Welcome to our Rap Weekly 73: Everybody Can’t Go. 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: Benny The Butcher has released his biggest record to date, Everybody Can’t Go, his debut under the Def Jam label. The wait is over, ScHoolboy Q has announced a new album, Westside Gunn is starting off the first quarter of 2024 continuing to push the art, and evolving the culture, It’s official: Your Old Droog and Madlib will release a joint album later this year. Hit-Boy & The Alchemist have released a triple video for their new EP. These rappers/producers are an unprecedented duo. Boldy James, Nicholas Craven, and The Diggers? This is the dream team. What dope albums and music videos have been released last two weeks? That and much more can be found by scrolling down.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Everybody Can’t Go
We’ve written a lot about how Griselda changed the rap scene. Benny The Butcher is one of the most influential rappers of our time and is no longer an underground artist. Like Conway The Machine and Westside Gunn, Benny has found a way to please listeners who aren’t into underground rap without fundamentally straying from what makes his music so good. This year is a breakout year for him, as he released his biggest record to date, Everybody Can’t Go, his debut under the Def Jam label.
Everybody Can’t Go is a great album. We must disappoint all the skeptics. Benny is simply a top-notch rapper who has mastered all aspects of the rap game. Is Everybody Can’t Go as cohesive, dirty, and immersive as Benny’s opus Tana Talk 3? It isn’t. It’s logical, though. As Benny mentioned before the album’s release, he wanted to make the most of the Def Jam label’s support. The album is thus lavish, more mainstream, and even features a guest appearance by Snoop Dogg. Still, Benny sticks to his style, rapping about the hard street life and his success. The entire album was produced by The Alchemist and Hit-Boy, so fans of both producer giants will be in for a treat. Everybody Can’t Go is an album that goes more towards the listener than we’re used to with Benny, yet everything we love about Benny’s music can be found within. And that’s not a given with albums this anticipated.
NEWS
The wait is over, ScHoolboy Q has announced a new album
The wait is over. World-famous rapper ScHoolboy Q announces a new album five years after the release of his last album, CrasH Talk. The Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label member has only appeared on a handful of feats since 2019, keeping his fans in suspense for a really long time. BLUE LIPS will be released on March 1, 2024, and you can check out the brilliantly executed tracklist trailer below. We can look forward to seventeen tracks. ScHoolboy is keeping the guests under wraps for now. Or do you think he’ll pull off the whole album on his own? We’ll have to wait and see.
Westside Gunn is starting off the first quarter of 2024 continuing to push the art, and evolving the culture
In the first quarter of 2024, Westside Gunn begins a new phase of its artistic and cultural development. In the fifth episode of the And Then You Pray For Me series, he and Stove God Cook$ head to Paris Fashion Week to further strengthen their partnerships with like-minded artists, designers, and creatives in Paris. During his time at this art hub, Westside Gunn has connected with talented personalities such as ASAP Rocky, KidSuper, Jim Jones, Vic Mensa, Billie Essco, and many more. In this unique series, Westside Gunn has continually dedicated himself to creating artwork and building new collaborations while honoring the legacy of Virgil Abloh. The And Then You Pray For Me documentary series not only visualizes the masterful album but also gives us a deep look at what it means to live and create in this unique lifestyle.
The Diamond Collection is coming, it’s RRR season
Both Starker and YL released numerous excellent albums last year; just look at our TOP 100 Best Rap Albums 2023 list. Both rappers are among the most talented rap artists of today, so we are looking forward to their next project with high expectations. This year, the two artists will team up again to release the Diamond Collection album. The rappers have been shooting a music video in New York City in recent days and have also revealed details of the release show. It will take place on February 22 at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. You can buy tickets here. In addition to the aforementioned duo, the show will feature producers zoomo and Subjxct5 and the one and only Wiki. On Soul Sheet’s YouTube channel, you can find the music video for Starker & SOUSHI’s “OOCHIE WALLY “Feat. YL, which was filmed in Japan.
It’s official: Your Old Droog and Madlib will release a joint album later this year
Your Old Droog is a very productive rapper who has literally bombarded us with projects in 2022. Last year, however, he slowed down and didn’t release any projects. He did, however, drop some great singles, some of which were produced by the one and only Madlib. Your Old Droog has revealed more than once on Twitter that he’s working on an album completely produced by Madlib, and he has even revealed more than one featured guest, among them Mos Def. A few days ago, he tweeted that the album would be released this year. So the wait is coming to an end, and we’re really curious to see what the final project will sound like.
QUICK NEWS
- The Alchemist & Boldy James take us to Oslo in the second vlog from The Six Million Dollar Man Tour.
- Isaiah Rashad came to Spotify Studios, Los Angeles for a special performance to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut EP, Cilvia Demo.
- Benny The Butcher has released the third episode of a documentary series covering the making of Everybody Can’t Go.
- The Chinatown Sound project has once again featured a number of talented artists over the past two weeks.
- DJ Muggs and Raz Fresco? We’re about to hear these rap giants collaborate. Can we look forward to a joint album? Let’s see what’s in store.
BEST ALBUMS
CRIMEAPPLE & Preservation – El León
As we wrote in our TOP 100 Best Rap Albums of 2023 list, CRIMEAPPLE is a rapper we can always count on. He’s released numerous excellent projects each year, collaborated with many legends, such as DJ Muggs, and can rap fluently in both English and Spanish. Still, he really surprised us at the beginning of 2024. He has teamed up with producer Preservation, and together they will release a trilogy of albums. Yes, you read that right: CRIMEAPPLE, Preservation and three albums. Pres is one of the best producers of today; his beats on Aethiopes (w/ billy woods) took the genre one step further. Their first collaborative album, El León, is already on all streaming services, and we can confirm that it hasn’t disappointed us in the slightest. CRIMEAPPLE has given his best and takes the listener on a fascinating journey around the world. The rapper’s insight, life experience, and worldly knowledge are the magic that makes his lyrics and stories listen to themselves. Preservation has produced phenomenal beats that breathe a blend of different world cultures; the resulting album is such a lush rap travelogue. We look forward to the next two installments.
Che` Noir – The Color Chocolate Vol. 1
Che` Noir excels once again on his new EP, The Color Chocolate, Vol. 1. Four tracks in less than 11 minutes offer punchy, edgy, and 90s-era hip-hop-tinged rap. The EP relies on vocal samples and cold beats, with Che` teaming up with guests like Ransom, Your Old Droog, and Evidence to create powerful lyrical performances. The production throughout the album is well thought out, combining boom bap, soul samples, and synths. Che` Noir once again shows her exceptional ability to tell authentic and poignant stories through her rapping. The Color Chocolate, Vol. 1, marks the beginning of the next chapter in this talented artist’s career, and there’s no doubt that we’re in for much more from Che` Noir throughout 2024.
Kota the Friend – Lyrics to GO 5
The Lyrics to Go series will always have a special place in our hearts. In January 2020, when the first episode was released, we launched our Instagram account and started the SudetyRaport project. Lyrics to Go, Vol. 1 was one of the very first albums we wrote about. Several years have passed, and Kota the Friend has released the fifth installment of this incredible series. The concept is simple; lyrics not used elsewhere are used here. The album is the pure essence of rap, taking the lyrics and rapping them to the beats. Behind the beats are a plethora of talented producers, such as Exile and Hit-Boy. Lyrics to Go is a series we always love to write about.
al.divino – firewater
al.divino is an artist who cannot be imitated. He is one of the most progressive rappers of the last decade, and with every project, he tests his listeners. The rapper’s projects could be divided into several categories. On one side are albums like WILE COYOTE (w/ MichaelAngelo), which are somewhat more traditional by rapper standards. On the other end are albums that the artist releases under the cvv.vino pseudonym, which are chaotic sonic odysseys without a single rule. firewater stands squarely in the middle, offering a perfect fusion of everything we love about the rapper. Expect hard, uncompromising rap that will take you into utter chaos. All of the producers have created completely unique beats that no one else but al.divino could rap to. No music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track CHA$E.
IAMGAWD & Clypto – Bloodstained Suede II
Last May, Chicago underground rapper IAMGAWD teamed up with Californian producer Clypto to release the excellent Bloodstained Suede. Fortunately, both artists are very productive, so less than a year after the release, we’re treated to a sophomore effort that’s just as good, if not better, than the first. Bloodstained Suede II features polished and detailed lyrics, flawless performances behind the mic, soulful, groovy, sometimes gritty loops, and countless excellent guests. IAMGAWD is yet another example of how Chicago underground rap is among the absolute best you can find in the current rap game. No music video has been released for the album, so we’re attaching a clip for the track The Trenches.
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. With REMY’S REVENGE, DATKIDBRAVO has proven that he is one of the rappers you should definitely support. Cookin Soul & Tha God Fahim? This duo couldn’t release a bad project. Jay Cinema released his biggest opus to date, Alchemy. No Gamble, No future—that’s the code Sly Moon follows. Excellent albums have also been released by artists R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura, Shottie & Farmabeats, Nothing_neue & Pootie, Waterr & Wavy Da Ghawd, plusNONE & Marlo DeMore, and King Kashmere & Cuth.
DATKIDBRAVO – REMY’S REVENGE
Cookin Soul & Tha God Fahim – Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura – the First Fist to Make Contact When We Dap
Jay Cinema & Chow – Alchemy
Sly Moon – No Gamble, No Future
Shottie & Farmabeats – Nothing Changed Except Everything
Nothing_neue & Pootie – Rinse & Repeat
Waterr & Wavy Da Ghawd – Washed Ashore
plusNONE & Marlo DeMore – Imported Diesel
King Kashmere & Cuth – Sounds Like Home
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Chuck Strangers teases the album A Forsaken Lover’s Plea with an excellent music video. The Alchemist on the beat.
Boldy James, Nicholas Craven, and The Diggers? This is the dream team.
YL has once again captured the magic of rap in the music video for COOL GRAY.
smokeintheye takes you into the forbidden corners of rap in the music video for Nick at Knight.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist have released a triple video for their new EP. These rappers/producers are an unprecedented duo.
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. datkidbravo and al.divino, these two are an uncompromising duo. Vic Spencer loves rap videos, and we thank him for that. AKAI SOLO reminds us of his albums from last year; don’t miss them. Why is R.A.P. Ferreira’s story so interesting? A new music video will give you the answer. Top-notch music videos were also released last two weeks by JACK JETSON X ILLINFORMED, Aira5900, Black Josh, King Kashmere, WST. TAYLOR X HAGAKURE a AJ Suede.
JACK JETSON X ILLINFORMED – DELIRIUM
SMOKEDUST – datkidbravo x al.divino
Vic Spencer & Original Super Legend – Frog Nuts
Black Josh – Council Pop ft Sly Moon (prod. Lee Scott)
King Kashmere – Sounds Like Home (Prod. Cuth)
WST. TAYLOR X HAGAKURE – KOTAL KHAN
AKAI SOLO – Play The Crib (prod. TwentyFifthNight)
R.A.P. Ferreira & Fumitake Tamura – bending corners
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.
