Buju Banton, Cardi B, Cam’ron, And More New Hip-Hop Releases To Put In Rotation

Yesterday was Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Buju Banton – Born For Greatness

Dancehall icon Buju Banton unveils Born For Greatness, the long-awaited follow-up to his Grammy-nominated effort Upside Down 2020. Twangy guitars greet listeners on “Ageless Time,” an opening salvo where Banton speaks to the power of perseverance and love in the face of pain, sorrow, and corruption. The tempo increases on “Life Choices,” a bouncy tune that’s apt to goad those within earshot to the dance floor, while “Born For Greatness” is a triumphant number that finds Buju wearing his rebellious nature on his sleeve. Collaborations with Victoria Monet (“Body Touching Body”), Stephen Marley (“Feel A Way”), and Snoop Dogg (“High Life”) are scattered amid solo standouts like “Nuff Love For You” and “We Find A Way,” resulting in Born For Greatness being a varied and enticing return by Banton. – Preezy Brown

Cardi B x Megan Thee Stallion – “Bongos”

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have stepped into a Latin trap bag on “Bongos.” The lyrically explicit record is sonically a welcome deviation from their 2020 smash hit “WAP” and far from what may have been expected. The duo spits about their assets, what their backshot sound like, getting their a**es eaten, and pretty much everything that any man would dream to be able to do with them. As she has done many times, Cardi reminds listeners she is off the market by shouting out Offset. Audibly, you can tell they had fun with this. It may not have been what people wanted, but the record definitely has the potential to go off in the right environment. – Armon Sadler

Cam’ron – The Lost Files Vol. 1

Cam’ron’s newfound success as a sports analyst hasn’t tempered his willingness to serve his fanbase with music and the Harlem maven does just that with his new project The Lost Files Vol. 1. Mixing fresh recordings with cuts from the vault, Killa puts forth a concise, eight-track release that captures him reveling in his accolades as a an artist, entrepreneur, and rising media mogul. “It Is What It Is, $30 Million, rapido,” he snarls on “Run It Up,” referencing the reported eight-figure offer he, Ma$e, and Treasure Wilson recently secured for their platform. Led by the singles “Go & Get It” and “Blow My High,” The Lost Files Vol. 1 contains gems like “Get Mine Regardless,” and “Shakin'” as Cam’ron puts aside time from his new grind to take a well-earned victory lap. – PB

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – B4 DOA

A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is back with an appetizer before his next album. B4 BOA is a breezy three-track, seven-minute listen leaning on his loud autotuned vocals and diverse production. “Her Birthday” is upbeat while “Booby Trap” and “Did Me Wrong” take the tempo down just a little bit. A Boogie’s been active for almost a decade now and still touching on matters of the heart. He’s a hood poet not afraid of being a thug in love, and though these records may not recapture his early excellence, they are solid. The true intrigue comes in whether or not his next full LP will elevate or water down these tracks. – AS

Young Nudy Feat. Sexyy Red and Latto – “Peaches & Eggplants (Remix)”

Young Nudy’s “Peaches & Eggplants” was already popular, but to add two of the most sensual rappers in the game to its remix proves his team knows what they are doing. Sexyy Red steps up first, leaning on her usual vulgarity and sexually explicit lyrics. Admittedly, the song’s production and cadence—paried with her delivery—feel like a rigid match, but she absolutely complements the song’s concept which is something rare on remixes. Latto, on the other hand, sounds comfortable. She’s been in a groove over the last year when it comes to rapping and falls gracefully into the beat’s pockets. It’s not a groundbreaking remix, but it has enjoyable elements. – AS

Curren$y – Season Opener

Curren$y gathers his Jet Life for Season Opener, the collective’s latest compilation which includes 21 tracks of steamy grooves to lighten the vibe. A continuation of their Corner Boy vs. Fendi project from last year, Season Opener finds Spitta and crew sticking to their tried and true practice of layering fly raps atop beats that range from ethereal to opulent. In terms of selections that are can’t miss, Season Opener offers plenty, as “No Ring,” “Worry Bout Yo Self,” “Drive Slow,” “Anything Goes,” “Bring Us Some Napkins,” and “Don’t Waste My Time” are all primed for replays. – PB

38 Spesh and Conway The Machine – Speshal Machinery

38 Spesh and Conway The Machine band together for Speshal Machinery, a collaborative affair that captures the grisled emcees volleying haymakers over sturdy backdrops. After taking turns catching their stride on the introductory offering, the New Yorkers go to town on the album’s title track, a punchy effort powered by a sample-based thumper constructed by Spesh and JimmyDukes. “Before a move get made, I gotta give clearance/ And the plug love me more than his parents,” Spesh muses on “Fireplace,” a spellbinding solo number that finds the veteran taking center stage. Lloyd Banks (“Latex Gloves”), Elcamino (“Been Through”, Benny The Butcher (“Goodfellas”), Emanny (“Made Bosses”), and Pharoahe Monch and Che Noir (“We Outside”) all contribute to the explosive rhyme spills on Speshal Machinery, as one of rap’s more formidable duos come fully equipped with ammo. – PB

Apollo Brown and Planet Asia – Sardines

Apollo Brown has quietly made it a tradition to pair up with the most esteemed wordsmiths in Hip-Hop for joint albums that are a required listen. For those who enjoy their Hip-Hop presented in a refined manner, the producer’s latest collaborative release, Sardines (with West Coast mainstay Planet Asia), is sure to tickle your fancy. Respected for his ability to litter tracks with quotables, the emcee makes the practice appear effortless on Sardines, rhyming in a relentless manner that makes his couplets that more impactful.

“I need it all now, f**k a commission/ The rap game was a trap and I’m f**king her in different positions,” he raps on “Get The Dough Off,” letting it be known he’s not settling for shorts of any variety. On “Panama Sun,” he gets sociopolitical with bars like “Flint Michigan water Dasani/ What the f**k’s up with Biden/ The babies need education, they f**king sliding.” It more interesting on “Anomalies,” “Wide Awake,” and “Peas and Onions,” which is comparable to audio firewater. “Apollo Brown, once again, I think we made a classic,” Planet Asia declares on “Acid Rain.” After giving the album Sardines a few focused spins, he may very well be right. – PB

Icewear Vezzo – “Snowman”

Icewear Vezzo pays homage to Jeezy on “Snowman,” rapping with a calculated flow about violence, drugs, and luxury. “Never show my hand, sh*t, life a deck of cards/ Bro know I ain’t playin’, this Pokémon, bi**h, we gon’ catch ’em all/ This Tesla got me teethin’, I be leanin’, like my syrup raw/ AP feel anemic, I be freezin’, caught two birds of raw,” he spits. The car-rattling production elevates his bars and there’s a refreshing chemistry. Vezzo is a versatile Detroit rapper who rarely misses, and “Snowman” reiterates that he’s pound-for-pound an ice-cold lyricist that will continue raising the bar. – AS

Wynne – “High Standards”

Wynne is back with her new single “High Standards,” coming just two months after her EP Some Like It Hot. “High Standards” leans on more pure Hip-Hop bop production than her more popular trap jams, but it’s high-energy all the same. The Portland lyricist reiterates why she’s become a hot commodity and dismisses men who don’t measure up. “I’m a good investment, you can check the NASDAQ,” she spits. One unique aspect of the record, which Wynne previously showed off on the 2022 record “Ex Boyfriend,” is her ability to carry a melody. “Come on baby, you know I’m pressure/ Yeah that’s right, and I won’t take lesser” she sings with an autotune filter at the end. The message is clear – whether it’s her music or her men, Wynne won’t settle. – AS

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