ScHoolBoy Q, Cardi B, Meek Mill And More New Hip-Hop Releases You Need On Your Radar
Yesterday was 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.
ScHoolboy Q – Blue Lips
ScHoolboy Q’s seeming disinterest in rap in recent years has been unsettling for his fans, given his effortless proficiency in the art. While golf, fatherhood, and other endeavors have taken the bulk of his attention since his 2019 release Crash Talk, the Los Angeles rapper makes his return with BLUE LIPS, an album that stands as an early album of the year contender.
Opening with “Funny Guy,” an airy intro that finds Q commanding to bring the dope, hoes, and moneybags, BLUE LIPS quickly catches its stride with “Pop,” a rambunctious number boasting an epic climax courtesy of Rico Nasty. Energetic cuts like “THank god 4 me,” “Yeern 101,” and “First” are littered throughout the long player, but its best moments lies when ScHoolboy Q either delves inward or spreads the wealth.
“Blueslides” and “Cooties” capture the TDE spitter in a reflective mode, while “Germany 86′” pays homage to his mother’s time in the military and perseverance against the odds. Packing additional features from Freddie Gibbs (“oHio”), Ab-Soul (“Foux”), Az Chike (“Movie”), Jozzy (“Lost Times”), and Devin Malik and Lance Skiiiwalker (“Love Birds”), BLUE LIPS serves as a timely reminder that ScHoolboy Q is among the more inventive, yet dependable artists in the game. When he feels like it, that is. – Preezy Brown
Cardi B – “Like What (Freestyle)”
Cardi B’s solo singles have felt elusive over the years, so “Like What (Freestyle)” is a welcome release simply for the fact people can hear the Bronx star rap on her own. Another cool aspect of the track is her sampling Missy Elliott’s “She’s A Bi**h” into a record as aggressive as New York City cab drivers.
She raps with a hunger that hasn’t been heard from her in some time, making “Like What” easily her best single in some years. While there’s no sign of when her sophomore album will come, this is a good display of the fact she’s still in shape rapping-wise and can beat the sophomore slump if she brings this energy over a full LP. – Armon Sadler
Meek Mill – Heathanism
Meek Mill looks to shift the attention from speculatory allegations and online quarrels back to where its placed best: on his music. His new EP, Heathenism, is comprised of four selections, this outing finds the Philadelphian on the top of his game, displaying a return to form that should grab the attention of supporters and give his critics reason to take note.
“I’m back on that Dreamchasers sh*t, man,” he says at the beginning of “Came from the Bottom,” the first song on the project. “I ain’t even pray to live this way, this sh*t came found me/ Quarter-million on my lefty, perfect timing,” he raps, before likening himself to Milwaukee Buck Damian Lillard on “Times Like This.”
“Yeah, I rap, but I’m a shooter too, like Dame Lillard/ I seen money change ni**as like four qaurters in fourth quarter/ I ain’t change with ’em, I fought harder, had went Jordan,” he rhymes, before rounding things out with the Fivio Foreign-assisted “Whatever I Want” and the Future guested closer “Giving Chanel.”
While relatively brief, Heathenism is a lethal dose of unadulterated street rap and a strong capsule collection from the Dreamchaser. – PB
That Mexican OT – Texas Technician
Texas’ well of talent is as vast as The Lonestar State itself, with That Mexican OT being one of the more recent upstarts to emerge from the area. The rapper, who garnered praised for his string of buzzworthy singles last year, looks to affirm himself as more than a Johnny-come-lately with his new album Texas Technician.
The 16-track project starts off with “02.02.99,” a bustling number on which OT maneuvers atop a bass-heavy backdrop driven by ghastly synths and stuttering 808s. “Can’t nobody tell me sh*t ’cause I got cutters motherf**ker/ Bi**h, I’m Virgil ’til I die, no, I can’t be nobody other,” he raps with his commanding tenor arresting listeners’ ears.
Solo joints like “Comin’ Down” and “Mucho Gracias” impress, but Texas Technician is at its best when OT is in a collaborative state. Joints with Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Moneybagg Yo, Fredo Bang, Le$, and more hit the mark more often than they miss. – PB
Babyface Ray – “Green Carpet”
Babyface Ray delivers once again with his new single “Green Carpet,” as the Detroit native resumes the momentum set with his pair of 2023 releases Summer’s Mine and M.O.B. “I’m just watching my money fly, I made a green carpet,” he raps atop a hypnotic soundscape before sonically drawing listeners into his luxurious surroundings.
Relatively brief, yet effective, “Green Carpet” is likely indicative of a possible new collection from Ray looming in the near distance, a speculatory observation his fans would surely accept as reality – PB
Cash Cobain & Bay Swag – “Fisherrr”
Cash Cobain and Bay Swag’s “Fisherrr” is a two-pronged attack, both sonically and on a grander scale. They bring more light to New York lingo, as “fisherrr” is used to mean “for sure.” But they also bring back the popular 2014-2015 dance “the dab” as seen in their From The Block performance.
As for the song itself, they display great chemistry as they go back and forth weaving in and out of each other’s verses. The production picks up in the second half of the track with harder drums as they, in true sexy drill fashion, croon about all of the things they would like to do to a woman.
This subgenre just isn’t getting old, and that is thanks to Cash continuing to add new elements to his musical repertoire. – AS
Luh Tyler – “Bad Bi**h”
Luh Tyler’s “Bad Bi**h” is a tribute to the confident women. He raps “I don’t even gotta tell her, she know she a bad bi**h” in the chorus and then repeats “bad bi**h” as if he is saying it a room full of ladies. The production is simple, loaded with trap drums and hi-hats.
Tyler’s voice is raspy, as if he’s been smoking cigarettes for years, but it works. The record isn’t anything to write home about, but one can imagine it’ll find its way into many Instagram stories and TikToks. If that was the goal, Luh Tyler might have a winner here. – AS
Doodie Lo – “Purple Nightmares”
OTF underboss Doodie Lo waxes poetic about his drink of choice on “Purple Dreams,” the rapper’s latest single and follow up to his previous release “Role Model.” Comparing his magic elixir to a woman, the Illinois rep opens up about the traumatic side effects endured from the addictive concoction.
“Sipping all that codeine at night, I’m having nightmares/ Woke up in the middle of the night, my killer right there,” Doodie croons atop the twangy, 808 powered beat. He unleashes a new one-off to tide fans over until the release of his forthcoming project What Made Me. – PB
Anycia – “Up, Lit. Freestyle”
Anycia’s “Up, Lit. Freestyle” is a breezy, smooth listen. She brands a sensual tone, sounding as if she is flirting with her crush in a college library. She spends the record discussing a man who treats her like a lady and knows he’s her “daddy” so he treats her like a baby; perhaps a nod to the leaked jail call between Young Thug and Mariah The Scientist where she asks Thugger if she is his baby.
The production matches her gentle delivery, with drums just loud enough to hit but still not overpowering the track. It’s a solid offering from a rising act, and it’s especially nice getting true freestyles in this era. – AS
Skepta & Portable – “Tony Montana”
Skepta continues to show his range on “Tony Montana.” Off the name alone, one may expect to hear a mafioso-type record but he switches it up by delivering an afrofusion bop people can dance to. And because he’s got such a great rap voice, it works.
Portable’s autotuned heavy vocals on the chorus are great also, and he uses phrases in his native language which will make this song appeal to people both domestically and overseas. Afrobeats music truly never gets old, and Skepta spitting the way he does on this just elevates the record even more. Put “Tony Montana” in the win column for all of these artists. – AS
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