Latto, Playboi Carti, Madvillain, Jim Jones

Latto Featuring Playboi Carti – “Blick Sum”

Finally, Latto has released the long-awaited version of “Blick Sum” that features Playboi Carti.

She already held it down several months ago when she dropped, but the Carti version was floating all throughout the internet and people demanded it.

Now, as for this track, the Atlanta enigma made the long wait worth it. His lyrical gymnastics mirror Young Thug’s and he actually enunciates words so you can learn the verse.

This is the type of record that could now unite the men and women in a function. These days, unity and community are more important than ever before. All thanks to the blicky. – Armon Sadler

Madvillian – ‘Madvillainy Demos’

Stones Throw Records has released a new project from esteemed Hip-Hop duo Madvillain, comprised of demos created during Madlib and late rapper MF Doom’s Madvillainy era.

Running 14 tracks in length, half of the album’s songs include appearances by MF Doom, while the remaining tracks are instrumental selections, filled with the quirky vocal and noise samples the inventive pair were known for.

A pleasant surprise for Doom and Madlib fans, Madvillainy Demos is a quality listen that further lends credence to their stature as one of the better pairings the genre has ever had to offer. – Preezy Brown

Jim Jones – “Jomo”

Jim Jones gives the public a not-so-friendly reminder of his pedigree on “Jomo,” the new track he teased earlier this month amid his back-and-forth with former Diplomats groupmate Cam’ron.

“Is he a Bronx is he a Harlem ni**a?/ F**k all that, tell me what’s the problem, ni**a,” Jones rhymes, addressing claims regarding his New York roots, boasting that he’s “a legend” in both boroughs.

Packaged with his recent viral release, “This Sh!T Still In Harlem,” and its remix featuring Juelz Santana, Vado, Dave East, and Suzi, “Jomo” is evidence that the drama and slights aside, Jim Jones remains one of New York’s finest. – PB

Will Smith, Big Sean Featuring OBanga – “Beautiful Scars”

Will Smith takes the next step forward in his musical comeback with the release of his new single, “Beautiful Scars,” a triumphant record that finds him refusing to falter under the weight of adversity.

Produced by OmArr and LeXoskeleton, the track begins with the Philly native declaring his allegiance to his hometown and his status as a living icon, rhyming, “This is the matrix, this is my regular basis/ I am ahead of you players, I’m playing my aces, every card with the faces” while employing a double-time flow.

Featuring a guest verse by Big Sean and vocals by OBanga, “Beautiful Scars” is accompanied by a Matrix-inspired music video, in which Smith takes both the blue and red pills, symbolic of his acceptance of both the good and the bad.

Directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the visual’s release coincides with the announcement that Will Smith’s anticipated album, Based On A True Story, his first in two decades, will be arriving in time for Spring 2025. – PB

EST Gee, ‘I Ain’t Feeling You’

EST Gee broke his short hiatus with his new album I Ain’t Feeling You. Refreshingly, he kept it breezy with just 12 songs and not too many features.

“Houstatlantaville” has the strongest trajectory, largely due to appearances from Lil Baby and Travis Scott. Outside of the drawing power, they all hold their own on the record.

The Louisville rapper also pays homage to his signee Lu Mike, who was killed last August on “RIP LU Mike.” It is always enjoyable hearing Gee get more vulnerable, as he is usually menacing and lavish.

I Ain’t Feeling You is a nice “return” for the rapper who was one of the hottest names in the early 2020s. – AS

GELO – “Tweaker”

LiAngelo Ball becoming one of the first viral sensations in Hip-Hop probably wasn’t on many music fans’ bingo cards for 2025, but here we are.

The professional basketball player turned Def Jam Records signee unleashed his debut single, “Tweaker,” earlier this year under his stage name, GELO, and has unveiled the track’s accompanying music video.

Featuring appearances from his elder and younger brothers, NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball, the “Tweakers” visual finds the trio roaming the Los Angeles streets in a yellow luxury vehicle, in between shots of GELO surrounded by a throng of attractive women.

Living up to his name, GELO shows viewers how to ball in the “Tweakers” music video, which showcases the spoils and trappings of his lavish lifestyle. – PB

Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist – “I Been” 

Larry June and The Alchemist is a match made in heaven for rap purists and natural juice drinkers. “I Been” is smooth, and you get treated to a 2 Chainz verse to open the record.

Unfortunately, his verse is shorter than one would like from a Tity Boi feature but it is all a trick because he and June trade 8 bar verses each. There is enough sound and flow variation to make it a cool, fulfilling effort all within two and a half minutes.

Lyrical raps don’t automatically mean three-minute or longer songs! This was enjoyable, inspirational, and full of flexes. You couldn’t ask for more. – AS

Yung Bleu Featuring Meek Mill – “Friends To Miami”

Yung Bleu and Meek Mill lament companionship lost on this solemn number, as the two rap stars touch on the perils of girls-trips to The Sunshine State.

Meek Mill opens up about past sexual encounters and the possibilities of what could’ve been, while Yung Bleu delivers heartfelt vocals expressing his dissapointment in disgust with his former mate.

“Friends To Miami” is an honest examination of the pain caused by seeing a significant other move on with life, as Yung Bleu and Meek share the cold hard truth about being on the wrong end of a fly-out. – PB

Nardo Wick – “I Wonder”

Nardo Wick’s “I Wonder,” production-wise, had all the makings of a banger but he did not execute vocally. His delivery and actual voice sound incredibly uninterested in what he is doing, which has worked for him on other songs, but not here.

It is too much of a clash, between an extremely boisterous beat and his sleepy drawl. It would be interesting to hear the thought process of approaching this song in this way.

Nonetheless, it is something one can zone out too and still enjoy because of how good the beat is. Nobody shoots 100% and this miss takes nothing away from what Nardo has previously released. – AS

Lancey Foux – “Enter The Dragon” & “Tektime”

Lancey Foux and BNYX is a collaboration for the ages if you’re Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Foux is a London act who has adopted the sexy drill elements in his music and BNYX can produce anything.

Thus, the “Enter the Dragon / Tektime” two-pack blends trap, alternative rap in the Playboi Carti lane, and white noise-esque sonics to make something chaotic yet polished.

Foux raps with precision while maintaining high energy, outlining his drug use and escapades with women. These tracks are made for moshpits and have a natural progression.

If you hear these over Fortnite edits on TikTok, don’t be shocked. – AS

Michael Brun Featuring J Balvin, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Tasan – “Touchdown”

Smiley Featuring Icewear Vezzo – “Money Feen”

OHGEESY Featuring Lil Tjay – “BABYGIRL”

Lord Sko Featuring Curren$y – “Understand”

Finesse2Tymes – “I Was Cappin”

Big Hit, Hit-Boy, Ty Dolla $ign – “Slow Your Roll”

MIKE, ‘Showbiz!’

V Don – ‘Sent For’

Tre Loaded – “Glorilla”

Jacquees, DeJ Loaf – “Favorite One”

Kurious – “1984”

BabyDrill – “Wicked West”

Sturdyyoungin, Ohthatsmizz, Zeddy Will – “Trippin”

BabyTron, ‘Song Wars’

Dyce Payso Featuring Peezy – “No Distractions”

Lelo – “A&G”

Yungeen Ace, ‘I Control My Destiny (Deluxe)’

Shordie Shordie, ‘Breath Of Fresh Air (Deluxe)’

FearDorian – ‘Leaving Home’

Vayda – ‘Vaytrix Reloaded’