Welcome to Rap Weekly 163: TIGRAY FUNK. 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 TIGRAY FUNK by Sideshow, Manhunt by Boldy James & Rome Streetz, Lay It Down by DJ Muggs & HeartBreak JC, Darkness On The Edge Of Town by New Villain & Simon Hampton, SPACEHEATER by Cise Greeny & Lungs//Lonesword, and Happy Place by Quelle Chris. Also look forward to great music videos from Cult of The Damned, Denzel Curry, Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar, Momo Boyd, Pink Siifu, Armand Hammer, Verb T & Vic Grimes. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Sideshow – TIGRAY FUNK
Sideshow, an artist from California originally from Tigray, has released the highly anticipated album TIGRAY FUNK under the banner of 10k.global nearly two years after his last project. The record begins exactly where his previous album ended: “I am not depressed, I am oppressed… What I need is freedom,” were the final words of F.U.N. T.O.Y. “I was, I was, as Mr. Meek said he wouldn’t die standing on his feet rather than to die standing on his knees. I will die standing up for God, regardless of any circumstances… It’s gonna take young boys like us to uh, win the revolution (Baow),” echoes in the intro of the new album as the listener embarks on a monumental hazy rap journey. TIGRAY FUNK is an opulent, genre-pushing album full of pain but also unbreakable determination to resist oppression of all kinds.
The runtime of TIGRAY FUNK slightly exceeds the sixty-minute mark, yet it is spread across twenty-three tracks. Sideshow has created a monumental, constantly shifting album full of ideas that immerses you in his world—life’s victories, but also ever-present violence and pain. The entire album is framed by a folk-like story about the cycle of power and violence, and these themes are brilliantly woven into the lyrics themselves. TIGRAY FUNK is purple drank-resistance music.
„I got hot nines for settlers tryna get my home back
From Tigray to Palestine, we facin’ cold facts.“
– LOOK WHAT OUR STOMACHS MADE US DO
Sideshow selected truly phenomenal beats — tracks like BANDIDO GENEROSO and BLAME BURNAYS rank among his most compelling work. The ever-present authenticity, the almost tangible pain, and the unbreakable will to resist all aggressors—wrapped in the very best trap (t-funk) sound—make the album an absolutely essential work of contemporary hip-hop. FREE TIGRAY, FREE ALL OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
NEWS
5786 AM: Easy Listen
Mach-Hommy released his last album in 2024. In recent months we’ve heard a few of his guest appearances, but full solo tracks will arrive this March. It has been known for some time that Mach-Hommy has been working on several projects simultaneously. There were reports about an album with 03 Greedo, the previously announced (and last year leaked) project with producer Conductor Williams, a record with August Fanon, a project with producer Ras G (Rest in Peace Ras G), and collaborative music with rapper Black Thought. However, on March 20 a completely different project will arrive — the album 5786 AM: Easy Listen, entirely produced by Playa Haze. He has beats to his name on tracks such as Lost (Danny Brown), Richard Pryor (Pink Siifu & Fly Anakin), and Ritual (Navy Blue). A playlist of his most essential tracks can be found here. The album will feature thirteen tracks, with guest appearances from Blu, Mavi, Spook, Doley Bernays, and Spank Nitti James. We’re not worried about the album’s quality — we only hope it actually gets released and that Mach-Hommy paid the producer (author’s note: several producers have complained in the past that Mach-Hommy stole their beats).
POMPEII//UTILITY
MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt have announced their joint double album POMPEII//UTILITY, set to be released on April 3. The announcement came through links shared on their social media, leading to a mysterious website where you can subscribe for updates about their collaborative music, further highlighting their independent approach to distribution. MIKE had already spoken about the record in an interview for Pitchfork (at the time he did not reveal that it would be a joint album with Earl Sweatshirt), where he also explained the working title Pompeii. The name emerged spontaneously in the studio and refers to moments when everyone present was in such a state that they remained in bizarre positions, literally “frozen” like the victims of the historic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The entire production of the album will be handled by Surf Gang, specifically producers Harrison and Evilgiane. For fans, this is a dream come true — MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt have been close for years, and their collaboration is a natural outcome of long-standing friendship and mutual respect. Surf Gang have also produced bangers like Making the Band (Danity Kane) and Belly 1, so there is truly a lot to look forward to. The record will be a double album in the spirit of Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by OutKast — the first disc will be MIKE’s album, the second Earl Sweatshirt’s. The first half features Jadasea, Anysia Kym, Niontay, and Earl Sweatshirt, while the second includes Lerado Khalil and MIKE. In total, we’re getting 33 tracks. Check out the first two singles. Wow.
Chemo Crystal Ball
We’re releasing our first news article of the year today, and this announcement proves it’s about time. 2025 is behind us, and both artists involved in this news gave us a ton of great music last year. Under the banner of Backwoodz Studioz, the album Crayola Circles, a joint project between rapper Fatboi Sharif and producer Child Actor, will be released on April 24. Although both artists have long-standing ties with Backwoodz Studioz, this album marks their first collaboration of any kind and simultaneously opens new artistic territory for everyone involved. Child Actor had a truly monumental year last year, and Fatboi Sharif was equally prolific. As hinted by the lead music video, their joint record promises to be a mind-bending experience. The official synopsis adds to the anticipation: “There are no guests, no skits, and no interludes. There might not even be songs, instead Crayola Circles seems akin to a great river; singular, traversing forest and jungle, mountain and valley, running from mouth to endless sea.” You can pre-order the album here.
BEST ALBUMS
Boldy James & Rome Streetz – Manhunt
When Boldy James’ Detroit cold meets Rome Streetz’ New York hunger, Manhunt is born. A grimy and uncompromising monolith that doesn’t need a long runtime to pull you in. It’s a record about craft and survival. The heart of the album is the track Only One. Boldy James calmly recites street police reports with icy composure, from pulling off near White Castle to breaking down grams on the gravel. Rome Streetz follows with aggressive ferocity, reminding us that the road to private jets once ran through orange prison jumpsuits. Their chemistry works perfectly — Boldy James delivers clinical precision, while Rome Streetz brings raw energy.
DJ Muggs & HeartBreak JC – Lay It Down
On the project Lay It Down, legendary producer DJ Muggs plays with the space between his two sonic identities. It’s not the classic dust-choked sound we know from his recent collaborations, but it’s not the crystal-clear West Coast radio style either. Instead, it’s a grimy hybrid — the swinging rhythm of Memphis, still draped in that unmistakable dark Muggs veil. HeartBreak JC fits into this in-between space completely naturally with his raw and unpolished delivery. The strongest moment is the track LUV, where this duality fractures the most. HeartBreak JC raps about how love doesn’t exist in his world unless it’s about money. It’s a portrait of a man who had to completely shut off his emotions to survive in an environment where they’ll kill you before you even blink. Money becomes the only tangible proof of safety in a place where loyalty changes with the weather. With Lay It Down, DJ Muggs proves that even after dialing back the industrial noise, he can still create an atmosphere that sends chills down your spine.
New Villain & Simon Hampton – Darkness On The Edge Of Town
The project Darkness On The Edge Of Town by New Villain and Simon Hampton is a gritty psychological thriller where comic book aesthetics shatter against urban reality. Simon Hampton builds a minimalist, chilling haze from which New Villain’s voice emerges like an uncompromising hand of fate. The most powerful moment is undoubtedly the track Callused Hands. Here, all masks fall away and raw, searing empathy takes over. When, between lines about street dealing, a stark confession about the death of his best friend appears, you realize that this rap is the artist’s only — and fateful — form of therapy.
Cise Greeny & Lungs//Lonesword – SPACE HEATER
One of the biggest surprises of the year arrives already in our first news roundup of the year. On the album SPACE HEATER, Cise Greeny and Lungs//Lonesword join forces. A rapper from another planet and a futuristic mecha artist have created a mind-bending sci-fi record with minimalist beats and otherworldly rap. If you know both artists, you already understand that you’re in for a truly unconventional experience. The entire album carries the essence of something inhuman — metals collide against each other, and mysterious entities arrive from space. Cise Greeny and Lungs naturally use all these sci-fi concepts and countless references to build ideas whose emotions stem from the experience of the present world (both inner and external). The album reflects contemporary geopolitical conflicts as well as everyday life (survival) in New York. All the beats were produced by Lonesword (Lungs), who crafted a unique soundscape that only a handful of rappers from this — and probably any — planet could effectively rap over.
Quelle Chris – Happy Place
The one and only Quelle Chris released his last solo rap album, Deathfame, in 2022. However, it would be a great mistake to ignore his records Death Tape 1 and Death Tape 2 with Cavalier, as well as the instrumental project Beware Beware Beware (More Lullabies). On February 28, 2026, the day the United States and Israel launched their illegal war against Iran, he released the solo EP Happy Place, his “sincere search for a piece of sanity in dark times.” And a piece of sanity is exactly what we as a society truly need. The project is led by a visual where a painted Quelle Chris turns in front of the scenery of a burning world. This image stands in melancholic contrast to the very melodic beats, produced using beautiful samples. The entire EP breathes a melancholic hope, searching for small traces of empathy and love in a collapsing world burning with hatred. Quelle Chris is a first-class rapper and producer, and his new project is proof of that.
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.
Vincent, The Owl & HashMo – Liquor Landlord
Billie Essco, Dough Networkz, Local Astronauts – Dress 4 Late
Nyeusi Loe & Boneweso – YUNG LAZARUS
The Expert – Extra Visions
Jae Skeese & ILL Tone Beats – The Good Part, Vol. 1
O Finess – FINESS THE PLAY
Rio Thomas – Love & Other Drugs
KO6i – a cog from a Larger Love Machine
Lukey Cage – LUKEY DIGITAL
Passport Rav & Bloo Azul – 83rd Strike
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
The iconic rap crew Cult of The Damned have reunited and released the phenomenal single EXT. CAR PARK – NIGHT.
The Scythe let it be known that their album is out with a great music video for the track Mutt That Bih.
Baby Keem has released an opulent yet sensitive music video for the track Good Flirts ft. Kendrick Lamar and Momo Boyd.
Pink Siifu has released an utterly unique and imaginative music video for the track CRTX/VRTX ft. Armand Hammer. The howling of wolves can’t be heard — it gets lost in the ever-present noise.
“The calm before a new beginning….” Verb T and Vic Grimes have released a music video for the track Through the Wall ft. Rozsa.
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.
Quasimoto – Jazz Cats Pt. 1 (Animation)
Drill Scott Heron – Burnt Bridges (Prod. Morriarchi)
Jay Worthy & Method Man – Visions
Rio Da Yung Og, YN JAY & Babyfxce E – The Big 3
DJ LUCAS – “BAD BUSINESS” (PROD DANNY G)
OcBully – SWEETEST AROMA (ft. BoriRock)
Ray Vaughn – Hit and Run ft. AZ Chike
That’s a wrap on today’s news roundup. What caught your attention the most? Hit us up on Twitter, Instagram, Threads 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!
