Just a couple of weeks ago the music community was scrambling to hear a new leaked version of a song. But this was just any artist, though. This track belonged to arguably the greatest rapper of this generation and one of the best to ever do it, Kendrick Lamar. The song that had people in a frenzy was a hit from his 2017 record, DAMN. “ELEMENT.” is a fan favorite off of that tape and it is well-deserving of all of that praise. Some people were skeptical if it was real, due to the recent AI surge in music, but TDE signee, Jay Rock believes it is actually K Dot’s.
The leaked edition of the record was making waves on Twitter, with the audio having over 16 million plays. Unfortunately, you are not able to play it anymore due to copyright. The reason for all of the buzz around it was because the Compton artist took ruthless shots at his contemporaries. French Montana, Jay Electronica, and Big Sean. The Detroit rapper took the bulk of the disses with Lamar calling Sean out for being famous for who he is with, rather than his music. “You’re finally famous for who you date, not how you rhyme (boy).”
To settle the debate on whether or not the track was real, who better to ask than someone close to him? Jay Rock hopped on the Real 92.3 radio station and The Cruz Show for an interview. The host asked him if the leaked verse was indeed Kendrick and here is what he had to say. “I think it’s real man,” Rock repeatedly says. Hopefully, one day Lamar will officially release the original song, but only time will tell.
What are your initial thoughts on Jay Rock saying that the leaked version of Kendrick Lamar’s “ELEMENT.” verse was real? Did you believe that is was not AI, or did you think otherwise? Do you want that version to come out on streaming? We want to hear what you have to say about all of this. With that in mind, be sure to leave all of your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest breaking news around Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and the rest of the music world.
In the streaming era, songs longer than three minutes feel like an anomaly. Even more rare today are rap songs with three verses. But tonight, Jay Rock, Anderson .Paak, and Latto brought back what the game has been missing for a while.
On their new collaboration “Too Fast (Pull Over),” Jay, Anderson, and Latto can’t help but party it up and toast to their accomplishments.
Though he’s been doing more singing lately — particularly with his Bruno Mars collaborative side project, Silk Sonic — Anderson makes a return to rap, with a catchy chorus.
“Pull ovеr, that ass too fast / Hit the ATM and grab more cash / Yеs, lord, feelin’ like a new man,” he says.
Though Jay hasn’t put out an album since 2018’s Redemption, he reminds us that he hasn’t left the building at all.
“Send a stepper up the stairway to heaven / Put a pole dancer in a Mercedes / She wanna watch P Valley and go half on a baby,” raps Jay in his verse.
In the video, as guests are partying in a pool at a mansion, Latto is seen dancing on the aforementioned pole on the Mercedes. She also reminds us that she’s not going to let any haters faze her or let anyone use her name for clout.
“B*tches want the come up, ain’t gon’ give ’em one / Pull up in the, ‘Skrrt,’ then I pull off in a different one / A bigger one, expensive one, the Lamby or somethin’ / Pull the switch on their ass like a Grammy or somethin’” she raps.
You can see the “Too Fast (Pull Over)” video above.
Anderson .Paak is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Jay Rock is back with his latest single, “Eastside,” featuring Kal Banx. The release of the new song marks Rock’s first new single in five years. Back in 2018, Jay Rock released his third studio album and major label debut, Redemption. The album featured the biggest hit songs of his career, including “King’s Dead” and “Win.” The former earned Jay Rock his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in 2019.
In the wake of his new single, Jay Rock has been teasing his upcoming fourth studio album. Speaking about his forthcoming release, Jay Rock promised “good quality music” with “no skips.” When it comes to Jay Rock’s consistency over the years, the expectations for his next release are high. We have compiled a list of his best songs to commemorate Jay Rock’s return. This list draws from Jay Rock’s discography, including his three studio albums. Take a look at the list below, ranked from least to greatest.
“Hood Gone Love It” is a quintessentially west coast hip hop song from Jay Rock’s 2011 debut album, Follow Me Home. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced the anthemic track. Jay Rock represents his hood in his hometown of Watts, California, rapping with a tough yet relaxed delivery. Kendrick Lamar shines on the song with a choppy and rhyme scheme-heavy verse.
He raps as if he does not need to take a single breath. Jay Rock and Kendrick depict scenes of poverty and crime in their verses, but the song is still celebratory as they embrace where they come from. “Hood Gone Love It” is one of many songs the Black Hippy collaborators have made together.
“Easy Bake” is yet another phenomenal display of Jay Rock’s and Kendrick Lamar’s chemistry. The song is a hectic exchange of bars between the two over a slowly bouncing trap beat. Outside of Black Hippy, “Easy Bake” is easily one the best songs Jay Rock and Kendrick have made together because they naturally flow off one another. I
f the first part of the song was not exciting enough, the track shifts into a funky, choppy instrumental made for summertime cruising. SZA contributes one of her best vocal performances, and Jay Rock spits another verse. On the remix to “Easy Bake,” titled “Traffic Jam,” Kendrick Lamar also contributes another verse.
Much like “Easy Bake,” “Wanna Ride” is a song with unexpected beat switches that create an exciting listening experience. Jay Rock flows smoothly over the twinkling instrumentation for a minute before the song transforms into a bouncing instrumental, which he floats over. The lyrics stick to Jay Rock’s signature gangsta rap style, but his delivery is much more playful on this song. While Isaiah Rashad does not spit a verse, his hook is powerful enough to take the spotlight.
2. “Gumbo” (2015)
Jay Rock is known for his ultra-tough delivery and gangsta rap bars, but some of his greatest songs see him at his most reflective. Over an instrumental that blends modern with vintage, Jay Rock raps some of his most potent lyrics, looking back into his childhood and at his place in hip hop. Even when he does not rap aggressively, his voice is just as commanding. The chorus’s hypnotic soul brings the song together, reinforcing Jay Rock’s idea that he brings his own flavor to the music.
1. “Money Trees Deuce” feat. Lance Skiiiwalker (2015)
Jay Rock’s verse on Kendrick Lamar’s “Money Trees” is still regarded as a show-stealing appearance on one of hip hop’s best masterpieces. On “Money Trees Deuce,” Jay Rock expands on his legendary verse, painting a picture of the lifestyle of doing whatever it takes to get money. He raps about the causes and effects of street life and the paranoia that comes with it. “Money Trees Deuce” is equally as descriptive as its predecessor but takes on its own unique perspective as Jay Rock’s story is a much more cautionary tale. For its instrumental, “Money Trees Deuce” flips a song from a Marvin Gaye soundtrack into its own cinematic experience.
Jay Rock is almost ready to drop hit latest rap album, which has been five years coming. Why has this album taken so long? According to Jay, speaking with Bootleg Kev at BET Weekend on Saturday, “…I’m tryna do an album like my last one where you ain’t gotta skip sh*t. No skips.” (The pandemic is also a solid excuse.) He understands the fans clamoring for more music, but Jay Rock is a perfectionist and wants to release good tunes, not mediocre vibes.
He’s looking to drop a major album that screams quality, something Jay Rock fans can appreciate. He released his first single from the tracklist, “Eastside,” earlier today. While that’s a little taste of what’s to come, it slakes the thirst of those waiting for the follow-up to 2018’s Redemption. That album had features from Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Future, Jeremih, and SZA. It also debuted at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and one track, “King’s Dead,” won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 2018. Therefore, there’s plenty of expectation surrounding the new album.
Despite the release hiatus, the TDE rapper is keeping busy. Top Dawg Entertainment, the independent record label, houses an entire family of rap kings and queens. Back in 2019, Jay Rock mentioned how all of their success raises each of their ships. “We came up from the ground up,” he said. “We built this thing from the ground up, so why would one of us be bitter [at] one another?” With Kendrick, SZA, and ScHoolboy Q running the TDE show with Jay, they’re just getting started with taking the rap industry by storm.
While we wait for Untitled Jay Rock Album, at least he’s getting out of the house and gracing us with his presence. He went to the 2023 BET Awards. Plus, he featured on multiple records for other musical artists. With friendly competition and hard work, he’s stayed in the conversation. But now, a new album full of Jay Rock music is just what the doctor ordered.
Jay Rock hasn’t released a solo single since his 2018 album Redemption, but he’s back to put on for the “Eastside” with a rowdy new hometown anthem. Produced by frequent TDE collaborator Kal Banx, “Eastside” is full of allusions to Jay Rock’s rough upbringing in Watts, California, from blaring sirens to lyrical references to the shootouts his place of origin is all-too-well known for.
Although it has been a while since we last heard a song where Jay Rock is the lead artist, he’s infrequently popped up on tracks from labelmates and local peers over the past couple of years. Last summer, he appeared with fellow TDE artist Reason on “Is What It Is,” while in 2020, he lent an assist to Eastside neighbor Problem on “Nothin’” with Jack Harlow and fellow California native Anderson .Paak for a remix of “Lockdown” featuring Dreamville rapper JID and Chicago indie star Noname.
Political rap songs are a timeless staple in the genre. The roots of it continue today as tales are told of the Black experience in a myriad of ways. With political rap songs, rappers have used poetry to detail struggles and inspire those going through them. These songs are meant to bring attention to situations many already know, but some may not be. As the years have passed, rappers have created political rap songs with various perspectives, atmospheres, and styles. Some opt for an energetic and positive approach while others craft aggressive ones, but both often become anthems. They force the listener to look at the world around them and realize that many things are wrong, but something can be done. We’ve gathered 11 of the best political rap songs in this list.
11. “Kill Us All (K.U.A.)” – Meechy Darko (2022)
This political rap song touches on the black experience in America and America overall. Meechy Darko is from the trio Flatbush ZOMBiES and they have had multiple verses/songs where they speak on the corruption of America. In this solo cut, Meech handles all aspects of his commentary. His hook is almost an anthem as the background vocals shout and echo it as he delivers it.
The song’s subject matter includes multiple topics like government corruption and the hypocrisy of America. He speaks from a place of observation and hope as the hook reiterates no matter the situation, there will still be Black people who can rise up and change it. Meech’s unique raspy delivery style helps all of his words stand out, and he covers so much that pressing rewind to catch it all is entirely understandable.
This is a political rap song with strong ties to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lil Baby is not an artist most people associate with songs like this, so it surprised his listeners once it dropped. It helped reshape his image in a big way. The authenticity behind the lyrics and the song itself contributed directly to this. The song opens with soundbites of news coverage of the protests happening all over America at the time. Lil Baby proceeds to give his commentary on the state of the black experience in America. However, in his vulnerability, he admits he may not have all the answers to solve it and his perspectives are not all-encompassing. He also speaks directly to anyone who may disapprove of the song because of his other music. He shares that all that matters is that a change happens.
9. “Lockdown Remix” – Anderson .Paak feat. JID, Noname, & Jay Rock (2020)
This is a political rap song that centers around two topics in American history: The COVID-19 Pandemic and the protests that were happening during it. However, this track does not sonically sound like the other protest anthems on this list. It’s much more relaxed, which shifts the tone but also brings attention to the lyrics.
With minimal drums and melodies, everyone’s verse sticks out and focuses on their chosen delivery as they comment on what’s happening in the world around them. Each featured artist discusses the overlapping subject matter, but how they approach it is what sets them apart. J.I.D’s verse is more confrontational, while Noname’s has her connecting metaphors. Jay Rock’s verse is filled with questions about the country and its people as he shares events that involved them. .Paak’s hook is the through-line for them all as he discusses the state of protests during the pandemic.
This is a political rap song that doesn’t sound aggressive, but its impact is still strong. In this song, Joey discusses the hardships and trials of the Black experience in America. He views himself as someone who has the power to make a change and lead and inspire others to do the same. However, he is a victim of the same situation as those he wants to empower.
The music video for this song is one that makes the message stand out even more. It features white men in police uniforms shooting unarmed People Of Color. In the same scene, Joey stands in between them and blocks the bullets. In one of the final scenes, members of the KKK are depicted, and they remove their hoods and put on police hats.
This is one of the more aggressive-sounding political rap songs on this list. It sounds threatening and ominous because Kendrick speaks from a place of frustration. Guitars and almost militaristic drums blare from the production while its final moments contrast with peacefulness. His verses pair with the hook from Assassin well.
The hook has double entendres that connect two different generations of the Black experience in America. Meanwhile, Kendrick’s verses focus on the current generation and the many trials that come up with it. His delivery echoes the anger felt by many Black Americans, and it’s easy to tell Kendrick is pulling from his own experiences, too. His third verse dives into the stereotypes placed on black people and concludes with a purposely hypocritical and thought-provoking question.
6. “Tonz ‘O’ Gunz” – GangStarr (1994)
This political rap song is another one whose relevance remained throughout all the years since it was originally released. This time the message is an anti-violence one for the Black community. Guru speaks on the gun-based crimes going on in communities of all kinds and how it needs to stop. His verses are accurate to the multiple facets of why it happens in the first place.
He speaks about people feeling empowered but also feeling the need to protect themselves amidst the situation itself. His delivery, however, is relaxed as usual, as if he’s conversing with the listener, not lecturing them. DJ Premier’s production adds some siren-like screams which echo the type of sounds one would hear during and in the aftermath of a gun violence-based crime.
5. “F*** Tha Police” – N.W.A. (1988)
This is another iconic political rap song. The song’s title tells the message behind it in the most direct way possible. No creative allegories here. N.W.A. never sugar-coated their messages, and this is one of the biggest examples of that. Once again, the message in this song is still relevant today because the police are still killing innocent Black people. In this song, the group recounts the hostility the police had towards them and their responses to it. They all discuss how the police feel empowered with their guns but N.W.A. knows the situation would be different if they shot back. There are skits sprinkled throughout the song, with the final one depicting a policeman being convicted for his racist acts.
4. “Ladies First” – Queen Latifah feat. Monie Love (1989)
This is a political rap song that focuses on women’s empowerment. While women are critically acclaimed in rap today, this was not always the case. Queen Latifah and Monie Love were two of the most popular women in the rap game of their time. In this track, they detailed exactly why they were at the level they were at. This song focuses on their importance in the rap game and empowers women. Their verses describe the importance of women in society throughout the years and in their own lives. They trade verses as the song progresses, with some call-and-response moments and other fun exchanges. The song’s hook is simple but reinforces its theme with its harmonious repetition.
3. “Changes” – Tupac (1998)
This political rap song holds a mirror up to the state of America. In this song, the sample is a hook highlighting the connecting thread of Tupac’s verses. As he raps, he discusses the Black experience in America and the results of how these problems didn’t affect him when he was younger. He also speaks on how the country treats Black people and how Black people treat each other and finds issues with both. Sharing his takes on both of these gives the song multiple layers. Tupac takes an observational stance on most topics but delves into empowerment in his third verse and what he wants to do personally to combat the oppression. The song has a certain lightness provided by the sample, but Tupac’s three verses still stand out with timeless relevance and importance.
2. “Self Destruction” – The Stop The Violence Movement (1989)
This is a political rap song centered on a message of anti-violence. While the original Stop The Violence Movement was a supergroup formed only to release this song, other reiterations have formed as the years passed. It was a direct response to a series of violent situations at rap shows in the late 1980s and the death of Boogie Down Productions member Scott La Rock. KRS-One founded the collective and brought together over ten artists for the track. These artists included Public Enemy, Heavy D, Kool Moe Dee, Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte, and more. Each member shares a message about how violence in the Black community has no positive outcome. The song came at a pivotal moment when the media scrutinized rap and hip-hop and showed the world that it had several positive aspects.
1. “Fight The Power” – Public Enemy (1989)
This is one of the most popular political rap songs of all time. It was released in 1990, but its relevance is still high today. This is sad because it shows how many of the issues mentioned in the song are still happening. Yet, that’s exactly what makes the song timeless, too. The song’s titular hook has become an anthem for those taken advantage of, harmed, or exploited.
Public Enemy discusses the trials of the Black experience in America. Chuck D’s first two verses focus on the unification and empowerment of Black people to stand up for their rights. While it’s not quite a violent or aggressive stance, it certainly is a confrontational one. His third verse condemns figures from white culture and how Black figures should be celebrated like they are.
