While we are all still waiting on The Fall Off to arrive, J Cole still did a pretty cool thing last night. The legendary North Carolina rapper and producer brought his debut mixtape, The Come Up Mixtape Vol. 1 to streaming. The May 2007 release is one of three coveted projects prior to his debut studio album, Cole World: The Sideline Story. This tape was brought out thanks to MC delivering his new audio series Inevitable. He announced that over the weekend, it’s going to be 10 episodes, and will reveal some cool BTS of Cole’s career leading up to 2014 Forest Hills Drive.
As it stands, fans are speculating that we could be getting all three of these foundational mixtapes. That’s especially because The Come Up was dropped in tandem with the first episode which was also titled after the project. If that’s true, then we will also have The Warm Up on November 22 and Friday Night Lights on November 27. It’s an exciting thought, but for now, we are revisiting one of J Cole’s earliest hits, “Simba.” Here, you are getting him at his hungriest as he likens himself to Simba from The Lion King, as the heir to rap throne, which he believes belonged to his soon-to-be mentor, JAY-Z. Overall, it’s a motivational anthem. Additionally, it’s an early look into how his writing and flows would evolve.
Man, I’m hungry, does it show? Ain’t nuttin’ funny, f*** a joke I’m gettin’ money ’til my pockets need a tummy tuck, I hope You n****s woke now, impermanently send you to hell You meet the devil, sign a permanent lease, word on the streets Is I’m the prince n****, check the splendor, and I can’t wait To be the King, n****: young Simba, word on the streets
BlakeIANA is heading out and seeking to cause some problems with her first-ever long play, Back In The Field. It’s being billed as the St. Louis, Missouri native’s inaugural mixtape, which we think was a smart marketing move. The project doesn’t really follow a story nor does it aim to create one. It’s here for one thing and that’s to announce that BlakeIANA is trying to put her stamp on 2024 and beyond as a femcee not to play with. It was only a matter of time before something like would arrive, especially given the reception and backing from her peers and fans. From the release of her breakout hit “BING BONG” and its remix with Sexyy Red, she’s done nothing but ascend.
Speaking of the latter with her dastardly twin, it serves as the lead single for Back In The Field. Other teasers include “STL Finest,” “Pricey” with Moneybagg Yo, “See Us” featuring Skilla Baby, “Problem,” and “B.B.F.” BlakeIANA would even go on to give fans a pre-midnight two pack of “Right Now” and “Benefits” both of which include features from Hunxho and Tee Grizzley in particular. It might leave some wanting more in terms of fresh material but given where she’s at right now in her career, the more exposure the better. See what BlakeIANA has to offer the ratchet rap lane with the links below.
There’s no sugarcoating it anymore, Doechii is now on the verge of superstar status after dropping off Alligator Bites Never Heal. This is the debut mixtape from the Tampa, Florida rapper and singer and its via Capitol Records and Top Dawg Entertainment. The 26-year-old rolled out the red carpet for this project slowly but surely through her SWAMP SESSION series on YouTube. Out of all of the songs, the ones that have made the final cut include “NISSAN ALTIMA”, “BULLFROG”, “BOOM BAP”, and “CATFISH”. Throughout her career, the “What It Is” MC has always been able to mix humor and aggressiveness in her music. However, Doechii is now adding more layers to some of her tracks on Alligator Bites Never Heal.
“STANKA POOH” is perhaps the greatest example of this, as she raps about her mortality and the type of legacy she would leave behind if she were to die today. On “DENIAL IS A RIVER”, Doechii gets introspective about a wacky breakup, various stages in her career trajectory, as well as her addictions all while being dynamic and comical in her vocal delivery. Another reason why this mixtape is excellent is because of the irony of “BOOM BAP”. We talked about this track previously and how it’s about how Doechii views herself as more than a “rappity rap” MC. However, a lot of this LP sees her perform over modernized 90’s era boom bap and with great succession at that. Outside of some of the best tracks being a little too short, this will go down as one of the most underrated listening experiences of 2024. Doechii is here y’all.
Even though it has only been a day since JT put out City Cinderella, 24 hours is all we need to realize that she is a certified hitmaker now. While she did have a couple under her belt beforehand with “No Bars” and “OKAY”, seeing how she could carry that streak onto her debut mixtape was an interesting aspect going into the project. It turns out that the Yung Miami’s other half passes that test with flying colors, because JT has another one with “90’s Baby”. For starters, the Miami MC’s confident performance is the biggest reason why this track succeeds.
Here, JT is rapping about how she is essentially the baddest of them all. So much so that, “I’m the b**** he tell where he stash the bricks / I’m the b**** he cop all the rocks and s***“. These are just a couple of the hilariously blunt bars that prove why she has the male gaze on lock. What also makes “90’s Baby” tick is the terrific sample flip and incorporation from Buddah Bless. His producing talents are on full display, as he pitches and speeds up part of the chorus from Joe’s 1997 hit “All The Things (Your Man Won’t Do)”. It ties into the title and the aforementioned theme perfectly. Check out its music video, which is blowing up just as fast as JT.
Oh, I know they mad, let’s see who the maddest These b****es won’t smoke with me ’cause I’m the baddest (Huh?) F*** him like a rabbit, he pay me in carats You f*** on your back, b****, that’s why you stagnant, uh Nineties findin’ b****, I never lose it (Never) All I gotta do is post a pic, his ex day ruined (P***y h*)
JT is continuing to grow her solo portfolio away from the City Girls with City Cinderella. However, if you enjoy those anti-hater anthems, do not fret. Yung Miami’s other half is providing that and then some for 16 tracks (“Servin”, “JT Coming”, “Star Of The Show”). In addition to that though, we are also getting some background information on what makes JT tick. For example, fans will come to learn that she did not have it easy growing up. It is where she gets her subsequent resilience and confidence just moments later on “Intro (Hope)”. “Thesе are facts, ask the b****es on my block how / I was parked at them stoves with them pieces in my socks / And I’m still hot, in the summer, terry cloth / Made it to the top and I swear I’ll never stop“.
Songs like this help break up some of the monotonous qualities of a tape filled with cuts about that aforementioned self-assurance. However, with those tracks being so well produced and performed, you almost forget about that. Overall, JT presents herself with so much poise and it is why City Cinderella works for what it was set out to accomplish. On top of giving fans this eagerly awaited debut mixtape, JT also has loads of other goodies. One of them is a 20 plus minute documentary, which further delves into the rapper’s solo journey, obstacles, and the rise of the City Girls. Additionally, the Miami, Florida native recently announced the tour surrounding this inaugural solo project. It will kick off on August 20 and will run through September 22.
4Batz jokingly asked Kendrick Lamar to take a break from dissing Drake so that his debut project for OVO, U Made Me A St4r, could have some time in the spotlight. The new signee to the imprint made the request in a post on Twitter, Saturday. He wrote: “yo @kendricklamar I just dropped my tape my n***a can I get 24hrs at least [crying laughing emojis].” Shortly afterward, he deleted the tweet from the platform, prompting fans to theorize that Drake made the call. 4Batz dropped his new album on Friday, featuring a remix of his hit song, “Act II: Date @ 8,” which now includes a verse from Drake.
He isn’t the only one upset at Kendrick dropping. His fans have also been complaining on social media. “I know the spotlight is on Kendrick & Drake rn, but this 4batz album is surprisingly really good,” one user tweeted over the weekend. Another remarked: “Kendrick doing all this to stop 4batz from gaining traction.”
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 18: Singer Trey Songz and Drake perform onstage during the Final Stop of ‘Aubrey & The three Amigos Tour’ at State Farm Arena on November 18, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Despite Lamar stealing some of the spotlight, Denzel Curry made sure to promote 4Batz’s new project. He also retweeted the rapper’s since-deleted post about Kendrick’s diss tracks. “4Batz Dropped Btw y’all should bump his tape,” Curry wrote on Twitter. Check out that post below.
Drake isn’t the only popular rapper to co-sign 4Batz in recent months. Back in January, Kanye West described the up-and-comer as one of his favorite artists. West ended up working on a remix of “Act III: On God? (She Like).” His song, ”act v: there goes another vase,” appeared on this week’s edition of HNHH’s “R&B Season” playlist. Be on the lookout for further updates on 4Batz on HotNewHipHop.
JT says her debut solo mixtape, which appears to be titled, City Cinderella, is coming soon. She made the announcement by rocking a t-shirt that displayed the information during the opening night of her ongoing headlining tour. She kicked things off with a show in Houston on Saturday night. Over the course of the next month, she’ll also be performing in Dallas, Jacksonville, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Miami, Baltimore, Charlotte, New York, Cleveland, Milwaukee and Kansas City.
After the show, fans asked whether they could purchase the “City Cinderella coming soon” t-shirts. JT revealed on Twitter that fans will have the opportunity to buy them at her shows. She also agreed with a fan who remarked that her new mixtape will “change the game.”
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 09: JT of City Girls performs during the Wireless Festival at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on July 9, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Katja Ogrin/Redferns)
JT previously discussed her upcoming project in a statement after the release of her single, “Sideways.” “I’m excited about dropping solo music because I can focus more on my creativity,” she said at the time. “I love everything about being an artist! I just want to chill, look good, and drop pretty, cocky b**ch music. I’m the City Cinderella!” Check out the t-shirt JT rocked during her opening night show as well as a tweet she made about the outfit afterward below.
Prior to the release of her upcoming mixtape, JT last dropped a project alongside her City Girls partner, Yung Miami, in 2023. That project was titled RAW and peaked at 117 on the Billboard 200. Be on the lookout for further updates on JT and her new music on HotNewHipHop.
Some of the most amazing Hip Hop breakthroughs are the ones that nobody saw coming from a mile away. Take Lil Baby, who is now one of the most recognizable faces in modern rap. However, before his meteoric rise to fame, becoming a rapper wasn’t even on his radar. Nonetheless, when he caught the musical bug, he caught it big. In his first year on the scene, a hungry Lil Baby released four mixtapes, kicking off his career with Perfect Timing. The rest, they say, is history.
A befitting title for the project, the mixtape set things in motion for the rapper quite seamlessly. Perfect Timing marked its sixth anniversary in April 2023, and over the years, it has grown on some fans. While it may not be Lil Baby’s best project as a solo act, it evidently marked the genesis of his career. For that alone, it is an important project in his discography. Why? Because without Perfect Timing, there would be no Lil Baby. While there’s some new music on the way, it’s necessary to travel back to the early days.
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 17: Pierre Thomas and Lil Baby attend Lil Baby “Harder Than Ever” Mixtape Release Event at Living Room Lounge on May 17, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia.(photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Before recording his debut mixtape, Lil Baby invested some time in learning how to rap. His label boss, Coach K, had told him he had the makings of a hip-hop star, but he had no prior experience rapping. As such, he had to get into the flow and build himself up in the art of rapping. He famously sought out the help of fellow rappers Gunna and Young Thug to teach him. The two rappers mentored Lil Baby and helped him carve out his unique style.
Evidently, Baby was a natural, and grew at an incredible pace, learning and catching up in no time. Fresh out of prison in 2017 after spending two years for drug and weapons charges, Baby was ready to transition from the streets to the booth. He released Perfect Timing on April 14, 2017. On the reason for the title, he shared that he got out of prison at “the perfect time.”
Overcoming Challenges & Capturing The ATL Lifestyle
On Perfect Timing, Lil Baby recruited several renowned Hip Hop producers to handle the album’s sonic direction. 808 Mafia, Earl The Pearll, and OG Parker, among others, shaped the production and emphasized the gritty sound that became synonymous with Lil Baby’s early catalog. Moreover, Earl The Pearll had the most production credits on the mixtape, appearing on three tracks: “Rider,” “Grindin,” and “Racks In.”
Furthermore, on Perfect Timing, Lil Baby featured an impressive lineup of rappers. Gunna, Young Thug, Skull-E, Lil Yachty, Yogi, Duke, and Young Scooter all had guest appearances on the mixtape. Some standout tracks on Perfect Timing are “100 Round,” ft. Lil Yachty, “Rider,” ft. Young Thug, and “Our Year,” ft. Gunna.
Although his message sometimes doesn’t cut through as clearly as his later works, Lil Baby showcased honesty and vulnerability on this project. He rapped earnestly about his challenges, fears, and lifestyle, relating to his audience and gaining their trust. Overall, Perfect Timing has heart and set the stage for Lil Baby’s rise to stardom.
Even though it was raw, Perfect Timing was apathetically received. The production earned praise but still, he was gaining his footing in the rap game. Comparatively, the rapper’s flow, lyrics, and delivery were still considered shaky and self-doubting. Nonetheless, the mixtape helped to push him into the public’s consciousness and garner some buzz along the way. Thankfully, he capitalized on this and continued to improve through a prolific mixtape run which morphed him into the mainstream star he is today.
Presently, Lil Baby is widely considered one of the most influential voices in contemporary Hip Hop. The release of Perfect Timing was a turning point for the rapper and set his life and career on a very bright path. Six years after its release, one can agree that the rapper is miles ahead in terms of artistry today. However, while Perfect Timing has its flaws, for Lil Baby, it certainly dropped at the right time.
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