Conway The Machine, Bun B & Statik Selektah, Central Cee, And More New Hip-Hop Releases
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Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to hear 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.
Conway The Machine & Wun Two – Palermo
Few rap artists have been consistent as Conway The Machine, as the Buffalo rhymer has become an omnipresence of sorts with his seemingly endless stream of releases. That rapid succession of firepower continues with Palermo, his fifth studio album of the year and one that finds him collaborating with German boardsman Wu Two. Consisting of ten songs, including a pair of interludes, Palermo gets straight to the point with “Carduni,” a thumping composition that conjures cocksure couplets on the part of its author.
“Always confident in my sh*t, I was certain I’d pop/ Even after I got my deal, ni**a, the work didn’t stop,” Conway brags, before being joined by KNDRX on the spellbinding salvo “Mind Tricks.” Griselda affiliate goosebytheway’s presence is felt throughout Palerma. He contributes to “Cold Dish,” “Montagna,” and “Gaspare” and asserts himself as a capable counterpart to The Machine, whose musical benevolence remains the gift that keeps on giving. – Preezy Brown
Bun B & Statik Selektah – Trillstatik
Bun B’s status as a cultural elder statesman hasn’t kept him from breaking new ground and expanding his creative process. The Texan regroups with Statik Selektah for Trillstatik 3, the latest installment in their collaborative series. However, the rap legend and producer switched things up this time around, as the duo created their new album live for the world to see. Recorded in Statik’s base of New York City, Trillstatik 3 has yet to make it to digital streaming platforms, but can be heard over on Bandcamp. Coloured vinyl versions of the album were made available in conjunction with Trillstatik 3‘s release, which can be purchased here. – PB
Central Cee – “Entrapreneur”
Central Cee crowns himself a unique type of businessman on “Entrapreneur.” He acknowledges the reputation he has built for himself as a UK rapper who has penetrated the American music scene. Sonically, the song doesn’t veer too far from what he’s delivered throughout his career: mid-tempo drill beat, thumping drums, and aggressive synths. He raps with a fervor, spitting lines like “Soho pitchin’ coke to the gay men, I’ll serve anyone, I got an open mind/ No complaints when it comes to the customer service, I pick up the phone polite.” Cench is coming into his own and “Entrapreneur” is an enjoyable offer to close out what’s been a big year for him. – Armon Sadler
YTB Fatt – Foxes Only
YTB Fatt has been enjoying a breakout year and isn’t using the holiday season as reason to rest on his laurels. This week, the 22-year-old presents Foxes Only, an album that sonically runs the gamut from soulful to raucous. Sample-driven tunes like “Grandma” and “I Luv U” give Fatt space to present blunt observations into his way of life. “Cut Different” finds him declaring “I know I’m the hottest out, that’s why I’m finna ice myself” atop menacing synths and jittery 808s.
The Arkansas native paired up with a handful of the hottest artists in his region. Lil Yachty, BabyDrill, and GloRilla make appearances on Foxes Only, an offering that should maintain his growing buzz well into the next calendar. – PB
Playboi Carti – “Hood By Air”
Playboi Carti’s “Hood By Air” carries a sinister tone. The drum-heavy production is brooding and he takes on the role of a villain when he spits “My whole career, they bitin’/ Some ni**as, they thinkin’ they faster than me/ Somebody should tell ‘em they dyin’/ I’m done with these ni**as and dissin’.” His words are a bit more audible on this track and it’s appreciated. Still, in true Carti fashion, the record is all about the sonics and how he delivers his vocals rather than what he says. With that in mind, he sticks the landing once again. 2024 can’t come any sooner. – AS
Hunxho – FOR Her (Deluxe)
After unleashing his acclaimed album For Her and trekking the country alongside Lil Baby on the IOU Tour earlier this year, Hunxho gifts his fans with the deluxe version in time for the holidays. In addition to popular standouts from the OG version, the deluxe boasts seven new tracks, with “Brainstorming” finding him balancing his professional and romantic responsibilities. Selections on For Her (Deluxe) that are likely to command your attention include “Come Home,” Worthless,” and “U The 1,” the last being a closing effort that finds Hunxho separating his prized lover from the runner-ups. – PB
Russ – “Said It Freestyle”
Russ displays the power of manifestation and execution in his new “Said It Freestyle.” The New Jersey-born, Atlanta-bred lyricist tackles his road to having a successful career as a self-sufficient artist, the current state of Hip-Hop, and more over the somber, soulful vocal-laced beat. “Used to only have a couple hundred up at SunTrust/ Told my mom and dad ‘Trust your son, I’m the one, Russ,’” he spits. He revels in the alternate route he took and how people are products and victims of the current music infrastructure. The record may be a tough listen for specific people who fall within that category, but this has been Russ’ message his entire career. He soaks in the spoils of committing to his path and enjoying the fruits of his labor. – AS
03 Greedo – “Recess”
03 Greedo takes listeners to church on “Recess.” The production fuses a soothing organ, room-rattling drums, and steady hi-hats as his euphonic vocals soar. He flips the concept of school recess on its head, asserting that his “young ni**as” will slide and swing. The chorus is catchy, with the simple repetition of “recess” while the words “slide” and “swing” fill each 2nd and 4th beat. Elsewhere in the record, he shows love to his “favorite bi**h” but maintains that he can still have several of them throughout the week. A man of duality. – AS
Robb Bank$ – “My Bleed”
Robb Bank$ separates himself from the pack on “My Bleed.” The deep-voiced, monotone spitter asserts that he doesn’t bleed, talk, or weave like anyone else over a car-friendly, vocal sample-looped, midtempo beat. In the chorus, he mocks a man who fell for a woman who didn’t love him back and messed around with Bank$ just to get him mad. He takes on a second-person perspective in the record’s sole verse, reflecting on his come-up, having foes, the loyalty he showed to his neighborhood, and the legal difficulties he overcame. His cadences and flows stay consistent throughout the record, but it all comes together for a solid song. – AS
Lil Mabu Feat. Fivio Foreign – “Teach Me How To Drill”
Rising rapper Lil Mabu is adding further fuel to his skyrocketing streak of success with his new single “Teach Me How To Drill” featuring Brooklyn’s Fivio Foreign. Accompanied by a music video in which Mabu gets schooled on the popular genre and fast-paced lifestyle, “Teach Me How To Drill” finds Fivio playing Alonzo to Mabu’s Jake, as the New Yorkers give their own take on the classic 2001 film Training Day. – PB
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