Mixtapes

EST Gee’s Consistency Is Unmatched On “MAD” Mixtape

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EST Gee is one of the coldest rappers in the game, period. The Louisville native came out the gates swinging when “Lick Back” dropped but he proved that his consistency is his best weapon. After getting the stamp of approval from Yo Gotti, he began to flourish with his subsequent releases as he fulfilled a massive gap in street rap. Gee’s raspy voice, motivational bars, and cut-throat attitude helped him turn into one of the most exciting rappers in the game right now. And with each release, it becomes more apparent that he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

Though he only released his official debut album in September, he still has more in the arsenal ready to drop. He announced his new mixtape, Mad earlier this month before following up with records like “25Min Freestyle.” However, he finally came through with the project this morning, and it certainly lives up to the standard he established when he came out the get. Mad could very well stand as one of the best rap releases of 2023.

EST Gee “Mad” Ft. Young Scooter & Boosie Badazz

EST Gee’s new mixtape consists of fourteen songs in total with appearances from Young Scooter and Boosie Badazz. Though some fans were mildly underwhelmed by the lack of star-studded names attached to the tracklist, his collaborators emphasize the weight of the South’s legacy. That’s not limited to his features, either but the sample he uses across the project. For example, he pairs a sample of Kanye’s “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” with an interpolation of Gucci Mane’s “My Kitchen.” Meanwhile, T.I.’s “24’s” flows make their way onto the hook of “The One & Only.”

EST Gee proves that he’s keeping his foot on the rap game’s neck but what’s been most interesting about the rapper’s recent outings is the displays of growth. While songs like “Bloody Man” showcased his vocal range, he explores that even further on this album. EST Gee is basically a one-man band at this point, who needs little assistance from his fellow peers in hip-hop. Check out his new project above and sound off with your thoughts in the comments. 

“MAD” Tracklist

  1. Pray You Die In Surgery
  2. Ball Like Me Too
  3. The One & Only
  4. Blow Up
  5. Slam Dunk Ft. Young Scooter
  6. Stay Focused 
  7. Drop Top
  8. 25MIN Freestyle
  9. Hotboys ft. Boosie Badazz 
  10. Us
  11. If I Stop Now
  12. Lie To Me Some
  13. Undefeated 
  14. Kada Song ft. Kada

T-Pain Ditches The Autotune For “On Top Of The Covers” Album

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He’s known as the God of Autotune, but T-Pain is a crooner without the extra help. He’s delivered some of our favorite hits with the help of autotune, but it’s been well-established that T-Pain’s natural singing voice doesn’t need assistance. He dominated on The Masked Singer and has flexed his R&B stylings when performing live, so it was only a matter of time before we received an album. T-Pain delivered, and he’s revisiting classics on his record, On Top Of The Covers. The Nappy Boy Entertainment release is an anticipated arrival as fans are excited to hear the other side of the singer-producer’s talents.

On Top Of The Covers features T-Pain’s creative take on Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” Dr. Hook’s “Sharing The Night Together,” Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life” ft. NandoSTL (a Nappy Boy Entertainment artist), and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Additionally, there is an interlude, “Skrangs” (in K Major Sus).

T-Pain Explains Why He Chose These Tracks

“Each one of these songs means something to me and helped me fall in love with music at different points in my life,” the musician said in a press release. “I’m releasing this covers album from the view of what I hear when I listen to each song. I can’t wait to share with the world what I’ve been working on the past several years.” Further, he has planned a special weekend in Los Angeles to help celebrate the project.

Today (March 17) through Sunday, T-Pain will perform intimate shows for three nights. He’ll take over The Sun Rose at Pendry in West Hollywood for ‘An Intimate Evening with T-Pain,’ as he and his live band showcase his covers and fan favorites. The carefully curated setlist is a secret as of now, but we’re sure T-Pain will share highlights from the event in the days to come. Check out On Top Of The Covers by T-Pain, and let us know what you think.

Tracklist

  1. A Change Is Gonna Come
  2. Don’t Stop Believin’
  3. Sharing The Night Together
  4. Skrangs (in K Major Sus)
  5. Stay With Me
  6. Tennessee Whiskey
  7. That’s Life ft. NandoSTL
  8. War Pigs

Childish Gambino Drops “Swarm” EP With KIRBY To Accompany New Amazon Prime Video Series

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Donald Glover has explored no shortage of creative ventures over the years, though his latest endeavour may just be one of his best. On Friday (March 17), Amazon Prime Video dropped off Swarm, the 39-year-old’s new TV series that features plenty of celebrity favourites, including Paris Jackson and Billie Eilish. If that’s not enough to convince you to check it out, minutes into the first episode, a raunchy sex scene between Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris has had Twitter talking non-stop.

Swarm tells the story of Dre (played by Dominique Dishback), a young woman with a dangerous obsession for a fictional pop star named Ni’jah. Throughout the episodes we see the troubled lead go to great lengths to defend her idol, voiced by singer-songwriter KIRBY. To accompany his new project, Glover and his musical collaborator shared a six-track EP today, allowing fans to live on in the chilling cinematic universe even after they’re done binge-watching.

Childish Gambino and KIRBY Bring Ni’jah to Life on “Sticky” from Swarm

As Billboard notes, this marks Glover’s first musical effort since 3.15.20, which arrived as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning. The California native connected with Ariana Grande and 21 Savage on “Time” and “12.38” respectively. Other fan favourites from the 12-song tracklist include “Algorhythm,” “19.10,” and “35.31.”

Of course, Swarm isn’t the multi-talent’s first time diving into the world of television. He’s previously appeared on shows like 30 Rock, Girls, and Community. Additionally, he created and stars in FX’s Atlanta alongside LaKeith Stanfield and Brian Tyree Henry. As for film credits, Glover’s face has been seen in Magic Mike XXL, The Martian, and Solo: A Star Wars Story, among others.

Thus far, the new show appears to be making a positive impression on viewers. Thankfully, all seven episodes landed at the same time, filling up the weekend plans of many eager viewers. At the time of publication, Rotten Tomatoes critics have scored it at an 83%, though we’re still waiting for audience reviews to start rolling in.

Check out “Sticky” from Childish Gambino and KIRBY’s Swarm EP on YouTube above. Afterward, tell us your thoughts on the show and its groovy soundtrack in the comments. If you’re in need of more release recommendations, make sure to check back later this weekend for our R&B Season playlist update.

Swarm Tracklist:

  1. Something Like That
  2. Agatha
  3. Big World
  4. Adventure
  5. Hahaha
  6. Sticky (feat. Childish Gambino)

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GloRilla Surprises Fans With “Anyways Life’s Great… Bonus Edition” Ft. Lil Durk, Trina & More

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Glorilla continues to dominate the rap game as the First Lady of CMG. Since the release of her breakout single, “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” she’s proven that she’s far from a one-hit-wonder. Songs like “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B and “Blessed” made her one of the most popular artists on TikTok. Evidently, her success extends well beyond social media. Within a matter of months, she earned her a spot along rap legends of the Hip-Hop 50 segment at the Grammys, where she was also nominated for Best Rap Performance.

The aforementioned singles all landed on the tracklist of her debut project, Anyways Life’s Great. She managed to debut right outside the top 10 of the Billboard 200 with 28K units sold. It’s not a feat that many artists can achieve off the strength of a single or two but it was a firm reminder of her staying power in the rap game. However, she isn’t done yet, unloading a new version of the record with bonus songs.

GloRilla Adds Four Tracks To “Anyways Life’s Great”

Shortly after teasing her collaboration with Lil Durk, “Ex’s (PHATNALL Remix),” she came through with a bonus edition to her debut project. This morning, she shared Anyways, Life’s Great… Bonus Edition boasts another four songs, extending the tracklist to 13 songs in total. In addition to Durk’s remix of “Phatnall,” she enlists NikiPooh for the remix of “Get That Money,” which also includes an appearance from fellow Memphis rapper Gloss Up. Trina also appears on the tracklist for the remix of “Nut Quick.” The final entry that rounds out the extended tracklist is “Don’t Know,” which is described as the “GloRidaz Bonus.” 

The release of Anyways Life’s Great… Remix comes a little over a month since she released her first record of the year, “Internet Trolls.” Though the song became a huge success online, it’s surprising that it didn’t land as a bonus track on her project. It’s unclear if GloRilla plans to unveil another project before the year comes to an end. However, the release of these four records will hold us over until she’s ready to drop. Check the tracklist below.

Tracklist

Volume 1

  1. No More Love
  2. Ex’s (Phatnall Remix) ft. Lil Durk
  3. Tomorrow 2 ft. Cardi B
  4. Nut Quick (Remix) ft. Trina
  5. Blessed
  6. Unh Unh
  7. Get That Money (Remix) ft. Gloss Up & NikiPooh
  8. F.N.F. (Let’s Go) [HitKidd & GloRilla)
  9. Out Loud Thinking

Volume 2

  1. Don’t Know (GloRidaz Bonus)
  2. Nut Quick (Original)
  3. Phatnall (Original)
  4. Get That Money (Original) ft. Niki Pooh

The Weeknd Drops “Starboy (Deluxe)”

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The Weeknd is unloading a whole lot of music for his fans these days. As we approach the 10-year anniversary of his debut studio album, Kiss Land, the singer has undoubtedly provided fans with a ton of content as he closes out the Dawn FM era. On top of an upcoming television series with HBO, he blessed fans with Live At SoFi Stadium earlier this year – a live concert album from his Los Angeles date on the After Hours Til Dawn tour.

Though he hasn’t provided an update on when we could expect a new album, it seems as though he’s at a place in his career where he wants to unload records out of the vault. He’s hinted at the release of  Starboy (Deluxe) over the past few months. Earlier this year, he and Ariana Grande teamed up, once again, to bless fans with the “Die For You” remix. The duo’s collaborative streak together extended further as they reconnected for a cut off of Starboy.

The Weeknd – Starboy (Deluxe)

The latest collab between The Weeknd and Ariana Grande was only a taste of what the Canadian singer had in store. This week, the Dawn FM star finally blessed fans with the release of Starboy (Deluxe). The deluxe edition packs another three songs including the “Die For You (Remix).” Additionally, the project also includes the Kygo-assisted remix of “Starboy,” which the Norwegian producer previously released independently before seeing an official release. The deluxe also includes the “Reminder (Remix)” ft. A$AP Rocky and Young Thug, which was also previously released on streaming services. 

The release of Starboy (Deluxe) comes after another incredible award show night for the Toronto singer. The Weeknd swept the Juno Awards last night, winning five out of the six categories he was nominated him. He took home the award for Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the year while “Sacrifice” took home Single Of The Year. Dawn FM also scored in the Album Of The Year and Pop Album Of The Year categories. We’ll keep you posted on any more updates on new releases from The Weeknd. Check out the deluxe edition of Starboy above. 

G Perico And DJ Drama Collaborate On New “Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz” Album

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West Coast rapper G Perico teams up with DJ Drama, an Atlanta Dj and music executive. Together they created the Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz album. DJ Drama and G Perico dropped their latest project on March 10th. It highlights new features as well as previous singles. Along with the album drop, G Perico announced he will be starting a tour on March 30th. The tour will hit big cities such as Detroit, Boston, and San Diego. A few days ahead of releasing their project, a short documentary for the process was released on YouTube.

DJ Drama took the time to explain his thoughts on the process in the video, titled Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz Documentary. There he explains that he feels the Hot Shot mixtape series is arguably the most important one of all time. “I was able to really touch all facets of, not even just hip hop culture, but just music in general.” Drama makes his statement at the beginning of the short film. G Perico joins in to explain his inspiration for the project. “The project is inspired by a few of my homies.”

G Perico x DJ Drama “Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz”

Hot Shot: Gangsta Grillz has 13 tracks total on the album. Some of the songs include “Religion,” “Everything,” and “Lifestyle.” There are also a couple of singles that have been released prior to Gangsta Grillz. One notable single is “Ask G4.” A couple of the tracks feature other artists, such as Steelz and RJmrLA. However, each song on Hot Shot shows off the musical chemistry between both DJ Drama and G Perico.

Drama’s main goal for the mixtape was to showcase talent and put something unique on the market. “Cause right now in L.A everybody’s sounding the same. All the beats sound the same, it’s all the same producers.” Drama is confident that fans will be pleased with the new installment in the Hot Shot series. G Perico and DJ Drama are excited and proud of Gangsta Grillz, as the project has been in the works for some time. Make sure to give the new album a listen on your preferred streaming service.

August Alsina Self-Reflects On New Album “Myself”

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It’s been nearly three years since August Alsina released a studio album, but the wait is finally over. On Friday, the “I Luv This Shit” singer dropped Myself, showcasing a more personal approach to his typically high-energy hits. Leading up to the release of Alsina’s long-due album, the 30-year-old teased fans with a few tracks earlier this year.

The first song of the project, also titled “Myself,” dropped in January and kicked off the tone for the intimate reflection revealed throughout the album. He added another preview in February with “Weekdays,” which features Zu and Deeno. As a more upbeat number to this 10-track project, this catchy and anthem-like song further self-reflects on the New Orlean rapper’s relentless hustling mentality.

August Alsina Showcases “Resilience” With “Myself”

The entirety of Myself unfolded on Friday (March 10), with tracks like “Lied to You, “August,” and “Party” adding on to the previously released teasers. Alsina joins forces with 4ayem for the soft number “Friends,” where he puts his own spin on the iconic nursery rhyme that Jibbs mashed up in 2006 on “Chain Hang Low.” In “On Me,” the singer collaborates with Layton Greene, resulting in a seductive track that beautifully fuses together both of their melodic voices.

All in all, this new album is an ode to independent hustlers who don’t need anyone else to flourish. From calling out fake friends to hinting at world domination, Alsina isn’t shy of sharing the self-sufficient nature that has allowed him to overcome hardships. When the Def Jams Recording artist revealed the release of Myself earlier this week, he added a promo video to the post explaining his inspiration for the project.

“I’ve gone from a young boy to a man… A man who’s wiser… smarter… stronger because of my experiences and adversities I’ve faced. And a man whose more resilient,” Alsina reflects. Stream Myself on DSPs below. For more news on hip-hop and pop culture, be sure to check out HNHH.

Myself Tracklist:

  1. Myself
  2. Lied to You
  3. Weekdays (feat. Zu & Deeno)
  4. Never Fold
  5. Same
  6. Party
  7. August
  8. Rules
  9. Friends (with 4ayem)
  10. On Me (with Layton Greene)

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Jim Jones & Hitmaka Team Up On “Back In My Prime”

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Ever since the infamous altercation at Miami’s Prime 112 in 2021 involving $oul $old $eparately rapper Freddie Gibbs, Jim Jones and Hitmaka have had fans anticipating their joint project. Though it didn’t have a title at the time, the two artists began to egg on the idea of naming it after the M.I.A steakhouse. Ultimately, Jones denied that Prime 112 was the title but later, revealed that they would refer to the project as Back In My Prime. 

The album’s release took a minute. Jones began teasing it as part of a 10-album rollout throughout 2022 that didn’t actually materialize. However, he insisted that the project was on the way. He and Hitmaka slowly began to unveil the project, beginning with “Gunshot” ft. BEAM. The song samples KRS-One’s “Step Into A World” and delivers a reggae-tinged offering to set the tone for what they had in store. Then, they came through with the Stefflon Don-assisted, “I Am.”

Jim Jones & Hitmaka – Back In My Prime

Jim Jones and Hitmaka finally unveiled the project in its entirety this morning. Laced with eight songs in total, the feature-heavy project fuses Jones’ lyricism and Hitmaka’s unmatched ear for an incredible offering. In addition to BEAM and Stefflon Don, the array of collaborators allow them to tap into different vibes. For example, the sultry Jeremih-assisted “FU Better” brings a lush and sexy anthem fitted for the bedroom. Then, Benny The Butcher and Jones trade bars on “Bet It All.”

Along with the array of features, which also include Ty Dolla $ign, Pleasure P, and Tink, Hitmaka links up with several producers to flesh out the album. Boogz, Cardiak, Rob Holladay, and more have credits on the project. Back In My Prime is an album that you certainly want to have on repeat this weekend. Check out the album in its entirety above and sound off with your favorite track in the comment section below. 

Back In My Prime tracklist

  1. “Gunshot” feat. BEAM
  2. “FU Better” feat. Jeremiah
  3. “Bet It All” featuring Benny the Butcher and Trav  
  4. “YKTV” feat. Ty Dolla $ign
  5. “First Plug” feat. Pleasure P
  6. “Let It Go” feat. Tink & Ball Greezy
  7. “Status Update”
  8. “I Am” feat. Stefflon Don

Conway The Machine And Jae Skeese Link Up For “Pain Provided Profit” Project

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This Friday (March 10) has brought around some highly-anticipated drops, and Pain Provided Profit is no exception. Conway the Machine and Jae Skeese collaborate on the 7-track album, which results in nothing short of a smooth-rolling masterpiece. The New York rappers keep things sweet and simple on this Drumwork Music Group effort, which is their first joint project since Conway’s 2022 album What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed, where Jae featured on “In My Soul,” “Sunday Sermon,” and “Big Drum.”

Pain Provided Profit also brings back other contributors from the previous project, including 7xvethegenius and SK Da King. Both artists join in the final track of the album, “Food,” alongside GooseBytheway. The entirety of the project showcases great versatility for Conway and Skeese, both of whom intertwine their individual signature rap styles effortlessly into their work.

Conway and Jae Create “Cocaine Paste”

Previously the New York native released under Griselda Records, which was founded by his half-brother Westside Gunn and also represented his cousin Benny the Butcher. In light of announcing his new label, Conway confirmed that there was no bad blood between him and his family members, noting that the split was simply due to distance and time. “We don’t all live in the same city no more, we don’t really hang out and do shit no more, see each other. So all these conversations we don’t necessarily get to have all the time,” the rapper revealed to Ebro last year.

Although embarking on a new chapter in his career, Conway the Machine seems to have launched an impressive start to building up Drumwork. In fact, Jae signed to his label back in 2021, and dropped “Against the Grain” with Conway and Flee Lord in 2022. The Drumwork team has also announced a docuseries underway. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out Pain Provided Profit, now available on all streaming services. As always, keep in touch with HNHH for the latest news in hip-hop and pop culture.

Pain Provided Profit Tracklist:

  1. Cocaine Paste
  2. Metallic 5’s
  3. Stefon Diggs 2
  4. Le Chop
  5. Immaculate Reception
  6. Promise
  7. Food (featuring 7xvethegenius, GooseBytheway, SK Da King)

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