Qari & greenSLLIME,
Operation Hennessy

Qari is one of those Chicago rappers who never fit into the city’s dichotomous regional sounds, opting for a lowkey, heady, dark-and-moody kind of eloquence (there’s a reason Mick Jenkins is on this album). Teaming up with producer greenSLLIME, the two released a quick tape steeped in nostalgia that’s worth your listening. It’s also populated with sound clips from The Life Aquatic, which is pretty immediately appealing IMO.

Lucki,
Freewave 3

Speaking of unconventional Chicago rappers, Lucki (fka Lucki Eck$) finally dropped off his long-awaited followup to last year’s Days B4 II, and it was worth the wait. The tape is pretty devastating, as the 22-year-old attempts to work through his recent breakup, caused by his debilitating Percocet addiction (read his recent Pitchfork interview for more on that). Also, Earl Sweatshirt produced “All In,” and it’s made me realize there’s a bit of Lucki’s stuttered, dropping-off flow present on Some Rap Songs.

Berner & Mozzy,
Slimey Individuals

Collab albums are often tricky to pull off, but Berner (who has tapes with Cam’ron, Styles P, and Young Dolph) and Mozzy (with Gunplay, Yhung T.O., Blac Youngsta, and Trae Tha Truth) have made a career out of it. It’s only right that they eventually got around to working together. The two West Coast rappers work even better together than I expected, Wiz and SOB x RBE come through with killer contributions, and Logic manages to get through an entire verse without bringing up his race. It’s a win for everyone.

Czarface & Ghostface Killah,
Czarface Meets Ghostface

I haven’t actually got around to listening to this yet, but I find it hilarious that Ghostface and MF DOOM have been promising their DOOMStarks collaboration for over a decade, and have both now made entire albums with Inspectah Deck’s Czarface project before getting around to finishing it.

Adé,
Always Something

Formerly going by Phil Adé, the newly mononymous Adé just dropped off an EP based around the word “Something”. It’s a solid affair from an artist mostly known for his features, and he brings in some big-name help from GoldLink, Wale, Lil Baby, Rich the Kid, and Fatman Scoop.

$tupid Young & MCNel,
The Yellow Tape

$tupid Young is becoming one of the bigger names in the ongoing LA rap renaissance, and this week he teamed up with somebody named MCNel (a quick Google search turned up nothing on his name) for a quick, biting EP.

Wicca Phase Springs Eternal,
Suffer On

WPSE, the solo project of former Tigers Jaw member Adam McIlwee, kickstarted the Goithboiclique that Lil Peep (RIP) catapulted into fame. McIlwee has been fairly prolific in his career: he dropped two solid EPs last year alone (including a collab tape with producers Clams Casino and Fish Narc), and he’s already returned with a whole album of sad-boy, acoustic emo ballads over trap production. It’s exactly what it sounds like, although in less-capable hands this formula could have been a disaster.

Drake,
So Far Gone (Re-Release)

The biggest news of the week is, obviously, Drake re-releasing So Far Gone. Yes, that means you can add “November 18th” to your Spotify playlists (and you should, it’s Drake’s best song, fight me on that), but it also means a) Lykke Li, Santigold, and DJ Screw’s estate must’ve received a massive sample-clearing check, and b) that despite all his Twitter bitching, Kanye (or whoever owns the 808s rights) actually signed off on Drake using the “Say You Will” beat. Also, on a personal note, whichever version of So Far Gone I had downloaded didn’t have “Congratulations” on it, so as far as I’m concerned I just got a new Drake song from back when Drake was actually good.

AUGUST 08,
“Blood on my Hands (feat. Smino)”

88Rising’s newest signee, singer AUGUST 08, seems to be crafting a suitably impressive followup to his excellent debut FATHER. AUGUST recruited Smino at his most seductively sedated for this tender, emotional R&B hit.

T-Pain,
“All I Want (feat. Flipp Dinero)”

Pretty much the only good thing about Valentine’s Day is another great stripper anthem from T-Pain.

Young M.A.,
“Stubborn Ass”

M.A. is stupidly talented (check out her “Bake Freestyle” if you haven’t, it’s one of 2019’s best tracks), but she hasn’t dropped an album since 2017’s underwhelming Herstory.   “Stubborn Ass” is a more lowkey affair, but I still have high hopes for the Brooklyn native to seize her much-deserved time in the spotlight.

T.I.,
“Fuck N***a”

The strange T.I./Floyd Mayweather beef had died down recently, but this week T.I. decided to throw out an impromptu diss track regarding Mayweather’s continued support for Gucci (the brand, not the rapper) despite recent blackface controversy. Even though I’m apparently one of the few people who actually enjoyed 2018’s Dime Trap, this is a surprisingly strong track from Tip.

Kevin Gates,
“Therapy Shit 4”

When I heard about this song, I was disappointed in myself that I’d somehow missed “Therapy Shit” 2 and 3, but apparently Gates jumped straight from the first to the fourth; not sure what to make from that, but regardless, it’s always a celebration when one of the best living rappers drops a new song. “Therapy Shit 4” is as soul-baring as the name suggests, and the flow switch three minutes in feels like a breakthrough moment.

Also released: 

Albums: 

Slim Thug, Suga Daddy Slim: On Tha Prowl
Casanova & 30Roc, Free At Last
Papoose, Underrated
BONES & Eddy Baker, SparrowsCreek
070 Phi, Outside
Crimpeapple & DJ Skizz, Wet Dirt
Yung Baby Tate, GIRLS
Quinn XCII, From Michigan with Love
A$AP Ant, Addie Pitino

Songs:

Meyhem Lauren & Alchemist, “Still Playing Celo”
Netsky, “I Don’t Even Know You Anymore (feat. Lil Wayne & Bazzi)”
John Legend, “Preach”
Blueface, “Thotiana (Remix feat. YG)”
Erick Sermon, “That Girl (feat. Big K.R.I.T. & Ricco Barrino)”
Juicy J, “Let Me See (feat. Kevin Gates & Lil Skies)”
Arin Ray, “Roses”
Pivot Gang, “Jason Statham Pt. 2”
Nipsey Hussle, “Racks in the Middle (feat. Roddy Rich & Hit-Boy)”
AzChike, “Strapped Up (feat. Mike Sherm & G-Bo Lean)”
Kash Doll, “Ice Me Out (Remix feat. 2 Chainz)”
Cardi B & Bruno Mars, “Please Me”
Lorine Chia, “Heart Sounds”
KAMI, “Fake Decent (feat. Vic Mensa)”
Kari Faux, “Leave Me Alone”
YoungBoy Never Broke Again, “Gangsta Fever”
Lloyd, “Caramel (feat. City Girls)”
Quin, “Mushroom Chocolate (feat. 6LACK)”
GlokkNine, “Boot Up”
Add-2, “Git Yo Hand Out My Pocket”