Welcome to our Rap Weekly number 35. It is a format where we bring you all the hot news from the scene, all new releases, clips, and announcements that you should not miss. Today’s news feed is filled to the brim: Underground Renaissance sails under the Pirate flag, billy woods reveals the tracklist of one of the most anticipated albums of the year, the best names in underground music meet on a collaborative record, and Black Thought releases another top-notch album. This week, you’ll get some quick news that you can’t miss. What albums and music videos have been released last week? That and much more can be found by scrolling down.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Strict street rap that respects the roots of the genre yet brings some new, fresh sounds. Alchemist, Westside Gunn, or Roc Marciano; those are the names associated with neo boom bap and underground Renaissance on a daily basis, but not far from them stands one name that is climbing its way to the top. Rapper, which builds upon the knowledge of the veterans and conquers every beat as pirates used to conquer the wild sea, Knowledge the Pirate is an artist who deserves a much larger fan base. His latest album, 5 lbs of Pressure, has finally hit all streaming services.
If you are not familiar with the name Knowledge the Pirate, read our analysis of his album Flintlock, where we go into the details of why you should listen to his discography. Album 5 lbs of Pressure was completely produced by the E.L.E.M.E.N.T. except for the track Corsairs fear Roc Marciano, which was produced by Animoss. Precise beats and exceptional loops give the rapper a lot of space.
Knowledge the Pirate brings bone-chilling stories from life on the streets, where he describes his experiences in painstaking detail without any glorification. Rapper uses a movie-like description to describe every corner of his world and the scenery he is surrounded by. Knowledge manages to describe scenes that are not too difficult to get into and that every listener can sink their teeth into while keeping the lyrics very well worked through and offering quite a few complex wordplays. We have to mention the great choruses, and we hope this will be the rapper’s best year to date. You can buy the vinyl and merchandise here.
NEWS
billy woods reveals the tracklist for one of the most anticipated albums of the year
Rapper billy woods and producer Kenny Segal will release their highly anticipated album Maps on May 5. Their last joint project, 2019’s Hiding Places, definitely belongs among the best albums of the last decade, so the expectations are astronomical, to say the least. The artist revealed the album’s tracklist, which includes 17 songs. In between the guests on the album are Danny Brown, ELUCID (Armand Hammer), Shabaka Hutchins, Sam Herring (Future Island), Quelle Chris, Aesop Rock, Benjamin Booker, and ShrapKnel. Artists have already released the first track called FaceTime featuring Sam Herring, and let us tell you, this little teaser definitely did not disappoint.
The best names in underground music meet on a collaborative record
It’s finally here. Top Shelf Premium has released their Off Top Volume 5 freestyle compilation on streaming platforms. You can listen to the best names from the underground scene, be it ANKHLEJOHN, Koncept Jack$on, YL, Jay NiCE, Jah-Monte, RLX, Starker, and many more. Outside of the release of the packed fifth compilation on the streaming service, you can check out the new episode featuring a visit from Jae Skeese. His freestyle is not to be missed.
Dive into the depths of culture
Multi-talented artist DNTWATCHTV released a documentary video with the name ANTI-DOC – EP WUN – ART MONEY. Rapper, painter, and man of many other talents describes his life in the video; we get to witness the creation of his paintings, his freestyle, and some thoughtful conversations. In the video will also appear Westside Gunn, Pusha T or Rome Streetz, lastly mentioned even giving a little performance. The whole video charged us with energy and showed us the essence of the culture we are trying to give you on a weekly basis.
QUICK NEWS
- Talented producer alejandrito argeñal delivers remixes of two tracks by rapper Nowaah The Flood. You can find them here and here.
- Producer zoomo of New York’s RRR releases the instrumental single White Burgundy, and once again it’s precision work.
- Rome Streetz is back with the fourth installment of a documentary series that chronicles the rapper’s tour. This time we look at Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago, and Virginia Beach.
- Sadistik releases a new single, No New Friends. He prepared a great live session for us. We recommend it with all ten.
- Raz Fresco shares his thought-provoking thoughts, experiences, and attitudes towards life on THINKING OUT LOUD. Fresco is truly one of a kind. #FREERAZFRESCO
- Action Bronson delivers a new episode of Fuck, That’s Delicious, where he tastes the famous East Boston pizza, takes us inside New Balance, and finally to the release party for his collection.
- Lloyd Banks visits Rap Radar to talk about The Course of the Inevitable 2, and he also reminisces about G-Unit, reflects on their 20th anniversary, and shares many other interesting news.
- One of our favorite producers, Real Bad Man, visits Bucked Up with Sam Buck where he breaks down collaborations with artists like Boldy James, Kool Keith, Smoke DZA, and many more.
- Raz Fresco took to Twitter to announce that he has completed an EP with Estee Nack produced by Nicholas Craven, an album produced by Mike Shabb, and a record he produced for Daniel Son. Definitely something to look forward to. #FREERAZFRESCO
- The new episode of The Rap Music Plug Podcast features a visit from YUNGMORPHEUS. Learn, for example, what has most influenced the rapper’s music. The artist then discusses his lyric-writing process and the overall recording process. This is a very interesting interview, MORPHEUS really has a lot to offer.
- Rap Radar releases an interview with Westside Gunn on YouTube, which has been exclusive until now. In the episode, they discuss Griselda Records and their various albums, and of course, Gunn’s current biggest record, 10. Aside from the present, the interview also talks about where Gunn would like to take his label and what’s to come.
BEST RELEASES
Black Thought & El Michels Affair – Glorious Game
Black Thought, frontman of the group The Roots, began his solo career in 2018 with his debut EP, Streams of Thought, Vol. 1. The project had two follow-ups, but until the last year, the rapper’s solo career did not fully take off. The artist gave us the first-class album Cheat Codes, completely produced by Danger Mouse. The praised album is still gaining new fans all around the world, but the rapper has already moved on and released a new project. On the album Glorious Game, he joined his talents with a cinematic soul band from NYC called El Michels Affair, and together they brought us an album that flows very nicely and easily; each track perfectly follows up on the previous one. Black Thought spews one complex verse after the other with his own ease. The album feels like rapper victory rap, and you would hardly find a legend that is this consistent and still fresh. If that would not be enough, Black Thought is already working on the album Streams of Thought Vol. 4. In between the guests on the album will be JID, Yasiin Bey, Big K.R.I.T., Rick Ross, Curren$y, Redman, Pharoahe Monch, Fabolous, and more.
Willie The Kid & V Don – Blue Notes 2
Duo Willie The Kid and V Don finally release their follow-up to Blue Notes on the streaming services. The album is longer than the first part, has five more tracks, and offers more guests. In between the guests, you will hear ANKHLEJOHN, Flee Lord, Ransom, and many others. The chemistry between the two artists is very strong, and on top of that, they experiment with the sound much more, which is interesting and spices up the whole project. It is a very good follow-up, and we hope for at least one more to close off the trilogy.
Mike Shabb & Nicholas Craven – Shadow Moses
After two very good tracks from artists Mike Shabb and Nicholas Craven, we get served a short but very hitting EP. We have got four more tracks, and Craven proved to us once again that he does not miss. It is almost unbelievable how great his beats are and how they fit everybody, even though the sound is very unique. Shabb swims in his beats with absolute calmness, and we hope that this is not their last collaboration.
defprez – It’s Always A Time Like This
Trio defprez comprised of rappers CRASHprez, Defcee, and producer knowsthetime, brings an album that is an absolute necessity for fans of unique rap. If some of your favorite rappers are Aesop Rock or billy woods, this is the record for you. An album like It’s Always A Time Like This is basically impossible to describe in just a few lines. Artists jump in between their memories, crawling their way through the waters of experiences, emotions, and different associations while trying to give some order to it all. In conclusion, we highlight the track Inheritance, from which we took away a criticism of the soulless show business machine that turns artists into mere commodities.
„Thought we found the bottom but the lows gettin lower.
Send em home with promoters for the show when it’s over.
Does your death even matter if it can’t be sold?
And how much of your body does your family own.“
DøøF – DøøFus Can’t Read vol. 2: raw jønx
After exactly one year, Virginia rapper and producer DøøF releases the follow-up to his DøøFus Can’t Read, and as with the previous installment, he produced almost the entire record himself, save for a few tracks. In addition to his beats, we can also hear beats from Sadhu Gold, Jaylevison, and Dapzini. Among the guests, we find talents like Lungs, Blass 89, and DMH. DøøF is an experimental and very talented artist. We definitely recommend listening to his entire discography, as he is a shining example of a unique style that we love very much.
ANOTHER DOPE RELEASES
DirtyDiggs – The Experience
Mike Titan & MANZU BEATZ – The Golden Fleece
NugLife – The Beat Dispensary 3
Beedie & Bill Waves – U Had 2 Be There
Jamal Gasol & VH$ – Tales From The Trenches
Grafh & 38 Spesh – Art of Words
T.F & Local Astronauts – Skanless Summer: 80z Babyz (Re-Rock Edition)
BONES & Eddy Baker – Jones Peak
Dinner Party, Terrace Martin & Robert Glasper – Enigmatic Society
Mo Rukuz & Bofaatbeatz – Prime Imperium
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Meyhem Lauren takes us into his world through a great video for the song African Pompano.
OneShotOnce & Roper Williams remind us of their album Hatched Caviar with an excellent music video.
Jay Worthy x Harry Fraud together once again bring a fresh sound that has been sorely missing from the scene.
Chuck Strangers teases his The Boys & Girls EP, which will be released on may 12th. The production of the new track was taken care of by Evidence and we’re in awe once again.
Duo B. Cool-Aid is back with the visual for the unique track Cnt fk Around. If you haven’t heard their new record Leather Blvd., go fix that.
ANOTHER DOPE VIDEOS
RLX – Casablanca feat. CRIMEAPPLE
Jimmie D & Nicholas Craven – No Love
Fatlip, Blu – Gangsta Rap (prod. Madlib)
Aaqil Ali – Happy Place feat. Y.N.X.716
Charlie Smarts & DJ Ill Digitz – Mezzanine (Prod. By 9th Wonder)
Radamiz – Big Pharma (feat. Dom McLennon & Wiki)
Passport Rav & Bloo Azul – The Consequence
Saba & No I.D. – Back In Office
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 next Monday. It’s going to be really interesting, so don’t miss it.
Translated from Czech by Rado.
