mixtape

It’s been over two decades since the world said an untimely goodbye to Aaliyah, but the impact of the singer’s loss can still be felt today. Luckily for her fans, two of her posthumous albums, I Care 4 U and Ultimate Aaliyah are now available on streaming platforms.

Back in September, the late artist’s self-titled album, which was released a little over a month before she was tragically killed in a plane crash, was added to Spotify and Apple Music, and her catalogue only continues to expand as we pay homage to Aaliyah’s legacy.

I Care 4 U includes tracks like “Are You That Somebody,” “More Than A Woman,” and “At Your Best (You Are Love).” Only two features, Tank on “Come Over” and Timbaland on “We Need A Resolution” were included on this posthumous release, but Ultimate Aaliyah also sees collaborations with Slick Rick and DMX.

The Brooklyn native was just 22 when she passed, but she still managed to put out three incredible albums during her life. These two posthumous additions only help us to remember Aaliyah and celebrate her fantastic talent.

Stream I Care 4 U below.  

Tracklist:

1. Back & Forth

2. Are You That Somebody

3. One In A Million

4. I Care 4 U

5. More Than A Woman

6. Don’t Know What to Tell Ya

7. Try Again

8. All I Need

9. Miss You

10. Don’t Worry

11. Come Over (feat. Tank)

12. Erica Kane

13. At Your Best (You Are Love)

14.  Got To Give It Up – Remix

15. We Need A Resolution (feat. Timbaland)

16. Rock The Boat

It’s not déjà vu, though you’d be forgiven for thinking as much. Curren$y Spitta, easily the game’s most prolific artists, has come through to expand on his already gargantuan discography with another new album. This time, he’s revisiting a fan favorite with Still Stoned On Ocean, a sequel to his 2016 project.

For the second go-around, Spitta has bulked up the runtime with eleven total tracks, including featured guest appearances from Jim Jones and Fendi P. For the most part, however, the drive is a solitary one — though rest assured that few rappers are as conditioned to road trips as this one right here. As per usual, we’re looking at impeccably smooth production and lyricism to match, introspective bars surrounding success, luxury, inebriation, and fleeting romance. 

Like the vehicles that line his garage, Curren$y is beloved for his reliability. Some are still marveling at his ability to write so much material in such a concentrated amount of time. For the most part, however, we’re simply happy that Spitta is still active, as he’s proven himself to be among hip-hop’s most consistent artists — and to think, he’s still sitting on a slew of forthcoming albums. In case you’re eager for more Curren$y Spitta, look for the Harry Fraud-produced Regatta on October 29th, the Cash Fargo-produced Land Sea Air, the Alchemist-produced Half Moon Bay on December 10th, and Pilot Talk 4 on December 24th.

Have you given Still Stoned On Ocean a spin?

Cactus Jack hitmaker Don Toliver is currently enjoying the throws of tour now that everyone is “back outside,” and he marks another music milestone in his career this morning (October 8). Toliver has been carefully plotting the release of Life of a Don, sharing that the creative process of his previous release, Heaven or Hell, was different than his approach with this latest record.

Back in July, Toliver sat down with W Magazine and discussed the album, stating that he rented a home in Miami’s Venetian Islands to record Life of a Don. Toliver had his favorite producers and engineers flown out to help create the album, waking up and making music each day.

“I’ve had some crazy records, stuff in the chamber, a lot of good music I’d been holding on to that will be on this album,” he told the publication. “Life of a Don gives you insight into what I have going on right now. And that sound is really just how I feel. It’s the soundtrack of my life, and it’s coming from a new feeling.”

Features include looks from Travis Scott, HVN, SoFaygo, and Toliver’s girlfriend, Kali Uchis. Stream Life of a Don and let us know what you think.

Tracklist

1. Xscape
2. 5x
3. Way Bigger
4. Flocky Flocky ft. Travis Scott
5. What You Need
6. Double Standards
7. Swangin’ on Westheimer
8. Drugs N Hella Melodies ft. Kali Uchis
9. 2 AM
10. Get Throwed
11. Company Pt. 2
12. Outerspace ft. Baby Keem
13. Smoke ft. HVN & SoFaygo
14. You ft. Travis Scott
15. Crossfaded
16. Bogus

[via]

Cookin’ Soul, made up of Spanish DJs Big Size and Zock, quietly came through with one of the most fun projects of the year. 

The duo’s most recent release Good Job, which features Big Size as a basketball coach and the project’s features as his players on its album artwork, boasts a nice, ten song tracklist and a slew of impressive features.

Kicking off the project with arguably the best rapper in the game right now, Cookin’ Soul employed Freddie Gibbs to do his thing on “Thug Till It’s Over.” Rapping over jazzy keys and funky chords, Gibbs spits his customary guns and drugs bars and rides every wave and finds every pocket perfectly before handing the reigns over to Lil B for Good Job‘s second track, “Turn It Up.”

Curren$y and what seems to be an early 2010s Mac Miller come through with verses on “Stove Top” and “Come On Baby” and provide listeners with that perfect weed-smoking vibe on both records. 

Features from Evidence, Fashawn & Adje combine to create a perfect bridge to the project’s closing tracks, “About you” and “Notta Game.” 

On “About you” Jayy Grams takes nearly two minutes to pay homage to his father and those who came before him and those who inspired him to find his way in the rap game. Grams spits the best verse on the entire Good Job album and after making that last turn before stepping aside for TEK to close it out on “Notta Game.” 

Over a bouncy, uplifting instrumental, TEK employs a combination of College Dropout-type vibes while spitting hard lyrics about making it in the streets and how he wants to be remembered when he’s gone. 

Good Job, reminiscent of so many early-2010s mixtapes, is a blast from the past and is a refreshing reprieve from the designer clothing and Patek Phillippe references found in nearly every 2021 hip-hop track. 

Check out Cookin’ Soul’s Good Job below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Detroit rapper BangGang Lonnie Bands is back with another new project, coming through with Hard 2 Kill. 

The tough-talking rapper has been a primary figure in Detroit’s booming rap scene. He’s been through plenty of tough times, nearly losing his life earlier this year after being shot three times, including once in the head. Lonnie is resilient though, and he knows it’s going to take more than that to get rid of him. He challenges his rivals on the new album Hard 2 Kill, sharing sixteen new songs with features from EST Gee, Young Nudy, BIG30, OhGeesy, and more. 

Hard 2 Kill was executive produced by Poody Gordy. Check out the new project from the 6 Mile resident and let us know what you think of it.

Tracklist:

1. H2K
2. Rich & Dangerous
3. Bullet Proof
4. Hot (feat. EST Gee & The Big Homie)
5. Where Is Marshall (feat. Cypress Moreno)
6. Marlow
7. Glocks & Choppas (feat. Young Nudy)
8. HI5 (feat. VVS Beezy)
9. Gnarley (feat. IamTK Peso & Nhale)
10. Lock Jaw
11. Snow (feat. OhGeesy)
12. Foreva Rollin (feat. BIG30)
13. Shoulda Got A Verse From Drake (feat. OnFully)
14. Big Creature (feat. BandGang Javar)
15. Murdah
16. Gate Keeper (feat. Reese Youngn)

Paris Texas’ first ever project was released in 2018 titled, I’ll Get My Revenge. Since then they’ve carved out their own lane, becoming  One of the most exciting duos of the year. They broke out with the release of “Heavy Metal” and then earned praise for their May debut, BOY ANONYMOUS. 2021 is shaping up to be an incredible prolific year for them, especially as they now drop off their latest project, Red Hand Akimbo. Their new project is only five songs with no features. The new project further showcases their hybrid of hip-hop with authentic punk rock energy, just as they did with “Heavy Metal.”

Check out the latest project from Paris Texas Red Hand Akimbo below and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section. 

ILoveMakonnen is currently having one of the most prolific stretches in his career since first bursting out of Atlanta during the mid-2010s. Earlier this spring, the Super Chef released the surprise full-length project My Parade, complete with guest features from Lil B and Payday. Approximately six months later, Makonnen has spun the block and dropped off a project that his longtime fans will certainly get excited for: DMW007.

DMW007 serves as the seventh installment of ILoveMakonnen’s fan-favorite mixtape series, and it arrives roughly five years after its predecessor, Drink More Water 6. According to Makonnen, DMW007 is packed with previously released and never-before-heard first-take freestyles.

“DMW007 is a project of first-take freestyles from ILoveMakonnen from the past few years. They are finally going on streaming on October 6, 2021 after years of being on missions, 007 style,” ILoveMakonnen says of the new 23-track project. “Please listen front to back in one sitting lol.”

Experience ILoveMakonnen’s unbridled creativity by giving DMW007 a listen below. Are you feeling any of the eclectic artist’s latest release?

Tracklist:

1. All My Shit Is Stupid
2. See You Again
3. Winning
4. Super Chef 3
5. In My Room
6. Used To
7. Linda Sparks
8. Being The Man 
9. Steady
10. Cheating Too
11. How U Feel
12. Dance With You
13. My Life Is A Joke
14. Trap Go Boom 2
15. Trap Goin Crazy
16. Back on the Xan
17. Searchin
18. Didn’t Need Me
19. Roll Slow
20. Keep It On Me
21. Kiss For Me
22. Lonely Boy
23. Haunting Me

Dreamville rapper Lute is navigating life at his own pace, and he’s officially released his debut studio album, titled Gold Mouf. 

After disclosing his troubling bout with anxiety during an episode of Gold Mouf Chronicles, Lute proves to be resilient on his debut album. The 32-year-old Charlotte rapper follows up his 2017 effort West1996 pt. 2 with Gold Mouf, bringing a bunch of qualified lyricists over to his world. The new project includes features from JID, Little Brother, Cozz, Westside Boogie, Saba, and more. He’s also got some soulful vocalists bringing a new vibe to the album, including Ari Lennox and BJ The Chicago Kid.

With the Gold Mouf Chronicles, Lute has been opening up about his journey to fans, touching on his battle with anxiety, as well as open-heart surgery. You can learn more about his story by listening to his official debut album Gold Mouf below.

Tracklist:

1. 100
2. GED (Gettin Every Dolla)
3. Myself (feat. DEVN)
4. Be Okay
5. Eye to Eye (feat. Cozz)
6. Changes (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid)
7. Ghetto Love (feat. Blakk Soul & Ari Lennox)
8. Amen (feat. Little Brother)
9. Birdsong (feat. JID & Saba)
10. Flossin’ (feat. WESTSIDE BOOGIE)
11. Life
12. Overnight
13. Crashing

HD4President has been hustling hard across the Southern circuit over the years but finally, he’s getting his rightful recognition. The success of “Touch Down 2 Cause Hell” was propelled off of the viral TikTok challenge which included viral clips from Lizzo, Coi Leray, among others. Now, he’s returned with his latest body of work, To Da Max. With 10 songs in total, the rapper’s new project includes the aforementioned single, along with appearances from Boosie Badazz, 2 Chainz, and Fredo Bang. 

“I came from all that, I know the streets, I lived it. Right now I’m trying to better myself,” HD4President explained of his new project. “Sure, I want to stay in tune with the streets – I can still put that gangster music out – but I wanna show I can do that pop, too. That’s been my lane since I was a kid. I love making that type of music.”

There’s been plenty of discussions and comments about the state of grime music. Certain rappers from the new generation of artists out of the UK clearly aren’t as connected to the electronically-tinged sound as they are with hip-hop and drill. However, the legends and forefathers of the culture are still making sure the sound stays alive and their contributions to the culture remain acknowledged.

This week, P Money and Silencer, two OGs in the drill scene, came through with a brand new collaborative tape titled, Untraditional. The nine-track project is entirely produced by Silencer while P Money brings his bars to the table. Untraditional EP boasts appearances from a slew of their comrades such as JME, Frisco, Chip, Dizzee Rascal, D Double E, and more. 

Check the project out below.