Welcome to Rap Weekly 102: The Thief Next to Jesus. 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. Ka has released The Thief Next to Jesus, an epic album about evil hiding in the shadows that only lends a helpful hand when it’s holding a knife in the other. A$AP Rocky delayed the album and released a phenomenal music video. Travis Scott has released the cult classic mixtape Days Before Rodeo on all streaming services. YOO. PLAYTHATBOIZAY and JPEGMAFIA released one of the biggest bangers of the year. Trust The Chain II is out. Planet Asia & 38 Spesh follow up the modern classic from 2020. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
The Thief Next to Jesus
Is one of the best rappers of all time—if not the best—a firefighter by profession? We think so. The mean streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn, have created a master rapper whose approach to music is closer to the great thinkers and authors than to his rap colleagues. Ka has released his eleventh studio album, The Thief Next to Jesus, an epic about evil hiding in the shadows that will only lend a helping hand when he’s holding a knife in the other. „They comme ci, comme ça, Want a world of superlatives? Come see Ka.“
The Thief Next To Jesus (wav. files) – KA https://t.co/HPFRyNxkjP
— Ka (@BrownsvilleKa) August 19, 2024
Right from the opening of the video for the pilot track Such Devotion, Ka lets us know that he is sampling gospel on his latest album. However, the title of the album, which Ka completely produced, suggests that we’re not expecting too many celebratory religious chants. Ka has already used religious themes on albums like Descendants of Cain (2020), where he described life in the Brookyn ghetto through Biblical parallels, and A Martyr’s Reward (2021), where he recalled the bloody injustices that people of dark skin color have had to and must deal with. Once again, The Thief Next to Jesus has a unique concept. It is an album about people, governments, and systems that hurt others by their actions, which they present as good but are hidden in a fog of lies. In the opening track, Ka criticizes other rappers who glorify drugs and violence and become tools of those who restrict, colonize, and oppress people of color.
That Ka is a well-read and extremely intelligent and empathetic artist, as we have known for several years. Still, we are fascinated by the breathtaking scope and complexity of the new album. Ka literally brings to life and musicalizes the experience of people of color who grew up in absolutely horrific conditions. This gives the listener all the tools to develop a tremendous amount of understanding and empathy. The ubiquitous gospel samples, heavily harmony-driven vocals, elements of blues, and beats without drums create a claustrophobic atmosphere. Ka turns beautiful music into horror and reveals the true face of things. He exposes the hypocrisy of Christianity and how it has been and is being abused by white people. He juxtaposes the spirituality of the slaves, who gained strength through their faith that kept them alive, with the religion that killed them. The Thief Next to Jesus is a masterpiece, a pinnacle of the rap genre that will be studied for decades to come. „To succeed you’ve never seen such devotion.“
NEWS
A$AP Rocky delayed the album
August 30 could have been one of the most important rap days of the year. A$AP Rocky was set to release his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb, which has been six years in the making. Sadly, it’s not going to happen. Rocky apologized to his fans, but due to leaks and sample issues, he postponed the album. It should be released in the fall, and we hope that the album will not be accompanied by any more problems. To make up for this bad news, Rocky has released a phenomenal music video for the track HIGHJACK. Rocky is famous for his music videos, and this latest one certainly doesn’t put him to shame.
DAYS BEFORE RODEO is out on streaming platforms
Travis Scott celebrates 10 years since the release of his breakthrough mixtape Days Before Rodeo by re-releasing it on all streaming platforms. Originally released on August 18, 2014 under Grand Hustle Records, this iconic project once again gives fans the chance to immerse themselves in the twelve tracks that defined the beginning of Travis’ journey to the top of the music world. On social media, Travis confirmed that more archival tracks from the Days Before Rodeo era could appear alongside this re-release. Travis made the announcement directly on Instagram, where he shared nostalgic footage with Future, Metro Boomin, and Young Thug.
Tune in to CHANNEL 1 and reveal the truth
There is no doubt that REVELATOR, the new album from E L U C I D, is one of the most anticipated albums of the year. The album won’t be released until October 11th, giving E L U C I D plenty of time to build anticipation. He has launched pre-orders, revealed the cover and tracklist, and released the pilot tracks. Last week, he released a video titled CHANNEL 1, which is the first in a series of videos that explore the style, scope, and influences of the album. In the video, E L U C I D talks about how he was originally working on another record, but life led him down this path. The goal of the project is to let people know that there is hope and the status quo doesn’t have to last forever.
QUICK NEWS
- 38 Spesh has released the trailer for Mother & Gun, a semi-autobiographical film he wrote and directed. The film will be released on September 13 and stars Method Man, Che Noir, Lloyd Banks, Havoc, and Marley Marl.
- Rap Camp TV is back. The Alchemist has released a vlog from Japan.
- The third episode of Doing It For Me Documentary is out.
- Apollo Brown and CRIMEAPPLE have released a great single, Coke With Ice. Are they going to make a joint album?
- The commercial for Nike’s DMV Cherry Blossom Foamposites features Big Lordy.
BEST ALBUMS
Curbside Jones – Nigo With The Skully
Curbside Jones is back and bringing raw energy to the rap game with his new album Nigo With The Skully, the follow-up to his previous release Jigga With The Grill. This second installment of the trilogy shows Curbside maturing as an artist and continuing his independent but powerful journey through hip-hop. Nigo With The Skully is not only a tribute to Japanese style and streetwear icon Nigo but also a bold statement from Curbside Jones that clearly lays out his position in the game. The project’s seven tracks combine sharp lyrical content with an experimental sound that is clearly influenced by Japanese culture and the underground hip-hop scene. Curbside really shows off his best form here, both in lyrics and production. The album also stands on a solid foundation of collaborations with talented artists. Estee Nack from Massachusetts delivers the hard-hitting lyricism. The return of longtime collaborators such as Doof, Flat Stanley, and Phill Blanks creates a rich sonic palette that Curbside calls a “sonic bapestry.” The lyrics are full of clever references and metaphors that make the listener go back and reimmerse themselves in each track. Although it’s sometimes difficult to follow his intricate wordplay, it’s that elusiveness that gives the album its intensity and depth. Curbside Jones isn’t afraid to experiment, which is evident in the wild tempo changes, rhythm changes and sound collages he creates.
ROCXNOIR – I HEARD HOUSES NEED PAINTING
When your album is being shared by Knowledge The Pirate, it’s clear you’re doing something right. Last week, we noted that The Pirate shared London rapper ROCXNOIR’s I HEARD HOUSES NEED PAINTING, who will perform alongside Roc Marciano on this year’s European Marciology tour pt. II. That in itself means something, but we wanted to find out for ourselves. The album took our breath away. I HEARD HOUSES NEED PAINTING combines the best of American and British rap. ROCXNOIR has a hypnotic voice that permeates the minimalist beats like ancient magic. His bars are nasty and full of powerful imagery that you just can’t get out of your head. All praise to Slick Roc The Ruler.
Passport Rav & Rob Viktum – Amygdala
Passport Rav and Rob Viktum have teamed up to bring Amygdala, a collaborative album that shows that sometimes less can be more. With only one guest, Lord Sko, the duo decided to focus on quality instead of quantity, and the result is a project that doesn’t try to be a hit for the masses but rather offers a deep experience for those looking for meaningful lyricism and thoughtful production. Amygdala is an album that will not leave you quiet. As the title suggests, its themes revolve around emotions and subconscious reactions, which is aptly captured in both the lyrics and the musical production. The track On Swivel, featuring Lord Sko, is one of the highlights of the record. Lord’s effortless style and raw energy perfectly complement Passport’s bars, which are full of hard truths and uncompromising statements. The lyrics are full of imagery that is reminiscent of urban poetry. Tough, blunt, and direct. The lyrics are a mantra that sticks in the memory and perfectly captures the paranoid energy of the track. Viktum’s production, which mixes dark, atmospheric sounds with crisp percussion, gives the track the necessary drive and tension.
Planet Asia & 38 Spesh – Trust The Chain II
We have chosen the album Mother & Gun by 38 Spesh as last week’s news of the week. Of course, we didn’t forget to mention that 38 Spesh is not only a great rapper but also a great producer. But as they say, a work is worth a thousand words, so take a listen to Trust The Chain II, which 38 Spesh fully produced. The legendary Planet Asia is behind the mic, and both artists follow up their modern classic from 2020. Planet Asia is a master in his field, and on every track he comes across as a magnificent force not to be trifled with. 38 Spesh has produced some beautiful beats, in which Planet Asia has plenty of space. Unfortunately no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track God Degree.
Mickey Diamond – It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
Mickey Diamond returns to the scene with his new album It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, which once again confirms his ability to combine hard, raw lyrics with uncompromising production. The track Drunken Master is one of the album’s key moments and shows that Mickey Diamond has no inhibitions about going into the dark corners of the human mind while remaining authentic. The lyrics are raw and full of violence, creating an image of the dangerous and erratic world Mickey navigates. His words are harsh and direct, referencing crime, drugs, and violence. Mickey’s style is like a combination of classic gangsta rap with a modern twist. The chaotic energy is backed by heavy beats and dark production, giving the tracks an air of danger and rawness. Unfortunately no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track GG Buckets.
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.
BUB ROCK – PLEA$E DON’T THINK I’M ACTIN FUNNY
Patty Honcho – Live With Em, Live Without Em [Vol.1]
PLAYTHATBOIZAY – VIP
Bless Picasso – Rillest in the Room 2
Sxint Chris – The Messenger
Dee-1 – LOADED
Cashus King – Free.99
Heems & Sid Vashi – Veena
J Littles & Kong The Artisan – Massa
PEP57 – ENJOY THIS TODAY, YOU CAN DIE TOMMOROW.
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
“Let my angels sing.” Chuck Strangers has released a breathtaking video for one of the most iconic songs of last year.
Slidin’ is the anthem for summer travelling. Check out the new music video by Manast LL’.
RUFUS SIMS is the one who knocks on the door. Watch the video for LATE FEE.
Chester Watson is a true rap mage.
YOO. PLAYTHATBOIZAY and JPEGMAFIA released one of the biggest bangers of the year.
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.
Mike Shabb – SCARECROW FREESTYLE
Jae Skeese – Brick After Brick (Ground Level)
Daniel Son x Finn – Dance Of The Drunken Mantis
Benny the Butcher, Black Soprano Family – Knightfall
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.
