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Isaiah Rashad had fans incredibly excited for his brand new project called “The House Is Burning.” The album came out just last Friday and there are plenty of phenomenal songs to sink your teeth into. This is one of those bodies of work that has zero skips, however, it’s still healthy to find favorites amongst the tracklist. For many, the album’s opener “Darkseid” is especially special as it displays Rashad setting the tone for the entire project.

With this track, we get some smooth vocal samples and some jazzy instrumentation, all while Isaiah Rashad spits bars that will leave you motivated and inspired. Just yesterday, this song was tweeted out by the likes of Kevin Durant, and it is easy to see why. Rashad continues to impress fans and it’s clear that the project was well worth the wait.

Quotable Lyrics:

What am I supposed to do outside but get rich? (Yeah)
Work too hard, but boy, don’t floss too hard and get yo’ wig split (Yeah)
Pray to God, I heard they got new Gods outside in this bitch (Yeah)
Barely toddlers got them Purple Hearts outside in this bitch

Toosii’s glow up in the past couple of years has truly been impressive. The 21-year-old high school football player turned XXL Freshman  achieved in two years what many artists only dream of. In his new album, Thank You For Believing (The Manifestation), Toosii proves that his fans put him here for a reason. On “same as I used to be”, Toosii reflects on this expedited road to stardom with an impressive array of melodic flows.

Found somewhere between Future and Lil Tjay, Toosii’s vocal tone and melodic choices always make his tracks easy to sink into on first listen. On “same as I used to be”, he employs these eccentric vocal riffs across the chorus and bridge as he describes the new man he’s become and  his disdain for those who aren’t there for him. This is all done over an elegant arrangement of guitar and piano sections. 

“Still got the keys to the old whip, but life smooth like butter/ Still got the keys to the old whip, but I use my other,” Toosii repeats as he recognizes his newfound status while taking with him the lessons of his past. The North Carolina artist still has time to flex, though this time around he’s a bit more somber as he tries to find his place in an unfamiliar world. 

Check out the track below:

Quotable Lyrics:

Still got the keys to the old whip, but life smooth like butter
Still got the keys to the old whip, but I use my other
I’m tryna test drive the Lambo’, end up in the hills somewhere
Lost, I got God, I know He’ll be here, yeah

Skepta’s new All In EP release hasn’t fallen under the radar for many, as the pioneer of UK grime has become an icon abroad. The 38-year-old is now a seasoned veteran of the UK rap game though still manages to bring the same levels fire and energy that many newcomers offer. While All In features high-profile names like Kid Cudi and J.Balvin, Skepta continues to shine on his own- as evidenced by “Lit Like This.”

One wouldn’t be able to tel that Skepta ism nearing his 40’s when giving “All In” a deep dive. The track, which is driven by a simple yet gritty baseline and an intricate percussion pattern, finds Skepta as ruthless as ever, though now with a more refined and matured approach. The artist is entirely self-aware of his superstar status in his lyrics as the life of wealth and luxury radiates from the track. He frequently asserts that he doesn’t need to flex on anyone- all they have to do is pay attention.

Check out the track below:

Quotable Lyrics:

Got the girls, the cars, the money in the bank (Woo)
Keys to the house, whip bigger than a tank
So much ice it’s a joke, don’t mistake it for a prank (Ice)
When you’re lit like this, you might need to get a shank (Ice)

Last November, Pop Smoke’s bother Obasi Jackson played what he said was the original verse for “Dior” that Pop laid down. The clip was only from social media, and it sounded rough. Now, we have that verse in top form. Obasi flipped the OG verse and places it on “Bad Boys,” one of the tracks that were secretly added to Pop Smoke’s album over the weekend. 

The track has Pop Smoke delivering the verse the begin the track, but Obasi takes control of the rest of the song. The anthemic single comes right before “Dior” on the album (yes, “Dior” was added to Faith), which is the final song. 

Quotable Lyrics
Look, this Glock up on me holds six-O (‘O)
Have ’em dancin’ like Calypso (‘So)
I’m a big belly rude boy
My stomach look like a hippo (‘Po)
Tell the bottle girls, “Shake it” (Shake it)
Bring the bottles of Bel Air (Bеl Air)

It was only a few months ago when Young Dolph announced his retirement from rap (again) following the release of Dum and Dummer 2 with Key Glock. Yet, in true Young Dolph fashion, the Memphis rapper has seemed to have enough of spending more time with his children during retirement and has blessed die-hard listeners with PAPER ROUTE iLLUMINATI, a new full length release. “Talking To My Scale”, the introductory track, kicks off the 36-year-olds eighth studio album with nothing but energy.

Young Dolph seems most comfortable with a high velocity piano and a booming 808 backing his voice as evidenced further by “Talking To My Scale”. However, the production still presents itself as incrementally more experimental with a hypnotic synth lead that leads into the more familiar piano keys. Like frequent collaborator Key Glock, the trap style drums remain relatively stagnant throughout the song and let the 808 do the work.

Young Dolph dons a familiar flow on the track while flexing about his come up from a life of struggle. With a slightly more creative instrumental and hard hitting drums and vocals, there isn’t much more you could want from a Young Dolph track.

Check it out below:

Quotable Lyrics:

If I sacrificed myself, will I go to hell?
In my trap house countin’ guala, talkin’ to my scale
My jewelry box havin’ more water than Wisconsin Dells
Trap n****, I count money better than I spell

Dave East’s accomplishments are well known at this point. With a number of critically acclaimed and commercially successful mixtapes and an ever-growing acting portfolio, East was right where he needed to be to drop this week’s flex-heavy Hoffa album. The album, produced exclusively by Harry Fraud, mixes East’s classic New York flows with Fraud’s mafia-themed beats. While most tracks off of Hoffa center around East’s high-profile life after an upbringing rooted in struggle, “Just Another Rapper” off of the tracklist is a true “screw you” to all of his haters.

Whatever you have, Dave East has more of it as the track starts off- “Anything you put up, I can match it/ Make a hunnid, take fifty and you stash it.” Backed by a simple instrumental of muffled horns and overblown 808’s, East gives no space for silence between bars as he increases the length of his flow after every line. After a number of previous tracks discussing his impoverished upbringing, “Just Another Rapper” finds East tired of not having. So instead, he lists all the things he wants- cars, clothes, women- and how he’s already got them. 

Check out the track below:

Quotable Lyrics:

Anything you put up, I can match it (I can match it)
Make a hunnid, take fifty and you stash it (Stash it)
Spend the other fifty on some fashion
Drivin’ in the Bentley like I’m ’bout to crash it (Skrr)

Fort Valley, Georgia rapper/singer Chino Cappin’ has had a pretty explosive year so far. After taking a break from music in 2020, Chino Cappin came returned strong in June with F*CC It, BaCC To BasiCs, the artist’s first full-length release in two years. With extensive rap talent set to the backdrop of a soulful voice, Chino Cappin’ stunned audiences and re-established himself into the upcoming wave of young artists. His most recent single, “Hot Shit”, serves as a mature extension of this sound.

It seems Chino Cappin’ has found his own lane, and he performs best when he puts his impressive voice to use. Reminiscent of contemporaries like Lil Tjay, “Hot Shit” finds Chino Cappin’ flowing melodically in and out of the simple guitar beat, which allows Chino to take the main stage. 

Metro Mars takes on the back end of the track with his own interpolation of Chino Cappin’s flow. While he remains outshined by Chino on the track, Metro Mars certainly succeeds in keeping the track interesting with head-banging flows and a more raspy vocal tone.

Check out the music video for the track here:

Quotable Lyrics:

Everything all good Imma pop this
New Celine on the hoodie Imma rock this
I was oh so broke trynna get a number 4

Zillakami has made his name in the rap game with his heavy, almost metal-like vocal tone and flows. In the age of Juice Wrld’s and XXXTentacion’s, Zillakami remained one of the earliest and most creative member of the emo-rap wave. Recent releases like his “BADASS” collaboration with Lil Uzi Vert pointed towards a continuation of the signature sound. However, it seems that the New York rapper is pushing this sound further in his most recent single, “FROSTY”.

“FROSTY” is without a doubt a full-fledged emo-rock song. With a distorted guitar lead and dynamic drums not influenced by trap patterns, “FROSTY” could easily find itself in the playlists of mid-2000’s pop-punk classics. The lyrics follow suit, with themes surrounding depression, drugs, and heartbreak. 

Zillakami’s usually strained and screaming vocal inflections are substituted in the new release with a more somber and quiet vocal tone. This seems like a good creative choice for the artist, whose harsh voice often held him back from the mainstream success of his contemporaries. 

Check out the music video below:

Quotable Lyrics:

I’m sorry that I couldn’t be the one
‘Cause we can’t run
The end has come (Oh)
I’m sorry that I couldn’t be the one

Dyme-A-Duzin just dropped off his latest album Ghetto Olympics 2, featuring a handful of guests. No guest really rings a bell the way Tweet does though. The R&B vet usually stays rather quiet, but she does appear when needed to lay down those infamous raspy yet powerhouse vocals. On “QUEEN” Dyme-A-Duzin croons about a lover and friend. 

He uses a sing-song flow during the verse while a sweet little guitar loop vibes the track a mellow vibe. Tweet serenades the track behind the verses, but also joins in to sing with Dyme-A-Duzin on the chorus. We really wish Tweet was allowed to sing on her own here, although their mesh does sound good. 

Quotable Lyrics
I’m a go hard this season
No time for the drama and beefing
Long as you and my momma cheesing
Who you got trust for that’ll bust for 
You don’t lust for you like (Oooo)
Who got love for you
Not a fuck boy tryna fuck on you like (Aaah)

Chris Brown has lined club playlists for three Summer’s in a row at this point with collaborations like “No Guidance” with Drake and “Go Crazy” with Young Thug. The R&B singer’s most recent Summer hit came with Wale’s June track “Angles”, one of Wale’s most successful releases in years. With a bouncy beat, “Angles” was already suited for venues and clubs. However, with the minor changes made to the song with the new “Angles” (featuring Chris Brown)- [Club Mix], the track will be hard to avoid on nights out this Summer.

As is tradition, Chris Brown takes on the hook with his smooth voice and vibey harmonies. His melodies always seem to remain complex enough to keep casual listeners interested while catchy enough for clubgoers to easily sing along. Suffice it to say, his repeated refrains of “I can’t tame you” in “Angles” are successful in this category. 

Wale takes over the verses with a casual flow as he continues Brown’s inquiry of a new lover. Over the simple yet bubbly beat, Wale raps slowly about dripping his girl out and giving her the world. 

Check out the track below:

Quotable Lyrics:

See the way it’s you and I, girl, I can’t tame you (tame)
I can’t blame you, yeah (blame)
You know the way to pose
You know, you know your angles, oh (straight)