Welcome to our Rap Weekly 55: Apollo Brown & Planet Asia are maestros of raw and unalloyed hip-hop. 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: Obijuan & dylantheinfamous are raw as Caonabo’s warriors on the XAONABO album. 38 Spesh and Conway the Machine are among the best lyricists of our time, few can describe street life quite like them. The Speshal Machinery album is proof of that. Griselda Records releases the film Adolf, starring Rome Streetz and The Alchemist releases a vlog from Amsterdam and you have to be there. 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
Apollo Brown & Planet Asia are maestros of raw and unalloyed hip-hop
If we were kidnapped by aliens and they wanted to play one album that would give them a glimpse of what raw and unalloyed hip-hop sounds like on planet Earth in 2023, we’d play them Sardines. Detroit-based production maestro Apollo Brown and Planet Asia, a rap veteran from California, have reunited six years after releasing their collaborative album Anchovies to deliver their next magnum opus.
Sardines is unadulterated rap in its purest and rawest form. Apollo Brown sticks to his motto “Simplicity is genius” and for most of his beats, he just needs to take an interestingly catchy sample and turn it into a nice loop. And he does it better than anyone else. The beats are minimalistic yet crystal soulful, and Planet Asia is given ample room to show off his top form. And that he has a lot to offer.
The scope of the album is absolutely opulent; Planet Asia takes you to slums and exotic countries, and his lyrics are emotional, socio-political, full of cultural allusions, and a criticism of the current rap scene. His distinctive voice cuts into every beat, and the listener has no choice but to listen. Sardines is a perfect follow-up to Anchovies, an album that is more subtle than its predecessor, and you can sense a certain shift in both artists’ lives and art. Finally, we have to commend the precise choice of guests, which are Sick Jacken, TriState, Marv Won, and Ty Farris. No music video has been released for the album yet, so remind yourself of Anchovies with the video for Deep In The Casket.
NEWS
Griselda Records releases the film Adolf, starring Rome Streetz
Griselda Records needs no introduction. Gone are the days when it was an underground label; nowadays, the artists under this group set rap trends and have a reach with people like Drake or Kanye West. The label continues to grow, with the recent release of the short film Adolf under its wing. Directed by Duece King and AK Reed, Westside Gunn himself is in the role of executive producer, and the main role goes to Rome Streetz. The full film is already available to watch on YouTube. Gunn describes his work by saying, “ADOLF is a short film that anyone who lives the street life will relate to. After watching it, you realize that money is the root of all evil.” . There is a little surprise at the end of the movie in the form of a music video for the track WEMADEHISTORY by Estee Nack from the album Nacksaw. Jim Duggan. The film is more of a gift for fans of the famous label than a cinematic experience, yet it’s great that these kinds of things are being made. Plus, it’s got everything you need. Music by Griselda, a cameo by Wes, merch, and wrestling
Boldy James and Nicholas Craven; we can celebrate, their second album is coming
The album Fair Exchange No Robbery by producer Nicholas Craven and rapper Boldy James belongs among the best albums released last year. Both artists are relentless, keep creating, collaborate with interesting artists, and have already delivered amazing projects this year. Even though that is all amazing, we would like to see their new joint album. Everything suggests that that will be the case, and we might even get it this year. Craven shared on his Twitter profile that he is mixing his new album with Boldy. “Where we at it?”
The Alchemist releases a vlog from Amsterdam and you have to be there
The Alchemist, rap’s dopest persona, has taken a vacation to Europe and is releasing his pilot vlog, in which he takes us to Amsterdam. The video chronicles Dutch culture, including architecture and cuisine. The entire episode is accompanied by Alchemist’s commentary, in addition to guest appearances from Conway the Machine, who just performed in Amsterdam, and billy woods. The video absolutely exudes the uniqueness of Al’s personality; the legendary producer is an incredibly cool, and the vlog itself confirms that even here in Europe, everyone loves him.
QUICK NEWS
- On September 7, Supreme released the MF DOOM collection, which includes a hoodie, t-shirt, and cap. The main motif is DOOM’s OG mask and machete from the music video of “?” ft. Kurious Jorge from the album Operation: Doomsday. RIP MF DOOM.
- Rapper spook! teamed up with Sadhugold again this year and released a great album, No Country ll: Hell on Wheels (The Ballad Of Isom Dart!). It looks like we’re in for another spook! record soon. This time with producer DIBIA$E.
- phiik and no.face will release the Planet X EP on October 6th. Soon we will have an appetizer in the form of the pilot single, SCOOBY. The teaser on Instagram proves that we have something to look forward to again.
- On June 28, the entire culture was shaken by the tragic news of the death of Chris “Spanto” Printup. The founder of Born x Raised was a distinctive and irreplaceable soul to his city and to rap culture as a whole. That’s why the Munchies are recalling the documentary that chronicles the Born x Raised brand and the work of two Venice Beach natives fighting to save the spirit of their hometown against gentrification. RIP Spanto.
- In addition to releasing countless rap albums, al.divino also runs the PARÇEL™ brand. Watch the excellent commercial featuring rapper BoriRock.
- Check out the footage of the event, hosted by the one and only 1000word$ in the Bronx, that almost every rap fan wanted to be at. In the video, we run into Ty Farris, Nems, Eto, and more. The atmosphere is absolutely incredible.
- There’s always something going on in the Bronx, PiffTV has given us access to a cypher of the most dope names in rap today, be it Mickey Diamond, Rome Streetz, Jamal Gasol, Substance810, Ty Farris, Sauce Heist, Ty Da Dale, Big Trip, and Ox Don.
- Defcee and Messiah Musik have released the pilot track, The Golem of Brooklyn Theme Song, from their upcoming album. We have a lot to look forward to.
- New episodes of Chinatown Sound feature Simms, Emilio Rojas, and Wiseboy Jeremy. Whoever’s on the show always surprises us.
- Nicholas Craven has revealed that he will soon release a song produced by him featuring Ransom and Stove God Cook$. We desperately need that combo.
BEST RELEASES
38 Spesh & Conway the Machine – Speshal Machinery
38 Spesh & Conway the Machine joined forces, created a great rap duo, and now release the Speshal Machinery album. We have gotten a taste of the chemistry between these two artists quite a few times already. The intro of the album will surprise you with the beat without the drums, where Conway and Spesh sound very cold and confident. Of course, no one will be surprised that the album is lyrically very solid; Spesh and Conway belong among the best lyricists of the current scene, and there are not that many artists that would be able to describe the stories from the streets in the way these two can. The album features guest appearances from Lloyd Banks, Benny The Butcher, Che Noir, Pharoahe Monch, Emanny, and Elcamino, whose presence is an absolute highlight.
Obijuan & dylantheinfamous – XAONABO
We’ve discussed why GUANAHANI by Obijuan & dylantheinfamous is a masterpiece in our extensive article. At the end of the article, we linked to their new album, XAONABO [RAW & UNXUT], which has been available on all streaming services since last week. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t support the artist on Bandcamp. Anyone who purchases the album there will receive a discount on the vinyl from the rapper. The album takes its name from Caonabo, a Taíno chief who lived on Hispaniola at the time of Christopher Columbus’ arrival and was known for his fighting skills and brutality. Once again, the album is a masterful fusion of beats that breathe an immersive atmosphere and carry a certain ancient rawness and magic, as well as Obijuana’s unique lyrics that combine rap tropes and Bahamian culture. Take another unique journey to places you have no idea about, and count on coming back changed. Unfortunately, no music video has been released for the album, so we’re attaching the video for the track BEDKNOBS.
Passport Rav & Darius Lazar – Fly By Night
No matter what happens, Passport Rav never lets us down. The talented rapper released the albums 83 (w/ Bloo Azul) and Rogue Rage EP (w/ O Dawg) this year. Last week, he came through with another gem in the form of Fly By Night, which was produced entirely by Darius Lazar. The beats are laid-back yet really dense and immersive. The whole record is tight, and the transitions between tracks are crystal clear. Passport Rav is totally confident behind the mic and touches on a whole range of topics in his lyrics. Whether you’re looking for more sensitive tracks that cut to the chase or a critique of the hypocritical aspects of rap, you’ll be satisfied. We must also commend the guests. Trusted Funds is blessed with a great verse from the talented Chung, and the track Illustrious Feelings feat. Hus Kingpin & Emilio Craig is literally something the culture has needed for a long time. Flawless work.
Lesthegenius – Chasing The Sun
The talented Lesthegenius came back after a year-long break with the album Chasing The Sun. The atmosphere of the album is extremely relaxed, and the project feels very positive. Les’s likeable and very melodic voice will demand your attention. You don’t have to be afraid; your attention will be rewarded with care and empathy. In addition to Del’s great rapping, he enriched the album with sung phrases that sound absolutely flawless. In between the guests are Brooklyn Rose, Larry Murvin, and Ta.bias. This gem definitely should not slip by you, and if nothing else, it will definitely cheer you up.
Stranger Danger & Mr. Mumblz – The Human Fly TwinZ
Superheroes Stranger Danger and Mr. Mumblz bring us the short but punchy EP The Human Fly TwinZ. The EP features guest appearances from Jugga The Beast, AArgziz The Violent Geek, Black XMass, Fate The Purelight, and Madule 8. We honestly haven’t heard anything close to this project in a long time. The artists have created a symphony of boom bap that arrived from another universe to save the scene. We can sense a slight MF DOOM inspiration from the EP, so it’s almost impossible not to like it. The Human Fly TwinZ is the dopest comic that today’s market has to offer, especially suitable for rap nerds. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the EP, so we’re attaching the full project right here.
DOPE ALBUMS
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. Monzy The Terrible and Dylan Land will take you to hell with their album PERMANENT//PROSTHETIC. M Doc Diego & Masta Conga reference the masterful thriller The French Connection for the third time, and Cappadonna, a member of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan, releases the Street Shyt Mixtape. Tony Bontana experiments again on his Belfast or Berlin album, and GOK$ has invited the talented Mary Sue for his energetic project. Other excellent records have been released by Sphere 47, Mad1ne, Sam R I, Dee-1, and Smuff Tha Quiz & yeyts.
Sphere 47 – PREPARE4DESTUCTION VOL.3
Mad1ne – Ghost Of The Record Store 2
Monzy The Terrible and Dylan Land – PERMANENT//PROSTHETIC
Sam R I – Nickz
M Doc Diego & Masta Conga – The French Connection, Vol. 3
GOK$ – 25 – 0
Cappadonna & Amar Divine – Street Shyt Mixtape
Dee-1 – UNO
Smuff Tha Quiz & yeyts. – sideshow
Tony Bontana – Belfast or Berlin
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Raz Fresco & Figub Brazlevic shot the music video for Stereo in Berlin, capturing the pure essence of rap.
Shabbo and Craven’s Smokin Samson is a contender for song of the year. The video by DIGGGERS only underlines it.
No music videos breathe such pure life as those from MIKE. Ipari Park (feat. Klein) is another masterpiece for the collection.
Black Josh, Wino Willy, Lee Scott, and Sonnyjim on one track? This lineup is second to none.
DJ MUGGS shares a teaser from Soul Assassins 3: Death Valley movie, which will be released this week. Starring Meyhem Lauren.
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. Vel Nine & NugLife release a totally chilled-out video for SHOW ME THE MUNY(FUNKY ANITA), Eddie Kaine & Finn recall their latest album, and MichaelAngelo once again proves how hard-hitting music videos should look. Verb T takes you immersively into everyday life, while Asun Eastwood takes you into the dark and gritty underworld. Top-notch clips were also released last week by artists SEAN LINKS, Mick Jenkins, STACK SKRILLA, TY DA DALLE, and NITA SLAY.
Verb T – New View (Prod. Vic Grimes)
Asun Eastwood – Saltfish Fritters (Feat. Lord Fury)
Vel Nine & NugLife – SHOW ME THE MUNY(FUNKY ANITA)
Shaykh Hanif – Son Of Sam Law (Prod.By MichaelAngelo)
SEAN LINKS – “ CRACK IN THE 90’s” FREESTYLE
TY DA DALE – OUT THE POT FEATURING BABY MAINE PROD. BY V DON
NITA SLAY GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS FT BELLIG
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.
