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For a minute there, fans were uncertain ifCertified Lover Boy would actually arrive. On the heels of Kanye West’s “gotcha” Donda release dates, Hip Hop fans were frustrated when 12:00 a.m. turned the clock and CLB wasn’t on streaming services. However, it was about 30 minutes prior that Drake revealed his tracklist on Instagram along with the news that the project was set for release later than fans believed.

However, whatever the delay may have been, Certified Lover Boy popped up sooner than expected and has taken over social media. We received a sneak peek at the features courtesy of billboards strategically placed by Drake and his time worldwide, and while fans debated over who New York’s “GOAT” could have been, many were sure that Jay-Z was the only person who holds that title.

Hov joins Drizzy on “Love All,” a slow-burning, “Tuscan Leather”-styled track where the two icons trade bars about the stressors associated with the fame as they serve shots to an enemy who takes their kindness for weakness. We’ll let you speculate about that. Stream “Love All” and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics

N*ggas wanted to kill me and yall still with em
N*gga y’all chill with em and y’all wonder why we not friends
Best thing I can do is not build with you
When I could destroy you, that takes some f*ckin’ discipline
I could send a team to come drill you, I got a billion or two
And I know where the f*ck you live
N*ggas gotta chill with talking gangsta
You ought to thank us and just chill a bit

After teasing his official return for months, we finally have new music from Bobby Shmurda. As fans continue to await the release of Certified Lover Boy, Shmurda takes over New Music Friday with his first musical offering since being released from prison. Fans expected Shmurda to deliver something new soon as he’s been spotted taking to festival stages while performing his megahit “Hot N*gga,” but on Friday (September 3), we’ve received “No Time For Sleep (Freestyle).”

Along with the track arrives a music video that shows Shmurda at war with beautiful, heavily-armed women by his side. He spits grimy bars that pack a punch and it is clear that he is spending his time wisely as he continues to develop his artistry. With Roc Nation by his side, he can only be destined for greatness.

Stream “No Time For Sleep (Freestyle)” and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics

Waste so much money on mind ain’t got no time for me
Shawty call me all the time, and say she tired of me
I know that I pop a lot and smoke a lot of weed
And I don’t pay her any mind when I be countin’ rich
Baby, I’m busy on the road time to breathe
They had me locked up in the pens, doin’ twenty-three

This year, Isaiah Rashad returned from a lengthy musical hiatus, delivering his new album The House Is Burning to critical acclaim. Prior to that, the last project we heard from Isaiah came five years ago to this day, when he dropped off The Sun’s Tirade.

 At the time, the album was seen as a stylistic shift for the artist, and some were initially uncertain about how to respond. Now that several years have passed, fans have come to appreciate Isaiah’s vision, appreciating his slow-burn and understated approach to crafting projects. On this milestone anniversary, it feels fitting to highlight one of the album’s biggest singles, though in true Rashad fashion “4r Da Squaw” is the furthest thing from in-your-face.

Instead, it’s about as chill as can be, an invitation to spend your time unpacking the depth of his poetic and wistful lyrics. The fact that Rashad released this as a single speaks to his confidence — not to mention his unwillingness to compromise his artistry in favor of chasing trends. Though it may have divided some at the time of its release, The Sun’s Tirade has only grown more appreciated with every passing year. Happy anniversary!

Quotable Lyrics

I think at nighttime the moon should call my phone
Hit my line, I’m here for you
And Eastside, shame on us
Rain, come on now, I figured the mood

Memphis rapper BIG30 has officially come through his with his debut project King Of Killbranch, which arrives complete with guest appearances from Lil Durk, Future, Yo Gotti, Moneybagg Yo, Quavo, Offset, and Pooh Shiesty. While fans will likely enjoy the project in its entirety, those looking for an introduction can look to “Whatever Come With It,” a collaboration with Atlanta legend Future. 

Together, the pair opt for a more emotionally charged offering, taking to a piano-driven banger with reflections of the struggles they’ve faced — and in some cases, caused for their opposition. Though each one brings a different style to the table — BIG30 with his rugged and street-level delivery, Future with his autotune-soaked and vulnerable melodic flow — together they make for kindred spirits.

Check out “Whatever Come With It” now, and sound off if you like what BIG30 brought to the table on his debut. 

Quotable Lyrics

Came up real treacherous, heart on freeze
Goin out for my liberty, holding with my demons
Seen a lot get hurt, get high, and pray to the dead

Following the death of Blackalicious MC Gift Of Gab in June, the late rapper’s team has delivered a posthumous single from his upcoming album Finding Inspiration Somehow. Set to arrive on September 10th, the thirteen-track project is set to feature guest appearances from Windstrong, Vursatyl, Lateef The Truthspeaker, Sh8peshifter, and Joyo Velarde. 

On “Alchemy,” Gift Of Gab showcases his incredible flow, blending technical prowess with emotional reflections. “I toured the world and been to where the, the planes have flown and sipped some seltzer,” he raps. “And now through all the highs and all the lows I’m in the midst of kidney failure? / a different plight, a different realm, the ifs, the whys, the hows, the whens, the wheres / a different test with different kinds of questions, I hit here tied to this machine connected.”

Check out the posthumous single from Gift Of Gab now, and look for the entire Finding Inspiration Somehow album to arrive on September 10th.

Quotable Lyrics

I toured the world and been to where the, the planes have flown and sipped some seltzer
And now through all the highs and all the lows I’m in the midst of kidney failure? 
A different plight, a different realm, the ifs, the whys, the hows, the whens, the wheres
A different test with different kinds of questions, I hit here tied to this machine connected

Today, a new collaboration has arrived between Conway The Machine, Young Noble of The Outlawz, and the legendary DJ Premier behind the boards.

At over five minutes, “Lessons Of Legends” is a slow-burning dose of bar-heavy hip-hop, with Noble setting a tone within his opening bars. “Scholar rock god trying to break up a fight, they caught my n***a Pac through the door at the light,” he raps. “They hit B.I.G through the door at the light, was that a coincidence or two planned hits?” From there, he proceeds to pay homage to hip-hop’s lost ones before passing the baton to Machine around the midway mark. 

“Lost a lot of legends but legends never die,” spits Conway. “Live forever through the music and the pressure they apply / they definitely inspired me to strive for perfection when I rhyme / you see how exceptionally I glide.” Fans of lyrically-driven and raw golden-age hip-hop should definitely check this one out, and be sure to show some love to Young Noble, Machine, and Primo in the comments below.

Quotable Lyrics

Scholar rock god trying to break up a fight,
They caught my n***a Pac through the door at the light
They hit B.I.G through the door at the light,
Was that a coincidence or two planned hits?

Travis Scott is easily one of the most profitable and influential figures in popular culture, but just five years ago, he was still coming into his own. Following the release of back-to-back heat on 2014’s Days Before Rodeo and his debut studio album Rodeo in 2015, all eyes were on Travis Scott to see if he was going to be able to make that leap and join Hip-Hop’s upper echelon of artists. And although he officially reached superstardom with Astroworld in 2018, it was his sophomore album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight which paved the way for the Houston rapper’s meteoric rise.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Packed with high-quality guest features from Hip-Hop mainstays like Kid Cudi and Kendrick Lamar as well as sensational new artists like 21 Savage and Nav, BITTSM was an indulgent offering from Travis that truly pushed him to his limits as a songwriter and a Kanye West-esque album curator. Aside from the album’s octuple platinum track “Goosebumps,” one of the most incredible moments on Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight was its André 3000-assisted intro, titled “the ends.” Both artists paint horrifying pictures of their hometowns, yet the end result is still eerily beautiful.

Celebrate the five-year anniversary of Travis Scott’s game-changing sophomore studio album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight by revisiting the record’s dark intro below. What’s your favorite track from the platinum-certified project?

Quotable Lyrics

I came up in the town, they were murderin’ kids, hmm
And dumped ’em in the creek up from where I live (Ayy)
Bodies, bodies, bodies sprinkled around (Uh, uh)
We runnin’ through the sprinkler lookin’ around
Killer would show up with boxes of pizza, uh
And said he had a label recruitin’ people (Uh)
Put that on my grandma and everything, yeah
My homie said he told ’em his name was Wayne
It could’ve been me or could’ve been you too

Shortly after meeting with several HIV Awareness Organizations, DaBaby has continued to apply pressure with the release of another freestyle. This time, he’s opted to take to Moneybagg Yo’s “Wockesha” instrumental, bringing a defiant intensity not seen on the conceptually driven original.

“I came in this bitch bombin’, back on the wall like I ain’t have no options,” he raps. “I don’t plan on stoppin until the fat lady singin no opera / we send a bitch-ass n***a to the docta, I put a ho-ass n***a in the dirt / don’t play with me play with your mama, I put a ho-ass n***a on a shirt.” At this point, it’s evident that DaBaby will remain unapologetically himself — much to the delight of his fans and dismay of his detractors. Should you count yourself within the former category, be sure to check out “Wockesha Freestyle” right here.

Quotable Lyrics

I came in this bitch bombin’, back on the wall like I ain’t have no options
I don’t plan on stoppin until the fat lady singin no opera
We send a bitch-ass n***a to the docta, I put a ho-ass n***a in the dirt 
Don’t play with me play with your mama, I put a ho-ass n***a on a shirt

New Jersey producer Mr. Green has returned, this time teaming up with legendary lyricist Jadakiss for the new collaboration “Street Champion.” Off the bat, Green laces Kiss with a soulful sample-driven beat, and Jada embraces the vibe by doing what he does best — spitting bars. 

“Three and a half years if they catch you with a gat, all that means now’s that n***as is shooting back,” raps Kiss. “War is something I got a taste for / out on bail, bigger gun then the one I got the case for.” Alas, Jada’s verse wraps up before it can really get going, leaving Green’s guitar loop to ride this one out. Be sure to check this one out if you’re a fan of either party, and sound off if you think they should collaborate more often.

Quotable Lyrics

Three and a half years if they catch you with a gat,
All that means now’s that n***as is shooting back
War is something I got a taste for / out on bail,
Bigger gun then the one I got the case for

For Yung Mal, it’s all about leveling up. The East Atlanta rapper has been delivering some serious heat in recent times with projects like the Soundcloud-only Walkin’ and 1.5 Way Or No Way. These albums came on the heels of a plethora of new singles that have kept his name buzzing in the streets.

This week, the rapper returned with a brand new single titled, “Get Right.” Serving as his first release since dropping “Walkin'” with Pooh Shiesty, the rapper comes through with menacing energy over grungy production. His unwavering confidence bleeds through his flow and tongue-in-cheek bars, as he raps, “I fucked a bad lil bitch last night/ Thought she was Kanye wife.” 

Check out the latest offering from Yung Mal below and keep your eyes peeled for new music.

Quotable Lyrics
Gave him the key to the spider, he couldn’t even drive it 
Just dump in my hood, bitch, I never be hidin’
Never seen so many dick riders
No handshakes, don’t want to high-five ya