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Boldy James and The Alchemist have established themselves as a duo to be feared, further cemented by the release of their 2020 album The Price Of Tea In China. Now, the pair are gearing up to deliver yet another album, setting the stage with the release of “First 48 Freestyle.” On the production tip, Alchemist sets a grimy and cinematic tone, loading up a vintage guitar sample and blessing it with the exact drum pattern it deserves.

Lyrically, the perpetually weary Boldy remains as sharp as ever, the type of observer who can break down a man’s character with a singular glance. “Tellin’ ni*gas that he gang, no he motherfuckin’ ain’t,” he raps. “Free my brother Hank, I’ll get you hit up with a rusty shank / All these self-proclaimed real niggas just a bunch of flakes.” As his extensive verse continues, it becomes clear that he’s riding this rhyme scheme all the way to the bank, finding clever ways to keep the bars heavy.

If this is the energy the pair are bringing to the next effort, it’s likely we’ll have another underground classic on our hands.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Dead body parts from the river floatin’ up the lake
Zombies in the trap spendin’ tens on a dub of base
Auntie kickin’ back with her stem, smokin’ up the shake
Uncie askin’ what they payin’, wanna know how much I make
Them bitches get behind me, I’ma take ’em on another chase

The House Is Burning is set to release next Friday, kicking off what fans can only hope to describe as a TDE hot streak. While that’s certainly not guaranteed, Zay’s return will be a triumphant event in itself, as his last solo album arrived in 2016 with The Sun’s Tirade. Following a string of new single releases, including the tone-setting banger “Lay Wit Ya,” Zay has come through to drop off another song from the album in “Wat U Sed.”

Featuring Doechii and Kal Banx, Isaiah’s latest features a laid-back yet uptempo groove, the exact sort of beat on which he tends to excel. Once again, he deftly rides the instrumental with some braggadocious bars. “Bet my bitch eat me up while I’m drivin’, and I swear it’s a show, not a riot,” he raps. “And I had a nightmare last night that I wasn’t countin’ up / We had too many hoes in this bitch, I had to round ’em up.”

More of an immersive vibe than a lyrical showcase, this latest drop will likely sound even better in the context of The House Is Burning. Be sure to check back next Friday, July 30th. 

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Bet my bitch eat me up while I’m drivin’
And I swear it’s a show, not a riot
And I had a nightmare last night that I wasn’t countin’ up
We had too many hoes in this bitch, I had to round ’em up

There’s some “sneaky link” behavior going on on “Ur Best Friend.” There have been several standout R&B offerings this year and now, Kiana Ledé is hoping that her Kehlani-assisted single will become the next to climb the charts. The pair of singers take their turns sharing their viewpoints in this story, and it sounds as if Kiana is in a relationship with a man but creeping around with his best friend, Kehlani.

Ledé shared a still from the forthcoming visual that looks as if the ladies are going to turn up the heat. Recently, one of Kehlani’s fans took to Twitter to ask her when she would be delivering a lesbian-centered album now that she’s come out to the world, and the singer hinted that it may already be in the works.

Until we hear more news about that, stream Kiana Ledé’s “Ur Best Friend” featuring Kehlani and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics

Hey, he had the courage to step up and pull up 6 speed, like
Put in so much work, just to make it worth
And he’s almost perfect and that why it hurts
And he calls me family, that’s what make it worse
Oooooh
It’s wrong, but I make you feel right
You texting my phone while right beside him
Wish it was anyone besides him

While the world continues to await Kanye West’s DONDA, Kawhi Leonard has delivered yet another single from his Culture Jam project. We previously received NBA YoungBoy and Rod Wave’s “Everything Different,” and on Friday (July 23), Gunna and Polo G shared their collaboration, “Waves.”

“Culture Jam will always be a platform where creators’ ideas and talents come to life and serve our family and our communities,” Leonard said of the Hip Hop project. “As an athlete that loves family, music, culture, and community, it was extremely important for me to build a space where all these elements thrive.”

He added, “Culture Jam’s significance is not only timely but it is also necessary. Equally, it is extremely important to support youth. My donation to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation is just the beginning of that support and connection.” Stream Gunna and Polo G’s “Waves” and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

D&G down to the kicks (D&G), made your ho send me a flick (Yeah)
On a light day, I’m throwin’ a nick’, she wan’ show me her ass and t*ts (Ass and tits)
I used to sell bags of grits, hit me back on the first or the fifth (First or the fifth)
F*ckin’ a bag up of fifths, I run through a ten again (Again)
I roll in the Maybach Benz (Benz), or the coupe, it just really depends (‘Pends)

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Once again, Lil Nas X puts his acting skills on display in his latest music video. Earlier this week, the singer let it be known that the music video for his latest single “Industry Baby” wasn’t made for the faint of heart—an announcement that he hoped would sway critics from complaining about inappropriate content. “Industry Baby” arrives with a feature from Jack Harlow, and in the visual, Lil Nas X makes light of his recent legal drama with Nike.

He also leans more to the Rap arena this time around and flexes his accomplishments including his Grammys and RIAA certifications. Lil Nas X sets the scene of his “Industry Baby” visual behind bars where he doesn’t skimp at making references to his sexuality, including the fully nude dance scene in the shower.

Harlow makes an appearance, yet he’s surrounded by female guards who abandon their posts for some private time. This one is certain to kick up dust, so stream “Industry Baby” (produced by Kanye West, Take A Daytrip, and Nick Lee) and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

Need to get this album done
Need a couple numbеr ones
Need a plaque on evеry song
Need me like one with Nicki now
Tell a rap n*gga I don’t see ya, hah
I’m a pop n*gga like Bieber, hah
I don’t f*ck b*tches, I’m queer, hah
But these n*ggas b*tches like Madea,

If there is an artist who is going to give shine to others on their way up, it’s Drake. There have been plenty of jokes about the “Drake Stimulus Package” and how people find their come up thanks to a nod, mention, or feature from Drizzy. On Friday, Smiley, who has been releasing music for some time, shared his single “Over the Top” featuring Drake, and this isn’t the first time the two have made an appearance together on wax.

In a recent interview with Complex Canada, Smiley spoke about grabbing the attention of the OVO mogul. “A long time ago, it was 2014 or something like that. He heard those songs and I guess he paid close attention,” he said. “And then when I took a break and I came back, I dropped this one song called ‘Hit.'”

“That was the first time I’d ever seen that Drake knew who I was or anything; one of his boys posted my song, and he commented under it and said, ‘Smiley = G.O.A.T.’ And then that’s when I was like, ‘Oh f*ck, this guy knows who I am and sh*t.’ So then, probably a couple of days later, he follow me on Insta.”

Tay Keith holds down the production on “Over the Top,” so stream Smiley’s Drake-assisted single and let us know what yout hink.

Quotable Lyrics

I slide with some bread on the jam, that’s just who I am
Customs just wavin’ at us from the window
They don’t even come on the plane when we land
Anyone else would retire but I’m not content
I wanna bury these n*ggas like twenty feet down
So no one can find them again

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In 2021, long gone are the days where #FreeGuwop would regularly trend on Twitter. The once-incarcerated Atlanta artist has kept all legal drama at bay over the past 5 years, and now he is mentoring a new generation of successful artists, including Pooh Shiesty, Foogiano, Big Scarr, and Hotboy Wes. The fact that Gucci was released from prison just 5 years ago is inspiring and absolutely mind-blowing, and there’s no better way to commemorate Guwop’s post-prison journey than with the album that (re)started it all.

Five years ago today, Gucci Mane released Everybody Looking, a 15-track album that served as the Atlanta veteran’s first full-length release since being released from prison in May 2016, and the project featured guest appearances from Drake, Kanye West, and Young Thug as well as plenty of production from Mike Will Made-It and Zaytoven.

No collaboration on Everybody Looking was as celebratory or organic, however, as Gucci Mane’s long-awaited reunion with Young Thug. Even though Thug’s style had gotten increasingly experimental since Gucci had gone to prison, the chemistry of their mentor-mentee relationship made it sound like they hadn’t missed a step on “Guwop Home.”

Revisit Gucci Mane’s Everybody Looking here, and scroll down to watch the lavish music video for “Guwop Home.”

Quotable Lyrics

Run it up to the top
Get out and ran it back to the top
Flood your ear, your neck, your wrist, your fingers
And put it all on rocks
Say Guwop home and yeah it’s official, grab some tissues
What’s wrong with you?

You know you’ve made it as an artist when your songs trend on Twitter for no apparent reason. And with a discography as expansive as Future’s, it speaks to the immense impact of “Codeine Crazy” that it still gets talked about today as one of his greatest songs. Released in 2014 as part of his Monster mixtape, the TM88-produced track holistically highlights the ethos of Future as an artist – a troubled soul who knowingly drowns out his sorrows with substances but can’t seem to help it. Fans continue to uphold the legacy of the song today by crowning it as one of Future’s most important songs.

The instrumental shines in its understated nature, serving as a haunting, muddy backdrop for Future’s multiple verses outlining troubled relationships and immense drug reliance all while dealing with both the challenges and joys of rap fame. The music video, premiered in early 2015, added fitting visuals to the song’s gloomy atmosphere, with purple filters and blurry visual effects mimicking Future’s experiences with abusing the song title’s addictive drug. The song gained new life and traction when it was featured on the Grand Theft Auto V video game’s hip-hop radio station and when the Monster mixtape released onto streaming services in 2019 following its five-year anniversary.

Revisit the song and music video down below. What do you think about “Codeine Crazy”?

Quotable Lyrics

Fuck the fame, I’m sipping lean when I’m driving
All this cash and it ain’t nowhere to hide it
I’m an addict and I can’t even hide it
Don’t you panic, panoramic companion

Jordan Hollywood has his hands on a summer smash. The Quality Control-signed Florida rapper is back and he’s not playing around, linking up with legendary producer Timbaland for an interpolation of the classic beat “Ugly,” which was originally performed by Bubba Sparxxx. 

Flipping the beat into a more modern version and adding Timbaland’s instantly recognizable ad-libs, Jordan Hollywood comes through with an effects-filled video, which is pretty epic in itself. Taking a comedic route and unpeeling layers of his personality in front of the camera, this has the potential to become Jordan’s biggest song to date.

“It’s crazy how 20 years ago I enjoyed this song as a kid and now it’s part of my legacy,” said the rapper about his new song. “It’s one thing to get a Timbaland beat or to get him to clear a sample but it’s special when the legend himself steps in the booth with you and adds his touches to your vision. I never in a million years thought I’d get to work with the hitmaker. With the video I told the director, ‘I want this shit to feel like an open world video game where I have freedom to randomly do things my way.’ ‘The Ugly Song’ is just the start.”

This is the lead single from Jordan Hollywood’s upcoming studio album Only the Paranoid Survive. Watch the video below and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics:

Yeah you bad but your attitude is ugly
If I love you but can’t trust you then you ugly
Eatin’ but your homie not, that shit ugly
Bass is hittin’ when it drop, face get ugly

Dave East and Harry Fraud are set to deliver their upcoming collaborative album Hoffa, a project that features guest appearances from Curren$y, Benny The Butcher, French Montana, Jim Jones, and more. Not long after setting the tone with the lead single “Diamonds,” East has returned with another glimpse at what’s to come with “Uncle Ric,” a nostalgic dose of mafioso rap featuring Benny The Butcher. 

Off the bat, Fraud’s production sets a classy and dangerous tone, one that should please fans of hip-hop’s golden era. Over a blend of flute and arpeggiated guitar, East sets it off with a coldhearted verse. “My only question is how you tolerate it?” he raps. “I’m always gon’ get back to the struggle ’cause I feel obligated / ni*gas ain’t wanna make a change until they heard Obama say it.” 

Benny The Butcher holds it down with the second verse, his butcher’s knife yet to dull despite its frequent usage. “Ni**as took our manual, tearin’ out pages,” he raps, no stranger to Fraud’s production. “Put us on lists and comparin’ our greatness / But I’m like, “Mike, I feel like ni*gas couldn’t ball in the era I played in.” 

Look for Dave East and Harry Fraud’s Hoffa album to drop on July 30th. Check out the full tracklist below.

1. The Disappearance
2. 60 For The Lawyer
3. Diamonds
4. Just Another Rapper
5. Go Off feat G Herbo
6. Uncle Ric feat Benny The Butcher
7. The Product
8. Money Or Power feat Jim Jones
9. I Can Hear The Storm
10. Dolla And A Dream feat Steven Young
11. Count It Up feat French Montana
12. The Win feat Cruch Calhoun
13. Yeah I Know feat Kiing Shooter
14. Red Fox Restaurant feat Curren$y

QUOTABLE LYRICS

My only question is how you tolerate it?
I’m always gon’ get back to the struggle ’cause I feel obligated
Ni*gas ain’t wanna make a change until they heard Obama say it