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Fans have awaited Lil Tjay to return with new music following the near-fatal shooting this summer. The rapper was shot in New Jersey and remained in the hospital for weeks, though he and those in his team provided updates. Over the weekend, Tjay unleashed a new freestyle over 50 Cent’s “Many Men,” where he seemingly mentioned the name of HBTL’s Trap Manny, who had friction with the “Beat The Odds” rapper over the past few years.

In response, Don Q stepped up to the plate with the release of his latest single, “Idk.” The rapper clarified off the top that he has no idea who may have been the culprit behind the shooting before tearing Tjay apart. “Now you think you 50 for clout/ He took 9, you took 7, two more will help him figure it out/ How much Highbridge dick is gon’ fit in your mouth?” He raps on the record after calling Tjay an “A Boogie stan.”

Check the record out below.

Quotable Lyrics
I used to like you so I’m happy they ain’t finish the job
But you must got a death wish, you tryna mention the squad
Got shot, now he saying names all over your rap
Pussy boy I could imagine what you told the detectives
Got up out the hospital and now you overaggressive

Lupe Fiasco, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, has proven himself a clever wordsmith. Born in Chicago, Illinois, the 40-year-old rapper has been making hits since the early 2000s. Given his expertise and ability to rhyme, the artist was asked to teach a rap course at MIT, and he accepted, but that task did not hinder him from dropping unearthed records.

On September 16, the new 1st & 15th compilation EP Chill’s Spotlight 3 was released. Two of the five records were from Lupe’s extensive archive. “The Pen and the Needlz” and “Ohh Oh” came from the rapper’s 2005 mixtape Fahrenheit 1/15. At 23, the artist produced both records, proving that he was destined for the music industry. The mellow beats and clever wordplay provided by the tracks showed beyond doubt that Lupe was ahead of his time. 

“The Pen and the Needlz” told the story of what it was like to live in unwanted conditions. He started the song by saying, “Grew up in Chicago, West side, gang lifestyle, the drug scene, the whole.. it’s like one whole universe of insanity.” In “Ohh Oh,” the rapper talked about many topics while showing off his double entendres.

Stream both records below.

Quotable Lyrics

I got a bezel from embezzling—good heavens!
And they said I lost it in ninety-seven
About to start using Mexicans—not ’cause they better-than
Just ’cause I get, “Sí, señor,” not, “I need more” (Uh-uh)

Canadian R&B sensation Jessie Reyez unleashed a new album earlier this weekend – one that finds her carrying the majority of songs on the tracklist by herself, aside from one collaboration with 6LACK on the third title, “FOREVER.”

The “Figures” songstress’ emotion is evident in her voice over the melodic music as she sings, “I like every flaw I see in you / This is all new / But I hope I got what you need too.”

For his part, 6LACK shared a verse full of flirtatious bars, rapping, “Passwords, passports / I’ma have to treat you like a landlord / I want you to stay, save the moment / Gotta put it on the camcorder / She a all-star, pornstar / Throw it up and catch it off the backboard.”

Other titles on the album include the previously released single “MUTUAL FRIEND.” Stream the full Yessie project here, and check out “FOREVER” on Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud below.

Quotable Lyrics:

‘Cause sometimes somebody loves somebody
But that body don’t love ’em back
And it’s easy to say that you didn’t know
You didn’t know what you had
But you don’t, you’re educated
You know that they don’t make ’em
Like me anymore
So you pull me in close and say

On his 21-track I Never Felt Nun album, EST Gee carried the majority of the songs on his own, though he did enlist help from artists like Jeezy, Future, Bryson Tiller, and Jack Harlow to assist him on a handful of the titles.

Another – unexpected to some – name that was featured on the album is Machine Gun Kelly, who made his long-awaited return to rap on the project’s 17th song, “Death Around The Corner.”

Social media users were mostly enthused, and surprised, to hear how Colson Baker killed his verse, praising his vulnerability for reflecting on past hardships such as his father’s death and being stabbed in the back by close friends.

Of course, there were those who questioned how the collaboration even came to be, and why MGK is straying away from his newfound rockstar image – read what Twitter had to say about “Death Around The Corner” here, and stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud below.

Quotable Lyrics:

I lost all of my emotions the minute I watched my father die in front of me
I had to take the knife out of my back from someone who was like a son to me
You know we keep the location on you, so it ain’t a point tryna run from me
I gotta lower the elevation, ’cause it ain’t nobody that is up with me

Lil Tjay was incredibly lucky to survive after being shot seven times earlier this year, something the 21-year-old acknowledged on his new “FACESHOT” freestyle, which finds him rapping over the beat to 50 Cent’s “Many Men.” 

Fif and his fellow New Yorker linked up earlier this month, sharing an Instagram post hinting at the possibility of an upcoming collaboration between the two involving the Digga-produced track.

“Youngest in charge, king of my city / I’m the richest to ever do it after Hov, Fif, and Diddy,” the True 2 Myself artist reminds listeners on his first verse. “New York, I’m like the motherf*ckin’ coal founder / Love the feelin’, they want blow up they can’t go around ya.”

When announcing the track’s arrival on his Instagram page, Tjay wrote, “This what ya wanted lmaoo. Guess it’s time to shake shit up! I woke up feeling like @50cent, [you know] what that means.”

“After this ima just go mainstream on ya. F*ck money, what ya think #power?” he continued. “Lol nah lemme [stop]. ‘Many Men’ freestyle out now but i named this one ‘FACESHOT’ cause [you know], yeahhh.”

Check out the new arrival exclusively on YouTube below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more music updates.

Quotable Lyrics:

Youngest in charge, king of my city

I’m the richest to ever do it after Hov, Fif, and Diddy

New York, I’m like the motherf*ckin’ coal founder

Love the feelin’, they want blow up they can’t go around ya

[Via]

D Smoke, born Daniel Anthony Farris, gained popularity after winning the first season of Rhythm + Flow in 2019. The Netflix reality show put on a  competition for unsigned rappers to be judged by T.I., Chance the Rapper, and Cardi B. In the end, D Smoke took the title along with $250,000. Since then, he’s managed to sign a record deal, garner a wide fanbase, and work with some of the hottest artists in the game.

Yesterday (September 16), Mexican Independence Day, the 36-year-old released his latest record, “El Rey.” The song’s title translates to “The King,” which solidified that the Inglewood, California native thinks highly of his skills and abilities. The two-minute record started with Jose Alfredo Jimenez singing his edition of “El Rey” before the melody transitioned to a hard-hitting beat.

Not only did D Smoke release the single, but he also accompanied it with a music video. In the visual, he featured videos that showed celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Swizz Beats, and Issa Rae wishing their audience a happy Mexican Independence Day. The rapper included actors of different shades in his video, paying homage to them for their history.

Watch the video and stream the song below.

Quotable Lyrics

Black is beautiful
Brown is born of the Earth
Found a love for the people
That’s down to stomp on the turf 

NBA YoungBoy is an artist who likes to do things on his own terms and for his most recent independent release, the 22-year-old has shared a new single called “Like A Jungle (Outnumbered)” on which he gets a few things off of his chest.

“All these things make a real n*gga turn strange, been through it all, he stayed the same / Seventeen, gone up the road strapped down with chains,” the Louisiana native recalls on his first verse. “Long nights, I spent the long hot, made me colder / Killers tryna play me closer, family tryna f*ck me over.”

Other recent arrivals from the YB include his surprise Realer 2 mixtape, as well as a music video for “Purge Me,” in which he seemingly announced that his partner is pregnant and gave fans a look into how he handles life as a father.

Stream “Like A Jungle (Outnumbered)” exclusively on YouTube above, and tap back in with HNHH later for more music updates. 

Quotable Lyrics:

All these things make a real n*gga turn strange, been through it all, he stayed the same
Seventeen, gone up the road strapped down with chains
Long nights, I spent the long hot, made me colder
Killers tryna play me closer, family tryna f*ck me over

Symba and DJ Drama came together this New Music Friday (September 16) to unleash their joint project, Results Take Time as a part of the Generation Now co-founder’s Gangsta Grillz series – this one being classified as a “special edition.” 

The West Coast rap star linked up with collaborators like Roddy Ricch, Pusha T, Kali, Fridayy, Rayven Tyler, Key Glock, and RMR to finalize his album, as well as 2 Chainz on “Pop Out” which has already emerged as a fan favourite.

The fast-paced rack finds both Symba and Tity Boi sharing braggadocious bars like “These n*ggas thought that I was playing / ‘Cuz I been out the way / Million dolla n*gga / I been humble, but today,” and also sampled the infamous “we OUTSIDEEE” meme that generated plenty of internet attention last spring.

Other standouts on the tracklist include previously released singles like “Never End Up Broke Pt. 2” and “GOAT,” as well as “Never Change” featuring Roddy.

Stream “Pop Out” on Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud below, and tap back in with HNHH later for more music updates.

Quotable Lyrics:

These n*ggas thought that I was playing

‘Cuz I been out the way

Million dolla n*gga

I been humble, but today

We have a fusion of generations of music with this newly-released single that already has R&B buzzing. Queen Naija has gone from a YouTube star to a beloved singer whose voice has been praised by her peers, and as she continues to thrive in her career, she partnered with legendary artist and producer Babyface for their new single, “Game Over.” 

Ever since Sean “Diddy” Combs proposed that R&B was on its last breath, there have been several releases to combat that take. “Game Over” carefully balances a production that compliments both new school and old school approaches from the two artists, making this a blend that listeners will enjoy.

Babyface saw a huge uptick in streaming numbers following his Verzuz years ago, so it is unsurprising that he’s continued to collaborate with R&B acts of this generation of music.

Stream “Game Over” and share your thoughts.

Quotable Lyrics

You finesse me into thinking you were solid
All that sweet sh*t you was talkin wasn’t valid
You only think about yourself boy you so selfish, and you childish
You don’t turn me on no more instead you turn me off
Always get mad bout little petty shit, it turns me off
You never take me on no dates you don’t show me off

It’s a new season for Arizona songbird Kiana Ledé as she returns with a new single for New Music Friday (September 16). Ledé is known for her smooth R&B jams often centered on love and relationships, and on “Irresponsible,” she belts her way over a track with a catchy hook that perfectly highlights her harmonies. 

“Thank you to my team, the creative ass people and everyone involved for helpin start this new era,” she penned on Instagram as she promoted her new single. 

Although Ledé has released several EPs, fans are waiting for an official announcement regarding her next full-length record. It was back in 2020 during the pandemic that the singer gave the world her debut album Kiki, and now that we have all ushered in a new normal, Ledé’s supporters are pleading for more.

Stream Kiana Ledé’s “Irresponsible” and let us know what you think.

Quotable Lyrics

I dove in blind, took a chance on us (Us)
Gave my trust (Trust), so in love (Love)
And it’s difficult for me to open up
You were someone I thought was careful with me