Welcome to our Rap Weekly number 21, it is a format where we bring you all the hot news from the scene, all new releases, clips, announcements that you should not miss. Today’s news feed is filled to the brim, Rapper Little Simz released her wrath on her newest project. The Alchemist serves a tasty sandwich, and we finally got a new album by Ab-Soul and on a top of that Kendrick Lamar released a new clip. What albums and music videos has been released last week? That and much more is just a one scroll away.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Artist Simbiatu “Simbi” Abisola Abiola Ajikawo AKA Little Simz belongs in between our favorite rappers. Rapper from UK released her studio debut A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons in 2015 and since then releases one great project after the other. Last year’s Sometimes I Might Be Introverted was a spectacular, fascinating work, now she comes with album No Thank You.
New album is on a shorter side so the tracks are more squeezed together and more intense. Rapper released her wrath, argues about mental health or music industry. Quite a few tracks on the album are over 4 minutes so artist is able to put together robust lyrical expressions. Simz once again proved us her unique talent and released one of the best albums of the year. You can also watch a 10-minute movie which was released alongside of the album.
NEWS
Alchemist serves his sandwich
Every single year we cannot wait for what will legendary producer release. This year he works on a few projects, he produced albums Continuance (w/ Curren$y), The Elephant Man’s Bones (w/ Roc Marciano) and EP One More but that is not all, and producer prepared a little surprise for the end of the year. He releases album The Alchemist Sandwich, where he connects EP Bread (2018) and Lunch Meat (2018) plus adds two new tracks. If you did not get a chance to listen to these EPs yet, give a listen to the Sandwich, it is definitely worth it. Alongside of the album there was also released some merch and vinyl.
Quelle Chris started a new series
Rapper Quelle Chris released album Deathfame earlier this year but decided to give us a surprise just before the end of the year. Joint by rapper Cavalier releases project called Death Tape 1: Black Cottonwood which was completely produced by Quelle himself. Guests are Merc The Maroon, Denmark Vessey and Mosel. You won’t be able to find album on any of the streaming services, but you can buy it here.
BEST RELEASES
Ab-Soul – Herbert
It is finally here, six years after the release of Do What Thou Wilt. comes Herbert. One of the most talented artists on a scene Ab-Soul releases his album on which he reflects on his position in a rap game, opens himself to the listeners and confesses his personal issues. Album is filled up to the brim with guests, you will hear names like Lance SkiiiWalker, Joey Bada$$, Punch, Zacari, Fre$h, Jhené Aiko, Ambré, Russ, Big Sean, ALEMEDA and SiR. If the album was worth the hype must each of the listeners decide for himself, what we can say is that Ab-Soul proved us once again that he is one of the best mainstream rappers of the current situation.
Ransom & V DON – Chaos Is My Ladder
We have already got some amazing music from rapper Ransom earlier this year (No Rest for the Wicked and This Life Made Me) but we dare to say that his newest album Chaos Is My Ladder produced by (our favorite) V DON is his best work this year so far. Ransom once again delivered honest, complex, very well worked through hard lyrics without any glorification. V DON brought perfect beats which can bring some calm melodies but also bone chilling loops.
Boldy James & Cuns – Be That as It May
Boldy James was already quite unstoppable last year, and he continues to absolutely dominate this year. Rapper released three different projects this year already, it started with Killing Nothing (w/ Real Bad Man), then Fair Exchange No Robbery (w/ Nicholas Craven) and Mr. Ten08 (w/ Futurewave, now comes his fourth album called Be That as It May, which was completely produced by Cuns and is once again high-quality project. Rapper was featured on a wide range of different productions this year, so it is just on you what sound suits the most to you. We also have to highlight Boldy’s effort to bring up the unknown artists to the spotlight. Talents Taj Mahal and Bo Skeet showed us their talents more than well on the track Quinine. No clip was released for the album, so we are attaching a video of the song Designer Drugs.
Your Old Droog – YOD Presents: The Shining
Another completely unstoppable artist of this year is Your Old Droog which managed to release 4 EPs – YOD Wave, Yod Stewart, Yodney Dangerfield and The Yodfather. At the end of the year rapper got us a nice present for the Christmas called YOD Present: The Shining. Name itself suggest that the whole project will be stylized like the famous book by Stephen King and movie adaptation by Stanley Kubrick. This EP goes hand to hand with YOD Wave as rappers best work this year. Beats has a very thick atmosphere and rapper come with a great punchline basically in every verse. No video was released for the record, so at least check out the clip for the song Bangladesh.
Bub Styles & Vada – FLOOD LIGHTS
You cannot exchange Bub Styles biting voice with anything. After the Head of the Boar, The Great Outdoors, Ramble Raps Volume 1 and Outerwear SZN 2 comes EP FLOOD LIGHTS completely produced by talented Vada. There is not much that needs saying about this project, if you are at least little bit familiar with the name Bub Styles, you are fully aware of the fact that you’ll get one of the toughest tracks you can put your hands on.
ANOTHER DOPE RELEASES
SwuM & GRIMM Doza – IMMORTAL
D-Styles & J Scienide – The Periodic Tables of Excellence
Mike Titan & Zcience Division – Ghost Warriors
G Fam Black & Chuck Chan – Hallucinations
Sleep Sinatra – WORSHIP!
Eclyse & Mike Martinez – QUATRO
Kurupt & C Mob & GOTTI MOB – Don’t Be Stupid
Mickey Factz & Ayo Shamir – It’s Only Us Here
Vicasso – Artistry & Craftmanship Vol.1
Speak the Rebel – Dickspin EP
OT the Real – Desperation of December
Mally Abstract – thank you (for the memories)
Bizarre – RETTAVILLE
Jim Jones – 12 Days Of XMAS
MIKI & TEK – THE YEAR OF THE TIGER
Judah – Worth the Weight
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Kendrick Lamar delivers another great clip for his Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
Larry June delivered another banger.
The Musalini & Izzy Hott reminded us about their new album.
Rahiem Supreme us again that he is one of the most unique artists of his generation.
Nuc, Rod Roche and Estee Nack are here with bone chilling clip
ANOTHER DOPE VIDEOS
Streets Soprano – Back Against The Wall Ft. Weso Gee
John Jigg$ X SAMPLCITY – Eyes Don’t Lie Ft. AfroDev
Curtis Coke & Dee Jay Sight – Street Talk 2
BeenOfficial ft. SC Money – I’m Working
PEACE TO THE QUEENS AND THE BABIES AND ALL THAT PROD BY DJ MASTAMIND
And that’s it all the important news on the scene from the last week. What caught your eye this week? Let us know on Instagram or Twitter. You can expect another one after the New Year’s Eve. It’s going to be really interesting, so don’t miss it.
Translated from Czech by Rado.
