Big Sean Uplifts, A$AP Rocky Pulls A Jack Move, Ice Spice Keeps It Raw, And More Hip-Hop Releases

Preezy Brown and Armon Sadler

August 3, 2024 at 5:52 AM·7 min read

Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Big Sean – “On Up”

After some underwhelming releases, Big Sean’s “On Up” plays like an early ’90s or 2000s record and finally hits the mark. In the song dedicated to his son, he teaches him about resilience and making the right business moves. The positive message is warm and tender, reminiscent of an early Big Sean track. He adds to the inspirational tone by featuring a gospel choir singing backup vocals and infusing soul claps into the beat. As a veteran, Big Sean is in his peaceful era. It’ll be interesting to see if it works in a music landscape that thrives on negativity. – Armon Sadler

A$AP Rocky Feat. Jessica Pratt – “Highjack”

A$AP Rocky’s “Highjack” is honestly pretty boring. His rapping style is the same as always, he doesn’t offer anything significant lyrically, and he is dissing either Drake or Travis Scott (who already buried him on “Family Matters”). Beyond that, why is he dissing someone over a girl that he currently has and conceived two children with? Thankfully, the production is immersive as per usual. He unfortunately does nothing to elevate said production, but “Highjack” better functions as music enjoyed in the background. The Harlem rapper’s best days are behind him, but we will always have his 2011-2015 run to reflect on and enjoy. – AS

Ice Spice – “GYAT”

One week after dropping her debut album Y2K!, Ice Spice delivered a bonus version with one new record titled “GYAT.” It’s similar to “Phat Butt,” but the production leans more into Jersey club energy. This track is easily better than any of the others on her album, though there’s a sonic clash between the loud production and her lower vocals. Regardless, she soared on this beat and showed that she could still churn out a hit. Selfishly, the song could have been longer or had a feature. However, it’s still highly enjoyable and right within her wheelhouse. – AS

Killer Mike & The Mighty Midnight Revival – Songs for Sinners and Saints

Killer Mike’s latest project, Songs For Sinners And Saints, marks a notable evolution in his discography, blending his sharp lyrical prowess with a dynamic mix of collaborators and solo highlights. From the get-go, the album sets a high bar with its opening track, “Bussing Bricks Intro.” Here, Mike asserts his street credentials with the line, “It ain’t dope if you can’t sell it / It ain’t gas if you can’t smell it,” laying down a marker for the raw, unfiltered themes that follow.

The standout track, “Nobody Knows,” featuring Anthony Hamilton, delivers an early gem that perfectly encapsulates the album’s depth and range. Hamilton’s soulful vocals complement Mike’s incisive rhymes, creating a memorable highlight in an already strong lineup. “Higher Level” and “Summer 4 Junkies” are particularly noteworthy solo outings, whereas collaborative efforts such as”Exit 9 (Scenic Route)” featuring Offset and Blxst elevate the album further. “Still Talk’n That Sh*t,” featuring Key Glock and Project Pat, closes the album with a strong Memphis influence. and has the makings of a darkhorse hit,

Overall, Songs For Sinners And Saints is a compelling addition to Killer Mike’s body of work and a must-listen for both long-time fans and newcomers alike. – Preezy Brown

Mike WiLL Made-It Feat Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty – “high3r”

Mike WiLL Made-It enlists Lil Yachty and Lil Wayne for his new track “high3r,” the lead single from the producer’s forthcoming album, R3SET. A relative departure from Mike WiLL’s up stylings, “high3r” features a slow rolling instrumental with enough pounding percussion and bass to shake a city block. Opening the song with a vocally nimble hook, Lil Yachty delivers sobering lyrics, including “Tweakin’, I feel like I’m flyin’/ Lately been thinkin’ ’bout dyin’/ But right now, I’m feelin’ alive again,” whereas Lil Wayne contributes a flurry of witty couplets on his own verse. – PB

NAV, Cash Cobain, Bay Swag – “6AM Thoughts”

NAV dives into the world of Slizzy on “6AM Thoughts” with Cash Cobain and Bay Swag, but breaststroke may be more appropriate given the song’s mood. The downtempo, sensual track fits what the title conveys: all three men reflect on sirens who have them under their spells, but reaffirm that they’re unwilling to conceive with them if they don’t have their lives together. The three thrive off of being lotharios so it’s no issue to keep their relationships to just sex. And, of course, their chemistry is seamless as they all use autotune croons to get their lustful messages across. Cash and Bay use a fun 1-2 punch style for their verse, and NAV handles his all on his own. A great track to set the mood, “fisherrr.” – AS

Boldy James & Harry Fraud Feat. Tee Grizzley – “Cecil Fielder”

Two of the hottest spitters out of the midwest blaze in tandem on “Cecil Fielder,” as Boldy James and Tee Grizzley keep it unapologetically Detroit while paying homage to the legendary Tigers first baseman. “Real authentic D-Boy sh*t,” Tee Grizzley declares at the onset of the track, produced by NYC-bred beatsmith Harry Fraud and led off by Boldy, who sets the tempo with a steely hook and opening verse.

“Legend of Zelda, just met a new connection/ Cut a few ni**as out the circle, made a few corrections,” James quips, as Grizzley swoops in to complete the cipher with an efficient verse of his own. “Cecil Fielder” arrives amid news of Boldy James and Harry Fraud’s plans to release a collaborative album, titled The Bricktionary, prior to summer’s end. – PB

Sixsaidit – ‘Black Widow’

Sixsaidit continues to show her versatility in the Black Widow three-pack. “Hi My Name Is” is a reintroduction to someone you should already know if you enjoy good music. She opts for seductive, low vocals which provide a perfect runway for her infectious remix to “Sweat.” The dance-ready, playful track matches “Hi My Name Is” in lustiness but picks up the tempo and raises the hair on the listener’s skin.

One can imagine seeing a TikTok dance routine being done to this song or someone dancing with their lover for the night at a dimly lit party on the Lower East Side. Finally, “Sorry” brings it all home. Ironically, she apologizes for things that she unapologetically did to a lover; it’s not her fault that she was so enchanting and they couldn’t handle it. And right when the listener lets all of these painful apologies sink in, she’s gone. Black Widow is a whirlwind experience for just a four-minute, 44-second runtime. – AS

9lives, Kanii, Anycia – “I Did It”

9lives joins forces with Kanii and Anycia on “I Did That,” a record that finds the 20-year-old pairing his melodic sensibilities with Anycia’s gruff drawl, with winning results. Hailing from New Zealand, 9lives describes how an introduction to Anycia led to the creation of “I Did That,” as well as the overall vibe of the record.

“This song is a mood boost,” 9lives said of the collaboration in a statement accompanying the song’s release. “Kanii and I were in Noise Nest Studios in LA, and Kanii went live on Twitch — so we were actually live with fans when we made the record, which was a special moment. I first met Anycia earlier this year in Atlanta, and I knew her nonchalant, laid-back delivery would be perfect for the song.” – PB

Tay B Feat. Lil Baby – “ALL TEN”

Tay B wards off negative vibes and the lackluster on the Detroit rhymer’s latest offering, which finds him trading bars with Atlanta’s own Lil Baby, whom he recently joined on the It’s Only Us tour. Produced by Teej and Gotica, the track finds Tay B taking the onus and opening the track with a cocksure stanza before Lil Baby takes over the proceedings. Accompanied by a music video featuring cameos by Motor City rap stars Tee Grizzley, 42 Dugg, and Baby Money, “All Ten” precedes Tay B’s forthcoming solo album, which is slated to drop in the fall and will be executive produced by Lil Baby himself. – PB