song

Shordie Shordie has consistently been putting out great songs over the last few years, and fans are always eager to hear what he has to put out. With the fall finally upon us, the artist is now releasing some tracks that will help get you through those colder months. For instance, on Friday, Shordie Shordie teamed up with Blxst for a new song called “Specific,” and there is no doubt they have some great musical chemistry.

The song offers up some nice guitar melodies in the background, while the drums allow Shordie Shordie and Blxst to do their thing. The melodies are on point and when it comes to the hook, both artists harmonize their vocals to perfection. It’s a track with a fun vibe, and if you’re a fan of either of these two, you should definitely stream the song, below.

Quotable Lyrics:

You be bein’ too specific, I guess I’m comin’ with you
She said it wasn’t it, but it was somethin’ to you
No time I got, for real, so I’m just stuck in a room
Thinkin’ I’m trippin’ goin’ on, like I don’t wanna be rollin’

It is Lakeyah’s time to shine as the Quality Control Music rapper has shared her DJ Drama-hosted Gangsta Grillz mixtape, My Time. She’s an artist whose rise to fame is an inspiration to others looking to become the next star. Lakeyah has been grinding behind the scenes for her moment in the spotlight, and after being named one ofXXL‘s Freshmen for 2021, her fanbase has only grown with more visibility.

My Time hosts a feature from Moneybagg Yo on “Check,” a track that stays true to the Memphis rapper’s tempo while also pairing well with Lakeyah’s delivery. “S/o everybody who helped with this project. You can def hear the growth from prior tapes! THREE TAPES IN A YEAR????? The hard way,” she wrote on Instagram.

Stream “Check” and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

Lay, put my arm in the sky, it’s a sun on my wrist
Married the money, in love with the sh*t (I am)
Feelin’ like Nicki, I’m sonin’ a b*tch
Man I’m feelin’ like Wayne, havin’ fun with this sh*t

Once again, Janelle Monáe is using her talents to raise awareness. In 2015, the acclaimed entertainer released “Hell You Talmbout,” and on Friday (September 24), she delivered her follow-up to the track titled, “Say Her Name.” The three-word phrase gained international visibility following the officer-involved death of Sandra Bland, and in more recent headlines, it has become a cry for activists looking for a resolution to Breonna Taylor’s case.

“Say Her Name” runs for over 17 minutes and hosts several features including Prof. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, Tierra Whack, Isis V., Zoë Kravitz, Brittany Howard, Asiahn, Mj Rodriguez, Jovian Zayne, Angela Rye, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Brittany Packnett-Cunningham, and Alicia Garz.

Monáe told PEOPLE that the song was created to “bring more awareness to what has not been covered and to also allow their families an opportunity to be able to hear people sharing their stories about their daughters as the human beings they were and as the daughters they were.” Proceeds will be donated to the African American Policy Forum. Stream “Say Her Name” and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

Kendra James, say her name
Kendra James, won’t you say her name!
Priscilla Slater, say her name

[via]

Once again, Janelle Monáe is using her talents to raise awareness. In 2015, the acclaimed entertainer released “Hell You Talmbout,” and on Friday (September 24), she delivered her follow-up to the track titled, “Say Her Name.” The three-word phrase gained international visibility following the officer-involved death of Sandra Bland, and in more recent headlines, it has become a cry for activists looking for a resolution to Breonna Taylor’s case.

“Say Her Name” runs for over 17 minutes and hosts several features including Prof. Kimberlé Crenshaw, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Chloe x Halle, Tierra Whack, Isis V., Zoë Kravitz, Brittany Howard, Asiahn, Mj Rodriguez, Jovian Zayne, Angela Rye, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Brittany Packnett-Cunningham, and Alicia Garz.

Monáe told PEOPLE that the song was created to “bring more awareness to what has not been covered and to also allow their families an opportunity to be able to hear people sharing their stories about their daughters as the human beings they were and as the daughters they were.” Proceeds will be donated to the African American Policy Forum. Stream “Say Her Name” and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

Kendra James, say her name
Kendra James, won’t you say her name!
Priscilla Slater, say her name

[via]

It seems like SoundCloud isn’t quite as popular as it used to be — it feels like only yesterday that a new generation of artists was emerging onto the scene and ruffling feathers with their burgeoning hip-hop subgenre. Now, “SoundCloud Rap” has largely come and gone, though it’s likely that there are many artists who have developed somewhat of a nostalgic fondness for the raw and unfettered sound of yore. 

Today, Lil Yachty — himself a key figure in the SC rap mythos — took things back to basics to deliver a quick loosie. Enter “GHINI,” an extremely distorted banger that finds Yachty firing off a few braggadocious lines. At under a minute and thirty seconds in runtime, the track is essentially lacking a structure — instead, it’s the energy and vibe that carries “GHINI,” though how far is likely dependent on one’s appreciation for Yachty’s style and history.

Where do you stand?

Quotable Lyrics

I know killers who don’t get on Triller like a real thriller
Don’t go gambling with your life then get mad at the card dealer

Gucci Mane has always favored real artists for his label, and while that mentality has ultimately left him shorthanded for the time being, it’s also ensured that 1017 boasts the hardest roster in the game. Recent signee BigWalkDog is currently in the midst of building a buzz, and now the rapper has linked up with Guwop for their brand new collaboration “Trap God.” 

As one familiar with both parties may have surmised based on the title alone, “Trap God” is a hard-hitting banger that captures the formidable presence of both parties. Off the bat, Guwop sets it off with some menacing bars that remind listeners he’s not one to be underestimated — not even when he’s entertaining guests at what appears to be a wholesome pool party. Following Wop is BigWalkDog, who rides the Honorable C Note’s spooky beat with a rugged flow and ably plays a fitting wingman to his label boss. 

Fans of what 1017 has been bringing to the table would be wise to catch “Trap God,” and keep an eye out for more new music from BigWalkDog.

Quotable Lyrics

My youngsta shot somebody up, guess they made him angry
Two dead men right by the garbage because we left em’ stanky
N***as get some liquid courage when they get to drankin’
His brains scattered on the dashboard now we see what he thankin’

Ne-Yo, who’s been in the game for almost two and-a-half decades at this point, rarely misses when it comes to the emotional breakup song. His voice, his delivery, his lyrics — all of it works in harmony and puts you right in the R&B icon’s shoes as he bares his soul and shares his emotions. 

Today, just a couple months after introducing his newborn daughter to the world, the “Miss Independent” singer showed up and showed out with his new single “What If.”

Showing off his signature vocals, Ne-Yo gets down to business, seemingly talking to the listener or, in this case, a former lover in a half-speaking, half-singing. Building into a big chorus in which Ne-Yo wonders what would have happened had just a couple things gone differently, the record runs through the ups and downs of the end of a relationship and the feelings that come with realizing it’s over. 

Featuring a catchy hook with tons of dance possibilities, “What If” comes with visuals that find Ne-Yo face-to-face with a broken mirror, his classic fedora and some good, old-fashioned 90s R&B, dancing a couple inches of water as rain falls in the background routines featuring the singer himself and a cast of background dancers. 

A record that you’ll be able to play when you catch yourself staring in the mirror a little too long, “What If” is an emotional mix of poignant lyrics and moving music that is sure to get you feeling something.

Quotable Lyrics
And I promised you we’d make it
Fast forward two years and we were over
Ubered to the airport when I knew I should’ve drove you
Later on I’d tell myself that breaking up was worth
But deep down I’m still uncertain

Check out “What If” and its official music video below and let us know what you think in the comments. 

It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper,” but there’s a specific type of emcee that generally fits that bill. Kurupt Young Gotti, who has been a murderous lyricist since the early Death Row era, is exactly the sort of name that comes to mind. An OG, generally underrated by the mainstream, and with a sharp pen game that keeps collaborators on their toes. 

Shortly after standing alongside equals on the HRSMN project with Ras Kass, Killah Priest, and Canibus, Kurupt has come through with his new single “Transformation.” A reflection on overcoming adversity, Kurupt reflects on his journey through life and hip-hop over an introspective instrumental — what makes this one so compelling is Kurupt’s mastery of language, and hearing the way he paints pictures will always prove enjoyable.

Check it out for yourself now, and be sure to sound off if you’re a Kurupt fan after all these years.

Quotable Lyrics

I feel like I’ve been zapped back to the future,
Gamma Rays, the Hulk — fast as a cheetah and manta rays
I’m different, the different changes I went through
I’m blessed, I done look like what I’ve been through

Florida rapper SpotemGottem was in the news last week after he was nearly killed in a drive-by shooting. The rapper was struck in both of his legs, and his car was riddled with over twenty bullet-holes when a road-raged driver pulled up and started shooting. Spotem had just left the studio and was reportedly on the freeway at the time of the shooting.

While it was initially feared that the 19-year-old rising star was in critical condition, his status improved and his legal representative confirmed that he would survive the shooting. Just one week later, Spotem is already back on his grind, releasing his new song “Sosa Flow.”

Saying in the hook that this is his “old flow,” the “Beat Box” rapper also came through for a music video, throwing money and flexing with his partners.

We’re glad to see the young rapper back at it and still active. Listen to “Sosa Flow” below.

Quotable Lyrics:

This my old flow, I feel like Sosa
Throw yo’ hoodie on, fuck ’em over
Who them boys over there? I don’t know him
If he keep on lookin’ wrong, a n***a might just blow him

The wait for Westside Boogie’s upcoming album — his second since inking a deal with Eminem’s Shady Records — is reaching new heights. Luckily, the Compton emcee has decided to keep us going with “Float,” a vibey new track featuring an assist from Mamii.

As expected, given the title being “Float” and all, we’re looking at some atmospheric and borderline aquatic production for the occasion. It’s exactly the sort of backdrop over which the introspective lyricist shines, and Boogie delivers more slice-of-life realism that we’ve grown to love. It’s unclear as to whether or not this one will make the album, but either way, it’s clear that the newly christened Westside Boogie is getting ready for his big release.

Will you be tuning in when that moment comes?

Quotable Lyrics

Hundreds of roses put under my body
On top of the ocean while I’m in the open
Just for a moment, my problems was frozen