OH MY GOD CML is just absolutely knocking everything out of the park right now. This man can’t be stopped. Is there anyone more consistent right now?
I want to be invited to one of Lav’s pool parties. Is that an A-Wax sighting at 0:32? I guess they’re still down! I can’t decide if A-Wax would be a great guest to have at a pool party or a really bad guest; I feel like there’s a very wide range of potential outcomes there.
“I’m a big dog like a Great Dane, if you ain’t never caught a body Blood you can’t hang, run a nigga over like a freight train, all we do is set trip and gang bang.”
Lav crushes this hook, one of my favorites of the year “I’m real and you know that, I’m everywhere the dough at, Benz outside all black like Kodak, Big Bank Hank Cash Money I can show that, broke ass niggas’ pockets flatter than a doormat,” it’s that perfect but rarely-achieved balance of hard and catchy, and his troll-ish dance just makes it even better.
I believe this beat from D-Rok is the same D-Rock who did some of the beats for those great Juvie and Birdman songs from earlier this year so it looks like CML is getting the investment from Cash Money. If the rap game was like fantasy football and I was managing CML I would keep pushing this angle all day. This beat is wild with the flute and CML just floats over it like he’s swerving through the Everglades on a fanboat.
I usually hubmly consider myself one of the foremost purveyors of all things CML but I somehow missed this one at first, but thankfully my fellow connoseiur of all things Lavish D Onmi Erstig caught it and filled me in! It’s a tough call because there’s a lot of choices but I would officially add this in to my top 3 Lav songs of all time, along with the hard-to-argue-with classic Speak My Mind and the more recent slap Demons.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
“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.
PINK CHARDONNAY 