I’ve been bumping the new Pop Smoke album all 4th of July weekend and damnit Pop Smoke singing over this flamenco guitar beat is absolute fire.
As if that wasn’t enough, then you have Roddy Ricch swooping in sounding damn near like an angelic choir when he’s singing “inside of the cooo-oooo-ooo-uuupe”. Is Roddy Ricch the new Young Thug at this point?
I’m always down to get a new verse from Godfather Fif, who also executive produced the album.
RIP to the young king this guy, you can see this guy was going places and taking his game into all kinds of interesting new directions, and didn’t even get a chance to expand further. You can see with this kind of material on this album, I think if he hadn’t been killed, I could picture this guy eventually becoming one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.
P.S. this was actually a surprisingly good article on Pop in the NY Times the other day, I think my favorite part is him meeting Marylin Manson and not knowing who he was because of course he wouldn’t lol
A lot of Cash Kidd this month, and really not much else…
Cash Kidd ft. Icewear Vezzo, Sterl Gotti, Lavier, Rio da Yung OG – See You (2020)
Cash Kidd – Barefoot (2020)
Cash Kidd – Kiddnapper (2020)
Cash Click Boog – Come Back (2020)
Bankhead ft. Larry Byrd, Big Fonz – Swipe Yo Line (2020)
Cash Kidd ft. IceWear Vezzo, Sterl Gotti, Lavier, Rio da Yung OG – See You (2020)
Man I had heard this a few months ago and seen Ray Garraty post it and it was one of those things where I was like ‘Oh nice all of my favorite rappers on one track’ and expecting it to be the best thing I ever heard and for whatever reason when I first listened to it the one time it wasn’t clicking with me and I forgot about it and never went back to it.
Now, bumping the Cash Kidd album ‘No Socks’ that it came out on, giving it another chance, it’s hitting me in a different way and it’s been like a revelation of biblical proportions. This has become one of my all-time favorites.
“Throw these Balencis on the wire after I wear them tonight. I keep a big 30 on me and I carry a knife.”
I love Cash Kidd’s callous disregard for material things; yeah he’ll buy the Balenciagas because he’s bored and because you can’t but fuck it, he’ll throw them up on the wire after he wears them tonight. He keeps a big .30 on him AND he carries a knife.
“Bought a crib in Canton because the area nice, I’m barely there but I watch the cameras every night.”
I’m also feeling that posessed, dark side version of Cash Kidd when he’s singing ‘When I seeee you, when I see yooouuu”
I am decidedly in the camp of fans of Icewear Vezzo but it would be unfair to expect him to keep up with probably the two best lyricists in the game right now in Cash Kidd and Rio but while he can’t do that, you know what? He absolutely fucking bodies this track with just the sheer energy he brings to it and his unique style. I love the Icewear voice no homo and every time his verse comes on on this I get hyped. “WHEN THEY SEE US CHANGE SHIFTS LIKE WORKING MAN”
I don’t know much about Lavier and I kind of slept on his verse at first but after a few listens you realize that his verse is on the next level, with next dimension lines like “These hoes don’t want you in their presence til you lit like Christmas trees.’ I’m almost a little frigthened by the ‘shout out my nigga G, dog been getting tortured for that little shit he did to me.’ Part of me is curious to know what the guy did/what they’re doing to him but honestly I probably don’t want to know! “Big eyes with the gat but hoes on me like I’m spongebob, feels like yesterday I was the poorest in that lunch line, free my pops, we just chopped it for the one time, I could be a star but they don’t want to see the sun shine.”
I NEED to start finding more Lavier verses or he needs to start rapping more because he’s a beast.
And then of course, you get the Rio verse as the grand finale. I love hearing Rio rap over this light piano type beat.
“You know I’ma up the heat when I see you. Fiberglass on the pistol that bitch see-through.”
“Sorry I’m aggressive off this perc I can’t crack a smile, I robbed a nigga with a (???) for a half a pound, I got it from my granddad the handle crocodile.” I absolutely love when rappers talk about old straps, like Rio here talking about his granddad’s Saturday night special with the crocodile-skin handle or ALLBLACKtalking about stealing his granddad’s revolver and taking it to school.
I feel like this is a zenith for the whole Detroit/Flint scene that’s been taking over for the last few years, and should go down as one of the all-time great posse tracks.
Cash Kidd – Barefoot (2020)
I’ve been a little quiet lately but I’m back in the game. Been bumping the latest Cash Kidd album ‘No Socks’ non-stop this week off the strength of Ray Garraty’s recommendation and it might be my favorite project of the year so far after City on My Back.
Move over Barefoot Contessa, Cash Kidd is taking over the barefoot lane here.
Man shout out to Cash Kidd for having the courage to have some extra thick video thots, I can definitely get behind it.
Beat is fucking flames and Cash Kidd is underrated with the hooks this one has been in my head all week. “Like a butcher let ’em meet the chop!”
“Only thing I’m scared of is the cops” unfortunately rings to true, fuck 12
“We running through these scrips like its practice”
“Told my ex bitch to Kwame a river, Kilpatrick”
“Ain’t gotta swipe no more, I’m still swiping”
No homo I’m usually not into designer but I’m feeling Cash Kidd’s Versace t shirt and the light blue/yellow/gray color combo
Cash Kidd – Kiddnapper
Another highlight from No Socks. Just heard it on the album and didn’t realize it had a video from a few months ago. One thing that I love about Cash Kidd is that while he has the clever/over the top punch lines like Ray Garraty has mentioned (like ‘One wrapper with five sticks like a pack of gum’ in Barefoot or ‘Whacked a broke opp thought he had some money til I punched a donation to his go fund me’ here) and the creative (maybe sometimes even too creative!) wordplay aerobics like ‘Kwame a river, Kilpatrick’ or ‘Get My shell like Barack’, he also is so effortless with his more casual boasts and brags like here with “In an opp hood getting gas, I’m so comfortable.” He throws the line out so casually/easily but something about it just paints such a picture about him – the relaxed, cool confidence he freely moves about his city with and the relaxed, dismissive disdain he has for the opps.
P.S. I’m not sure what Don World is but I’m feeling the Don World hoodie.
Glad to see the video has over 2 million views it seems like Cash Kidd is starting to get the recognition his work ethic and skill deserves
Cash Click Boog – Come Back
I’m glad Crimedawgbylaw posted this quick hitter from Cash Click Boog, otherwise I would have missed out on it. Boog was up there with my Rio last year for my ‘rapper of the year’ when I did my year-end post, but I haven’t heard as much output from him this year. I can’t fault him for that becuase he blessed us with so much heat last year. But in any case, ‘Come Back’ is a nice start for 2020. I love the beat and the way the almost forlorn piano loop of seems to build up to a crescendo only to evaporate into nothingness.
“ITS BEEN HARD TO BUST A SCRIP THEY’VE BEEN CRACKING DOWN, BARAK GOT A GLOCK WITH A BLUE FLAG WRAPPED AROUND”
“50 rounds in my coat, bitch I’m top heavy”
Bankhead ft. Larry Byrd, Big Fonz – Swipe Your Line
A beat jack of Brandi’s ‘Boy is Mine’ reimagined as an anthem for scammers was exactly what I had been missing in my life, and I didn’t know it.
Shout out to the Crimedawg again for this one. It’s obviously meant for comedic value but it’s also actually fire
Cash Kidd ft. IceWear Vezzo, Sterl Gotti, Lavier, Rio da Yung OG – See You
Man I had heard this a few months ago and seen Ray Garraty post it and it was one of those things where I was like ‘Oh nice all of my favorite rappers on one track’ and expecting it to be the best thing I ever heard and then for whatever reason when I first listened to it the one time it wasn’t clicking with me and I forgot about it and never went back to it.
Now, bumping the Cash Kidd album ‘No Socks’ that it came out on a couple of months later, giving it another chance, it’s hitting me in a different way and it’s been like a revelation of biblical proportions. This has become one of my all-time favorites.
“Throw these Balencis on the wire after I wear them tonight. I keep a big 30 on me and I carry a knife.”
I love Cash Kidd’s callous disregard for material things; yeah he’ll buy the Balenciagas because he’s bored and because you can’t but fuck it, he’ll throw them up on the wire after he wears them tonight. He keeps a big .30 on him AND he carries a knife.
“Bought a crib in Canton because the area nice, I’m barely there but I watch the cameras every night.”
I’m also feeling that posessed, dark side version of Cash Kidd when he’s singing ‘When I seeee you, when I see yooouuu”
I am decidedly in the camp of fans of Icewear Vezzo but it would be unfair to expect him to keep up with probably the two best lyricists in the game right now in Cash Kidd and Rio but while he can’t do that, you know what? He absolutely fucking bodies this track with just the sheer energy he brings to it and his unique style. I love the Icewear voice no homo and every time his verse comes on on this I get hyped. “WHEN THEY SEE US CHANGE SHIFTS LIKE WORKING MAN”
I don’t know much about Lavier and I kind of slept on his verse at first but after a few listens you realize that his verse is on the next level, with next dimension lines like “These hoes don’t want you in their presence til you lit like Christmas trees.’ I’m almost a little frigthened by the ‘shout out my nigga G, dog been getting tortured for that little shit he did to me.’ Part of me is curious to know what the guy did/what they’re doing to him but honestly I probably don’t want to know! “Big eyes with the gat but hoes on me like I’m spongebob, feels like yesterday I was the poorest in that lunch line, free my pops, we just chopped it for the one time, I could be a star but they don’t want to see the sun shine.”
I NEED to start finding more Lavier verses or he needs to start rapping more because he’s a beast.
And then of course, you get the Rio verse as the grand finale. I love hearing Rio rap over this light piano type beat. Actually, I love hearing everyone over this beat but Rio especially since it’s not his usual style he’s usually rapping over harsher/more dystopian stuff, but let’s take a minute to appreciate how nice this piano loop is. Unfortunately I don’t even know who made it so can’t give them proper credit here but would love to know.
“You know I’ma up the heat when I see you. Fiberglass on the pistol that bitch see-through.”
“Sorry I’m aggressive off this perc I can’t crack a smile, I robbed a nigga with a (???) for a half a pound, I got it from my granddad the handle crocodile.” I absolutely love when rappers talk about old straps, like Rio here talking about his granddad’s Saturday night special with the crocodile-skin handle or ALLBLACKtalking about stealing his granddad’s revolver and taking it to school.
I feel like this is a zenith for the whole Detroit/Flint scene that’s been taking over for the last few years, and should go down as one of the all-time great posse tracks.
Another highlight from No Socks. Just heard it on the album and didn’t realize it had a video from a few months ago. One thing that I love about Cash Kidd is that while he has the clever/over the top punch lines like Ray Garraty has mentioned (like ‘One wrapper with five sticks like a pack of gum’ in Barefoot or ‘Whacked a broke opp thought he had some money til I punched a donation to his go fund me’ here) and the creative (maybe sometimes even too creative!) wordplay aerobics like ‘Kwame a river, Kilpatrick’ or ‘Get My shell like Barack’, he also is so effortless with his more casual boasts and brags like here with “In an opp hood getting gas, I’m so comfortable.” He throws the line out so casually/easily but something about it just paints such a picture about him – the relaxed, cool confidence he freely moves about his city with and the relaxed, dismissive disdain he has for the opps.
P.S. I’m not sure what Don World is but I’m feeling the Don World hoodie.
Glad to see the video has over 2 million views it seems like Cash Kidd is starting to get the recognition his work ethic and skill deserves
I’ve been a little quiet lately but I’m back in the game. Been bumping the latest Cash Kidd album ‘No Socks’ non-stop this week off the strength of Ray Garraty’s recommendation and it might be my favorite project of the year so far after City on My Back.
Move over Barefoot Contessa, Cash Kidd is taking over the barefoot lane here.
Man shout out to Cash Kidd for having the courage to have some extra thick video thots, I can definitely get behind it.
Beat is fucking flames and Cash Kidd is underrated with the hooks this one has been in my head all week. “Like a butcher let ’em meet the chop!”
“Only thing I’m scared of is the cops” unfortunately rings to true, fuck 12
“We running through these scrips like its practice”
“Told my ex bitch to Kwame a river, Kilpatrick”
“Ain’t gotta swipe no more, I’m still swiping”
No homo I’m usually not into designer but I’m feeling Cash Kidd’s Versace t shirt and the light blue/yellow color combo
I wasn’t super active this month so figured I’d post this now…
Fivio Foreign – Drive By (2020)
Mozzy – Boyz To Men (2020)
Mozzy ft. Blxst – I Ain’t Perfect (2020)
Stove God Cooks – Rolls Royce Brake Lights (2020)
Drake ft. Fivio Foreign, Sosa Geek – Demons (2020)
Mozzy – Bulletproofly (2020)
Fivio Foreign – Drive By
One of the tres amigos behind last year’s ‘Waka’ is back with a new project, ‘800 BC’, and while the project is not as fun as Waka, and is in fact a very different, MUCH darker vibe, the whole project is fire, highlighted by the opener, ‘Drive By’.
It seems like since ‘Waka‘ (the post on Waka is actually by far the most read post on this website, believe it or not), Fivio Foreign has only gotten bigger and bigger, for example releasing probably the biggest Brooklyn drill song to date (Big Drip), getting a Meek Mill feature on this project, to now going where perhaps no Brooklyn drill rapper has gone before, getting a feature on Drake’s new album. Say what you want about Drake, but he’s the unparalleled expert of latching onto the buzz of new rappers and scenes right as they’re blowing up (i.e. Lil Baby, Blocboy JB), so this certainly solidifies Fivio’s star status and perhaps that of Brooklyn Crip rappers and Brooklyn drill itself. I had actually been bumping the 800 B.C. tape and ‘Drive By’ in particular all week so imagine my surprise when I lazily clicked to see the tracklist of the unexpected new Drake album on Friday morning and saw that Fivio was one of the few features.
If I had to define Fivio’s ‘identity’ or what makes him unique in the rap game, it would be hard to pinpoint an exact feature but I’d point to his heart, grit, aggression/anger, and that he just absolutely HATES opps. ‘Drive By’ is the perfect example of that. It’s a total tour de force by an artist just coming into his own and reflecting on both the triumphs and losses on the road to get here as well as where he’s going next. The beat is sick and almost a calm backdrop to the anger that Fivio punishes the track with; I’d describe the vibe of ‘Drive By’ as almost apocalyptic, it’s Fivio riding around the ruins of the city in a tank after he won a war there and surveying the damage and carnage of his victory.
“The opps tell me we be going too hard, we be shooting too much we be going too far”
“I’ve got wolves I’m still feeding them off. I’ve got money so I’m feeding them all. Stood tall when they needed to ball. Ten toes, two feet on the floor.”
“Fovvy, boss, now I could by me a loft. But I ain’t satisfied at all. Still got Fetty (?) in the fort. Going back and forth to court. Couple of fights that still need to get fought.” On the one hand he’s enjoying newfound success and touting the money and fame that signing a major label deal brings, but on the other hand he’s still focused on vengeance and settling old scores.
“Fovvy, I’m different. Everyone know that I’m gifted. 2 shots for the wicked. Pull up, silence, critics. It’s my crib you evicted.”
Also anyone else reminded of Chief Keef’s ‘Now it’s Over’ by the mansion and specifically the staircase?
I’m also loving the plain blue Balenciaga hat
(P.S. interestingly, Fivio was somehow left off of the ‘Waka’ remix featuring Waka Flocka himself?)
Mozzy – Boys II Men
This ‘Boyz To Men’ off the new Mozzy album absolutely knocks. This beat is hard as fuck and Mozzy’s flow is perfect for it. But after the way Mozzy made magic over that Mario sample in ‘Big Homie from the Hood‘, I can’t be the only one that saw this title on the tracklist and was hoping it was Mozz flowing over a smooth Boyz II Men sample, am I right?
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but before I made this site, Mozzy was probably my favorite rapper of 2015/2016. Then for whatever reason I kind of moved on and wasn’t as into some of his material over the next year or two. But lately Mozzy has been back with an absolute vengeance. Big Homie from the Hood is probably my favorite song of the year so far (yeah I know, December 2019 but still) and this album is really good. I love this one, the aforementioned Big Home, and the surprisingly introspective ‘I Ain’t Perfect’. (Was not expecting to hear the line ‘Compassion for the homeless cause they’ve been through enough’ from anybody I listen to but Mozzy makes it work.) There are a couple of other bangers that I’m sure I’ll add to that list to after a few more listens. I’d go as far as to say that between the quality of the album and his recent songs, the increased mainstream attention/buzz he seems to finally be getting, and his history/track record, as well as the step up in material he’s taking on in this album, Mozzy seems to be making a pretty credible run for the (always up for discussion/unofficial) crown as king of the West Coast. In a lot of ways it seems that Mozzy is taking a Nipsey type turn in terms of subject matter and becoming more concerned about the youth, his community, business etc. and I think he would be proud of this album.
“Suckers on the Gram with blammies they tell them to use them. My brother’s brother just paroled, family reunion. I know 100 niggas broke that ain’t selling the toolage. Pink 50’s is looking crispy the 100s is blue in. My location is the ghetto I’m bomfortably booling. The Crips love me on the beat they fuck with the movement.”
“If they threatened you with life would you crack on your goon? I tend to whisper when I feel there’s a rat in the room.”
“How you put the homies on but let your brother starve? That nigga Bob was taking trips inside his mother’s car. It’s Oak Park 4-5 forever fuck a star. 30 P’s inside a duffel, this 100 large.”
Mozzy ft. Blxst – I Ain’t Perfect
I think Crimedawgbylawsummed up ‘I Ain’t Perfect’ when he said, “Mozzy keeps supplying the music that I need right now.” I never thought I’d hear the line “Compassion for the hopeless and the homeless because they’ve been through enough” from any rapper that I listen to and certainly not from Mozzy, but he seems to really be taking his game to another level and is thinking more about his community, his legacy, etc. He seems to be heading down the Nispey Hussle path and alludes to that himself on the album.
As I said to my man Yohan in the comments for ‘Boyz II Men’…
“I feel like Mozzy’s storytelling and imagery are always on point and you see that on this album, but he also seems to have taken a step up in terms of some of the subject matter/themes he’s approaching. It’s interesting because he hasn’t turned into a full-on conscious rapper obviously or anything like that but he appears to be spending more time thinking about his community, his legacy, the weight that comes with being ‘the big homie’ and your whole hood relying on you etc. This album seems to kind of catch him at a crossroads in life.”
It was nice as well as unexpected to hear Mozzy rap over an acoustic-guitar type beat and the hook from Blxst actually really grew on me over time and I even catch myself singing it to myself here and there.
Some of Mozzy’s bars on this just hit so hard…
“Let me tell you about the absence of a rolling stone. Mama said he want to leave, then let that nigga go.”
“Compassion for the hopeless and the homeless ’cause they’ve been through enough. Right there on the ave with the killers before I knew enough. I just bought a truck for my daughers and bulletproofed it up.”
“There was roaches in the apple jacks we eat at home. Mama manage a McDonald’s she rarely be at home.”
“If I middle man the play then I’m gon tweak the price; on Jesus Chris retaliation helps me sleep at night.”
The video was on point too; just an unvarnished look at Mozzy’s hood.
I feel like Mozzy is taking the mantle as the champion of society’s downtrodden and ‘have nots’ and I can certainly get behind that; I’m intrigued to see where he goes next with this direction.
Stove God Cooks – Rolls Royce Break Lights
I keep going back to the well of this Stove God album. This guy can really paint a picture but he’s not boring like the average ‘lyrical’ rapper and actually makes actual music that you want to come back to. (Case in point, even the god of function music himself, Martorialist, was feeling Money Puddles, calling it a Faux Marciano song with chutzpah, which all in all is a pretty apt description). This is just bar after bar after bar on the album’s opener, Rolls Royce Brake Lights.
I love the reprisal/flip of Drake’s ‘I just want to beee successful’ taking it from someone corporate like Drake and flipping it into the ambitions of a young stove god just trying to cook his way up in the game.
“I’m the truth, I’m the light I’m the way. Niggas broke, niggas fake, they in the way.”
P.S. after quite a few spins of the whole album I’m kind of intrigued by how many space/planetary/religious references there are are here and there sprinkled in amongst the drug raps.
Drake ft. Fivio Foreign, Sosa Geek – Demons
I wrote about Fivio Foreign above so not too much more to say here except that while I’m not necessarily a huge Drake fan, it was cool to see Fivio go from a local/regional artist that I mentioned in passing as being part of a fun song a year ago to blowing up to the point that he had maybe the biggest song in New York over the past year and now hopping on a song with Drake. You can certainly question whether Drake is a ‘vulture’ or a just a well-intentioned fan of these artists and scenes just trying to give them a bigger platform, but in any case, I’m always happy for these guys when they get a huge spotlight like this. (P.S. is it just a coincedence or does Drake love Crips? Between these guys and Blocboy JB…)
“I love the 6, 6, 6, 6, 6,” at the beginning of the song and I actually don’t mind the hook from Drake. “I’m in this bitch with the wooski, ball in the summer like Drew League”
It wouldn’t be a Fivio song if he didn’t come after the opps.
While Fivio Foreign’s rise was unprecedented, Sosa Geek would probably be even more unexpected to be on a song with the Champagne Papi but here he is and he’s making the most of it/enjoying his time in the spotlight. This is the Sosa of ‘Free Sosa he a demon’ fame from Big Drip.
With the unfortunate passing of Pop Smoke, you could really make the case that his confidante Fivio has filled the void and is arguably the king of NYC right now.
Mozzy – Bulletproofly
Another introspective song over a nice beat for that type of song off the Mozzy album. As I mentioned above I always love Mozzy’s imagery and short-form storytelling, painting a picture with sometimes few words…
“The pictures that my father sent me prepared me for jail”
“I gave him packs of cappucino for his pain pills”
“Remember that sweet and sour spread we shared in the cell?”
“We turn on ovens when it’s cold inside the house, they found a qualude but no poles inside the house”
This ‘Boyz To Men’ off the new Mozzy album absolutely knocks. This beat is hard as fuck and Mozzy’s flow is perfect for it. But after the way Mozzy made magic over that Mario sample in ‘Big Homie from the Hood‘, I can’t be the only one that saw this title on the tracklist and was hoping it was Mozz flowing over a smooth Boyz II Men sample, am I right?
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but before I made this site, Mozzy was probably my favorite rapper of 2015/2016. Then for whatever reason I kind of moved on and wasn’t as into some of his material over the next year or two. But lately Mozzy has been back with an absolute vengeance. Big Homie from the Hood is probably my favorite song of the year so far (yeah I know, December 2019 but still) and this album is really good. I love this one, the aforementioned Big Home, and the surprisingly introspective ‘I Ain’t Perfect’. (Was not expecting to hear the line ‘Compassion for the homeless cause they’ve been through enough’ from anybody I listen to but Mozzy makes it work.) There are a couple of other bangers that I’m sure I’ll add to that list to after a few more listens. I’d go as far as to say that between the quality of the album and his recent songs, the increased mainstream attention/buzz he seems to finally be getting, and his history/track record, as well as the step up in material he’s taking on in this album, Mozzy seems to be making a pretty credible run for the (always up for discussion/unofficial) crown as king of the West Coast. In a lot of ways it seems that Mozzy is taking a Nipsey type turn in terms of subject matter and becoming more concerned about the youth, his community, business etc. and I think he would be proud of this album.
“Suckers on the Gram with blammies they tell them to use them. My brother’s brother just paroled, family reunion. I know 100 niggas broke that ain’t selling the toolage. Pink 50’s is looking crispy the 100s is blue in. My location is the ghetto I’m bomfortably booling. The Crips love me on the beat they fuck with the movement.”
“If they threatened you with life would you crack on your goon? I tend to whisper when I feel there’s a rat in the room.”
“How you put the homies on but let your brother starve? That nigga Bob was taking trips inside his mother’s car. It’s Oak Park 4-5 forever fuck a star. 30 P’s inside a duffel, this 100 large.”
I keep going back to the well of this Stove God album. This guy can really paint a picture but he’s not boring like the average ‘lyrical’ rapper and actually makes actual music that you want to come back to. (Case in point, even the god of function music himself, Martorialist, was feeling Money Puddles, calling it a Faux Marciano song with chutzpah, which all in all is a pretty apt description). This is just bar after bar after bar on the album’s opener, Rolls Royce Brake Lights.
I love the reprisal/flip of Drake’s ‘I just want to beee successful’ taking it from someone corporate like Drake and flipping it into the ambitions of a young stove god just trying to cook his way up in the game.
“I’m the truth, I’m the light I’m the way. Niggas broke, niggas fake, they in the way.”
P.S. after quite a few spins of the whole album I’m kind of intrigued by how many space/planetary/religious references there are are here and there sprinkled in amongst the drug raps.
One of the tres amigos behind last year’s ‘Waka’ is back with a new project, ‘800 BC’, and while the project is not as fun as Waka, and is in fact a very different, MUCH darker vibe, the whole project is fire, highlighted by the opener, ‘Drive By’.
It seems like since ‘Waka‘ (the post on Waka is actually by far the most read post on this website, believe it or not), Fivio Foreign has only gotten bigger and bigger, for example releasing probably the biggest Brooklyn drill song to date (Big Drip), getting a Meek Mill feature on this project, to now going where perhaps no Brooklyn drill rapper has gone before, getting a feature on Drake’s new album. Say what you want about Drake, but he’s the unparalleled expert of latching onto the buzz of new rappers and scenes right as they’re blowing up (i.e. Lil Baby, Blocboy JB), so this certainly solidifies Fivio’s star status and perhaps that of Brooklyn Crip rappers and Brooklyn drill itself. I had actually been bumping the 800 B.C. tape and ‘Drive By’ in particular all week so imagine my surprise when I lazily clicked to see the tracklist of the unexpected new Drake album on Friday morning and saw that Fivio was one of the few features.
If I had to define Fivio’s ‘identity’ or what makes him unique in the rap game, it would be hard to pinpoint an exact feature but I’d point to his heart, grit, aggression/anger, and that he just absolutely HATES opps. ‘Drive By’ is the perfect example of that. It’s a total tour de force by an artist just coming into his own and reflecting on both the triumphs and losses on the road to get here as well as where he’s going next. The beat is sick and almost a calm backdrop to the anger that Fivio punishes the track with; I’d describe the vibe of ‘Drive By’ as almost apocalyptic, it’s Fivio riding around the ruins of the city in a tank after he won a war there and surveying the damage and carnage of his victory.
“The opps tell me we be going too hard, we be shooting too much we be going too far”
“I’ve got wolves I’m still feeding them off. I’ve got money so I’m feeding them all. Stood tall when they needed to ball. Ten toes, two feet on the floor.”
“Fovvy, boss, now I could by me a loft. But I ain’t satisfied at all. Still got Fetty (?) in the fort. Going back and forth to court. Couple of fights that still need to get fought.” On the one hand he’s enjoying newfound success and touting the money and fame that signing a major label deal brings, but on the other hand he’s still focused on vengeance and settling old scores.
“Fovvy, I’m different. Everyone know that I’m gifted. 2 shots for the wicked. Pull up, silence, critics. It’s my crib you evicted.”
Also anyone else reminded of Chief Keef’s ‘Now it’s Over’ by the mansion and specifically the staircase?
I’m also loving the plain blue Balenciaga hat
(P.S. interestingly, Fivio was somehow left off of the ‘Waka’ remix featuring Waka Flocka himself?)
FMB DZ – Ape Season
Rio da Yung OG – Feelings
FMB DZ ft. Rio da Yung OG – High Speed
Stove God Cooks – Money Puddles
Foogiano ft. Lil Baby – Trapper (Remix)
FMB DZ – Keep it On Me
Icewear Vezzo ft. Sada Baby – 2 Hands
FMB DZ – Ape Season
Ray Garraty was right, Ape Season was a harder tape than The Gift 3, although both were dope projects. In fact, Ape Season is one of the hardest projects I’ve heard in a long time. The eponymous opener is just a complete tour de force by DZ. The bars speak for themselves as he just pummels this track like an old punching bag at the gym…
“I just made $200,000. I’m about to close out a deal on 2 houses. Get a nigga kidnapped for 2 ounces. I snuck the pole in the club fuck the bouncers.”
“Took the doors off this bitch we in the hood with it. AR on my lap I look good with it. Pull up in a red Ferarri looking like Suge in it.”
Rio da Yung OG – Feelings
Just when you thought you had Rio pegged down as just rapping about the streets he shows you he can surprise you with a love song/song for the females too – a love song of a decidedly Rio flavor (“I even got the pistol on me when we in the mall shopping”), but a love song nonetheless.
This Mark Boomin’ production on here sampling Surface’s ‘Closer than Just Friends’ is flawless and I love the whistle form that song that he uses (same guy that produced ‘New Car Smell,’ maybe my favorite Peezy song. I have to learn more about this guy and check out more of his production credits). This guy is a genius and I never would have pictured Rio rapping over an 80s R&B beat like this but it just shows what a mastermind he is too.
I bet this is a Rio song that the Martorialist will like; I want to see what he thinks of it.
I love the ‘Your last nigga was a square, bae I’m a different shape’ pickup line, I don’t think it will work out as well for me as it would for Rio but I’m about to steal it.
I think this Youtube comment sums it up perfectly… you can get in your feelings for a minute with Rio but it won’t be long before you’re back on your bully…
Rio and DZ showing that the grind doesn’t stop just for a quarantine or a stay at home order.
My favorite rapper from late 2017/2018 linking up with my favorite rapper from 2019 (and 2020 so far).
FMB DZ is flowing with such urgency over this beat. “I’m not a rapper I’m a motherfucking street nigga. If you ain’t tryna get no money I can’t eat with ya.”
“I’m out West with it, with my Vatos, me and Chino counting $50,000 eating tacos”
I just started bumping ‘The Gift 3’ and there are a whole bunch of bangers on it so far, definitley FMB DZ’s best work in a while; he’s spitting with high intensity on this.
I love the transition from DZ to Rio with DZ using that wierd effect on his voice and then Rio casually walking into the restaurant (LA Coney Island).
Before we even get to Rio’s verse, let’s take a moment to appreciate the fact that this man just dropped a great album, ‘City on My Back,’ then released a dope track with RMC Mike and Lil E (Still Spice Talkin’) and now still had enough gas left in the tank to release ANOTHER classic verse here as a feature on FMB DZ’s album. This guy is rap’s iron man he literally doesn’t stop.
Now let’s get back to Rio’s verse.
“Drop a nickel on your ass I got cheap killers, everybody got a body if you see them with us.”
Then Rio yet again shows that he’s probably the most inventive, ingenuous mind in rap today with this sequence where he adds bouncers to strippers as the nightclub personnel that he is a clear disdain for, comes up with a creative way of robbing a dealer in Colorado, and flexes on us by saying he doesn’t need to use a mask when he’s robbing because he’s an out of towner.
“I’m in the club with some shit that will drop a bouncer, robbed a bow man in Colorado, made him climb a mountain. I even robbed a coke man for an ounce of powder. I did that shit without a mask, I’m an out of towner.”
Oh, and did I mention that he has kamikaze bombers?
I also like that Rio seems to be amongst the more humble rappers in the game and doesn’t seem to have much use for stunting or flexing for social media etc. he’s just 100% about his money, consistently saying things like this…
“I didn’t act like I was rich, I was humble poor. You ain’t learn nothing when you was broke, what you struggle for?”
I’m always a sucker for rappers talking about the security at their spots…
“HD cameras on my house watching down the street. Your hemi slow as hell I’ll chase you down on feet.”
Stove God Cooks – Money Puddles
The rhyme scheme on this from Stove God Cooks is insane. Almost like a coke rap version of DMX’ ‘How We Be’ where he’s not so much rapping lines but just free-associating different words/phrases that fit a theme while he’s flowing. Just the pure artistry that went into this is something to take a step back and admire.
“Keep the planets all in orbit, dirty Porsches, half a million dollar mortgage, lemon swordfish”
“Hangin out the window eyes closed he shooting on a xannie, Versace (???) print look like cotton candy, this that hard knock, this that Orphan Annie”
“A hundred kilos, run up the C-Notes, my nigga ducked the RICO, pray for me though, Valentino, glass of pinot, ain’t no room up in this Benz, it’s me and my ego! These niggas forgot the G code, 36 to 63 O’s, that’s the reload, Rhinna twerking on my B-Roll!
“I deserve a rose I rose out the concrete, Ferarri, Fear of God I’m feeling like Haille Selasse”
I don’t know much about the Stove God but it looks like he is Roc Marciano’s new protege and Roc produced the entire album, I know some of you guys love Roc. I believe he is from Long Island like Roc. I’m just sinking my teeth into the album now and this was one early standout but the whole album is really good/interesting after a couple of listens. I like this guy’s angle and artistry he definitley somehow puts a new spin on things that thousands of artists have covered before, so that’s no small feat. My one minor complaint would be that similar to Roc himself and the Griselda dudes etc. I wish he would rap over some harder beats too, like something that the Detroit/Flint guys rap over because I feel like he could absolutely destroy a couple of those beats. Regardless, I am down with the Stove God.
Foogiano ft. Lil Baby – Trapper (remix)
BECAUSE THE TRAP DOESN’T CLOSE FOR STAY AT HOME ORDERS
I’m feeling this dude Foogiano’s flow/voice he’s a fool with it
I can usually take or leave the video vixens but I can’t lie I’m a big fan of this one
Lil Baby is floating on this beat I might like his verse here better than anything on his new album.
FMB DZ – Keep it On Me
I love the sheer sense of urgency that DZ is rapping with here in ‘Keep it On Me’ from his new tape ‘The Gift 3’ which essentially serves as a surprisingly heartfelt and effective ode to his strap, showing what a vital part it is of his everyday life and how much he needs it, whether he’s on offense or defense. He just comes out swinging over this beat with such an intensity. It’s obviously a well-traveled theme for rappers, but he still somehow makes it sound original…
“I go to sleep with it, I take a shit with it, I brush my teeth with it, I handle beef with it. I go to the store with it, I get low with it. I take out the trash with it, get on your ass with it. Go to the O with it, go to the K with it, go to the A with it, nigga I stay with it. I hit Miami with it. I was in Collins with it. In the drop with it, ONE IN THE TOP WITH IT.”
Between releasing The Gift 3 and Ape Season (thanks to Ray Garraty for re-recommending this one to me) just in the last few months, FMB DZ is at the top of his game right now.
Icewear Vezzo ft. Sada Baby – 2 Hands
Icewear is feeling himself here, one of the best verses I’ve heard from him. I was listening to a bunch of Icewear probably about 4-5 years ago or maybe even earlier before he got locked up, I feel like he sort of preceded this current wave of Detroit rappers who have now gotten more popular, I haven’t really checked out most of his recent stuff but saw he just did this song with Sada Baby and decided to check it out, glad to see he’s back at the top of his game. Icewear is linking up with Sada Baby, rocking a bandana with a khaki suit which I am definitley in favor of, flowing like a beast, and just reeling off bar after bar like it’s nothing…
“I get higher than a nigga finna go to court. I got fire like a nigga that ain’t go to work. I’m so lit round this bitch I can’t go in stores.”
I def feel you on that last part, Icewear.
“She only tells me she loves me when it’s beneficial, wear my jewelery out in public yeah I been official, nigga touch one of mine and I’m sending missiles”
“A nigga catch me broke, come sign my cast”
“Catch an opp while he lacking I’m an opportunist”
I love Sada Baby’s typically over the top boasting, “We might be the toughest richest niggas in America.” Not only the toughest, or richest, but the toughest and richest.
