Welcome to Rap Weekly 156: Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King. 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 I Heard It’s A Mess There Too by Aesop Rock, Hells Have Eyes 3 by Westside Gunn, The Reinvention by Ransom & DJ Premier, She Know U Lame by Big Kahuna Og & Foisey, UNTIL THE SKY BREAK by OBIJUAN & CAMOFLAUGE MONK, and Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King by Big L. Also look forward to great music videos from Ovrkast., Jesse James (Solomon), Navy Blue, Mike Shabb, and Knucks. All this and much more in Rap Weekly.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Big L – Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King
We’ve written several times this year about the Legend Has It… series, which includes seven albums by legendary artists. New records from Slick Rick, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, and Mobb Deep have already been circulating around the world for some time. The next artist in line to receive a new album within the series is the one and only Big L. The album Harlem’s Finest: Rise of the Forgotten King follows the previously released but later removed-from-streaming project Return of the Devil’s Son from 2010. The record was overseen by estate manager Mike “Heron” Herard — a longtime Shady Records A&R who also supervised Big L’s posthumous album The Big Picture from 1999.
Harlem’s Finest: Rise of the Forgotten King offers 16 tracks that bridge different phases of Big L’s career — from his pre-D.I.T.C. days to his later years. Alongside L’s original verses, the album brings new collaborations with Nas, Method Man, Joey Bada$$, and even a posthumous verse from Mac Miller on the track Forever, which, unfortunately, doesn’t impress as much as one might hope. Most of Big L’s verses have been heard before, but now they’ve been given a fresh coat of paint and are available on all streaming platforms. Whether one prefers the new versions or the gritty OG cuts floating around the internet is a matter of taste — the Legend Has It… series is, above all, a celebration of great rap artists, and this album fulfills that mission beautifully. It’s worth a listen for the legendary 7 Minute Freestyle w/ Jay-Z alone.
NEWS
August Fanon & billy woods – gowillog
We truly didn’t see this coming. Just a week before billy woods, together with E L U C I D under the banner of their duo Armand Hammer, releases the new Alchemist-produced album Mercy, he surprised everyone by dropping another project with producer August Fanon — the unexpected album gowillog. The name probably sounds familiar, as this isn’t a brand-new record but rather a reimagining of this year’s album Golliwog. Expect a blend of remixes, original tracks, and everything in between. The original album was already a horror story in itself, so releasing its reworked version on Halloween was a truly brilliant move. For the first time ever, we get to hear a billy woods album fully produced by August Fanon. Alongside the release came an experimental film — and believe us, there’s no better way to experience the album than by watching it.
Stankonia (25th Anniversary)
On Friday, Halloween, it marked 25 years since the release of the legendary album Stankonia by Outkast, which dropped on October 31, 2000. With hits like B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) and Ms. Jackson, the record cemented Big Boi and André 3000 as one of the most innovative and influential duos in hip-hop history. And even though the album isn’t among our top three favorite Outkast projects, it’s hard to find any flaws in it. To celebrate the anniversary, Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings released a special deluxe edition on three vinyls — symbolically on Halloween, coinciding with Outkast’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The limited edition features bonus tracks, remixes, and instrumentals pressed on purple marbled vinyl with an alternate cover designed by André 3000 and even includes a glowing Stankonia flag. The new version is also available for streaming on all platforms.
clipping.: Tiny Desk Concert
When you hear Tiny Desk Concert, most people picture a few instruments, a few square meters of space, and an intimate vibe. But clipping. came from an entirely different world — a laboratory where even a pot lid or a pizza box can become a beat. Literally. Producers Jonathan Snipes and William Hutson built what they called a “table of nonsense” in front of them: glass bottles, mugs, foil, plastic, chains — anything that makes a sound. They turned waste into the future. Chaos into rhythm. And when Daveed Diggs, a man who can rhyme even the sound of a falling umbrella, joined in, something truly unprecedented for Tiny Desk was born — a futuristic concert built from things most of us would simply throw away. clipping. have been pushing the boundaries of rap for over fifteen years, and this time they took it literally—deconstruction as both philosophy and sound. A box becomes a kick drum, a chain rattles against foil like a hi-hat, and mugs resonate like synths. Holding it all together is a hypnotic groove that transforms each beat into a small revelation. The stage also featured Sharon Udoh (piano, vocals), David Rothbaum (bass), and the legendary Kid Koala, who infused Night of Heaven and Work Work with his signature jazz-souled scratching. Together, they performed tracks spanning from CLPPNG (2014) to this year’s Dead Channel Sky, creating what felt like a manifesto: music can come from anything — if you have imagination, patience, and a touch of madness.
BEST ALBUMS
Aesop Rock – I Heard It’s A Mess There Too
Aesop Rock has once again returned from his own universe, this time bringing a hand-drawn map of chaos. I Heard It’s A Mess There Too sounds like the notebook of someone who walks the world with both a pocket microscope and a telescope. On one side, he observes the surrounding chaos; on the other, he tries to understand why we even need that chaos to feel alive. Even the title itself carries a bittersweet quality — it speaks of a world where everyone is trying to stay connected while everything around us falls apart. Musically, he took a step back — and by doing so, a step forward. Instead of the dense, multilayered collages filled with noise, he chose minimalism: cleaner beats, open space, and breathing basslines. There’s a peculiar calm in it—a kind of zen among dust and ruins. The drums aren’t about force but about rhythm that lets thoughts circle and drift. Lyrically, Aesop remains the same alchemist of words, bending and twisting language until it bursts into surreal imagery. Yet between those labyrinths of words, more and more tenderness shines through.
Westside Gunn – Hells Have Eyes 3
When Westside Gunn says that Heels Have Eyes 3 closes a trilogy, it feels more like the end of an era than just the conclusion of a series. It’s an album that smells of both luxury and gunpowder, of prayer and decadence. Gunn sounds as if he’s looking back at all the chaos he helped create — and instead of apologizing for it, he turns it into art. From the very first “Doot-doot, grrt,” it’s clear his world hasn’t changed: precious metals, luxury brands, jewelry heavier than a conscience, and drug metaphors delivered with the poise of a Renaissance painter. Gunn no longer needs to prove he’s Flygod — now he’s more of an observer, watching what’s been left behind. MANKIND, featuring Stove God Cooks, is a textbook example of why Griselda works so powerfully: Gunn’s rawness and Cooks’ poetic touch create a tension between the heavenly and the gritty. Sonically, the album is dark yet beautifully sharp. The drums echo off concrete; the samples sound like prayers from a broken television. Josh Bishop Intro opens the gates to Gunn’s hell — mystical and material at once. The record flows like a black-and-white film alternating between scenes of glory and solitude, blood and incense. It remains both threatening and beautiful, carrying the awareness that all power and money are only temporary escapes. Gunn knows it.
Ransom & DJ Premier – The Reinvention
When Ransom and DJ Premier — two men with golden-age hip-hop DNA running through their veins — join forces, the result can’t be mere nostalgia. The Reinvention is exactly what its title promises: a rebirth of the classic sound, but without any museum dust. It’s proof that boom bap can still sound fresh when it beats with real pain, loss, and faith. The album opens with Amazing Graces, and from the very first bars, it hits like a gunshot. Ransom raps with the calm of a man who’s survived more than he should have, yet instead of breaking, he found discipline. Every syllable lands with precision, as if carved by a knife. DJ Premier lays beneath him a beat that breathes both history and presence — scratchy, punchy drums, subtle melodic loops. Nothing excessive, no posturing — just pure craftsmanship, the kind that’s almost extinct today. On The Reinvention, two energies converge: Ransom’s introspective darkness and Premier’s timelessness. Where other producers pile on effects, Premier leaves space. The drums rest on air; the samples carry the weight of dust and vinyl; every bar feels alive, as if it’s being created in real time. It’s an album that doesn’t need grandeur — its strength lies in restraint. Thematically, Ransom confronts old demons, but with distance now, as if looking at them through a mirror, he’s no longer afraid to face.
Big Kahuna Og & Foisey – She Know U Lame
Mutant Academy undoubtedly ranks among the best contemporary rap collectives. Rappers Fly Anakin, Big Kahuna OG, and Henny L.O., along with producers Ohbliv, Ewonee, Graymatter, Sycho Sid, Unlucky Bastards, and Foisey, are standout talents — as Professor X from the X-Men comics would say, gifted youth. They’ve been active in the rap game for over a decade, but it wasn’t until last year that they released their debut group album Keep Holly Alive, which we included in our TOP 100 Best Rap Albums of 2024. Since then, the individual artists have continued to deliver outstanding projects, and following this year’s release from Fly Anakin and the collaborative album by Henny L.O. and Graymatter, it’s now Big Kahuna OG and Foisey’s turn to shine. The album She Know U Lame promises, just from its title, rap with a distinct style. Its bold, confident rap energy — central to the entire record — stems from the rapper’s very name. “Kahuna” comes from Hawaiian, meaning “expert” or “priest,” referring to someone with deep knowledge in a field — a title that Big Kahuna OG and Foisey undoubtedly embody. She Know U Lame won’t disappoint any rap fan: the album’s soundscape is diverse, yet dope in every form. Expect sampled beats led by the hypnotic track Switch The Flow Errday, as well as hard-hitting trap bangers like Hog-Tied.
OBIJUAN & CAMOFLAUGE MONK – UNTIL THE SKY BREAK
Bahamian rapper Obijuan continues to fascinate us year after year. We wrote a special article about his album GUANAHANI (w/ dylantheinfamous), and his records consistently rank among the best the genre has to offer. Last year, Obijuan released the vibrant and grandiose album FLDSZN, and in the first half of this year, he dropped the similarly opulent NEW BLOOD. For several months, he’s been teasing on his social media a collaborative album with producer August Fanon and another project with dylantheinfamous — both of which are expected to arrive soon. His latest album, however, was produced by the in-house producer of a world-renowned rap label: THIRD WORLD X GRISELDA. The album UNTIL THE SKY BREAK by Obijuan and Camoflauge Monk is a powerful showcase of top-tier rap skills. For the first time in a while, we hear Obijuan’s work fully produced by a single artist, and it shows. The record is tight, punchy, raw, and moves at a dizzying pace, yet it never feels monotonous. Thundering gritty drums perfectly complement Obijuan’s charismatic voice, giving listeners the sense that an ancient myth is forming in their headphones. Obijuan raps more impactfully than ever, with his performance on SUCKA FREE being particularly captivating. Most impressive, however, is the track RED WEDDING FT. BA PACE, where the hypnotic beat highlights the unique aura of both artists. Though Obijuan and Ba Pace rap differently, their worlds mesh seamlessly. The album is available exclusively on Bandcamp for purchase and streaming.
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.
SOO DO KOO – RATS
blackchai – UMIBŌZU
Shad – Start Anew
A Place Called Hell – godless god
Cities Aviv – The Revolving Star: Archive & Practice 002
Jamal Gasol & Flu – Its In The Eyes
Clan Supreme & Cotola – Blood Moon Prophecy
Reek Osama & BhramaBull – Street Purgatory 2
Sauce Walka – Splatt Mafia
Tha God Fahim & Nicholas Craven – Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
“It’s a NEW ERA let me demonstrate.” Ovrkast. has released a new double video.
Jesse James (Solomon) once again proves that minimalism can be powerful — music video for the rain is out now.
Navy Blue announces his upcoming album The Sword & The Soaring (out November 11) with a stunning visual for Orchards.
The video for TANK is an explosive reminder that you need to hear Mike Shabb’s groundbreaking new album.
Knucks released a cinematic video for his track MASQUERADE.
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.
Che Noir , 7xvethegenius – Sum Of Two Evils (Prod. by Conductor Williams)
Phro. & Drill Scott Heron – Rondo of hearts
EM nadjinal & Chewbeats – eye of the storm
The 6th Letter – “Ride Around Steamin’”
pulp Cruz & Willyynova – XTRA(luh)
Rio Da Yung Og & RMC Mike – Back Again / Liquor Store
Jay Worthy & Terrace Martin – Runnin Outta Time
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!
