Welcome to Rap Weekly 125: Van Gogh. 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. We Live in Montreal, baby. Mike Shabb is a national treasure; shabbvangogh has more to do with Van Gogh and expressionism than one might think. Where’s AJ Tracey? The London rapper has announced his third studio album, Don’t Die Before You’re Dead. The Michelin Man by Cookin Soul & ANKHLEJOHN is music for people who have lost something and have learned to carry it deep inside. Black Soprano Family serves us another load of raw street rap, this time under the guidance of producer ILL Tone Beats. OMB Peezy and Skilla Baby are on the hunt. The music video for Bird Call is a gloomy banger. Six minutes of elite rap. Westside Gunn, Estee Nack, and Stove God Cook$ have released the music video for BOSWELL. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Mike Shabb – shabbvangogh review
We Live in Montreal, baby. Mike Shabb is a national treasure; shabbvangogh is another innovative work in his discography. But let’s take it one step at a time. Mike Shabb is an artist we’ve been writing about for years. In 2022, when he released his album Bokleen World, we knew he would be a future star. Since then, he’s released many phenomenal projects, produced countless tracks, and was featured on some of our favorite albums. We placed his album Sewaside III last year, the cover of which references He’s Coming by Roy Ayers Ubiquity, high on our Top 100 Best Rap Albums of 2024 list. From the edge of this year, Mike returns with shabbvangogh and has more in common with Vincent van Gogh than it might first appear.
Mike Shabb produced the album entirely by himself (with co-producers on some tracks), so his strong, innovative style breathes from every second. No track could be pigeonholed into established sub-genres; Mike Shabb is constantly coming up with fresh ideas and finding unexplored avenues. His work is truly reminiscent of expressionism, an artistic movement whose main goal is to express one’s own experiences and feelings regardless of any conventions. The whole album is an incredible ride, culminating in the very open and personal Rope, which will give you chills long after its last notes have finished playing. Rest in peace Roy Ayers.
NEWS
Where’s AJ Tracey?
AJ Tracey is one of London’s biggest contemporary rap stars. AJ Tracey released his debut self-titled album in 2019 and instantly became known to a huge number of listeners. He confirmed his flair for creating hit singles and strictly UK tracks with Flu Game, which was released in 2021. Since then, we’ve only seen a few singles, and a new album was still in sight. As presented by the artist in the Where’s AJ Tracey? video, fans were still wondering where the world-famous, successful rapper had gone. We finally have an answer. He’s been working on his third album, which is titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead and will be released on June 13. The album will have fourteen tracks and will feature the singles Yoga Bonito and Crush feat. Jorja Smith. You can pre-order the merch and vinyl today. We are really enjoying the two singles mentioned above, so we are really looking forward to the record. What about you?
BRRRAP
V Don is one of the producers you can be sure will go all out every year. We regularly rank his albums among the best that rap has to offer each year, and it looks like this year will be no exception. V Don kicked off 2025 with the Sent For, and last month he released the phenomenal Catch Me If You Can 2 (w/ Willie The Kid). We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year, and it looks like we’re in for more big things. The producer revealed on Twitter that the first single from his highly anticipated record with Boldy James will be released soon. We wrote about their collaborative album over a year ago, so our expectations are truly astronomical. But that’s not all. The producer also revealed that he has already finished BRAP 2 with Estee Nack and that the album sounds like a movie. Which album are you looking forward to more?
Did You Enjoy Your Time Here…?
Label Backwoodz Studioz is a guarantee of quality. Every year with this label is a real ride, and month after month we wait in anticipation to see what billy woods and the other unique artists on the label have in store for us. All Portrait, No Chorus by doseone & Steel Tipped Dove kicked off this year, and they have another big album coming out on March 21. PremRock, a member of the duo ShrapKnel, is making a statement with his new solo record Did You Enjoy Your Time Here…?. Sixteen tracks and a truly stellar lineup await. Production is handled by Sebb Bash, Blockhead, YUNGMORPHEUS, Child Actor, Controller 7, ELUCID, Small Professor, Jeff Markey, & Fines Double, and the record features guest appearances from Pink Siifu, Billy Woods, Cavalier, Nappy Nina, Illogic, AJ Suede, Mary Esther Carter, and Curly Castro. You can pre-order merch or vinyl today and listen to the pilot single Steal Wool ft. Pink Siifu.
QUICK NEWS
- Is there a new Armand Hammer album coming? The duo deleted photos from Instagram and added a mysterious post.
- QThree released Still Drawlin, a personal documentary. Get to know this unique artist closer.
- What’s it like to release the biggest British rap album of the year? Central Cee has released a vlog charting the week Can’t Rush Greatness was released.
- The visionary album INFINITE WAVE by BoriRock & BONEWESO is out now. You can buy it on Bandcamp.
- YL released a new single, which you can only find on SC. Make your wait shorter until the joint project with Subjxct 5 is out.
BEST ALBUMS
Cookin Soul & ANKHLEJOHN – The Michelin Man review
This album sounds like when you go home alone late at night and suddenly hear your thoughts louder than usual. Cookin Soul and ANKHLEJOHN don’t address trends or hype on The Michelin Man. They make music for people who have lost something and have learned to carry it deep inside. Cookin Soul’s beats are slow and heavy, almost like they’re crawling forward on their own. They’re simple, but they have depth. They don’t want to overwhelm you, just give you space to think. AND ANKHLEJOHN? He raps like he has no need to defend himself. He gets straight to the point. He doesn’t play hardball, but you know he’s got things behind him that won’t go away. The closing track, Feel the Breeze, may be one of the most honest things the artist has ever written. It’s not a confessional, more of a quiet acknowledgment of what hurts and what you can’t let go of. Bars where you admit your mistakes, bars about how you’re changing, but not always for the better. And also about gratitude, which isn’t easy to say out loud.
Black Soprano Family & ILL Tone Beats – The Outcome review
Label Black Soprano Family serves us another load of raw street rap, this time under the baton of producer ILL Tone Beats. The Outcome is exactly what you expect from a label where money doesn’t count in change and every bar is a personal statement. There’s no room for sugary melodies or radio-friendly choruses here; this record will suck you into the street where it’s played by its own rules. ILL Tone Beats doesn’t make compromises on the album. His production is gritty and unpolished but has a groove that makes you nod your head even if you’ve been out of street life for a while. Each beat is like the soundtrack to a movie where it’s not just about survival but about maintaining respect. The tracklist is packed with guests who make a difference in this genre. Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Benny the Butcher, AZ, Smoke DZA, Flee Lord, and Stove God Cook$—this is not a random collection of names but a carefully assembled crew that knows how to break down a beat and give it soul. Each contributing their own energy, yet keeping a unified vibe. B.T.L. with Stove God Cook$ and OT the Real is a highlight, the lyrics razor sharp, the flow uncompromising, and the atmosphere oppressive, like when you know trouble is coming. Impossible with Conway, Jae Skees, and Rome Streetz is another standout, classic Griselda rawness with a lyrical precision that will have you putting the track on repeat just to catch every punchline. And when it comes to Super Immaculate with the legendary AZ, that’s hip-hop gourmetism; the beat is minimalistic, but the bars are as thick as it gets.
Daniel Son & Ghost Notes – The Estes Method review
Daniel Son and producer Ghost Notes come up with The Estes Method, an eight-track project that builds on subdued intensity. No unnecessary shouting, no overproduction, just a focused chemistry between rapper and producer who get along without words. The beat line sticks to old-school roots, dusty samples, dense loops, and smothering drums. Ghost Notes leaves some space; the beats aren’t cluttered; rather, they breathe slowly. And Daniel Son has a way with this type of production that few can pull off. His style is minimalist but emphatic. Instead of stories, he serves fragments, sentences that feel like excerpts from memory or quick observations that stay in your head longer than whole essays. The track Teal Cutlass is the highlight of the record. Not because of the chorus or the catchy hook, which isn’t even there, but because it captures the whole mood of the project in a few words. Daniel talks about the North that is so cold it freezes time, about a boy who grew up under pressure and learned to read between the lines because you can’t find the truth anywhere else.
Sirrealist – Lotus review
Sirrealist’s album Lotus was released last year, but a few days ago it hit all streaming services, and we think it’s worth reminding you why you should listen to it and ideally support the artist. Look forward to rap that doesn’t switch but comes back to it, rap where reality hurts more than bars. Sirrealist has come up with a record that you can’t just listen to between the lines. Lotus is a project that grows from pain but blooms with wisdom, like the eponymous flower that emerges from the dirtiest mud. Sirrealist rhymes here not for applause, but because otherwise he’d probably fold. And you can feel it in every bar. Paranoia with Conway, Flee Lord, and Vel Nine? Pressure like concrete. Flows alternate like a nightmare, and every rhyme is connected to the darkness. Then comes the album highlight, Another Day with Blu. Sirrealist writes here like a man who knows that silence sometimes screams the loudest. Blu fills out the song with such ease that you feel like he wrote this pain with an angel at his back.
Hagakure & Brother Tom Sos – SHINE IN THE SHADOW review
You may be surprised now, but rapper Brother Tom Sos is part of the iconic Griselda Records label. Yes, the rapper has yet to release his debut album, but this year he shined on Westside Gunn’s 12, for example. Last week he released a short EP with producer Hagakure called SHINE IN THE SHADOW. “Long live Mac Miller, I was raised by the crack dealers,” both artists really shine in the darkness on the new record. Hagakure has produced some great beats that have a hint of dark essence to them, yet are easy to listen to and definitely won’t leave you at ease. Brother Tom Sos raps about a past where it wasn’t uncommon to sleep in the cold and see loved ones fall into drug addictions. The rapper exposes the wrongs in the music industry as well as in society. No music video was released for the album, so we are attaching the full album.
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.
Sonnyjim & Kong The Artisan – Effortless, Almost Dead
John Jigg$ & ButterKnife Haircuts – Teflonious Monk
SH4MEL – 9?
SwuM & The Musalini – Caviar Music
Dough Networkz – Dis For The Project (Side A)
Y.N.X. 716 – Winter Poetry
Big Zuu & Capo Lee – Signed & Delivered
Azariah – Black Falcon
Icewear Vezzo – Undefeated
Doodlebug & 80 Empire – A Galactic Love Supreme
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Willie The Kid & V Don are teaching GREAT AMERICAN POETRY in a new music video.
OMB Peezy and Skilla Baby are on the hunt. The music video for Bird Call is a gloomy banger.
Six minutes of elite rap. Westside Gunn, Estee Nack, and Stove God Cook$ have released the music video for BOSWELL.
Boldy James & Chuck Strangers are so unapologetic. The artists have released the third phenomenal video for their album.
Henny L.O and ewonee announce their collaborative album in style. Check out the music video for the pilot track.
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.
AKTHESAVIOR – Clouds (Freestyle)
Christopher Jose – NOT THE SAME feat Gritfall & Shadee
Papo2oo4 – Beast Mode (Produced By Flake)
Sonnyjim x Kong The Artisan – Bobby Brown
Top Hooter – Hooter Hyena (Prod. By MichaelAngelo)
Lil Baby, GloRilla – Lil Baby & GloRilla – Redbone
Xp The Marxman – Clay Pigeons – Prod By Tox
Ray Vaughn – CEMETERY lanterns
Polo Saucy X Sosamann – Maneuver
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.
