Welcome to Rap Weekly 149: Dirty Harry 2. 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 The Years We Have by Theravada, SLEEPWALKERS 444 by BA PACE, A Corpse On A Stage by MAR X The 17th Cipher, Word On The Street Is God Wants You Dead. by Sayzee & Lupara, Anger Management by K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa, and Dirty Harry 2 by El Cousteau. Also look forward to great music videos from DJ Premier, Roc Marciano, Brady Watt, Rapsody, Madlib, Black Josh, Sniff, FOHDH Matthew, Wino Willy, Verb T, Vic Grimes. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
El Cousteau – Dirty Harry 2
When you play Dirty Harry 2, you feel as if someone pulls you into a city that smells of gasoline, sweat, and perfume all at once. El Cousteau doesn’t hold back — the beats are heavy, and the lyrics at times read like a confession and at others like a movie scene. Dirty Harry 2 is an album riding the edge between euphoria and paranoia, and that’s exactly where its power lies. Supa Cousteau with A$AP Rocky is the precise moment when the world of big names collides with a personal vision. Rocky paints his vivid braggadocio flex rap in words, while Cousteau brings perspective, reminding you that behind all the glitter lies a reality that hurts. The result is a contrast that forces you to hear both sides at once — the celebration and the warning.
The album offers much more than just star-studded features. Tracks like Bergamot or 08.04.2024 feel almost like diary entries — moments where Cousteau lets you see his world without the masks. Then comes something like Pico with Earl Sweatshirt, and the project shifts into a melancholy that lingers in your head long after it ends. Dirty Harry 2 is an album that leaves you a little drained, yet somehow charged at the same time. It doesn’t go easy on you—instead, it forces you to face the chaos of today’s world. This isn’t just music to listen to; it’s an experience that reminds you rap can be more than beats and rhymes — it can be therapy, catharsis, or simply the raw soundtrack to the night.
NEWS
Beware Beware Beware (More Lullabies)
Few hip-hop instrumental projects in the past decade have resonated with fans as strongly as Lullabies for Broken Brain by Quelle Chris. The multitalented artist has this year been busy producing the phenomenal album (The) Forever Dream by Fly Anakin and working tirelessly on his next solo rap record. But just last week, he shocked the entire scene by suddenly announcing a continuation of the already mentioned instrumental album. Fear that is eerily comforting. New lullabies that reflect today’s fragmented reality. And what does the official synopsis reveal about the record? „Beware Beware Beware (More Lullabies) drifts through shadows and midnight weight, yet finds ways to pierce the dark with faint glimmers of light — small, fleeting sparks of something like hope, even when that hope feels impossibly out of reach.“ The album is available exclusively on cassette or in digital format at cavwins.com.
Against the World
The legendary Queensbridge duo Mobb Deep has announced their new album, Infinite, set to drop on October 10. The record will feature 15 tracks, all produced by Havoc and The Alchemist — a combination that promises a return to the raw, hard-hitting roots. The lead single is Against The World, where both members come through in full force. Prodigy, whose voice today resonates more from memory than from the studio, appears on the track like a ghost, reminding us why Mobb Deep became immortal. His words carry weight — in every bar you can feel the hunger for power and the awareness that survival has always meant going against everyone. Havoc follows up with direct, unfiltered verses, rapping about loyalty, the street code, and the ability to stand tall even when the world is against you. Against The World feels almost like a letter from the past that has landed in the present. Nostalgia mixes here with an energy that still burns strong. Whether Infinite will be a pure musical comeback or more of a memorial, one thing is clear: Mobb Deep remains a symbol of resilience. Their story still speaks to those who know the world gives you nothing for free.
Once Upon a Time
Three weeks ago, we wrote about the announcement of rapper Jay Worthy’s debut solo album. Yes, Jay is essentially a veteran by now, but on every previous project, he collaborated with a single producer or another rapper. He’s spent his entire career waiting for this moment, which is arriving in just a few weeks in the form of a massive double album. The album Once Upon a Time will be split into two discs: the first drops on September 26, the second follows on October 12, and the release will be accompanied by a documentary of the same name. Why are we back with another update just three weeks later? Jay Worthy has revealed the cover and tracklist, and there’s a lot to be excited about. We’re looking at a colossal 30 tracks, 12 unique producers, and 28 guest rappers. Yes, you read that right. Contributors include DJ Quik, The Alchemist, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa, E-40, Vince Staples, 03 Greedo, Jim Jones, Eyedress, Conway the Machine, Boldy James, Larry June, Ty Dolla $ign, Curren$y, Roc Marciano, WESTSIDE BOOGIE, Ice-T, and many more. This double album is set to be a defining rap moment of 2025.
QUICK NEWS
- The album COLDEST COMBO EVER by Estee Nack, al.divino & Grubby Pawz is now out on all streaming platforms.
- Movement, sweat, and dance — exactly as Tyler, The Creator intended. Watch the video from DTTG RELEASE PARTY.
- Pure art of rap: that’s the video of Obijuan’s live performance of 1KRILL [ACAPELLA] from his Tokyo show.
- The Alchemist released a video recap of CAMP FLOG GNAW 2024.
- It’s official: The Alchemist and Armand Hammer have announced another joint album. It will be titled Mercy and is set to release on November 7.
BEST ALBUMS
Theravada – The Years We Have
Theravada is one of our favorite artists for many reasons. This charismatic rapper and producer has a distinct signature, and his works fill space in a truly unique way. His last album as a rapper, Waste Management (w/ zoomo), came out in 2023, and since then he has gifted us several instrumental projects. Already in March, he hinted that the 2000 ENT. season was approaching and that he and his colleague Rob Chambers would soon release new records. And now, the wait is over. In recent months, Theravada has been involved in several projects — producing a CD-only track for Golliwog by billy woods, guesting on Unlearning Vol. 2 by Evidence, and even producing half of Live Laugh Love by Earl Sweatshirt. His fascinating artistic journey this year culminated last week with the release of the rap album The Years We Have, which he produced entirely himself except for the eighth track. A spiral of intriguing observations, the present seen through dreamlike thinking: Theravada’s album The Years We Have uncovers the mysterious within the ordinary.
Many albums evoke strong emotions or a palette of themes that allow us to read and connect with the artists themselves — but with The Years We Have, it’s much more complex. The album exists outside of time and has a completely specific sound — Theravada’s beats sound like memories of beats we’ve dreamt about. The way he samples and produces creates an atmosphere that is nearly impossible to describe. This elusive quality, which makes the album endlessly replayable, is mirrored in his lyrics. Theravada raps in a cryptic, personal style; everyday observations and pop culture references feel like ancient mythology. He is also unique in the fusion of cadence and gravity that radiates from his voice, paired with genuinely funny bars. Take, for example: “I pull up with 100 drunk soccer fans — throwing molotovs at copper vans.” What other rapper would mention The Angry Beavers over a beat reminiscent of Learning Curve? He finds the mysterious in the mundane, and every word reflects his fascination with the world around him. The excellent cover, based on a photograph of overturned furniture, exemplifies this. The album also carries a specific melancholy: “This whole world is going out sad very fast.” — SuckaMCs. As noted, Theravada is a keen observer who understands the world deeply, yet he shapes this skepticism into a dance on the edge of apocalypse — absurd, yet aware that humanity inevitably goes through such phases. His observations become words that retain their power regardless of when they reach the listener. The combination of charisma, dreamlike absurdity, rap punchlines, humor, and melancholy — present not only in the lyrics but also in the music — makes The Years We Have an unforgettable experience.
BA PACE – SLEEPWALKERS 444
BA PACE creates as if he has built his own universe around him, and with the new album SLEEPWALKERS 444, he invites you on a nocturnal ride through it. Eight short but intense tracks function like episodes of a single dreamlike film — at times hypnotic, at times vibrating with energy, yet always giving the sense of being somewhere between wakefulness and sleep. The production by The Builder is key: minimalist, yet full of textures that sound almost like colorful reflections of light in the darkness of Tokyo. Each beat feels more like an environment than just a backing track. TIME OF DAY carries a light, playful bounce, while HER FACE and GRASA draw you into slower, introspective spaces. BA PACE opens up more than just technique — you feel in his voice and lyrics the weight of travel, the pace of life, and the need to exhale and reflect on what it all means.
MAR X The 17th Cipher – A Corpse On A Stage
The very title A Corpse On A Stage already hints that this won’t be an easy listen. MAR delivers an album that is more than a rap project — it is a eulogy, a form of therapy, and a diary of pain all at once. Each track feels like a heavy stone you must lift to understand what it means to live with trauma, loss, and memories that will never let you be. Tracks like Dearly Departed show that MAR can take the theme of death and turn it into something profoundly human. His lyrics are not just about pain but also about guilt, memories, and the questions we ask ourselves when we lose someone close. The album’s production is diverse — alternating between dark, dense beats (Flip Jackson, INTLMC, Wavy Da Ghawd) and passages that feel almost dreamlike, yet never lose their weight. Each producer seems to build a stage for MAR’s monologue, which swings from anger to prayer. Guests like RIM, IAMGAWD, and Cheena Black serve as additional voices in this endless dialogue with death and life, without ever breaking the project’s intimacy. This is an album that makes you reflect, return to your own pains, and also search for reconciliation. Amid the darkness, there is always a glimmer of hope that the souls MAR raps about will truly find peace — and that we, who remain, will find the strength to move forward.
Sayzee & Lupara – Word On The Street Is God Wants You Dead.
Word On The Street Is God Wants You Dead. isn’t just an album — it’s a musical manifesto whose omnipresent darkness and dizzying pace will ground you. Canadian rapper Sayzee teamed up with the super-producer collective Lupara (Sb11, MIGHTYHEALTHY, Fludust, Hobgoblin, Bohemia Lynch, Timepiece, & Machacha) to create a record that stands as a prime example of what contemporary underground rap sounds like. The album moves at an unstoppable tempo — just when you think the opening can’t get any more adrenaline-charged, halfway through Bobby Digital (produced by MIGHTYHEALTHY), a beat switch kicks in and the record surges to 120%. Brilliant beat switches continue throughout, making the phasing and pace truly dizzying. Amid the dangerous chaos, there are plenty of introspective bars reflecting cinematic stories of life on the edge of the law, letting pain and trauma surface. Gucci In The Kitchen (produced by Fludust) delivers a chilling awakening that reshapes the rest of the album, filling it with sorrow and determination. Everything culminates in Desert Storm Camo (produced by Bohemia Lynch), marking the end of a dark chapter and the dawn of better days.
K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa – Anger Management
K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa close out their trilogy with Anger Management, an album that stands out for its rap intensity and explosive beats. Both artists have been releasing project after project in recent years, yet some of the most remarkable entries in their discography remain last year’s collaborations. Albums Delusions Of Grandeur and In Due Time delivered what many fans of the golden era of boom-bap had been missing — fast and precise rhymes, sharp cadences, and beats with a solid groove. K.A.A.N. & DJ Hoppa masterfully spice these ingredients with a modern sound. If you enjoyed their previous two albums, Anger Management will not disappoint. As the title suggests, K.A.A.N. delves deep into his mind and soul, exploring and confronting himself over the beats produced for him by DJ Hoppa.
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.
Novelist – AUDACITY
Mark Battles – Highs And Lows
Sphere47 – CLASS ACT
Rapsody & Madlib – MadRaps
Manast LL’ & V Don – Built Like That
Villa Velli – Sinful Summer
Kingdom Kome, Ruen, G Fam Black – Dirty Linens 2
Ice Cube – Man Up
100grandroyce & 183rd – Memoirs Of A Quiet Don
Jermaine Dupri – Magic City
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
DJ Premier, Roc Marciano, and Brady Watt, with the visual for the track Glory Hole, deliver a unique concept — blending a live performance with a cinematic-style video.
Rapsody & Madlib brought their MadRaps project to life with a stunning video for the track Daddy’s Girl.
Rap is rarely more hypnotic and darker than when created by Black Josh, Lee Scott, or Sniff. And what happens when they join forces?
A track so raw it truly gives you goosebumps. FOHDH Matthew & Wino Willy dropped a video for Matthew Receives Painting from Takashi Murakami.
Rap as therapy: Verb T, over a beat by Vic Grimes, moved his emotions with the precision of a virtuoso.
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.
BLUEHILLBILL– DIE ON THE HILL (Prod. GRUBBY PAWZ)
Pro Dillinger & Futurewave – CHURCH ST.
Hit-Boy, Spank Nitti James, BabyTron & AZ Chike – Start Dissin’
Vic Spencer – Expensive Ladders (SNIPPET) Produced by Lil Kydd
Little Simz – Don’t Leave Too Soon – Theme from Steve
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!
