After a 2024 that’s seen him drop a number of freestyles and the singles “Did It” and “Can’t Keep Keisha” on September 20, DaBaby is back with a new mixtape, his first project of the year and his first since 2022’s Baby On Baby 2. HOW TF IS THIS A MIXTAPE? suggests that the rapper, real name Jonathan Kirk, views this as a release on par with album-quality work. He is in his element. The production is 808-heavy, and he flows over the tracks, seldom deviating from what brought DaBaby to the dance. The 14-track, 33-minute mixtape has no featured artists on it. Recent efforts by DaBaby have rarely had features, so he’s keeping things consistent in that regard.
DaBaby’s new mixtape features plenty of production credits from Sean Da Firzt and KayoTheWizard. Although, there is also an appearance from former GOOD Music (via Very Good Beats) producer Charlie Heat. After a controversial period where DaBaby alienated many listeners with a homophobic tirade at Rolling Loud Miami in 2021 (a rant that also led to Top 40 radio stations across the US to pull his remix of Dua Lipa’s “Levitating” from their rotation), the former superstar has had to start from scratch. DaBaby has a dedicated, though smaller fanbase, one who continues to anticipate upcoming releases from the Charlotte rapper. He is surely grateful for their support, especially as he continues to battle legal issues and other difficulties. Stream the new release from DaBaby below.
In a Minute (Intro) Gimme A Reason Carry It On Ain’t That A B**ch Did It I’m Outside PHAT Reesha Roulette (Teach Me) Hollywood Freak U Da Type Gotta Know Hate A Nice Chick Ain’t Goin Can’t Keep Keisha
Moneybagg Yo is unrelenting. The rapper has a rapid fire flow that manages to keep pace with the extremely hard-hitting instrumentals he chooses. Speak Now was a showcase of this talent. Moneybagg Yo’s fifth album managed to keep up the energy despite its lengthy tracklist, thanks to varied features like Morgan Wallen, Chris Brown and Lil Durk. Moneybagg is back to build on the solid foundations of his latest album. Speak Now Or, the deluxe version of his June release, features seven brand new songs. Longtime fans are going to be pleased.
Speak Now Or is not an instance of songs being tacked onto the end, either. Moneybagg Yo completely switches up the tracklist and rearranges songs. The result is an album that plays very different than its predecessor, and for the better. One could argue that the album starts off even stronger thanks to the one-two punch of new songs “SUM TO HATE ON” and “RAP N****S.” The latter is particularly catchy thanks to its bouncy instrumental and earworm flow. Moneybagg also has fun rapping with Bossman Dlow on the stylish banger “OUTTA TOWN.” There’s also “ON GOD,” which sounds absolutely epic thanks to its faint, horn-accented beat and ominous piano keys.
Consequence has been part of Kanye West’s inner-circle since day one. He appeared on Ye’s first two albums, and has penned verses for the rapper into the present. If anybody has insight into how Ye goes about recording, it would be him. Consequence talked about Ye’s relationship with Kendrick Lamar in a recent interview with Bootleg Kev. During said interview, the rapper claimed that Ye and Lamar have an album’s worth of material sitting on the shelf.
Consequence told the podcaster that Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar are sitting on an estimated 40 songs together. Some of which are allegedly produced by Madlib. The reason they have yet to see the light of day? Consequence believes its simply a matter of setting aside the time to structure an album. “I just think it just needed to be structured,” he asserted. The rapper claimed to have heard every song that was recorded, though, and he was impressed. “It was there, it’s there, it’s crazy,” he noted. “It’s there.”
Consequence’s discussion of a Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar joint album is more of a confirmation than a revelation. It’s exciting to know that songs between the two legends exist, but Ye actually spilled the beans on his Lamar collabs back in 2016. The “Carnival” rapper tweeted that he’d been in the studio with Compton’s finest and Young Thug during the making of The Life of Pablo. “Me and Kendrick got 40 songs and me and Young Thug got 40 songs,” he wrote. “40/40 club!!!” Kendrick Lamar and Thugger did appear on The Life of Pablo, lending credibility to Ye’s claim.
The only official collaboration between Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar to date came out of these 2016 sessions. “No More Parties In L.A.” was a head-spinning lyrical showcase for both rappers. It also had an exceptional Madlib beat, which lines up with what Consequence said about the producer’s involvement. Ye seems to be in an increasingly healthier headspace as of late. Here’s hoping he decides to let some of these K. Dot collabs out of the vault.
Steve Lacy is a bona fide star. The singer and songwriter broke out with “Bad Habit” in 2022. That said, he’s been dropping quality songs since his first single in 2015. Lacy is gearing up to release his third studio album, and he discussed the creative process during an interview with Fantastic Man. He shed light on how many songs he’s recorded, and which artists might appear on the album alongside him. Lacy told the outlet that one artist towers over the other when it comes to securing a feature. Who? Kendrick Lamar, of course.
Steve Lacy told the outlet that he’s compelled to find artists with eccentricities. He’s drawn to those who can tease out different elements of his own musicality. “I’m moved by what’s weird,” the singer asserted. “It’s almost like I hear them, and I think, I need to call this person.” It was during this point in the interview that Steve Lacy singled out Kendrick Lamar as an example. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a Kendrick verse,” he teased. The notion of a Lacy and Lamar song is not as left field as it might sound, though. It’s technically happened before. Lacy played guitar on the standout cut “PRIDE.” from Lamar’s 2017 album DAMN.
Steve Lacy was also invited to Lamar’s “Pop Out” show on Juneteenth. He was one of the celebrities who were dancing on stage during Lamar’s “Not Like Us” performance. There’s a rapport between him and Lamar that would make a proper feature a no-brainer. Despite their past, however, Lacy admitted that he felt out of place at the aforementioned “Pop Out.” “I don’t feel tough,” he admitted. “We were at the run-through, and I was, like, ‘How am I here?’ But I was so honored.. I thought I would never be in the conversation. It was cool.”
Steve Lacy has been pretty selective with his features in the past. He only had two features on his first two albums, respectively. None of them were rappers. He’s perfectly content working with the likes of J. Cole or Tyler, The Creator, but a feature on his album would seemingly need to fit a larger vision. A very large vision. Lacy told Fantastic Man that he’s already compiled 300 song “sketches” in preparation for the new album. We hope that Kendrick Lamar ends up on one of them.
Kanye West is as enigmatic as they come. He also overshares. The legendary artist doesn’t go for the mysterious route the way that Playboi Carti or Frank Ocean does. Rather, he confounds expectations because he seems to change his mind at the drop of a dime. Entire Wikis have been dedicated to all of the Kanye West albums that have been made and shelved over the years. He has as many unreleased albums as released ones, at this point. Because of this, a Kanye West album is always an event. And it seems like a new one might be coming soon. Travis Scott and Ty Dolla Sign seemingly think so.
Kanye West teased a new single called “Preacher Man” via Instagram on September 23. The very next day, producer Digital Nas shared a text in which West claimed to be in “art studio mode.” Then, the IG post started receiving comments from artists in the rapper’s circle. “There he is,” Ty Dolla Sign wrote underneath the video of West chopping a soul sample. Travis Scott responded, weirdly, with the same comment as Ty. Only he emphasized the word “he” in his. “There HE is,” the Houston rapper asserted. Confused? So are we. Fans have been trying to unpack what these two comments could mean, or why Scott slightly tweaked the emphasis of Ty Dolla Sign’s comment.
This is not the first time Travis Scott and Ty Dolla Sign have teased new music in recent weeks. The former told Cultured Magazine that he was back in “album mode” and working on new songs during his tour. “I can see the music for what it is,” he told the outlet. “I’m f*cking amped.” Scott and Kanye West have not had the smoothest relationship over the last few years, but it seems as though the two have mended fences. Scott even brought West out during the Orlando leg of his UTOPIA tour.
Ty Dolla Sign, on the other hand, is working to complete his trilogy with Kanye West. The two have yet to release VULTURES 3, after the messy rollout for VULTURES 2 stretched on for weeks. Some questioned if it would ever see the light of day, but Ty Dolla Sign confirmed that it’s real and it’s coming soon. “V3 bouta rip heads off,” he wrote on Instagram. Given how close Kanye West is with both artists, it’s safe to assume they have an inside line to what he’s working on. We can only hope that the context of their IG comments come to light soon, and that West decides to bless us with his “art studio mode” as soon as possible.
Kanye West has got something cooking up. It seems like the rapper/producer always has new music in the works. That said, he has a renewed focus that fans haven’t glimpsed in years. West has been in a chaotic head space throughout the 2020s. Even the most ardent Ye Stan has to admit that his recent output pales in comparison to the decade plus that came before it. Thankfully, the artist seems to have realized this. A screenshot of a text conversation has surfaced online. It suggests that West is focused on making a new masterpiece.
The text exchange was posted by producer Digital Nas. It appears as though the two artists were sending records back and forth to each other. “F*cking insane bro,” Digital Nas says in reference to something Kanye West sent him. “I’m having chills rn listening.” The producer then urges West to clear whatever he needs to in order to get said song on streaming platforms. “Run that single thru the label system it’s outta here.” This exchange would be more than enough to elicit excitement from fans. It’s what Kanye West said in response, though, that proved most exciting.
“I’m going into my full Ye art studio mode,” he told Digital Nas. This statement is music to the ears of any self-proclaimed hip hop fan. The last time Kanye West spoke so candidly about being locked in, he went on to make My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The artist had his back against the wall due to the Taylor Swift controversy, and proceeded to make what many consider the best hip hop album of all time. It’s an unfair expectation to assume West has another Twisted Fantasy caliber release within him. The album is a decade and a half old. West has also been put through the ringer, physically and mentally, since then.
Let’s focus on the positive, though. Kanye West recently previewed a new single titled “Preacher Man” on Instagram and it sounds incredible. The beat harkens back to his soul chopping days. If he manages to lock in, and dispel with all of the drama that has hampered the VULTURES albums, fans could get an album of the year candidate. It’s obvious people in West’s circle, like Digital Nas and Ty Dolla Sign, are excited by what they’ve heard. Let’s hope we get to hear it sooner rather than later.
Fortunately for us, MIXTAPE PLUTO‘s title does most of the talking when discussing Future’s new project. Occasionally sharp street odes, brazenly warped and sleek flows, and drowsily self-confident vocal tones? Check. Psychedelic pads, brutal bass, and insistently intoxicating instrumentals? Check. Classic cuts that define the Atlanta legend’s discography? We’ll see a few years down the road… All in all, this is probably the most straightforward, simple, and easily definable hip-hop record to drop in 2024, which also makes it a bit of a tough cookie to review.
After all, much of the new and notable discussion around MIXTAPE PLUTO revolves around comparisons to Future’s two 2024 studio collabs with Metro Boomin. This actually benefits this new tape’s place in his discography, as the raw, woozy, yet still grounded trap here earns its worth when contrasted with the high-budget presentation and melodic compromises of those LPs. Pluto instead focuses on what most of his hardcore fanbase loves from him. He sounds like the coolest and highest man on the planet over the sonic equivalent of sitting in the middle of a club, a smoke session, or both and not being able to fully make out what you’re listening to.
Let’s start strong first: Future’s a bullet train on “SKI,” he switches between melodic accents on “OATH,” and he stretches himself out on “SOUTH OF FRANCE” without losing control of the wheel. However, sleepy deliveries and stagnant schemes on “MJ” force the production to carry the weight on occasion, whereas the opposite is true on “BRAZZIER.” On the other hand, “TEFLON DON” stuns with its in-and-out operatic samples (plus a dynamic vocal delivery), and the woodwinds on “PRESS THE BUTTON” make magic with a fantastic Fewtch onslaught.
As such, there are many caveats to consider. MIXTAPE PLUTO‘s biggest flaw is definitely its sequencing, as the first five tracks sound so similar that so-so records like “LIL DEMON” and “READY TO COOK UP” lose their value when stacked up against better cuts in that same section. It’s not until “TOO FAST” and its admittedly basic presentation that we get a change. As cringe as many find Future’s chorus on “PLUTOSKI,” and as much as that instrumental deserved better, it’s actually one of the most fun parts of the mixtape, thanks to ditching the self-serious attitude. On the topic of ditches…
It’s called MIXTAPE PLUTO: no one really cares about subpar mixing on occasion here. But, for example, “OCEAN” could’ve been a more outstanding highlight if it wasn’t for the overwhelming bass tone. Elsewhere on this tape, Future does shift sub-genres to break up the vibe, even if the results are mixed. “MADE MY H*E FAINT” is almost rage-like but doesn’t land too hard, whereas “SURFING A TSUNAMI” has a surprising synth swell bolstered by a strong chorus. “TOLD MY” contains two welcome Koopsta Knicca samples produced by DJ Paul, calling back to his Southern roots, which are also referenced in the project’s cover art. It depicts his late and legendary cousin Rico Wade’s Dungeon bathed in pink light.
Many have speculated on whether the disappointingly messy “LOST MY DOG” tributes Rico, but it’s actually about a friend that Future lost to fentanyl. It’s probably the most overt exploration of the pain on the other side of his hedonistic exploits. Otherwise, his lines are up to standard, but they’ll only stand out when they’re particularly funny or, frankly, petty. “No, I didn’t birth you, but I designed you” and “Counting up so much dog s**t, it look like cow s**t” are right out of this catalog’s playbook.
Speaking of the catalog, where does MIXTAPE PLUTO fall within it? Is it really reminiscent of Future’s early 2010s dominance, or does it feel like a step back from his global superstardom? For our money, it’s firmly on the former. A confident carelessness here resulted in plenty of bangers like the nasty closer “AYE SAY GANG.” The 40-year-old also feels right at home with Southside, Wheezy, and more of his iconic producers, plus new names like BROCKHAMPTON’s Romil Hemnani. But it mostly fits among the Monsters and Beast Modes by checking off a list, not for being a front-to-back thrill ride.
Most cuts here would sound much better in isolation, not in quick succession. Isn’t that a betrayal of the mixtape and long-form album format? If so, why are we willing to give MIXTAPE PLUTO the benefit of the doubt? As we alluded to, part of it is precedent, another part of it is the context of 2024, and, honestly, it’s just a really easy project to enjoy. Future might be missing some of the more formal and sophisticated draws of his later career highs, yet we haven’t felt this intoxicated by his roots in a tracklist of his in a while. So, our rating is contingent on this: play this on shuffle, listen to it with a friend or two or fifty at a house party, and let it compliment another, more engaging experience to worm itself into your brain.
Foolio’s first posthumous album, Demi God, has hit streaming services three months after his death at the age of 26. The project features a total of 17 tracks, three of which feature collaborations with Trayboy, Tay Stackzz, and Project Youngin. It marks his second full-length album of 2024, having shared Resurrection a few months prior to his death.
When the project popped up on Foolio’s Instagram page, fans showed plenty of love for it in the comments section. “After listening to this album yes I listened to the Whole album there’s a lot of substance and he was definitely ready to leave this wicked world. RIP foolio,” one top response reads. Another asks for further promotion of the album: “Y’all need to do the promotion more professional bruh.”
Foolio was celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa, Florida in June when an Airbnb host kicked him out for exceeding occupancy limits. After moving to the nearby parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Tampa, Florida, several gunmen ambushed him. Police later arrested the alleged group of five, consisting of Alicia Andrews, 21, Isaiah Chance Jr., 21, Sean Gathright, 18, and Rashad Murphy, 30. They are still looking for a sixth suspect in Davion Murphy, 27. Last week, Fox13 Tampa Bay reported that the state has confirmed it is considering the death penalty in the case. “A final decision has not been made,” Assistant State Attorney Michelle Doherty said. “It is going to be reviewed within the next two weeks.” The defendants will appear in court again, next month.
Foolio’s “Demi God” Is Here
Prior to Foolio’s death, he did an interview with No Jumper in which he remarked, “I ain’t going nowhere. I’m a demigod. You can’t get me.” Check out Demi God in full above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Foolio on HotNewHipHop.
Ty Dolla Sign says that he and Kanye West are still at work on Vultures 3 and that the project will “rip heads off.” He shared the update in the comments of a livestream on social media, writing: “V3 bouta rip heads off.” While he didn’t share an exact date for the project, the two have previously said they plan on dropping it at some point this year.
When the NFR Podcast shared the remark on X (formerly Twitter), fans in the replies had mixed responses to the news. “They should wrap it up the ones they dropped flopped,” one user wrote. Another fan added: “I am a Yeezy stan but please let it be better than Vultures 2….. In Jesus name. Keep winning.”
Ty Dolla Sign & Kanye West Perform “Vultures 1” During Rolling Loud
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 14: (L-R) Rappers Ty Dolla $ign & Kanye West perform onstage during the “Vultures 1” playback concert during Rolling Loud 2024 at the Hollywood Park Grounds on March 14, 2024, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
The two dropped the first installment in the series back in February. Ty previously defended collaborating with Ye during an interview with Billboard, earlier this year. “Ye is the best artist of this generation, besides me, and I don’t give a f–k about what people were talking about. I know my n****. He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met,” he said at the time. He also argued that West’s controversial comments won’t impact the popularity of their music. “Just with my analysis of how it goes with him, he goes all the way to the top. And something may happen and he’ll say [something people find offensive] — and then people [get] right back, you know. Because this shit is undeniable,” he said.
There aren’t many better than Blu & Exile when it comes to underground hip-hop tandems. Or is there really any above them? That is a question that you may want to pose to yourself after listening to their newest project. That’s right, this weekend, Blu & Exile are here with Love (the) Ominous World, their latest collaborative record as a group. This is their fourth one to be exact, and it’s their first since 2020’s Miles. Heading into this Friday, the multi-hyphenates had given fans two songs to chew on before dropping off the other 10.
The grand and celebratory closer “Love Is Blu”, and the head-nodding West Coast bop that is “Gold” led things off terrifically. Some of the songs on this album really see Blu at his most braggadocious. “Undisputed” is perhaps the most obvious one of the bunch, and it’s also one of the best here. On top of great rapping, Exile is also giving you quality in the instrumental department. From great disc scratching to bumping drum patterns and everything in between, he’s really giving you his peak self. Overall, it’s a fantastic return for Blu & Exile as a pairing and we highly encourage you give it a try.
(@julio_foolio)
