This week’s New Music Friday is for you if you like your Hip Hop hard. The legend that is Ice Cube has served up his most alive project in quite some time as the N.W.A co-founder sounds completely revitalized on his 11th album Man Down.
Boldy James and Harry Fraud have also finally released their much-anticipated collaborative album The Bricktionary, and it more than delivers on the hype.
Finesse2Tymes is back with another post-prison release in the form of Art of War, while eclectic Detroit MC Skilla Baby drops his latest Crack Music mixtape.
Nicki Minaj is also keeping her rabid fanbase fed with a 10th anniversary celebration of The Pinkprint that features a number of bonus tracks, including a posthumous Juice WRLD feature.
There are also fresh new releases from the likes of Blxst, Eric Bellinger, Sheff G and Wizkid.
Check out the best of New Music Friday below and don’t miss this week’s new singles from Playboi Carti, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, André 3000, Lupe Fiasco, French Montana and more.
Ice Cube — Man Down
Features: Snoop Dogg, E-40, Too $hort, Killer Mike, Busta Rhymes, Kurupt, B-Real, Xzibit, J-Dee (from Da Lench Mob), Mike Epps, October London, K-Major, IshaDon
Production: Nottz, Zaytoven, David Banner, The Almighty E-A-SKI, TMix
Label: Lench Mob Records / Hitmaker Distro
The rap legend is back with his first album in six years and it is his best one in quite a while longer. Surprisingly commercial in sensibility, Man Down features an array of aggressive bops and a number of standout guest features.
Nicki Minaj — The Pinkprint (10th Anniversary Edition)
Features: Juice WRLD, Swae Lee, Davido, David Guetta, Parker Ighile
Production: TM88, Dez Wright, David Guetta, FrancisGotHeat, Giorgio Tuinfort
Label: Republic Records
Firing up an anniversary release of her third album, Nicki offers added proof of the tightrope she walks between Hip Hop, pop and dance, with the Davido collaboration a standout from these new tracks.
Boldy James & Harry Fraud — The Bricktionary
Features: Benny The Butcher, Babyface Ray, Tee Grizzley
Production: Harry Fraud
Label: Boldy James / SRFSCHL
A rapper’s rapper if there ever was one. Boldy James continues to be one of the most underappreciated MCs in the business and he’s never flowed better than on his tightly-weaved collaborative project with Harry Fraud.
Finesse2Tymes — Art of War
Features: Rick Ross, GloRilla, Kodak Black, NLE Choppa, DaBaby, Hunxho, Luh Tyler, Lil Tjay, Rob49,
Production: Drumma Boy, Don Cannon, Bizness Boi, DJ XO, Bankroll Got It
Label: Mob Ties / Bread Gang / Atlantic Records
When not involved in social media drama, Finesse2Tymes proves there is a real rapper behind the antics. Much of Art of War was written while he was behind bars and while excessively long, the album packs a punch.
Skilla Baby — Crack Music 3
Features: Hunxho, 4Batz, Tee Grizzley, Peezy, Toosii
Production: MIA JayC, S-Dot, Bizness Boi, Beats By Taz, Fooliomadeit
Label: Geffen Records
Blxst — I’ll Always Come Find You (Deluxe)
Features: DeJ Loaf, K Camp, Bino Rideaux,
Production: Hollywood Cole, Blxst, Tommy Parker, Alex Oso, Elijah Fox
Label: Red Bull Records / Evgle
Ice-T & Body Count — Merciless
Features: Corpsegrinder, Joe Bad, Howard Jones, David Gilmour, Max Cavalera
Production: Ice-T, Will Putney, Vincent Price
Label: Century Media Records
Sheff G — Proud of Myself
Features: Polo G, Lil Tecca, Sleepy Hallow, YNW BSlime
Production: Great John, Jiggi, Jmiller
Label: Winners Circle / RCA Records
Eric Bellinger — It’ll All Make Sense Later
Features: Burna Boy, Oxlade, Reekado Banks, Gyakie, Konshens, taves, VScript, Tempoe
Production: PHANTOM, BakerGotTheKeys, Kadjaly Conteh, Andrews Peters, Kesler Kuffman
Label: All Wins / FTS Global Management
Wizkid — Morayo
Features: Brent Faiyaz, Jazmine Sullivan, Asake, Tiakola, Anaïs Cardot
Production: P2J, Brent Faiyaz, Dpat, P. Prime, Sammy Soso
Label: RCA Records / Starboy Entertainment
Duke Deuce & Made Men Mafia — Tribe
Features: OJ Da Juiceman, Turnt LilThadd, Dugga G,
Production: Duke Deuce, ProdJay1
Label: Hitmaker Music Group / Made Men Movement
Bfb Da Packman — 4th Quarter Shit Talking
Features: Sada Baby, YN Jay, Baby Money, Allstar JR, Rmc Mike
Production: Credits unavailable
Label: The Lunch Crew Company / SYNRGY RECORDS
Kenny Mason — Angel Eyes
Features: N/A
Production: Coupe, Kenny Mason, Dez Wright, Poison Thorn, Dilip
Label: RCA Records
YTB Fatt — The Richest Foxx
Features: Quavo
Production: Klutch Frenchie, Tony2Loud
Label: Loaf Boyz Ventures / 10K Projects
JELEEL! — Xistence.
Features: Skillibeng, BEAM, Bloody Civilian
Production: Oren Yoel, JELEEL!, Dimitri “Dimi” Andic, Skuna, Asoteric
Label: REAL RAW!
Babyfxce E — Real Striker Music
Features: Baby Money
Production: JayTheProducer, Nito Beats, 2Side, Omar Grand, Jxlan
Label: Atlantic Records
Marlon Craft — The Long Game: A Collection of Songs By Marlon Craft
Features: Method Man
Production: Credits unavailable
Label: HOMECOURT
Blockhead — Mortality Is Lit!
Features: N/A
Production: Blockhead
Label: Future Archive Recordings
Don’t sleep on Marlon Craft
ESTEE NACK x GIALLO POINT Papitas 2
BLOO x GOOD FOOD Cordon Bloo
JOEY MAJORS VIP Life
MAZE OVERLAY Enzo
JUGA-NAUT x MR. BROWN Relative To Craft
TESLA’S GHOST Grand Piano Gun Safes
peace out
I do not know when I will listen to all of this records but I know that I will. Here are some additions: Damu the Fudgemunk Peace of Action, Jehst Mug Shots Vol.1, Nilufer Yanya My Method Actor Remixes (not rap but she dope). Lastly I got one but last week add-on and this is in my list of 2024 sleepers: Dex and Small Professor A Long Absence. This album sounds like Rock Konducta Madlib had a meeting with Wu-Tangs 4th Disciple absolutely ducking dope!
If your looking for AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted who was The Predator who got the Lethal Injection and then his Death Certificate was made. Then this new Ice Cube album contains none of that. Carry on!!!
“The rap legend is back with his first album in six years and it is his best one in quite a while longer. Surprisingly commercial in sensibility, Man Down features an array of aggressive bops and a number of standout guest features” Yea because we get all of our hip hop advice from the 100 percent non-credible bum ass blogging culture vulture Sam the certified cornball Boore