Weekly Fix #15 ('20)

Welcome to the Weekly Fix, where I go over everything that I’ve listened to that has come out within the past week. I’ll give a little blurb about the project/single with my feelings on it thrown in there, throw some descriptors and other artists names to give you an idea what the project/single is like, and link to all applicable streaming services/online stores where you can find the music.

It's my second week back, and week two of me reporting on a stream of music that has slowed to mere droplets in comparison to the first part of the year. I only have two projects for you this week, a handful of singles, but at least it’s all quality material to keep you entertained.

I’ve gotten a few questions about the Upcoming Heat page, specifically why I’m not updating it. I’m going to get back to it in a bit; now seems like a great time to catch up whenever people seem to be scrapping their release dates (and seemingly dropping at random with no fanfare). Keep checking in and I’ll be back to it soon.

In terms of what we have coming on the horizon, we have a little more light peeking through for next week. DaBaby and dvsn are gearing up for releases, but my mind is entirely consumed by this new Westside Gunn tape, Pray For Paris. The tracklist for this thing is a monster with names I never thought would work with the Flygod, and I’m even more hype for this tape than I was for Hitler 7.

-----PROJECTS-----

Tory Lanez – The New Toronto 3

LoVe mE NoW (or however that shit is stylized) was an incredibly good project to my taste, with some of Tory’s best melodic content he’s ever put out. This new project sees us back to his more generic trapper tendencies, but it’s still a quality Tory release. The songs are bite-sized in comparison to some of his past projects (most recently his last project, Chixtape 5), there are some great beats across the length, and a few cuts on here feature some great rapping. Maybe I was spoiled by the spirit of trying to outdo all of his guests on Love Me Now, but I would have loved more features on here, not only to break up the tracklist a little more but to also push Tory that extra mile to create a truly great project. Still, it’s worth a listen.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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24hrs & DJ Drama – 12 AM in Atlanta 2

This was the first project from 24hrs to actually get me to say this guy is a quality artist. Going back I think I’ve felt this way for a while, but for some reason I just haven’t taken him seriously until now. My mistake hopefully turns into a teachable moment, because you shouldn’t sleep on this guy like I did. His voice is super digital and touched up, like NAV in a way but with more of a heart and emotional base to it. His pen game is irrelevant in the face of his great melodies, excellent beat selection, catchy hooks, and his large number of noteworthy collaborators: people like K CAMP, Young Nudy, his brother MadeinTYO, and Ty Dolla $ign all bring their A-game on this tape. If you’re looking for refined, clean, bumping, Soundcloud-esque trap music, this is a great project to add your playlist.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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-------SINGLES-------

Luh Kel (Feat. Lil Tjay) – Wrong

You listen to guys like Kodak Black and Youngboy NBA and you just get used to bad singing; it’s endearing in a way that’s fire, but you can’t deny their vocals aren’t anything to write home about. Which is why Luh Kel surprised me as someone who not only has a great voice, but also has the rapping chops to hang with his contemporaries. This single here has a great hook and melody associated with it, and there’s something positive and clean about the track that makes it a real treat to listen to. Tjay might cut through the mix a little too sharp, but he brings a good energy and passion to a track already filled to the brim with it. If a healthy mix of trap and R&B interests you, this smooth track would be a good fit for you.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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Yella Beezy (Feat. Young Thug) – Headlocc

There’s something to be said about the power of a good character and presence on the microphone, something that Young Thug is the Mr. Miyagi of, an energy that Yella Beezy taps into here as well. Their voices are borderline cartoonish, that mixed with charisma and a unique tone create something you can’t get out of your head. I love the self-serious hard piano rolling along with the track. This new track here combines some of the more skeletal natures of modern ATL beats with the clownishness of New Orleans emcees like Lil Wayne and Boosie Badazz, and the result is a slapper with an incredibly memorable refrain (“I gotcho bitch in a heeeadlock”).

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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Polo G – DND

Much more in line with what I would expect from Polo G than Go Krazy was. While the previous single was an epic banger featuring increasingly fire verses, this new track is more reflective and somber cut, think Lil Tjay or Youngboy NBA for a comparison. Okay lyrics, okay flow, decent hook. It’s pretty alright to me, but if you’re looking for something new and groundbreaking from the Chicago youngin’ then you’ll be disappointed. I’d love to see him branch out a little bit if he has a project on the way in the near future; a good mix of tracks like these, along with some new ideas, will do wonders for his longevity in the game.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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Rich Brian (Feat. Guapdad 4000) – Bali

It’s been a strange journey these past few years trying to figure out where Rich Brian is trying to take his career (or in fact to determine where 88Rising as a label is hoping to place); starting as essentially a meme rapper, trying to make it on mainstream trap, pivoting to a more personal and experimental sound, and now diving headfirst into these autotuned mainstream singer/rapper bops. Not to say that any of these moments in his career have been bad or not worth listening to, but I’m still finding myself all this time later wondering if the magic of Dat $tick will ever be found again. This new single here is catchy, witty, funny, and it’s written with a great hook and melody attached. Rich Brian doesn’t necessarily display versatility here as much as he does a willingness to try any new sound he finds interesting, and the attempt here is listenable and admirable. The only complaint I have here is with Guapdad, who does fantastic on his guest spot here, but he comes and goes with a very short verse. Looking forward to where Brian goes with his new LP.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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Shy Glizzy – Lonely Vibes

Glizzy has been around for years, always ever-so-slightly underneath everyone’s radars; dude probably would have blown up after Crew had not Brent Faiyaz stole the show with his iconic hook. But if you’re in the market for a mainstream-leaning rapper with a proclivity for singing, then Young Jefe’s nasal drawls are for you. Imagine like a Kodak Black or an A Boogie. This single here is a cut where Shy Glizzy sees himself in his feelings, hitting upon a slightly grating melody but offsetting it with some lyrical content. It’s memorable in a way that I haven’t heard a Glizzy cut before, which is a promising sign for a great LP coming.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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dvsn (Feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Buju Banton) – Dangerous City

I’ve never gotten down with artists like Majid Jordan, PARTYNEXTDOOR, or dvsn, mostly because I’m looking for a little more meat on the bones of these tracks. They’re usually skeletal, and the deliveries and presences of the singers involved are too understated. *However*, this new cut here from dvsn has a bit more concrete of a hook, the beat slaps just enough to get my attention, and the features from Ty Dolla $ign and Buju Banton ground the track firmly to create a thoroughly enjoyable R&B bop. Buju also provides that Caribbean flavor to it that makes the track even more memorable. I’ve only listened to two of the singles from dvsn’s upcoming record A Muse In Her Feelings, this one and the one with Future, but those two are enough to warrant a listen when it comes out.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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Nieman J, Eric Bellinger, & Joe Moses (Feat. Young Thug) – Cheat Code Mode

It’s billed with three different artists, but I think this is meant to be a Nieman J track, who seems to be most in his element when surrounded by some very charismatic figures. He is not trash by any means, but competing with voices like Thugger and Bellinger is a tough match, hell even Joe Moses has a great voice over this brand of slick and stylish trap music (with that slight hint of west-coast club music in there). Great hook, great and memorable performances from the guests involved, and it keeps a brisk pace making it an effortless listen. Pretty much textbook quality banger material.

Spotify / YouTube / Apple Music

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