Welcome to Rap Weekly 145: God Does Like Ugly. 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 God Does Like Ugly by JID, TROIKA by Hidden Renaissance, New Villain, T H R O N E a JAX, Wayward Son by Maze Overlay, Premiere Mileage by Passport Rav & RoadsArt, iL Leone by Chase Fetti, and The Last Wun by Gunna. Also look forward to great music videos from insyt., Mike Shabb x Trapmat Savior, Rio Da Yung Og, Evidence, or Key Glock. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
JID – God Does Like Ugly
“The beginning of this new journey after finishing The Forever Story was a very strange, productive, yet exhausting process, but I live by the saying, ‘You can only control what you can control.’ So this is the first step into a new world that I control. And it’s ugly as hell.” With these words, world-renowned rapper JID announced a new album, the creation of which was a challenging process for him. The period after his last album was creatively demanding, and as he himself reveals on the new track For Keeps, more than once in his career he toyed with the idea of quitting. Thanks to the support of his fans, he didn’t turn that thought into reality and instead created his own world. JID has found peace and freedom in the chaos that mirrors today’s world: God Does Like Ugly.
We were expecting almost anything, but that Westside Gunn would open the first seconds of the album — definitely not. Still, it’s an excellent choice, as WSG addresses the listener with his distinctive, biting voice like the devil himself, helping to build the dark world that surrounds the entire record. The omnipresent chaos is deeply embedded into the album itself, and while its middle section noticeably loses strength, the first third is truly outstanding. Clipse proves that this year in rap belongs to them, and JID manages to connect dark ideas with punchy beats and adrenaline-charged flows that can impress even mainstream listeners. The album also mirrors the mood of society and the unpredictable, ever-changing times we live in remarkably well.
NEWS
Highest 2 Lowest
At the start of this year, we brought the news that famous rapper A$AP Rocky would star in one of the lead roles in a new film by legendary director Spike Lee. Highest 2 Lowest is a remake of the 1963 cult classic High and Low, in which Rocky will appear alongside Denzel Washington, Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, and Ice Spice. The synopsis? “A giant of the music industry (Denzel Washington) is stunned by a ransom request. As he fights to save his family and legacy, he is plagued by a moral dilemma where lives are at stake.” The film has already premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received positive critical reception. Why write about it now? A new trailer has just been released online, and next week the official soundtrack will also drop, featuring many artists — among them A$AP Rocky, who composed two new songs for the film. The movie will hit U.S. theaters on August 15, and it will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting September 5. This is not the only film the famous rapper will appear in this year — just last week the first trailer was released for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, directed by Mary Bronstein, in which Rocky plays a motel manager. You can watch the trailer here.
Days Like This
“I used to dream ’bout them days like this” is a phrase that probably runs through the mind of every The Alchemist fan. The legendary producer has released the album Alfredo II (with Freddie Gibbs) this year, as well as the grand Life Is Beautiful (with Larry June, 2 Chainz). And there’s still more to come in 2025 — a Mobb Deep album, a record with Erykah Badu, and a project with Yasiin Bey. But let’s go back to Life Is Beautiful, which, although released on February 7, we can all agree is essentially a summer album. The trio clearly feels the same, as last week they dropped a deluxe version with two new tracks. We’d direct you to a vinyl shop, but they’re selling out fast, so it’s possible they’re already gone. Don’t expect any filler — both new singles are phenomenal. On the track Spy Hunter, The Alchemist once again stepped to the mic, allowing the trio to showcase their full potential.
MIKE: Tiny Desk Concert
MIKE stopped by Tiny Desk and brought exactly what his fans love: honesty, gratitude, and a piece of his heart. After a marathon of 71 shows on the Artists of the Century tour, you might expect him to arrive exhausted. Instead, he showed up with a smile and a light, airy groove. “We are the band of the century,” MIKE says with a grin behind the desk before diving into a set that spans the full eight years of his discography. It has everything — from nostalgic memories of his mother in Evil Eye, to family pride in the newly arranged parkS. His music at Tiny Desk feels like a hug — fragile, yet strong. The audience dances, raps, and experiences every bar with him, and MIKE gives it back in equal measure. This time, Tiny Desk is not just a concert, but a small ritual of gratitude.
BEST ALBUMS
Hidden Renaissance, New Villain, T H R O N E & JAX – TROIKA
Some albums speak to you; others scream at you. TROIKA by Hidden Renaissance whispers — but whispers in a way that sends chills down your spine. New Villain, T H R O N E, and JAX aren’t chasing playlist hits; they’re mapping the dark corners of the city, the mind, and the conscience. It’s a leap from wild, gritty tracks to moments where everything falls silent and only the weight of words remains. The energy of BABA YAGA and Culture Vultures hits like a punch to the chest — powerful, uncompromising, pushing you forward. And then comes that moment when everything stops, the beat dissolves, and in its place emerges a raw truth that won’t let you breathe. It’s a silence full of unspoken battles and decisions that weigh more than words. This moment forces you to face yourself, even when you’d rather close your eyes. Unfortunately, no music video has been released for the album, so we’re sharing the full record instead.
Maze Overlay & Fumes The Threat – Wayward Son
Wayward Son by Maze Overlay is an album you feel not only with your ears but with your heart. This record is like unwrapping a long-forgotten comic book, where stories of life, struggles, and victories are drawn through powerful beats and sincere verses. Maze Overlay invites you on a journey full of loss, hope, and determination — the journey of his Wayward Son. The whole project carries the sense that nothing in life comes easily. In the lyrics, you can hear a weary fighter who never loses faith or spark. Tracks like Man Or Machine and Stranger Things are both introspective and darkly energetic, as if Maze fused his deepest thoughts with music that surrounds you and doesn’t let go. A special place on the album belongs to A Dedication, an open and deeply personal confession in which Maze Overlay speaks about his losses, gratitude, and enduring resolve to keep going, even when the road hurts. In his words, you feel a tribute not only to the legends who influenced him but also to ordinary people who fight every single day. It’s a meditation on how to survive, how not to lose yourself, and how to stay true to your mission even when the world leaves you in the fog. Production by Fumes The Threat underscores the overall atmosphere — the sound is raw yet deliberate, giving each song just the right emotional charge.
Passport Rav & RoadsArt – Premiere Mileage
Premiere Mileage is like a calm ride down a nighttime highway—an album that doesn’t let you just speed past but invites you to slow down, breathe, and immerse yourself in the stories of two seasoned travelers. Passport Rav and RoadsArt joined forces to create a record that breathes authenticity, maturity, and genuine respect for the craft. From the opening track North American Wilderness, infused with soul and wide-open spaces, through the laid-back elegance of Mezcal & Ginger Beer, to the deeply emotional When It’s Over, where Rav opens his soul and speaks with both love and pain about loss, perseverance, and the desire to be better — it’s a confession that touches on what we all know. Departing friendships, the search for self, and the feeling that time is never guaranteed. The sound of RoadsArt is filled with precise details that support Rav’s lyrics like a subtle backdrop to real life. Guests Lukah and David Jame$ add fresh tones without breaking the delicate balance of the album.
Chase Fetti – iL Leone
When it comes to strict, gritty underground rap, Chase Fetti is one of the artists you can always rely on. So if you’re a fan of beats that make your blood run cold and bars sharper than bullets, the rapper’s new album iL Leone is exactly for you. And if Fetti is the lion, then the whole pride showed up on the record — with four guest artists each adding a unique, unexpected layer to the album. Every beat is hypnotic, the record moves quickly, and you’ll stay on high alert the whole time: like a lion waiting for its prey. Unfortunately, no music video was released for the album, so we’re sharing the video for the track Prayer Hour instead.
Gunna – The Last Wun
Gunna is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive trap artists of the past decade. His ability to craft melancholic celebratory songs — blending boasts of success, tales from the underworld, and dark emotions — has earned him worldwide acclaim. Last week, the artist released another record: The Last Wun. To get the most out of listening to this album, we have to approach it as a modern, chaotic work, deconstructing rap into its individual elements and weaving them back together into a distorted whole. Existential loneliness despite enormous personal success: The Last Wun is a maximalist avant-garde album that views Gunna from many angles at once. It’s no coincidence that the album cover, created by Devon DeJardin, is a cubist sculpture. Gunna raps in a fragmented, melodic way, evoking the experience of being caught in the grip of the modern world as something disjointed and complex.
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.
Jenevieve – Crysalis
WÜLF – WULFYSEASONSINGLESVOL.1
ShrapKnel & Mike Ladd – Saisir Le Feu
Nowaah The Flood & The Mali Empire – STEADY RANKIN
Young Nudy – Paradise
Stack Skrilla & Royalz – Stack Vs Skrilla
DJ Premier & Roc Marciano – The Coldest Profession
Mozzy – INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS 2
Illcue – Now U Know
Leo Laru$$o – 3days In Corpus
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Living life like an endless dance: the music video for All Night! by insyt.t will hypnotize you.
Mike Shabb and Trapmat Savior? A mythical (rap) treasure, like One Piece. Check out the new music video.
No need to write anything creative here: Rio Da Yung Og has released the banger Ask Jay, and you should hear it.
An unorthodox beat by QThree, a music video by Stephen Vanasco, and Evidence in peak form? Dutch Angle is a rap gem.
Key Glock is the Blue Devil, and the new music video brings this concept brilliantly to life.
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.
Rigs – The Secret Recipe Freestyle
Ntwali & Saint Kay – AUGUST 9TH (feat. S Burn)
ESTEE NACK X VDON – COLDER FEAT. TY DA DALE
Hit-Boy & Spank Nitti James – Eat Couch
OT The Real, 38 Spesh & Dave East – GREASE
BA PACE / SNIPER LEW “PEPITOS”
Benny the Butcher, Mike WiLL Made-It – Told You S
YL – IRRATIONAL (PROD. JONBOYICE & LARON)
Gabe ‘Nandez & Preservation “Shadowstep”
Demrick – Tina Turner ft. K.A.A.N.
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!
