Kanye West, Don Toliver, Doja Cat, Quavo, Takeoff

Ye – ‘Donda 2’

Donda 2 finally lands on streaming platforms, aiming to shift the spotlight back to Ye’s music—a tall order given his recent controversies.

Still, the project opens strong with “True Love,” setting a vulnerable tone that threads through much of the album. Tracks like “Keep The Flowers” channel a Drake-like introspection, while “Too Easy” and “Burn Everything” find Ye defiantly asserting his independence.

The themes of freedom and loss are especially potent on cuts like “Security,” where he voices the pain of family division, and “First Time In A Long Time,” one of his rawest admissions yet. Cameos from Future (“Mr. Miyagi,” “Happy”), Baby Keem (“We Did It”), and Vory (“Lord Lift Me Up”) add depth without overshadowing Ye’s presence.

“Louie Bags” is a subtle jab at the fashion world post-Virgil, reminding listeners of the personal wounds behind the public persona. Donda 2 may not reinvent Ye’s catalog, but it’s a surprisingly focused effort that reasserts his artistry—chaos and all. – Preezy Brown

Don Toliver Featuring Doja Cat – “Lose My Mind”

Don Toliver and Doja Cat got into their electronic dance bag on “Lose My Mind” from F1 The Movie.

The Houston crooner carries the first half of the record, molding himself to the vibrant synths and energetic drums until Doja pops in and channels all of her inner Nicki Minaj. The flows, the vocal inflections, the cadences were stellar and provide a nice sonic shift in the track.

Movie soundtrack or score music can be hit or miss, but Don and Doja delivered something that one can easily envision someone driving fast to in some warm weather. That’s worth losing your mind over. – Armon Sadler

Quavo Featuring Takeoff – “Dope Boy Phone”

There is never a bad time for a new posthumous Takeoff verse. Quavo offered fans this heartwarming moment with the single “Dope Boy Phone,” which recalls their 2022 duo Unc & Phew.

The record is hard-hitting, braggadocious, and made for the grind. The cover art alone lets fans know who this record is for, as it is laden with burner phones. “Dope Boy Phone” is prime for those getting to a bag this weekend, and is one of Quavo’s better verses over the last few years.

Let’s just hope that the posthumous Takeoff album Quavo previously alluded to actually comes out. – Armon Sadler

Key Glock – ‘Glockaveli’

Key Glock’s Glockaveli finds the Memphis native sharpening his pen and polishing his presence, delivering what may be his most cohesive solo outing yet.

The project opens strong with “Blue Devil,” which flips Three 6 Mafia’s “Stay Fly” into a brooding, modern-day anthem, and maintains momentum with standouts like “Made A Way” and the effortlessly smooth “She Ready.”

On “Watch Da Throne,” Glock boldly crowns himself “South Memphis’ Finest,” and it’s hard to argue otherwise.

While the album’s energy dips slightly near the end, Glockaveli still stands as a confident, evolving statement from the PRE general—one that marks real growth in his songwriting and lyrical finesse. It’s a solid step forward and well worth the listen. – PB

Benny The Butcher – ‘Excelsior’

One thing is for sure: you will never go long without hearing a new Benny The Butcher project.

Excelsior is a seven-song offering, highlighted by the signature bare knuckle lyricism, hustler bars, and gritty beats that have made the Buffalo rapper famous. Styles P, Boldly James, and Skylar Blatt join The Butcher on this project, but the standout record is the closing track.

B$F signees Sule and Fuego Base join their label head on the slow, pensive cut loaded with punchlines that hit extra harder due to the enjoyable slow crawl of the production. Excelsior is indeed a winner. – AS

Zeddy Will – ‘Set The Tone’

Zeddy Will steps into the spotlight with Set The Tone, a vibrant debut mixtape that delivers on its mission to bring fun and flair back to New York’s Hip-Hop scene.

Clocking in at 10 tracks, the project builds off the momentum of his breakout hit “Twerkin Wit Ya Friends,” leaning into party-ready bangers without losing sight of lyrical flair.

On “Ask About Me,” Zeddy drops a slick bar—“I just signed a new deal, big ups to my lawyer, I been on my Bull sh*t, Jordan from the corner”—that cements his charisma.

The title track radiates celebration, while deeper cuts like “Twisted” and the outro “Uh Oh” hint at his potential for growth.

Set The Tone feels like more than just a dancefloor detour—it’s a promising introduction to a rising Queensbridge voice with staying power. – PB

Yeat – “Feël No Wayz (Yeat Mix)”

Yeat put his eclectic spin on Drake’s fan favorite 2016 record “Feel No Ways” at Coachella, and through Drizzy’s blessing, the official record is out now.

“Feël No Wayz (Yeat Mix)” is rougher and more alternative than the original hybrid jam, but it surely has enjoyable elements.

Where the 6 God seemed ready to move on from a relationship that was no longer serving him, the California artist bared his soul in a way that sounds as if he would welcome a lost love back at the drop of a dime.

Regardless of anyone’s assessment, this is a major moment for Yeat and a unique reimagining of the cult classic. – AS

MxNxSTxR, Destructo Featuring Thunder Cat, Channel Tres – “What You Need”

 “What You Need,” the debut single from newly formed duo MxNxSTxR—Ty Dolla $ign and electronic music heavyweight Destructo—is a genre-blurring gem that feels as fresh as it does unexpected.

Born from pandemic-era studio sessions in Los Angeles, the track leans into uptempo electro grooves and croons that glide effortlessly over the beat.

With features from Thundercat and Channel Tres, the song bends expectations, offering a dancefloor-ready sound that’s both sleek and experimental. It’s a notable departure from Ty and Thundercat’s usual lanes, but the risk pays off.

This first taste of MxNxSTxR suggests the duo has more sonic surprises in store—and if they sound anything like “What You Need,” we’ll be eager to hear them. – PB

BIA – “We On Go”

BIA has never ducked the smoke and “We On Go” is a reiteration of that.

The menacing beat, loaded with heavy drums, steady hi-hats, and synths that sound like a motorcycle revving make this the ideal soundtrack for the moments before a gang war.

She furthers the gang idea as the hook is a choral anthem with several background vocals. It’s almost like 2025’s version of “Yeah Glo!” but the production leans more toward “TGIF.”

This is not to say she is copying GloRilla, but rather that the women making these types of songs are more than welcome. Great effort. – AS

Xzibit Featuring Ice Cube, Lorine Chia – “For The Love”

Xzibit returns with a sharp, reflective banger in “For The Love,” a standout single from his long-awaited Kingmaker album.

Produced by Big Duke and built around Mobb Deep’s haunting “Quiet Storm” sample, the track finds X at his lyrical best, weaving in cultural nods from Whitney Houston to Inspectah Deck.

Ice Cube delivers a gritty second verse with lines like “Don’t call me unc if your a** a punk,” reminding listeners why he’s still a force. Lorine Chia’s soulful hook adds a unique warmth, creating contrast and depth to the otherwise hard-edged production.

For Xzibit, the track isn’t just a flex—it’s a full-circle moment with a longtime peer. “Working with Ice Cube on my project was a big deal for me,” he says, and the chemistry is undeniable.

As one of the stronger releases this week, “For The Love” proves Xzibit hasn’t missed a beat after 12 years away from solo projects. – PB

Westside Gunn, Doechii – “Egypt (Remix)”

Lil Tjay, 42 Dugg – “Different”

DDG – ‘Blame The Chat’

Chicken P – “Mad Too”

Rico Nasty – “Butterfly Kisses”

OMB Peezy, FBL Manny – ‘OverKrash’

Boldy James, Real Bad Man – ‘Conversational Pieces’

Ro$ama – ‘Orange Tape’

Bktherula – “DELILAH”

NAV – ‘OMW2 Rexdale (Deluxe)’

Aesop Rock – “Send Help”

B Jack$ Featuring Zeddy Will – “Get Jiggy”

Pap Chanel – ‘The Girl Next Door’

Flume, JPEGMAFIA – ‘We Live In A Society’

CEO Trayle – ‘The Collection Vol. 4 (Dubba-AA Edition)’

Roc Marciano – ‘Marcberg (15th Anniversary Edition)’

Yung Lean – ‘Jonatan’

Connie Diiamond – “Letter To My Fans”

Tha Alkaholiks – ‘Daaam!’

C Stunna – ‘I Want You’

Death Row Records – ‘Altar Call’

X-Raided – “Queen Of Hearts”

Amadeus360, Devine Carama Featuring Termanology – “Crash Test Dummies”

R2R Moe – “Not In My Bag”

Ricky Bravo – ‘Telegram Titan’

I-Octane – ‘God & I’