JR ft. Pretty Brayah - Kissing: Yet another great find on the Apple Music New Hip-Hop playlist. Chipmunked background vocals for the win. Allstar JR raps to his shawty and lets her know he likes spending time with her. Riding in the whip, beating it up properly, he won’t stop til he gets her pregnant. He kissing her everywhere, touching her and teasing her. Pretty Brayah loves when her man goes downtown. Her kitty gets wet as the ocean and can’t nobody last long when they with her.

Mickey Factz & Ayo Shamir ft. Raheem DeVaughn & Sy Ari Da Kid - Only Us Here: NY’s Mickey Factz dropped a new project this week with Ayo Shamir called “It’s Only Us Here”. Super dope project. My favorite track is probably “Journal Writings” but a close 2nd is “Only Us Here” with Raheem DeVaughn and fellow NY to ATlien Sy Ari Da Kid. It’s a track dedicated to their down chicks. She was there when the bag was low, 10 toes down. Through the ups and downs it was only them. Check out “It’s Only Us Here” and these standouts:
Journal Writings
10K
Half and Half
Calling Me


Other Tracks/Projects That Dropped This Week

Diddy & PartyNextDoor - Sex In The Porsche

The Weeknd - Nothing Is Lost (You Give Me Strength)

JuiceWrld - Face 2 Face

NBA YoungBoy & D-Rok - Military

Saint Jhn & London On Da Track - Stadiums

Only The Family & Lil Durk - Loyal Bros 2 (Album)