From newcomers like Blueface, Bishop Nehru and Valee to established names like Future, Young Thug, Nipsey Hussle and Kevin Gates, this was a pretty big week of releases. Several artists got into the seasonal spirit, with Rae Sremmurd dropping Christmas songs, A Boogie celebrating Hoodie SZN, Bishop Nehru delivering a Nehruvian Holidays EP, and Nipsey getting reflective over a triumphant year on his latest single. You can check out those and the best of the rest below:
Future Feat. Young Thug, “Do It Like”
It’s well known that Young Thug and Future both have hundreds of tracks in the vault — perhaps hundreds with just them two alone. They decided to cull from that deep reserve and offer us a single right in time for the holidays with “Do It Like,” a spacey, braggadocious track where the two play with the same cadence over thumping 808s.
Rae Sremmurd Christmas Songs
Rae Sremmurd gave us what we wanted with their SR3MM album, now they’re giving us what we didn’t know we needed on a pair of Christmas jingles. Swae Lee’s “Christmas At Swae’s” is about the object of his eye not being at Swae’s, under his mistletoe. He mournfully croons about wanting someone to share his holiday cheer with. Slim Jxmmi’s “Nothing For Christmas” is a more upbeat affair, as the raucous rhymer brags about splurging on his many women, including buying some D Cups.
Nipsey Hussle, “Perfect Timing”
Nipsey Hussle offered a self-fulfilling prophecy with his Victory Lap album, as the end of year lists are passing the Compton rhymer the roses he deserves for an excellent, motivating album. It was “Perfect Timing,” and he celebrates it on his latest single. Over a dense soundscape of live drums, Nipsey continues imparting lessons that everyone should instill heading into 2019: “Before you run your race, you gotta find your pace / just make sure you cross the line, f*ck the time it takes.”
A Boogie, Hoodie SZN
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It’s always been said that New York rappers have some of the best winter music. Now, they also have an artist with an ideal name for the cold months, and he knows it: A Boogie’s Hoodie SZN is here. The Bronx artist had been delivering singles for the past few weeks, showing that his knack for melodic jams is fully in tow. With tracks like “Look Back At It,” “Startender” and more, Hoodie SZN’s versatile tracklist has something for any Christmas party rotation.
Earl Sweatshirt, “Veins” (Original Version)
Earl Sweatshirt’s Some Rap Songs made some best year lists in November, highlighting how incredible some people found the experimental lyrical exhibition. This week, producer Adé Hakim offered a glimpse of the project’s conception with the original version of “Veins.” The primary differentiation is a gleaming vocal sample that were nixed from the version we heard on Earl’s album.
Wale Feat. Meghan The Stallion, “Poledancer,” “Winter Wars”
Wale didn’t release a full-length project this year, but the DC rhymer has been steadily feeding his loyal fanbase, which he’s eternally underestimated, with singles and EPs all year. He dropped two tracks this year, first breathing new life into Ghostface Killah’s “Winter Wars” classic, then collaborating with up and comer Meghan The Stallion on the seductive “Pole Dancer.“
G-Herbo, “My Baby”
G-Herbo is known for menacing rhymes and grim recollections of his Chicago upbringing, but everybody needs love. Herbo gets in his romantic bag on “My Baby,” a sultry track that hits home after his girlfriend Ariana dumped him in October. Perhaps he’s eschewing any Offset-like theatrics and resolving to express his feelings through song.
Valee Feat. Dram, “About U”
Two kings of hip-hop harmonies collide for the first time on “About U.” The track is produced by ChaseTheMoney and showcases the two having fun with some melodies over a whirring synth and thumping 808.
Bishop Nehru, Nehruvian Holidays EP
Leave it to Bishop Nehru to sidestep convention and release his latest project on a Wednesday. His 4-track Nehruvian Holidays EP is a gift to us all, that shows his lyricism fully primed over four distinct sonic vibes. Nehru told High Snobiety that the project is a “gift is from me to you; I hope you enjoy it!
Thouxanbanfauni Feat. Denzel Curry, “Heavy Metal”
Two of the South’s brightest lights connect on “Heavy Metal,” which isn’t a track about the young generation’s rockstar leanings, but menacing threats to leave someone leaning with what they have in the truck.
