Welcome to our Rap Weekly number 49. 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: AKTHESAVIOR is an Artist with a capital A, Fly Anakin & foisey prove why they are one of the greatest stars of modern rap and Travis Scott teams up with film industry legends. Talk to Sa-Roc nice, the rap queen teases her second album. Xp The Marxman makes music for people who have tuff skin. This week, you’ll get some quick news that you can’t miss. What dope albums and music videos have been released last week? That and much more can be found by scrolling down.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
With today’s article, you’re not just buying a ticket to a trip across the best rap music; you’re also buying a ticket to a modern art gallery. Grabbing the cover of the article is the multi-talented AKTHESAVIOR, one half of the duo Underachievers (w/ Issa Gold) and a member of Clockwork Indigo (w/ Flatbush Zombies) and Beast Coast (w/ Flatbush Zombies and Pro Era). AKTHESAVIOR is not only a talented rapper but also a painter. You can see his breathtaking artwork on Instagram, for example. His flair for the visual arts can also be found in his music, which he approaches in the same way as his canvases. And it’s on his latest album, Tracing Patterns, that he brings his visual and musical art together in the tightest way yet.
As the album’s intro, which is punctuated by the sounds of spray and sirens, will tell you, the rapper chose to reflect on his actions and follow patterns to find the source of his pain and trauma. He has embraced his imperfections but is constantly striving to improve and push himself. And that’s exactly what the record is. AKTHESAVIOR is completely open and vulnerable in his lyrics, yet immeasurably determined and hungry. He’s not afraid to confront his pain and trauma, but he’s always looking for the cause and the solution.
The songs themselves have an atmosphere reminiscent of colorful paintings, which will warm you up and stimulate your inner creativity. A lot of this is due to the excellent producers Trevor Wright, zoomo, Animoss, Chuck Strangers, and GRAYMATTER. Each and every one of them has delivered excellent beats that fit perfectly into the concept of the album. We hope that you find Tracing Patterns as therapeutic as the rapper himself and that the record will bring you a lot of new ideas.
NEWS
Travis Scott teams up with film industry legends
As you’ve all probably noticed, Friday, July 28th, saw the release of perhaps the most anticipated rap album of the year, UTOPIA, from rapper Travis Scott. We have to admit, we are not avid Travis Scott fans, yet the album surprised us in some ways. The opening of the record is very strong, and the track LAST FOREVER (ft. Westside Gunn & James Blake) prod. By The Alchemist is something amazing. Today, however, we’re not going to talk about the record, but about the movie Circus Maximus. To celebrate the album’s release, the rapper has released Circus Maximus, a seventy-five minute film he wrote and directed, in select theaters. Legends of the film industry such as Gaspar Noé, Nicolas Winding Refn, Harmony Korine, Valdimar Jóhannsson, and Kahlil Joseph also contributed to the film. Check out the great trailer and check nearby theaters; if you live in the US, you might be able to catch a screening.
Hus Kingpin reveals his Dirty Secrets in the next installment of the acclaimed series
The talented rapper Hus Kingpin is as active this year as he is every year. He’s got projects like A Poem in Ten Books, The Tricky Tape (Side A and B), and Paid in Full out, and he’s definitely not planning to slack off in the second half of the year. On August 3, we will see the release of Threesome pt. 4: Dirty Secrets. The Threesome series is one of our favorite Hus projects, so our expectations are astronomical. Hus has revealed the perfect cover and a packed tracklist. We can look forward to nine tracks, guest appearances from Willie The Kid and SmooVth, and production from Prynce P, Macapella, DJ Allmatic, DJ Phantom, and DirtyDiggs.
Spanish Ran makes his magic in new show
Chinatown Sound is a project from Bub Styles and Gee that is now expanding with the Pirate Selection show. Spanish Ran shined in the debut episode. He showed his skills by mixing samples and different instrumentals together. The show offers a truly unique experience that should not be missed. The producer’s skills aren’t the only thing that awaits you. He’s got some of the rappers that he’s been working with most recently, like Al-Doe, Ufo Fev, Bloo Azul, Tree Mason, David James, and Bub Styles himself. The atmosphere in the studio could be chopped up, with all of the aforementioned taking turns behind the microphone and each delivering some truly venomous bars.
QUICK NEWS
- Death At The Derby, or the group of artists Cousin Feo and Lord Juco, release the track Shearer, which they use to tease their new record, which will be produced entirely by Canadian talent, Finn.
- The new episode of the “Off Top” Beat Set (Top Shelf Premium) featured our favorite No Face, who gave a five-minute demonstration of his artistry.
- RLX releases another single, Alone, which he produced himself. We’ve been tempted for too long, we desperately need a record.
- New guests on the Rap Music Plug Podcast are the duo Fatboi Sharif & steel tipped dove, who break down their psychedelic masterpiece Decay.
- Cavalier revealed on his Twitter that a joint project with the biggest talent on the scene at the moment, Raz Freco, is on the way. We can’t wait.
- In addition to the physical media, we can now buy their entire digital library on the 10k.global website. There you can find gems like The Corner: Vol. 1, Beware of the Monkey, and Farley.
- Mello Music Group announces their next album. The veteran PARADIME will return to the scene and release PERIOD. on September 22nd. Watch the pilot video for the track of the same name below.
- Lee Scott releases a new track, Staple Junk, on which he surprisingly gets a guest appearance from Homeboy Sandman. We wouldn’t have expected this collaboration, but the artists get along very well.
- Theravada and Zoomo have revealed the cover and tracklist of their new album Waste Management, which will be released on August 15th.
- Mick Jenkins has revealed the tracklist of his anticipated album The Patience. Guest appearances will include Benny The Butcher, Freddie Gibbs, and Vic Mensa.
BEST RELEASES
Fly Anakin & foisey – Skinemaxxx (Side B)
The wait is over; after less than four months since the release of Skinemaxxx (Side A), we got Side B. The album is finally complete, and listeners can enjoy twenty-one perfect tracks, including several skits. All we can say is that Fly Anakin is a star. We can’t think of another rapper who is this talented, choosing unusual, original, and challenging beats, delivering flawless performances at his shows, like other fascinating underground rappers, but at the same time making incredibly entertaining music that can dazzle even the casual rap listener. Producer foisey deserves the same praise. Both artists have found a golden middle ground and stand exactly on the edge between underground and mainstream. Their music is sophisticated, original, and complex, yet it sounds absolutely pure, kicks, and entertains. Flawless work.
mary sue – For Sure
As we announced in Rap Weekly 47, mary sue is one of the biggest talents in rap today. With the announcement of his latest album, For Sure, the rising star from Singapore grabbed the headline of the aforementioned Rap Weekly article, and since last week, we can listen to the record on all streaming services. Right off the bat, we’ll let you know that the album definitely didn’t disappoint. mary sue has honed his powerfully introspective songs full of honest reflection, strong emotion, and vulnerability to perfection. We believe that many listeners will connect with the album and find it a safe place to hide from the outside world. mary sue doesn’t offer answers to the questions asked; on the album, he is often doubtful and insecure, just like the rest of us. More than once, he raps about his legacy and how he wants to leave something behind. We must also praise the perfect beats provided by fxrxzx, Savedher., Nickysofttouc, and the rapper himself. The album offers a diverse range of productions, from the soft beats of Greedy to the punchy tones of Dead Eye. mary sue has done a great job; as he says, “Hard to make it out when you’re Singaporean.” But hey, you made the cover of the best rap magazine in the Czech Republic, a small country in the heart of Europe. It’s just a matter of time. Fingers crossed.
Verbz & Nelson Dialect & Mr Slipz – Sight Beyond Sight
After more than a year, we have the return of Verbz and Mr Slipz, the duo from the UK who have gems like Radio Waves and Ever Since under their belt. However, now their artistic aura has been enriched by Nelson Dialect, who has brought his flavor all the way from Australia. Ahead of the release of Sight Beyond Sight, the trio has released several tracks that prove the album will be truly special. And it is. It’s very admirable the collective chemistry they have with each other, each complementing the other and together forming an almost perfect combination. Mr. Slipz provided excellent jazz loops, which he enhanced with distinctive percussion, creating a backdrop from which Verbz and Nelson made their home turf. In addition to these great names, King Kashmere, Renelle 893, Jace XL, and NuphZed also appear on the record. Give the record a listen, and don’t get carried away by the artistic vision of all three talents.
Nicholas Craven & Ransom – Deleted Scenes 2
It’s only been a few days since the duo of Nicholas Craven and Ransom made their gem, Directors Cut 4, available to the public. We’ve mentioned the energy between them that can’t be put into words several times. There’s no need to describe just how good their work is, because almost no duo is as sophisticated and well put together as this one. Anyway, before the aforementioned record could even begin to bore anyone (if that’s even possible), the duo dropped their new EP Deleted Scenes 2. The project is only five tracks long, but the experience will last forever. With each new project, the two prove that they are irreplaceable in the scene and that they are truly one of the best in their field. If you haven’t already, take a moment to listen to the EP and let yourself be immersed in their discography. No music video has been released for the album, so we’re attaching the track A Most Violent Year.
LordwillN & Lord Rome – A Bronx Tale
LordwillN brings A Bronx Tale, with producer Lord Rome, who has already impressed us this year with his LORDSWORK EP. As the title suggests, LordwillN takes us to the streets of the Bronx where he describes his experiences through his raw lyricism. With a knack for complex storytelling, he can almost tangibly evoke vivid images of bone-chilling moments for you. Through his intimate bars, the rapper takes you on a journey to the dirty streets. After each track, emotional scenes from this iconic part of New York City resonate in your head. Take this unique opportunity to get a glimpse into the reality of life in the famous neighborhood. Lord Rome, of course, has conjured up beats that help the imagination to visualize the moments. No music video was released for the album, so we attach the track Dig A Hole.
ANOTHER DOPE RELEASES
The five albums mentioned above are not the only ones you should hear. We’ve picked ten more dope albums that no one should miss. Give all the projects mentioned a chance; every single one deserves it. Crimeapple and Clovis Ochin celebrate life in their collaborative project, Cacio & Pepe. The album is the perfect soundtrack for your holiday. Sauce Heist and K Sluggah release a record for all the dangerous streets, and NugLife has invited a plethora of huge talent on his EP. Napoleon Da Legend isn’t about to stop and drop another album. The same goes for one of the current MVPs, Mike Shabb, who sounds more laid-back than ever on his Hood Olympics album. Cartie Curt & Dough Networkz, Tomppa Coates, Pounds448, 1773 & Joe Tyse, and PEP57 have also released excellent albums.
Cartie Curt & Dough Networkz – GOODNESS GRACIOUS
Crimeapple & Clovis Ochin – Cacio & Pepe
Tomppa Coates – Still Consuming
Sauce Heist & K Sluggah – SÅS
Napoleon Da Legend & Clypto – Pen Game
NugLife – Summer of Nug’s: ‘23 EP (Sunsets & Smoke Rings)
Pounds448 – We Kill Everything We See
1773 & Joe Tyse – The Luvbug Vol. 2
Mike Shabb – Hood Olympics
PEP57 – LIFESTYLEZ OV’ DESE WHORES GET DANGEROUS
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Xp The Marxman makes music for people who have tuff skin.
Pounds, Flee Lord & Max Marciano released a street anthem.
Talk to Sa-Roc nice. The rap queen teases her second album.
Sauce Heist and K Sluggah are letting the streets know they have a record out that you better check out.
Chung and Nicholas Craven roaming the block on 1 of the hottest days of the summer.
ANOTHER DOPE VIDEOS
We’re definitely not done with the top five music videos. We’ve picked out ten more dope clips that you definitely need to see. Give all the artists below a chance; they deserve it. Mike Shabb delivers a summer hit in the form of Thank God, Estee Nack & V Don recall their BRAP (Born Rewards & Penalties) album, Mondo Slade returns with another video for Master Speech 2, Jae Skeese is here with a double clip for his successful Abolished Uncertainties album, and O Finess is Highly Cool again. Top-notch videos were also released last week by artists Vard, Rio Thomas, Big Jump, The Filth & Dirty Doe, and Amadeus360.
Jae Skeese – EKIN 3 / Million Dollar Dreamz
Big Jump – “Revenge Of Eric Hill”
The Filth & Dirty Doe – Skummy
Estee Nack & V Don – THE UNCANNY Ft. Primo Profit
Amadeus360 – Prosperity Gospel ft. Ras Kass
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.
