Welcome to Rap Weekly 144: World Gone Mad. 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 World Gone Mad by Domo Genesis & Graymatter, what do you hear when you pray? by demahjiae, Hot Ramen by John Robinson & BudaMunk, White People Think God Left Them In Charge by Chris Crack, Lincoln Continental Breakfast by ShrapKnel & Raphy, and The Black Teddy Santis by André DeSaint & Machacha. Also look forward to great music videos from Verbz & Mr Slipz, Willyynova, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Knowledge the Pirate, Roc Marciano, or billy woods, al.divino, Saint Abdullah & Eomac. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Domo Genesis & Graymatter – World Gone Mad
World Gone Mad — how do you stay sane? Domo Genesis rose to prominence as a member of the collective Odd Future and has released several standout projects over his career, including the cult mixtapes No Idols (w/ The Alchemist, 2012) and Red Corolla (2017). In 2022, he impressed with the album Intros, Outros & Interludes (w/ Evidence), and two years ago dropped another excellent release, the album What You Don’t Get!? w/ Graymatter. The world has gone mad in less than two years, giving the duo new inspiration — and last week, they followed up with the phenomenal EP World Gone Mad.
Graymatter is no newcomer but a seasoned producer we praise every time he drops something. His beats are thrilling yet welcoming — like a memory from the past speaking to you, one you carry with you every single day. Domo Genesis is an untamed force on the mic, radiating so much charisma that it’s impossible to resist his biting voice. For him, rap is sacred, and on the latest EP, you’ll find plenty of hard-earned life truths. World Gone Mad — how do you stay sane? The answer lies in appreciating the small things, loving others, cherishing family, and pouring yourself into the creative work that keeps you up at night.
NEWS
The Years We Have
Theravada is one of our favorite artists for many reasons — this charismatic rapper and producer has a distinct signature style, collaborates with the best of the best, and consistently releases albums that rank among the year’s finest. His last project as a rapper, Waste Management (w/ zoomo), dropped in 2023, and since then, he’s gifted us with several instrumental releases. Back in March, however, he hinted that the 2000 ENT. season was approaching and that both he and his collaborator Rob Chambers would soon be dropping new albums. The wait is finally over: The Years We Have is set to release on September 9. The cover art was created by Alex Kalogerakis, and the album will feature fourteen tracks. No guests appear on the tracklist, and aside from one song, the entire album was produced by Theravada himself.
Top Shelf Premium
You’re supposed to quit while you’re ahead — but saying goodbye to our favorite projects is never easy. “Off Top” Freestyle by Top Shelf Premium is without a doubt one of our most beloved shows. The authentic vibe of their shop has become iconic, and across nine seasons, the series gave birth to countless legendary rap moments. In November 2024, the final ninth season kicked off with a performance by the Social Misfit crew. This last round featured artists like Cavalier, Wiseboy Jeremy, Seafood Sam, The Musalini, Bloo Azul, and many more exceptional talents. It was another ride packed with masterful rap. But last week, the final episode dropped — a freestyle by AJ Suede. If you know his music, you already know this is a finale in every sense. The rapper’s mystical aura and his signature Knowhatimean? brought a supernatural presence to the show and a sense that it will live on forever. Huge thanks to the entire Top Shelf Premium team for ten years of work that allowed rap culture to flourish.
Supreme Clientele 2
Ghostface Killah is making his presence felt. After months of silence, he’s dropped the lead single, Rap Kingpin, officially kicking off the final stretch of the wait for the sequel to one of the most iconic solo projects in Wu-Tang history. Supreme Clientele 2 is set to release on August 22, and the first track makes it clear: this is a return to the richest flavors of Ghost’s kitchen. Surreal imagery, New York grit, fashion, drugs, myths, and the mafia — all in a single pull. On Rap Kingpin, Ghost sounds like he’s never aged. The track feels like a dream teetering on the edge of hallucination, yet grounded in the raw reality of what’s happening both in the streets and in the mind of one of the most poetic rappers of all time. Despite its heavy symbolism, the lyricism feels unexpectedly light and self-assured. Ghostface isn’t a rapper with something to prove — he’s a shaman who already knows. And even though his verses flow like a stream of subconscious thought, nothing in them is random. This return carries weight. Rap Kingpin suggests that Supreme Clientele 2 could be more than a nostalgic reflection — it might be a new chapter in a story that never truly ended.
QUICK NEWS
- Fractured Reality: E L U C I D released his rework of Don’t by Honeyglaze.
- Boy Better Know, in collaboration with Corteiz, released a freestyle for their 20th anniversary.
- The new Mobb Deep album, fully produced by Havoc & The Alchemist, is complete.
- Teller Bank$ released the first two singles from the album DRUG$$$, which will be out on August 21.
- Mourning Run and klwn cat released the second single from their anticipated joint album.
BEST ALBUMS
demahjiae – what do you hear when you pray?
In the silence between beats. In sentences left unfinished. In a prayer that no one else hears. Exactly there emerges the new project by California rapper and producer demahjiae, whose new album, What Do You Hear When You Pray?, feels more like a confession than a typical rap release. It is a fragile, coded, deeply personal work, yet open to those willing to be vulnerable. The tracklist is compact but rich with inner tension. demahjiae revisits old mistakes, failed relationships, and questions without clear answers in each song. That’s why the album’s title, What Do You Hear When You Pray?, resonates so much — because often, we hear nothing at all, just the echo of our own fears. Gentle beats, ambient layers, muted vocals — everything harmonizes with emotionally charged production that suggests more than it says. The track Stacy Adams is a powerful example of demahjiae’s lyrical style. It’s not about punchlines, hooks, or tempo. It’s about moments. They are apologies, litanies. An intimacy that doesn’t push you away but invites you in.
John Robinson & BudaMunk – Hot Ramen
In a time when rap often overheats before it even cools down, Hot Ramen arrives. An album that doesn’t chase novelty but is built on patience, experience, and meticulous craftsmanship. John Robinson and BudaMunk don’t present themselves as trendsetters here, but as masters of the kitchen who know that flavor comes from depth—and that even rap can have a scent. The very concept of the album, music as ramen, works perfectly. It’s not a metaphor trying to be clever. Here, the cooking is real. Robinson raps with the precision of a chef who knows exactly when to add salt and when to gently stir. It’s not about gunfights but patient simmering. Minimalist beats, jazzy undertones, gritty boom bap, and occasional dreaminess. BudaMunk reminds us that groove doesn’t have to be loud to be deep. He’s not just a beatmaker but a co-narrator, as important as the emcee at the mic. Tracks like Crate Chronicles, Pen Zen, or Stealth (featuring Invizible Handz & Eloh Kush) prove that even in 2025, a lo-fi approach can bring freshness. And then there’s the calm yet meaningful language. John Robinson doesn’t rhyme for effect. His style is like meditation with open eyes. Every verse has intent, and every punchline resonates with history. In his voice, you hear years of work, falls, and comebacks. He tells stories with a lightness only someone who never gave up—even after being overlooked by the world multiple times—can afford.
Chris Crack – White People Think God Left Them In Charge
In a time when rap is increasingly controlled by algorithms, branding, and toxic polish, Chris Crack arrives with an album that makes it clear he will never stop doing things his own way. White People Think God Left Them In Charge is a sharply short project, yet packed with more life than albums that last an hour. Chris Crack is a poet of the absurd. The track titles carry so much wisdom and ease, it almost feels like stand-up comedy. But once you start listening, you realize that the laughter is often just a mask for something more painful. The track names feel like memes, but the songs themselves act as mirrors reflecting anxiety, loneliness, racism, generational loss, and an identity that is both strong and fractured. Musically, it blends lo-fi jazzy production with broken beats that often disappear before you can fall in love with them. Some tracks barely reach a minute, yet Chris manages to deliver a string of thoughtful, hilariously honest, and at times brilliantly crafted ideas. Everything feels like improvisation, but it’s the improvisation of someone who carries a deep archive of pain and laughter under their skin. Chris Crack is a post-satirical commentator on a world that’s falling apart yet still alive. His flow is effortless and relaxed but never lazy. He knows when to be silent, when to be funny, and when to leave you hanging with a single line that will haunt you for hours. This project is short but leaves a lasting echo. It’s the soundtrack for a time when everything is too fast, too absurd, too online, and yet still deeply human. Chris Crack will make you laugh even when you don’t feel like it. And maybe that’s exactly why this album is something we need more than we admit. Unfortunately, no official music video was released for the album, so here’s the video for the track Women Screenshot Everything Except Them Begging.
ShrapKnel & Raphy – Lincoln Continental Breakfast
At the beginning of July, you could find a preview in our article of a dark rap season full of intense, gripping atmosphere, hypnotic cinematic tracks, and captivating concepts. It’s ShrapKnel Season! The duo ShrapKnel, made up of rappers Curly Castro and PremRock, announced three albums: Lincoln Continental Breakfast (with producer Raphy), Saisir Le Feu (with Mike Ladd), and Armature (with Ohbliv). The second and third albums will be released during August, but the impressive rap journey began just a few days ago with the project Lincoln Continental Breakfast. On their latest album, the duo, together with producer Raphy, combines all the ingredients we love about underground mind-bending rap. The album is punchy, biting, highly suggestive, inventive, and full of great humor. ShrapKnel feels like heroes from another dimension who entered your city and answer to neither the local sheriff nor any mafia. The highlight of the album is the closing track, Piecemeal, which sounds like a wormhole opening in the middle of a factory, metals decomposing, people dying, and the main characters fighting on the edge of their strength. How will it end? We have to wait and see — two more acts are coming. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so here’s a video for the track Deep Space 9 Millie Pulled A Pistol.
André DeSaint & Machacha – The Black Teddy Santis
Rapper André DeSaint and producer Machacha rank among the most distinctive and hardworking artists on today’s rap scene. This year alone, Machacha has produced ten albums — yes, TEN — and André DeSaint kicked off January with the excellent Open Up Shoppe (w/ Don Carrera). Together, they’ve joined forces on the quintessentially rap album The Black Teddy Santis. Expect rap in its purest form — this record tells the stories of people living on the “margins” of society, the kind of stories other genres might overlook. The artists reference Teddy Santis, founder and creative director of Aimé Leon Dore, in the album’s title. Born and raised in Queens, NY, to Greek immigrant parents, Santis represents the very spirit this record explores — the life of a kid raised by immigrants in Queens. In this case, the perspective shifts to Jamaican heritage. André DeSaint proves himself a masterful storyteller, while Machacha delivers striking, character-rich beats. The result is a captivating narrative that truly comes alive the moment you press play.
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.
andrew – warm weapons in easy reach
Jouquin Fox x Andrew Mbaruk x Margaret Mouse – DELEGALIZE GENOCIDE
THA GOD FAHIM – Dump Goat 3
Daylan Gideon & Thomas Maggart – PLEASE DON’T CALL ME
Juicy J – Head On Swivel
BA PACE / SNIPER LEW – “MIDNIGHT MAROON”
Death at the Derby – Ballon D’or
Chuuwee & Trizz – QUARTER: AMB4
Jiles & Grubby Pawz – Griot
K.Burns & Slim Fuego – Another Episode
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
A long-forgotten memory in a long-forgotten world: the music video for Mémoires De Perte by Verbz & Mr Slipz breathes an unmistakable atmosphere.
Powerfully suggestive rap calls for a vibrant music video: Willyyno will hypnotize you with the track YOU KNOW ITS TRUE.
10,000 hours. Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist released a phenomenal music video for the track A Thousand Mountains.
Let the godfathers of today’s underground rap. Knowledge the Pirate & Roc Marciano released a music video for the track The Outfit.
billy woods, al.divino, Saint Abdullah, Eomac, and Joseph: the music video for Maquiladoras is a postmodern masterpiece.
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.
Benny The Butcher & OT The Real – Gold Plated Leica
Larry June & Cardo Got Wings – Organic Free Range Chicken
TABZ SOS – TALK TO ME [PRODUCED BY DJ BLKLUOS]
OBIJUAN X BA PACE – KIMBO DICE [MOTION PICTURE]
T.F, Khrysis – Handle Bars ft. Smoke DZA, Flee Lord
$ilkMoney – F****CK, BABY. YOU’RE JUST SO SEXY WHEN YOU’RE TERRIFIED
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!
