Drake, Mac Miller, Snoop Dogg, Big K.R.I.T. and many more dropped new songs last weekend. Scroll down to see if they are worth checking out!
Ayye- Mac Miller
As a throwaway from his now ten-year-old “K.I.D.S.” mixtape, “Ayye” is a newly released track from Mac Miller’s youth. The song’s premises is straightforward as Miller is just hyping up a night with his friends over a rap-rock instrumental. Its simplicity is also its most beautiful quality, as listening to it feels like time traveling back to a time when Mac Miller’s most prominent issue was graduating high school.
Rating: 8/10
Back In The Day- Mac Miller
The other song added to the deluxe version of “K.I.D.S.” embodies everything an adolescent Mac Miller stood for. Gazing on his ambitions while also overcoming his naysayers, the light-hearted tone in Malcolm’s voice is tear-jerking on first listen. Over the mellow instrumental softly playing in the back, it’s hard not to admire “Back In The Day”.
Rating: 9/10
Laugh Now Cry Later- Drake (feat. Lil Durk)
Gearing up for his new album, Drake teams up with Chicago rapper Lil Durk for “Laugh Now Cry Later”. Over an instrumental which sounds like a low budget version of Drizzy’s 2014 hit “Trophies”, Drake and Durk sing about the lavish lifestyle they live. It’s not terrible, but I would never go out of my way to hear it again.
Rating: 4/10
CUT EM IN- Anderson .Paak (feat. Rick Ross)
Rapper, singer and multi-instrumentalist Anderson .Paak pairs up with the one and only Rick Ross for a banger inspired by wealth and fame. With an instrumental based around an electric guitar, Paak and Ross flow over the track masterfully with their cocky deliveries. Overall, “CUT EM IN” makes modern braggadocio rap sound smoother than ever.
Rating: 8/10
Lemonade- Internet Money & Gunna (feat. Nav & Don Tolliver)
Gearing up for a brand new compilation album, producer Internet Money puts together a team with Gunna, Nav, and Don Tolliver for “Lemonade”. While the instrumental is smooth, Gunna and Nav’s performances are so dense it can put their biggest fans to sleep. Even with Don Tolliver’s spine-tingling hook, this is just another generic trap song in what has become a super oversaturated market.
Rating: 3/10
Powered Up- EARTHGANG
EARTHGANG seems to be in album mode on “Powered Up”. Over an abstract instrumental, Johnny Venus and Doctor Dot send listeners through a chaotic trip with their high pitched voices and fast flows. With such creative production and evident progression in the duos sound, my hype for their upcoming record is at an all-time high.
Rating: 9/10
KICKOFF- Big K.R.I.T.
The current king of the south is back with his new single, “KICKOFF”. Inspired by American football, Big K.R.I.T. references the sport and its various elements in almost every line. With its quick-paced trap beat, the song feels fairly generic and not on the level of what Krit can produce.
Rating: 5/10
Nipsey Blue- Snoop Dogg
West Coast legend Snoop Dogg is taking us back to the 70s with his emotional tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle. Sampling the classic Dorothy Moore track “Misty Blue”, Dogg sings about the neverending memories he had with his friend and protege. While it’s not strong lyrically, the visible pain in Snoop’s voice is hard not to admire.
Rating: 9.5/10
Lemonade- YUNGBLUD & Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry looks to continue his hot streak with modern rock titan YUNGBLUD on “Lemonade”. With a hard-hitting instrumental that’s only intensified as the song progresses, both artists spit verses about their inter conflicts and battles. When it comes to retaliation anthems, there haven’t been many that match Lemonade’s energy.
Rating: 8.5/10
NO MORE TEARDROPS- Vic Mensa (feat. Malik Yusef & Wyatt Waddell)
Vic Mensa takes a step in the right direction on “NO MORE TEARDROPS”. On the record, we see Vic breakdown the system we live in and how it’s been built on corruption and lies. This is the most lively cut we have heard from Vic Mensa in years with an authentic and rage-induced instrumental and hook.
Rating: 7.5/10
Said a Lotta Things- Smokepurrp
After the flop of “Florida Jit” and being clowned for a terrible freestyle, Smokepurpp is trying to save his reputation on “Said a Lotta Things”. In typical Smokepurrp fashion, he ends up making an awful song that poorly addresses a toxic relationship. If this ear screeching hook ends up becoming a meme, Smokepurrp might as well hang it up after this.
Rating: 1/10
