Key Takeaways
- Variety in hip-hop: Despite recent commercial declines, modern rap showcases extensive diversity.
- New releases: Artists like Danny Brown and Armand Hammer are pushing creative boundaries with their latest projects.
- Street rap representation: G Herbo, Lil Baby, and others continue to deliver popular street rap tracks.
- Classic artists return: Legendary acts like De La Soul and Bun B are also releasing new music this week.
Much has been said about the state of hip-hop lately after the genre’s slight commercial decline, but this week’s New Music Friday is a reminder of just how much variety and diversity there remains in modern rap.
Danny Brown, one of the game’s most reliable boundary-pushers, has returned with his boldest effort yet in the form of Stardust, an experimental pop project that he has described as the album he has always wanted to make.
Armand Hammer and The Alchemist‘s second collaborative project Mercy also caters to rap fans who prefer something a little more left-field and cerebral, while G Herbo, Lil Baby, Sexyy Red, Quavo and NLE Choppa fly the flag for more palatable street rap.
Older heads are also well fed this week thanks to new releases from De La Soul, Bun B, Jim Jones and Erick Sermon, who has reunited Snoop Dogg and his late cousin/collaborator Nate Dogg on his latest single.
When it comes to hip-hop’s new generation, don’t sleep on Marco Plus‘ smooth yet silky “Jamal Crawford” collaboration with Boldy James and redveil‘s “lone star,” the soulful new single from his upcoming album sankofa.
Check out all of this week’s hip-hop highlights below.
Danny Brown — Stardust
Featuring: Jane Remover, underscores, Quadeca, femtanyl, JOHNNASCUS, 8485, Frost Children
G Herbo — Lil Herb
Featuring: Anderson .Paak, Wyclef Jean, Jeremih, Turbo the Great
Lil Baby — “Try to Love”
Produced By: Baby Tsunami, Gabe Lucas & wzzptom
De La Soul — “The Package”
Produced By: Pete Rock
Quavo feat. Yeat & BNYX — “New Trip (Real Lyfe Shit)”
Produced By: BNYX & Sapjer
Armand Hammer & The Alchemist — Mercy
Featuring: Earl Sweatshirt, Quelle Chris, Pink Siifu, Cleo Reed, Kapwani, Silka
Sexyy Red — “For No Reason”
Produced By: Truebeatzz & ZachOnTheTrack
NLE Choppa — “Media Day Freestyle” (NBA YoungBoy Diss)
Produced By: Havoc (Mobb Deep “Quiet Storm”)
Ice Spice — “Pretty Privilege”
Produced By: RIOTUSA
Erick Sermon feat. Snoop Dogg & Nate Dogg — “Like That”
Produced By: Erick Sermon
Bun B & Cory Mo — Way Mo Trill
Featuring: Pimp C, Juicy J, Project Pat, 8Ball & MJG, Young Dro, Jay Worthy, Z-Ro, LaRussell, Jazze Pha
REASON — Everything In My Soul_BLUE
Featuring: Westside Boogie, Kai Ca$h, Gio Genesis, D’Anna Stewart
Jim Jones — The Fall Before the Rise
Featuring: N/A
A$AP Ferg — “P.O.L.O.”
Produced By: Credits unavailable
<h3<Wiz Khalifa feat. RMR — “It’s Been a Minute”
Produced By: Akachi & Lukovic
<h3<Marco Plus feat. Boldy James — “Jamal Crawford”
Produced By: Graymatter & Chri$$ianity
Domo Genesis — SCRAM!
Featuring: Evidence, 3wayslim
D<J Snake feat. Future & Travis Scott — “Tsunami”
Produced By: DJ Snake & Nömak
<h3<Thundercat — “Upside Down (Candy Crush)”
Produced By: Thundercat
<h3<redveil feat. Carolyn Malachi — “Lone Star”
Produced By: redveil
Alemeda — <emBut What the Hell Do I Know (EP)
<strong<Featuring:</strong: Doechii, Rachel Chinourir
<h3<Oh No feat. Ghostface Killah, Aloe Blacc & Tristate — “Rooftop Shottas”
<strong<Produced By:</strong: Oh No
<h3<BunnaB — <emSweet Lick
<strong<Featuring:</strong: N/A
<h3<Joey Purp — <emAlaska
<strong<Featuring:</strong: Vic Mensa, femdot.
