Welcome to Rap Weekly 117: The Skeleton Key. 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. Only the essential components. The Skeleton Key unlocks eternity. Roc Marciano and The Alchemist once again set the course as the best in the rap game. J. Cole has released a deluxe edition of 2014 Forest Hills Drive with eight new tracks. A$AP Rocky will play one of the lead roles in the film Highest 2 Lowest from legendary director Spike Lee. DRUGSANDLOVE by LOOK DAMIEN! is a hypnotic modern banger. Loose Leaves by Teller Bank$ is a pure DIY work of art that smells of blood, sweat, and tears. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
The Skeleton Key
The Alchemist & Roc Marciano. Nothing more needs to be written. When this duo of rap masters came together in 2022 to release their first full-length joint album, they set the bar for the decade. We named The Elephant Man’s Bones the second-best rap album of 2022, surpassed only by Aethiopes. The Alchemist has already revealed several times that the album didn’t fit a lot of great songs and that he and Marciano are planning an encore. Roc released the excellent Marciology this year, which he largely produced himself, and next year hopefully we’ll be treated to that long-awaited record with Animoss. Still, Marciano hasn’t said goodbye to us yet this year. In fact, he released a new record with Alchemist last week, and both rap giants are ending their 2024 year strong.
The Skeleton Key unlocks eternity. The Alchemist & Roc Marciano set the course for modern rap as the best in the game. The album has ten tracks, a running time under thirty minutes, and is without a single guest, letting the artistic chemistry between Marciano and The Alchemist shine through to its fullest with a mythical aura. This album is nasty. The Alchemist has produced dark, dense beats with dusty drums or loops without drums but with a properly ethereal, eerie piano. A skeleton key is the kind of key that can unlock many locks, a key that has been reduced to its essential parts. The same could be said of The Alchemist and Roc Marciano. The Skeleton Key is the pure essence of rap, an elusive dark substance that gives you chills, yet manages to convey an indescribable energy. Marciano is once again a master of distinctive humor, sophisticatedly describing life on the edge of the law. We could find many parallels to MF DOOM in his rap style. If you purchase the album directly from Marciano’s website, you get two bonus tracks.
NEWS
2014 Forest Hills Drive
Yo, dreamers and real ones, watch out; J. Cole is coming with a bomb. For the tenth anniversary of his modern classic, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Jermaine is gifting us with a deluxe edition, available exclusively through the EVEN platform and on vinyl and CD. This nostalgic ride back to 2014 reminds us why this record dominated the Billboard 200 upon its release and cemented Cole as a rap game legend. Remember those bangers? Love Yourz taught us to appreciate life, Apparently was pure therapy, Wet Dreamz showed that even embarrassing stories can be fire, and No Role Modelz? That’s just the anthem of a generation. And now, to top it all off, J. Cole adds eight bonus tracks that no one has heard before. Yeah, you read that right: eight undiscovered treasures from an era when Cole was building his status as the king with no features. So if you want to feel the good old Dreamville vibe, buy it on EVEN or grab the vinyl/CD.
Housefire
BoriRock, one of the most prominent rappers from the state of Massachusetts, is an artist we write about often and very much like. He releases countless great records and music videos every year and appears at a variety of interesting events. Unfortunately, we are writing about him today due to tragic circumstances. On December 2, a fire broke out on the first floor of BoriRock and his family’s home, affecting all three floors and destroying the entire house. The family consists of a mother and three children, as well as BoriRock himself. The rapper and his family need help. So a fundraiser has been set up on GoFundMe to help raise funds to replace everything that was lost, as well as to raise money to cover the first and last rent and security deposit for a new apartment once one is found and to help with emergency housing. You can donate any amount. But that’s not all. Two days after the fire, BoriRock met with al.divino and dealt with the tragic event in his own way—with rap. In one day he recorded the album HOUSEFIRE, which you can buy exclusively on his Bandcamp. It’s sure to be an exceptional piece of art.
A$AP Rocky and Spike Lee
Let’s start with the bad news. A$AP Rocky’s long-awaited album, Don’t Be Dumb, will not be released this year. If you purchased merch or pre-ordered the record on vinyl, your order has probably already been cancelled. The album has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2025, so hopefully Rocky will meet that deadline. Next year will be pivotal for him for one more reason. It’s been confirmed that the artist will play one of the lead roles in Highest 2 Lowest, a film directed by legendary director Spike Lee. It is a remake of the 1963 classic High and Low. Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, and Ice Spice will also appear alongside Rocky in the new film. Rocky first co-starred in 2015’s Dope, but one of the lead roles in a film by someone as renowned and important to Black and rap culture as Spike Lee is the ultimate honor and the next big opportunity of a lifetime. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in the spring of 2025.
QUICK NEWS
- Obijuan revealed that the long-awaited new album by languid.oceans will be released soon.
- The second episode of the final season of OFF TOP featured Cavalier.
- Kemp Dupri played his DJ set on TheLotRadio. Listen to an hour of great music.
- Pink Siifu has announced a new album, BLACK’!ANTIQUE, which will be released on January 27th. Listen to the pilot single.
- Max B will be released from prison on November 9, 2025.
BEST ALBUMS
Willyynova – SLEEZE WAS PARDONED
Willyynova is an artist we discovered earlier this year. The monumental album PARDONMYSLEEZE, released in June, was a kaleidoscopic dive into the artist’s soul, a journey through a magical cave where ancient paintings of ancestors dazzle you from every surrounding wall. It was a record that made us get to know the artist very well right away and look forward to future projects. We had no idea that Willyynova would manage to release a work of similar quality and magnitude this year. SLEEZE WAS PARDONED builds on the first album and expands it in all directions. You can look forward to a new soundscape that is similarly dense but also includes a few new elements such as heavy drums. SLEEZE WAS PARDONED is another colorful cross-section of the rapper’s mindset and socio-cultural worldview. There is also solidarity with the people of Palestine, which is something that always makes us happy.
Da$H & HTN – Quiet Storm
If you’re expecting a calm ride, you might as well listen to another album, because Da$H and producer HTN are coming up with a record that will take you deep like a submarine in a storm. Quit Storm is pure raw vibe, no filter, no censorship, just darkness, beats, and real talk. This collaboration is like a symbiosis; HTN draws a dense atmosphere full of jazzy samples, dark bass, and minimal percussion while Da$H serves up lyrics like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. The tracklist may be compact, but it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Feats from Twelve’Len and Mike Shabb are fresh, but the star of the show is Man-Z, who has three cuts here. He stands out the most on the track Dialogue, where Da$H and Man-Z compose a lyrical mosaic full of metaphors, emotion, and raw reality. Here you really hear Da$H living the truth of the street, where the rules are an illusion and only the strong survive. Each track is like a diary entry, a reflection of self-confidence, desperation, struggle, and faith in a better tomorrow. Da$H teeters on the edge of melancholy and unique swag, while HTN lays the perfect ground for every word. This project is not for those looking for party hits but for anyone who wants to feel the weight of life on the beats. Quit Storm is like riding in a storm where every wave is different, but they all push you to keep going. Da$H shows that even in the darkest of times there is light; you just have to find it.
Kendall Spencer & August Fanon – The Trauma Center P2
Those who have read our review of Kendall Spencer & August Fanon’s The Trauma Center Pt. 1 are certainly familiar with Kendall’s story, but we’ll still give you a brief recap. Kendall Spencer is an artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Hidden Hand Society LLC. In July 2022, his life took a drastic turn when a near-fatal accident while working as an electrical lineman left him with third-degree electrical burns and, ultimately, the loss of his left arm. After spending 89 days in the hospital, including two weeks in a coma, he emerged not just as a survivor but as a man forever changed. And it is the journey to healing, during which Kendall struggled with suicidal thoughts, pain and trauma, that he reflects on in The Trauma Center, an album he has divided into two parts. The opening track of the second half gives you chills—Kendall speaks to the audience and recaps the events he described in the first part. The most powerful experience, however, will be for listeners who have heard the first part. The second part builds on and enhances all the emotions that the first part evoked. What is fascinating is the depth and range with which Kendall approaches the themes of trauma and pain. It’s not just physical, but largely psychological, and it creeps into every aspect of his life. The tragic event has not only affected the rapper physically, but also economically and socially, for example. The second part also offers determination and hope; you can look forward to hard rap songs like Michael Jackson and star guests like Tha God Fahim. August Fanon has once again confirmed his status as one of the best producers of our time. Together with Kendall, they close the album beautifully with Way Back Home, a track that embraces you with the values of love, faith, and family. As we did after listening to the first part, we wish Kendall well and thank him for sharing such a personal and powerful story with us.
Teller Bank$ – Loose Leaves
If you like rap that cuts to the chase and doesn’t forget the depth, Teller Bank$ is serving up something special for you. His new record, Loose Leaves, is an introspective account of a man who went through hell, and instead of retreating into himself, he turned that pain into art. What’s more, Teller did the entire project himself, from production to mix to master. This is a pure DIY masterpiece that smells of blood, sweat, and tears. The very first tracks pull you into his world where dreams often turn into nightmares. One of the highlights is Quivksand, where Teller shows how he struggles with his inner demons, the pressure of his surroundings, and also the need to “make it.” His voice sounds tired but determined, as if each verse is therapy. The production is dark, minimalistic, yet full of detail. Teller’s style makes you pay attention, as his flow intertwines with the beats so that sometimes you don’t know if you’re more affected by his voice or the music. Guests like AJ Suede and Ponderosa Moe only accentuate this, each bringing a bit of themselves, but none overpowering Teller’s vision. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we’re attaching the video for the track Hollywood.
Flee Lord & Richard Milli – EURO MONEY
This is pure luxury for your ears! When Flee Lord and Richard Milli team up, you know it’s not going to be a relaxed rap. EURO MONEY is a project that breathes street respect and has a sound that will bring you back to the corner where only truth and hard work are dealt with. The record rides a pace that makes you want to stay on guard. Richard Milli’s production is raw yet elegant—a combination that draws you into a world where every line carries weight and no phrase is extra. From the very first bars, you can hear that this project has a clear vision: no compromises, no concessions, just pure energy. Track 640 is a clear example of this. Flee Lord struts around like a veteran in the streets who has seen it all and yet is as hungry as a newcomer. This artist understands the rules of the game, which is about loyalty, survival, and the fact that at the end of the day it’s just you against the world anyway. Guests on the record like Jay Nice, Eddie Kaine, and RIM add even more glamour to the record. Each has their moment, but none of them surpass Flee’s charisma. All the feats fit like precisely aimed punches, no unnecessary filler, just pure bars. EURO MONEY is not an album about flashy stuff; it’s about authenticity. Flee Lord raps with verve like his life depends on it, and you believe every word of it. If you’re looking for something that kicks your ass, motivates you, and makes you think at the same time, this project is for you. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the video for the track SNAKES IN DISGUISE.
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.
Johnny Storm x NOFACE – Egyptian Snow
Darko the Super & steel tipped dove – Darko Cheats Death
Dizzee Rascal – I Invented Grime
The Musalini – Tru Player in the Game
Fashawn & Little Vic – Carte Blanche
E-Fluent – DEMISE IS INEVITABLE
Kota the Friend & Statik Selektah – Once in a Blue Moon
Valee & SURF GANG – Great Sky London
Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre – Missionary
Tali Rodriguez – Devoid of Orbit Volume 5
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
“Can you solve this problem…?” Monae Marleau has released a music video for BoogeyB!tch.
DRUGSANDLOVE by LOOK DAMIEN! is a hypnotic modern banger.
Vic Spencer and Panamera Peau are in church With Sneakers. Their joint track is a showcase of elite rap.
NEMZZZ takes you into his world in the music video for US VS THEM.
PRAY 4 THUNDER! Sideshow released another music video for his album F.U.N. T.O.Y.
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.
Babyface Ray, King Hendrick$ – Stuck In My Ways
RUFUS SIMS – “ALHAMDULILLAH” (PROD. DVNTBEATS)
Sayzee feat Tona – Obama Brother (Produced by Sayzee)
DaBoii & BabyTron – ShittyBoii
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 after the New Year’s Eve. It’s going to be really interesting, so don’t miss it.
