As is often the case, the discourse surrounding Hip Hop and R&B this week revolves around the artist formerly known as Kanye West and his wild antics on social media.
While unveiling the latest collection of his Yeezy fashion line in Paris, Ye unveiled an unsavory T-shirt with the phrase “White Lives Matter” emblazoned across the back. Of course, the DONDA rapper’s intentions were not clear, but likely it’s another ploy to draw attention to himself and his Yeezy empire.
New Music Friday - New Singles From A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie & Roddy Ricch, Nicki Minaj + More
Despite the drama which has seeped across nearly every timeline, this week brought some positive blessings in the form of new albums.
On this week’s edition of HipHopDX’s New Music Friday coverage, you’ll find releases from Quavo and Takeoff with Only Built For Infinity Links, NBA YoungBoy‘s surprise project 3800 Degrees and the first half of G Herbo’s Survivor’s Remorse, among others.
Check out the full list of new rap albums released on Friday (October 7) below:
Quavo & Takeoff — Only Built For Infinity Links
It’s a bold strategy to flip the name of a record as iconic as Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, Raekwon’s legendary 1995 album, but Quavo and Takeoff are hoping the bet will pay off.
There have been no confirmations, but all signs point to uneasiness and tensions in the Migos camp. The group hasn’t released music together since 2021’s Culture III as Offset continues to explore his solo career and Quavo and Takeoff release music collaboratively.
The latest from the two-thirds of the Migos is Only Built For Infinity Links, which features Summer Walker, Young Thug, NBA YoungBoy and more.
NBA YoungBoy — 3800 Degrees
At one point in time YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Kodak Black were on amicable terms. But over the years the two embattled rappers fell out of each others’ grace and now only spite remains.
As Kodak teased the release of Kutthroat Bill: Vol 1. this week, YoungBoy went forward with his album, 3800 Degrees. Like Kodak, YoungBoy is tremendously prolific: the release of 3800 Degrees marks his fifth album of the year so far, and judging by his output, it won’t be his last.
G Herbo — Survivor’s Remorse: A Side
The music of rapper G Herbo is often rooted in the experiences of his upbringing in the Chicago streets and the rags-to-riches arc he has experienced. But on his latest album, Herbo ponders the guilt his success has brought.
One of the pioneers of Drill, Herbo’s most recent offering Survivor’s Remorse is split into two halves; the first, A Side, has just been released and Side B is slated to arrive this coming Monday. A Side, or Survivor’s Side, includes twelve tracks with verses from Future, Gunna, Offset, Benny The Butcher and more.
Jean Dawson – Chaos Now*
Trying to put California-based artist Jean Dawson into a neat box will prove to be a challenging task. Sometimes his work resembles the nostalgic pop-punk of artists like Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy, other times it’s closer to R&B or even indie rock. Yet most of the time it sounds singularly unique.
There’s a smattering of sounds present on his latest album Chaos Now*, which boasts guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt and Isaiah Rashad. But despite the references, it is obvious only Dawson could have made this piece, a soaring compliment in an industry packed with biters.
DDG — It’s Not Me It’s You (Deluxe)
Joyce Wrice — Motive
There are exceptions, of course, but in today’s industry, R&B generally falls into two categories: the powerhouse voices of traditionalists such as Jazmine Sullivan and Ciara and the vibe curators helmed by artists such as Kehlani and Blxst. They are each a thrilling side of the same coin, but Joyce Wrice is one of the exceptions: an artist that sits somewhere between the two.
The San Diego-born artist’s latest capsule is Motive, a five-song EP which comes over a year after her breakout album Overgrown was released. The production, handled mostly by Kaytranada, capitalizes on the ethereal nature of Wrice’s voice making for a magical listen.
Toosii — Boys Don’t Cry (EP)
Open Mike Eagle — Component System with the Auto Reverse
Open Mike Eagle is a truly refreshing gem in the rough of the contemporary musical landscape. The Chicago-born, Los Angeles-based rapper’s esoteric music has been heard for over a decade. From the 2010s with projects such as Dark Comedy and Unapologetic: Art Rap through recent years and the incredible Brick Body Kids Still Daydream and Anime, Trauma and Divorce, Mike has been one of rap’s dearest treasures.
His legacy continues to grow with Component System with the Auto Reverse, a bitingly clever project filled with nostalgia, obscure references and Mike’s inimitable humor.
Cormega — The Realness II
The New York rap legend returns with his first album in eight years and the sequel to his 2001 debut, The Realness II, boasting collaborations with Nas, Lloyd Banks, Havoc and The Alchemist.
Crimeapple & DJ Muggs — Sin Cortar
GRIP – 5 & A F*** You
GRIP first entered Hip Hop’s collective universe with 2017’s Porch, which hinted at the Atlanta rapper’s skills, but he was still undeveloped. He continued to grow into his sound with Snubnose from 2019 which featured artists such as Mick Jenkins and Armani White, before he fully realized his sound on his Shady Records debut I Died For This!?.
There are also several highlights in this week’s New Music Friday singles coverage, including fresh offerings from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Roddy Ricch, Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Durk and many more.
Stay up-to-date with the latest Hip Hop and R&B releases here and peep HipHopDX’s 2022 Rising Stars update, highlighting the achievements of Doechii, Nardo Wick, Coi Leray and others.
DJ Muggs x Crimeapple – Sin Cortar.
Flee Lord – Ladies and Gentlemen.
Cormega – The Realness 2.
No mention of Cormega’s new album??? Thought this was a Hip-Hop site???
cormega is a legend
Yep, overuses term but he is kinda slept on. In my opinion he has one of the most solid catalogs in hip hop
I am still catching up to last week releases but I am definitely going to check out the new Cormega record. Also seen some new albums by A.G., Reckonize Real, El Gant and Open Mike Eagle, well that one is on the list but that is what I am looking for. We need a slow week 🙂
Props to you as always, great selection. The new Reckonize Real project is also nice.
By the way, I meant to ask you how often do you listen an album and do you have any kinda plan or you just go by feeling?
I mean like I still haven’t checked a lot of the 2021 or 2020 projects, I am kinda behind the schedule hahaha. Sometimes Im stressin about what to listen to next. Not to speak about the new always new discoveries of missed 90s stuff and so on.
How do you handle all of the releases and how do you decide about what albums deserve more chances?
Sorry to bug you..Iam just interested.
I mostly listen on a spotify nowadays. Since I am old, and I know what I like I got the majority of past records covered. Not „every” record of course because there is always something like last week or so I started listening to JVC Force (just an example) but I do not think there is much left I do not know (except pre1988). In 2000+ era there is so much records releasing it is hard to keep up. I like to stick to styles I like, I love east coast, west coast, boom bap, neo soul, some european stuff etc. If the artist new to me I’d love to see the artist connected to someone I knew or had a feature somewhere, then I will give it a go. Hard to tell for how much I will listen to an album. The rule is it has to be at least twice to make an opinion. I had Joey Bada$$ and the Earthgang albums in my speakers the whole summer cause it was perfect music to ride to. Maybe I should have been listening to Black Thought or Lupe Fiasco more but it is what it is. I love them all. This week I was listening to on repeat (seriously all the time): Cam’ron, Freddie Gibbs, Rome Streetz and Billy Woods (all great btw) the rest I mentioned in here a week ago did not get the playtime they deserved. Simply put what gets me going – is going to get a lot of plays. But I have a playlist where I leave one song of every album I liked. It helps a lot with the tracking of some stuff I did not enjoy fully. I do not know if I answered to everything but thanks for asking! Finally tldr: what matters the most is that music should make tou happy not stessed out so enjoy what you love. Cheers!
Wow, thanks a lot for putting so much time in this. I know that time is precious, so lots of thanks for answering this.
I don’t wanna roll out my whole life story but I gotta give you some background to my question. Iam also an old head, I listen to hip hop since 94/95 and yeah.,.it’s still what I love most. To make it short..I had a lot of stress between 2010 and let’s say 2018 and wasn’t able to listen to a lot of new stuff and mostly sticked to my old records cause I would instantly get a good feeling from it. Can you imagine that? Almost 8 years without or barely any new stuff, that’s like an enternity in these fast moving times. So yeah maybe you can imagine now why Iam stressin sometimes. I mean I still love it and probably always will, but at times it is a bit hard to catch up.
Thanks again for your insight and your time. Really appreciate it.
Sorry this page always confuses me..I posted the answer under my other post. Dunno whats up with that hahhaha
Bro, that AG joint was good, very surprise when that pop up this morning!
Cormega shit is fire
I’ll also give G-Herbo a listen, kinda liked his last project.
Mr. Criminal – Criminal Mentality 3, Ch. 1
+ Ch. 2 and 3 …
cormegas shit is dope af
Grip project slaps o.d. quite a suprise
UFO FEV x FINN Blood On The Bills
LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON Dis Tew Much
JAY NiCE x MACHACHA Heightened Senses
MICKEY DIAMOND x MARK DARK Noir EP