Welcome to Rap Weekly 138: The Ruler’s Back!. 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 Victory by Slick Rick, Ok, the fire. by Trellion & Danny Lover, Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword by Mary Sue and the Clementi Sound Appreciation Club, ETHICS OF WAR by Jalen Frazier & godBLESSbeatz, Speer Village Alum by Rasheed Chappell & Mickey Blue, High-Class Wiggler by Spank Nitti James & Hit-Boy. Also look forward to great music videos from Niontay, AJ Suede, NEMZZZ, YL & SUBJXCT 5, Curren$y & Harry Fraud, or Bruiser Wolf. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Slick Rick – VICTORY review
The legendary The Ruler is back. After a long 26 years since his last album, Slick Rick has returned to the rap scene, bringing another dose of his unmistakable style. VICTORY is an ambitious visual album that combines the artist’s irreplaceable storytelling with the vision of British artist and actor Idris Elba. The record was created over four years between London and France, and its visual component, directed by Meji Alabi (known for Black Is King by Beyoncé), was filmed across three continents: in the USA, UK, and Africa. The film undoubtedly adds a new dimension to the album, but for now, it’s being shown only at special events. However, since last Friday, you can already listen to the album — and believe us, even without the cinematic companion, it’s a deeply evocative and visual piece of work.
Comebacks as highly anticipated as this one are never easy, and it was clear that Slick Rick would no longer spark the kind of revolution he did with his early albums. Even so, VICTORY is a very well-crafted album that avoids all the usual pitfalls of similar projects. The record runs for just 27 minutes, so it never drags and feels cohesive throughout. Slick Rick speaks directly to the listener and guides you through the entire experience—you get the sense he truly put care into creating this album. His flow is almost unnaturally smooth; the album’s soundscape feels like it came straight out of the ’90s, yet it’s fresh and carries a distinct groove. Cuz I’m Here transports you to a party from the last century, while tracks like Landlord and Documents feat. Nas deliver complete stories with a hefty dose of humor. Slick Rick may not bring about a new rap revolution, but his return is dignified—full of love for the genre and brimming with fresh ideas.
NEWS
Rhythm Roulette: 38 Spesh
“Sometimes I hear samples that automatically make me just want to start chopping it up.” With these words, producer, rapper, and founder of the Trust Comes First label — 38 Spesh — begins his journey in the latest episode of Rhythm Roulette. Mass Appeal once again invites us into a world where a beat is born out of nothing. Three random records, a blindfold, and crate digging at the legendary A1 Records in New York City. Spesh reaches for dusty records, not shiny new pressings. With the help of an MPC, patience, and a sharp sense of placement, he builds a beat almost from scratch. He intentionally uses the gaps left in the samples, inserting drum rolls with surgical precision that transform the whole track. Everything fits — everything has its place. The result is a cinematic piece that sounds like the soundtrack to a criminal neo-noir from the Bronx. Spesh shows why he’s so respected on the scene, not only as a rapper but also as a producer. No prefab formulas — just hard work, an ear for the loop, and the ability to find beauty in the unexpected. This isn’t a lab. This is a kitchen, where you cook by feel, by smell — not by recipe.
Ullnevano – “Off Top” Freestyle
Always end on a high note — that’s the rule the team at Top Shelf Premium intends to follow, as their freestyle series “Off Top” heads into its ninth and final season. The last season kicked off six months ago with a performance by Social Misfit, followed by nine stellar episodes. Just last week, Ullnevano showcased his skills. He jumped on beats by Illien Rosewell and logica marselise, filling the Top Shelf space with three minutes of razor-sharp rap bars. Cadence, creativity, charisma, and flawless technique — this performance leaves nothing to criticize.
GXFR DRGS
Jay Worthy is without a doubt one of the most distinctive artists coming out of Los Angeles. His sound carries the essence of the West Coast, rooted in genre classics yet undeniably modern. Throughout his career, he formed the duo LNDN DRGS (with Sean House) and released collaborative albums with artists like Roc Marciano and Larry June. Over a year ago, we learned that the rapper had joined the extended circle of Griselda Records. Despite collaborating with artists from the label and releasing several tracks together, we’ve never seen an official Griselda debut — that’s about to change. Jay Worthy revealed on Twitter that he and Westside Gunn are working hard on his Griselda debut, which is set to drop soon.
BEST ALBUMS
Trellion & Danny Lover – Ok, the fire. review
Yes, the return of the duo Clipse is a major rap event — but if there’s one thing we didn’t expect in 2025, it was the comeback of Trellion. When Bandcamp notified us that Trellion had released a new album, we assumed it was just an older project being added to his page. The reality far exceeded our expectations. Trellion aka Lil Heart Attack, one of the most distinctive British rappers, has emerged from his enigmatic lighthouse and returned to the music scene after five years with a new album: Ok, the fire. w/ Danny Lover, featuring seventeen tracks. Three years ago, we wrote an essay about Trellion, focusing on both his project Lighthouse Tape and the unique sound he helped bring to the rap scene through the Bad Taste label. On his new album, Trellion directly dismisses the rumors that he was running a restaurant during his hiatus:
“I ain’t ever ran a restaurant.”
Ok, the fire. is a full-fledged return — an album with a truly unique atmosphere and soundscape. Once again, both rappers masterfully and contrastively blend bars that are almost existentially cold and melancholic with innovative beats that are hauntingly, hypnotically beautiful. Most of the album was produced by 19.thou$and (Rest in Peace), who crafted a one-of-a-kind sonic environment. It’s refreshing to hear a record that forges its own path and sounds like nothing else out there. Ok, the fire. is a phenomenal work and one of the best albums of the year. No official music video has been released for the album — so instead, we’re sharing the clip for the track DOLO.
Mary Sue and the Clementi Sound Appreciation Club – Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword review
We’re incredibly grateful for every new artist we discover — especially when their work is as distinctive as the albums by Mary Sue. The Singaporean rapper has released three absolutely exceptional records in less than two years: For Sure, CACOPHONOUS DIGRESSIONS, A RECORD OF A MOMENT IN TIME (w/psychedelic ensemble.), and Voice Memos From A Winter In China. These aren’t just albums that sound unlike anything we’ve heard before — they also bring entirely new cultural and social perspectives to us as listeners from Europe. The latest album, Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword, is no exception. Once again, it proves that Mary Sue belongs among the finest rappers of the new decade. As the artist notes: “This is what happens when an MC/producer grows up on abstract hip-hop, Southeast Asian samples, and Taoist folklore.” Alongside the Clementi Sound Appreciation Club — a five-member band from the Singaporean jazz scene — Mary Sue blends samples with live instrumentation. At the heart of the album is the story of a time-traveling oracle searching for meaning in the modern world — a world where ancient wisdom feels fragile and truth is constantly shifting. This very concept makes the record a unique and resonant reflection of today’s turbulent times. Where many rap concept albums take a sci-fi route, Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword instead draws on spiritual, mythical, and fantastical elements. The album is full of powerful truths based on folk sayings and parables about animal behavior. A perfect example is the track Mosquito, where Mary raps:
„All that’s left are bones—they display it and turn to pacifists
I won’t bug you, but I’ll punctuate the emphasis
Mosquitoes don’t got purpose, but these bloodsuckers getting rich
The pests who don’t survive are the ones who never had to flinch“
The soundscape of the album is something we’ve never heard before — live jazz orchestra instruments seamlessly blend with Southeast Asian samples and Taoist folklore. To release four such distinctive, diverse, and high-quality albums in less than two years? Mary Sue is making history.
Jalen Frazier & godBLESSbeatz – ETHICS OF WAR review
The album ETHICS OF WAR by Jalen Frazier and godBLESSbeatz is more than just music — it’s a raw, unfiltered testimony about life on the streets, woven with personal experiences and harsh realities. The track JUST WAR THEORY is a vivid example, with every bar pulsating with authenticity, pain, and an unbreakable will to survive. From the very first moments, it’s clear this is no superficial listen. Jalen Frazier presents himself as a storyteller, a professor of the streets, painting a picture of a world where loyalty and trust are rare commodities. We feel the weight of his words as he speaks about loss and returning to the core — to what keeps him alive. It’s a story about finding meaning and holding onto principles even in the toughest realities. ETHICS OF WAR isn’t just about violence and conflict; it’s also about perseverance, loyalty, and striving to maintain integrity in a challenging environment. Jalen Frazier and godBLESSbeatz offer an authentic portrayal of life that is unimaginable for many but is the reality for so many others. The album is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the ability to survive and express oneself even in the darkest times. It’s a record that provokes reflection and leaves a deep impact. Unfortunately, no official music video was released for the album, so here is the video for the track All Love Until It’s Not.
Rasheed Chappell & Mickey Blue – Speer Village Alum review
On the album Speer Village Alum, Rasheed Chappell teamed up with producer Mickey Blue and together they delivered a raw project that doesn’t sound like a studio product but rather like a recording of life. The album has nine tracks, each of which is short, punchy, and without unnecessary frills. All the beats are minimalist, often just suffocating loops and drums that leave plenty of room for the lyrics, which really make the most of it. Chappell raps in a style that doesn’t need choruses or effects; his lyrics feel like observations from within a system that slowly but surely crushes people to the core. It’s not a glorification of violence or drugs, but rather a raw record of what it’s like to be in a place where there are often no good choices. The track Glass Candle carries the essence of the album, acting as a story from one evening but summarizing the whole mentality of a place where survival equals suspicion and quick reactions. Mickey Blue lets the beats breathe, sometimes even suffocate. There are no decorative layers; everything is built on atmosphere, loops, and precision. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we are including a video for the song MADE.
Spank Nitti James & Hit-Boy – High-Class Wiggler review
This is not noble elegance or a slow start. High-Class Wiggler is a raw, confident project that grabs you with the first bass line and doesn’t let go. Spank Nitti James raps sharply, with the perspective of someone who knows exactly what he’s saying and why he’s saying it in that tone. It’s not theatrical, but it definitely carries weight. Hit-Boy churns out beats like an assembly line, but none of them feel generic. They’re sharp, often straightforward, with a restless groove that drives things forward. Lots of drums, clear bass, and the occasional cut to a strange loop. He doesn’t pretend to be arty, but everything sounds top-notch. It’s just banger territory, rap for the car, the gym, or for relaxing when you want to switch off and let your body react. Spank has a flow that doesn’t try to be pretentious. He rejoices in success, but talks about it like someone who had to work hard for it. Mesmerized with 03 Greedo is a clear highlight, almost an anthem about survival and growth, from people who weren’t led by the hand. Greedo brings strong emotion, but not at the expense of toughness. The whole album holds together thanks to its straightforwardness. It’s not a concept album, but it has a clear stance.
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.
Tha God Fahim, Nicholas Craven – Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 13
Mark 4ord – Floral Pics
AJ Tracey – Don’t Die Before You’re Dead
YL & Subjxct 5 – RRR & 2oo4 Presents…Only Ones Taxin’
Red Inf & Element Bolo – Queens Bound
Rhys Langston – Pale Black Negative
King Trav & Hagakure – ARAMAIC
JaeFrmJerz & Grimm Doza – GRIMMJERZ 2
Mad1ne – I Don’t Know How Not 2 Rap
Jae Haze & DVNTBEATS – Free Bass
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Niontay in the streets of Marseille, rap as a manifesto that echoes across the entire world. Check out the video for the track 32ummers.
AJ Suede bends reality around him like Neo, autonomy is his greatest weapon. Watch the hypnotic music video.
NEMZZZ FEAT. LATTO? The music video for ART is both cinematic and rap-wise cold and bold.
YL & SUBJXCT 5 complement the release of their joint album with a unique music video for the track WHO RRR BE.
Not even in a flood of iconic cars do Curren$y, Harry Fraud, and Bruiser Wolf get lost. On the contrary, all attention is drawn to their artistry.
DOPE VIDEOS
Our list of must-see music videos doesn’t stop at the top five. We’ve selected ten more fire clips you need to check out. Show some love to all the artists below — they truly deserve the spotlight.
Manics x Dylantheinfamous – Zushi
??? X BONEWESO – “ANCIENTVUDU” FEAT. ERG ONE | THEHIDDENSPLASH
Da$H & HTN – “RULES OF ENGAGEMENT”
Larry June & Cardo Got Wings – On The Unda
Knowledge the Pirate – Golden Rules
Starz Coleman – The Kalashnikov Bible (prod by Zica)
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!
