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Category Archives: Monthly Top 10

Top Songs August 2019

07 Saturday Sep 2019

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Cash Click Boog ft. Rockin Rolla – Southwest Gangin 

Even more heat from Cash Click Boog, one of the nicest in the game right now. Boog and Rockin Rolla would have already had a contender for my favorite/most listened to song of the month with Tap Out but then they unleashed this slap which took top spot. I don’t know who did this beat but it’s nasty. Perfect type of production for Boog/Rolla, they absolutely float over this. “Paid the bouncer 200 just to get the rifle in, can’t leave without the strap that’s the life we live.”

“Instead of doing 9 to 5 buddy doing 5 to 10, I ain’t handing out no deal take this dime for ten.”

Boog’s shirt is fire; equally at home in the trap or at an art gala. I’m usually not a fan of these shoulder bags some of these rappers are rocking now but I’m not going to tell Boog that when you’re Boog you can rock whatever you want.

Rolla is stepping over the bodies of the lyrical myrical rappers, “I be coming off the head ’cause writing easy.” It would be hilarious to see him get into that lane and just put all those guys to shame. I love Rolla’s attitude “Where they count on me to lose, I’ma show they ass.”

That Oakland tattoo with the guy with the bandana and the bags of money is super intense.

“Rolla hit me on the phone what’s the deal with it, I done lost some but I deal with it, don’t be talking bout them murders we kill witness, all these Percs in my system I feel different, Southwest that’s west Oakland the real Richmond.”

Boog and Rolla have just been lining them up and knocking them down lately, maybe my new favorite tag team in the game. I finally checked out Rockin Rolla’s most recent solo tape and he’s got some joints on there too. We need a whole album of collabs from these guys at this point, with Chris On The Beat and whoever made this beat handling production.

Little Brother – The Feel

I’ve honestly never really gotten into these guys and admittedly I haven’t checked out much of their previous stuff that I can think of off the top of my head but I’ll be damned if this intro off of Little Brother’s unexpected comeback album May the Lord Watch isn’t some serious heat.

North Carolina is having a really nice year between the surprisingly good (to me!) Dreamville album, DaBaby planting his flag on the map and now this unexpected comeback from Little Brother.

I don’t know why but I love the ‘Raleigh…Durham… Chapel Hill’ of the intro right before the beat kicks in. This beat is so smooth and laid back.

My favorite part is the mental image the chorus conjures up of a turned-up Phonte about to go so hard at the bar or club just stomping onto the dancefloor one step at a time and warning his companions that they may literally need to reel him in because he can’t promise that he won’t get completely out of hand.

The rest of the album was also a very nice listen as well and I’m usually not a huge skits guy but even some of the skits weren’t bad. I agree with Ray Garraty that unfortunately a lot of new albums/music these days is just made for the sake of being made and don’t really need to exist and just blend together into one big forgettable haze, but thankfully, unlike those I feel like May the Lord Watch is one that while not my usual style, stood out from the morass and needed to be made.

E-40 ft. Rexx Life Raj, Lil Boosie – Blossom 

THIS is the type of song I want to hear for new music from a legend with three decades in the game. Rising up above the circumstances to not only grow but blossom in a hostile environment.

“They outed me doubted me didn’t want me to flourish, I come from the ghetto where we was famished, malnourished. When people first heard me they thought that I was a fluke, but I’m a real nigga like Kunta Kintae from Roots. I’ma keep running even without any shoes.”

“Broken towel racks and bullet tissue holders, used to keep the bacon fat up in a can of Folgers, and if the heater ain’t working and it’s freezing cold? We open up the oven and turn on the stove.”

I’m absolutely loving E-40’s verse it’s low-key one of my new favorites; Simultaneously inspiring, reminiscent and defiant. I love his tone and flow/cadence on it whether it’s the affectation on ‘keep running without any shoes’ or the way he raps ‘We open up the oven and turn on the stove’ like he’s answering a question. The Kunta Kinte line and the part about how he keeps running even without shoes is just too fucking real. I wish it was a little longer!

As soon as I saw that Practice Makes Paper was out and browsed the tracklist, this was the first song I jumped to as it seemed like the most interesting combination of features and it did not disappoint. (And I’ve got to hand it to 40, he did a really good job of putting together some interesting features on this album and some unexpected combinations of artists, i.e. Tee Grizzley and Rod Wave, or putting together an all-star team of Detroit hustlers with Payroll, Peezy and Sada Baby. Some people don’t like when an artist has too many features and guest appearances on his solo album but I for one love it; variety is the spice of life, and when done organically, it’s interesting to see who artists you like are listening to and who they respect). I like that he tapped Rexx Life Raj for the hook here and I look Raj’s take on it. Raj is great with these types of reminiscent more serious songs, i.e. his verse and hook on my song of the year for last year. The Boosie verse wasn’t one of his all-time highlights or anything like that but I’m never opposed to hearing some new Boosie.

As a side note, elsewhere on the album, I have to salute E-40 for his ‘I keep a stick like Moses’ line; at this point in time rappers have made so many references to staying strapped that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find original ways of saying it but comparing yourself to Moses is definitely a new and inventive way to do it. And lastly let’s all take a step back to appreciate E-40l this guy has stayed strong in the game for over 30 years now and has done it his own way the whole time. It’s been a good year for 50+ year old West Coast rappers between E-40 and Suga Free.

Cash Click Boog & ChrisOnTheBeat ft. Rockin Rolla – Tap Out 

Pretty much exactly what you want to hear from Boog over typically harsh ChrisOnTheBeat production that’s perfect for all these Bay/Detroit guys. I love Boog’s voice (pause! pause!), definitley one of the most unique in rap.

Boog is sounding like every old, grumpy suburban dad here when kids are playing outside near their car; “Tipped the valet at the door told him grab my whip, I’ll put my foot in your ass if you scratch my shit”.

Another hightlight is Boog bluntly telling the squares to get out of his way – “Nigga shut the fuck up if you ain’t making flips, on the plane with a roll I had to take a risk”

From what I gather from features etc. it seems like Rockin Rolla is one of Boog’s top right-hand men. I like his name Rockin Rolla it has me picturing a greaser from the 50s or an Elvis type instead of a rapper. But Rockin Rolla quickly puts that notion to bed because he comes out firing here – “Boog I’m tired of niggas saying all this hating shit, take a trip with 10 bags that’s a baby trip, I just bought a Draco with a baby Kick… Southwest we the army and the navy bitch.” I didn’t know much about Rockin Rolla when I first checked this out but after this and Southwest Gangin’ I’ve been bumping a bunch of his solo stuff and he definitely has some joints on there too he quickly becoming one of my new guys that I’m checking for every time I see they have a new video.

Cheers to ChrisOnTheBeat for putting his name as one of the artists now instead of just a producer credit in parentheses at the end of the title. I’m definitley a fan of this guys’ menacing production.

E-40 – Bet You Didn’t Know 

People use phrases like spitting knowledge/dropping knowledge/dropping jewels or ‘putting us onto game’ pretty loosely these days when a rapper talks about any type of life advice or (usually) financial advice in a song i.e. someone like a Rick Ross talking about investing or stacking up for a rainy day etc. But E-40 takes it to a whole new level in ‘Bet You Didn’t Know’ because the ENTIRE SONG IS JUST E-40 DROPPING KNOWLEDGE.

After the first two points, I was kind of like ‘Alright, I see where this is going, it’s going to be a political/socially conscious song from E-40’ but then I did not see the third point coming at all ‘You can bring your own bottle of wine and pay the corkage fee in the restaurant. You can have your own wine locker and you don’t have to pay the corkage fee in the restaurant.’ Not what I was expecting but nonetheless helpful advice for those who don’t know. After that, E-40 really blindsides us by schooling us (in order) on some grammar, anatomy and the corporate structure of Volkswagen as the crowd behind him implores him to ‘Teach, teach, teach’ and encourages him to ‘Drop gems on them’ over and over again. From there, it’s a pretty wide-ranging cornucopia of topics, from the genuinely useful and insightful like helping your kids build their credit and quite a bit of health is wealth advice to less applicable in daily life such as ‘A maggot morphs into a fly, a caterpillar is a butterfly’. There’s quite a bit of animal talk (my favorite of which would have to be ‘A dolphin can beat a shark’) and religious musings. (By the way is it just me or does the ‘glass of wine a day keeps the heart attacks away’ sound like a credo you would see on like some wooden wall art from Walmart in a middle-aged woman’s kitchen? Then again based on the name of my site I guess who am I to judge).

The beat is actually fairly fire too. In short, 30 yeas into his career E-40 is still one of the most colorful and unpredictable characters in the rap game. Elsewhere on the album E-40 makes references to everything from Moses to Ashley Graham.

OMB Peezy – Big Homie

Hadn’t really listened to anything new from OMB Peezy in a while for whatever reason to be honest, and kind of out of nowhere, he unleashes probably my favorite song to date “I hope you niggas ain’t forget homie, young nigga still’ll kill a nigga’s big homie, word around town I ride around with a stick on me, and I’ll do a walk-through like Rich Homie.” That hook is just so fucking savage. Peezy just goes so hard over this Lil Baby/Gunna/Ghetto Guitar-esque beat and it works perfectly. On a side note I kind of slept on One Me when it first came out and Onmi Erstig and Ray Garratywere talking about it but I gave it another spin after how much I liked Big Homie and it really grew on me now I can’t stop playing it.

Little Brother – Work Through Me

Nice joint to end the Little Brother album. I’m primarily posting this because I have no choice but to be impressed by Phonte’s ability to rhyme ‘no cap bitch prove me wrong’ with ‘catfish courtbouillon’

Little Brother – Sittin Alone 

People throw around the phrase ‘Grown man rap’ or pretty loosely but no one lives and breathes it more than Phonte, the utmost purveyor of grown man bars. “After 35 the club’s a different type of torment, pretend to be excited watchin’ bitches ditty bop, when you’d rather be at home watching Flip or Flop.” Damn I felt that Phonte, maybe a little too much.

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Top Songs July 2019

11 Sunday Aug 2019

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Wow I have been lazy this month, posting my top songs for July almost halfway through August, and only posting 8 songs instead of 10 but they all slap. I guess better late than never!

ALLBLACK ft. Kosisko – 304

HOW IS THIS NOT THE NUMBER ONE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE RIGHT NOW

ALLBACK is the best. He’s like Oakland’s Dos Equis guy; the most interesting man in rap.

I don’t know who Kossisko is but since ALLBLACK is rocking with him I’m obligated to blindly be down with him, and he glided on the hook here. (I’ve since been informed by my knowledgeable and discerning readers, Kossisko is the rapper formerly known as the 100s.) This beat is wild too but I don’t know who produced it. ALLBLACK looking burly out here with the windbreaker and the taped up wrists. I’m loving the theme and format of the video which made 304 even more fun and took things back to a simpler time. ALLBLACK knows how to make function music; I have a feeling my man the Martorialist is going to love this one if he hasn’t seen it already. We’ve been blessed with a nice feast of fun songs/videos lately and 304 is definitely worthy of that company if not at the top of it.

ALLBLACK is coming out firing with verse of the year material, “Can’t trust hoes, barely can trust my partners. In a Sprinter with 3 Glocks and a mint green chopper. My Cambodian niggas blacker than Barrack Obama. My migo niggas knock the meat out up your enchilada… Y’all know me I just walked down here for carne asada, sour cream extra cheese and a large horchata… Same nigga from the group home drinking UV vodka.” Like my homie Icebergsweater said, this opening verse was easily one of his favorites of the year, and I couldn’t agree more.

I love the ‘Pull up whenever wherever like Kerr from the Bulls, stole my granddad’s revolver and took it to school’ line because when you hear it you either think of ALLBLACK or an angry, goth-y suburban teenager. (See ALLBLACK’s verse on Road Run, he seems to be well aware of this dichotomy.) “Had an all black AP that held 32, I’ve been turned up since AIM this fame ain’t new.”

I’ve been rocking with ALLBLACK since Florida Gator last summer, and I’m glad to see he’s gotten bigger and bigger since then, and hopefully this song/video propels him into an even higher stratosphere.

Duke Deuce – Yeh 

This is my new favorite/most fun song since Waka, and I’d say up there with Waka if not surpassing it for best choreographed group dance moves as you’ll see around the 0:59 mark or so. Seriously this sideways strut/spin thing they’ve got going on is fucking fire. (I’d say don’t try this at home but helpfully, Duke has a really comprehensive, easy-to-follow tutorial video on it that walks you through it step by step.)

Memphis’ Duke Deuce is kind of reminding me of a 70th Street Carlos but more of an evil twin/more sinister 70th Street Carlos. On ‘Yeh’, Duke pulls off the difficult task of making a song that’s hard as fuck that’s ALSO simultaneously fun and something you’d want to throw on at a party.

I’m absolutely loving the blunt and relatable self-assessment and flow on “Smoking weed at the school getting in trouble with the law, hard-headed ass nigga mama said your ass off, hard-headed ass nigga down their knocking heads off, Daddy found out I was GD damn near knocked my chest off.”

I’d also like to take a moment to salute the eclectic collection of sportswear in this video ranging from the New England Patriots to the more obscure Xavier Musketeers and even the fictional Los Angeles Knights from Like Mike, not to mention even a D Generation X t-shirt.

Definitely one of the songs of the summer so far.

P.S. first saw this on the ole’ reliable DGB.

J Cole, Lute, DaBaby – Under the Sun 

I know what y’all are thinking, this guy has barely posted in like a month and comes back posting a J. Cole song instead of Rich the Factor or CML, did someone kidnap the real Pink C and assume his identity? Rest assured it’s me, because I don’t have that lucrative of an identity to steal.

I’ve never gotten into Cole but I’ll be damned if this ‘Under the Sun’ off of Revenge of the Dreamers 3 isn’t a verifiable banger. Maybe I’m just getting older and softer or maybe this summer weather just has me in a good mood but I’m feeling this. This beat is sounding downright exquisite, all 3 rappers are on point; even Kendrick’s hook is dope. And while Cole and one of his Dreamville footsoliders with Da Baby sounds like a strange mix they come together seamlessly like tres heat-producing North Carolina amigos here. (According to Reddit/Wikipedia etc. the sample is ‘The Argo Singers- How I Love to Call His Name’ and the producers are Christo, Pluss, and Nice Rec).

Upon first listen, without knowing any better I assumed that the either the Cole verse or the Lute verse was Da Baby, and that Da Baby’s verse was one of the first two; what with Cole and Lute rapping about having a couple of guns and their cousin airing out a party for fun, and Da Baby rapping about being in college and smashing college bitches. (I’ve got to check out some more of Lute’s stuff this is the first time I’ve ever heard him).

There are a couple of other nice songs on this album too but I’m still trying to remember which is which with all the features etc. and how they kind of blend together. My one complaint is that this album keeps giving me anxiety when I listen to it on my phone especially during work hours because with the way the songs cut off abruptly/before you expect it I keep thinking that I’m getting a phone call.

I’ve got to give Cole credit he really brought together a pretty impressive list of artists for these Dreamville sessions, with everyone from Rick Ross to Terrace Martin (was Terrace Martin really on this?? Or maybe he’s on one of the songs that hasn’t been released yet). I think if I could choose any 5 artists that weren’t there/weren’t invited to throw into the mix at the recording sessions, off the top of my head, regardless of how realistic it would be, I’d go Peezy, CML/Lavish D, Rich the Factor, let’s get ALLBLACK in there too (of course), and the last spot is a tie between Duke Deuce, 03 Greedo  and Kodak.

ALLBLACK – Little Miami 

I want to go boating with ALLBLACK.

This guy is on a completely different level right now; he’s unstoppable.

DaBaby – Suge 

I’m hella late on DaBaby but between Suge and his verse on the J Cole song I’m coming at you with an unprecedented TWO appearances by DaBaby on this month’s list. I remember Martorialist talking about him when Texas Ranger came out and checking it out and not really seeing what all the buzz was about. It wasn’t until hearing people driving around in my area blasting Suge that he started to grow on me and now I can’t stop playing it. It hadn’t dawned on me just how big DaBaby had gotten until I heard multiple people blasting it in their cars on the same weekend and then checking it out on YouTube and seeing it was in the 100s of millions of views. I’m always favorable to Suge Knight references/homages so DaBaby is preaching to the choir here. I finally checked out DaBaby’s whole album and there were quite a few good songs on it; I have to say he was a lot more lyrical than I expected and he has a good sense of humor; definitely one of the most interesting out of the newer/younger dudes in this style.

Maxo Kream ft. A$AP Ferg – Murda Blocc 

Maxo’s ode to his Murda Blocc is my favorite song off of his’Brandon Banks’ album after a couple of listens through. I don’t know how he made ‘I’m on Murda Blocc from the sun up to the sun down’ sound so catchy but damn it this one stays in your head. “And if you’re looking for me I be with the Forum Park Crips!”

Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks 

Another highlight from Brandon Banks. Maxo going with the Lil Baby/Gunna acoustic guitar-beat angle and doing it very well. I like this video for it with just the audio and no video instead of the other one with the cheap CGI animation!

CML Lavish D – Real As Us

King Lav serving up more red meat to his base. This man delivers pretty much every time.

I don’t know how CML always does it but he always comes up with these simple lines that sound so fire when he says them; “.308s make a nigga Harlem shake, all this pressure I’m applying it’ll make a nigga break.”

Top Songs June 2019

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Alright fam no need to fear the kid is back after a long, involuntary absence more or less forced upon me by my son 187ing my laptop by repeatedly smashing it on the floor. But your humble host picked up a cheap offbrand Chromebook in some sort of white snakeskin pattern on sale at Target and is now back in the saddle. Living without internet since my fateful Celly Ru post which seems like way longer than 3 weeks ago, I’ve been in a bit of a musical and cultural abyss but here’s my belated list for best music of July 2019.

Jim Jones ft. Jadakiss, Philthy Rich – Don’t Know What they Took Him For 

Harlem to Yonkers to Oakland

This Heatmakerz beat is unbelievable. Almost makes me feel like I’m in the 80s watching some type of promotional video from one of those sketchy self-help gurus where the actors are talking about how good their lives are after they paid him to  walk over hot coals in his sketchy desert retreat and made his suggested life changes, or like a corporate training video from the same era telling you how to be a good employee. Or maybe even some sort of anti-drug PSA where the kids are talking about how great their lives are by not doing drugs. So many good Heatmakerz beats on Jim’s new album but this might be the best.

“On birthdays was the worst days, now I might pop $80 grand on a Thursday”. I love the over the top ‘Grrr’ ad lib after he mentions goons his goons purging which we’ve also seen previously in ‘Dipset Forever’ (the second coming of it). Ad lib game on point as always, and Jim does very well with the hook.

I’m never opposed to hearing what Jadakiss has to say and I obviously welcome the Phil feature. Jadakiss sounds like he’s in a good place these days here (‘Count my blessings get my lessons out the Good Book’). Jim and Philthy have done some good work together before on ‘East Side‘ with Peezy. (Wish he would have gotten a Peezy feature for this album!) It’s kind of random that the Jim Jones album ends with a Philthy Rich verse but again I’m down with Philthy so I don’t really mind.

Lil Baby ft. Future – Out the Mud 

Wasn’t sure what to expect here but damn Lil Baby really came with the heat on this one. I love his weird voice/flow that he went with over this beat.

The “My earings like baseballs, clout chasers I hate y’all” line was dope. Birdman may have been sporting diamonds the size of golf balls in his ears in ‘Shine’ but Lil Baby one ups him.

At this point Lil Baby is probably my favorite of the ‘new’ wave of nationally known rappers that the kids are into.

Celly Ru – Ru Gotti 

Maybe Ru Gotti is bad luck for me since it was the last song I posted before an angry one year old tombstoned my laptop but it goes too hard to not include at the top here. Celly beasted out on his whole album.

Jim Jones ft. Marc Scibilia, Fabolous – Nothing Lasts 

Yimmy is back with a new album El Capo to follow up on last year’s somewhat overlooked Wasted Talent. I can’t decide which I like better yet after a couple of listens but they’re both good. Jim is having a nice little Indian summer to his career with 2 straight solid albums in 2 years, and has evolved from probably the least checked for main member of Dipset (through no fault of his own) to arguably the most checked for and is going the strongest of all them with the most consistent output. After a couple of spins so far I’m really feeling this one, Mama I Made It, and Don’t Know What they Took Him For (which has a Philthy cameo!).

I can’t decide if ‘Still going cray on them like a coloring book is one of the best lines I’ve ever heard in a rap song or one of the worst lines I’ve ever heard in a rap song.

This production with the Lionel Richie sample is sounding downright godly. Heatmakerz have a lot of nice beats on this album. I’m not sure who the hell Marc Scibliani is or why he’s all over every song on this album but he doesn’t sound bad on the hook here so I can’t hate, and let’s be honest no one could ruin this sample. Imagine if Jim wanted to get a little wavy and got El Debarge on the hook? Or if he was hellbent on going down the white R&B singer route for whatever reason, if he sprung for like a Michael McDonald or the guy from Hall and Oates or something? Lol. Either way Jim definitley has a nice smooth summer jam on his hands here. In a perfect world this would be a summer hit on radio.

Peezy – New Car Smell 

I’m kind of cheating here since I already did a post on New Car Smell and made it my top song of March but as The Martorialist pointed out they actually came out with a video for it now and I’m posting it again for this month. It’s an instant classic anyway so no harm posting it twice. Apparently Peezy is still a free man but we don’t know how much more music we’ll get from him before he has to sit down for a while. I’m super hyped about this Ghetto Rich Niggas project he’s talking about with Payroll Giovanni that’s supposedly in the vault let’s hope that comes out this summer. I’m glad to see Peezy is in on the silky trend I can support it. Also I remember recently on Instagram Peezy was calling out the actual couch salesman who talking like the cartel so it’s actually a specific person. The Ghetto Boys chain is hard as fuck.

Polo G – Dyin Breed x Polo G – Through Da Storm 

 

I think The Martorialist described it best when he called this style Durk-core that he can usually take or leave but that in this case Polo G gives it the “bars and pathos for summer, winter, the 4th quarter, whatever”. I wasn’t super into it when I first checked out Deep Wounds in that post but it slowly grew on me and I checked out the rest of the album and I’ve got to say some of these songs by young Polo go hard as fuck. It definitely does have the pathos and just catchiness that the more generic post-Durk core purveyors lack. While Martorialist is rocking out with Deep Wounds and Chosen 1 which are both solid choices, after a couple of spins my favorites from the album are Dying Breed and Through Da Storm. I’m feeling that baby-block nursery toy sounding beat for Through Da Storm and Dying Breed is just a tour de force. Also, weirdly I’m getting ads for some sort of cloud-computing mumbo jumbo for offices called Monday while I’m watching the Polo G videos which just doesn’t seem right but get your money Polo G.

Jim Jones ft. Cam’ron – Mama I Made It 

Another gem from El Capo. Just Jim and Cam flowing like it’s 2005 over the perfect type of triumphant Heatmakerz sample for them to crush.

Polo G ft. Lil Baby, Gunna – Pop Out Again 

Another hit from the Polo G album that grew on me. I’m unclear on if Miami Garden is some feared hood/project in Miami where Gunna is mentioning that he’s wearing his Richard Millie Plain to show how tough he is because no one took it from him, or if it’s a high-end exclusive Miami restaurant/night club and he’s mentioning he’s wearing it to show how hard he’s stunting, it’s either one or the other.

AzChike ft. AzSwaye – OOUH 

Despite Netherlands losing in the Nations League final Onmin Ernstig still pulled through and posted a nice new slap from AzChike/AzSwaye this month with OOUH. “Better watch what you say to some rich niggas, in the basement cooking crack like I’m Big Tigger, even white bitches say boy you that nigga.”

CML Lavish D – Before You Speak 

I’m officially a Lavish D stan. I don’t even like this one as much as a lot of Lav’s other recent slaps but I’m just excited for any new Lav in general. Is this the first sighting of Lav without his buffs on? “Applying pressure on niggas, uppin’ weapons on niggas, better get up out my way Blood I’m steppin’ on niggas.”

Top Songs May 2019

02 Sunday Jun 2019

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May was the best month in a long time…

Suga Free ft. Kokane – Hole in My Heart

How could top song of the month be anything besides Suga Free the Pimp? This veteran in the game really turned up the pressure on the simps with The Resurrection and let them know he has no plans of taking his foot off the gas any time soon. Arguably my favorite/best album of 2019 so far.

It’s always a JOY… when Suga Free blesses us with a new album full of heaters.

Is that Suga Free moshing at 1:23??

Like the homie Icebergsweater said, the whole Suga Free album slaps. Another great production by L-Finguz, who it seems like pretty much produced this entire album save for a song or two, I love the beat and the flourishes of talkbox thrown in. As my boy Onmirestig points out, L-Finguz is having a big year, producing the lion’s share of this album and a bunch of joints on the new Mistah Fab album as well and probably a bunch of other stuff I’m overlooking at the moment. At some point soon I want to sit down and put together a list cataloging all of the L-Finguz productions from this year.

On a related note, I’m usually not a huge Vlad TV guy but his most recent interview with Suga Free is non-stop entertainment, because it’s Suga Free, and even Vlad can’t get in the way of that. Even just the introduction itself is hilarious, where Suga Free is like ‘Nice to be here, right on’ and ‘I get to meet the man behind the magic’ to Vlad and it’s a mix of friendly, intimidating and somewhat troll-y all at once, or when Vlad is asking him about the secret to success in pimping and Suga Free takes a long pause and then just asks ‘Why?’. It’s also a 14-part interview so you have to really carve out some time to sit down and watch it. The shirt he’s rocking for it as wild too.

P.S. I heard there’s a new Kokane album out? But I haven’t seen it anywhere yet. And are we really supposed to get a joint album from Suga Free and Kokane? Based on this song that’s definitley going to be one of my most anticipated albums so fingers crossed it comes into fruition.

CML – Demons 

If it wasn’t for Suga Free, CML/Lavish D/King Lavish D/Lav etc. (what should we call him now??) was probably my other most listened to artist of the month.

King Lavish D is keeping his foot on the gas. Lav is more consistent and focused than ever in 2019. I don’t know how he does it but Lav is the master of creating these simple flows and rhyme schemes and making them sound dope… (i.e. this song, Speak My Mind, U Feel Me, etc.). Nice hard beat from Royce on The Beat.

“The gang cold nigga, you a ho nigga, free D-Steez we got hella poles nigga, we demons in the field we got hella souls nigga, everybody pimpin’ we got hella hos nigga.”

On a side note I see that Lav’s chain collection is continuing to grow with this Big Bank Hank chain. I haven’t seen that Waldo chain in a while. I kind of want one of these Bank’d Up ENT hoodies/sweatsuits but I’m not sure if Lav would let me or if they’re even for sale they’re probably just for his crew.

My one small gripe here is that the production/mix sounds kind of off and doesn’t do the song justice when you put it on full blast maybe they can give it a quick remaster since it just came out. Cash Money West needs to give Lav some serious investment for production etc. Another thought here is we have so many collabs with Detroit rappers reaching out to Bay rappers like all the songs with Philthy Rich I feel like it’s time for some of the Detroit heavy hitters to come to Sacramento and start putting Lav on those.

Speaking of Lav and Philthy I feel like last time around I overlooked how hard Dead Presidents with Cash Click Boog and Prince Dreda goes. Boog’s verse on that is sick. I always thought Boog was from Detroit but I just learned apparently he’s from Richmond? I’ve got to post a couple of songs from his new album The Streets Ah Vouch up here soon.

Coach Joey x DamJonBoi – 7 Mile Zoo 

My only break  The Bay and from Suga Free for the month was to post some heat out of Detroit by this newcomer DamJonBoi, but everyone knows that The Bay and Detroit are like cousins anyway. This dude DamJonBoi is a monster, he’s getting some buzz right now and not only does he rap he also makes a lot of these beats too on his own songs and for other artists like Mozzy and FMB DZ. His song ‘Capers‘ is blowing up and he has a lot of other heaters on his new ‘The Number 20’ project like the Barry Sanders intro and RIP Icewood. ‘Uncle Elroy‘ is an older song by him but that bangs too.

Coach Joey aka Jospeh McFashion is doing his thing here as a Motor City version of DJ Khaled except with better taste and putting some dope collaborations together with some of the D’s biggest movers and shakers instead of say Jay-Z and Nas or Beyonce for the umpteenth time and without the Weight Watchers endorsement money or book deal.

“RIP my nigga Woo, niggas lying in their songs but on the stand telling truths, in the D it’s a zoo, raised in the Zone my first words was sowuu”

Lmao @ “Fuck these hoes I just want some lambchops to tell the truth, Red Zone in this bitch Joey pulled up in a coupe, lil blood like Klay Thompson with the chop he can shoot”. I kind of feel where you’re coming from about the lamb chops sometimes Jon Boi.

I love the ‘Red Zone’ name. Clearly DamJonBoi is from 7 Mile and he’s a Blood he’s not making it much of a secret; but I’m unclear on where he stands on the rest of the Detroit rappers that we all love like Peezy, FMB DZ etc. Because on the one hand he’s doing songs with DZ etc. but on the other hand I’ve seen him and Sada Baby throwing shots back and forth at each other online so not sure what the situation is.

A lot of times when producers start rapping the verses aren’t as good as their beats but Jon Boi is killing it in both departments.

 

Mistah FAB ft. CML, Philthy Rich – U Feel Me?

Front Row Fabby linking up with King Lavish D and Philthy for this absolute banger.Was about to post ‘taking a break from Bay beef for a day’ and post a different song today but then I was hyped when I saw that the video for U Feel Me came out a couple of hours ago since I’ve been bumping it all week. Weirdly it appears on both Fab’s new ‘Gold Chains and Taco Meat’ album as well as CML and Philthy’s ‘Political Ties’ project but it slaps so I don’t mind hearing it on both. The song/concept is so simple but just goes so hard. It reminds me of Lav’s ‘What Else’ i.e. the pattern of saying ‘What Else’ and then a short line being repeated over the course of the song/rapping a short line and then asking ‘U Feel Me?’. Not sure who handled the beat for this one but it knocks.

Everybody here is good and their resumes speak for themselves but Lav steals the show which I feel like is becoming a common theme lately. I love the ‘Stepped out of prison going brazy’ line. The ‘I’m a Livewire like Shady’ part was an unexpected surprise since I thought Lav funking with Shady back in the day was how his original feud with all of the One Mob guys started (as my boy Onmirestig explained) but as we’ve seen, you never know what to expect in these ever-shifting Sacramento/Oakland politics; enemies can become allies quickly and vice versa.

I always figured Mistah FAB was friendly with Mozzy and they’ve done a bunch of songs together (including with Philthy Rich on the same track) back when everyone was still  friends so I’m not sure if this appearance is a statement on where he stands by Fab or if he just wanted to get two of the hottest names in the game right now on a track he knew was going to be a banger. I’m going to assume the latter because I feel like Fab is too friendly and positive of a dude for that type of beef.

How about getting a mega-mix of this one where they add Suga Free and let’s say… Cookie Money, and ALLBLACK why the hell not?

P.S. I got a chance to bump Fab’s new album ‘Gold Chains and Taco Meat’ (what a name lol) a couple of times on a long drive this week and as usual you can count on Fabby to deliver with at least a couple of bangers; so far I like U Feel Me, Hey Baby, Time 4 U, and of course Playa Shit at the end with Suga Free and Too $hort.

Suga Free – Here’s to You 

At age 50, Suga Free is rapping better than almost anyone else in the game and showing the squares whose boss.

Suga Free ft. Pomona M Drey, Deuce Mack, Blacktovan – For My Niggas 

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Mistah FAB ft. Juan Love – Time 4 U 

 

Not sure who Juan Love but I also liked this one off of FAB’s album, it almost sounds like a song that like DJ Mustard would make for some industry plant that you’d hear on the radio but with FAB doing it so it’s actually good.

Preddy Boy P & Strakavelli ft. Dolla Dame – Stay Dangerous 

Saw this on Onmi Restig this is just so smooth.

I love the honesty from Preddy Boy P when he’s like ‘Some of my day ones have switched on me, some of my bitches jumped ship on me. I remember being down on my dick homie, that’s why I never leave the house without the stick homie.

The ‘I don’t entertain gossip, go to the source, I knock a nigga down just for the sport’ line is so cold.

Great hook from Strakavelli and the Dame Dolla verse is nice, especially when he reminds us that Anchorage is in Alaska.

‘They tryin tell me play it safe and put the gun down, when these niggas killing over crumbs now.’

DB Tha General – Oakland in My Soul 

Cool little joint by DB over the Souls of Mischief beat. I always loved this beat. I wonder what DB The General thinks about the Philthy/Mozzy beef since I feel like he doesn’t like any of these guys. I think at one point him and CML were cool/did a couple of songs together but I don’t think they’re actually simpatico anymore either. DB should start a consulting service on beefing with Bay Area rappers and getting through it, like those prison consultants who advise rich people who need to learn how to survive a year in minimum security prison.

Mistah Fab – Hey Baby

The intro for this one (separate track) with Snoop Dogg talking about plays rolling up to his mom in traffic and saying ‘heyyyy baby’ to his mom was just a LIT-TLE wierd but overall the song itself knocks. The beat is dope I feel like it could be from the hyphy era. I like this positive-aura Fab; ‘We gettin’ money havin’ fun say Hey Baby’ or ‘A hey baby get his money and don’t bother folks’ or ‘Hey baby’s full of positive energy, but hey baby’ll still slide on his enemies.’ Alright, actually I guess the part about sliding on his enemies isn’t super positive but you get what I mean. Also, did FAB start saying ‘Hey Baby’ as like a gretting but then by mid-song started referring to himself as ‘Hey Baby’ in the third person?

Young Thug ft. J Cole, Travis Scott

I’m laughing about how out of place this one looks with the rest of this list. But I’m not going to lie I kind of enjoyed ‘The London’ and was bumping it a whole bunch over Memorial Day weekend. This is probably the first time I’ve ever mentioned Cole in my two-three years of doing this site, I don’t have anything against him I’ve just never gotten into him before and have never really seen the hype/why so many people are so I honestly don’t know much about him, but I did like his verse here. Is it just me or does it almost sound like he’s going with a little bit of a Tupac flow/voice on this? I could have lived without the Travis Scott hook they should have just given the hook to Thugga. I’ve been less into him as of late but it’s good to hear some new music from Jeffrey. I kind of wish he just kept rapping like he was when his verse started instead of shifting to the singing because he was going hard in the beginning. I don’t know, overall, nothing crazy but it was/is a nice little summertime jam to throw on I liked it overall.

By the way I feel like they kind of ripped off Maine Music/TEK with that spider artwork

Lil AJ ft. Shoddy Boi, Young Bossi 

Saw this on Onmi Restig; The always-dependable Lil AJ linking up with Young Bossi and Shoddy Boi from Akron. As always another solid, workman-like effort from lil AJ whose like the PJ Tucker or Draymond Green of Bay rap; not getting all the shine but getting the rebounds, playing defense and just doing the dirty work for the team to win. We all know about the Bay to Detroit connection and even the Bay to Kansas City, but how about The Bay to Akron/Ohio? I remember the Jacka was always doing tapes with Ampichino and now we have these guys linking up. I don’t know whose who of the two Ohio guys to be honest because I haven’t seen them before but I love the ‘It’s the mob you can’t hang with us you too square, third-person trapping I don’t pull up I send my dudes there’ line.

Cash Click Boog ft. Yatta – Gang in Here 

Need a somewhat inexplicable late pass for this one but was blasting this non-stop the last couple of days. How was I bumping a ton of Cash Click Boog at the end of last year and didn’t realize what a monster this is? I was posting about 200 Proof and Fuck With Me and somehow overlooked what’s now by far my favorite Boog song. I was blasting this full volume with the windows down last night for my little night out on the town and let’s just say it definitley passes the whip test. I don’t know whose beat it is but it’s just so HARSH. Basically the way I came back across it now was after I heard Mozzy’s ‘Free Yatta 2’ I typed in Yatta on Youtube to listen to some of his old stuff and then saw this again. I love how they got Yatta’s verse from prison on video instead of just having it phoned in. “I didn’t miss the store bitch I’m straight in here, I ain’t rolling shit up I’ll catch a fade in here.”

Anyone know when Yatta is getting out? I couldn’t find much info about it online.

DamJonBoi – B. Sanders Intro

DamJonBoi – Capers 

DamJonBoi – RIP Icewood

A couple of those aforementioned DamJonBoi slaps from his new project.

“Since he playing half crazy give his ass the whole clip.”

“50 niggas in the club that’s how we bomin’ ”

“Blow the finest cookie nigga this shit loud, I’m in the Zone but they smell me on Mile, jump in the water with them sharks you might drown, go crazy walked in this bitch yeah it’s on”

Top Songs April 2019

04 Saturday May 2019

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Ether x Fivio Foreign x Swipey 

Could it really be any other song for top song of the month? As my boy The Martorialist would say, this is FUNCTION MUSIC, as opposed to functional music.

From the fact that it’s loosely a Waka Flocka Flame homage in 2019 to the Mexican sombreros to the ridiculously fuego spin move that they choreographed at 0:33 I’m down with everything going on here and want more of it.  This is the hottest song I’ve heard out of NYC (or pretty much anywhere) in a minute. Only in NY could you hear a rap song with no Hispanics in it mentioning bachata, pandejo, etc.  The beat is dummy hard too.

“Oh let’s do it like I’m Waka, met her out in Opa Locka, baked potato with the lobster, that’s my baby – Goo… Gaga”.

Added bonus in the Youtube comments is a female Doordash delivery driver saying that she watched the video because these guys told her to check it out when she delivered food to them.

This always amorphous Brooklyn GD/Blood/Crip beef is serious and Game of Thrones-level complicated but I think these guys are Envy Caine’s (who I’ve posted here before) opps based on my extensive research of Youtube comments but like I said last time I don’t want to wade into all that I’ve got love for everyone I’m just here to enjoy the slaps. I’ve got to check out more of these guys’ videos.

P.S. for the record I’m definitely strongly in favor of silkies making this big comeback in 2019 I’ve been seeing them everywhere lately.

Chief Keef x Zaytoven – Ain’t Gonna Happen

I can’t believe how little fanfare this Keef/Zaytoven album got, I feel like a couple of years ago this would have broke the internet. I didn’t even know about it until like a month after it was out and I would like to think I am one of the world’s biggest Sosa fans. The project was really good overall with this being by far my favorite track and Spy Kid being another highlight. I love this crooning version of Keef that we hear from time to time especially over this great twinkly piano beat from Zaytoven. I’m glad Keef is doing whatever he wants now and really experimenting/pushing his boundaries musically and getting to enjoy himself out in California after he has lost so many people close to him. Keef has nothing to prove in my opinion and this is probably a topic/article for another day but is one of if not THE most creative/influential artist of the 2010s in my opinion.

“Come on my property I turn you to a french fry, turn my front yard to a fish fry, I see Big Glow in the big sky crazy how I turned into the big guy.”

“Face dried up, from all of the tears that I cried up, lost most of the niggas I would ride for.”

By the way I forgot all about Tadoe! I wonder what he’s up to.

Chief Keef x Zaytoven – Spy Kid

Like I said antother higlight from the Keef/Zaytoven project.

GLOTOVEN OR NO TOVEN!

San Quinn – Ain’t Nobody Thuggin 

CALIFORNIA KID LIKE…. TOM BRAZY 

San Quinn has got over 25 years in the game at this point and he’s still putting out heat. This beat is slapping like a San Fran pimp when the money ain’t right. That voice singing the hook is so dope. I love the video too with the shots of the bridge and the waterfront.

“Big wads, new cars, move around with 10 large, for a verse 10 large after this I’m finna charge”

“We ain’t sippin Hen we sippin’ Dom Perignon, move along square nigga let the mob carry on”

I lied when I previously said I hadn’t been keeping up with the Mozzy/Philthy/Messy Marv/Lav beef because now its quickly become my new favorite topic. Quinn could probably advise the Philthy/Lav camp on beefing with Messy Marv as Messy was beefing with him about a decade ago even though he’s his own cousin! This guy is a loose cannon.  Wouldn’t mind getting a remix of this with Lavish on here and maybe a couple of Frisco rappers – dare I suggest Berner anyone?

Daz Dillinger ft. Layzie Bone – Gotta Get That Money 

Between this and Bizzy Bone’s diss tracks to Migos, I’m down with this unexpected but welcome mini Bone Thugs resurgence that we’re getting in early 2019. The sample and that ethereal beat behind it in the beginning sound so dope. I wonder if we’ll actually get a whole project out of this Daz & Layzie collaboration it would be cool to get a full album from them. I love the production here and Layzie sounds smooth on the hook. There’s something just relaxing about listening to this, for lack of a better word.

“Looking at the world like it’s my oyster, closed mouths don’t get fed, little nigga turn your voice up”

Also anyone else feel like Daz sounds kind of like Rozay on his verse?

Nipsey Hussle – Real Big

RIP to Nip, seems like it was a long time ago but it was really just this month.

Lil Uzi Vert – Sanguine Paradise

I guess it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder becuase I wasn’t really feeling Uzi that much and generally subscribe to the Martorialist’s school of thought on embargoing rappers with septum rings but I’m feeling some of these new leaks that Uzi is putting out now that we haven’t heard from him in so long. I’m kind of intrigued/surprisingly anticipating Eternal Atake to hear what it sounds like when it comes out if DJ Drama ever frees Uzi to release it. Also wouldn’t it be the ultimate marketing scheme by Drama if this whole thing with him stopping Uzi from releasing new music was just a ploy to build up anticipation for the album? That would be on like Suge/Birdman mastermind level.

DJ Paul ft. Beanie Sigel – Real Money 

Admittedly I wasn’t feeling this song but I’m more posting it out of anticipation of getting a full project of Paul and Beanie collaborating in 2019 which would be awesome. We could definitley use a Beanie resurgence in 2019 we need some of that Carhartt and Dickies hustling out in the cold type rap. This would be a wild mix for an album but hopefully it comes into fruition.

Three 6 Mafia – Paul, With Da 45 / Three 6 Mafia – Ridin in da Chevy

Speaking of DJ Paul, I was bumping a bunch of old Three 6 this month. Beat at around 0:52 of ‘Paul with da 45’ is so crazy.

I love the ‘Every time you see the Chevy riding it be full of FOLKS’ at the end of Riding in Da Chevy.

It’s incredible how well this stuff holds up in today’s rap climate.

Envy Caine ft. Cooaxh Da Ghost – Woo K 

The ‘Waka’ track had me inspired to go back and delve into this whole Brooklyn drill scene and this GDs/Bloods/Crips beef and go back to one of my favorites from last year Envy Caine to see what he’s been up to.

Apparently I’m already late on ‘Woo K’ because ever the beef connoisseur, Envy has already released a ‘Woo K Pt. 2’. This goes hard as fuck. Definitley more ‘functional music’ than ‘function music’ though.

I love how Envy looks like an angry NFL coach giving a firey halftime pep talk to his team at halftime about how they’re giving up too many big plays and need to hit harder in the second half.

Envy stays with these European soccer jerseys with Juventus here and I always see him rocking Bayern Munich gear too.

Coaxh the Ghost is intense I have to check out more of his stuff.

Pop Smoke – Meet the Woo 

If we’re posting Woo K I guess it’s only right that we post Meet the Woo. This song is catching a lot of buzz in NY quickly. Pop Smoke’s voice is kind of cool and makes this sound even more aggressive.

Top Songs March 2019

30 Saturday Mar 2019

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Album of the Month 

Image result for peezy no hooks 2

Peezy – New Car Smell

As my fellow Peezy evangelists like Nyquil510 and Raygarraty have recently been pointing out, Peezy is on top of the game right now.

Obviously we’re used to hearing Peezy over more intense Detroit-type beats and he excels on that type of production, i.e. this or this but it’s also nice to hear him kicking it over a little more of a laid-back, soulful beat like this that you can picture cruising around to or chilling with in the spring/summer. After a couple of listens to ‘No Hooks 2’ this is my favorite song off it or at least the one that jumped out at me the most, but honestly the whole album is fire. New Car Smell is also a great name for a song. Crime Stoppers (another great name), the title track, No Limit, etc. were all dope.

“Leftover lobster, champagne in the fridge” is such an ultimate humble brag. Peezy is just so accustomed to fancy restaurants and lobster that he said that’s enough at the restaurant and will just finish it whenever he feels like it at the crib next time he doesn’t feel like leaving the house to eat, no big deal.

“Bossed up on these niggas like I’m Darnell, niggas selling couches rapping like the cartel.” Such a great diss line since we all know someone who’s working at like Bob’s Furniture or Aaron’s and living at their mom’s house but acting like they’re some big plug to anyone who will listen.

“Ain’t no heat inside the crib but it slap though, Ghetto Boys baby we the new Death Row,” a bold claim but I’m feeling it and hey someone has to go for that mantle it might as well be Peezy.

Let’s all hope that Peezy doesn’t have to sit down for any length of time for the charges he’s fighting while he’s in the prime of his career like this.

Juvenile x Birdman ft. NLE Choppa – Dreams 

I’m ABOUT this 2019 Juvenile resurgence. I would have been a happy camper after just JAG but this new ‘Dreams’ joint is a nice unexpected surprise. Juve comes through and delivers again with another fire hook. He’s turning into 2019’s unexpected hook god.

It was only a matter of time before Birdman and his cohorts got in on this rapping over acoustic-sounding beat that guys like Lil Baby and Gunna have been making hits with. (Great beat by D-Rock here yet again, after a nice beatjack/update of Too $hort’s Dope Fiend Beat on JAG as I learned from Martorialist. I’m not too familiar with him but maybe he’s Birdman/Cash Money’s new in-house producer which based on his showing thus far I would certainly welcome.)

While JAG was just Birdman and Juvenile, here, they link up with Birdman’s latest protege NLE Choppa, he of ‘Shotta Flow’ and it’s 2 billion views fame, giving this a circle of life effect as one generation of Birdman cronies passes the torch to the next. Choppa does a decent job of holding his own here and proving he’s worthy of standing alongside a legend in the game like Juve. Birdman’s verse was predictably mediocre but he’s the money man putting these all together so I can’t complain. I wish Juvenile did a verse here instead of just the hook but the hook is good enough that I can’t get greedy. C’est la vie.

Last time around, Birdman was showing off his art collection of questionable quality to some sort of female curator/critic, this time he’s showing off his taste in animal-themed topiary on the grounds of his sprawling estate to a group of lovely ladies, because he’s Birdman.

Let’s hope that there’s a part 3 to this series.

Saint Jhn ft. Lil Baby – Trap 

I bet y’all weren’t expecting to see me post this. I’m not gonna lie, I wasn’t expecting to like this guy because he seems like a plant because he’s been getting pushed by Roc a Fella and been appearing on a lot of radio shows/interviews etc. but I can’t front, his hook on ‘Trap’ is just too fire to hate on. It sounds like some unearthly message being beamed down to us from the heavens. I don’t know much else about him yet but after this I decided I needed to be a little more open-minded and get out of my usual lane a little and decided to check out his debut album from last year, Collection One. It was a little more on the ‘artistic’ vibe than what I usually like but he had a couple of good joints on there I surprised myself again and really liked ‘I Heard You Got Too Lit Last Night‘ as well.

El Camino – Davis St 

Dope intro off of El Camino’s new ‘Don’t Eat the Fruit’. El Camino is really coming into his own and going from Griselda sidekick to featured artist. If you like this lane, you were eating really good this month or so with new albums like Eto’s Hell’s Roof, El Camino, Flee Lord’s Gets Greater Later, Rick Hyde’s Plates, and Knowledge the Pirate’s Black Caesar all coming out seemingly one after another.

Rick Hyde ft. Benny, El Camino 

Speaking of Griselda/El Camino etc., Lanez off of the aforementioned Rick Hyde mixtape goes hard as fuck. Benny is the best of the bunch in terms of Griselda. It’s crazy how deep upstate New York is right now, Rick Hyde doesn’t seem to get as much hype as some of these other guys yet but this tape was really good. Lanez was my favorite song off of it. The intro had me all hyped up between that sample of the guy talking about how these are the real Sopranos (no idea what it’s from but just sounded awesome), the beat kicking in, the El Camino hook, the brrrrraatt, and Benny yelling his trademark ‘The butcher coming nigga!’ ‘Eastside Buffalo shit!” I felt like I got taken back in time to an old DJ Clue or DJ Kay Slay mixtape from the mid-2000s which is a very good thing.

“Six figure diet make my heart stable” is such humble brag by Benny since at the end of the day health is the ultimate luxury.

Also this might sound like sacrilege but is it just me or is El Camino sounding at least just a little like Max B on the hook here? At least a poor man’s Max B. But with the wave god still locked up, I’ll take it.

Memo the Mafioso – The Race 

Saw this on Nyquil 510 and I’ve been on a big Memo the Mafioso kick ever since. Memo the Mafioso > Shoreline Mafia in my opinion. I’m feeling this San Diego wave that Memo is at the forefront of.

Memo the Mafioso ft. C-Loccs – Swervin

It seems like Memo is starting to get some deserved buzz with the above video; this one ‘Swervin’ is from a year ago so well before his star turn. The production is kind of low-budget but it kind of goes with the old-school west coast vibe of the song. I don’t know who C-Loccs is I’m assuming he’s Memo’s OG or something but I love the way he’s flowing on this song I feel like this could really be some early 90’s Death Row era album cut. ‘Just bangin’ and slangin’ what’s the word on the street, here in Southern California where you gotta pack heat.’

Memo the Mafioso x O’Way

Another heater from Memo and his boy O’Way. Alright I’m officially a Memo fan now I guess.

I don’t know who Alejandro that they refer to is but it’s clear he’s not one to cross and his association with Memo apparently means that this sentiment extends to him as well.

PLUS TAX WE THE SAN DIEGO BEATLES. I’m loving the boldness of this line and the ‘Alejandro’ ad lib afterward. Not just Plus Tax we the new Hot Boys or Plus Tax we the San Diego Death Row; Plus Tax we the San Diego Beatles, just going straight for the crown of the best-selling band of all time, I respect it.

Flame Blazin x Shotgun Quannie – Regardless 

Still been bumping this all month because it’s so hard. ‘Judge put me on probation, I’ma be with my squad regardless’.

‘If they bring him back to life than we shoot the doctor’.

‘We got too many guns we gon go to jail/chill bro we got money for bail/we got too many bodies we gon go to hell/fuck a judge he can get it as well.’

Leeak ft. Peezy – True Story 

This wasn’t on Peezy’s No Hooks album, since it’s just a feature for another artist, but his verse on here is crazy which just gives you an idea of how insanely prolific Peezy has been lately. This is probably one of my favorite Peezy verses and it’s just a quick feature that didn’t make it to his album.

‘Big bag on my like it’s Christmas Eve, smoking fluffly light green Christmas trees. Judge thought I was gonna fold told him sentence me.’

‘Brodie heard I’m in Cali want to send us cheese, cuz called me from the joint said he need a sleeve.’

‘I can’t help but eat I gotta get it gotta chase these millions gotta get my people out the swamp gotta feed my niggas.’

I also love the Peezy pretending his playing the keys in the video like he’s Mannie Fresh!

Peezy – Crimestoppers
Peezy – Homecoming 

 

More heat off of No Hooks II. I love the Peezy billboard.

NLE Choppa – Shotta Flow

Yeah I’m hella late on this (crazy that in this era a song from like 2 months ago can already be ‘old’ but I went back and listened to all of NLE Choppa’s other stuff after ‘Dreams’ with Juvenile and Baby and this one really grew on me. ‘Extended clip long as a rope’ is such a vague unit of measurement but it sounds nasty.

Project Pat – Choices

Went back and listened to a bunch of old Project Pat this month. So smooth and such an all-time great flow and voice. I’m surprised how positive/upbeat ‘Choices’ was, with songs like this and ‘Choose U’ Pat kills soulful production.

Top Songs February 2018

02 Saturday Mar 2019

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Juvenile ft. Birdman – JAG

This one got not just one post on here but two this month, one for the song itself and one when they teased the sample so it’s only right that Juvenile tops the charts for February. Lmao @ Juve sounding like an old suburban dad talking about how one man’s trash is another man’s treasure in his verse here but it’s actually kind of a wierdly dope line and the chorus sounds beastly. Juve can always make a hit no matter what year it is.

I’m welcoming this Cash Money resurgence, it’s a shame BG is still locked up and couldn’t jump onto this with a verse. As The Martorialist mentioned to me, this is a re-use of the beat from Dope Fiend Beat by Too $hort, I knew as soon as I Youtube’d it and heard the prolonged ‘Biiiiiiiiitch!’

It seems that Birdman’s entire art collection is other famous paintings (or figures) wearing red bandanas, because of course it would be. Also, what’s the deal with this woman at the end of the video that Birdman is trying to put onto art-world game, some type of collector or curator? I wonder what type of art-world knowledge Birdman is lacing her with. Or he may just be trying to hustle her into buying one of his paintings at an inflated price or selling him one of hers that she wants for a lower price BELEEE DAT PLAYBOY.

Chippass, E-40, ALLBLACK – Me 

It’s only right that ALLBLACK and E-40 would finally link up; two off-kilter flowing Bay Area P’s from overlapping but different eras with their own eccentric senses of humor. Even better that these kindred spirits are spitting over this monstrous Bay beat from Sho Nuff. This beat is nasty I can’t wait to put this on full blast in the whip. Add in a verse from the always-reliable Chippass and you’ve got a perfect Tres Amigos track. ALLBLACK is one of the best out right now. You’ve got to love the fact that he’s one of the hottest names in the game but he’s still grateful on every song still humbly thanking everyone for fucking with him. For every E-40 line nowadays that makes you say, “come on E-40” he has a simple but dope line like “If I go broke I’m selling the car that I’m driving” or “If you jump ship there ain’t no getting back on my boat.” ALLBLACK’s whole verse is filthy as you’d come to expect at this point.

38 Spesh ft. Eto – Flour City 

I know we might be killing the previous vibe jumping from sunny, bouncy Bay Area beats and beat jacks to grimey, wintertime east-coast Timbs and keeping a gun in your Carhartt jacket here but in the words of Pimp C it just be like that sometimes. We’re renaissance men over here. Rochester NY’s 38 Spesh and Eto team up to kill this one. I didn’t realize the city of Rochester had so much rap talent. 38 Spesh did a great project with Kool G Rap and one with Benny, and has a couple of his own solo tapes out over the last few months that I still need to check out in full (I love that he’s wearing a hoodie with one of the graphics from that album/his own album). Meanwhile Eto recently released a short project with V-Don which was pretty good and just released his album ‘Hell’s Roof’ yesterday, I started listening to it last night and am excited to really give it a full listen today because it sounded sick so far.

I wasn’t feeling the beat here much at first and was just listening to it for the flames from Eto and .38 but now that I’ve bumped this about 100 times the beat has really grown on me and it’s perfect for this type of song. I may be wrong but I believe 38 Spesh actually produced it himself. Eto really brings it on this one I keep rewinding this beginning again and again ‘Squeeze fire, two strikes out, three priors, you grew when you went from the toasters to deep friers, can’t keep niggas afloat, I need divers, can’t keep grips in my coat, no revivers.”

I’m ready to circle the wagons on this appropriately snowy weekend here in the Northeast and give Hell’s Roof a serious listen.

Flame Blazin x Shotgun Quannie – Regardless

TOO… MUCH… HEAT… from Newport News, Virginia’s Flame Blazin’. I’m kind of cheating here because I only heard this song yesterday so it’s probably more for top 10 songs for March but I can’t stop playing it and couldn’t keep it off this list. Flame and Shotgun Quannie trading verses back and forth is so dope, ‘We’ve got too many guns, we gon go to jail, chill bro we got money for bail, we got too many bodies we gon go to hell. Fuck a judge he can get it as well.’

Bloody Jay ft. Lil Boosie – Thug My Way / Bloody Jay – Seen it All / Bloody Jay – Foot on they Neck 

Was meaning to do a full post about the new Bloody Jay project but time got the best of me and it’s already March before I realized it so figured I might as well put these into my February top 10 instead. The tape, Real Forever, which a newly-free post-prison Bloody Jay recently released, is really good. I always felt like Bloody Jay was a sort of unsung predecessor to these singing Atlanta rappers that never got the credit he deserved, maybe the powers that be felt that he just wasn’t as marketable as someone like a Lil Baby, but go back and check out his Black Portland mixtape with Young Thug if you haven’t, or my favorite Bloody Jay song, ‘Get it in Blood‘ and maybe you can kind of see where I’m coming from.

Back to ‘Real Forever’ i.e. the current Bloody Jay, and there are a lot of bangers on this one. These are my 3 favorites. I love Boosie’s line on ‘Thug My Way’ where he says ‘Me and Tupac the only pictures in my studio’. The intro, Seen it All, went hard and the Bigga Rankin intro in the beginning had me surprisingly hyped for it, like I was listening to some mid-2000s mixtape. I also loved the ‘Red zoooonnne’ ad lib on it. “You know how I’m comin, ABG We bangin’ like we straight outta Compton.” I was unexpectedly into the ‘You gon think it’s raining bullets from the sky, dog’ on Foot on they Neck, because it sounds like it should be kind of dumb, but it sounds dope when Bloody Jay says it. Side note I was NOT expecting to hear a reference to Goldberg from WCW in a rap song in 2019 but it happened on Foot on they Neck.

Offset Jim – No Pressure

Saw this one on Ray Garraty a couple weeks back. I remember seeing this guy in those Thizzler end of the year cypher videos too. This beat is so crunchy and ALLBLACK’s homie acquits himself nicely here. “Knock a nigga’s lights out like I’m Tyson, ten niggas ten straps we ain’t fighting.” I love the look on his face and the dismissive wave of the hand when he informs you that ‘we ain’t fighting’. I’m always down for an ALLBLACK cameo in a video and here he’s styling in that black Chris Webber jersey. Would it be too bold of a claim to say Offset Jim > Offset from Migos at this point in time?

The Click – Scandalous/E-40 ft. Bo Rock – Things’ll Never Change 

Was listening to a whole bunch of old mid-90’s E-40 this month, maybe spurred by hearing the aforementioned ‘Me’. Scandalous has been an old, long-time favorite of mine ever since stumbling across an incredible remix of it by DJ Screw years ago, whereas Things’ll Never Change is brand new to me. I never knew 40 had his own version of Tupac’s ‘Changes’ using the same sample that came out around the same time! It’s a touching, heartfelt and heavy song by E-40 and I’d venture to say a bit more pessimistic than Tupac’s version, touching on problems both personal like him being beaten as a child by his parents and struggling to find a job as a young man, to the societal like domestic violence and suicide. It also slows down the beat a bit compared to how Pac used it. Sometimes it’s nice to just take a step back and appreciate the geniuses!

Bizzy Bone – Carbon Monoxide 

These overly long-ass video intros are a trend I’d like to see die down, and this one SPECIFICALLY was super annoying. This one specifically was really annoying. BUT that being said, the song itself was actually a lot doper than I expected; Bizzy Bone has definitley still got it in 2019 and really brought some heat on this one. His various flows he breaks out are all on point and he has a lot of good lines here, the beat was nasty too. My favorite part is him saying that the Migos get a lot of streams but streams barely pay anything, which is basically him gloating that he rapped in an earlier time, it’s obviously not Migos fault that the music industry collapsed and you can’t make millions selling CDs anymore, so it’s kind of an unfair taunt but that’s what makes it so evil, which is what Bizzy is going for. The video was actually kind of cool too with all the old clips once you get past the intro.

DJ Screw – Comin Out (Diana Ross)

The treatment that Screw gives this is truly something to behold.

Nipsey Hussle ft. Roddy Ricch, Hit-Boy

Nipsey’s Victory Lap from last February was one of last year’s best albums so it was nice to get a new joint from him this month. Nice chorus from Roddy Ricch here too.

Top 10 Songs January 2018

02 Saturday Feb 2019

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Shordie Shordie – Betchua (Bitchuary)

The top song of the month finds your host sitting back eating a bag of crab chips, taking a long, relaxed drag from my Black and Mild taking in this Baltimore rap scene feeling like I’m Prop Joe. Caught this one Betchua (apparently aka Bitchuary) by Shordie Shordie on Crimedawbylaw the other day and haven’t stopped playing it since. This is the hardest song I’ve heard in a minute.

Betchua is going to hit millions of views, or at least it should. Shordie Shordie is a star. So far everyone I’ve showed this too in real life basically for the first 30 seconds or so was like ‘I don’t know about this one’ and then shortly after was nodding along and agreeing that it’s pure fire. Shordie Shordie has the requisite charisma and image that give Betchua the star power needed for a smash hit; Betchua has literally got it all – the song, the dance, the beat, the super catchy chorus, and most importantly it pulls off the difficult tightrope act of simultaneously having something for the ladies but still being something that the hard rocks in the trenches will appreciate, for example “When I leave you be going seeing different faces, when I leave I be fucking bitches different places; still in these streets, I’ve got charges that a nigga facing”. It’s basically the perfect slap for 2019.  I challenge anyone to listen to it and not have it in their head for at least a week afterward.

“I’m in the club drinking Henny with my black and Mild, got my gun in I can wave it and start acting wild, but I won’t do that ’cause I guess that shit is out of style, that’s why I left the club early.” This line really says it all these days.

YNW Melly ft. Fredo Bang – Ingredients 

Basically a 1a and 1b for song of the month because ‘Ingredients’ is up there too.

ure, unadulterated heater off of the YNW Melly album. Another early nominee for song of the year for 2019? Save for a track here and there the entire Melly album is straight heat. I’ve been blasting this all week and I think I played in 9 or 10 times in a row in the car after I first heard it. I’m a total square but I can def see the appeal of bumping this in the car driving away after hitting a lick in Florida. I love the hook here and the beat is nice too. It took me a minute to warm to NBA Youngboy opp extraordinaire Fredo Bang’s part but it’s grown on me more and more and now him stepping up to give his verse is one of my favorite parts of the song. While lyrically it’s pretty run of the mill/mediocre (what exactly does ‘picking that ass apart’ entail anyway? Lol), I’ve grown to appreciate the blunt-instrument quality of his voice/flow that he brings to the track as a foil to Melly.

FREE MELVIN!

YNW Melly – Robbery 

Another banger off of the new Melly album. Pure heat. Possibly the most melodic song ever written about robbing? (Although I’m sure readers can come up with a few other candidates). Melly is definitley getting some shine but I’m surprised he isn’t blowing up even more with songs like this and the above.

Shordie Shordie – Pablo 

Another heater off of Shordie Shordie’s fantastically-named ‘Captain Hook’ album. Shordie’s flow to kick this one off is sick. He definitley won’t be a one-hit wonder.

Earl Sweatshirt ft. Navy Blue – The Mint 

I never really checked out or got into Earl Sweatshirt or any of these guys over the years, but I finally gave in and checked this out after seeing it on a bunch of year end lists and seeing a lot of positive reviews for Some Rap Songs, and I have to admit, this was just as dope as everyone was saying. Earl’s flow on this was sick. I ended up listening to the album probably 8 or 9 times in a row over the course of the long MLK weekend, it was only 24 minutes or so but it was definitley a captivating album. I also really liked ‘Ontheway!’ and ‘The Bends’ on here.

DB Tha General ft. Mistah FAB – Dope Era  

Got this one from Rap Music Hysteria’s Best of 2018, just one of many gems on there. Beat is so sick. DB is always reliable and I’m never opposed to some new Mistah FAB. I’m still wondering why DB keeps yelling that he’s Brutha Man, Fifth Floor, like the Martin character but whatever I’m down with it.

JPEGMAFIA – Panic Emoji

As you can probably see by now I’ve been getting into some wierd stuff over the past month. Actually, let me rephrase, I’ve been getting into a lot of Baltimore stuff and a lot of wierd/’artistic’/avant garde type rap which I’m not usually into but for some reason I’ve been feeling in January. I finally checked out JPEGMAFIA for the first time, after seeing him on a lot of people’s Year End lists, and I had no idea what to expect with ‘Peggy’ i.e. I had no idea what to expect him to sound like. He was a bit hit or miss to me but the songs I did like by him were absolute bangers, my favorite of which is ‘Panic Emoji’. This beat is wild, it almost reminds me of some song you’d hear in some dark 80s movie in a scene about a prom or something.

MIKE – NeverKnocked 

Another favorite from my out of left field avant garde grind. I love the ‘This year I’m playing Pac for my kids’ line and the lo-fi beat really grew on me after a few listens. This was an interesting album I’m looking forward to see what this guy does next. Side note – this guy is going to be hard to Google.

Kiddo Marv ft. John Wicks, Freese Cola, YBJ & CBE – Visa 

One of many highlights from Crimedawgbylaw’s best of 2018 playlist.

I’m always up for some new Florida Haitian rap. I had been listening to a bunch of Marv a couple of years ago and had unfortunately kind of just forgotten about him so it was nice to see he’s still out here grinding. I have to go back and check out the rest of his recent output.

Poppa – R Kelly 

I honestly wasn’t sure before I clicked this if it was going to be an R Kelly song called ‘Poppa’ or a Poppa song called ‘R Kelly.’ I’m not 100% clear here on what Poppa is doing wading around in that dirty water which cannot be heatlhy, but this song is low-key fire and really grew on me after a couple of listens. It’s not even particularly recent it looks like it’s from 2017 but I guess people have been re-posting it because of all the recent R Kelly news.

Westside Gunn – Elizabeth

This is a great example of the type of music these Griselda guys are capable of when they are at their best and not trying to be overly lyrical just for the sake of it. This is like ‘classic’ hip hop to me that evokes memories of a bygone age while still being ‘new’. ‘Every color Lambo truck we can make it, OG just came home from being caged in, don’t know what to do been locked up since Reagan, Allah got a better plan for you be patient.’

Top 10 Songs December 2018

27 Thursday Dec 2018

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Now that we’re done with the more arduous task of making the ‘Top 50 songs of 2018’ list, I’ll switch to the easier task of putting up a quick top 10 songs for December 2018. We’re going a little overboard this month as you’ll see. Thanks for reading this year and see you in 2019!

Yung Skreww ft. Philthy Rich, J. Stalin, TD, Yung Getta Dro – If I Wasn’t Getting Money

Saw this one on Crimedawbylaw and while it’s two years old, it’s become one of my favorites that I’ve heard in a long time. It really is the ultimate mellow slapper, like he described it. I’m especially loving the chorus from Young Getta Dro and Skreww’s verse, outshining his more famous contemporaries. “You a mohterfucking snitch like what was you telling for, if you wasn’t with the shit what you hung with the fellas for? If you don’t like it, stay away from the clique nigga, 187 on an undercover bitch nigga!” Skreww’s verse just had so much heart.

Cash Click Boog – 200 Proof  

I’d heard Boog’s name here and there and probably as a feature in passing but didn’t really start checking him out until reading Raygarraty’s great all-Detroit top songs of 2018 list, and then I decided to delve more into his music and he really grew on me. ‘200 Proof’ is my favorite of his songs so far. “Blues got me feeling cool as ever, snow or rain nigga, shoot whoever, your main bitch on my dick cause I do it better. Southwest in this bitch then there’s stupid cheddar.”

Side note – I love the Thizzler best of 2018 cyphers that they came out with this year, and the fact that they had one including a bunch of the Detroit guys like Boog and guys from BandGang/ShredGang, commemorating the timeless and always-fruitful Bay Area to Detroit connection.

Kodak Black – Identity Theft  

Kodak with a heartfelt ode to credit card fraud. Rappers have been rapping about the dope game for probably at least 30 years so it’s about time the identity theft game got some love.

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Top 10 Songs November 2018

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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Diplomats – Dipset Forever

Dip Gods are back. Just in time for Thanksgiving Dipset laced us with this reunion album. This was easily my favorite song off of it. Such a triumphant, prime-era Dipset, all-conquering Heatmakers beat. Apparently it samples a Queen song but I have no idea I just know it’s making me feel invincible right now. I love the over the top ‘Grrrrrrrr’ ad lib at 0:34 after Jim Jones says he was ‘purging for a check’ almost sounding like a rabid grizzly. Jones actually probably had the best verse out of anyone on this and has quietly had a really strong 2018. While Juelz rapping that he ‘gets loose like a tooth’ seems uninspired and isn’t the prime Juelz we all remember, it’s still good to hear from him and he makes up for it with just the sheer self-belief and intensity as he raps ‘From the stoop to the coupe, money stacked from the floor to the roof’ or ‘Cam saw a star and showed the world my light… I put in work they can’t take my stripes’. The song ends on the strangely sad note of Juelz musing that ‘I guess forever means forever til forever’s gone’ until, of course, Dame Dash breaks in with a typically firey Dame Dash half-time speech and starts yelling about that Dipset will live forever. A grandiose effort from the Dips and I would expect nothing less at this point. I wish I got to go to the album release party where, from what I can gather, it looks like everyone went around Harlem in an open-top bus, listened to the album on headphones with some sort of blue LED’s, smoked vape pens and ate chop cheeses.

Poppa da Don x Abillyon – Smoked 

1a and 1b this month were Dipset and this one. Staying on this unexpected NYC Crip wave/Poppa da Don wave with Poppa and Abillyon’s ‘Smoked’. Like one of those cartoon angels on your shoulder or a Loc’d out Sunday school teacher, Abillyon implores you to ‘do the right thing or you’ll get smoked’ in that heavenly voice of his. Abillyon is quite the hook-smith and this could be one of the best of the year. I also love the gleeful ‘I’m on the other side with the Locs!,’ willfully declaring themselves as the ‘other side’ or the opps and celebrating it. Abillyon is a name some may recognize from the height of the GS9 era; from looking at his Soundcloud and quickly browsing other streaming sites, it doesn’t look like he has released a ton of music since then but he seems to be making a resurgence now. Poppa is in the middle of a strong run as well between this, ‘Crip Shit‘ and his mixtape ‘Fucc Wit Da Cuz Vol. 2‘.

Dave East – No Pork 

East has me lacing up my Timbs and throwing on a big Marmot jacket with this first one. The smooth ‘No Pork’ might be the magnum opus of East’s career thus far. It’s a ‘classic’ sounding NYC rap song done right without sounding dusty or too formulaic. This is that classic wintertime music, and the type of track that you want to play while you’re hunkering down at the crib or out on a rare nice sunny day in the winter. East goes into full-on nostalgia/story-telling mode as he takes us on a trip down memory lane through the ups and downs of his life growing up in Harlem.

“I told Shooter (see below) we gon get rich no matter what, they was happy when we was down now when we see them they made as fuck. We don’t got to live in the projects no more, I dropped out, but it’s funny I’m hitting college on tour. I need ’em fresh, cop em again if I copped em before. Charlotte Hornets top and bottom, colored aqua velour. Ahki used to let me in after the locks on the door. I ain’t speeding, I ain’t smoking, what the fuck you stopping me for? I hid my first .38 behind the socks in my drawer, my mama asked me why you got a gun, you not going to war? If I go get a cigarette there might be opps at the store.”

Envy Caine – Intro

Your host got caught lacking in his car trapped in the big east coast snow storm this month for over 12 hours on the same mile of highway but fuck it it takes more than a few snowflakes to kill the old Pink C. Not only am I alive and well but as you can see I’ve been on a NYC kick lately catching up on some of these young bols. Even though I’m hella late on this one from Brooklyn’s Envy Caine but I’ve been blasting it non-stop. This is the intro to his ‘2 Many Situations’ mixtape from the spring.

“Damn, My whole city AGAINST me, but fuck it cause I got all these killers with me”

I love the raw aggression/malice and the me against the world ethos that Envy delivers that bar with. Almost reminding me a bit of AR-Ab.

This song goes so hard/aggressive it’s the new song I play when I want to get angrier in a situation, like in traffic or in a long line at a store, although that’s actually probably a counterproductive strategy on my part.

I also love the delivery of “Opp niggas throwing salt, tryna bad mouth” line. Salt kills snails but not Top Opposition.

Poppa da Don, Dave East, Tulito, Trap God Mula – Crip Shit 

It’s turning into winter fast out here, and you know what that means, it’s that time of year to hunker down, lace up the Timbs, throw on a big Marmot jacket and see what’s going on in the big apple. These NYC Crips have really been coming out with some heat lately. Here, we get two of the best linking up and Brooklyn and Harlem joining forces with Poppa da Don and Dave East, along with Tulito and Trap God Mula/Sha Mula who may have the best verse of all on this one.

I love the pure energy and fervor Mula brings here as he says ‘Sha Mula I’m the Trap God, probably made $100 thou in my backyard,” pounding his fist as he raps it. “Blue flag 100 Locs I’m moving wocky nigga, 2-seater, I8 they couldn’t stop me nigga!” I’m hyped off of the defiance he’s spitting with.

East makes a typically solid contribution here as well, and also just released arguably the best song of his career, in my opinion, with ‘No Pork .’ Poppa da Don put out a total banger ‘Smoked‘ with Abillyon over the summer which I think is going to start blowing up even more because Meek Mill was talking about it recently.

My only very minor gripe with this one is that I wish they grabbed my man Top Dolla and got him on this one this would have been perfect for him!

Peezy – Pressure 

Peezy is so consistent, coming out with one if not more song every month that usually cracks and sometimes tops this list. We really need to take a minute to step back and appreciate the run that this guy is on, he’s forced his way into the argument for top rapper of 2018 in my opinion. You’ve got to love the triumphant ‘Got shot a couple times they was hoping I died, popped up buying Rollies out the store with my guys’ especially since everyone really was briefly worried he died last winter.

Blueface – Respect My Crypn 

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first when I first heard about him but hadn’t listened to him yet, but Blueface is starting to grow on me. The ‘mop the floor and hide the wet sign just to catch him slippin’ line’ is genius; I can’t believe no one came up with that before. And to his credit apparently he really does ‘pull up and bounce out with a briefcase when it’s time to handle business,’ according to recent news reports.

I love his tone on the ‘I’m an alpha male, ain’t no bitch in me. Grown ass man, feed my family” line, like he’s incredulous that someone is even questioning if that’s the case. The ‘Give a fuck if he like it, he gon respect this Crippin’ hook is also strangely infectious. Blueface is almost sounding like a less artsy/creative but more Crip west Coast Young Thug. And while he can be a bit over the top, he actually has the charisma and personality to pull it off.

Juice WRLD – All Girls are the Same/Juice WRLD – Lucid Dreams/Juice WRLD x Future – Fine China/Juice WRLD – Used To etc. 

At the risk of getting cyber-bullied by music critics with far better taste than me, I’ll admit that I went back and listened to a ton of Juice WRLD this month. Yeah, it’s some guy whining about girls but some of these songs are actually really dope. Some of these beats are absolute fire as well. I’m cheating here and putting all the Juice WRLD songs as one song. I’m going to ask my mom to drive me back to Hot Topic now. GO AHEAD AND CYBER BULLY ME, DO YOUR WORST!

Kiing Shooter ft. Dave East – 30 Percent 

A third Dave East appearance here for this month’s top 10; 30 Percent is the first track from his aggressively-named protege Kiing Shooter’s mixtape ‘Fucc the Doubters’.  The interplay here as East and Shooter trade bars back and forth like a Styles and Jada is great. Whereas ‘No Pork’ is the type of song you could kick back and relax at home listening to, ’30 Percent’ is more of an aggressive one you’d blast when you’re in the mood to get rowdy. Shooter has a dope and pretty unique-sounding deep/’blunt’ voice and raps over the top ignorant lines like “I’m creeping through the back window hoping they don’t keep alarms, .40 on me just in case the dog or the grandma home.”

Kodak Black – Take One

So dark and foreboding from Kodak.

Metro Boomin’ x 21 Savage – Don’t Come out the House

This became more of a meme than a song at this point but I had to include it even though we’re at over 10 songs now. This was a risky gamble by 21 Savage that paid off – if done wrong, his whole whisper thing could have backfired and sounded way too intimate and sensual (Pause!) but somehow he pulls it off and makes it sound menacing. I feel like 21 Savage has went on a certain trajectory, when he was first making a name for himself he was releasing a lot of interesting stuff, then he sort of reached peak Savage and got oversaturated as he got super popular, and now that we’ve sort of crossed past that bridge he’s releasing some nice verse here and there again.