Hip-hop is moving as fast as ever. There’s an endless array of artists from all regions and subgenres, and they’re all — well, most of them are — vying to be known as the best and constantly feed their core fanbases. That means a consistent output across the board. With projects coming every Friday and surprise projects and songs always prime to drop out of nowhere, you never know what you’ll miss out on while vibing to your current playlist. Luckily, we’re doing the work to compile the best singles of the past week and highlight them in one space for you. This week we have offerings from Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne, Jay Rock, and YBN Cordae.
Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Wayne, “Rich Sex”
Nicki had her fans wondering what’s up with the status of “Barbie Tingz” as it relates to her upcoming Queen album, but then they got a whole new single to talk about — the raunchy “Rich Sex.” Nicki and Wayne get as nasty as they wanna be over an eerie key melody and booming 808s, proving their chemistry is still as intact as ever. Young Money had a great thing going in the early 2010s, and it looks like the main players are looking to keep the magic happening. Perhaps Wayne will pop up to perform this on Nicki’s upcoming tour with Future.
Jay Rock, J. Cole & SiR, “OSOM”
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Jay Rock’s Redemption album is finally here, but those who just couldn’t wait until 12:00 AM today got a taste with “OSOM,” a melancholy, reflective track featuring Rock’s TDE mate SiR and J. Cole. Cole and Jay Rock wax on the trappings of fame and keeping God first in a treacherous industry. Rock and Cole both showcase the soulful introspection they’re loved for, and SiR matches the moody bass with a perfectly-pensive chorus. This might not be the TDE artist – J. Cole feature the world has been asking about, but it’s excellent in its own right.
YBN Cordae, “Fighting Temptations”
YBN Cordae is one of the most refreshing young voices in hip-hop. Not only did his “1985” Freestyle draw a fair bipartisan line in the sand for hip-hop’s generational divide, it set him apart from his YBN brethren as a lyrically ambitious artist who quite simply has something to say. He does more of the same on “Fighting Temptations,” a striking track that shows the Alabama native has enough social commentary packed in his bars for him and the rest of his YBN comrades. He delivers an all-too-common narrative of going up amidst the strain of poverty, before hitting “fast forward, my fans massive my plan’s mastered.” We’ll be looking forward to hearing that plan in full effect on a solo project.
Lecrae & Zaytoven, “Plugged In”
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Fun fact about Zaytoven: he learned his music theory in the church — which pretty much squashes the “trap isn’t musical” takes. Zay is known for scoring Gucci Mane’s gruff Atlanta street tales but recently teamed up with Lecrae, a decidedly more chaste artist, on Let The Trap Say Amen. The track is characterized by Lecrae dropping his spiritually-tinged bars over a charging trap beat, which elicited an interesting fusion that we’re certainly plugged in to hear more from on the album.
Goldlink & Miguel, “Got Friends”
Goldlink rose onto the national scene off the strength of his irresistible, Grammy-nominated “Crew” record, and “Got Friends” is a fun, upbeat single in a similar vein. Goldlink fits the immersive production with flirty, melodic rhymes about a situationship where he can “f*ck like movie scenes” with the object of his eye. Miguel lends the track a syrupy chorus which rounds it out and should help Goldlink get another Billboard placement — and possibly more.
Khalid & Normani ft. Rick Ross, “Love Lies” Remix
We’re glad Rick Ross is back in tip-top shape after his recent health scare — not just for his families’ sake, but so he can bolster more R&B records like he did with “Love Lies.” Ross brings a new dynamic to the summery collaboration between the two R&B upstarts, dropping a characteristically emphatic ode to his leading lady and letting her know “you all I want this summer.” The summertime hip-hop remix is a staple, and Ross’ smoky voice is one of the best ways to augment the smooth soundscapes.
Dreezy, “Where Dem $ @”
The hip-hop world awaits a full-length followup to Chicagoan Dreezy’s No Hard Feelings project, but she’s steadily feeding us in the meantime. The latest track in her arsenal is “Where Dem $ @,” a subwoofer snack where the talented rhymer shows off myriad flows and lets us know she’s got money on her mind. Her knack for catchy hooks bodes well for her ability to be one of the next artists up out of Chicago, and “Where Dem $ @” is a strong example of just that.
