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Following Chika’s cover of Billie Eilish’s “My Future,” Spotify Singles continues its celebration of the current class of Best New Artist Grammy nominees with D Smoke. The Black Habits artist and renowned winner of the first season of Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow is nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Album at the upcoming 63rd annual Grammy awards, and leading up to the ceremony, D Smoke has linked up with Spotify to give fans two exclusive new singles, “Sade” and a remix of Black Habits standout “Gaspar Yanga.” 

“Sade” finds D Smoke paying homage to the legendary British singer-songwriter Sade Adu while reveling in nostalgia. The two-and-a-half-minute track is an original track by D Smoke that interpolates Sade’s “The Sweetest Taboo” and further displays the Inglewood artist’s ear for robust musical arrangements.

Touching on the opportunity to release two singles for Spotify Singles’ Best New Artist celebration, D Smoke says, “I’m proud to put out two songs on the same day that represent both sides of me. ‘Gaspar Yanga (Remix)’ with its warrior-chant sound and aggressive language, pays homage to the Afro- Latino liberator by the same name, who successfully led a revolution, while ‘Sade’ speaks to the complexities of love and artistry. These songs together serve as a 1-2 punch from the heart of Inglewood.”

Give D Smoke’s new single “Sade” a listen on Spotify, and let us know what you think about the Inglewood artist’s special release.

Quotable Lyrics

Wish faith would have it otherwise.
You stole my heart, is it a crime?
I still listen to all your sh*t,
but it’s never good as the first time

In just two weeks, Rod Wave is returning with his new album, SoulFly. The project comes on the heels of the Florida rapper voicing his frustrations with his label over on Instagram back in January. “P*ssy ass label playing wit a n*gga sh*t I ain’t dropping sh*t f*ck ya pay me,” he wrote at the time. “Y’all wanna album ask @alamorecords.” Soon, the rapper returned to reveal that he and his label had come to an understanding so on March 26, SoulFly will arrive in full.

On Wednesday (March 10), Rod Wave dropped a single from the album titled “Street Runner,” the eighth song on SoulFly‘s tracklist. The rapper shared an accompanying music video that opens with the words, “Sorry for the wait, the album is finished, that you for rocking with me.” Rod Wave’s “Street Runner” is an introspective single that shows the rapper is more focused on building his brands than having a good time, and the visual seemed to match that energy as he’s seen jet-setting from filming a video to performing at a live show. Check it out and let us know if you’re excited for SoulFly.

Quotable Lyrics

I hope chasin’ my dreams don’t get in the way
I blame my struggles and my uncles for my hustlin’ ways
I’m way in Michigan right now, lookin’ at real estate
Lord knows I wanna lay ya down but I’m chasin’ cake
Can’t go back broke, stay on the go, that’s all that’s on my brain

Freebandz Gang Zona Man has had a slow-burning career so far. He inked a deal with Future’s label back in 2014, later releasing a few projects and singles, though it feels like things have been dormant in recent times. He hasn’t released a project in a few years but it appears that could be changing in the near future. Last week, he broke his silence and returned with his first drop of the year with some assistance from one of the hottest newcomers from Detroit and a fellow Freebandz Gang artist.

Zona’s latest offering is titled, “Making Luv To It,” an eerie trap banger featuring Doe Boy and Babyface Ray. The Detroit’s rapper soft delivery adds a haunting effect to kick off the track before the three rappers trade street tales. 

Quotable Lyrics
Get my money out the street but like it neat for satisfaction
I was ‘posed to save it all but bought some ice, that shit will happen
I was posted with your bitch, then I curved her for a play
My lil bro was down, he done hit a lick, now he okay

The reason why you can only laugh at the outrage of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” is that rappers like Sukihana exist. When it comes to sexually-charged bangers, Sukihana has mastered the art and proves it every single time she touches the mic. She did appear in the music video and received a co-sign from Cardi which has put an even bigger spotlight on her name. With each release, she continues to establish herself as a budding force among female MCs.

This week, she returned with a brand new banger alongside Sauce Santana called, “Food Stamp Hoe.” It’s an upbeat record that is very much on-brand for Suki as she details her affinity for money and sex. Sauce Santana holds down the second verse, using charism and attitude to weave through the high-energy production. 

Quotable Lyrics
Ratchet bussa diddy
Got all of these n***as wishing
Fucked them in Miami
Made him buy me some new titties

26-year-old rapper Big Jade has been slowly making a name for herself but it was the release of songs like “Period Pooh” and “RPM” that put people on notice. Signed to Alamo, it appears that 2021 is the year she plans on becoming a household name and she’s surely putting in the work to make it happen. Over the past few weeks, she’s pulling from the vault to provide her fans with a slew of new freestyles and singles. 

This week, she arrived with a quick freestyle for the fans called “Groupies.” Over bass-heavy, electrifying production, Big Jade gets on her big bag talk with a rapid-fire of bars detailing her come-up and struggles.

Check out the latest offering from Big Jade below and sound off in the comments with your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics
N***a hurt me, and start blockin’ his blessings
Ain’t doing shit, I knew karma would catch him
Start poppin’ shit, my brother gon’ press him
Never gon’ feel the need to fuckin’ address ’em

Locksmith has been putting in work of late, and today the lyricist has linked up with a kindred spirit in Slug for “Fantasy World.” Featuring some additional vocals from Rebecca Nobel, the Apathy-produced track allows both emcees to put in work and flex their penmanship. Kicking things off is Slug, who brings his distinctive style to the mix as he reflects on his circumstances with poetic precision.

“I’m exhausted, got bags underneath my heart,” he raps. “But I’ll liberate your car before my people starve / I’m swimming through the garbage with maggots and artists / face down drowning in the shaggest of carpets.” Locksmith steps in to play the counterpart, stylistically different from Slug though no less lyrically-focused. “Made for the people that’s only seeking acceptance,” he spits. “Rather just pretend than accept the skin you dressed in / why even address it? Me I got a bone to pick / better a fish to fry, you cappin? A big surprise.” 

Should you consider yourself to be a fan of underground hip-hop, you’d be wise to check this one out immediately — it even comes equipped with an amusing video, brought to life by director Justin Marmo. 

QUOTABLE LYRICS

I’m exhausted, got bags underneath my heart
But I’ll liberate your car before my people starve 
I’m swimming through the garbage with maggots and artists 
face down drowning in the shaggest of carpets

Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow is proving to have actually produced a few stars aside from the winner, D-Smoke. We’ve seen a few artists use the shine that they receive to leverage their own careers and it appears to be working quite well. Beanz has been making the rounds lately as fans, showcasing her affinity for delivering bars while offering highly-relatable music. Her consistency and ingenuity is proving that she’s well on her way for a big year ahead.

This week, she slid through with another showcasing of bars bonanza with her “Waves” freestyle video. Tapping P-Lo for the laid-back California production, Beanz reflects on coming up in the game to finally seeing her dreams come to fruition.

Check out the latest from Beanz and sound off in the comments with your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics
Comin’ fresh off the plane, sippin’ champagne
Feelin’ like Jay-Z, money ain’t a thang
Think he ’bout to play me, n***a get played
I’m in the California sunshine, sittin’ by the waves

Toronto’s own ShaqIsDope recently dropped off one of his “best songs ever” — or so he claims in an Instagram caption — with the atmospheric and lyrically-driven “Blame Game.” Over an instrumental from Nyce Sound, Shaq follows-up a melodic chorus with some introspective bars. “Got a way with the words I’m heavenly gifted, got enough fire to make the devil suspicious,” he raps, his flex tempered by the track’s contemplative vibe. “The hell I’m living in ain’t complete without a mistress / told this girl I love her once, all I heard back was crickets.”

For those who can appreciate a bit of self-analysis on wax, there’s plenty to appreciate where “Blame Game” is concerned. Especially once he widens the scope to reflect on some of the problems plaguing society; while it’s not uncommon to hear American artists speak on systemic racism in the police force, it’s important to hear the Canadian perspective on the topic. “Nowadays some cops kill you if you know your rights,” he raps. “Depending on your skin, you’ll make it home at night.”  

There’s a lot to unpack on this one — be sure to check out the latest from ShaqIsDope right now, and look for big things from the Torontonian emcee in the future.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Got a way with the words I’m heavenly gifted,
Got enough fire to make the devil suspicious,
The hell I’m living in ain’t complete without a mistress
Told this girl I love her once, all I heard back was crickets

Is anybody really surprised that Benny The Butcher has come through with a brand new dose of bars? With his Harry Fraud-produced The Plugs I Met 2 set to drop March 19th, Benny has reunited with Charlie Sloth to deliver some “Fire In The Booth” for the first time since he and Conway absolutely bodied the studio a little over one year ago. This time, Benny is handling things on the solo tip, spitting three-minutes worth of elite lyricism in what appears to be the first of two installments.

“Since they want to shine, I’m copping them gold caskets,” he raps, stringing together an impressive multisyllabic rhyme scheme. “Ya’ll lil bastards be so backwards, I’m old fashioned / had dope addicts plus my phone had coke traffic / I was good in more than one sport like Bo Jackson / Plugs 2 n***a!” While the track is only available on Apple Music at the moment, expect a full video to surface in the near future, as was the case with the Griselda freestyle. 

Check out Benny’s new Fire In The Booth Freestyle now, and keep an eye out for The Plugs I Met 2 to drop on March 19th — while surpassing its acclaimed predecessor is no easy feat, if anyone is capable of such evolution, it’s the forefather of butchery himself. 

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Since they want to shine, I’m copping them gold caskets,
Ya’ll lil bastards be so backwards, I’m old fashioned
Had dope addicts plus my phone had coke traffic
I was good in more than one sport like Bo Jackson

For the second of her two recently released Spotify Singles (which arrive in celebration of her Best New Artist Grammy nomination), Chika has decided to share a cover of Billie Eilish’s emotional slow-burner “My Future.” Though Chika is more than capable of spitting high-caliber bars, she’s also in possession of some serious melodic chops, which happen to be on full display throughout this new two-pack. Retaining the spirit of Eilish’s original, Chika’s version is decidedly more laid-back, stripping away the percussion in favor of a lush acoustic arrangement that really highlights the melody and chord progression. 

“I picked ‘my future’ by Billie Eilish as my BNA cover for Spotify because the song is beautiful and presents an interesting opportunity to talk about where I am as an artist, especially on the heels of this nomination,” explains Chika, speaking on her new Spotify Singles release. “My present is moving so fast that each passing moment is practically the future already. And I’m in love with the ride I’m on.”  Should you be interested in hearing reimagined takes on existing hits — realized by talented and creative artists at that — check this one out right now.

QUOTABLE LYRICS

I know supposedly I’m lonely now
Know I’m supposed to be unhappy
Without someone 
But aren’t I someone?