Welcome to Rap Weekly 129: New Blood. 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. NEW BLOOD by Obijuan, aka the new generation of rap myths. The Bahamian rapper has released another monumental work of art. “The everyday experiences that blur the lines between the real and the unreal.” Aesop Rock has announced a new album; check out the pilot music video. Tha Carter VI will be released on June 6. Lil Wayne has released a trailer and merch for the anticipated album. Boldy James, Detroit’s indomitable storyteller, and V Don, master of atmospheric beats, deliver a project where each track feels like a new chapter in the chronicle of life on the edge. Passion as chaos. Rico Nasty has released a music video for ON THE LOW. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Obijuan – NEW BLOOD review
Voodoo, Bahamas, Gods, Caribbean legends, and the best contemporary rap. Bahamian rapper Obijuan continues to fascinate us year after year. We’ve written a piece on his album GUANAHANI (w/ dylantheinfamous), and every year we rank his records among the best the genre has to offer. Last year Obijuan released the colorful and spectacular FLDSZN, and this year he continues his voyage on the waves of utterly unique music. NEW BLOOD by Obijuan, aka a new generation of rap myths: the Bahamian rapper has released another monumental work of art.
On March 29, Obijuan released his new album NEW BLOOD. We were already in the process of writing Rap Weekly 128, so we didn’t buy the new album until the following week so we could give it the extra space in our new article. We hope we can pass on many reasons why you too should immediately go to Bandcamp and purchase the album. From the intro song SOUNDBOY, you’ll know you’re in for a unique experience. On NEW BLOOD, Obijuan masterfully intertwines his personal story, the Bahamian atmosphere, and the theme of colonialism. NEW BLOOD is a powerfully anti-colonial work, with a strong message that few contemporary rap works can match. We’ve never heard anything quite like the likes of NO SPOON or WAR PAINT. The second track mentioned above appears to be a war song, but it doesn’t lose the rap elegance and is packed with strong emotions that will leave you with a profound experience. “Santa María on the beach bring my war paint.” & “My mother lives where my heart stays.”
Obijuan seems to develop an almost mythical atmosphere around his character, something we know from rappers like MF DOOM or Kool Keith. Yet the record is strongly communal, with DA LOCAL OBEAH MAN guiding you through each interlude, and you’re soaking up Bahamian culture from every second of the album, witnessing a great story. As with other art that is strongly connected to a particular nation or community, you find many universal truths that have been passed down through generations. “DON’T FATTEN UP DA FROG FOR DA SNAKE.” There was literally an all-star team working on the record. Obijuan chose artists who are taking contemporary rap to unexplored territories. So you’ll hear the tag of PUBLICHOUSING NYC; BA PACE himself makes a guest appearance on the album. Besides him, Papo2oo4, al.divino, and Rahiem Supreme make guest appearances on the album. The beats were produced by Dylantheinfamous, August Fanon, Camoflauge Monk, Wino Willy, Subjext 5, Sniper.Lew, The Builder, Mike Shabb, Grimm Doza, Baelei P., and Argov. NEW BLOOD is another phenomenal work by one of the most prominent artists of our time, who, with each album, writes his life myth. At the end, we will quote part of the track SCIENCE to remind us, like Obijuan, that even today there are powers with colonial ambitions persisting in the world. “Wide body pull up in da plaza. Free Gaza one finger blow away ya Mazda. “
NEWS
Black Hole Superette
We’ll be honest with you, few rap news stories make us happier than the announcement of Aesop Rock’s new album. Few artists have influenced underground rap in such a profound way as Aesop. His production and rap style is entirely unique, and best of all, Aesop is still at the peak of his creative powers. He released his last album, Integrated Tech Solutions, in 2023 and once again blew our minds. We’re happy to announce that his new studio album, Black Hole Superette, will be released on May 30. What can we look forward to? The official synopsis will tell us: “Black Hole Superette, the latest album from Aesop Rock, delves into the invisible forces that shape our lives and psyches. It’s about the small, often overlooked moments—the everyday experiences that blur the lines between the real and the unreal, waking and sleeping. Aesop Rock’s signature gift for transforming the mundane into something dreamlike gives the album a surreal quality, leaving listeners questioning what’s truly real as they navigate its vivid, half-remembered imagery. Entirely self-produced, Black Hole Superette is one of Aesop Rock’s most technically accomplished works to date. The album’s intricate beats and complex structures provide the perfect backdrop for his expansive lyricism, balancing cerebral exploration with emotional depth. From the reflective ‘Movie Night’ and the eccentric ‘Send Help’ to the wistful ‘Black Plums,’ Aes channels the spirit of a mad scientist, experimenting with sound and concept in ways that defy the ordinary.” Aesop is once again producing the album completely by himself, and once again we can look forward to a unique concept. The record features guest appearances from Lupe Fiasco, Armand Hammer, Hanni El Khatib, Open Mike Eagle, and Homeboy Sandman.
Tha Carter VI is coming
Lil Wayne has officially confirmed the release of the next installment of his seminal series, Tha Carter VI, which is set to arrive on June 6, 2025. He posted the short announcement on his socials along with a teaser that so far is more to set the mood than to give anything away. Tha Carter series has long been one of the highlights of the rapper’s career, and with each installment has come a shift, whether musically, personally, or thematically. So it’s no surprise that a return to the franchise is raising high expectations. The announcement included a merch drop available via Weezy’s official website. More details about the album are not out yet, nor are there any more details about what all Wayne has planned. But even this minimalistic concept clarifies it that something is in the works and that Lil Wayne knows very well how to build expectations. Fans are now waiting to see what comes next. Tha Carter VI is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Tha Carter VI
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) April 1, 2025
Pre Order Now
Coming 6.6.25https://t.co/XqYmBlbSEg pic.twitter.com/w3kPkpfh71
High Winds
Canadian producer Nicholas Craven is unstoppable. A few weeks ago, Craven revealed the list of rappers he’ll be releasing collaborative projects with this year. His plan is starting to take on a clear shape, and we take a look at what’s in store for mid-July. In the past two weeks, we repeat—two weeks—he’s released five albums with Tha God Fahim, the continuation of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap series. You can purchase these projects on Bandcamp or listen to them on YouTube. Last week, we got another single from the album Good Music Hypnotizes (w/ Jimmie D), which the artists will release on May 2. The High Winds single features a guest appearance from the one and only KONCEPT JACK$ON, and we hope he releases a new project soon. But that’s not all Craven has coming up. On April 18, you can look forward to a new single with Fahim, which will be released on all streaming services. The track will be a precursor to their collaborative album Ultimate Dump Gawd, which will be released on all streaming services on May 16. Also mark your calendars for the dates of May 30, June 20, and July 11, where you can look forward to previously unspecified new music.
BEST ALBUMS
Xp The Marxman, Brogawd, So=Cal – Black And Brown Business review
The moment they connect the East and West Coasts with the grace of Black And Brown Business, it’s clear that this isn’t just another run-of-the-mill release. This is a statement. It’s not just about rap; it’s about heritage, reality, and survival. Xp The Marxman (Los Angeles) and Brogawd (Upstate New York) represent two distinct energies, different worlds, but a shared desire to speak the truth without pretense. The name of the record alone will get you hooked: Black And Brown Business, business but also mission, friendship and struggle, street business, and cultural identity. Producer So=Cal holds the entire album in his hands, weaving it through a gritty soul backdrop where the dust and heat of LA envelop the beats in smoke and memory. From the first track, Manifest A Pack, it’s clear that this isn’t about effect but depth. The beat thumps and the lyrics cut. And they cut in just the way you know when you look back on the things that shaped you. Not necessarily with bitterness, but rather with distance, with humility, and that special inner peace that only comes with time. Tracks like Street Fighter or Junior Heist are reminiscent of 90s storytelling, but at the same time they don’t slip into nostalgia. This isn’t retro; it’s a continuum. One of the highlights of the record comes in Day Programs (feat. Korbin Will! & YEAROFJORDN), where Brogawd completely opens up. It’s like a poetic confession, a spoken letter from the heart of a generation that grew up among the shards. Xp The Marxman doesn’t lag behind here—his flow is a little quieter, but all the more insightful. He is like an observer who knows that everything has its time, that words must not be extra. And it’s the contrasting pairing with Brogawd that creates the most interesting thing—not just the contrast of styles, but the common ground. Two voices that meet in the same struggle, just from different directions. Production-wise, So=Cal doesn’t do any magic tricks, and that’s its greatest strength. He leaves space; he can bring the groove and yet not stifle the rhymes. The beat on Power People (Afro & Mijo) acts as a soundtrack to the streets that speak without words. The whole album holds together like an honest handmade collage, irregular but whole.
SPOOK – THE SPOOK WHO KICKED THE DOOR review
Atlanta rapper SPOOK made her debut last year with SPOOK SZN. A distinctive style, genuine charisma, and countless rap flavors are just some of the ingredients that make her music a must-listen. Last week saw the release of her second record, THE SPOOK WHO KICKED THE DOOR, which is an upgrade in every way. Freedom in life and on the beats: THE SPOOK WHO KICKED THE DOOR is an album that knows no boundaries. This record is all about having fun, yet there are some more serious themes to be found here. Tracks like BOYBAND or 2NIGHT are instantly memorable; SPOOK will hypnotize you behind the mic, and you will move to the rhythm of her melodic words. It’s no coincidence that on five tracks we hear the producer tag of Mike Shabb, one of the most innovative artists of our generation. THE SPOOK WHO KICKED THE DOOR is a plethora of ideas, patterns, and flavors; music that never gets boring and continues to surprise. The cover of the album is inspired by the film The Spook Who Kicked the Door (1973), directed by Ivan Dixon. The film was based on the book of the same name and is a satire of the civil rights struggle in the United States in the late 1960s.
Flu – Woolies review
Woolies is not just a collection of tracks but Flu’s archive of soul, a curated collage of years with headphones half in your ears and thoughts in loops on repeat. Woolies feels like a carefully sorted box of old CDs that Flu pulled out of the trunk of his car somewhere at night. It’s all here: the grime, the groove, the paranoia, and the cloud of hope in decadence. The very first track, DopeFlizzy (feat. Spoda), welcomes you like an elevator to the third floor of forgotten Bronx style; the beat chokes, Spoda bites like sandpaper, and Flu’s mix gives room for deep breaths between bars. Then you’ve got Outside Outside with Florida duo Shottie & Bernz, an exclusive, freshly baked banger just for this album. The track sounds like the soundtrack to a secret Miami nightspot where the palm trees whisper, and you already know something’s about to happen. SmooVth has two tracks on the album: 6 Shots and Boss. The former lets you taste the street fatality without embellishment; the latter cranks up the energy like a club where the DJ just plays crack rap and no one moves their head because everyone is thinking about every word. Rabbia Estrema? That’s Italy from the Bronx basement. All Hail Y.T. and Substance810 give a passionate account of inner anger; this track hurts like a pipe full of frustration. And then there’s Mustard Gas (feat. Crimeapple), a highlight that knocks you out like a joint with unknown contents. Crimeapple sprinkles punchlines of sabotage here like he’s writing a surreal script for a Tarantino crime dream. His bars burn and chill at the same time, yet they stick in your head like the last toast from someone you shouldn’t have seen in a long time. Woolies are beat tapes from late-night blocks, looped samples, and kickers, but also moments of calm where Flu just lets you breathe and lets the words do their thing. The album isn’t for the casual listener coming off the playlist. It’s for those looking for a handprint on the mix, who recognize names like M.A.V., Spoda, or Dead Hippie. Flu serves up rawness with style, without pretense, but with a love of form. Each track is a chapter in a story that you may not experience, but you can feel it through the beat and the flow. It’s a record about survival, about memories that hurt and hold together. And empathy? It’s between every line. Because anyone who’s ever had to take more than they wanted understands what’s being said here. And anyone with a desire to hear the truth beneath the surface will find a place here. Unfortunately, no video clip was released for the album, so we’re attaching the full album.
Boldy James & V Don – Alphabet Highway review
Alphabet Highway is an album that constantly reminds you how hard it is to live a life where you have to constantly choose between survival and suffering. Boldy James, that indomitable narrator from Detroit, and producer V Don, master of atmospheric beats, deliver a project where each track feels like a new chapter in the chronicle of life on the edge. This isn’t a record you listen to as background to your work—this is a record you need to listen to with your eyes open, because it will show you the truth you don’t want to see. V Don, he once again shows his mastery with minimalistic dark beats that are like nails in a coffin. Each riff is like a guide through a dark alley. Boldy James is more than just a rapper on this album; he’s a spokesman for the reality he experiences. He mines the dark stories of life in the shadows but does so with a precision that is downright hypnotic. If you had to pick one song that sums up the entire project, it would be Split the Bill. Boldy sounds like a modern-day street philosopher on it. You can feel the pressure on this track, the atmosphere that slowly grips you. Nothing’s free here. Tracks like RSNS, Dr. Demento, or Smacking Foreigns have that right street smell, sounds that take you right to the asphalt. This isn’t rap about luxury and fame; it’s rap about dealing with the fact that your world is a constant war. Dr. Demento is probably the most “psycho” track on the album, with an unsettling production that underscores Boldy’s verses full of dark humor and disillusionment.
Lou Phelps – Chèlbè review
Timeless groove? You’ll find it on rapper Lou Phelps’ debut album. The album Chèlbè could be described in many words, but for us, it fits with adjectives like lively, colorful, and loud. The record combines the golden age of hip-hop and contemporary dance rap while the Montreal artist moves between English, French, and Haitian Creole to create a uniquely cosmopolitan sound. This album accepts you as you are, gives you the space to explore yourself and have fun. Lou Phelps mixes catchy storytelling, irony, and great humor that will instantly improve your mood. Plus, most of the beats were produced by Kaytranada, so rest assured this record really kicks.
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.
Strvng3r Dvng3r X Grim Moses – Spike The Kool-Aid
Sleep Sinatra x TROX – The Flame Conduit
Jay Cinema and chasay – be a better friend
Brainorchestra – ETHERGRAMS
SmooVth & Wun Two – Prussian Blue
Knowitall & bop phrases -Welfare Island
O Dawg & Dvnthony – Menaces 2 Society
Duckman – Forever East
Homeboy Sandman, yeyts. – Corn Hole Legend
Tha God Fahim & Nicholas Craven – Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 9
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Harry Shotta, MC Spyda, P Money, and Rag’n’Bone Man in one music video? This is a British rap all-star team.
Passion as chaos. Rico Nasty has released a music video for ON THE LOW.
Eff Yoo and Deep take you on an excursion through the neighborhood of Queens in the music video for Master Plan.
A black-and-white music video as a contrast to the rap full of emotions. You have to watch the video for Better Than Nothing by QThree.
Raz Fresco, Futurewave, Daniel Son, and elite rap. The album Stadium Lo Champions is coming soon.
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.
BUB STYLES – FLOOD THE AVENUE (prod. Graphwize)
Wiz Khalifa – Laugh Out Loud Freestyle
imkay9ine – left foot, right foot (with Britton Rauscher)
NEMZZZ – TASTE (FEAT. D-BLOCK EUROPE)
Lil Yachty & Veeze – CAN’T BE CRETE BOY
Curren$y & Harry Fraud ft. Fendi P – NO WRINKLES
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.
