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Last night, Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and Brandy made their return to the spotlight on ABC’s Queens. The series sees the musical icons step into the shoes of artists who retired from performing in the ‘90s, but are now in their 40‘s and feel like something is missing from their life.

Now that they’ve realized what they’re craving, the group comes together to stage a massive comeback and restore their former glory. On the tail of the show’s premiere, Brandy and her friends have released a few tracks that made their debut during last night’s episode, including the emotional “Hear Me.”

If you’re not in the mood to be in your feels, the cast of Queens also dropped the song “Nasty Girl” along with a super hot visual that may be more your speed. The third and final title to drop with episode one is an “epic rap cipher,” called “The Introduction.”

Swizz Beatz has been brought on board as the show’s executive music producer. “To see these Queens come together in unity is amazing in 2021,” he’s quoted as saying in a press release sent to HotNewHipHop. “This show is special in many ways to me and it’s an honor to be the Executive Music Producer.”

New episodes of Queens are coming to ABC every Tuesday at 10/9C. Check out the trailer for the series above, and stream “Hear Me” below.

Quotable Lyrics:

But hear me – I’m standing outside your door

Hear me – I don‘t wanna be afraid no more

I just wanna love you best I can

And in return I’ll try to understand

All of the hurt I caused when I was lost and weak

I hope that you hear me 

Kawhi Leonard the A&R might be as good as Kawhi Leonard the basketball player. 

That might be a *little* hyperbolic, seeing as how Leonard is a two-time NBA champion and a two-time Finals’ MVP, but with the emergence of his basketball/rap collective, Culture Jam, the star small forward is diving headfirst into the music industry. 

Earlier this year, Leonard hosted a collaboration between NBA Youngboy and Rod Wave, and just a couple of days ago, he previewed new music from Lil Uzi Vert which, according to the Culture Jam IG page, is set to appear on the upcoming Culture Jam The Album Vol. 1. 

Today, Kawhi is back with more new music. 

Along with the announcement that Culture Jam The Album Vol. 1 will be dropping this Friday, October 22, Leonard presented fans with a new collaboration between A Boogie wit da Hoodie and Capella Grey. 

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A post shared by Culture Jam (@culturejam)

On “Bestie”, A Boogie and Grey bounce between rapping and singing to tell a story of taking a girl they once called their bestie and turning them into their boo. Shifting from the Honda Civic to the Bentley and from Fashion Nova to Givenchy, both A Boogie and Grey make it clear that, even though their girl is willing to work for everything she wants, they want to give her the world and more. 

Check out “Bestie” below and keep an eye out for Kawhi Leonard’s Culture Jam The Album Vol. 1 when it drops at the end of the week. 

Uncle Snoop is returning with another project and he’s kicking things off with a new single. We’ve been hearing quite a bit about Mount Westmore, the Rap supergroup made up of Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too $hort, and E-40, and on Wednesday (October 20), they released their official debut single, “Big Subwoofer.”‘

The track arrived with a Jesse Wellens and Sam Macaroni-directed visual and is bolstered with the official label announcement of Snoop’s forthcoming album, Snoop Dogg Presents: THE ALGORITHM. It marks Snoop’s first release on the label as an executive creative and strategic consultant. The Algorithm is set to feature artists from Def Jam past, present, and future. It’s Snoop’s mission to change the current algorithm of what we listen to today by putting feeling back into music with the release of his new project.

“There’s so much talent on this record,” said Snoop. “So many styles of music, it breaks the algorithm. Right now, the algorithm is telling us you have to rap this way, you have to sound this way, but they’re not telling you how it’s supposed to feel. My algorithm is going to give you a feeling, not a sound.”

Stream Mount Westmore’s “Big Subwoofer” and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics

Heard this youngin screaming like woman
Yelling that they coming
N*gga we ain’t running
It’s a new day, still got the AK if these b*tches take it back to 88
Turn the music down ‘fore we locking horns
Keep the party going it’s a false alarm.

Nardo Wick has been buzzing over the year, thanks to the release of “Who Want Smoke??” The single arrived in January but quickly picked up momentum and has been in steady rotation over the year. However, the song gained a new set of fans last month after Nardo Wick shared the official remix featuring Lil Durk, G Herbo, and 21 Savage.

It was inevitable that the song would end up receiving plenty of unofficial remixes and freestyles. This week, Soulja Boy, fresh off of his feud with NBA Youngboy’s fanbase, came through with a menacing take on Nardo Wick’s record as he fired back at his critics and opponents.

Check out Soulja Boy’s “Who Want Smoke With Me??” below and sound off on the comments on his take on the record.

Quotable Lyrics
What the f*ck is that?
Fifty through his fitted cap
Took his chains, you can’t get it back
I’m in New York with a fifty strap

Back in March, we shared Lil Migo’s latest project, KING OF THE TRAP. Months later, the Memphis rapper has returned with a new single, titled “Rumors 3.” 

In the past, Migo has collaborated with the likes of Rich The Kid, Yo Gotti, Jacquees, and Moneybagg Yo, just to name a few, but on his latest track he chose to roll solo, with AceC, Einer Bankz, and Hozay on production.

“Toast up, n*gga got a bottle in the air, I finally can say a n*gga done made it,” the rapper boasts in the song’s first verse before dropping bars about having “gold on my neck like the treasury” and “buying expensive things.”

The track comes in at just over two minutes but has a strong, consistent flow from the start that pairs perfectly with the beat’s braggadocious vibe.

“F*ck who ain’t supporting. I’m stepping on u n*ggas necks that’s why y’all don’t [want] me winning. I MAKE IT LOOK EASY, I’M BALLING FOR SEASONS P*ssy #TOASTUP,” the “ROCKSTAR” artist told his Instagram followers over the weekend.

Stream Lil Migo’s “Rumors 3” below and let us know how you feel about it in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics:

Ayy, fifty shots in the car, when I move, gotta move like I’m the president
Ayy, I don’t need practice, I ball like I’m AI, I know I’m the best in it
She want to fuck ’cause I’m havin’ this gold on my neck like the treasury
Ran up this money, I can’t let a bitch come and try to get the best of me

As a pioneering figure in the Brooklyn drill scene, 22Gz has remained one of the most consistent. The rapper came through with The Blixky Tape 2 at the top of the year, followed by visuals for “Never Be The Same” ft. Jackboy and “Casa.” However, as the summer ended, 22Gz came back in business with the release of “Steppers” and “Retaliation.”

22Gz clearly isn’t letting his foot off of the pedal this year, either. The rapper slid through on Monday with the release of a brand new single titled, “Dissin.” Linking up with SPMB Bills, the two deliver a menacing banger that kicks off with a declaration from 22Gz. “It’s the General Blixky from Flatbush/ If you gon’ be dissin’, then you can’t be slippin’, that’s how you end up in a Backwood,” he raps.

Check the latest from 22Gz below.

Quotable Lyrics
Louis the linen, jewelry blingin’, bands,
Can’t see Folks in the car ’cause it’s tinted
He said he want smoke, we gon’ park where he livin’
All I do with it, they gon’ spark and it’s finished

Money Man is still riding high off of his back-to-back 2020 releases, Epidemic, and State Of Emergency. Fans, however, still received an influx of music this year without the release of any project or even formal singles. His YouTube page has been littered with freestyles and loose singles from out the vault. It seems likely that we might be able to expect a new project from him before the year ends, though.

With the new NBA season kicking off on Tuesday, Money Man came through with timeliness for the release of his latest single, “Tip Off.” Money Man’s quick-witted bars make references to some of the league’s most prominent players like LeBron James and KD over elegant violins and quaking 808s.

Check the latest from Money Man below. 

Quotable Lyrics
The way that me and lil’ bro drip on n***as, we like the Splash Brothers
Last week, we made half a mil’ a piece, now we the cash brothers
Shiesty like the Joker, like I’m Jokic, got the glizzy hittin’
I call my Draco KD ’cause it really shoot a good percentage

On his new track, “SOUND OF MONEY,” Lou Phelps teams up with Madlib, (who he referred to as “the God” in a recent Instagram post) to create a California-cool track that’s perfect to add to your rotation if you’re already feeling that summer nostalgia creep in.

“I love the sound of money/I love the sound of change/If you ain’t talking money/Get the fuck out the way,” the Montreal rapper begins, creating a vibe that he described as “light and fun” to Complex.

“Usually MCs that rap over these sample-based beats tend to have serious or conscious bars, which is fine, but that specific instrumental sounded light and fun to me, so I did my best to match that energy.”

Back in May, Phelps released “Supersexe Freestyle,” which has been described as “raunchy” by some. As Complex points out, “SOUND OF MONEY” shows a different side of Phelps, proving to listeners that he’s definitely got range.

On top of the fire singles, the 27-year-old also has two albums under his belt – 2018’s 002 / LOVE ME and 2020’s EXTRA EXTRA!.

Along with the new track, Phelps also fed his fans a new music video, which you can watch above.

Quotable Lyrics:

Fuck a list, I’ll probably buy your baby mama kids Nintendo Switch
Got em confused, calling me daddy
Tell your shorty Imma pull up, give me the addy

[Via]

Baton Rouge has been a hot spot for talent over the years with legendary figures emerging as champions for the city on a global stage. Kevin Gates, of course, is one of the most prominent figures to come out of BR over the years. The B.W.A. imprint that he and his wife Dreka run have been introducing some incredible talent and it continues to expand.

FL Dusa, a native from South Baton Rouge, is preparing for his breakout moment under the B.W.A. umbrella. The rapper has been pushing out some heavy singles this year including “Dying Inside” and the Fredo Bang-assisted, “Sad Song.” Now, he’s back alongside the Breadwinners Association head honcho for his new single, “Dusa.” He and Kevin Gates swap bars with their chests puffed over smooth piano progressions and rattling 808s.

Check out the record below.

Quotable Lyrics
You ain’t check your bumper, that trackin’ sensor ain’t click off
I don’t play hotel, dick her down and drop your lil’ bitch off
Losses come with distance, ain’t for those who got a weak card

Coming off an incredible run in 2020, including the release of Steel Human, NoCap’s year closed out on an unfortunate note. The rapper turned himself in to authorities but fortunately, his team kept his name alive with numerous releases while he was away. In August, NoCap was revealed to be released from prison and it seems like he’s simply jumped back into his workflow.

This week, the rapper returned with a brand new single titled, “Sun Up To Sun Down.” Lonnie Liston Smith’s “A Garden Of Peace” sample (the same one used in Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents”) opens up the record before NoCap’s drowsy melodies take the lead. 

The latest from NoCap arrives a little over a month after he dropped off “Outside.”

Check out NoCap’s latest release below.

Quotable Lyrics
So many nights, I fought with demons, you can ask the reaper
Neighborhood hero but when it’s time, who gon’ save the eagle?
If she put money in my safe, the only way I keep her
Tell the opps to cop out now before this shit gets deeper