Welcome to Rap Weekly 121: Life Is Beautiful. 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. Life Is Beautiful combines street game with deliberate luxury. The Alchemist, Larry June & 2 Chainz: needless to say. Curren$y & Harry Fraud will soon release a new collaborative album. Madvillainy Demos has been released on streaming services. Experience the historic moment that heralded a legendary album. BLACK’!ANTIQUE by Pink Siifu is a monumental, innovative record that will immerse all your senses. Traveling the world, art and showbiz always brings you back to family. Showbiz! by MIKE is a spiritual opus. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Life Is Beautiful
The Alchemist proves once again why he is one of the most respected producers of the game. On Life Is Beautiful, he joined forces with Larry June and 2 Chainz to give the world a sound that combines street game with deliberate luxury. Subtle samples, precise sound, and unapologetic rap storytelling make this record more than just an ordinary release; it’s a lifestyle.
One of the album’s strongest moments is the track Bad Choices. 2 Chainz brings a sovereign flow to the track with clever references, while Larry June serves up a laid-back cadence full of financial discipline and hustler mindset. Life Is Beautiful is an album that doesn’t pander to trends but builds on proven values, quality production, relaxed flow, and life experiences. The Alchemist creates a space where Larry’s calm precision and 2 Chainz’s forward-thinking energy complement each other perfectly. Nothing over the top, no posturing—just the authentic sound and thoughts of people who know what they’re talking about.
NEWS
Curren$y & Harry Fraud
Rapper Curren$y and producer Harry Fraud are artists whose rap commitment is truly admirable. Both have released countless great projects, yet we dare say that some of their best work has been released together. Think of The Outrunners, The Director’s Cut, Regatta, and VICES, the latter of which was released in 2023, so it’s time for a new collaborative record. Both artists revealed on their social media that it’s coming. So soon we will get on a speedboat and set sail to the sounds of new top-notch rap.
FORENSICS
A few weeks ago, we told you that yasiin bey (Mos Def) and The Alchemist formed a new duo, FORENSICS. The artists held a live stream on Bandcamp on February 7, where you could hear the new tracks. But if you missed it, don’t despair; the album is due out on March 28. What does yasiin bey himself say about the album? “The entire project will be released on vinyl and as a digital download (exclusively on Bandcamp, unless you’ve purchased merchandise with a BUMP™ tag – in which case you’ll have access via a private website). Pre-orders will begin shortly and the release date is set for March 28, 2025.” You can shorten the wait with this classic:
Madvillainy Demos
Twenty years ago, a leak unexpectedly swept through the internet, showing the rap scene that something quite special was being born. MF DOOM and Madlib, then still two separate worlds, joined forces in the Madvillain project and created an album that became a cult. Before Madvillainy was officially released, raw demos were released, and now we’re getting them on streams and vinyl for the first time. These demos are like archival recordings from another dimension, DOOM’s early vocals, quick mixes from Madlib’s Bomb Shelter studio in LA, and the vibe that changed the game back then in 2002, even if it wasn’t complete yet. Leak was all over the underground forums and tapes; people knew this was a completely different and new hip-hop. And now, twenty years later, we’re getting a chance to go back to those raw versions. Demos are being released not only digitally but also on vinyl for the first time ever. Mastering was handled by Dave Cooley, and the cover is adorned with a new photo and insert with contact shots from Eric Coleman’s legendary photo shoot. For fans of DOOM and Madlib, this is an artifact that belongs on the shelf.
BEST ALBUMS
MIKE – Showbiz!
MIKE took a step in a different direction on his last album, Pinball (w/ Tony Seltzer), and rapped mostly to trap beats. On his latest opus, Showbiz!, he combines all the rap subgenres he’s encountered in his career, so you can look forward to spiritual tracks with heavenly-sounding beats as well as punchier bangers. Traveling the world, soaking up art, and cementing your place in the music scene will always bring you back to family. In the hectic chaos of everyday existence, MIKE finds strength in his immediate surroundings and the values he upholds. Thus the themes of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism are also reflected in the album, making this a thought-provoking piece of work.
Pink Siifu – BLACK’!ANTIQUE
Pink Siifu is an innovative artist who pushes the boundaries of the genre forward with every work. Yet we feel that his entire artistic journey has led here. We don’t like to overuse the word experimental, but BLACK’!ANTIQUE is indeed experimental. It’s a monumental record that engulfs all your senses. Each track could have fallen apart under the sheer amount of ideas, pure creativity, and raw energy, yet the whole piece holds together. The album is constantly changing; enjoy truly unique beats full of bridges, switches, and surprises. BLACK’!ANTIQUE is the result of the work of many talented artists, yet at its heart sits Siifu himself, calm as if he has seen through the Matrix and can bend every rule of it to suit himself. And that’s exactly how the record sounds: it has no rules; it doesn’t bend the spoon, but the whole space around it. If Siifu is reading this, could he please tell us if the sound from the video game Bulánci was used on the track V12′!HML’!?
looms. – The Carillon
looms., an enigmatic artist who takes a completely unique approach to releasing music, returns two years after the release of Saints Are Hard To Live With with a new album, The Carillon. The album is available to buy from loandbeholdconstruction.co.uk, and as well as a unique piece of rap art, you can look forward to direct contact with the artist in the form of a letter to all his supporters. We didn’t hesitate for a second and bought the album. As we respect the rapper’s release model, we won’t try to make any attempt to decipher the album or interpret its title. Trust us, after you purchase it, you will be fascinated by the musical instrument that gave the record its name. There are countless reasons to support the artist. We can’t think of another rapper who works with the voice in the same way as looms. You can feel the sheer emotion, sadness, and pain in every word, looms. speaks to the soul and describes his feelings and life experiences in an incredibly sensitive and open way that feels as raw and thought-provoking as his music. This record aims for your heart; it’s about an almost cosmic connection to everything around us, yet it focuses more on everyday experiences. We may have found the answer to the question Obijuan asks in his lyrics, “where the fuck is looms.?” Everywhere.
Confucius MC & Bastien Keb – Songs for Lost Travellers
Confucius MC and Bastien Keb are not cooking up a simple rap stew. Songs For Lost Travellers is like an old map drawn with secret symbols, taking you to places you may have been afraid to go. Rap, folk, jazz. Three genres that aren’t vying for attention here, but rather holding hands like ancient travelers. This record is not a soundtrack to escape, but to understand that you can’t escape anyway. The very first tracks, Tell Me Lies and Fairytale, draw you into a story where illusions soothe and truth hurts. The lo-fi guitar lines feel like a baby monitor soundtrack, but the lyrics are bitter. Just when you start to think the record is trying to lull you to safety, Time Will Come comes along, a track that burns a simple truth into your ears: time doesn’t ask, it just comes. No redemption, no hacks, no immortality; the end is part of the game. And so you can either pretend you don’t see it, or you can accept it and keep playing. When you listen to Gutters, you hear an authenticity that can’t be manufactured in the studio, a guitar that takes on a life of its own, a melody sought in real time, somewhere between the TV on and the sound of the city outside your window. Songs For Lost Travellers was made in living rooms, amongst family and in the moments when the truth surfaces, not in sterile booths with perfect sound. Little Man is dedicated to the son of Confucius, an intimate moment where fragility and hope intertwine. And when a small voice recites words from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet at the Paramount, it’s like a message that carries across generations. It’s not just about death, but about what we leave behind, what we teach our children, and what we pass on. At the end of the record comes the question, “Tell me what you care about.” If you’ve come this far, you should know the answer. Confucius MC and Bastien Keb don’t force a direction but offer you a mirror and a piece of quiet to think about. This record isn’t for everyone, but for those who get it, it will be a home on a journey that has no end.
Ben Beal – Clumsy
Ben Beal comes with Clumsy as a poet wandering among the debris of his own thoughts. This project is like an autumn walk through the city, where every crack in the pavement has a story to tell and every reflection in a puddle shows you something you don’t want to see. Beal balances between melancholy, introspection, and the desire to find meaning in it all. The very first track, loser draws you into his world, no embellished narrative, just raw reality wrapped in a lo-fi vibe and dreamy melody. quiet game brings an atmosphere of inner dialogue where words weigh down rather than liberate. And then there’s uzumaki, where the circles in your head close in a Junji Ito horror spiral, while the beat has an almost hypnotic effect. One of the album’s highlights, weeping willow, is like the soundtrack to a walk among the blurred lights of a nighttime city. Beal drowns in his own feelings but never quite falls. blurry and im going missing go even deeper into territory where reality and dreams blend into a hazy surreal. And then comes clumsy, a track that is not just the title track but the climactic statement of the entire record. Beal’s poetics shine fully here in lines that sound like last thoughts before falling asleep, or rather between dream and reality. This isn’t just about awkwardness; it’s about fumbling through life and trying to keep a balance. The production is minimalistic but punchy; each sound has its own meaning, no excess frills. The whole Clumsy record is like an old Polaroid, blurred edges but something real at the core. Beal doesn’t deliver grandiose bars about success or wealth; instead, he paints a picture that anyone who has ever struggled with themselves will know all too well. And that’s exactly the power of his music; it’s not just a listening experience, it’s an experience.
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.
YUKA – SANTVIENTO’S REVENGE
The Musalini & DJ Skizz – The Pierre Hotel
Da Flyy Hooligan – Dolo Yeung
Ty Farris & Divine Crime – Timing Of A Tarantula
Radamiz & Fortes – LIGHTMAN
PEP57 – GOD FORGIVES MORE THAN I DO
Nowaah The Flood & Sniper Lew – Smash And Grab (Vanglorious Vandals)
Teller Bank$ & Wino Willy – Best Days
Daylan Gideon – PACINO’S WAY
Foule Monk & Cise Greeny – ZAPPED!
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
CODENINE and BONEWESO have released a phenomenal music video for their last year’s album THE COST OF GOLD.
YL has no regrets. His new music video is a minimalist gem.
Louis Jack and Gabe ‘Nandez are: LJGN. Watch their first music video.
Sideshow, Paris, and Patta. Watch the video for Kings of Different Things.
Cookin Soul & ANKHLEJOHN have announced a collaborative album and released a music video for the pilot track Rump with Me.
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.
Jesse James Solomon – forgotten garden
Manast LL’, 528ron & Fugudawg – Top Shelf
Pro Dillinger, Futurewave – Play The Game
CJ FLY – HIYU FREESTYLE [Daylyt & Ray Vaughn Response]
Wiz Khalifa – Roll It Up Freestyle
“PAUL MASONIC” (PROD.BY GRIM!)
FLY ANAKIN – MY NIGGA ft. Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney & Big Kahuna OG
BUB STYLES – THE DEVIL’S BALLROOM (prod. Graphwize)
Big Hit, Hit-Boy & Ty Dolla $ign – Slow Your Roll
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.
