Week #7 ('21) Singles
Welcome to my Singles post, where I go over all of the loose songs released over the past week so. These are songs that are not currently attached to projects, and may either be promotional singles for an upcoming project or songs dropped at the random whim of the artist. I’ll show you the single, where to find it out in the wild, and a little blurb about it for my thoughts/further context. Click here to see previous Singles posts.
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Young M.A. – Off the Yak
This song is two whole bangers rolled into one, the best Drill track of 2021 so far without a doubt. I love how so many of these guys (and girls it seems like) are hopping on this Drill wave, channeling their skills into a different framework beautifully. M.A. has never, at least to my ear, had too much of a flow or engaging temperament; that’s not at all meant to be a diss, but rather a personal misunderstanding of her style. HOWEVER, I think the change in tempo in Drill music, along with it’s deeply punchy nature, gives M.A. the perfect opportunity show that hardbody rapping ability that she has. Her lyrics are dangerous, her flow is mean (throwing in a couple more syllables than usual for the genre at that), and that incredible beat creates pockets that she utterly demolishes. I doubt we’re going to get a whole album like this, but I’m going to relish in this single as much as I can.
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Phife Dog (Feat. Busta Rhymes & Redman) – Nutshell Pt. 2
Released a while ago as a single to promote a solo album, this song is getting a great remix all this time later, with indication that they’re finally looking to release Phife Dog’s posthumous project. Way back in 2016, we were treated with the original Nutshell, released mere months after Phife’s death; I liked the track back then, but I think this remix is exactly what it needed to give it that burst of adrenaline. Smooth traditional bass-backed beat, scant drums, and did I mention that the bassline is superb? Because it is. Phife was entirely in his element on this one, with a steady flow and great sense of humor, but I must admit it’s difficult to hear the man so jovial knowing this album will be the last time we’ll probably ever hear him on new material. Needless to say, Redman and Busta are killer on the track, great additions to a track that was already solid. If you fucked with Tribe, this will be essential listening for you this week.
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T-Shyne, Young Thug, & Meek Mill – That Go!
Meek has a crazy verse on the front end of this thing, immediately starting off the track with way too much energy to handle. But I’ve got to give it up to this guy T-Shyne, who I’ve heard before on a couple of other Thug tracks out there, who really hit his stride on this fuckin’ track, killing verses and hooks like his life depended on it. Thug has a small appearance on the end; I’ll admit I’m sliiiiightly disappointed, mostly in the length of his verse, but I at least liked what I heard. My favorite part of this track is the beat, being this ugly and loud synthesizer loop that sounds like something from an old NES game or some shit, and of course the trap beat backing everything is satisfying too. Another quality slapper for this week. Supposedly we’re looking at a YSL tape soon with a lot of different guys on there, and these singles are telling us it might actually be fire.
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Lil Yachty (Feat. Krispylife Kid, RMC Mike, Babyface Ray, Rio Da Young, DC2Trill, & Icewear Vezzo) – Royal Rumble
So here’s a little bit of current events in regards to Mr. Yachty: after releasing Lil Boat 3, the guy seemingly has used his friendship with Tee Grizzley to get in with a lot of people in the wider Detroit scene, building connections from larger acts like Sada Baby and… seemingly every other rapper in the city if this track is anything to go off of. Here’s something else you need to know: Detroit has become a hotbed for a style of hip-hop that is some of the watery-est and most *disrespectful* shit on the market right now, taking clear inspiration from the gangsta rap of the West Coast. The whole movement going on in Detroit right now is like a love-letter to the Bay Area and the pimps of South/Central Los Angeles, and Royal Rumble is a showcase of some of it’s biggest names. I think everyone one the track kills it, but MVP awards go to RMC Mike for his sandpaper voice and Rio Da Young OG for his killer wordplay (makes me sick to my stomach that this dude just got sentenced to five years, he had a hell of a career ahead of him). Listen to this if you fuck with guys like ALLBLACK, DaBoii, and Cash Kidd, and look out for this “Michican Boy Boat” project I keep hearing about from Yachty.
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Lil Tjay & 6LACK – Calling My Phone
Tjay kills all of the singing parts on this bitch, pulling up just enough energy to keep the track engaging but still mysterious and sensual. I also really like the flow he hits on the one, especially the hook, which plays along right into 6LACK’s standout feature. This is one of those songs that can be quite dangerous in that you might be stuck playing it on repeat while you need to be listening to other shit…. Give this one a shot if you’re a fan of guys like A Boogie and Lil Durk. I hope this means that we’re looking forward to another Tjay project, because I need a real, well-built project from this kid sooner rather than later (same goes for 6LACK; we’re hungry bro).
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Klass Murda (Feat. Benny the Butcher) – Theme Song
This guy has been in and around the Trust movement for as long as I’ve known about it, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a track with him billed as the main emcee. Going into this I was expecting some 38 Spesh-style music, but instead I’m left with an unexpectedly great Drill banger, with a monster of a hook that is perfect for this style. Klass hits that flow perfectly, giving us that real Drill gas, but Benny needs all of the props in the world for sticking to his guns in terms of his flow and knocking it out of the fucking park; he rides the pocket on this beat like a motherfucker, with the only real downside is that his appearance is so short. All of my Pop Smoke fans need to get behind this one right now, and keep your eyes out for a new Klass Murda tape.
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Rowdy Rebel (Feat. NAV) – Jesse Owens
I’m sure the streets of Brooklyn were ecstatic to hear that their boy Rowdy Rebel was coming home, and the man has wasted no time getting the music out to his fans after being locked up for over 6 years. He did a cut with Funkmaster Flex not too long ago, and now it seems like he’s gearing us up for a tape with this new single with NAV. The BK scene is much different from the days of 2014, but Rowdy has adapted handily to the wave of Drill music that has taken over the city, maintaining his hilarious lyrics over the booming and unorthodox beat. NAV is great on the front-end of the track too; maybe he’s not as much of a natural when it comes to Drill, but his drive is admirable. I hope to hip-hop Jesus that there is a Rebel project coming soon, because the game definitely needs that right now.
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Jim Jones & Harry Fraud – Laps Around the Sun
Supposedly tomorrow we’re going to be treated with a full-length project from Jones and Fraud called The Fraud Department, and this last single in a string of solid tracks saves the best for last to get us prepared. The instrumental melody on this one is classic Harry Fraud, mixing breezy flute embellishments and brassy horns together in funky/soulful ways. The track is short, but it doesn’t need to be any longer than it is with the beat being a quick as it is, and Jim wasting none of his time on the mic. The rapping is on point with that gruff wisdom that Jones has become known for, almost reaching up into the realm of poetry with it’s looseness and wispy nature. I can’t wait for this album, which will be another hit for Fraud, and a positive late-career step for Jones, without a doubt.
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Doe Boy (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert) – Low Key
I think this song right here is Doe Boy’s best song to date, brought together with a killer Cassius Jay beat and a surprisingly fire feature from Uzi Vert. Doe Boy hasn’t done much for me in terms of telling us why we should listen to him, but I think he’s been given a great template here that you would have to actively work against to make flop. Doe fits well into the instrumental, gives us solid melodies, and honestly that’s all this track really needed to be great. The Uzi feature on the backend is just gravy on top, hitting those singing parts with fine-tuned finesse. Maybe this is leading up to another Doe Boy project, who knows, but at least we have this gem of a track right here.
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Erica Banks (Feat. Travis Scott) – Buss It
Having no idea who Erica Banks is, I went into this track sincerely curious at how Travis would perform for someone that was unknown to me. Hailing from Dallas, I can see how Travis would at least have that proximity exposure to Erica, but the man has been sort of a recluse lately when it comes to his features; last year we may have gotten 5 or 6 solid guest appearances? I’m pleased to say that Travis blows it out of the water on the front-end of the track, and the existing framework of the original Buss It (because this song is a remix to Erica’s most popular banger) is a great canvas for Travis to actually RAP to us for a while. Erica is full of energy and bravado, distinguishing herself amongst the very minimal Dallas scene right now. Megan Thee Stallion fans and whatnot will definitely fuck with this.
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Shy Glizzy (Feat. RMR) – White Lie
Shy Glizzy is a guy who has been grinding for years now, but the level of respect he gets is nowhere near where it should be. His melodies are on point (if a bit goofy on that Kodak Black type-shit), his hooks are always well done, his voice is uniquely weird yet not grating, and his rapping is serviceable to the point that he has all of these things that a popular artist needs to be successful. All of these things (except the hook) are present here, and show that Glizzy still has it in him 2021 to come out with a banger. While the song is a great piece of pop-trap to listen to, the craziest thing about it is that RMR feature, who I’m glad to see branching out a bit and collaborating with some more artists in the game. The hook RMR lays down on this cut is on that HEAVY Thug shit, like that cookie monster shit that everyone loves. Give this a listen if you fuck with Uzi for sure, and keep your eye for another Shy Glizzy tape, because I got a feeling he’s about to bless us soon.
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Wiz Khalifa (Feat. 24hrs) – Dreams
Wiz has been dropping these cool in-studio videos for a minute now, coming up with these low-stakes collaborations with dudes who he fucks with out in the industry. 24hrs has always been about heavy melody, and that plays well in this track with a very hands-off pop-trap beat, moody and all that. Wiz, on the other hand, is playing more to his rapping strengths, having a couple of solid lines in there. There really isn’t much more to say about the track: you want a good hook, and to see two dudes having fun in the studio, then get on YouTube and check this shit out.
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