Believe it or not, J Stalin is one of Oakland, California’s longest living legends when it comes to rap. The guy has been releasing projects for just over a decade and a half and has made a living off dropping multiple per year. But instead of just existing in the field, the 41-year-old MC has harnessed the sound of the West Coast, all while adding his own minor tweaks. He is an adept artist when it comes to setting the tone for a song and across Me Vs. Me 3, J Stalin does just that. On this 10-track offering, he brings a long several guests, which include Slimmy B, Joe Blow, Turf Hogg, and Young Betho. This, as you can see, is a trilogy, and it was kicked off earlier this year.
That might be the craziest fact about this tape, as this series is already three entries deep. For J Stalin the Me Vs. Me saga seems like a more an exercise in vibes and lowkey bangers. These tapes give off the sense that Stalin can crank these kinds of songs out in his sleep without much thought. However, that does not mean that he is not putting effort and paying close attention to detail. J Stalin is giving you some solid material from beginning to end, so do not worry about feeling cheated out of quality.
It’s impossible to divorce music from the social, cultural, and physical spaces that it was born out of and exists in, and when it comes to musicians perfectly evoking a particular location, KAYTRANADA is one of the industry’s most accomplished magicians. His production, songwriting, and groove-driven sensibilities allow him to turn any set of headphones or festival crowd into a 5AM nightclub propelled by killer house beats and even better melodies. It’s a staple of his career that brought vivid and lively projects in 99.9%, BUBBA, and the collab album KAYTRAMINÉ. But the question is, does TIMELESS allow us to immerse into that party or are we back to checking our phones?
If you’re at all a fan of the Haitian-Canadian creative, it’s no surprise that the latter option, albeit a big risk on this new hour-long album, is practically impossible. Compared to previous work, KAYTRANADA built something a little more consistent groove-wise, a little less exploratory in its genre fusions, but even more focused on crisp production, engaging songwriting, and keeping your mellowed attention with few breaks in mood or rhythm. It doesn’t always result in a winning formula, but it’s very compelling to hear these inspirations from so many genres coalesce into some of his best pop-adjacent material yet. If nothing else, it’s proof that the “#RICHAXXHAITIAN” musician can still have tricks up his sleeve even if the goal this time around is constance.
“Pressure” is a perfect preview of this, as the rubbery kicks, chopped Lupe and Hov sample, and staccato keys let listeners know that this will go down as one of the funkiest albums of 2024. TIMELESS is a very fitting title, as the album’s main strengths are the cleanliness of the production and the cohesion and catchiness that the songwriting offers, aspects that KAYTRANADA owes most deeply to classic house and disco production plus its soul and funk roots. Other instrumental moments like “Dance Dance Dance Dance,” “Seemingly,” and “Please Babe” are impressive isolations of the beat-making’s prowess, whereas cuts like “Witchy” with Childish Gambino, “More Than A Little Bit” with Tinashe, and “Video” with Ravyn Lenae showcase bubbly, buttery, and satisfying interplay between verse melodies, instrumental embellishments, soaring choruses, and tension-building bridges.
Furthermore, as far as the production quality itself, there’s a consistent sheen to TIMELESS‘ tracks that puts it somewhere in between the brightness of 99.9% and the submerged feel of much of BUBBA. It doesn’t craft a wholly unique sonic identity, but it definitely switches things up here and there to entice and excite skeptics. There’s the melancholy “Feel A Way” with Don Toliver, the frantic and buzzy “Drip Sweat” with Channel Tres, and tender Latin percussion on cuts like “Lover/Friend” with Rochelle Jordan and “Hold On” with Dawn Richard. As for classic KAYTRANADA funk and groove, look no further than the infectious guitars on “Weird” with Durand Bernarr.
TIMELESS is perhaps KAYTRANADA’s most stacked and well-performing guest list to date. He himself grabs the mic on “Stepped On,” which is one of the more frustrated points in the album’s constant “highs and lows” narrative about falling in love, having fun, letting go, living in the moment, and all the things that the album doesn’t have to say for you to feel through the jams. In terms of chemistry, The collaborative highlight is easily “Do 2 Me” with Anderson .Paak and SiR, with the most progressive instrumental on the record. PinkPantheress also emerges as a no-brainer recipe for collaborative greatness on “Snap My Finger,” and we hope there’s more on the way.
However, despite the fitting but imperfect transitions and the generally cohesive aesthetics and guests, there are still some bare and stretched-out elements to TIMELESS that both casual listeners and longtime fans might dismiss. While the vocal melodies are always tight, the short runtimes on “Spit It Out” with Rochelle Jordan, “Call U Up” with Lou Phelps, and “Stuntin” with Channel Tres can’t save them from feeling disengaged loops towards the end. Still, Thundercat’s comical roasting sounds gorgeous on “Wasted Words,” and Charlotte Day Wilson’s performance is heavenly on “Still,” so it’s overall not a massive blemish.
With that in mind, the 31-year-old crafts music that is as lush, fun, catchy, intoxicating, and above all loving as it’s ever been on TIMELESS. It feels like the most amorphous, watery, and meticulous genre fusion that he’s done up to this point, even if it does sacrifice the vibrance and unpredictability of previous LPs for the consistency and wide appeal of what many might call a “pop era.” But KAYTRANADA worked too hard on this tracklist flow, the production, and the quality of the songwriting to say that as a dismissive comment. It’s just another step in his evolution, one that seems to target artistic growth in the studio over a sonic change in these sessions’ results.
Frankly, TIMELESS further defines the classic KAYTRANADA bounce as a single idea rather than the multi-faceted amalgamation of shifting focuses and appeals that albums like 99.9% are so beloved for. By the time we hit the jittery and wavy “Out Of Luck” with Mariah The Scientist, some aspects of this project might feel redundant to some listeners. But it’s primarily a house, funk, and disco record, and one that tactfully succeeds in keeping the groove alive, creating sweetly addictive songs, and immersing you in the party. Here’s hoping that KAYTRA’s next moves, no matter what direction they go in, continue to champion this timeless dedication and heartfelt passion for the joy of “Think (About It)” drum breaks and the warmth of melody.
Rucci has always been an artist who is all about repping the iconic West Coast sound and doing it proudly. The rapper began to pop off in 2018-2019, especially when his debut album, Tako’s Son, dropped. From there, he began to build a rapport with some of California’s established talents like AzChike, Kalan.FrFr, among others. His chemistry with the former grew so much that they would go on to drop a joint album, Kourtesy Of Us, back in 2021. All of those learning experiences have led him to develop a signature sound which is apparent on the brand-new album from Rucci, Forever On That.
Overall, this is the veteran’s 19th project overall and first of 2024. Leading up to the release of Forever On That, Rucci put out a third of it, with the rollout process beginning in late January. The title track got things started, and then songs like “Double Park”, “It Hit Different” with BlueBucksPlan followed later on. Across the tape’s 15 tracks you are getting various synonymous soundscapes that California possesses. Whether it be the cowbells, the bassy bounce, or the violent lyrics, you are getting it all. You can check out the project on your favorite streaming services below.
After a long wait, Tems finally delivered in style with her debut album. The songstress initially gained recognition in 2019 when her song “Try Me” became a hit, and she became a ubiquitous force across the global music scene. The release of For Broken Ears in September 2020 and If Orange Was A Place in 2021 helped set the stage while her appearance on Wizkid’s “Essence” took her to new heights, earning her a Grammy nomination and a platinum plaque.
That undoubtedly jumpstarted a fruitful run, leading to her credited appearance on Future and Drake’s “Wait For U” and her first Grammy win. Then, her contributions to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack — a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” and co-writing Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up” — earned Golden Globe Award and Oscar nominations for Best Original Song — Motion Picture. Despite these and many more achievements, some considered Tems’s success a fluke due to her collaboration with WizKid. On her debut album, Born In The Wild, she proved her critics and doubters wrong and sealed her status as a global superstar.
One thing to note in Tem’s debut album is that she did it on her terms. The 18-track album tells the story of personal growth and rise to stardom through impressive and emotionally driven songwriting. In the titular track, “Born In The Wild,” Tems sings, “I grew up in the wilderness/I didn’t know much about openness.” Then, on “Wickedest,” she reflects on her success in singing, “Yeah, I’m the one got the scene banging/And I go hard that’s why they keep talking/Three years and I’m only just getting started.“
Tems’ quest for true and long-lasting love is seen in the previously released “Me & U” and “Love Me Jeje.” Although she admits to longing for that kind of love, she draws a line regarding toxic relationships. We see this in “Boy O Boy,” a potential heartbreak anthem, where Tems calmly sings of her desire to hurt the man who broke her heart. Some of the lyrics include “Sometimes I want to strangle you,” “You are a pain in my brain,” and “I wonder how I love a thing like you.” Meanwhile, in “Unfortunate,” Tems belts out about detaching from a lover she can no longer trust. Born In The Wild is thus themed around mental and self-growth, love, and heartbreak. Through her vulnerability, her debut album resulted in a perfect victory in her career.
Features
Versatility was a theme throughout the 54-minute album. Tems surprised people with her collaboration with Asake on “Get It Right.” It wasn’t a collaboration many saw coming, but both artists showed they could handle any musical challenge. Tems’ vocals excelled in the Fuji-infused Amapiano sound, while Asake’s lyrics blended excellently with the song’s cool vibe.
Tems features J. Cole on “Free Fall.” The Fayetteville rapper has been maligned lately amid the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef, but he showed he remains one of the best rappers alive with his superb wordplay on the track. Backed by Tems’ majestic vocals and a gentle beat, J. Cole belted out lyrics about the topsy-turvy nature of relationships. Born In The Wild has just two features, but they are so perfect that you could wish for more.
However, the depth of her musicality extends beyond her direct collaborators. Throughout the project, she samples classic songs; complementing the groundwork created by the artists before while innovating these sounds for a modern era. We already saw her majestic creativity when she sampled Seyi Sodimu’s “Love Me Jeje,” but there was more to come in Born In The Wild. The 28-year-old took the sampling game a notch higher on “Wickedest,” which began with Ivorian band Magic System’s “1er Gaou.” You won’t also miss Tems’ expert sampling of Diana King’s “L-L-Lies” in “Gangsta.”
Tems’ Born In The Wild is not an album where she introduces herself. Instead, she climbed to new heights and solidified her status as a global superstar who is here to stay. Tems won more people to her corner with her incredulous show of versatility. The GuiltyBeatz-produced “Burning” is a soothing song that has all the powers to brighten your day. “Turn Me Up” has the makings of a summer jam. Tems outdid herself on the up-tempo banger produced by London. She infused reggae adlibs that ensure you are vibed up from the beginning to the end.
The singer showed her greatness as an R&B artist but wasn’t scared to explore, as she ventured into dancehall, amapiano, afro-pop, and some reggae. She even tested her rap skills on “T-Unit,” where she nodded to 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop.” She stayed true to her sound and never left people questioning her intentions. The album’s production is top-notch. Most of the songs were produced by Tems and her longtime collaborator, GuiltyBeatz. Sarz produced “Get It Right,” P2J produced “Free Fall,” and London produced “Turn Me Up.” Other producers who contributed to the album include Nsikak David, DameDame, and Spax.
Tems’ Born In The Wild album is a project for those who strive to win. It is for those who go against all odds to find their true selves and enjoy the success that comes with victory. Like she sings in “Hold On,” just hold on, and that which you seek will find you. Tems has found herself and showed us what more she can do, but that is not where it stops — there is so much more to come.
Westside Gunn has confirmed that his next album is officially finished. He provided an update on not only new music but his life overall as well in a lengthy post on Instagram on Sunday night. He began by describing the post as a “wellness check” as fans have been worried about how he’s doing.
“ALOOOOOOT of ppl been hitting me in my Dms just making sure I’m good, am I ok mentally/physically bc I haven’t been on the scene like that so I’m just posting this to let y’all know I’m still SUPER FLYGOD everyday!!!!!” he further wrote. “I’m still the best Father I know, I’m still on my 4TH ROPE sh*t, I’m still creating new ideas to attack the culture, I’ve been designing some incredible pieces and Yes I’m done with my new Album, physically as u can see I’m looking better than ever, mentally I think I’m focused more than I’ve ever been and since I lost Bro I look at life totally diff but even more than ever before it’s … F*CK THESE NI$$As LORD!!! If my influence not attached or my hands isnt on it Sh*t trash [laughing emojis]. #GXFR #RIPBIGDUMP #SUPERFLYGOD #LOUISVUITTONGOD #RIPVIRGIL #CULTURE #ART #HEELSHAVEEYES #LINKINBIO.”
INDIO, CA – APRIL 15: Rapper Westside Gunn performs on the Gobi stage during week 1, day 3 of the Coachella. Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 15, 2018, in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
Gunn released his fifth studio album, And Then You Pray for Me, a year ago this month. That project served as a sequel to his 2020 album Pray for Paris. More recently, he teamed up with Conway the Machine and The Alchemist for the single, “Halal,” earlier this year.
Megan Thee Stallion’s new album Megan comes out on June 28, and a lot of die-hard fans and casual listeners alike are very excited for it. However, the rollout for this new project could’ve been better in some fans’ eyes, as many weren’t the biggest fans of the new LP’s original cover art. Fortunately, it seems like the Houston femcee recently shared an alternate cover art on her social media on Saturday night (June 8), which many in the comments section of the IG post below praised as an improvement on the original. Maybe this is actually a replacement and not just an alternate, but either way, we’re sure fans will have access to both through physical or digital download purchases.
Furthermore, this is especially heartening because it also lets fans know that Megan Thee Stallion isn’t just popping out with the new album randomly. She’s been consistent about promoting it constantly while still pushing other things forward. For example, Meg recently joined Latto and Flo Milli for the “Sunday Service” remix, another huge collaboration this year that is building a lot of praise and hype. It feels like it’s all part of the same plan, which is an important image to keep up with a huge release on the way.
However, Megan Thee Stallion is also dealing with a lot of negativity right now, blasting the alleged viral spread of an A.I.-faked sex tape online that aims to ruin her social media presence. “It’s really sick how yall go out of the way to hurt me when you see me winning,” she wrote on Twitter against an unknown individual or group, most likely a broad generalization of her haters. “Yall going too far, Fake a** s**t. Just know today was your last day playing with me and I mean it.”
Hopefully Megan Thee Stallion is able to sidestep most of this undeserved and invasive hate ahead of Megan‘s release and after it. At least the tour is going really well when the shows aren’t getting canceled for X, Y, or Z reasons. It’s odd to see this mix of wild success and acclaim with plenty of roadblocks, too, but it’s the nature of current celebrity culture. Nevertheless, cover art haters are one group that Tina Snow won’t have to contend with for much longer.
Yelawolf has made his comeback to the studio album space with the new 25-track behemoth War Story, which is one of his most expansive and ambitious projects yet. While the LP contains features from Killer Mike, DJ Paul, Jelly Roll, his “Wolf Moon” collaborator Presley Vaughn, and more, he mostly carries this tracklist by himself and shows off his range as a rapper and songwriter. The Alabama native had previewed this new record with singles like “Make You Love Me” and is clearly set on giving his dear fans as much great content as he can.
Also, War Story arrives amid Yelawolf’s viral comments about relinquishing his possessions after the great Mac Miller passed away. “When Mac passed, dude, I was so hurt from that that I gave away everything I owned,” he said on The Bootleg Kev Podcast. “That’s a true story. I gave away every article of clothing that I owned when Mac passed, the next day. Just ’cause I felt like I needed to do something nice. No one really knew how cool he and I really were ’cause we didn’t do music.”
Meanwhile, thanks to cuts like “Everything,” this should make for one of the most fulfilling and comprehensive entries in the Yelawolf discography for fans. If you haven’t heard War Story yet, find it on your preferred streaming service or check out the YouTube playlist with the full album above. Let us know what you thought of this release in the comments section below and find the tracklist down there as well if you’re curious to check out a particular cut. As always, check back in with HNHH for the latest fiery music drops around the clock.
Tracklist 1. Trailer In The Sky (feat. Jelly Roll) 2. Glasses Up 3. Make You Love Me 4. Juliana 5. Marijuana 6. Goodbye Morning 7. Cars 8. Lookin Over (feat. DJ Paul) 9. Farewell (feat. Struggle Jennings) 10. Talkin 11. Cookin Cocaine 12. Legend 13. New Me 14. Bad News (feat. Caskey) 15. Box Chevy 8 (feat. Killer Mike & Bub Styles) 16. Another Drink 17. Barn Fire 18. Flashlight 19. Bang Bang Bobby 20. Tonight 21. Everything 22. Bad Motherf***er (feat. Presley Vaughn) 23. Work 24. Ticket 25. Put Em Up
One of hip-hop’s most enduring and long-standing legends is making his return to the studio booth after over ten years of radio silence on the full-length front. Moreover, LL Cool J recently confirmed that his new album is coming this fall, and announced a new single titled “Saturday Night Special” on Friday (June 7). It will come out on June 14, and the New York icon also let fans know that they will get the features, tracklist, and the whole shebang before the LP’s release. Overall, this is pretty exciting for old-school rap fans and LL Stans alike, and for younger generations who haven’t lived through one of his major album cycles.
Furthermore, LL Cool J’s last album was Authentic back in 2013, his 13th studio project that also marked his first since his Def Jam departure. It saw a No. 23 debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 14,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. It’s been a long time since the “Mama Said Knock You Out” MC was in the headlines primarily for his new music or moves. After all, one of the most prevailing narratives among the newer generation around him is whether he’s better looking than another classic and thirsted-over lyricist: Method Man.
Jokes aside, this new move from LL Cool J is quite exciting but also very curious given his thoughts on other hip-hop legends coming through with new albums. Well, it seems like this is fine as long as they’re rap-related. For example, he recently voiced his disappointment in André 3000’s ambient/New Age album New Blue Sun due to the fact that the Outkast creative isn’t giving fans what they expect from him. However, this argument was framed as more of a discussion on how 3 Stacks’ talents for lyricism are being squandered, but it’s not that black and white.
Regardless, we look forward to LL Cool J’s new album and hope it brings him a lot of success, fulfillment, satisfaction, and joy on the personal front. We’ll be here to listen and share that joy, just like LL was there to share the godfather of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc’s, induction in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. It’s great to see rap of all generations get love in today’s media landscape. It reminds us that we need this balance, and that our greats are always worthy of our praise, attention, and interest.
Earlier this week, Kaliii and Hunxho inadvertently left fans suspicious after the two artists were spotted together at a gas station. A nearby fan saw the duo chatting in front of a fridge, photographing them over a rack of Takis. Almost immediately, social media users began to speculate that their outing meant they were more than friends, however, that doesn’t appear to be true.
While supporters are certainly having fun with their theories, it looks as if they were simply at the gas station to shoot for an upcoming collab. Today, Kaliii shared a clip of herself Twitter/X dancing in front of what looks to be the same gas station refrigerator. She urged fans to pre-save her next album, Gas You Up, which will feature Hunxho.
This isn’t the first time Hunxho had fans thinking he was straying from his girlfriend, Keyshia Cole, however. Last month, the Atlanta rapper teamed up with Gloss Up for her steamy “Come Here” video, which similarly left viewers in shambles. Gloss Up was in no rush to shut them down, instead fueling them with flirty Instagram posts and shady Tweets about his partner. Luckily, it doesn’t seem as though the drama did any real damage to Hunxho and Cole’s bond.
Fans are still skeptical though, and are questioning how Hunxho always finds himself in these situations in The Neighborhood Talk‘s comments section. They’re also curious why he’s working with someone who recently had problems with his partner. “Why every video he in, he gotta be touchy,” one Instagram user asks. “Keyshia Cole strong as hell,” another says. What do you think of Kaliii and Hunxho accidentally giving fans the idea that they’re an item? Are you looking forward to hearing what they have to offer on their upcoming collab? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates
The Bad Boys film series has been around for nearly 20 full years. It has become one of the more essential movies franchises over time due to the headlining acts. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have become one of the more iconic buddy cop duos, and their characters, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, have become defining roles for them. Today, the fourth installment in the saga hit theaters and so far, it is receiving decent reviews. For the music fans out there who enjoy these films, they know that every movie has gotten an accompanying soundtrack. Well, Bad Boys: Ride Or Die continues that tradition.
Ahead of the Epic Records/Sony Music Entertainment release, two singles were released ahead of time. The first of which was “TONIGHT (Bad Boys: Ride Or Die)”, an electro-pop fusion that featured Black Eyed Peas, El Alfa, and Becky G. Then, “LIGHTS OUT”, a pop rap cut with BIA and JID all about achieving greatness, followed second. Across the 10 songs, you are predictably getting a good mix of sounds. Everything from trap rap to pop, Afrobeats, and Latin, it really is a cultural fusion. Other voices you will hear include 21 Lil Harold, who continues to grow in popularity, Sean Paul, Shenseea, Flo Milli, ScarLip, and even Will Smith.
