Welcome to Rap Weekly 98: The Eternal Now. Every Monday, we’ll take you into the world of rap and summarise the most exciting news, announcements and can’t-miss stories. Find out everything you need to know in one place. We only write about the best, so you get the best rap delicacies on a golden platter. A place where the mind has no boundaries, The Eternal Now. DJ Muggs & Raz Fresco have produced an album that has everything. Mobb Deep will release their ninth album, with contributions from The Alchemist and Santana Fox. R.I.P. Prodigy. What is the concept behind The Virtuous Cycle? Big Sean has announced a new album. Larry June has released another unique banger. Good Job Larry. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
The Eternal Now
Legendary producer DJ Muggs, a member of Cypress Hill and founder of Soul Assassins, is one of hip-hop’s most prolific and important artists. The origins of his career date back to the 1980s, yet DJ Muggs has remained incredibly active and relevant over the past two decades. He’s released one great album after another, collaborating with both young talents and rap OGs. This year he released Roc Star (w/ Mooch), and a few months ago he announced that he was working on a project with Canadian rapper Raz Fresco, founder of BKRSCLB. Raz Fresco is one of rap’s biggest grinders and one of our favorite contemporary artists, so our expectations were truly astronomical. DJ Muggs and Raz Fresco certainly didn’t let us down.
The Eternal Now is an album that really has it all. It is a place where the mind has no boundaries and creativity knows no limits. DJ Muggs has produced beats with elements of jazz that make a massive impression. You get the feeling that you are listening to a 90’s classic, but one that is contemporary and progressive. Raz Fresco knew he was fulfilling a dream, so he really put everything into the album. You can look forward to introspective, socio-political, and culturally reflective lyrics that are full of pop culture and spiritual allusions. The Eternal Now is a place where time doesn’t pass as we know it but adapts to the sounds of rap.
NEWS
Mobb Deep will release their ninth album
R.I.P. Prodigy. The legendary duo Mobb Deep have released eight albums; the most recent, The Infamous Mobb Deep, was released in 2014. Prodigy and Havoc have also released countless solo classics, yet there is something magical about their albums together. An important figure in their careers is producer The Alchemist, who has produced countless of their collaborative and solo tracks. He’s the one best qualified to oversee the release of Prodigy’s posthumous music. The Alchemist has already said several times that he has a large amount of Prodigy’s unreleased music that he plans to release to the world. And it looks like we’re about to see it. Havoc shared a video on Instagram from Alchemist’s studio announcing the duo’s ninth album, Mobb Deep. The album is expected to feature a guest appearance from rapper Santana Fox, daughter of Prodigy.
Pride of a Man
ANKHLEJOHN, aka LORDY, announced the album Pride of a Man last year. LORDY is one of the best rappers of today; we rank his albums among the Best Albums of the Year every year, and we even wrote a big article about the Van Ghost project (w/ Big Ghost). So the announcement of his most ambitious record has raised huge expectations for us. On September 4, the album, which consists of seventeen tracks, will finally be released. The record features guest appearances from Navy Blue, Willie The Kid, Domo Genesis, Fly Anakin, and Inspectah Deck. Production was handled by a plethora of talented producers, including The Alchemist, August Fanon, and V Don. Listen to the pilot track, KISS OF DEATH.
What is the concept behind The Virtuous Cycle?
Big Sean, one of the most prominent voices in the contemporary rap scene, has announced his new album, Better Me Than You. He made the announcement in a truly unique way, releasing a video on YouTube showcasing his The Virtuous Cycle. The Virtuous Cycle is a concept that describes a situation where one positive factor supports another, leading to repeated and sustainable improvement. In the video, Big Sean explained how this cycle relates to his new album and how it inspired him during the creation process. During the process of creating the album, he went through different emotions and decided to visualize these feelings using four different charts. These charts represent the four different feelings and phases he went through during the creation of the album. The first of these feelings was a strong pressure, which then led him to clarity and a focus on happiness. He was able to enjoy this happiness briefly, but soon returned to the pressure again. Visualizing these emotions and movements through charts helped Big Sean bring his new album to life, and you can enjoy them in the video itself. Better Me Than You promises to be a deep and personal piece that reflects his emotional journey and growth. The Alchemist recently shared a preview of the music video for the collaborative track with Big Sean, so you can expect a beat from the legendary producer on the album.
BEST ALBUMS
unruly – BLACK BELOVED
unruly, known for his unique approach to rap, once again surprises and captivates with his new album, BLACK BELOVED. This project is a true work of art, full of deep emotions and thoughts that confirm his uniqueness and talent. The album opens with the Intro, the lyrics of which immediately impress with their depth and introspective nature. unruly reflects on his experiences and findings from the past, touching on topics such as love, pain, war, and negative influences, and it is already evident here that the listener is in for a journey full of introspection and personal revelations. One of the album’s strongest points is its minimalist production, which suits Unruly perfectly. This style allows his lyrics and emotions to come through fully, creating a dark and immersive atmosphere. The album features guest artists such as UNKNOWN INK and Armani Jordan. BLACK BELOVED is a masterpiece that showcases unruly as one of the most talented artists in the current rap scene. The album offers a deep and honest experience that gives fans a glimpse into his mind and heart. This dark, emotional, and thought-rich record is a testament to his uniqueness.
Cedar Law$ & Jamal Gasol – Fresh 31
Producer Cedar Law$ and rapper Jamal Gasol have joined forces to release Fresh 31. The album, which hosts a plethora of talented artists such as All Hail Y.T., Skyzoo, SH4MEL, Aaqil Ali, Vic Spencer, Rico Tellem, and Toney Boi, is a true showcase of the power of collaborative work in the rap world. Jamal Gasol shines with his strict rap style and uncompromising lyrics. Cedar Law$ provides him with dense, hard-hitting beats that perfectly complement Jamal’s voice. The lyrics touch on several different topics, such as relationships, ambition, money, and music careers. Here Jamal expresses his feelings of betrayal in relationships, his ambition to make money and gain attention, but also the realization that these things are not as important as they seem. The dark and immersive atmosphere of the album is the perfect backdrop for his lyrics. Fresh 31 is an album full of honesty, hard truths, and personal experiences. Jamal Gasol and Cedar Law$ have created a project that resonates with authenticity and emotion.
YL – Air Max Music Vol. 1
Wow. YL of RRR is one of our favorite rappers, and with his latest mixtape, Air Max Music Vol. 1, he’s proven to us once again why. We included his last double album, Don’t Feed The Pigeons and Don’t Feed The Pigeons Delux, in our Top 100 Best Rap Albums of 2023, but Air Max Music Vol. 1 is something completely new. It’s a mixtape in the truest sense of the word. YL took his favorite beats, including beats from legendary tracks GO!, Get By, and The Learning (Burn) by Mobb Deep, and gave them new life. While this is a mixtape, YL still managed to create a more cohesive experience than many rappers do on their best albums. Listening to the record, you’ll float through New York as gracefully as YL floats through each beat. YL speaks to his listeners, and you’ll hear radio tags on most of the tracks. Air Max Music Vol. 1 is not a product; it’s an album for people that breathes life. Without a doubt, this is the best mixtape of the year. Turn that sh*t the f*ck up. Unfortunately no video was released for the album, so we are attaching the full project.
DJ Drama & C Stunna – Still Stuntin
Florida rapper C Stunna has released the Still Stuntin’ project in collaboration with the legendary DJ Drama. Although Stunna hails from Florida, the album is deeply rooted in the Detroit sound, which feels surprisingly authentic, as if Stunna was made for these beats. The project features guest appearances from Real Boston Richey, Luh Tyler, Skrilla, Wizz Havinn, Woodboy Gee, Fatpocket, Jimbo World, and T Row. The lyrics revolve around wealth, lifestyle, and success. Stunna raps about his luxurious life and unbreakable confidence. Still Stuntin showcases C Stunna as a talented rapper with a clear vision and potential for further growth. Rap fans looking for an authentic and gritty sound should definitely not miss this album.
Vic Spencer – The Apes That Was Left Behind
Vic Spencer is a Chicago rapper we cover several times a year. He is one of the most prolific artists in the rap game, yet each of his albums is of impressive quality and different than the last. This January, he released the jazz-rap gem Be Double Clip Tight (w/ Original Super Legend), and now comes a more gritty and uncompromising sound. the Apes That Was Left Behind is a tribute to the legendary Sean Price. Vic Spencer paves his unorthodox way through the beats, and his skill is reminiscent of the legendary MC. Sean Price himself makes a guest appearance on the record; in addition to him, you can look forward to countless other great rappers such as Oh No, Rome Streetz, Philmore Greene, and IAMGAWD. Vic Spencer continues to run his legendary marathon. R.I.P. Sean Price.
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.
Big Flowers x Messiah Musik – Save The Bees
Grafh & 38 Spesh – God’s Timing
G Fam Black & Tali Rodriguez – Nightmare City
Rakim – G.O.D.’S NETWORK (REB7RTH)
Flee Lord – Raised In The Sand
Onaje Jordan & New Villain – Super-Villain Team-Up 2: Sign Of The Skull
Da Flyy Hooligan – Hooli Hansen II – Da Mixxxtape
Arsinel – The Aviator
Termanology – The Summer Pack 2
Eclyse & Skinny Bonez Tha Godfatha – Doors of Perception
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
“My tax dollar killing children and they mothers.” Navy Blue has announced a new album with a phenomenal music video. Free Palestine.
“The most powerful warriors are patience and time.” CRIMEAPPLE and MICHAELANGELO have released a music video for their joint album.
Larry June has released another unique soulful banger. Good Job Larry.
CRIME PAYS, but it would be a crime not to see Ba Pace’s new music video.
Solace by MARCO PLUS is a hypnotic, introspective story. Watch the music video that enhances the experience.
DOPE VIDEOS
Our list of must-see music videos doesn’t end with the top five. We’ve picked out ten more dope clips that you definitely need to see. Give all the artists below a chance, they deserve it.
Fliptrix – Making Waves (Prod. Illinformed)
O’D – Villano D’ Villa Juana/Third World Babies
Ncl-DøøFus : BULLETPROOF KUFFLINX
Cordae – Saturday Mornings (feat. Lil Wayne)
Rasheed Chappell – Haysoos ft. SoundsLikeDen
Pataka Boys – Black Sabbath | Sonnyjim, PAV4N, Kartik | Azadi Records
Grafh “ROCAFELLA CHAIN” ft. Memphis Bleek, Freeway & Peedi Crakk
DJ LUCAS – “POET LAUREATE” (PROD DANNY G) [DIR. BY AARON FEINCHELL]
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.
