Welcome to Rap Weekly Issue 42. As we promised, we delivered. We bring you a double dose of Rap Weekly. Every Monday, this format takes you through the world of rap, summarizing important news, announcements, and can’t-miss events. We take you behind the curtain of the hardest record of the year, give you details of Fly Anakin’s new album and reveal who Madlib will be teaming up with. This video is not to be missed: Larry June, The Alchemist & Ty Dolla $ign come through with a summer anthem. We also bring you a quick news roundup of everything you need to know. What are the best albums and music videos released in the past two weeks? Find all that and more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
We praised the Holy City Zoo album in the last Rap Weekly. Rapper Al-Doe and producer Spanish Ran have created a truly unique album that will completely immerse you and offer an extraordinary experience. The artists have shared two short videos where they take you behind the scenes of the album’s listening party. The atmosphere could be chopped up, and the whole time you feel like you are witnessing something really special. The artists have masterfully brought order to a chaotic world where there are no rules. We thought it so appropriate to revisit the album and give it the biggest space in today’s article. There aren’t many albums like this coming out, and we look forward to revisiting the album in our list of the best albums of 2023. Listen to Holy City Zoo.
NEWS
Theravada & Evidence make a whole day´s work in an hour
Theravada and Evidence. The two artists have been teasing collaborative music for months, and last week we finally got it. As you can probably tell, huge expectations were met. The artists dropped two tracks, 2MERIC and Help Your Neighbor. The former is enhanced with an atmospheric music video, while the second track can be found on streaming services. You could also buy the tracks on vinyl; unfortunately, they are sold out today.
Fly Anakin reveals details of Skinemaxxx (Side B)
Rapper Fly Anakin and producer foisey released their joint album Skinemaxxx (Side A) this year. As the title suggests, it’s a double album, and we finally know the details of the second half. Side B will be released on July 28 and will consist of nine more tracks. It will feature guest appearances from rapper ANKHLEJOHN and singer Demae. The track with the aforementioned singer also got its own awesome music video, and you can shorten your wait for the album.
Hus Kingpin and Madlib: Is there an album coming?
Madlib is one of the best producers of all time. In recent years, he has been busy promising one project after another. This year he released Liberation 2 with Talib Kweli and announced that we can look forward to records with Mac Miller, Planet Asia, Erykah Badu, and Your Old Droog. Now another name is coming into the game: Hus Kingpin. According to the talented rapper, Madlib said: “Yo Hus, let’s do 20 joints and pick the best ones.” Is Wavelib coming? To mark the occasion, Hus Kingpin dropped the track Smugglin’, where he raps to the beat Thuggin’, which Madlib produced for Freddie Gibbs.
QUICK NEWS
- Estee Nack has released a great music video for MASSMONEYWIRES FT. AI.DIVINO and STRAWBERRYMILK, which you can find below. One video is not enough though, so the rapper entices us with the video for 4NG3LD1ØR, which was shot in the Dominican Republic.
- Conway the Machine teases an upcoming record from Drumwork Records and releases the track Elephant Man, which features Heem B$F, Rome Streetz, Goosebytheway and SK Da King.
- Raz Fresco enthusiastically presents the new Teenage Engineering CM-15 microphone and all of its features. This portable microphone is expected to arrive on the market this summer, and it’s already clear to us that Fresco is planning big things with it.
- The duo of Estee Nack and Al.Divino visited the new episode of Bucked Up with Sam Buck, where they dissected Nack’s new record, Nacksaw Jim Duggan, featuring Divino himself on more than one track.
- Kool Keith releases the third preview of his highly anticipated album, Black Elvis 2. The new track is called The Formula and features guest appearances from Marc Live and Ice-T. We can’t wait to hear the whole record. We believe it will be special.
- Verbz and Nelson Dialect came to HighFocusTV and performed their track We Can Do That, produced by Mr Slipz, live. The aforementioned trio has previously released the equally great Strike Back, and we’re hoping for a collaborative project.
- Nowaah The Flood has released a new track on Bandcamp, Akbar Pray Day, featuring a guest appearance by the legendary Mach-Hommy and production by D-Styles. This is not to be missed.
- DJ Muggs drops another track from his upcoming Soul Assassins 3 album, and this time he’s invited rapper T.F. for the track We Riding We Ain’t Hiding. The video for the track will be released tomorrow, so stay tuned to Soul Assassins YouTube. We’re eagerly awaiting the record.
- Top Shelf Premium and their Cypher offers the best rap from Richmond. Listen to the talents of Nickelus F, Noah-O, Concept Jack$on, Henny LO, Radio B, Zuri, and Michael Millions.
BEST RELEASES
Raz Fresco & ALS – SOLRAP!
The duo Raz Fresco and ALS are back with their second full-length album, SOLRAP! Raz Fresco is definitely one of the biggest talents of our time, and if you’re not familiar with the name, fix that immediately. The SOLRAP! album was previously available exclusively for purchase on the BKRSCLB website, but that has changed and is now available to everyone. So you can listen to the best creations of the mentioned duo. ALS produced the whole album except for the last track, which was handled by Fresco himself. We can feel the progression on the record; we have seen a shift in every aspect since their first collaboration on ALKMY. The beats are on a completely different level, they are less chaotic, yet they don’t lack experimentation and are really lilting. Fresco doesn’t know how to step on the wrong foot and sounds masterful on every beat. BKRSCLB is currently one of the best hip-hop groups, and you should not miss their next projects. Even though the album is on all streaming services, you definitely won’t go wrong by buying it on the BRKSCLB website.
Beedie & Billy Hoyle – Beat Bully & The Genius
Producer Billy Hoyle reunites with rapper Beedie, and together they release another of their gems. In addition to them, we can look forward to names like Your Old Droog, Brainorchestra, and Fly Anakin on the record. The album also comes with some great action figures that portray each of the artists. As for the record itself, they both stick to their habits and deliver the record we’ve come to expect from them. This means you’ll find a lot of boom bap production with jazz elements, but also trap with a west coast feel, for example. In short, they both know what works best for them and stick to it. This collaboration is sure to appeal to any hip-hop fan who doesn’t like too much experimentation and likes striking simplicity. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we attach the track Sky’s The Limit.
7xvethegenius & DJ Green Lantern – The Genius Tape
Prior to 7xvethegenius releasing her debut under Drumwork Records, she teamed up with legendary producer DJ Green Lantern to release their collaborative record, The Genius Tape. The Genius definitely ranks among the best female rappers of today, and this record only confirms it. She lets her masterful lyricism shine through on this new project, and when paired with the creative Lantern, a truly extraordinary project has been created. On the feats, we get to hear other MVPs like Conway the Machine, T.F., Rome Streetz, and Che Noir. It’s always a pleasure to hear a female voice in rap, and even more so when we see them surpassing any misogynistic rappers with their qualities. 7xve is a name that has been missing from the scene, and we’re excited to watch its growth. Those unfamiliar with her have a duty to add to that knowledge. We will say one thing in closing, and that is Love The Genius. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we attach the track Numbers.
Knowitall & Barto100 – Hand Painted Realities
Both names are still hot news for us. We first heard rapper Knowitall last year when he released Music Saved Me 2 with producer Skip The Kid. Immediately, his confident voice stuck in our minds. This time around, he’s teamed up with producer Barto100, whom we didn’t know at all before, and together they’re releasing Hand Painted Realities. Barto has cooked up some really great productions, preparing a wide variety of beats, whether it’s vocal samples, slow tempos, somber beats, or, on the contrary, celebratory ones. Quite possibly, this is the producer’s first collaborative album with an artist, or at least we haven’t seen another collaboration. Either way, Barto100 has proven to be really solid, and we hope for more projects with similarly talented rappers. Knowitall tackles every production and sounds confident throughout the record. This is a really amazing project that deserves attention.
Boldy James & ChanHays – Prisoner of Circumstance
Boldy James is back in full force. He has teamed up with producer ChanHays, and together they are releasing the short and punchy Prisoner of Circumstance EP. We haven’t heard from the producer yet, but he did a really great job on the aforementioned EP. The beats have a slow tempo and a great selection of samples; the project features both trap and boom bap productions, and each sounds amazing. In short, it’s no wonder Boldy chose him. As for Boldy, he sounds absolutely perfect everywhere—in a word, as we are used to with him. This project is no exception; Boldy is absolutely on point on every track, proving that rap is the thing he was born to do. The whole project lines up in a great calm spirit, so you can listen to it in any circumstance and you will always be satisfied. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the track Speed Demon Freestyle.
Anysia Kym & Jadasea – Pressure Sensitive
Finally, we have an extraordinary album from Anysia Kym and Jadasea. The duo brings us something that has never been seen before in this form. Of course, we’ve heard many artists rap to electronic productions many times before, but this collaboration feels very special and unique from the first moment. Pressure Sensitive is the link between the burgeoning underground hip-hop and electronic scenes in London and New York. There is a huge love of music and experimentation between both artists, which they have fused into the aforementioned record. We are pretty sure the project won’t appeal to conservative hip hop fans, but we like it a lot. The record is imaginative and conceptual, and the listening itself is magnificent. Everyone should give it a listen, make a picture for themselves, and most of all, appreciate their love for the art. We are witnessing something truly unique.
McKinley Dixon – Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?
McKinley Dixon is a rapper from Richmond, Virginia, and has already won us over with his previous project, For My Mama And Anyone Who Looks Like Her, from 2021. His new album Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? is in a similar vein, meaning we’re in for a full jazz production. This time around, we hear more experimentation; the production may not be to everyone’s liking, but the whole record is still hugely melodic. The title of the record itself refers to the most famous works by American author Toni Morrison, and the whole project also feels like a piece of literature. McKinley is a great songwriter, and we can feel the progression in his writing since the last record. Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?? is not only a great rap record thanks to its productions, but anyone who loves music will love it.
CJ Fly –HEALING FROM OUR WOUNDS
The talented CJ Fly releases a truly mesmerizing album, HEALING FROM OUR WOUNDS, where he pours out his emotions, reflects on issues, and isn’t afraid to show vulnerability. The whole record feels almost therapeutic, with CJ Fly trying to weave personal issues into his art to create a remarkable set. The record is really rich, both lyrically and production-wise. It contains a fusion of many styles, and any music fan is sure to find their favorite track. The rapper has done something extraordinary; he has managed to unite his personal demons with different melodies to create a great concept album. From start to finish, you won’t cease to be fascinated by his creativity. CJ himself describes this project as a slight release from what he has had to go through in his life, and he hopes that this record will help someone as much as it has helped him. We’re thrilled to see an artist being this transparent with their listeners.
Statik Selektah – Round Trip
Legendary producer Statik Selektah releases his Round Trip, for which he has invited a variety of artists. We can hear names like Benny The Butcher, Stove God Cooks, Conway the Machine, Ransom, Boldy James, Tha God Fahim, redveil, and many more. It’s almost fascinating how long Selektah has been in the game and is still unquestionably relevant, which speaks volumes about the refined guest list alone. Statik is true to his craft, so most of the productions are boom-bap, but there’s also trap on the record, especially his iconic scratches. Because of the endless list of great rappers, you won’t be bored for a minute while listening. On each track, you’ll hear different voices, diverse lyrics, and varied flows. The album defines a Round Trip that just about everyone wants to be on.
Monday Night & DVNTBEATS – Long Story Short
Rapper Monday Night and producer DVNTBEATS bring us the Long Story Short project. As the title suggests, the project is quite short, containing seven tracks and lasting just over fifteen minutes. However, each track is fine-tuned down to the smallest detail, making the overall feel of the EP truly extraordinary. DVNT has put together some great, calm productions with, for example, lilting vocal samples mixed in. Monday sounds comfortable on every beat and dictates with his lax yet stern voice in an absolutely first-class way. In our opinion, the album is a great example of how a talented duo can do great things even in the space of a few minutes.
ANOTHER DOPE RELEASES
SOO DO KOO – CRACK KILLS
Paranom & Codeine – MILLIONDOLLARMINK
Maze Overlay – Nouveau Antiqua
Dark Lo – Blood in My Eye
Jose Cienfuegos & Pr0fit Diner0 – Playing With Fire
A.P. Da Overlord – Belly 2K23
M Doc Diego & MANZU BEATZ – Universal Tongues 3
Jamil Honesty & Krazyfingaz – The God’s Honest Truth
Termanology – The Summer Pack
K.Burns & Mark Dark – Scartoon
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Estee Nack and Westside Gunn have released a bone-chilling double video.
Mike Shabb thanks Raz Fresco in a great video. Sewaside III is coming.
jaH-Monte Ogbon is celebrating his birthday with nothing but an amazing rap.
Larry June, The Alchemist & Ty Dolla $ign come through with a summer anthem.
A rapper who came from mythical lands. Figerson.
Rahiem Supreme could rap even in his sleep. No one is in his element like him.
Bub Styles is the devil, and the devil is in the details.
Heem sheds tears of blood.
New Villain & Enkay tease an anticipated album.
ILL BILL. Uncompromising veteran brings hell.
ANOTHER DOPE VIDEOS
Falcon Outlaw & Daniel Son – Range Rovers w/ Lester Diamonds
Renelle 893 & Bay29 – Spaghetti Feat. Vitamin G
His Imperial Majesty – Wake’em Up feat. Flee Lord
Jamal Gasol & Vic Spencer – Kansas City Smackman vs Vic Greenthumbs
YL – BACK ON THE WALL (PROD. JONBOYICE)
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.
