Welcome to Rap Weekly 136: Triple X Years In The Game. 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 review the albums PATHFINDERS by blackchai & illohim, Rose Gold by CRIMEAPPLE & DJ Skizz, INFINITE WAVE by BoriRock & BONEWESO, Déjà Bloo by Bloo Azul & Spanish Ran, and 2nd Call by C-Red & Agent M. Also look forward to great music videos from Roc Marciano, ??? x BONEWESO, YL & SUBJXCT 5, Larry June & Cardo Got Wings, or 12K Gotti. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Triple X Years In The Game
Few rap duos have influenced the scene as profoundly as Atmosphere (Slug & Ant). The co-founders of the legendary Rhymesayers Entertainment helped shape underground rap into what we know today: sensitive, honest, and real. Listening to any of their countless amazing albums feels like an escape into another world—a dose of quality rap we can always rely on. This year marks thirty years of the duo actively creating music, and such an admirable milestone deserves a proper celebration. Atmosphere released Triple X Years In The Game, a compilation that maps the group’s thirty-year journey through a body of work that is as personal as it is prolific.
What can you look forward to? Let the artists themselves tell you: “Triple X Years In The Game maps out the group’s 30-year journey through a catalog that’s as personal as it is prolific. Sequenced in chronological order, the 30-song collection brings together essential tracks from each studio album along with a few under-appreciated gems that emerged along the way. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re just discovering them now, this project offers a window into how Atmosphere has grown and shifted without ever losing their footing.”
NEWS
No Jumpin’
Joey Bada$$ vs. Ray Vaughn is the rap beef currently drawing the most attention. We recapped the whole conflict in the last Rap Weekly, but there’s still plenty to write about. The diss tracks are getting sharper, longer, louder, and more ruthless. Golden Eye and CRASH DUMMY mark the next round of this battle, after which both rappers have remained silent for several days. Are they preparing something big, or is the beef slowly dying out? However, another player has entered the scene—Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire—and as usual, he doesn’t fit into any box. His diss was aimed at everyone, taking shots at Joey Bada$$, Ray Vaughn, Reason, TDE, and Daylyt.
Pineapple Ginger
The Alchemist expands his discography with a new instrumental project, Mixed Fruit Vol. 1 – Pineapple Ginger. This is the first installment in a new series, released both digitally and on vinyl. The release is accompanied by a limited edition merch collection. The project consists of fifteen tracks and sticks strictly to a instrumental tape format—no rap features, no vocals. As a preview, he released the track Falling Deeper & Deeper, accompanied by a visual directed by Jason Goldwatch. It’s not a traditional music video but rather a stylized visual companion piece—a collage of slow-motion shots, analog textures, and rhythmic visual editing.
Backwoodz Studioz
The album GOLLIWOG by billy woods continues to fascinate us and still feels monumental—this is a project that will resonate for decades. billy appeared last week on a new episode of The Rap Music Plug Podcast, where he discussed the making of the album, and it’s a conversation you absolutely need to hear. Big s/o to the entire show—Rohan (the podcast’s host) is one of the best in the game, and his episodes are always insightful and a pleasure to listen to. At the end of the episode, the inevitable question came up: what do billy woods and the Backwoodz Studioz label have planned for the rest of the year? And billy didn’t hold back on the announcements. We can look forward to a new album by E L U C I D—his first solo release under the Backwoodz banner since I Told Bessie (2022)—as well as a record from producer Preservation. It remains to be seen whether it will be an instrumental project or if he’ll invite a lineup of rappers, similar to his 2020 album Eastern Medicine, Western Illness. Our bet is on the latter. And that’s not all—we’re also expecting a new Armand Hammer album this year. Yes, there’s really, really a lot to look forward to.
BEST ALBUMS
blackchai & illohim – PATHFINDERS review
blackchai is part of a new generation of a distinct group of rappers who, with a unique sense and worldview—one stripped of the illusion of justice by the current system—are creating their own musical movement. “You’re a revolutionary, you’re a revolutionary.” Alongside artists like shemar, SOO DO KOO, Sunmundi, or amitai sno, blackchai stands out as one of the leading voices of this movement. He proved this last year with his album OTHERWISE A BLUR (w/ August Fanon), which we included among the best releases of the year. Last week, he teamed up with rapper illohim, and thus The Traveler and The Wayfarer Cross Paths. PATHFINDERS is a mind-bending spectacle—a search for a way out of the maze and toward revolution. The Traveler and the Wayfarer meet across fourteen tracks to deliver absolutely phenomenal rap, full of sensitive observations of the surrounding world, with anti-capitalist and anti-colonial undertones and a radical mindset.
„The Hubble Telescope has infected the coloniser’s brains.“
From Flawed Skin by blackchai & illohim
„Best believe them crackers won’t make it to Mars Mars, Mars, Mars.“
From Corinthians by billy woods
blackchai & illohim depict exploitative capitalism as an ever-expanding cosmic entity, so deeply rooted that it’s more likely the planet will burn before true change occurs. Despite the thematic depth, intellectual richness, and conceptual complexity of the album, each track hits hard, the beats are excellent, and the entire project remains tightly cohesive. PATHFINDERS is an album that even an occasional rap listener can fall in love with—but its content will take you much, much deeper.
CRIMEAPPLE & DJ Skizz – Rose Gold review
CRIMEAPPLE and DJ Skizz have teamed up once again, this time under the banner of the album Rose Gold—and what they’re serving isn’t just another collection of throwaway rap bars. This is an album that walks the line between gritty street tales and the introspective reflections of someone who’s put in the work—not just in the studio, but in life. Right from the opening track, Taste Like Butter, it’s clear what this is about: CRIMEAPPLE blends hard-hitting real talk with personal insights. He raps about fading days, about love he couldn’t take seriously. These bars aren’t cheap storytelling—they’re a record of how to survive and not lose yourself in the process. You’ll find pain in them, but also the strength that comes from clawing your way out and telling your story without whining. DJ Skizz acts like a silent partner, providing beats that give the album a solid backbone—they’re never overdone, but know exactly when to get grimy, when to pull back, and when to let the lyrics breathe. Estee Nack and Eto on the track World Famous aren’t just features—they’re equal voices in the narrative this album tells. Even though the lyrics often circle around classic street motifs—money and mistrust—Rose Gold delivers them with a sense of honesty that keeps you coming back.
BoriRock & BONEWESO – INFINITE WAVE review
BoriRock, together with producer BONEWESO, presents the album INFINITE WAVE, which was released in March on Bandcamp and is now available on streaming platforms. The project delivers an authentic perspective on the rap scene, emphasizing hard-hitting beats and honest lyrics. BoriRock stays true to his energetic and distinctive style, with lyrics that are often sharp and uncompromising. Throughout the album, you’ll find criticism of the current state of rap, a strong focus on originality and independence, and moments that reveal inner struggles and lived experience. BONEWESO’s production provides a solid musical foundation that allows the rapper to fully express his stance. The track ANTIWAVE is a prime example of the album’s direction—raw and unpolished, yet guided by a clear vision and a deep commitment to authenticity. Features from Estee Nack, Shaykh Hanif, al.divino, and others add new layers and perspectives, enriching the album’s overall sound and message.
Bloo Azul & Spanish Ran – Déjà Bloo review
Rapper Bloo Azul, in collaboration with producer Spanish Ran, brings a fresh release to the scene with their new album Déjà Bloo. Recently made available on streaming platforms, the record offers listeners a deep and thoughtful exploration of life’s challenges, internal struggles, and the journey of artistic growth. The tracklist showcases a rich spectrum of sounds—from energetic beats to atmospheric moments enriched with standout scratches by DJ Ill Digitz. A highlight of the album is the track Peace, Love & .., in which Bloo Azul dives into topics such as grappling with mortality, feelings of being underappreciated, and the relentless pursuit of self-improvement. His lyrics are laced with metaphors that sharply capture the complexities of navigating the music industry as an artist today. On Déjà Bloo, Bloo Azul focuses not only on personal experiences but also on broader societal themes. His openness and authenticity make this album a powerful voice for anyone striving to break through and find their place in the often unforgiving world of music. The musical backdrop provided by Spanish Ran perfectly complements the lyrical content, creating a strong and cohesive foundation that supports both the rapper’s intense energy and his moments of introspection and calm.
C-Red & Agent M – 2nd Call review
C-Red is a rapper originally from Tallahassee, FL and if you only came across her music through her 2nd Call album, trust that you’ll still recognize her like you’ve been listening to her for years. This is exactly the kind of project that tells you everything you need to know about the artist. 2nd Call is both introspective and expansive, hard-hitting yet melodic—a celebration of life despite all its challenges. The rapper explores a wide range of topics with impressive depth: grief, criticism of hustle culture, and the journey of self-discovery. C-Red writes exceptionally well, and the groove provided by Agent M’s production allows the project to truly flow. The title track, 2nd Call featuring Masta Ace, is far-reaching and tackles social issues, while Forbidden, which comes just a few minutes later, is a sensitive and intimate confession. This is the kind of range we’re writing about.
DOPE ALBUMS
The five albums above aren’t the only ones you need to hear. We’ve handpicked ten more dope records that no one should sleep on. Give every one of these projects a shot — they all deserve your time.
Sleep Sinatra & BAELEI P – The Virtues
The Musalini & DJ.Fresh – Live and Let Fly
Blass 89 – Alive & Well, Vol. 1
Jay Worthy & LNDN DRGS – Burnout 5
RJ PAYNE & CARTUNE BEATZ – SINNERZ
Kahlil Blu – *MR NICE GUY
Vino La Mano – Season of Revenge
Stu Bangas & Horror City – The Phantom of the Operap
O The Great – NYU
K.A.A.N. & Jonah Renna – YESTERDAY
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Roc Marciano, Josué Thomas, Paris, rap, and jazz? The music video for the track Vintage Limo is bound to go down in history.
THE HIDDEN SPLASH coming soon: ??? x BONEWESO prove with the music video for CRESCENTMOONMAGICK that there’s definitely something to look forward to.
YL & SUBJXCT 5 release the third music video for their upcoming album, and once again, it’s a hard-hitting banger. This time, they’ve got STARKER watching their back.
Riding a bike has never been more dope: Larry June & Cardo Got Wings are a duo that never disappoints: check out the phenomenal music video.
12K Gotti makes his debut under 10K Global: Swing My Door is a track you need to hear.
DOPE VIDEOS
Our list of must-see music videos doesn’t stop at the top five. We’ve selected ten more fire clips you need to check out. Show some love to all the artists below — they truly deserve the spotlight.
The Musalini, DJ.Fresh – Late Nite
Termanology & Bronze Nazareth “History Lesson” feat. Jon Connor & Nim K.
Jay Cinema and chasay- be a better friend
Jay Worthy & LNDN DRGS – Big Worm (feat. Faizon Love & Tiny Doo)
Starz Coleman – Close Range Features prod by Griin
That’s a wrap on today’s news roundup. What caught your attention the most? Hit us up on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, TikTok or Bluesky We’ll be back next Monday with another dose of the Rap Weekly and fresh heat from the scene — don’t miss it!
