Welcome to our Rap Weekly 64: The brilliant Aesop Rock released his 10th album. 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. New York celebrates the Wu-Tang Clan Day, YUNGMORPHEUS and Real Bad Man are The Chalice & The Blade, SadhuGold and spook! made a western rap movie, Lord Apex, or the West London star, is proud of his latest opus, The Good Fight and Larry June has teamed up with producer Cardo for the fifth time, and they have given fans exactly what they wanted. Good Job Larry. 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
The brilliant Aesop Rock released his 10th album
There is so much quality rap coming out every week that we have trouble fitting it into our already enormously large articles. Yes, it’s our own fault; we search really honestly, but we just can’t help it. This week has been really fruitful, and every fan of the genre has a myriad of quality art to choose from. However, we couldn’t have chosen anything other than the tenth anniversary album of rap genius Aesop Rock as the news of the week.
Aesop Rock is one of the most unique rappers of all time. For more than three decades, the rapper has fascinated countless listeners around the world with his complex lyrics, atmospheric beats, and unique concepts. On his tenth album, Integrated Tech Solutions, Aesop uses insidious corporate speak as a tool to separate a parasitic worldview from the parts of life that truly matter. Thus, look forward to a concept album about an organization offering “lifestyle and industry-focused applications designed to provide the desired multi-industry experience.” As the concept suggests, Aesop Rock wraps the mundane everyday, its absurdities, beauties, and emotions into sophisticated concept tracks, with each one being completely unique. Integrated Tech Solutions is a massive hour-long record, full of the best storytelling. This fool just wrote a brilliant track about penguins, or a breathtaking story where he describes how he met Mr. T.
Aesop Rock is not only a brilliant lyricist but an absolutely elite rapper. His flows get under your skin, and every beat will make you swoon. Moreover, he produced most of the album himself, confirming that his beats are in a category of their own. Look forward to plenty of drums, scratches, and beatswitches that will blow you out of your seat. Plus, the album features guest appearances from elite artists like billy woods, Hanni El Khatib, Lealani, Rob Sonic, and Nikki Jean, so there’s no question: you’re in for one of the best albums of the year.
NEWS
New York celebrates the Wu-Tang Clan Day
The date of November 9, 1993, is forever etched in rap history. On this day, the albums Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) by Wu-Tang Clan and Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest were released. The release of multiple high-quality, iconic, or downright legendary albums on the same day is not uncommon; the date of February 13, 1996, when the albums All Eyez on Me (2Pac) and The Score (Fugees) saw the light of day is a case in point. Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and Midnight Marauders, however, changed the entire genre in such a fundamental way that one would be hard-pressed to find a bigger day for hip hop. In addition, on the thirty-year anniversary of the Wu-Tang Clan’s debut, the City of New York declared November 9th to be officially Wu-Tang Clan Day and lit up the Empire State Building in the iconic yellow color.
The Empire State Building is lit with @WuTangClan’s iconic yellow in celebration of ‘Wu-Tang Day’ and their ‘Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’ album 👐🏾
— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) November 10, 2023
Legends! pic.twitter.com/JsgJERVkpz
YUNGMORPHEUS and Real Bad Man are The Chalice & The Blade
YUNGMORPHEUS has announced a new album, produced entirely by Real Bad Man. The project is titled The Chalice & The Blade and will be released on November 17th. If you’ve ever come across at least one of the artists, it must be clear to you that the project is going to be absolutely extraordinary. YUNGMORPHEUS is one of the best in his field, with countless gems such as Up Against The Wall; A Degree Of Lunacy (w/ Theravada) and SLANG CASINO (w/ Obijuan), which he produced. Producer Real Bad Man is also one of the top producers, as he has never let us down. Every project is a masterpiece, whether we are talking about Killing Nothing (w/ Boldy James), Real Bad Flights (w/ Pink Siifu) or Serpent (w/ Kool Keith). And on Friday, the two greats will be teaming up. We’re pretty sure this is already one of the best albums of the year, and if you don’t believe us, listen to the title track, which features guest appearances from Kool Keith and Fatboi Sharif.
SadhuGold and Spook! made a western rap movie
SadhuGold and spook! release the music video for Boss N****r Chronicles *From Dusk*, directed and produced by Sadhu himself. The track is taken from their collaborative album No Country for How N****s 2: Hell on Wheels, which will soon be hitting streaming services. The music video is about two adversaries aware of each other’s existence on a firm mission to meet face to face for a showdown to settle who’s the quick draw on the trail of tears. The chemistry between SadhuGold and Spook is dangerously deadly. They both break any rules that exist in the genre, they do everything their own way and no one even remotely resembles them.
QUICK NEWS
- Nature Sounds label has revealed that rapper Elzhi has finished a record with producer Oh No, and it’s only a matter of time before it arrives.
- The Alchemist & Action Bronson take you behind the scenes of the music video for Vertigo.
- Skepta and Ryder have released part three of the #skeptacore series. Listen to the hypnotizing track.
- Nicholas Craven & Boldy James will release the first single from their new album in November. To shorten the wait, they’ve released a lyric video for the now iconic track Power Nap.
- The new episode of “Off Top” Beat Set (Top Shelf Premium) features the one and only Wino Willy. This is a must-see.
- Larry June and Cardo have released a short documentary for their new album, The Night Shift.
- In the new episode of Tiny Desk Concert, the talented rapper Noname gave an incredible live performance.
- On the twenty-fourth episode of OUTSIDE w/ GORILLA NEMS, you’ll learn a lot of interesting information about rapper Spit Gemz.
- Wiki and Tony Seltzer entice with a great trailer for their new album, 14k Figaro. Watch the video and then listen to the whole album.
- You can never have too many good live sessions. And that session by artists Verbz, Nelson Dialect, Mr Slipz, and Kieran is pretty damn good.
BEST RELEASES
Lord Apex – The Good Fight
Lord Apex, or the West London star, is proud of his latest opus, The Good Fight. The newly released album continues a long line of major projects for the artist, who excels as a producer and rapper. Showcasing his ability to excel, Lord Apex takes The Good Fight to the very top of his game, featuring several notable guests. The list of producers on the record alone is fascinating, with Lord Apex utilizing top-notch beats from the likes of Madlib and Black Noi$e. Apex has carefully focused on his vision and has chosen excellent guests to highlight it, with American hip-hop icon Freddie Gibbs, neo-soul goddess Greentea Peng, and the talented MAVI, among others, making guest appearances on the record. Be sure not to miss this Fight.
Bisk & dylantheinfamous – DELICAFE
Lord Apex is not the only Brit who dazzled us last week. However, we must leave the glitzy imaginary top of the local scene and venture into the darkness of the underworld. The collaborative album DELICAFE was released by rapper Bisk and producer dylantheinfamous. Both artists are among this year’s MVPs, going against the tide and pushing rap into new, unexplored directions with each project. dylantheinfamous has once again knitted an atmospheric soundscape that suits Bisk’s style. Without a single hesitation, Bisk takes this opportunity to take the listener into a rap tunnel that will engulf anyone who enters it. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we’re attaching the video for the track Slippin’.
Sonnyjim & Lee Scott – Ortolan & Armagnac
And again, we stay in the UK. Sonnyjim and Lee Scott are possibly among the best artists in the whole country; their love of music is admirable. They have really refined techniques for lyrics and production that we haven’t seen anywhere else; they are absolute masters who live for rap. Sonnyjim is a rapper who has won us over countless times. His strict flow and deep voice create a mysterious atmosphere that is perfectly illustrated by Lee Scott with his mysterious productions. In addition to these two, the record features guest appearances from Crimeapple, Your Old Droog, Heems, D-Styles, Beni LayLo, and King Grubb. This is an absolute must for all rap fans and non-fans alike. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track 24 Karat.
shemar – obtuse ways to say that i love you
We get excited when we come across a rapper’s project that we don’t know yet, and we’re totally blown away. The album obtuse ways to say that i love you is a shining example of this. Brooklyn talent shemar has released three albums this year, and this latest one is also the most expansive. The album is an introspective time capsule about the artist searching for his inner self. The record is very honest, sensitive, and empathetic. This is exactly the type of mature rap we absolutely love, and it’s fascinating that very young artists are often behind it. Everything on the album works exactly as it should, whether we’re talking about the heartfelt rap, the beautiful beats, or the great cover that encapsulates the whole experience. Plus, you’ll find all the lyrics on Bandcamp, so you can really immerse yourself in the album. There is no music video for the album, so we are attaching the whole album.
Mark 4ord – Defnote’s in 33rd
If you crave a rich reservoir of raps and stories from the streets, this project is for you. Introducing Defnote’s in 33rd by Mark 4ord. The rapper features a chilling voice and an even more chilling flow. He delivers his stories through a great series of smooth beats. This is the kind of rap that you’ll be excited to play out loud absolutely anywhere, and you’ll immediately experience it fully. The album features a solid pace that holds your interest, keeping you focused on soaking up all the stories Mark is popping and wants you to know. Aside from the street stories, you can also enjoy the guest artists, who also do a great job, but we were most impressed by Conway, whose performance really stands out. You don’t need to be from the same place as him to understand what he is trying to say. Despite the songs being longer than usual, you never feel the urge to skip any part. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we attach the video for the song Breakin Down Doors.
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. Kemp Dupri continues his beauty ride this year and releases another great album. Larry June has teamed up with producer Cardo for the fifth time, and they have given fans exactly what they wanted. Good Job Larry. It hasn’t even been two months since Wiki dazzled with a collaborative record with MIKE and The Alchemist, and already he has another record out, a massive project produced by Tony Seltzer. The uncompromising Bub Styles is also making his presence known once again. Rapper tau is a new discovery for us; he has impressed us to the max with his record, Atlas Dilemma. Other excellent releases have come from Flee Lord x Dough Networkz x Local Astronauts, Andrew, Kaimbr & Sean Born, J Scienide, and Lenox Hughes.
Kemp Dupri & Masala Mane! – ART IMITATES MAN
tau – atlas dilemma
Flee Lord x Dough Networkz x Local Astronauts – East to West: The Compilation
Andrew – Smoke Chain
Kaimbr & Sean Born – 2
Bub Styles – Cold Blooded Hot Summer
Wiki & Tony Seltzer – 14K Figaro
J Scienide – Please, Allow Me To Destroy You
Lenox Hughes – Dont Kill The Messenger
Larry June & Cardo – The Night Shift
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
When K.A.A.N. hops behind the mic, he has only Good Intentions. Check out this great freestyle.
Vega7 The Ronin, Superior, and The Diggers? This could only have turned out phenomenal. And it turned out even better.
The Alchemist enlisted the one and only Jason Goldwatch to direct the latest clip, creating another hypnotic work of art.
Rahiem Supreme & Wino Willy have finally released the first music video for their magnificent album Snake & Crane Secret.
When Starker and Estee Nack jump on a track together, expect nothing but a chaotic adrenaline ride.
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. AKAI SOLO has released the pilot video for his double album Verticality//Singularity, which will be released on 12/8. Jay Worthy & Jake One have the charisma of Christopher Walken. Cise Greeny has released a music video for the single MUSIC, PLEASE…[THANK THE PIFFERY] feat. Aasir from his magnificent album BIONIC ARM. A$AP Twelvyy commemorates his latest record with an excellent video. BONES is the child of 1994. PRO-V, STACK MOOLAH & JUSTICE McFLY, ENNY, The Musalini, Cutlass Reid, and Sleep Sinatra also released top-notch videos last week.
PRO-V, STACK MOOLAH & JUSTICE McFLY – MYSTIC RIVERS
Jay Worthy & Jake One – Christopher Walken
AKAI SOLO – WAVELAND (prod. Roper Williams)
ENNY – Charge It Remix (feat. Smino)
Cise Greeny feat. Aasir – MUSIC, PLEASE…[THANK THE PIFFERY] (PROD. BY BACO MARTINEZ)
A$AP Twelvyy – Breakfast at Sylvia’s
The Musalini – Ashtray (Prod. Smoove) (Dir. Famus AAA)
Sleep Sinatra – Meal Ticks (prod by Original Super Legend)
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.
