A lot of West Coast rappers have been making their mark in 2024. But JasonMartin might be having the most underrated impact of all of them. Him and legendary producer DJ Quik put out a gargantuan, but tremendous joint effort in CHUPACABRA. Overall, it was no surprise that they sent it in for GRAMMY consideration for Best Rap Album. It was another unifying moment for the region, as him and Quik corralled numerous California icons. With that being said, it seems that JasonMartin (formerly Problem) is hungry to end this year on an even stronger note. Since the album, he’s made appearances on other talented MC’s records such as ones from Ab-Soul, Terrace Martin, and more. Additionally, he’s been bolstering his solo catalog with “killswitch,” a track he labels as a “CWA.”
This seems to be the energy he’s on right now, as his last several social media posts have this abbreviation attached. What does “CWA” stand for you ask? Well, for him it means “Crip Walking Anthem,” and that’s what “killswitch” was. If you haven’t heard it yet, go check it out here. It’s a West Coast banger for the ages for sure. But JasonMartin isn’t stopping there as he is back again with the ironically titled “PROBLEM” alongside Laila! The track belongs to the latter, and she’s gone viral for it this year. The song was even tweaked by Cash Cobain and he put his version with Laila! on his recent album, PLAY CASH COBAIN. It’s now in the hands of JasonMartin who puts the West Coast on it and it sounds dope overall. Check it out with the link below.
This year’s Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival lineup was rolled out in a fun way: Via a crossword puzzle with clues to each artist’s identity on the festival’s website. Now that the puzzle has been solved, we know who all is performing at this year’s Camp. In addition to regulars like festival organizer Tyler The Creator and frequent collaborators Vince Staples, Earl Sweatshirt, Domo Genesis, and Denzel Curry, this year’s fest includes Doechii, Kaytranada, DJ Mustard, Raye, Laila!, The Alchemist, Action Bronson, Concrete Boys, Blood Orange, Tommy Richman, Sampha, Faye Webster, and a special tribute to the late, great MF DOOM. You can check out the completed crossword below.
Camp Flog Gnaw
While Tyler told fans at the last Camp Flog Gnaw that he wouldn’t be releasing any new music soon, this year, he’ll have a whole new album to perform. Tyler announced his new album, Chromakopia after teasing new music with the eerie video for “St. Chroma.” It’s a good thing he’s got a new project coming, too, as last year’s headlining festival set will be hard to top; Tyler caroused across the stage firing a flamethrower, so you can bet he’ll be going even further over the top with this year’s set.
You can see the full list of performers below and get ticket information here.
Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival 2024 lineup
Action Bronson
André 3000
The Alchemist & Friends
Amelia Moore
Blood Orange
Concrete Boys
Daniel Caesar
Denzel Curry
Doechii
Domo Genesis
Earl Sweatshirt
Erykah Badu
Faye Webster
FM MOOD: A TRIBUTE TO MF DOOM
Hana Vu
Jean Dawson
Jordan Ward
KAYTRANADA
Kenny Mason
Laila!
Latin Mafia
Left Brain
Lithe
Ma$e
The Mainliners
The Marías
Matt Champion
Mike G
Mustard & Friends
Na-Kel Smith
Omar Apollo
Orion Sun
Playboi Carti
Raye
Rio Amor
Sampha
ScHoolboy Q
Sexyy Red
Syd
Tommy Richman
Tyler, The Creator
Vince Staples
Wisp
Yves Tumor
The first song on Gap Year, viral star Laila!‘s first-ever full-length release, is the appropriately themed “Talent Show.” Framed as — and perhaps even recorded during — a talent show performance, the song opens with Laila! introducing herself to a chattering audience before captivating them with her quiet, crisp vocals and precocious poise.
That’s a fitting way to introduce both the song — and Laila! herself — to an audience intrigued by the 18-year-old’s breakout… and her biography. Born Laila Smith in Brooklyn, New York, she had a massive legacy in the world of hip-hop, even before her song “Not My Problem” took over TikTok algorithms earlier this year. As fans clamored to learn more about her origins, they discovered the most surprising provenance for her prodigious talent: her dad, Yasiin Bey, also known as Mos Def.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Laila! herself downplayed the familial connection prior to her come-up; although we’re technically about three generations deep into hip-hop’s 50-year history and therefore awash in second-generation rap success stories — think Jaden Smith, Destroy Lonely, Domani Harris, and Coi Leray — it’s still considered something of a drawback to have a well-known artist parent in pursuit of music stardom.
On Gap Year, Laila! firmly establishes that she never needed a leg up in the first place — “Not My Problem” and its predecessor, “Like That!” were viral faves even before anyone knew her pops made “Ms. Fat Booty” — displaying a strong artistic identity of her own. If there was any established star that she could be said to draw from stylistically, a solid argument could be made that she’s been inspired more by Solange Knowles.
The melodies and self-produced instrumentals of tracks like “R U Down?” and “Could Be” bear similar stylistic hallmarks to tracks from Knowles’ 2016 project A Seat at the Table and its 2019 follow-up When I Get Home. Stripped-down production, stacked, stock synths, and vocal melodies halfway between hums and hymns define Laila!’s approach; when she does rap, it’s in more contemporary styles than her father’s “fluid even in staccato” flow.
Of course, the elder Smith’s extensive experiences with the business of rap could lend themselves to accelerating Laila!’s success — or at least, keeping her away from the pitfalls that often delay, derail, or outright destroy peers’ musical aspirations. From all appearances, Laila!’s pursuing her career as an independent artist — for now — so any advice or protection is even more invaluable as she navigates the music business.
But “Not My Problem,” as far as anyone can tell, was a hit because listeners loved it — as evidenced by Cash Cobain sampling it on his own megamix, “Problem.” Likewise, while some curiosity about Laila!’s connections may have helped fuel the anticipation and enthusiasm for her debut, the most important connections for her now will be the ones with her fans. Gap Year will go a long way toward forging those bonds, and proves she’s got the talent to stand on her own, well outside her legendary dad’s shadow.
Cash Cobain is unstoppable in 2024. In recent years, few artists have created a lane for themselves and not only thrived in it, but had the music world jumping at opportunities to take part the way he has. Since the start of the year, Cobain has made an excellent case that sexy drill could stick around for good in hip-hop. His 2024 singles — “Dunk Contest,” “Fisherr,” “Rump Punch,” and “Problem” — have all been standout moments that stamped and elevated his position in the rap game. Now, he takes it a step further with the release of his debut album, Play Cash Cobain.
The Bronx rapper and producer’s debut album is a 19-track promotion of daytime fun and nighttime debauchery. In short, it’s fun! Play Cash Cobain is a display of growth from Cobain, who rose to prominence by sampling R&B songs for his sexy drill record and earning a reputation as one of music’s horniest artist. While his sexy drill production thrives with or without a sample, Play Cash Cobain provides plenty of great sample moments.
Here are the five best sample moments on Cash Cobain’s debut album Play Cash Cobain.
“Act Like”
Sample: Tyrese’s “How You Gonna Act Like That” & Pop Smoke’s “For The Night”
“Act Like” was one of the most anticipated songs from Cash Cobain’s album. The track was previously teased by Slizzy member Marni and other associates during a livestream, and fans like myself quickly latched themselves to the record. “Act Like” begins with a sample of the first verse from Tyrese’s 2002 track “How You Gonna Act Like That” before Cash’s sexy drill production arrives. Echoes of Tyrese singing “it seems like” play throughout the track before the chorus arrives and in comes an interpolation of Pop Smoke’s “For The Night.” Cash thrives at using just enough of the sample for the song he creates, and this is a great example of that.
“All I Wanna Hear”
Sample: Elephant Man’s “Pon de River, Pon de Bank”
Jamaican dancehall singer Elephant Man’s most recognizable song is at the center of the third track on Cash Cobain’s debut album. “Pon de River, Pon de Bank,” an uptempo, high energy record, is slowed down for a more chill experience. On it, Cobain proves why he’s rap’s horniest artist with lines like “She said all I rap about is sex / I said, ‘That’s all I wanna hear,’” and “The other nickname for my d*ck is Jeff / It be Hardy.” This is what you get with the Cash Cobain experience and it’s a fun one to say the least. As for the sample, slowing down the keys on “Pon de River, Pon de Bank” is a simple yet very effective decision.
“CantSleep/DrunkInLuv”
Sample: H-Town’s “Knockin’ Da Boots”
Cash Cobain takes it back to 1993 with a sample of H-Town’s “Knockin’ Da Boots” for this song’s first half, “CantSleep.” Cash Cobain and H-Town both have the same energy, pursuing a foray into the bedroom. Once there, sleep is the last thing on the agenda as Cash suggests, but to H-Town’s point, “Knockin’ Da Boots” seems to be the priority. After introducing his song with a couple of lines from the hook of “Knockin’ Da Boots,” Cobain lets H-Town’s “good love” croons repeat in the background for the remainder of the song.
“Dunk”
Sample: Soulja Boy’s “Donk”
In a rare upbeat moment from Cobain, the Bronx native takes on Soulja Boy’s “Donk” for “Dunk.” While the focus of Soulja Boy’s “Donk” is to praise a woman’s assets, Cobain’s “Dunk” incorporates the same bluntless to achieve his goal of ending the night with a woman. He gets the job done with the same drum pattern as Soulja Boy’s original track, and in the end, we get a new sample of how expansive Cobain’s artistry can be.
“Problem”
Sample: Laila!’s “Not My Problem”
The singles Cash Cobain put out ahead of his album all did their job in grabbing the world’s attention. “Dunk Contest” was a great appetizer for the summer hit songs that “Fisherrr” and “Rump Punch” turned out to be. Next came “Problem” which samples Laila!’s “Not My Problem” and turned her record into a massive posse cut. For seven minutes, Cobain, Fabolous, Kenzo B, Big Sean, Lay Bankz, Luh Tyler, Anycia, Chow Lee, Kaliii, 6LACK, Flo Milli, YN Jay, Flee, Don Q, and Rob49 laid quick verses as Laila!’s “problem” and “not my problem” chants play at the end of each line. “Problem” is a great and fun moment on the album, and proof that everyone wants a part of Cobain’s sexy drill sound.
Play Cash Cobain is out now via Giant Music. Find out more information here.
Over on her official X (formerly Twitter) page, Laila! announced her very first project with two adorable and appropriately thematic graphics (viewable here).
“Gap Year! MY VERY FIRST ALBUM IS YOURS SEPTEMBER 6TH ! 17 songs !! u can pre save now :)),” she wrote.
Supporters can expect to hear her viral breakouts “Like That!” and “Not My Problem” alongside a host of new tracks supposedly entirely produced by Laila! It is unclear if the forthcoming project will feature any guest features, but after Cash Cobain’s massive mega remix of her standout, fans are surely hoping there are a few.
Continue below to view Laila!’s artwork for Gap Year! along with its official tracklist.
Artwork
IIIXL Studio
Tracklist
1. “Talent Show”
2. “Sink 2 Rise”
3. “R U Down?”
4. “If U Don’t Know By Now”
5. “Want 2”
6. “Sani (Homework Freestyle)”
7. “Like That!”
8. “Grand Opening”
9. “Blackberry (Date 4 Prom)”
10. “Mami Nelly”
11. “Could Be”
12. “If You’re Listening. (Interlude)”
13. “We’re So Over!”
14. “I Don’t Need U Anymore”
15. “Not My Problem”
16. “Flyer Than U”
17. “Coupe Deville””
Gap Year! is out 9/6 via IIIXL Studio. Find more information here.
For the past month or so, you could hardly log onto any social media platform without hearing Laila!‘s TikTok-viral single “That’s Not My Problem.” The song became so popular online, that Cash Cobain was able to sample it into his own version, “Problems,” while also daring to challenge Gen-Z attention spans with a 7-minute megamix featuring Big Sean, Fabolous, and more.
Today, the second-generation rapper-producer dropped the long-awaited official video for “Not My Problem,” pairing the song’s unbothered messaging with some fitting visuals. In the video, a night out with friends turns into a night in with a self-help hotline after Laila! spots her man out and about with another girl.
At home, she sees a late-night infomercial for a hotline promising to make all those problems go away. As Mark Manson wrote, you only have a finite amount of f*cks to give, so why waste them on things that don’t matter or make your life better? The throwback visuals — 1980s fashions, corded phones, and references to VHS — remind an old fogey like me that my generation once tried to bring back bellbottoms and afros, so the kids certainly seem okay to me.
You can watch the video for “Not My Problem” above.
Does anyone else remember those 2000s mega-mixes of songs like “I’m So Hood” and “One Blood?” A popular rap song would get a remix that featured WAY too many guest stars, running the gamut from dancehall deejays to R&B court jesters like T-Pain. They were a sort of much more obnoxious version of rap supercrew posse cuts geared toward drawing in as many of the featured artists’ fans as possible to extend the life of a smash way beyond its normal expiration date.
Well, Gen Z finally has its version of this, courtesy of Cash Cobain and Laila! On “Problem,” the sample drill pioneer remixes the second-gen rapper‘s TikTok hit “Not My Problem” into a prime example of the form, adding in verses from a gaggle of game MCs ranging from blog rap vets 6lack and Big Sean to teen star Luh Tyler. Even mixtape staple Fabolous gets a look, while gender parity is provided by Atlanta rapper Anycia, Flo Milli, Kaliii, and Lay Bankz. New Yorker Kelz2busy, Don Q, and Kenzo B round out the Big Apple roster, while New Orleans rising star Rob49 completes the cipher. In the interest of keeping things short enough to appeal to the target demo, the verses are kept to bite size snippets, bringing in the whole thing at seven minutes — five shorter than “One Blood,” so there’s that, at least.
Over the past couple of months, if you were online at all, there’s a strong likelihood you heard “Not My Problem,” the catchy breakout single from New York rising star Laila! (yes, the punctuation is part of her name). If you did any research on the 18-year-old artist, you might have learned a surprising tidbit: Laila! was rumored for the past year to be the daughter of a hip-hop icon, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def of Black Star).
However, since she is such a new artist, it was hard to confirm this fact, as she’d done almost no interviews and only released a handful of well-received singles. So…
Is Laila! Really Mos Def’s Daughter?
As it turns out… yes! She confirmed her parentage in an interview with Complex‘s Jordan Rose. While the interview hasn’t been published yet as of this writing, Complex shared a clip on social media. While she said he didn’t give her any specific special sauce to help her on her way, he was supportive of her artistic journey. “I have just always been my own artist in a way,” she said. “That’s the cool thing, because I feel like as a kid, whenever we would just jam sesh and vibe out, me and him, I always had my own style. I always had my own thing going on. And he’s always just been like, ‘Okay kid, I see you.’”
An interview that was published was with established hip-hop media personality Angela Yee, in which she addressed her dad again. “They’ve always been so supportive of everything that I’ve wanted to do,” she said. “They never question what I want to do. My mom, my dad, you guys have always just been like, ‘Okay, that’s what she’s gonna do. That’s Laila!’ And I feel like that’s always made me feel like I can take on the world, or I can show the world who I am because I’ve always had that in my life.”
17 songs !! 
u can pre save now :)),” she wrote.
