Welcome to Rap Weekly 115: Keep Me Company. 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. Keep Me Company is a brilliant rap album about finding your identity through community and the relationships with people that come into your life. Accordion and Rhinestone Cowboy, two legendary music videos by Madvillain, have been 4K remastered. How did Mach-Hommy turn battle raps into $7,000 pieces of art? The mysterious rapper opened up in an interview for Complex. The Alchemist lets his unique rap style shine through in the music video for Something Light. Three rap giants—Ice Cube, Killer Mike, and Busta Rhymes—teamed up on Ego Maniacs. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Keep Me Company
Skyzoo is a rap veteran in the purest sense of the word. He started releasing his first mixtapes in 2002; his debut album, Cloud 9: The 3 Day High (w/ 9th Wonder), came three years later. He has been in the rap game for over twenty years and still approaches his art with the utmost care. So let’s go back to the term veteran. An album like Keep Me Company could not have been created by a rookie. From the very first track, it’s clear to you that this deep and complex piece of art is the work of someone who is experienced in life and has studied the world around him for several decades. Keep Me Company is a brilliant rap album about finding your identity through community and the relationships with people that come into your life.
Similar to 2021’s All the Brilliant Things, on Keep Me Company Skyzoo explores communities, gentrification of neighborhoods, and broad universal themes that describe the socio-cultural-political environment he grew up in. Yet he veers away from this macro level to more personal stories that bring you closer to his life. Skyzoo can describe stories in his songs that are as deep and detailed as, for example, Ka. Rest in peace. This skill can be seen on the track Wins of the Father, which perhaps intentionally, perhaps not, acts as a counterpoint to the Sins of the Father track by Ka. While Ka reflects on issues that spill over from generation to generation, Skyzoo cuts through the curse and raps about his son while paying homage to all good fathers. You can look forward to some great boom bap beats with jazzy elements that give the record the vibrancy it needs. Skyzoo once again proves that he is one of the best of the best.
NEWS
Living off borrowed time
The cult album MM..FOOD celebrated twenty years since its release a few days ago. The year 2004 was the year when MF DOOM made history for several reasons. In the same year, besides MM..FOOD, he also released VV:2, Special Herbs + Spices Volume 1, and especially Madvillany (w/ Madlib). The Stones Throw label released a vinyl edition of Madvillainy: Demos & Audiophile Edition on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the legendary album, and last week gave us another gift: a 4K remaster of the iconic music videos for Accordion and Rhinestone Cowboy. “When we uploaded Madvillain’s “Accordion” video back in 2008, YouTube wasn’t capable of hosting HD videos, let alone 4k. To celebrate the two-decade anniversary of Madvillainy and our upcoming release of Madvillainy Demos and the Audiophile Edition – out November 29, 2024 – the original music video director Andrew Gura has remastered both the Accordion and Rhinestone Cowboy music videos from the original DV files.” RIP MF DOOM.
Mach-Hommy reflects on his journey
Mach-Hommy, the masked rapper and visionary, revealed his story in an interview with Complex. The Haitian native, who landed in New Jersey with his family at the age of nine, has had a journey full of twists and turns, from battle rap to a life of crime to his own game-changing business model. Mach started out as an MC in the battlerap scene but eventually moved behind the camera. It was while filming that he happened to meet Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine, members of Griselda Records, who inspired him to return to music. But Mach didn’t just want to learn from them; he decided to go his own way. His music became more than a product; he turned it into an art that he offers only to those who truly understand its value. With his vinyls, he showed how rap could be used not only as a medium but also as a business model. He has set prices that have made it a symbol of exclusivity and has gradually built a fan base that supports his philosophy. His vision and approach prove that hip hop can be more than just a musical genre; it can be a manifesto of individuality and creativity. Mach-Hommy doesn’t play by the rules; he makes them.
Social Misfit
Top Shelf Premium’s “Off Top” Freestyle is one of our favorite rap shows. The authentic atmosphere of their shop is now iconic, and over the course of eight seasons, the series has spawned many iconic rap moments. That’s why we’re thrilled that season nine kicked off last week, and we can look forward to another dose of great freestyles. Who started it? The Social Misfit crew, consisting of BVNGS, Milc, Def Soulja, Teeg Austin, and Streeta G. The whole crew set the bar really high.
QUICK NEWS
- Al-Doe & Spanish Ran have completed another joint album. Will it be released later this year? There’s still hope.
- Skyzoo shows off the skills of a veteran in a new episode of On The Radar Freestyle.
- To celebrate the release, Sparkz & Pitch have revealed a live performance of Glass House.
- Ab-Soul in COLORS SHOW? That’s all you need to know.
- Ankhlejohn has released a new project, GIVE GRACE (SIDE A), exclusively on his website.
BEST ALBUMS
Old Orleans & Kadeem Olijah – Copious
Old Orleans has joined forces with producer Kadeem Olijah and their collaborative album Copious is exactly what the title promises: a solid dose of emotion, throwbacks, and vibrancy. These two have created what sounds like the soundtrack to a return to where you belong, yet it also takes you to places you may not have known were waiting for you. The track I’m Back Baby sets the tone right from the start; it’s not just about going back to your place but finding that energy that pulls you on. With his flow, Old Orleans talks about how a house isn’t a home unless you feel your heart there. Copious is a journey from falling to rising, from chaos to calm, all wrapped up in groovy beats that make you think. The lyrics on Copious aren’t just words; they’re stories. Every line has a meaning, from the references to Magnolia to the small details of everyday life. Old Orleans moves between memories and the present. And while it touches on melancholy, its return isn’t about regret; it’s about knowing where you belong and having a plan to stay there.
cisco moon – Inside Looking Out
cisco moon and Stevie! have delivered a project that acts as an open diary. Inside Looking Out is full of inner monologues, doubts, hopes, and subtle emotions. This record doesn’t bring the bangers to the party but more of a soundtrack to evenings when you go for a walk and reflect on life. The track MaybeSomeday is the heart of the album, simple but rawly honest. cisco moon muses here about relationships and longing for something that may be distant, perhaps unattainable. You’ll find it all here: hopes, fears, and an admission that happiness is never certain. His words float over a production by Stevie! that’s minimalistic but catchy, with an autumnal vibe that wraps you up like a blanket on a chilly morning. Guests like Mary Sue, Chester Watson, ZekeUltra, and Nostalgik don’t come across as random feats here, but as natural extensions of cisco moon’s world. Each brings their own perspective, but they all rap within the same intimate and introspective tone. Inside Looking Out won’t appeal to everyone; it’s not a one-listen album, and it’s not for fans of the mainstream sound. But if you’re in the mood for something deeper that makes you stop and feel the present moment, this is the album for you.
Bisk & dylantheinfamous – FITL2: Fire, Burn, Flames
Dylantheinfamous aka Dylan Gray is one of the best artists of this year. The album Graystation 2, where he took on the role of producer and rapper, is one of the most unique records released this year. In addition, the artist gifted us with GRAYNETTI (w/ Manu Mainetti) and produced four tracks on Obijuan’s phenomenal FLDSZN. Last week, he teamed up with London rapper Bisk to follow up their 2020 collaborative album, Fire in the Light. We included their latest collaborative album, DELICAFE, in our Top 100 Best Rap Albums of 2023, and last week they didn’t disappoint us. FITL2: Fire, Burn, Flames is a searing darkness full of pain and introspection, a journey through the shards into unending darkness. Over absolutely phenomenal atmospheric beats by Dylan, Bisk gives space to his feelings and thoughts, and the listener is constantly plagued by the weight of every word. This album is dark in the truest sense of the word, and that is exactly why it resonates so strongly. You haven’t heard anything like it this year. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we’re attaching a clip for the track CBA.
Mickey Diamond & Big Ghost Ltd – Gucci Gambinos
When Mickey Diamond and Big Ghost Ltd. announced that they were going to make Gucci Gambinos, it was clear that it was going to be something special. The fact that Money Makin’ Mick went into this with the clear inspiration of the classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… left no one in doubt. This record isn’t just another Bandcamp file; this is a manifesto. Big Ghost Ltd. has carved out beats that breathe the atmosphere of the golden era, heavy loops, gritty drums, and sounds that smell like the streets of New York. But Mickey Diamond doesn’t come across as nostalgic on these tracks. His flow is as sharp as a blade slipped past a safety frame. And when Pro Dillinger comes on as a guest star, you sense that these two aren’t just running a studio session; this is the mafia. The track Cold Summer takes you on a chilling trip. Mickey paints pictures that run through your head like a filmstrip. His storytelling is precise; you see hot summer days that still chill you to the bone. The beat ticks like a clock on the wall, counting down the time. The whole project has a flow that draws you into a world where paper rustles, where things are not as black and white as they seem. Mickey and Big Ghost aren’t selling the illusion of success here; they’re showing a harsh reality that is as fascinating as it is unrelenting. And the fact that the record was blessed by a member of the Wu-Tang Clan? That’s a stamp of authenticity that can’t be ignored.
O Finess & Blannco – MST
O Finess and Tha Musalini are artists who bring a fresh approach to smooth rap, revitalizing it and giving it a modern twist. We stumbled upon their music in 2021 when they released their album No Squares in My Circle, and have been looking forward to every new project since. There are more artists doing rap with a similar vibe, including the successful Larry June and Blannco. And just last week, O Finess & Blannco released MST aka Mountain Standard Time, an album that stands at the pinnacle of smooth rap. This is contemporary mafioso pimp rap at its finest, offering gorgeous soulful beats, great samples, smooth flows, inimitable atmospheres, and dope bars that get stuck in your head. O Finess and Blannco have great chemistry; they complement each other perfectly, and the record flows fast thanks to their dynamics. Unfortunately no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching a clip for the track Tomorrow Never Came.
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.
SINAI. – ASHES2ASHES
Nejma Nefertiti, Double A.B., Dub Sonata – Animal Barz Il
Nowaah The Flood And Stu Bangas – Plans Of The Diligent
P-Ro – Mr. Ro
Tony Bontana – Lightwork
Mad1ne – i Rest My Case
Trillmatic Goods, Zaza God, ABAT BUT LBAG – 777
ethemadassassin & D.R.U.G.S. Beats – The Wave Letterman Show
Big Pokey – Stone Hard to the Boneyard
LE$ – Based on a True Story
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Another week, another great video from AKTHESAVIOR. This time with the beat by one and only zoomo.
Money for Water commemorates his great album Traveling Light with a hypnotic video for the track Admiration * Leaching.
The Alchemist lets his unique rap style shine through in the music video for Something Light.
Zoomo and Wiki take you through New York in the authentic yet breathtaking video for Problem Solver.
Three rap giants—Ice Cube, Killer Mike, and Busta Rhymes—teamed up on Ego Maniacs.
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.
Wiseboy Jeremy – Flo State feat. Neyj
Recognize Ali x A Dusty Cinema – Guns Go Off
El Trainn – Dis Here Is Tha Splash
MIKE – You’re the Only One Watching
Maze Overlay, Dan Nicholson – Ya Tu Sabes
Sayzee – Boneland / Black Attire (Produced by Sayzee)
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