Hip-hop is moving as fast as ever. Luckily, we’re doing the work to put the best music in one place for you. It’s been a busy week for releases, featuring more than a couple former XXL Freshman and artists who should have been on the list in their respective years. We got videos from Future, E-40, Gucci Mane, and rising “DMV”-area rapper IDK. Lil Nas X may be off the “one hit wonder” list after dropping “Panini,” while there were a pair of posthumous song appearances from Mac Miller and Nipsey Hussle. Migos released “Stripper Bowl,” while Trina and Nicki dropped off a perfect soundtrack for the next stripper bowl with the Cash Money-celebrating “BAPS.” Here’s the best of the rest:
TM88 Feat. Lil Uzi Vert, “Slayerr”
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“Slayerr” actually leaked weeks ago, stoking TM88 and Uzi fans’ anticipation for an official release of the song. It’s here now. The two talented artists showed off their winning formula on the rock-tinged track as Uzi croons longingly about a shaky romance with a girl “in love with a rager.”
NLE Choppa Feat. Blueface, “Shotta Flow (Remix)”
16-year-old NLE Choppa got a viral buzz with his “Choppa Flow” track and decided to go back to the winning well with “Shotta Flow.” This week, XXL Freshman Blueface hopped on a remix for the energetic track, and the two had fun in a Cole Bennett-directed video for the track.
Wale, “09 Folarin”
You know you’re a rap veteran when you can reference your sound from a decade ago and evoke nostalgia. Wale did just that in offering up “09 Folarin” this week. The fun track shows the former XXL Freshman sounding as hungry and locked in as the newbies over a buoyant, jazzy composition.
Stefflon Don Feat. Lil Baby, “Phone Down”
While the hip-hop world is celebrating the female representation on this year’s XXL Freshman list, Stefflon Don, one of last year’s honorees, got with Lil Baby for “Phone Down.” Over fun, uptempo production, the UK artist and Lil Baby take turns imploring their significant other to get their eyes off the Gram for one second and spend some quality time.
Benny The Butcher Feat. Black Thought, “Crown For Kings”
It’s an intergenerational clash of lyrical titans on “Crown For Kings,” as Buffalo’s Benny The Butcher trades sage insights with the legendary Black Thought on a soulful single from Benny’s The Plugs I Met EP, which released today. Benny achieves the tall task of keeping up with Black Thought over the DJ Shay production with potent bars like, “before I knew an A&R, I was weighin’ hard / back when Nicki Minaj was in a training bra.”
Pell Feat. Ambré Perkins & Malik Ninety Five, “Skyfall”
New Orleans artist Pell’s Gravity album is here. He’s released a slew of recent singles in the past several weeks, including “Skyfall,” a breezy track in which he delves into a fun, double-time flow to reflect on his come up as an artist and his “nine to nine” grind while Ambré Perkins croons a feel-good hook and Malik Ninety Five offers up a verse of his own.
Ras Kass Feat. Styles P & Lil Fame, “Guns N Roses”
A coalition of rap veterans united on “Guns N Roses,” a surging track from Ras Kass’ upcoming follow-up to his Soul On Ice opus.
42 Dugg, “Whole City”
Detroit’s 42 Dugg put on for the Motor City in the black-and-white video for his “Whole City” track. The charged up single is a track from his aptly-named Young And Turnt mixtape.
Madwiz, “Sade Freestyle”
This week, Brooklyn’s Madwiz dropped off a video for his “Sade Freestyle” that flexes his in-your-face, effervescent mic presence and lyrical ability over a classic Sade sample.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. .
