When it comes to fast and hard-hitting beats paired with funny and rewind-worthy bars, very few are doing it quite like BLP KOSHER right now. He’s made a great name for himself as a clever and creative lyricist who pairs his cheeky references and sense of humor with a gritty and grounded approach to trap music. The 23-year-old’s most recent effort, “Kold Shoulder” with Lil Crix, came out just last week, and he’s clearly not slowing down at all with his prolific schedule. Moreover, he’s back with “Skidoo,” another banger with a rapid percussion pattern, simple low piano melodies paired with high-note embellishments, and occasionally shifting flows to match his rhymes. It’s definitely a tried and true formula at this point, but this is such a comparatively young career that it’s still fresh and engaging.
Of course, if this is the first time you’ve heard of BLP KOSHER, you’ll quickly get an idea of why that formula got so popular and acclaimed. For example, the “Virgin Ears” rapper is very proud of his Jewish heritage, and his references to that identity make up some of the wittier and more triumphant lyrics here. Another element to his pen is the wordplay itself, which goes beyond the reference points to perk up the ear of any listener interested in language and puns. But it’s clear that the Florida native wants to take his sound to other worlds, too, as he collaborated with Yung Lean on the track “Violent Lullaby.”
BLP KOSHER’s “Skidoo”: Stream & Watch The Music Video
As such, “Skidoo” is an example of him playing to his strengths, and coming back to Earth before venturing off into the unknown again. We’ll see what BLP KOSHER offers fans as a full-length follow-up to Bars Mitzvah in the near future. With this new track in mind, fans should be pretty excited. If you haven’t heard this new single yet, find it on your preferred streaming service and check out the music video above. Find standout bars down below, let us know what you think of it in the comments, and as always, stick around on HNHH for more great music drops around the clock.
Quotable Lyrics If it’s smoke, I’m bringing hickory, throw it off the dock, Chopper came with double Ds, I’m trying to motorboat the opps, Them jits a** and they smoking flakk, I’m stepping in my bag and I ain’t selling out, check the Birkenstock
Brooklyn Candida Rodriguez is among the younger voices you’ll hear in rap today, but her talent and perspective feel more akin to five lifetimes. As Bktherula, she mixes hard-hitting rap bangers with alternative psychedelic leanings, aggressive bravado with spiritual yearning, lifelong training as a singer with lifelong instinct as a lyricist and performer, and youthful vibrance with sobering meditation. On the 21-year-old’s brand new album, LVL5 P2, these odds, ends, and extremes manifest into what might be the most versatile, compelling, cohesive, and well-rounded character portrait in her discography so far. With guest spots from JID and Cash Cobain, plus her most adventurous material so far, there’s something here for anyone whose ear perked up while listening to the Atlanta native in the past. Most importantly, it solidifies her commitment to bettering herself, sticking to her code, and finding full artistic freedom.
During this interview, Bktherula takes us through some of her favorite moments on LVL5 P2, the people and ideas that inspire her, her newfound perspective on her maturity and approach, and how having a big music career has been both everything and nothing like she expected. These moments were broken up by bits of laughter, frantic searches for a phone charger, and sneak peeks of just how long she’s kept things in the vault. But when the “IT WASN’T ME” mastermind decides to unlock the cage, it always results in blown minds and bleeding earphones. Her sound is powerful for many different reasons, in its heaviest and lightest spaces, and all her personalities and approaches shine through on P2. Whether it’s Rue Santan, Black, Santana, Rula, Tanjenica, Tanya on the mic… expect greatness, expect idiosyncrasy, and strap in for Level Five.
This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
HNHH: Welcome Bk, thanks so much for being with us! Before getting into LVL5 P2 (Level Five, Player Two), I want to kick things off with your excellent brand new single and music video, “THE WAY,” which just dropped today (Ed. Note: this interview was conducted on Friday, March 8). I know it’s only been a couple of hours, but I wanted to ask you how you feel about the reception you’ve seen so far to the single and why you think this was one of the tasters you wanted to give fans for the project.
Bktherula: I actually really enjoy “THE WAY.” I think it gives, like, a more vulnerable side to myself that I have not really given in the past. I mean, I have, but just not as much as “THE WAY,” I think “THE WAY” gives a little bit more of it, like a nice little dash. Because I gave them “CRAYON,” and I went hard with “CRAYON.” So I was like, “Alright, let me slow y’all down real quick.” Because the intro, as you know, to the album is, like, f***ing nuts. So, I just had to slow them down real quick, you know what I’m saying? So I could bring them back up.
Towards the end of “THE WAY,” I heard some conga percussion or some bongos, but I thought it was a really nice touch. I see what you mean about taking it a step further from stuff that you’ve already been doing your whole career.
Yeah, man, right? It’s going crazy. But I’m so glad that you liked it, though, because I was a little nervous.
For the years that I’ve been listening to you, your flow has always brought me to your music, which in my opinion is one of the most creative and unique parts of your work. On “CRAYON,” you rap “Record it myself, I wrote it myself, I like it, so I’ma submit it.” Can you give us a glimpse into that writing and recording process? Do you let it be as natural as possible, or do you try to make it more of this deliberate thing to hit certain pockets?
Weirdly enough… I guess it’s boringly enough, I just was born like this. *laughs* Like, I go to the studio, and then I just do it. And it’s very natural. I’m just in the studio, and my friends are just in the studio with me. I don’t really have too many people in there. It’s probably, like… I had three people in the studio with me yesterday. As long as it’s the Sony C-800G, I’m recording some fire flame. I made a song yesterday, I don’t remember how it sounds, I’m actually very excited to hear it. Yeah, it’s very boring, but it’s very easy for me.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
I don’t know if you have the same view on it, but there’s also something that I find really meditative about your music, whether it’s the lighter cuts on LVL5 P2 like “JUST MAKE SURE” or the hard hitters like “CODE.” On P2 specifically, how did you want to balance those extremes to make the album cohesive and well-flowing?
Honestly, I wanted to just give a little bit more than what I did the last time. And that’s why I was a little bit more vulnerable on this one, you know? Because P1 was really just, like, “F**k it, I don’t give a f**k about anything, about rules, about anything.” And then P2 is a little bit more structured and more mature, more reserved, but less fearful of showing emotion. It’s crazy.
Is that something that surprised you, or was it something that you wanted to achieve?
Surprised the frick out of me. I didn’t think that I would even be okay with it. Like, usually people are, like, “Oh, my God, I like when you sing!” And I just get f***ing, like, mad as f**k because I want to f***ing rap. I like rapping and I like singing, but I love rapping. So whenever people tell me that, sometimes I get offended. Well, at least P1 did. But I get it now. That’s why I say more mature for P2. She’s more mature, she gets it.
I wanted to ask about Love Santana as a bit of a retrospective because I read that you narrowed it down to 11 tracks from about 200 that you had in the vault. Was LVL5 P2 a similar experience for you?
Absolutely. Yes, I actually have songs on there, like “INSANE,” I made that when I was, like… I don’t even know, maybe 18? I’m 21. So I made “WOMAN”… I’d say “WOMAN” was the first song that I recorded when I learned how to record myself. And that was, like… three years ago? What else… “NUN”? 18. Like, a lot of those songs. N***as don’t even know what’s coming up, for real.
Being able to get JID on a song like “WOMAN” for example, which has been with you for so long, how does it feel for you to see these ideas finally come to life?
Oh, man, oh, man. It feels like a flower is finally at its form. Like, it totally just blossomed. It’s just this fire-a** flower, it just feels good. Looking at it, I’m very excited for it to drop. I’m actually very f***ing excited. I’m not even gonna lie, kind of freaking out on the inside, like, screaming, you know? Nah, JID’s insane. Absolutely. Like, his brain is right where mine is.
Considering your roots as a singer, like you mentioned, there are songs like “Detox,” “GANGO,” the Love Nirvana EP, and “SUMMER” that paved the way for your progression in terms of mixing genres together. It’s always been a big part of your artistry, and since you’ve had so much practice with it, is there a favorite or specific song of yours pre-P2 that you think defines that specific aspect of your career, or is it more spread across the whole catalog?
I think something that really explains it is maybe, like, “PSSYONFT.” That definitely explains it, and that was on P1. It’s just, like, you never know what you’re gonna get with me. I don’t give out what anyone wants, that’s another thing. Like, you can’t expect it. Being a fan of me is kind of hard, but surprisingly I have a lot of them. Just doing whatever the f**k I want to do, and just dropping whatever I want to drop all across the board. But “PSSYONFT,” I would say, is a great song to start off with. And I like “CODE,” of course. “CODE” is, like, insane.
Something else I noticed doing research for this is that a lot of people on your social media are very appreciative of how engaged you are. You’re very communicative, and usually fanbases either want less or they want more. But with you, they just really appreciate the honesty in all of that. As your fanbase has grown and everything, has it given you a different perspective on your work and what you feel like you can and can’t do?
Yes. I think I really want to be the definition of “You can do whatever.” As long as you pray to God, like… sometimes, especially being an artist, you get pressured to do a lot of different things. But I promise, I just know that I’m going to be able to do what I need to do by just praying and just doing what I need to do sometimes. Sometimes I get yelled at and do things, you know. But what’s making this happen is because I believe in God. And that’s it. Also, the way that I interact with my fans, I’m very genuine. I don’t lie. I don’t lie, I’m not gonna lie, and I’m also not going to make music that sounds like “Tweakin’ Together” for you, either.
But that’s just because I’ve grown, and I can’t lie. I can’t wear the same fit that I was wearing in middle school. Because if I put it on, I won’t even fit, for real. So I give my fans that mindset of evolution. It’s perfectly fine. If you want to go bald next year, then go f***ing bald. The people who stay are the people that need to be there, and the people who don’t stay need to f**k off. *laughs* That’s why my fanbase is cultish. They all really like me and they all stay because the ones that have remained are the ones that understand, and the ones that leave are the ones that were gonna leave in the first place.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
With the “Level Five” mindset, you’re very appreciative of the people that are still in Three and Four, having empathy for them and everything. But do you feel like you’re at that point as an artist where you feel a certain type of resentment towards that past work before this evolution? Or do you still have that appreciation, even if you won’t make “Tweakin’ Together” five more times?
I love “Tweakin’ Together,” if we’re being completely really honest. I love all my old songs. Well, I’m lying, I actually don’t like some of my old songs. But I love a majority of them, and “Tweakin’ Together” is one of them. I really, really love “Tweakin’ Together,” actually. It just hit ten mil, you know that? Yes, crazy. And I’m very appreciative of it. It was a great f***ing time in my life, and that song actually defines why I do what I do. Because I liked that song, I recorded the song, I liked the song, and I submitted the song the same day I recorded it. And it’s my biggest song, and I didn’t let anyone give their opinion, until… I actually just didn’t let it happen.
No one had their thoughts on it. Only me, and I dropped it. And it’s my biggest song. That’s the recipe. That is the recipe: no thoughts. Go. Just faith. Go. I believed in it so much, I just dropped it, and it f***ing went up. I don’t have no resentment towards any of my songs because, at the end of the day, I’m gonna look back at that s**t and be, like, “Aw, I was such a baby.” It’s like a book, almost.
I have a bit of a weird question, but while doing research, I found two curious interests of yours that I really resonated with personally. Do the tracks on LVL5 P2 feel more like members of your horror toy collection, or are they more like the quantum physics classes that you took with the University of Tokyo?
Definitely quantum physics, definitely quantum physics. Because, it’s just… some of them are in the (Level) Three. “INSANE” is super Three. Fun fact, I don’t really like that song. It was a compromise with me and my boys. Because my boys… Mali (Maliputyouon) and Josh (Creezed) and Benji (BenjiDidIt), Josh is my engineer. I’ve known them since I was 15. They, like, actually put me in a studio. They’re the reason why I make music. They’re the reason why Love Santana is out.
They had a studio and they let me record. But they love that song for some strange reason, and I just have a feeling that that song is gonna go so up. It happens like that all the time. Like, I know it’s gonna go up, but I f**k with them and they mix my whole f***ing album and did all my videos. “THE WAY”? That’s Benji and Mali. “CRAYON”? That’s Benji and Mali. “Tweakin’ Together“? That’s Benji and Mali. So I was like, “You know what? You guys like the song, I’ll put the song on there. because I love you guys.”
Speaking of which, I did want to touch on your great collaborations. We mentioned JID, Cash Cobain is on P2 as well, the YoungBoy single is great, multiple with Rico Nasty, Destroy Lonely… You bring people into your world in a really great way. But what are the people outside of music that inspire you to go through that process, to make your art, and to express yourself in that way?
Oh, man… Well it’s a long list. Everyone around me, especially my friends. My friends inspire me in ways that I… Lord, I just thank God every day. We have moments that just inspire me like us just laughing. We laugh all the time, I’ve never laughed as much in my life as when I’m around them. I laugh so much, and they inspire me, especially my mommy. Like, my mom and my dad, they all just inspire me bad. Everything that I do. That’s such a great question, because everyone always asks me what artists I am inspired by. And I never know what to say. Sometimes I lie, because I just want to have something to say. But in reality, I always tell them I’m inspired by life. I’m inspired by sounds.
Like, I could go into the car and hear, like, any sound and I’m like, “Oh, my God, we gotta make this a song.” We’ve been saying this inside joke, and I’m like, “Oh, my God, I gotta say that inside joke in the song.” Like, life inspires me, anything inspires me. I don’t have a specific… Like, an artist didn’t want me to make music or didn’t make me want to make music. I didn’t listen to artists and was like, “I’m gonna make music.” I just started making music. Because I wanted to. But if anything, it’s my dad. My dad used to rap, and he was in a group called Planet X. And my mom sings, so that’s probably why. But I used to listen to Skrillex, though, I will say that. I love Skrillex.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
Before LVL5 P1 even dropped, you talked to multiple publications about what “Level Five” means to you as a mindset. I know P1 was built up over three years, but now that P2 is in the rearview, what are some new things or surprises or things that you’ve doubled down on about Level Five as a mindset that have changed since you released it?
Oh, man. It’s getting harder, it’s getting harder. It’s getting more tough to be here in the Five. Um… It really is. It’s like, I need to have patience and s**t. I need to learn how to be patient, and I need to control my anger. Seriously, but sometimes you get upset at things of the dimension. I don’t know, someone could say something and it would piss me off because I get it and they don’t. But that’s ego, and I have to humble myself because I bleed just like everybody else, and I don’t know everything. I know I don’t, but sometimes I get in my head. It’s getting harder to control it.
People think Albert Einstein was probably having the time of his life because he was smart as hell, but he was probably going through it because he knew too f***ing much. Like, seriously, it’s not what everyone else thinks. It is La La Land until it’s not. Temptation is another thing. You’re gonna get tempted by the devil every f***ing day. Every f***ing day the devil is gonna try to throw what you want in your eyes, and you have to know that that’s not what you need. So you have to get ready, you know what I’m saying? You have to be here, you have to be president, you have to be in the right mindset to be in the Five and to f***ing not crash out. There’s so many people in the Five that probably crashed the f**k out in the Five, you know what I mean?
It’s getting hard. I’m in that stage right now. Because the more fame I get, the more I have to be on my toes because I’m gonna get thrown anything. Anything, bro. People are gonna come at me, “You want money for this? I’ll give you 2 million if you sign to me.” And then I gotta remember that I can get the two mil, but then I’m going to be unhappy. I have to sit here and be like, “I can’t take that two mil.” I’m getting a feeling that I can’t take that two mils. And I have to say no. And it f***ing pains me, but it’s just my flesh. It’s not even really me for real. I gotta listen to the higher, I can’t listen to myself. Can’t even trust me.
I wanted to bring up a couple of lyrics that I really loved on the album that I think relate to what you’re saying here. One of the ones that really resonated with me off of my first few listens was along the lines of, “Flying to the Sun, been losing my feathers on the way.” Level Five might not be everything that you expected it to be, but it’s because it’s that much harder to stay in it and commit yourself to that.
Yeah, I love that lyric. I love that song, I was just listening to it this morning. Yeah, flying to the top and you losing your feathers on the way, so real. But you got to get the f**k up, you got to get off your a**. And you have to remain happy, that’s one thing. If you’re not happy with something but you’re still doing it, your life will be miserable. I tried to live like that, and it doesn’t work. I’m miserable when I do that, so that’s why I just do what I want.
Like, everyone thought “CRAYON” was going to be a B-sides song. Everyone thought it, and no one really liked it. I mean, they liked it, but they wanted “THE WAY” to drop first. And I said no. I said no because I had that feeling in my stomach, like I had when I dropped “Tweakin’ Together,” and “CRAYON” ended up going crazier than the song that I have with NBA YoungBoy. I just thought that was so funny. Because I knew it. I don’t know, I mean, it happened for a reason, obviously. Now I will be listened to more, so that’s great.
You were easily one of, if not the most underrated set at Rolling Loud Miami 2022 that I saw. If somebody is going to go to one of your shows, what’s the checklist that they need to complete before attending? What do you need at a Bktherula show?
Water. You need water, you need… you need to check your ego at the door. That’s what you need to do. That ego needs to go down. Because you gotta be prepared for anything, for real. Maybe some anointing oil. You definitely got to check that ego at the door. That’s all you need to do is drop the ego. If you could just give up something instead of even carrying stuff to my show, that’d be fine.
Water and drop the ego: you’ll have a great time. If you’re standing in the crowd, and you’re trying to act like you know my lyrics thinking you’re gonna get backstage, you’re not getting backstage. If you’re not ready for the mosh pit, you will end up in the mosh pit. So you got to drop everything off at the door, at the gate, before you get into my s**t, for real. And also be prepared to maybe even get on stage.
I wanted to wrap things up with one more question. I’ve ended other interviews before by asking about hip-hop, but from what we’ve talked about today about LVL5 P2 and more, it’s clear that you have so many other influences. What’s one song, album, artist, or thing that changed the way that you look at the genre, and what’s one thing that you would recommend to a newcomer apart from your own music that you think could replicate that feeling?
I really like Mexican Slum Rats. They’re a band from the Valley, and they’re f***ing flame as f**k. I be hitting them up, and we’re hopefully going to make music together when they get off tour. I don’t know, they do anything. They’re like… I don’t even know what to call it, but it’s just f***ing fire. Just hella instruments, and the drums are bleeding through the headphones. I really want to do that, and I think they’re inspiring me to be more, like, “F**k it.” Just when you thought I was enough, I wasn’t. *laughs* But I want to be more “F**k it” like them, because they just do whatever the f**k they want.
There’s just one song, it’s called “Mal de Ojo,” and it’s just f***ing fire. They’re just f***ing screaming on that s**t, but I can tell that what they’re saying, they feel it. I think it’s inspired me to just say what I feel in any way and just go with it more than I do now. Also, I want to add drums in my s**t, and my best friend’s drummer, so that’ll work.
Yeah, more live drums would be awesome. I don’t know if this was live, but I really liked the outro of “JUST MAKE SURE”. That gives that sort of energy that I really, really enjoyed. One of my favorite moments on P2.
Oh, my God, yes! That’s literally, like… yes, absolutely. Yeah, that’s from Sonic Major, azure, Carlton McDowell. Man, they’re great producers. They did that in the studio and I watched it. I was inspired like never before. And for “THE WAY,” too, they also did that outro. The song did not sound like that at first. None of the songs sound like they did at first, they were just basic beats. They were just like a simple, you know, layout beat, but they took that s**t and they f***ing went nuts.
Man, producers are underrated. Like, very underrated. Producers are artists, producers are the artists, damn near. Producers are the artists, like, they… Whoa, because I wouldn’t even be able to do what I do without my n***as on the side of me really making my s**t. For real, I can rap to nothing. I can… I can do this! *starts banging arm on table* I can’t do s**t else, for real! *laughs* They’re so underrated.
Is there one producer right now that you’re dying to work with?
Uh… is there a producer that I really want to work with? Oh, WondaGurl, I want to work with her. She’s so cool! She’s cool as f**k, bro. I really want to work with Wonder Girl. She’s actually in L.A., I’m gonna text her and say, “Hey, can we work?” Hopefully, she says yes. Bro, underrated as f**k. Like, WondaGurl is fire as f**k. I don’t like how they be cheating women, for real, ’cause she really flame, though. She flame as f**k. Like, I need to work for her ASAP actually, like, today. I’ma have to hit her. I need to work with her, and I need to feel her energy and really understand it. Dead-a**, I just know we’ll make some flame, Like, two girls on a track? Like, what? Whoa, that would be crazy, bro. Me and WondaGurl come out with a single? Come on, bro.
Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
Well, good luck with that! Bktherula, thank you so much for this interview and for your insight. Is there anything else that you want to add or shout out or say?
Um, I want to say thank you for interviewing me. That’s what I want to say. And thank you for giving me the time of the day, because you know I’m crazy.
As far as killer posse cuts this week, Elcamino brought on a great team for the new single “No Fighting.” Moreover, he’s lyrically assisted by Boldy James on the cut, with production from fashion brand and music collective Real Bad Man and in collaboration with Camino’s Black Soprano Family label headed by Benny The Butcher. BSF has led to many great projects in the past few years such as They Spit On Jesus, whereas Boldy’s history with RBM is exemplified by some excellent LPs and EPs. As such, it’s no wonder that this track ends up feeling cohesive, full of chemistry, and like another great effort from everyone involved.
As far as the production, it’s a bit more old-school and deliberately boom-bap-inspired than some of Griselda’s affiliates’ more popular, drumless work. Nevertheless, the MCs here are able to glide with ease on the beat, accentuated by a ghostly, organ-like keyboard notes hanging in the background. Occasional vocal sample chops structure out the loop a bit further, and the short length of “No Fighting” doesn’t feel neither barebones nor stretched out. As for the lyrical performances, Elcamino is a bit more lively and charismatic on here with some funny turns of phrase and more blunt lyricism. On the other hand, the “Live From The Roxy” spitter from Detroit comes across as more clever, calculated, and vivid when it comes to his word choice, descriptions, delivery, and punchlines.
Elcamino’s “No Fighting” With Boldy James, Real Bad Man & Black Soprano Family: Stream
Meanwhile, we’re sure that the Black Soprano Family will continue to pair up Elcamino with amazing MCs like the cut “We Here.” If you haven’t heard “No Fighting” yet, you can find it on your preferred streaming service and check out some standout bars down below. Let us know what you thought of the track in the comments section and, as always, stick around on HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
Quotable Lyrics I could play the past block, because I’m a scrambler, I could mumble rap, but I’m not much of a rambler, Took my b***h from her ex, because he couldn’t handle her, So I went and made it hot like my lady fan don’t work
March is heating up fast, and our Fire Emoji playlist update is here to round up the best rap releases of the week. First up is Quavo and Rich The Kid with their new single “Real One,” which is a slightly familiar but mostly bouncy and fun banger that takes it back to their roots a little bit. Still, a woozy synth melody gives it a bit of a different flair compared to their other material, although the Rich Forever member is used to these pallets. They also provide some vocal dynamism with their deliveries and their flows that, while not perfect, give this track some pretty necessary and vibrant life.
Next up on Fire Emoji is, in our opinion, the best release of the week: MIKE and Tony Seltzer’s collaborative album Pinball. It’s a short but very sweet collection of sometimes moody, mostly visceral, always hard, and consistently compelling rap songs that play in a few different sounds and styles. Earl Sweatshirt and Tony Shhnow help out on “On God,” which is one of the most ethereal cuts here. Meanwhile, the Burning Desire MC flows effortlessly and pays homage to UGK on the fast-paced and unbelievably mood-lifting “Underground Kingz.”
As far as other hot singles this week, we wanted to shout out the new team-up between Russ and DJ Premier, “Work This Out.” It’s a bit slower and moodier of a beat than what fans might expect from the legendary beatsmith, but it’s still a well-constructed and evolutionary sample flip and build from him. As for the Atlanta lyricist, he actually takes a more melodic and melancholy approach on this song, so it’s great to hear how both parties here are moving a bit out of their comfort zones here. Well, the rapper’s always been great with melodies and displayed this side of him, but it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Preemo, which is welcome.
Finally, we wanted to highlight two great new singles from Kenny Mason, “JUMPIN IN” and “US.” He continues to show why he’s one of the more consistent artists in the game today that comes through with grounded and gritty bars and minimally lush production. Let us know in the comments what your favorite Fire Emoji release was this week, as well as what we missed. Check out the playlist above and, as always, stick around on HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
Former “frat rapper” Asher Roth has grown a lot since his “I Love College” days, and if you’re just finding that out, you’re in luck. Moreover, he recently came through with an impressive set of flows on the Heather Grey-produced “Heaven,” which is a chill, soft key-led boom-bap beat that harkens back to cold and intimate East Coast nights in city streets. Not only that, but the Philadelphia native also enlisted similarly skilled lyricists in Homeboy Sandman and lojii, who come through with mindful and measured flows and lyrical acrobatics. This follows Roth’s previous work, such as the single “Dimma (Last Chance U).”
However, it’s very much a culture shock for folks who haven’t heard of Asher Roth in a long time, but it’s still time for this part of the narrative to become less crucial to the discussion of cuts like “Heaven.” Lyrically, this cut covers a lot of everyday struggles, slow but steady career-building, and trying to find one’s way to “heaven” despite the obstacles in one’s way. In addition, there are a lot of creative sample chops and variations throughout the beat that keep its freshness and engagement pretty afloat. Sure, it’s not a revolutionary sound or focus, but it’s done with the same sincerity and chilled demeanor that made cuts like “All Add Up” or on H.S.’ “$.”
Meanwhile, we want to know what you thought about Asher Roth, Heather Grey, Homeboy Sandman, and lojii’s newest effort “Heaven,” so drop your takes in the comments section down below. If you haven’t heard this cut yet, find it on your preferred streaming service or use the YouTube link above. Also, make sure to check out some standout bars down below from the “Real Good” MC to see if they’re up to your standards. Finally, as always, stay logged into HNHH for more great music drops around the clock.
Quotable Lyrics Rappers championed by the media highly touted, Are they anything but comedians? Highly doubt it, I’m astounded, try to counter by turning sound off, but I’m surrounded Peep the outcome of every obstacle I’ve surmounted, think about it
The wait is finally over: we now have the official lineup and headliners for the Dreamville Festival this year in Raleigh, North Caroline. Moreover, tickets are still available here, and it will take place on Saturday and Sunday, April 6 and 7 at the Dorothea Dix Park six years after its original inception. The festival’s headliners are none other than J. Cole himself, Nicki Minaj, SZA, and Chris Brown. Other performers are the following: JID, ScHoolboy Q, Lil Yachty, Sexyy Red, Jeremih, EARTHGANG, Teezo Touchdown, Amaarae, Lute, Luh Tyler, Domani, Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, Bas, Muni Long, Cozz, Omen, TiaCorine, and Chase Shakur.
Furthermore, this is shaping up to be a pretty stacked year when it comes to artist-led music festivals. For example, Jack Harlow recently announced his inaugural Gazebo Music Festival in Louisville Kentucky on Memorial Day weekend (May 25 and 26) this year. The lineup actually has some crossover with the Dreamville Festival, as expected for festival seasons, with SZA and Amaarae also hitting the stage at Gazebo. But the most exciting part about this lineup is the names that you might not catch anywhere else, such as what is presumably ScHoolboy Q’s first performance after dropping his new album BLUE LIPS.
Meanwhile, we already knew that Nicki Minaj was headlining, but her comments on the London festival Wireless might suggest her excitement for Dreamville. “Instead of doing another arena show in London after we sold out in the first week, I opted to do Wireless Festival,” she said of her U.K. travels. “This year’s show will be a billion times more special, creative, beautiful, cohesive, ugh! I’m so excited. I’d like to tell you guys thank you in advance. Last year was so meaningful but won’t compare. Just wait & see.”
As such, maybe this will be her big chance to show out for Raleigh during her Pink Friday 2 world tour. Who would you be the most excited to see on this lineup, and are you copping tickets for the record label’s special event? Whatever the case, drop your thoughts in the comments section down below. Also, check back in with HNHH for the latest on these artists, Dreamville, and more music festivals.
MIKE and Tony Seltzer had an incredibly prolific 2023, but it seems like they had no plans of slowing down this year. Moreover, they just dropped another collaborative single exclusively on YouTube paying homage to UGK with the new music video for “Underground Kingz.” They dropped the track “R&B” a couple of weeks ago, and this new visual’s description on the social media platform indicates that there’s more coming. The New Jersey native included the following message: “MIKE & Tony Seltzer – Pinball 3/06.” As such, it seems like we’re getting a full collab album from this duo in just a couple of days on Wednesday (March 6), which is very exciting.
Furthermore, this track definitely adds to that hype with a vibrant, sample-led, and fun beat that speeds up and slows down for a completely different instrumental. In fact, each part of “Underground Kingz” evokes a Bay Area or Detroit bounce to some fast-paced or slower degree, and is also reminiscent of UGK’s Southern roots and artistry. We’re not sure if MIKE and Tony Seltzer actually sampled them for this song, but either way, their tribute came through both sonically and lyrically. Speaking of which, the “Mayors A Cop” lyricist comes through with some really sharp bars here displaying his consistently and mindfully talented pen. On the other hand, the beatsmith cooks up an amazing and cohesive atmosphere for him to ride on.
MIKE & Tony Seltzer’s “Underground Kingz”: Stream & Watch The Music Video
Meanwhile, the links between these two collaborators are quite curious. MIKE, Wiki, and The Alchemist dropped the project Faith Is A Rock last year, and Tony Seltzer teamed up with Wiki for their 14K Figaro album, also from 2023. As if that wasn’t enough, MIKE dropped his 2023 album Burning Desire, and they’re all excellent listens. If you haven’t heard “Underground Kingz” yet, check it out above exclusively on YouTube with its accompanying music video. Also, peep some standout lines from the track below and let us know what you think about the record and whether you’re excited for Pinball down in the comments section. Finally, as always, come back to HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
Quotable Lyrics Why you always by the rim, but you not scoring? I got thunder in the spliff, sound like God snorin’, We gon’ take off in a bit, but you not boardin’, I paint pictures when I spit, but I’m not Dora
We’re a sixth of the way through 2024, and while it was a slower month than its predecessor, February still held a lot of heat for hip-hop. Whether it was huge blockbusters, indie hits, or long-awaited returns, this year is much more exciting off the bat than in 2023’s case. With that in mind, we can only dream of what else is in store for us this spring, when releases will get much more competitive. Make sure to hit the comments section to let us know what your favorite rap releases were this year, and what you think about the year so far for the genre and culture. So get your debate hats on and let’s take a look at the best rap albums and songs of February 2024.
Yeat – 2093
Starting off with one of the best hip-hop LPs of the year so far, and debatably the best mainstream release of February. Yeat took a big step on this 20+ track behemoth, but brought with him the focus and vision of a concise 30-minute drop. 2093 is heavy, industrial, ethereal, visceral, hard-hitting, occasionally gorgeous, and yes, futuristic. But its impact and place in the rap canon for 2024 isn’t because of any pushed boundaries, because this isn’t the most revolutionary sound under the sun. It’s because the Portland rapper (or alien, we should say) synthesized a lot of different inspiration points into something wholly his own.
Quadeca – SCRAPYARD
Along a similar vein, we have this loose but consistently enthralling mixtape that makes something new out of… well, scraps. Quadeca released a few SCRAPYARD cuts last year as little EPs, and much of the material here was devised during the making of his captivating 2022 album, I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You. While they didn’t fit that tracklist, and the Bulgarian -– sorry, Californian creative said a couple of tracks made after it won’t fit on his next, this still feels like a cohesive and cathartic record. Its blends of folk, indie rock, chamber pop, industrial hip-hop, alternative rap, and much more create a uniquely mid-fi portrait of a vulnerable but boundless artist. As far as the less traveled corners adjacent to the genre, nothing else in 2024 feels quite as special as this.
Little Simz – Drop 7 (EP)
For this next entry, we’re leaving the underground and heading straight to the club to return home at 7AM the next morning. Little Simz kept fans fed ahead of her next full-length with a fun, vibrant, and punchy collection of electronic and dance-inspired cuts. There’s drum and bass worship, a Jersey club jam, house-like rhythms, and even a trunk-knicking and authentic take on Brazilian funk. Regardless, we’re sure that the English lyricist’s next project will be more of a straightforward, complete, and grand experience. But as far as some great music to simply take in and enjoy with no frills, it doesn’t get much more enjoyable or freeing than Drop 7.
Erick The Architect – I’ve Never Been Here Before
Flatbush Zombies are sorely missed in the hip-hop landscape today, but its members are still making their mark on the culture. But I’ve Never Been Here Before feels like a more personal and important artistic step for group member Erick the Architect, not like a retread of what makes the trio so great. It’s a bit moodier than their most popular material and invokes a lot more genres and instrumentation styles, although it’s as reminiscent of their woozy East Coast sensibilities as ever. Also, the album’s sheer versatility really works in its favor and elevates it beyond a comeback moment. Don’t let this one slip from your rotation in 2024.
Now it’s time to move on to singles, and there’s only one thing we can say to this Memphis MC about her new banger, and that’s “Yeah, Glo!” It’s very simple: match GloRilla with a grimy and old-school hometown beat and let her flow on it, and you’ll get an anthem for Bluff City. Still, what makes “Yeah Glo!” special in comparison to other takes on this is its infectious chorus and the 24-year-old’s raw energy. While we remain patient for a long-form project soon, it’s great to hear that she’s still got it. Rarely can artists retain the same exciting spark that burst them onto the scene, and this song is a solid example of that.
Speaking of sparks, Don Toliver came through with “Bandit” in February, an absolute banger that calls back to his originally seamless fusions of dreamy R&B melodies and amped-up rap flows. Thanks to a triumphant and layered instrumental, the Houston crooner was able to craft one of his most high-octane offerings in recent memory. Sure, he’s more well-known for his softer side these days, but fans are hoping that this kicks off a new era for him. After all, there are rock-adjacent acoustic drums and electric guitar chords here that sound like a stadium. It would be great to see the fusion that made Don such a star come back to the forefront of his work.
SZA – “Saturn”
Hopping over to the R&B realm, SZA surprised fans with a sultry, airy, and transportive preview ahead of her SOS deluxe, Lana. At least, that’s what die-hards hope will land later this year, but we wouldn’t be mad if Solana just drops more excellent loosies like these. Let’s run through the checklist: beautiful vocal performance? Check. Hazy yet lush production with a strong melodic center? Check. An emotively resonant song structure longing for escape, peace, and fulfillment in a compelling and thoroughly entertaining way? Double check, because the TDE superstar made us long for both a trip to Saturn and a journey to whatever world she created “Saturn” in.
Armand Hammer – “Doves” ft. Benjamin Booker
Even though We Buy Diabetic Test Strips came out last year, even its bonus tracks are proving why it will likely be a standout album for years to come. Its creators Armand Hammer, with special guest Benjamin Booker, released “Doves” as an extra treat to this LP, and it’s a near-nine-minute opus. It’s mostly a pretty ambient experience, with group members billy woods and E L U C I D drop languid, complex, but absolutely gut-wrenching verses over it. Pianos, static, faint guitar, and a whole lot of lo-fi noise and distortion will put you in a meditative state. We’d call it a haunting experience, or perhaps a soothing one, but the pallet created by the balance of these two spaces is too evocative to put in a single box.
TiaCorine – “Olive” ft. Zelooperz
Back to the bangers, we have two wildly colorful spitters joining forces on a disgustingly nasty beat from BNYX. This cut appears on TiaCorine’s Almost There EP, which is also deserving of a slot in the best projects section for this month. As for “Olive,” it’s all about their fast flows, zany deliveries, and how they’re able to sound so effortless and locked in over this instrumental. Yeah, it’s one of the most simple and immediate inclusions on this list, but play this in the car and you’ll see what we mean. If not, don’t fret: there are seven other gems on this short record, including “Blick” with Key Glock.
With this pick, you might have a pretty decent idea of who’s going to make our “Best Rap Songs & Albums of March 2024” list. ScHoolboy Q dropped various non-streaming singles ahead of the release of his five-years-in-the-making album BLUE LIPS, of which “Blueslides” connected the most deeply with fans. Many rightfully see it as a tribute to Mac Miller, and the melancholy and tender piano sample compliments the TDE legend’s reflections on his friend’s loss. But it also moves through many other lyrical areas of struggle, mental health, overwhelming pressure, and much more. It’s one of the most emotionally powerful cuts of the year so far, and a treat for hip-hop pen purists and production prudes alike.
Smino – “mister misfit but ain’t missed a fit in months”
Finally, this St. Louis-born rhymer chose to once again prove why he’s been one of the most exciting and idiosyncratic artists in the game. “mister misfit but ain’t missed a fit in months” is not only one of the most fun hip-hop songs of the year so far, but an impressively dexterous rapping performance that treats flows like the world’s most disposable camera: a quick and amazing snap, and onto the next. It’s really like watching Smino dance on a tightrope, and he makes it all the way to the end without breaking a sweat. Please, please drop a project this year, Mr. Misfit!
Let us know your favorite rap songs and albums of the month in the comments section below!
Welcome to March, whose quality as a hip-hop release month for 2024 is proven by our new Fire Emoji playlist update. We decided to round up the best of the best rap drops of the week, and leading the way is none other than ScHoolboy Q. The TDE MC released his first album in about five years, BLUE LIPS, and it’s got no shortage of tender, aggressive, and consistently compelling tracks. “oHio” featuring Freddie Gibbs, “THank god 4 me,” and “Pop” featuring Rico Nasty are all particularly hype and energetic cuts for you to check out. It stands as the best album to come out this week, and one of the year’s best so far.
Also on Fire Emoji is another comeback: the solo return of Cardi B with her new track, “Like What (Freestyle).” It’s a fiery set of bars over a classic Missy Elliot and Timbaland beat; what’s not to love ahead of the Bronx rapper’s next album? Speaking of new albums, though, we have to shout out That Mexican OT, who just released his latest full-length Texas Technician. The Moneybagg Yo-assisted “Twisting Fingers” is a Southern banger through and through, showing off a lot of chemistry and versatile flows.
Furthermore, we also wanted to point you to Meek Mill’s new EP HEATHENISM, on which “Giving Chanel” with Future is a particular standout. Thanks to a dramatic instrumental and relentless deliveries, it’s a pretty hard-hitting record with a grand feel. Another trunk-knocking release on Fire Emoji is Luh Tyler’s new single “Bad B***h“… what could it ever be about? Jokes aside, it’s a bass-heavy and fast-paced track with Tyler’s trademark nasal croons.
Meanwhile, as far as triumphant and evocative trap cuts, few ranked higher than 21 Lil Harold and BigXthaPlug’s “Gin & Juice.” Finally, we wanted to highlight Ransom, Harry Fraud, and Boldy James’ excellently lavish and lyrically evocative single, “Live from the Roxy.” Let us know what you favorite Fire Emoji release was this week -– and what else we missed, too. Check out the playlist above and stick around on HNHH for the latest great music drops around the clock.
Sexyy Red isn’t slowing down in 2024, it seems, as not even childbirth could keep her down for a music video shoot. Moreover, her (and her baby bump) star alongside Lil Scrappy, Summer Walker, and more in the new visual for “I Might,” featuring the latter as a guest artist. For those unaware, this rap/R&B fusion appeared on the deluxe version of the St. Louis rapper’s breakout album Hood Hottest Princess. It’s a romantic tale about lust that still deals with the fallout of another relationship, and this new short film parallels that story quite well and invokes a lot of colorful settings, tropes, and narrative moments that make it a pretty engaging throwback vibe.
Of course, this is not Sexyy Red’s first music video of the year, with that fact attributed to “Rich Baby Daddy” with Drake and SZA. That cut ended up on the Canadian superstar’s 2023 album For All The Dogs, and was definitely among the most fun songs to release last year in the hip-hop mainstream. Fittingly, its visual treatment is also pretty cheeky, as it portrays the “Pound Town” hitmaker and the 6ix God as a couple with some comical interactions. However, this definitely doesn’t answer the question of whether we’ll get more long-form new music from her this year, but that’s a pretty easy code to crack.
Sexyy Red’s “I Might” With Summer Walker: Watch The Music Video
After all, Sexyy Red recently teased some new material on social media, and if you’re not already a fan, it won’t convert you. But it doesn’t have to, because it’s clear that she’s building her following and artistry based on some pretty simple but salient core ideas. Say what you will about the content matter within, but it’s a wild double standard to pretend like it’s much raunchier than most other mainstream rap right now. Maybe one day, we’ll get the genre diversion that some fans think is warranted, and we’ll see for sure whether it was the right call.
Meanwhile, what do you think about this new music video for “I Might” from the “Somethin’” spitter and Summer Walker? Are you looking forward to new music from them coming soon? However you may feel, drop your thoughts in the comments section down below. Also, stay posted on HNHH for the latest news and updates on Sexyy Red.
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