Songs

Erica Banks Takes On Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” On New Freestyle

by

Erica Banks is coming through 2023 swinging. Following a highly productive year in 2022, she came through with brand new heat today. The Texas rapper shared her freestyle over Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” this morning. Off the rip, Banks makes it clear that she’s gunning for the top. “Bitch, you know who I am/ Ain’t no bitches holdin’ me,” she declares as the beat kicks in. Then, she asserts herself as a leading lady in the rap game right now, whether or not anyone agrees with that sentiment.

At this point, Yung Joc hasn’t responded to Erica Banks’ remix of his record. However, she’s just one of a few who’ve paid homage to him recently. Just before 2022 ended, DaBaby released “Joc In 06,” which interpolates lyrics from “It’s Goin’ Down.”

HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 16: Erica Banks attends the VIP Red Carpet Screening of “The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation”on November 16, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images for “The Dirty 3rd: Next Generation”)

Erica Banks is still on a roll, two years after the success of “Buss It.” Last year, she shared her new project, Diary Of The Flow Queen. The 13-song project, released via 1501 Certified Entertainment, was an exemplary showcase of her versatility. At the same time, she connected with artists like Bankroll Freddie and DreamDoll, proving that she could hold her own.

Hopefully, the release of her latest remix is an indication that she has more heat in the pipeline this year.

Check out Erica Banks’ remix of Yung Joc’s “It’s Goin Down” below. Do you think she did the beat justice? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. Perhaps, this changes Yung Joc’s stance on the trajectory of female rap in 2023.

Quotable Lyrics
Some n***as hate that I’m the flow queen, they wanna see you take it
I know some hoes who be for real and I know hoes who love to fake it
I can’t argue with no hoe that carry purses that be vacant
They gon’ pop it on they page but in they DM, they be patient

Trench Baby Taps Polo G For “Done It All Freestyle”

by

Trench Baby is making his first single of the year a family affair as he prepares for a massive year ahead. The rapper came through with his latest offering featuring Polo G this week, “Done It All Freestyle.” The brotherly duo gets straight to the point on this one without offering a hook to tie it together.

Polo G kicks off the record with a blistering verse where he lays down the business. While he rips through his adversaries with vengeance, Polo G reminds everyone that he’s keeping his foot on the neck of the rap game. However, his verse sets up Trench Baby, who is undoubtedly on pace to have a big year ahead of him. The “Richest Gangbanger” rapper finally comes in on verse two, dishing out ominous threats to his enemies with a ferocious delivery. “He thought the switch would’ve turned him to God/ His soul was lost and now shit found,” he raps during his verse.

It feels like the latest offering from Trench Baby and Polo G is just the start of what they have in store this year. Trench Baby’s yet to release his debut project but he’s locked in collabs with artists like G Herbo. We certainly hope we’ll be hearing much more from him this year.

Polo G, on the other hand, came through with a string of singles throughout 2022. However, there hasn’t been an update on his follow-up to Hall Of Fame. He closed out 2022 with the release of “My All,” following October’s “Bag Talk.”

Make sure you check out Trench Baby’s latest collaboration with Polo G, “Done It All Freestyle.” Will Trench Baby have his breakout year in 2023? Let us know in the comments below.

Quotable Lyrics
Wooski will make shit scary, just one deep
We put the belt on the shelf like yo aunty
You think I’m cappin’? Well, lil n***a, come see
They undercover like 21 Jump Street

Tony Yayo & Lloyd Banks Collide On “Rocket Chamber”

by

G-Unit is locked and loaded in 2023 with Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks connecting for some new music.

This week, Tony Yayo unveiled his latest single, “Rocket Chamber” ft. Lloyd Banks. The two rappers deliver that gritty East Coast sound on their new collab. Banks kicks things off with his sly flow but even as he creeps through the beat, he firmly asserts himself as one of the most consistent lyricists in the game. Yayo, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily depend on quick-witted bars to get his point across. Instead, he continues to deliver blistering threats that ring out throughout the track. His energy makes up for what Banks lacks in that department but the balance between the two collaborators makes for an excellent start to 2023.

Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks during 2004 Vibe Awards - Show at Barker Hanger in Santa <a href=Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage for Vibe Magazine)” class=”wp-image-617160″ srcset=”https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg 3000w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=768,545 768w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1024,727 1024w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1536,1090 1536w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=2048,1453 2048w, https://editor.urbanlinx.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-112354656.jpg?resize=1500,1065 1500w” sizes=”(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px” />
Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks during 2004 Vibe Awards – Show at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage for Vibe Magazine)

Yayo and Banks have certainly been putting in work in recent years. Lloyd Banks emerged in 2022 with the release of Course Of The Inevitable II, his follow-up to 2021’s COTI. Additionally, he’s delivered several stand-out verses.

As for Yayo, he is currently working on his upcoming The Loyal Mixtape. Though the project doesn’t have a date, “Rocket Chamber” appears to be the launch of the campaign.

It seems like we might be hearing a lot from G-Unit this year. 50 Cent recently announced that he was going to be delivering new music after earning over a billion views on YouTube last year, even though he didn’t release any music.

Could there be a G-Unit reunion in the works for 2023? We’ll have to see. In the meantime, check out Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks’s new collab.

Quotable Lyrics
Insane in my blunt from Dr. Greenthumb
Got the K in the trunk, watch the drummer boy drum
Momma not home, whip it up in the kitchen
Tend to get high, bag it up in the basement

Big Boogie Is “Outside” On His New Single

by

Big Boogie is holding it down for the M and it feels like 2023 is about to be his year.

The CMG signee’s kicking off 2023 with the release of his latest single, “Outside.” The rapper explores his pains and sorrows through his auto-tune filtered vocals but it’s also a record that speaks to his resilience. He reflects on the obstacles he’s had to overcome and his efforts to uplift the people surrounding him. “I can’t see my members down broke and they hungry,” he raps on the single.

ATLANTA, GA – MAY 13: Yo Gotti and Big Boogie perform onstage at Spring Music fest at State Farm Arena on May 13, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Boogie also looks back at the arrest that nearly ripped his rap career from him. He reveals that he was staring down at 65 years in prison but had the case dropped.

Following such a monumental year in his career, “Outside” truly captures his vulnerability with clarity. However, it’s his pain-riddled melodies that are as infectious as they are effective in getting his emotions across on wax.

Throughout 2022, Big Boogie delivered a slew of singles, from “Homegirl 2.0” ft. Rick Ross, The-Dream and Bun B, to “Way Harder,” which arrived on Friday. In 2021, he blessed fans with his latest body of work, UNDERRATED. Shortly after, he blessed fans with the deluxe edition of the project, including another 10 songs. Yo Gotti and Moneybagg Yo both appear on the deluxe, as well.

We’re looking forward to hearing what Big Boogie has in store in 2023. “Outside” is certainly a strong indication that he’s coming for his in the next 12 months.

Check out his new single below.

Quotable Lyrics
Ten monkeys on my back but I be slappin’ everybody
You don’t get respect from me if you stepped on my silence
If you my bitch, you can’t be friendly with everybody
When I put that shit on, they be swearin’ that I’m cocky

Fat Trel Tackles Rob49’s “Vulture Island”

by

Fat Trel is coming for necks on his latest release.

Over the past few months, Trel has continued to put in work to regain his footing in the rap game. Just before January 1st, he blessed fans with a brand new freestyle over Rob49’s “Vulture Island.” The rapper takes on the ominous production with an aggressive flow, reminding fans that he’s still a sharp wordsmith when he steps to the mic. He weaves through the eerie vocal chants while representing for his block.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 19: Rapper Fat Trel serves as panelist for “Beating The Odds Summit” a conversation with youth at Woodland Community Center on October 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brian Stukes/Getty Images)

His latest freestyle comes after a few singles that he dropped in recent months. The rapper shared “Strike Sum” last month, just before his “Vulture Island” freestyle. Both singles came weeks after he was released from prison. The rapper was sentenced to a year and a half behind bars due to revocation of a suspended sentence and probation violation at the top of 2022.

Shortly after his release, MMG boss Rick Ross welcomed Trel home on Instagram. However, he didn’t reveal whether they had any new music in the stash.

The last official project Trel dropped was 2019’s 1901. Prior to that, he dropped On The Run. The project boasted 13 songs in total with appearances from Knucklehead, Meatchi, P-Zone, and Derez De’Shon.

Hopefully, a new body of work will arrive soon. For now, check out Fat Trel’s freestyle over Rob49’s “Vulture Island.”

Quotable Lyrics
Everytime my youngin’ bring them llamas out, it’s candlelight vigils
Fuck the mayor, keep it player, we ain’t trying to keep it civil
Pull a switch on a glick, I shot Malcolm in the middle
That lil b*tch got some kick, too legit and too official

Ty Dolla $ign Closes Out Another Year With “2022”

by

Ty Dolla $ign delivered an anthem to close out 2022. The California singer delivered his new single, “2022” just before the new year, and it’s an anthem that embodies the highs and lows of 2022. “This is where our story ends,” he sings before asking rhetorically, “Or is this where it begins?” While it’s as much of a record about closing chapters, Ty Dolla $ign is clearly embracing the uncertainty of 2023. The song also came with a new set of visuals to accompany the song.

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – MAY 29: Singer Ty Dolla $ign performs onstage during Safe & Sound Music Festival at Swangard Stadium on May 29, 2022 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)

“2022” might just be a hint of what Ty Dolla $ign has in store this year. Throughout 2022, he remained rather lowkey with the exception of a handful of features and singles. He teamed up with Wiz Khalifa on “Champions.” Towards the end of the year, he shifted gears with a new single alongside Lil Durk titled, “My Friends.” Clearly, he has a lot of music in store and fans are excited to hear what he’s cooked up in recent times.

Though it’s been nearly three years since he released his last solo studio project, Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, he came through with dvsn for Cheers To The Best in 2021. The collab project contained features from YG, Rauw Alejandro, and the late Mac Miller.

We’re glad to see Ty back in action these days, especially after he revealed that he was hospitalized in November. The singer shared a photo of himself in a hospital bed. He explained that he suffered from a bad skateboarding incident that left him “knocked out for a few.”

Press play on Ty Dolla $ign’s new single, “2022” and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Are you looking forward to hearing new music from him this year?

Quotable Lyrics
Leavin’ our memories in 2022, ooh
I thought, I thought it would be me and you
But my momma, my momma, my momma knew
2023 I’d be with someone new

Big K.R.I.T. Rings In 2023 With “Birthday Song”

by

After a steady run in 2022, Big K.R.I.T is kicking off the year on a high note. The Mississippi-born rapper emerged on New Year’s Day with his latest release, “Birthday Song.” Though his birthday is actually in August, “Birthday Song” is a short offering that bridges together influences of bounce music, tinges of crunk, and twangy Southern hip-hop for an infectious bop to jumpstart the new year. K.R.I.T isn’t necessarily showcasing his lyrical prowess on this record but instead, provides an upbeat bop to keep everyone’s spirits high as they enter 2023.

“We gonna start this year off right! Happy Birthday From Me To You! Capricorns you’re up first… Let’s Go,” he wrote, hinting that he might have even more birthday-themed anthems in the works for this year.

Though K.R.I.T. is a rather lowkey figure, he emerged last year with a slew of excellent projects. He blessed fans with his latest solo studio album, Digital Roses Don’t Die, boasting 17 songs with a single feature from Rolynné. Afterward, he joined forces with Smoke DZA, Wiz Khalifa, and Girl Talk for their joint project, Full Court Press. The album contained 10 songs in total with Curren$y joining them on the tracklist.

While K.R.I.T. is already blessing us with some new heat to set the tone for 2023, he’s approaching a huge milestone in his career. In April, he’ll celebrate the 10-year anniversary of his 2013 mixtape, King Remembered In Time. The project further showcased the rapper’s production style with appearances from Southern staples like Future and Bun B.

Make sure you press play on Big K.R.I.T.’s new single below and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section.

Quotable Lyrics
A party ain’t a party unless you with your friends
(Where the ladies at?)
A party ain’t a party unless you with your friends
(Where the fellas at?)

Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2022” Takes Shots At Ye, Yung Miami, Gunna, And More: Stream

by

Among many favoured New Year’s traditions that have arisen in recent years comes Uncle Murda’s annual “Rap Up” track. This year, the 42-year-old didn’t hold back at all while recounting the wild events of 2022. From the downfall of Kanye West to Megan Thee Stallion’s recent courthouse victory, he addresses all the smoke across the 15-minute title.

Landing on Saturday (December 31), the song chiefly crowns Ye “Donkey of the Year.” Specifically, the rapper notes his anti-Semitic and pro-Hitler rants, as well as the polarizing White Lives Matter shirts he debuted during Paris Fashion Week.

Uncle Murda attends the “Straight Cap” video shoot on June 15, 2021 in Bay Shore, New York. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Later, Murda also mentions the recently released Gunna, who took a plea deal in the upcoming YSL RICO trial. “Young Thug and Gunna got with the RICO / They using rap lyrics against them and that shit is illegal,” the New York rhymer says on the track.

“They let Gunna go, we tryna figure out how that happened / He took a plea deal, Lil Boosie said that n*gga ratting,” his bars go on.

Others who face heat from Uncle Murda include Thee Stallion, Will Smith, Yung Miami, Diddy, as well as Freddie Gibbs. Elsewhere on the song, he also addresses the deaths of Takeoff, PnB Rock, and DJ Kay Slay.

Finally, stream Uncle Murda’s “Rap Up 2022” on YouTube or SoundCloud below. Afterward, tell us your favourite bars from the lengthy diss track in the comments.

Quotable Lyrics:

Let’s talk about Kanye being antisemitic
The Adidas deal that made him a billionaire got deaded
Now he only worth ’bout four, five hundred M’s
He lost his momma, Pete Davidson started fucking Kim
He be dressing dusty now, he don’t even look rich
Been looking stressed since that white boy took his bitch

[Via]

Homeboy Sandman Starts Year With New Song “Eighth Day Of Christmas”

by

Homeboy Sandman blessed fans with a single every day in the holiday season, with his latest being “Eighth Day of Christmas.” Moreover, he began on December 25th, and his end goal is his new album, 12 Days of Christmas & Día de los Reyes, set to drop on Three Kings Day (January 6th). As such, each day leading up to the 6th brought us a new single off the album from Sandman.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – JULY 06: Homeboy Sandman performs at Revolution on July 6, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images)

While a track a day can seem daunting, the Queens MC wrote varied and high-quality tracks for each day. Some of his earlier singles were woozier, more energetic, and laced with spontaneous drums. However, “Eighth Day of Christmas” displayed Homeboy Sandman in a drumless, more reflective state. The beat is based on a smooth, glamorous, and lush sample, with many different instruments elevating the track.

For example, there’s the subtle chunks of electric guitar that give the track a funky feel. Also, the keys go from low bass notes to high-pitched tones with ease, which add some dynamism to the track. There’s not a lot of percussion here, with a light hi-hat and rimshot used as sparse elements. Finally, the deep bass is what grounds the track, balancing out the track’s melodic elements.

Meanwhile, the 42-year-old delivers a subtly emphatic performance, despite the track’s low-key and dreamy atmosphere. All of the beat’s elements come through very densely, but Homeboy balanced them with a confident and raspy flow. While there are a few abstract bars here and there, there are also powerfully simple proclamations against traditional success and not getting his due credit.

Furthermore, the flow is consistent, but he spit a lot of internal rhyme schemes and cheeky references. Everything makes for a great performance to ring 2023 in, consistent with his impressive output from last year. For example, he assisted the Oakland-based Oakstop Alliance in their debut album, Royalty Summit.

What did you think of Homeboy Sandman’s newest track, “Eighth Day of Christmas”? Moreover, are you excited for his new album, 12 Days of Christmas & Día de los Reyes? Let us know in the comments and check out some standout bars down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest great music drops of the week.

Quotable Lyrics

Laughin’ at the premise that I’m good for one penny,
Peep the independence, y’all gon’ need to come get me,
Example: tell my niece ‘Never need mimic,’
No need to even speak of a speed limit