LL Cool J Comes Full Force, A$AP Rocky Spars With J. Cole, Sexyy Red Flaunts Her Clout, And Other Hip-Hop Releases

Preezy Brown and Armon Sadler

September 7, 2024 at 4:52 AM·8 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.

LL Cool J – THE FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy)

One of Hip-Hop’s first bonafide superstars, LL Cool J’s legacy as one of the greatest to pick up a mic is already intact.

Having built a legitimate career as an actor, he’s spent much of the past decade in that realm. All the while, he’s remaining a flag bearer for the culture with his Rock The Bells platform and spearheading endeavors such as the GRAMMY Awards’ Salute to 50 Years Of Hip-Hop event. However, the Queens native has caught the rap itch again, as he unleashes his new album, THE FORCE, his first in over a decade.

Having never spent this much time away from the mic, initially it was unclear if Uncle L could recapture the magic of his glory years. His performance on his latest body of work quells those questions, as he sounds as invigorated and focused as ever. Shunning calculated attempts at revamping his sound or chasing trends, LL instead goes back to his roots, simply rhyming for the love and the sport of it.

From solo joints like “Passion,” “30 Decembers,” “Runnit Back” to collaborative efforts alongside Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe and Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Eminem and more, if THE FORCE were to referred to as a comeback, it’s surely an admirable one worth witnessing. – Preezy Brown

A$AP Rocky featuring J. Cole – “Ruby Rosary”

A$AP Rocky feat. J. Cole “Ruby Rosary” cover art

A$AP Rocky’s “Ruby Rosary” is one of the better singles he has dropped in this rollout toward Don’t Be Dumb, but there are still some holes. The record sinks because he is still dissing Drake despite saying he had bigger fish to fry. The beef is over, Kendrick Lamar won, and the Harlem rapper has the girl that the 6 God wanted in the past. Move on and make more focused tracks.

The Alchemist laced him with a great beat and he did nothing to make the most of it. Fortunately, J. Cole delivered a refreshing strong feature given his mostly silent disposition since “7 Minute Drill.” Most listeners walk away from this record thinking it would have been better if Cole handled it on his own. – Armon Sadler

Sexyy Red – U Kno What To Do

Sexyy Red’s “U Kno What To Do (UKWTD)” is a solid follow-up to her string of good records over the last year. She uses autotune well her, creates a catchy hook, and her usual raunchy punchlines. It shows her knack for song-making, appealing to women, and beat selection that can get everyone amped up in the right setting.

“Clouted Up” isn’t as good, but it has the elements of a signature Sexyy Red song. It kind of puts a hat on a hat when you listen to “UKWTD” beforehand, though it is devoid of autotune. The good thing is that the song is over 30 seconds shorter, so by the time it gets close to wearing it out its welcome, it’s over. – AS

Toosii and Gunna – “Champs Elysees”

Toosii & Gunna “Champs Elysees” cover art

Toosii and Gunna have really great chemistry on “Champs Elysees.” It is partially due to the fact both excel at records about spending money on women and their lavish styles, and in large part because they have mastered autotuned croon raps. Toosii’s flow gets a bit choppy at some points, whereas Wunna easily skates across the plodding beat and traps drums.

It is a pretty short record which is fine because it didn’t need much to get their points across. The only real issue is there are so many songs that sound like this that it may not cut through, but it is enjoyable seeing these two linkup; Toosii is another artist that isn’t afraid to spotlight Gunna and he got a good track out of it. – AS

Rome Streetz and Daringer – “Starbvxks”

Rome Streetz and Daringer have unveiled plans for their forthcoming collaborative album, Hatton Garden Holdup, slated to drop at the top of October. The duo, who first connected on Rome’s Kiss The Ring album, give rap fiends a taste test of what they’ve got cooking up with “Starbvxks,” the first release from the project.

Flowing over a murky backdrop produced by Daringer, Streetz flaunts his swagger with cocksure panache, boasting, “Don’t even gotta ask who run this sh*t, it’s evident/ They struggling to last, these other pricks irrelevant/ Worldwide with the splash, they salute me like the President” amid comparisons of his lyrical guile to NBA Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady’s athleticism.

Accompanied by a visual that alternates scenes of Streetz in his habitat with various clips that give context to his verses, “Starbvxks” bodes well for what listeners can look forward to upon Hatton Garden Holdup‘s arrival. – PB

Quavo, Ty Dolla $ign, Are We Dreaming – “If I Fall”

Quavo and Ty Dolla $ign continue to build on their collaborative chemistry with the help of Are We Dreaming on “If I Fall,” the lead single from the TRANSFORMERS ONE soundtrack. Powered by a pulsating backdrop, the track begins with Quavo declaring that he’s “standing on business” and “taking no prisoners,” while Ty Dolla $ign showcases his own lyrical skills with bars scheming on their competitors.

Composed by Brian Tyler, “If I Fall” meshes pop with Hip-Hop and aligns perfectly with the theme of the Transformers film, as Quavo, Ty, and Are We One join forces on this rollicking thumper. – PB

Flo Milli featuring Coop & G – “Wet Dreams”

Flo Milli feat. Coop & G “Wet Dreams” cover art

Flo Milli is becoming one of the best at making sultry records and “Wet Dreams” is the latest example. She brings along Coop & G, who have distinguishable voices but match the energy easily. This song isn’t solely just about sex, but it is also about them clarifying that they won’t engage with just anyone and sex shouldn’t be made out to be more than that.

Additionally, they empower one another and thus make all women listeners feel like baddies. It is a great follow-up to “Never Lose Me,” but even slower and woozier. Flo gets her praise, rightfully so, but songs like these make one wonder why she isn’t ever mentioned with the current heavyweights on the women side of rap. – AS

Wale – “Ghetto Speak”

Wale speaks on the “universal madness” that impacts Black America on “Ghetto Speak,” one of two singles the hitmaker recently rolled out as a dual release. Produced by T-minus, the song starts off with a brief monologue by Wale, followed by a quikstrike verse that doubles as an observational analysis of his surroundings and self. Released alongside a music video that plays as a short film, “Ghetto Speak,” and it’s accompanying track, “Mission Statement,” serve as reminders that Folarin’s poetic flow is still a force to be reckoned with. – PB

Chow Lee – Sex Drive

Chow Lee’s Sex Drive is finally hear and the cover art tells the listener everything they need to know; he literally has a woman’s leg spread open on the trunk of a car. It is fitting, given he is one of the leading sexy drill rappers and throughout this album, he makes car-rattling raunchy anthems with popular samples.

Beyond that, he taps some of the most ideal people to fit into this arena of music, namely constant collaborators Cash Cobain and Bay Swag plus Flo Milli, Anycia, Roy Woods, and AJ Tracey. By this point, listeners know what they will get from Chow. If you like it, you’ll love tracks like “Cinderbella!” and “Bangbang!” If you hate it, well, that’s okay too. However, the project is solid albeit a bit long in the tooth. – AS

Dyce Payso and Fatman Scoop – “Let It Go”

Dyce Payso links up with late Hip-Hop legend Fatman Scoop, who tragically passed away at the beginning of September, for a feel-good party banger that doubles as Fatman Scoop’s last musical appearance. Hailing from the Bronx, Payso manuevers over a sample of Ray J’s 2001 hit “Wait A Minute” featuring Lil’ Kim, as he advises his listenership to dispose of the unbenificial while Fatman Scoop hypes up the track with his contagious energy.

Released alongside a music video directed by Andrew Greenblatt, “Let It Go” is a sure-shot to get bodies swaying and attract new fans to Payso, but arrives under bittersweet circumstances given Fatman Scoop’s transition. – PB