Did anyone else mix their G.I. Joes with their siblings’ Barbies as a kid? For the longest time, I thought I was alone in this, but judging from Coi Leray‘s video for her new collaboration with Nicki Minaj, “Blick Blick,” she never saw a problem making the beauty dolls run around with the soldier toys’ guns, either. The colorful video is heavy on Nicki’s well-established Pinkprint aesthetic, but rather than getting pampered, the two rappers get armed to the teeth like Neo and Trinity from The Matrix to take on their foes. Of course, the guns are also on-theme.
“Blick Blick” is the latest sign that Coi’s star is rising after some skeptical fans wrote her off in the wake of her breakout with “No More Parties” toward the end of 2020. Thanks to her goofy, Playboi Carti-esque delivery, some thought she was just a gimmick, especially after her baffling performance during the XXL Freshman Cypher. However, since then, she’s kept up a steady stream of solid singles such as “Twinnem” and “Anxiety,” building her credibility and showcasing her versatility. Securing a feature from Queen Minaj herself — especially after her dad Benzino nearly ruined the chance for her — only solidifies her ascent, proving she has belonged at the top all along, just as she (and Uproxx) predicted.
Watch Coi Leray’s video for “Blick Blick” featuring Nicki Minaj above.
Leikeli47 has always played it mysterious and her new video, “LL Cool J,” offers no exceptions to her cryptic demeanor. In fact, the masked rapper doesn’t even appear in the greyscale video, opting to cede the spotlight to a variety of models decked out in glimmering ensembles reflecting the song’s theme: Ladies Love Cool Jewelry. Of course, she could very well be in the video and we’d be unlikely to know — that’s her whole deal, after all.
Lyrically, the song finds Leikeli pursuing a man before turning him into her latest accessory. “And to you silly hoes out here still tryna linger / You can’t find him, ’cause I got him wrapped around my finger,” she boasts. The effect is something like that of a gritty appreciation song, similar to MC Lyte’s 1993 hit single “Ruffneck.” It’s a departure from the sort of independent woman or gold digger anthems that have proliferated over the last couple of years, and it’s pretty refreshing, representing a more accessible sound from the usually dance-centric Leikeli47.
The new track is set to appear on LK47’s upcoming album, Shape Up, from which she previously shared the singles “BITM” and “Chitty Bang.” It’ll be her first new album since 2018’s Acrylic, and is due on April 15 via Hardcover and RCA.
After teasing his new album Melt My Eyez, See Your Future with a Spaghetti Western-themed trailer, the space Western-styled video for “Walkin,” and the samurai flick homage “Zatoichi,” Denzel Curry has finally revealed the album’s anticipated release date. Set for release March 25, Melt My Eyez, See Your Future will feature appearances from 454, 6lack, Bridget Perez, Jasiah, JID, Rico Nasty, Robert Glasper, Saul Williams, Slowthai, and T-Pain. The album’s production team includes Cardo, DJ Khalil, Dot Da Genius, Jpegmafia, Kal Banx, Karriem Riggins, Kenny Beats, and Thundercat.
In a press release announcing the album’s release date, Curry detailed the album’s production process and aesthetics. “I like traditional hip hop, I like drum and bass, I like trap, I like poetry, so a lot of that is going to be interwoven in this album including jazz and a lot of genres that I came up on as a kid and just being in my parents’ house,” he said. “This album is made up of everything that I couldn’t give you on TA13OO or Imperial because I was going through depression anger issues.”
To promote the album, Curry is set to launch a world tour beginning in Denver, Colorado on April 1 and ending the month in Glasgow, United Kingdom. After a month-long swing through Europe, he’ll return to the US just in time for Governor’s Ball in New York, then complete the second leg of his US tour, wrapping up July 1 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Melt My Eyez, See Your Future is due 3/25 on Loma Vista Recordings. You can pre-save it here.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Although Richmond, Virginia-based rapper Fly Anakin has been around for a while, my first introduction to him was on 2020’s FlySiifu, his collaborative album with Alabama genre-bender Pink Siifu. At the time, my impression was of a rapper enamored with the murky trappings of the backpack rap I had grown up on in high school, but since grown out of. The experimental, lo-fi sampling and abstract, stream-of-consciousness raps reminded me of longtime favorites like Madlib and MF DOOM; Anakin, who would have entered high school five years after I graduated, would likely have gravitated to this freewheeling sound as it first gained exposure beyond indie record shops and underground rap forums via Adult Swim bumpers.
That sound has become the staple of his aesthetic, a tradition he continues on the recently released Frank, his self-proclaimed debut album. The fact that he calls it this despite having seven years of commercial releases under his belt helps to highlight his status as a child of the inventive digital era of hip-hop, where nearly anything goes as long as it sounds cool and you can get away with it. For what it’s worth, this is an album that does sound cool and gets away with a lot. It’s packed with eerie, unearthly samples and laid-back, dismissive raps, an iconoclastic survey of the modern rap landscape that chooses to go left, swimming upstream of the more accessible 808-driven approach of Anakin’s peers.
In a profile for Bandcamp, Anakin explains his reasoning for calling Frank his debut, and for giving it his own government name, Frank Walton. “The album is me standing up to my shit and owning up to who I am instead of hiding behind a rap name,” he said. “I always thought my name was kinda stupid for who I am and I never really felt my name matched me — so this is me wearing my name and owning my name.” In doing so, though, he throws into clearer focus the fact that he’s always been this person and always held these philosophies. That is to say, he’s never much cared to live up to anyone else’s standards but his own.
Consider this couplet from the Evidence-produced “Sean Price,” named for the bellicose Brooklyn rapper who passed away in 2015 and shared Anakin’s disdain for fitting in. “The sacrifices set my price to the heights of the holy lights / At first, I did the shit to get mics, now it’s keeping on the lights.” The Richmond rapper at times comes across disillusioned by his experiences in the rap game, much like many of his heroes, but then, like those heroes, his love for the craft shines through in the polish with which he spits his laconic yet lithe, lathe-like verses. He’s versatile and not without a sense of humor; he just doesn’t have time for gimmicks and games.
Meanwhile, the production falls somewhere just left of the en vogue, sample-first, beats-never aesthetic, full of muted drums and soul interpolations awash in dreamy filters. It’s interesting to see what he does with the “beats to study to” playlist staple style; his voice cuts across these muddy soundscapes with confidence and charisma. So do his guests’ vocals, with features ranging from Anakin’s fellow Mutant Academy crew stalwarts Big Kahuna OG (on “Telepathic”) and Henny L.O. (on “Dontbeafraid”), as well as Richmond veteran and former Drake collaborator Nickelus F, who contributes an absolutely bonkers verse to “Ghost” that I still can’t decide if I hate or love.
Despite the album’s title and expressed theme, Anakin never deigns to indulge in autobiography or introspection on Frank, choosing to instead direct his energy toward impressively constructed blocks of text expressing his own unique take on standard hip-hop topics. It’d be cool to see him tackle some more personal subject matter in the future, but for now, it’s enough that he’s doing something different — not just for the sake of being different but because this is genuinely who he is. Enough rappers follow trends and far too many fall short trying to run counter to them just to prove a point. Fly Anakin finds the balance, making the sort of hip-hop music he loved growing up and updating it to create something refreshing and classic at the same time.
‘Frank’ is out now on Lex Records. You can stream it here.
Next week, DJ and fashion designer Nigo will release his first album in nearly two decades with I Know Nigo. The album is one that’s a bit of an anticipated effort thanks to its list of guest features, many of which have been revealed through the project’s singles. So far, we’ve received three records from the album: “Ayra” with ASAP Rocky, “Want It Bad” with Kid Cudi, and “Hear Me Clearly” with Pusha T. With just a week left until I Know Nigo arrives, Nigo delivers one last single for fans to enjoy.
For his latest release, Nigo calls on Lil Uzi Vert for their new single, “Heavy.” The track is an ode to the luxury bulky items that they own, whether it be cars, jewelry, or bag. Lil Uzi Vert glides with ease over the song’s drill production. In addition to the features from Rocky, Cudi, Pusha T, and Uzi, I Know Nigo is also set to carry additional appearances from Tyler The Creator, the Teriyaki Boyz, and more. The project will also be handled by Steven Victor who is Pusha T and the late Pop Smoke’s manager.
You can listen to “Heavy” in the video above.
I Know Nigo is out 3/25 via Republic.
Lil Uzi Vert is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Over the past thirteen months, Syd has done a decent job at keeping her fans satisfied with new music. The singer, who is also the lead vocalist of alternative R&B band The Internet, kicked things off with “Missin Out,” which she released last February. At the time, the song was her first solo release his her 2017 projects Fin and Always Never Home. Since then, the singles kept coming but there was no sign of a new project, until now. Syd arrives in 2022 with not only a song, but a special announcement.
Syd returns with Lucky Daye by their side for their new single, “Could You Break A Heart.” It marks the pair’s first song together and on it, they share their hesitance towards starting a new relationship by asking their partners if they’re capable of breaking a heart and making them endure the pain that comes with it. The track also arrives with a futuristic visual to support the new song.
In addition to the new song, Syd announces that her sophomore album Broken Hearts Club will arrive next month on April 8. It will feature 13 songs with appearances from Lucky Daye, Smino, and Kehlani.
Columbia Records
You can hit play on “Could You Break A Heart” and check out the artwork for Broken Hearts Club above. Scroll down to view the project’s tracklist.
Fivio Foreign has established himself as one of the most popular names in hip-hop’s drill scene thanks to his ability to stay relevant since his breakout in 2019. Fivio arrived on the scene thanks to his summer 2019 hit “Big Drip” which rose to prominence with New York’s drill scene thanks to other records like Pop Smoke’s “Welcome To The Party” and “Dior.” Over the years, Fivio has released notable songs like “Headshot” with Lil Tjay and Polo G and “Zoo York” with Lil Tjay and Pop Smoke. One thing Fivio hasn’t done is release an album, but all of that is going to change next month with B.I.B.L.E.
Ahead of the project’s release, which was delayed from its original March 25 release date, Fivio teams up with Quavo for their new single “Magic City.” The track, which is named after the famed strip club in Atlanta, seems the rappers in a very confident state as they make it rain relentlessly at the club. It arrives as another strong offering from the album after Fivio connected with Kanye West and Alicia Keys for “City Of Gods” last month.
As for the delay behind B.I.B.L.E., Fivio explained his reason behind pushing the album back. “It ain’t really a reason or anything, I just wanted to make that sh*t perfect,” he said in a video posted to Instagram. I want it to be the perfect album. That sh*t is going to be viral.” He confirmed that the album would instead arrive on April 8.
You can check out the video for “Magic City” above.
Normani has had many false starts towards her debut album, but it seems like her long-awaited project could finally arrive this year — hopefully, that is. She’s spoken about the album on multiple occasions, including during a recent interview with Ciara. There, Normani confirmed the album is “almost done” and explained why it’s taken so long. “Coming out of a girl group, there was a lot that I had to figure out about myself and fears that I had to deal with head-on,” she said. “When you give your baby out to the world, which is our music, that’s the deepest part of me.”
While we’ll have to continue waiting for more on Normani’s debut album, we can enjoy a new single from her. She returns today with “Fair,” a vulnerable single that’s quite different from her previous release, “Wild Side” with Cardi B. On it, Normani struggles to pick up the pieces after a past relationship she was in comes to an end. “Is it fair that you moved on? / ‘Cause I swear that I haven’t,” she sings before later adding, “Hearts didn’t break down the middlе / Tell me how did that happen?”
Prior to the song’s release, Normani explained the inspiration behind her new single. “This song really captures me in one of my most vulnerable moments,” she said. “Sharing this record makes me uncomfortable because you have never really seen me in this light. Definitely aware that you might feel like you don’t know much about me but that’s only because it’s what makes me feel protected.”
You can press play on the new song in the video above.
Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Coi Leray had a huge 2021 year. She kicked things off with her single “No More Parties” which went Platinum and peaked at No. 25 on the albums chart. She followed that up with “Big Purr (Prrdd)” alongside Pooh Shiesty, another record that entered the Billboard singles chart, this time peaking at No. 69. Additionally, she landed a spot on the 2021 XXL Freshman list alongside names like Blxst, 42 Dugg, Flo Milli, Rubi Rose, and more. The 2021 year came and went without a new album from Leray, but it looks like it could arrive this year. Until then, she’s back with a new single and features a very notable guest act.
Nicki Minaj stands beside Leray for their new song “Blick Blick.” It’s a record that the pair spent most of the last week teasing, and rightfully so. On the track, Leray and Minaj are a taunting duo that flexes their status and fires some shots at the competition, all without fear of being defeated at any point.
While “Blick Blick” arrived without delay, the song was almost released without Minaj’s verse. It came after Leray’s father Benzino leaked the news last month during a Clubhouse conversation. “I just felt bad that she was robbed of telling the world in her own way @ her own time,” Minaj said during a Twitter Q&A with fans. “But that’s water under the bridge now. Good vibes all 2022.” Prior to Minaj’s comments, Benzino apologized for his actions, saying, “I feel horrible and sad. I am 100 percent in the wrong and it will never happen again.”
You can listen to “Blick Blick” in the video above.
Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Towards the end of last year, Memphis rapper Key Glock arrived with his second album Yellow Tape 2. The project was his second full-length release of the year after he teamed up with the late Young Dolph for their Dum And Dummer 2. The project’s 20 songs were delivered without a single guest feature as Key Glock took care of all the album’s vocal duties. That could change soon as he prepares to drop a deluxe version of the project at the end of the month. Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe) is set to arrive on March 25, and ahead of its arrival, Key Glock returns with a new song and video.
Key Glock keeps things flashy in his new video for “Play For Keeps.” The visual sees him surrounded by a collection of yellow luxury vehicles — appropriate for his Yellow Tape 2 project. Key Glock raps confidently into the camera while flexing his jewelry and showing off his shoe game. It’s a promising single that highlights what’s to come on Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe).
The upcoming re-release will add 10 songs to the project’s original 20 tracks. In addition to “Play For Keeps,” Key Glock has also released “Proud” and “Pain Killers” as singles from the upcoming deluxe release.
You can listen to “Play For Keeps” in the video above.
Yellow Tape 2 (Deluxe) is out 3/25 Paper Route EMPIRE. You can pre-save it here.
