YG Cashes Out, Big Sean Meets The Alchemist, That Mexican OT Gets Vintage, And More Hip-Hop Releases

Preezy Brown and Armon Sadler

August 17, 2024 at 4:21 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.

YG – Just Re’d Up 3

After spending the first half of the year preparing listeners for his reemergence with a consistent trickle of singles and guest spots, YG unleashes his new project, Just Re’d Up 3, the third installment in the rapper’s mixtape series. Running 19 songs in length across two discs, the first collection of songs starts off with a bang with “Go Brazy,” a blistering track produced by Mustard and featuring Baby Stone Gorillas. Arriving in the midst of his domestic drama with girlfriend Saweetie, the couple connects on “She Pretty,” an inclusion likely to spur further speculation regarding the pair’s relationship.

Island vibes are conjured on the Diamond Platinumz-assisted “Street Love,” and additional guest spots are filled by Larry June, Kalan.FRFR, Ty Dolla $ign, and Jaye Anderson help boost Disc 1’s staying power, however, the second set is where Just Re’d Up truly finds its footing. Presenting a mix of high-powered collaborative efforts (“Malibu,” “Kolors,” “Stupid”) with sterling solo offerings (“Violence,” “Love Make,” “I’m In Love”), YG hits his stride with Just Re’d Up 3, which shall suffice until his next long-player. – Preezy Brown

Big Sean & The Alchemist – “Together Forever”

Big Sean tapped The Alchemist for “Together Forever,” and it was a great decision. The production is immaculate, but he doesn’t bring the same vibe with his lyrics and verses. The “snow bunnies call me that ni**a” line? Oddly placed and unnecessary. It’s nice that he’s confident but things just aren’t sticking. He has tried high-energy records, introspective records, and the Alchemist stimulus package, and it’s hard to feel excited about his upcoming album. Not to mention his appearance on Cash Cobain’s “Problem” which left a lot to desire. It’s tough to determine what his next move should be, but “Together Forever” was underwhelming. – Armon Sadler

That Mexican OT featuring Curren$y, Le$ – “1982”

That Mexican OT’s latest single, “1982,” marks an exciting new chapter in his rising career. Following the success of his Texas Technician project earlier this year, this track—featuring Curren$y and Le$—captures the essence of cruising through the Lone Star State in a vintage Mercedes Benz. The song, produced by Bankroll Got It, effortlessly blends laid-back vibes with vibrant Southern flair.

In “1982,” That Mexican OT delivers his signature drawl with swagger and a nod to nostalgic influences. His lyrics paint a vivid picture: “I just sit back and watch, the loud got me feelin’ like I’m Cam / Wild boy just like I’m Steve-O, keep flippin’ money like Bam / Sippin’ drank in New York City, I pour a tray out for Yams / Just rolled an 8th out the Jordan pack, I hit it like it’s wham.”

The accompanying music video, directed by DGreen Filmz, complements the track’s vibe perfectly, highlighting the Texas landscape and adding a visual layer to OT’s storytelling. As his popularity continues to soar, “1982” is a testament to That Mexican OT’s evolving artistry and his ability to captivate listeners with both his music and his persona. – PB

Lil Yachty & Veeze – “Sorry Not Sorry”

Lil Yachty and Veeze function like the Hardy Boys on “Sorry Not Sorry.” There is great lyrical chemistry and fervor in their raps. The difference in their voices also makes for a nice listening experience; Veeze’s raspy voice and Yachty’s higher-pitched vocals are great yin-yang. Both rappers excel at making great hooks, but this record focusing more on a lyrical exhibition is a nice switch-up. The only real issues with “Sorry Not Sorry” are the short run time at two minutes and 16 seconds and the fact that they don’t hit another gear. It’s like they’re running an 800-meter dash pace in a 200-meter dash. – AS

Cash Cobain & Laila! – “Problem”

Cash Cobain assembled a massive crew for the long-awaited “Problem,” a flip of Laila! “Not My Problem.” The seven-and-a-half-minute record is ambitious but leaves one wishing they showed a bit more restraint. 6LACK, Fabolous, Chow Lee, Flo Milli, and Kaliii deliver the best verses, using the sample as the endpoint to their bars. Other guest stars seemingly wanted to show how well they could rap, which wasn’t the goal. What begins as a catchy, infectious loop eventually gets tiring and annoying. Cash walks away sounding the best and showing why this is his signature sound. But he deserves credit for securing all of these verses and executing a well-thought-out rollout. – AS

Gucci Mane – Greatest Of All Trappers (Gangsta Grillz Edition)

Gucci Mane is undoubtedly Southern rap royalty, with a resume of hits and contributions to the culture that cement that status, concretely. Never one to mince his sentiments, Gucci pairs up with DJ Drama as he declares himself the Greatest Of All Trappers on the Atlanta rep’s new Gangsta Grillz mixtape. Setting the tone with the boisterous opener, “GOAT,” the 1017 boss delivers a highly entertaining project, with songs like “Questions,” “Hypocrites,” “4 Lifers,” and the Diddy-centric outro “TakeDat” among the project’s most potent offerings. With the lone feature being JT’s cocksure performance on “Chanel Bag,” Greatest Of All Trappers exhibits Guwop’s infectious wordplay and bravado, as his tried-and-true formula has yet to lose its luster. – PB

38 Spesh – Mother & Gun

An emcee that’s become one of my favorites over the past year, particularly due to his standout verse on Rakim’s God’s Ne7work album, is 38 Spesh, a creative equally adept at scribing spellbinding verses as he is scoring colorful backdrops. After producing full albums from lyrical peers Rasheed Chappell, The Musalini, and, most recently, Grafh, the Rochester, N.Y. native puts the focus back on himself with Mother & Gun, a project that includes observations and recollections from the perspective of a wisened street veteran.

Paying homage to his late matriarch on the introductory cut “Early Morning,” 38 Spesh then connects with Clemm Rishad on “Sacrifice,” a track that finds him recounting his evolution from street entrepreneur to legitimacy. Solo salvos such as “Del Lago” and “Can’t Show Love Pt. 3,” the latter of which finds him advising, “Some people gonna put money above friendships/ That’s why you gotta show ’em love from a distance,” find the double-threat relying on his own devices, while collaborative efforts such as “Had It Coming” featuring Havoc and Lloyd Banks, and the transparent, Benny the Butcher and Che Noir guested biographical outro, “Underestimated” also constitute required listening. – PB

Chance The Rapper Featuring Joey Purp – “Bad Boys 2”

Chance The Rapper feat. Joey Purp “Bad Boys 2” cover art

Don’t look now, but Chance The Rapper has been making some of his best music in years. “Bad Boys 2” featuring Joey Purp is a missile. The production is triumphant, blending the aura of a college football stadium with the breeziness of a boat ride in Miami. And not to be forgotten, the duo raps with a palpable passion. This is an earworm for various reasons and the continuation of a run that isn’t being discussed enough. Chance hears the critics, sees the jokes, and has opted to show and prove on wax. “Bad Boys 2” isn’t just one of the hottest songs of the week. It’s one of the best songs of the year. – AS

Rylo Rodriguez – “85 Cutlass”

Rylo Rodriguez’s “85 Cutlass” is your standard midtempo trap record discussing disloyal people, frivolous spending, and sexual escapades with women whose names he doesn’t know. Admittedly, it’s a pretty boring record. Listeners can barely make out what Rylo is saying and his linear vocals up until the very end don’t give any sonic variation that would make one’s ears perk up. For the majority of the song, he sounds like he doesn’t want to be recording it. The production is solid, with thumping drums and a consistent high-pitched vocal sample. However, there isn’t much to gain here and the replay value is low. – AS

Diamond D – The Diam Piece 3: Initium

One of the more respected boardsmen and curators of his time, Diamond D continues to lead the charge for the golden era while keeping his sound and approach fresh on The Diam Piece 3: Initium, the third installment in his critically acclaimed album series. Helming the production for the entirety of this 9-track offering, the New Yorker digs in the crates and excavates various soulful samples for each contributor to wax poetic over.

Boasting a tracklist filled with lyrical heavyweights, The Diam Piece 3 is fully stocked with firepower, from the Skyzoo and RJ Payne-led opener “Fire & Water” to “The Kings” featuring rap legend KRS-One, two early offerings that build up the momentum carried by the subsequent standouts on the album. Appearances by Torae, Bishop Lamont, Sauce Money, Lord Tariq, Royal Flush, Inspectah Deck, Shyheim Rugged, Agallah The Don, Bone Crusher, and more are welcome additions and fail to disappoint, making The Diam Piece 3: Initium a project masterful in its pacing and curator’s quality control. – PB