Welcome to our Rap Weekly 60: Pray for Paris and then you pray for me. 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: DJ Muggs has released the soundtrack to the visionary sci-fi film Divinity, MIKE has released a concept album that is a dark romantic horror with comedic elements, AJ Suede & steel tipped dove are absolute masters in their field. The album Reoccurring Characters transports you to a sonic universe that feels like the quantum realm of rap. BoriRock and Grubby Pawz have released a video for another gem from WAVY BULLET. 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
Pray for Paris and then you pray for me
Westside Gunn. Is it possible to write anything that hasn’t already been said? The co-founder of the Griselda label has had an absolutely profound influence on underground and mainstream rap over the past decade. He’s earned the title of one of the most prominent figures in the entire rap scene, with a discography of more than fifteen projects and major contributions to gems like Pray for Haiti (Mach-Hommy) and Nacksaw Jim Duggan (Estee Nack) in the last few years. However, it wasn’t until 2020’s Pray for Paris that he came fully into mainstream consciousness. And Then You Pray For Me.
The wait is over; here comes And Then You Pray For Me, the follow-up to the aforementioned Pray for Paris. The albums are connected by the title and the cover, which, as with the first part, was done by Virgil Abloh. However, we are interested in the music itself, which is, as expected, very different. Westside Gunn has nothing to prove; he’s enjoyed neo-boom bap plenty in his career and grimy dark projects he only wants to executive produce nowdays. On his latest album, you’ll find countless trap beats that take Gunn into positions he hasn’t been before. Don’t worry, you’ll also find hard-hitting tracks like The Revenge Of Flips Leg (feat. Rome Streetz) prod. by Conductor Williams, but there are only a few.
A massive number of artists contributed to the record: Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher, Stove God Cook$, Conductor Williams, Cartier A. Williams, Estee Nack, Daringer, JID, Rick Ross, Denzel Curry, KayCyy, RZA, Ty Dolla $ign, DJ Drama, Trapaholics, Peezy, Giggs, Shanara Son, Jeezy, AA Rashid, DJ Benoit, EST Gee, Tay Keith, Swamp Izzo, Mr. Green, Sly Green, JR Swiftz, Forever Rollin, Brother Tom Sos, Denny Laflare, Flygod Jr., DXPE Mickie Beats, Beat Butcha, Eastside Filip a DJ Holiday. So look forward to combinations of essential rap artists you’ve never heard before. One thing you have to hand it to Gunn: his records have a vibe like no other. In the rapper’s own words, this is his last album, but we know how it is with retired rappers.
NEWS
DJ Muggs has released the soundtrack to the visionary sci-fi film Divinity
In January this year, the annual prestigious Sundance Film Festival took place. Why are we writing about it on our website? Legendary producer DJ Muggs, along with composer Dean Hurley, composed the score for Divinity, which had its world premiere at the festival. Dean Hurley is not just any composer but an artist who has collaborated with David Lynch on works such as Inland Empire and Twin Peaks: The Return. Look forward to a sonically punishing, ethereal, and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the stunning cinematic experience. The visionary sci-fi film is directed by Eddie Alcazar. The soundtrack is available on all streaming services.
Check out a showcase of the best UK rap
This is exactly what a birthday party should look like! Morriarchi celebrated his birthday with rappers Black Josh, Lee Scott, Sonnyjim, and CLBRKS at Balamii Radio. The aforementioned artists are definitely some of the most interesting from the whole of the UK; their sound is totally unique, and the likable British accent gives the music the right energy. However, the rappers didn’t just come to the studio to celebrate, so you can enjoy their rap, listen to some old-school soul, and watch an exclusive performance with tracks from new Black Josh´s EP Today’s The Day. The atmosphere in the studio is extremely relaxed, with the performers taking turns between each other, each spitting flaming bars, and looking completely at ease with it like it’s nothing. Make sure you don’t miss this session; the video will immerse you so much that you’ll get the feeling that you’re there, experiencing the moment with them.
Radamiz brings something totally unique to rap fans
Radamiz died and rose from the dead this year; he was drained and resurrected ten times. These experiences taught him to accept himself. All the emotions mentioned above can be enjoyed in the new short film Not The Angel, Not The Muse, which is dedicated to all creatives who are trying to find the next meaning of their life and their work. The film also serves as a trailer for the upcoming project El Duende!, which you can now pre-save. Radamiz has never been closer to God, accepting all the pains of life as he teaches us where to go next, where to heal, and where to improve. These thoughts can be of benefit to all survivors of brokenness. The film is shot in beautiful locations, capturing mostly emotion, love, family, and beautiful moments. In the film, you will hear beats from Sadhugold, JUNIE., Graymatter, and many more. We recommend the film and look forward to El Duende!
QUICK NEWS
- October 20 will see the release of Psychological Cheat Sheet 4 by duo Vic Spencer and August Fanon. Expect the continuation of one of rap’s best and most honest series. Check out the cover and tracklist.
- Fatboi Sharif has announced his second EP of the year. The entire project was produced by Bigg Jus. We are excited as hell.
- The star of the new episode of “Off Top” Beat Set (Top Shelf Premium) is producer Poi$un.
- SCY Jimm and Iman Nunez appeared in Chinatown Sound. To no one’s surprise, authentic rap performances await.
- Griselda x freestyle skiing? Yes, we have that for you too. Henrik Harlaut & Noah Albaladejo show off their skills to music from Conway The Machine and Benny The Butcher.
- The talent Kidd Called Quest takes you to the House Of Guitars, where he unveils details of his new projects as he searches for samples.
- In the new episode of the Lock Lyft podcast, Sa-Roc takes a ride with Locksmith. Come along for the ride; you’ll learn all sorts of interesting information about Sa-Roc’s music.
- The one and only Raz Fresco shows how he cooks up his great beats on his Pocket Operator & MPC LIVE II toys.
- Nicholas Craven and Dark Lo have released a joint track, Rent Due. #FREEDARKLO
- Lord Apex and Freddie Gibbs on the beat by argov? That’s something we desperately need. The anticipated album will be out in just over a month.
BEST RELEASES
AJ Suede & steel tipped dove – Reoccurring Characters
Masters of their respective fields, AJ Suede and steel tipped dove have teamed up for Reoccurring Characters. This should be enough to make you want to listen to the album immediately. AJ Suede continues his beauty ride this year, releasing his fourth album. steel tipped dove isn’t lagging behind at all; in fact, we wouldn’t be afraid to call 2023 his biggest artistic highlight to date. Among others, this year he released the albums All the Weight Feathers Don’t Have, The Trumpet’s Obviously Been Drinking (w/ Andrew) and Decay (w/ Fatboi Sharif) and on each of them he has created a unique atmospheric soundscape. steel tipped dove is a master at creating new worlds where the listener can hide from the outside world to the sound of beats he has never heard before. Rap wizard AJ Suede is a machine for sophisticated dope tracks that aren’t afraid to weave in the vibrant, yet the listener finds a certain comfort in them. Reoccurring Characters is reminiscent of a new dimension of rap that stands apart from the rest of the scene.
NITA SLAY – WHY IS IT RAINING IN JUNE
NITA SLAY surprised us with her new project, WHY IS IT RAINING IN JUNE. Look forward to a short but punchy five-track EP with all production handled by Jamar Johnson. Expect the essence of the best of what Nita can do, whether it’s singing or rapping. The record features appearances from I8HUNNY and RONJIGGY, among others. Jamar has picked out some really beautiful samples that will caress your soul as you listen. Slay’s voice, of course, enhances this energy, and you will be carried away by the project. As the title and cover suggest, the album is in a melancholic spirit, which we love. Everything here makes sense. Nita took the trouble to stick to a certain concept, and the result is amazing. Don’t miss it. Unfortunately, no video was released for the EP, so we attach the video of the song CAMBODIAN TIES.
MIKE – Burning Desire
Few things in rap make us as happy as watching the growing success of MIKE. The unique rapper has been in the game for a few years now, but the last two have seen a major turning point in his career. The momentum had already come with 2021’s Disco!, but it wasn’t until last year’s Beware of the Monkey that really put him in front of a wide group of listeners. Less than a month ago, MIKE released the excellent project Faith Is A Rock together with Wiki and The Alchemist. We never dreamed that a few days later we would be listening to his biggest album to date, Burning Desire. The concept album is a dark romantic horror with comedic twists. It tells the tale of a fire deeply rooted in revenge and devastation, masked with intricate beauty. It begins somewhere along the borders of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire, the home of the Dan tribe, but MIKE also takes us to Prague, for example, in his lyrics. Again, MIKE goes a little more mainstream listener-friendly, yet still layers one intellectual, soulful, and emotional lyric after another. The production of the whole album was taken care of by the rapper himself under the pseudonym dj blackpower. The album features guest appearances by Larry June and Earl Sweatshirt, among others. Let yourself be engulfed by this comedic horror that is eerily reminiscent of life itself. After all, what else is life if not comedy and horror? A fascinating work.
Black Josh & Wino Willy – Today’s The Day
The duo of Black Josh and Wino Willy chose Friday, the 13th, called Today’s The Day, and released a new record. We already mentioned Black Josh in the news, so if you want to see him rap some tracks from the project live, be sure to check out the session. Black Josh is a really talented rapper; he has a charismatic voice, and he makes music completely his own. He breaks away from contemporary traditional rap while at the same time being very dedicated to rap. On this record, he once again proves that he has no problem rapping flawlessly and enriching the track with sung sections. Wino Willy is a name you see almost all the time here; it must annoy even him. However, we can’t get enough of him; he always completely captivates us with his new work, and we are fascinated by how he can make beats tailored to each artist. If we compare the beats on this record to Gris Gris or Snake & Crane Secret, we can find differences in each, but at the same time, Willy’s signature can be heard on all three projects. Put the record on immediately and without hesitation.
Death at the Derby – Capitano
The Death at the Derby duo returns after a year to follow up on their 2020 project, Ballon D’Or. Capitano is the second installment of the Club & Country series, which will conclude with volume three. Death at the Derby is made up of uncompromising rapper Lord Juco, a talent from Toronto, and Cousin Feo, a rapper from Los Angeles. So look forward to a cutting and savage pairing of two disparate rappers who sound absolutely fierce next to each other. The tracklist is ordered by the actual jersey numbers of the players, after which each track is named. The entire project was produced by Finn, who provided the strict boom-bap beats that suit the duo best. Dj Dubplates added cuts to the beats, and the whole project sounds exactly as it should. If you love football and rap, or at least one of the aforementioned things, the record is for you. Unfortunately, no video was released for the album, so we attach the video of the track Chilean Crack.
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. New Villain has released the follow-up to The Mind Of Hugo Strange; Knowitall has returned with the superb 777 EP; the talents of Cravism, ABANGSAPAU, and Mary Sue have teamed up for OK!; Guilty Simpson & Uncommon Nasa have released the long-awaited Escalation; and Mickey Diamond invites you to another showcase of strict rap. Other great releases come from Mav & Pete Twist, Sleazy F Baby, Sabio & Beck, Lu Chin Chen, and Azariah.
Knowitall & Zilly900 – 777
Mav & Pete Twist – Long Story Short
Cravism x ABANGSAPAU x Mary Sue – OK!
New Villain – The Mind Of Hugo Strange 2
Sleazy F Baby – Blaxploitation
Azariah – Laffeyett Cafe Presents Smoothfreshness Lyrical Caffeeine
Sabio & Beck – Market Minerals
Lu Chin Chen – Weight
Guilty Simpson & Uncommon Nasa – Escalation
Mickey Diamond – Capital Gains
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
BoriRock and Grubby Pawz have released a video for another gem from WAVY BULLET, guest-starring the one and only al.divino.
Starz Coleman is proof that the devil exists. Check out Guy Fisher Vs Fritz (Act 2).
Torae & Marco Polo brought to life the bone-chilling Intro to Midnight Run.
chester watson has released another atmospheric video for the mind-bending record fish don’t climb trees.
Verb T has released an all-star remix of Four Oh!, featuring comedic royalty Romesh Ranganathan and Doc Brown.
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. RLX will take you back to his world; T.F is going higher and higher every month; Ab-Soul follows him in the new video; and Killer Mike performed live with Motherless. Gritfall continues to fascinate us, and Larry June & Cardo tease their collaborative album. First-class videos were also released last week by SEAN LINKS, Da$H, New Villain, The Musalini, and DøøFus.
RLX – Overseas Breeze (prod. WIFIGAWD)
DøøFus – Multi-Purpose Prada Shoes
The Musalini Ft. Izzy Hott – The Game
Killer Mike – Motherless ft. Robert Glasper, Eryn Allen Kane
SEAN LINKS – LIVING PROOF (prod by Sean Links)
Larry June & Cardo – Chops On The Blade
New Villain – Wordsmith Supreme
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.
