Kodak Black, 42 Dugg, AZ, And More New Music Friday Releases You Need In Rotation

Today is 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 festivities.

Kodak Black – “Eaze Your Mind”

Kodak Black wants his love interest to have mental peace on his new single “Eaze Your Mind.” The Pompano Beach, Fla. rapper croons throughout the hook and his verses and questions whether she knows he’s Sniper Gang and will always be secure. The production is instrumental fuses a bop with sentimental synths to fully push forward the notion that this song is for a romantic evening. One can almost picture Yak and his lady at a candlelit dinner making googly eyes at one another and musing over what their future can be. If that can’t put her mind at ease, then what can? – Armon Sadler

42 Dugg – “Go Again”

42 Dugg is relentless on “Go Again.” After his signature whistle rings off, the Detroit rapper gets off haymaker punchlines about how nobody should mess with him, women call him “daddy,” and how he’s got a Dominican love interest. The menacing production almost sounds like he’s riding by an enemy crew at night and staring them down. As he feels threatened, he raises his voice much like how he raps on this track. It’s the type of warning shot that makes one think. Dugg has made a name for himself over the last few years and “Go Again” is another checkmark in the win column for him. – AS

AZ – “This Is Why”

Veteran wordsmith AZ is gearing up for his forthcoming Truth Be Told, which drops on Dec. 1 and marks his first full-length release since his acclaimed 2021 effort Doe or Die II. After giving fans a tester in the form of his previous single “The GOAT,” the Brooklyn native serves up another dose of reality rap with his latest one-off, “This Is Why.” Produced by Buckwild, the cut finds the elder statesman saluting those seasoned and well-tenured, from the blocks of East New York to the music industry, while basking in the essence of his freshness and opulence. – Preezy Brown

Lil Yachty – “Lotus Flower Bomb”

Lil Yachty takes a trip back to 2011 on “Lotus Flower Bomb.” Cash Cobain flips Wale’s classic record into a signature sexy drill anthem where Lil Boat raps about a woman he’s courting. The Atlanta rapper informs her that any other man who would try to pursue her is lame. He’s got fast cars that switch lanes, and, of course, he shouts out his Concrete crew. The production is spacy, allowing Yachty to get calculated flows off without overpowering the nostalgia-inducing yet refreshing beat. His autotuned croons are full of infatuation and bragging as he tries to winover a woman he deems worth chasing. This is a great homage to one of the best love song rappers ever. – AS

Money Man – Croptober

Atlanta rapper Money Man unveils Croptober, his latest collection of tunes steeped in nods to the entrepreneurial lifestyle, leisure, and self preservation. His third album release of the year, Croptober is short on features, with BC Marse, who appears on two tracks being the lone lyrical contributor. This allows the listener’s focus to be fixed on Money Man’s musings, which often find him either weaving nuggets of game on ways to increase one’s wealth or glowing in self appraisals. “Bigger than life, I’m the machismo,” he boasts on “Botox,” noting the increased value of his music has altered his outlook on collaborating with others. Packing a robust 18 tracks, CROPTOBER is highlighted by the standout offerings “Make Up Yo Mind,” “Emergency,” “Pound Alert,” and “Don’t Worry,” making for a full-bodied release that accounts for more hits than misses in its totality. – PB

Philly Goats – Philly Goats

The City of Brotherly Love has built a reputation for breeding rap groups that balance lyrical guile and showmanship, placing as much of an emphasis on moving the crowd as they do in wowing their critics and peers. Rising rap trio Philly Goats is the latest act from the city to adopt that approach, which is deployed on their self-titled, debut mixtape, which finds members D Sturdy, Sous, and PGS Spence delivering eight selections intended to make you bust a move. Standouts include “Blick,” “Toot That,” “Turnt,” and the Armani White-assisted remix of their breakout single “Buckle Up.” – PB

Lil Migo – Trap Tuition

Lil Migo gives listeners a crash course on the rules of the streets on Trap Tuition, the Memphis rhymer’s latest offering and follow-up to his 2022 release King Of The Trap 2. Opening the proceedings alongside Lil Poppa on “Never Fail,” Migo exudes the resilience of a self-made boss, bragging that he’s “too cold for hell” and “too fly to fail” while lamenting the adversity faced along his travels. While Trap Tuition includes appearances by SleazyWorldGo, Hunxho, Lil Jairmy, Co Cash, and Fresco Trey, the project’s most riveting moments come when Lil Migo is in his own zone. “No Regular,” “Detox,” “If You Havin,” and “Every Time” are prime examples in this regard, as the rapper continues to stamp himself as one of the most promising young rap stars to emerge from his city. – PB

Shordie Shordie & Murda Beatz – Memory Lane 2

Shordie Shordie and Murda Beatz’s Memory Lane 2 is a linkup of epic proportions. Murda is one of the most versatile producers of the last decade and beyond, and Shordie Shordie’s melodic excellence fuses with the beats (no pun) like peanut butter and jelly. The 15-track project shows off their range of talents and they bring Mozzy, Baby B, and Blakeiana along for the ride. There is emotion, flexing, reflection, and affirmation all throughout this strong effort. It isn’t too often that sequels live up to the original project, but they may have outdone 2021’s Memory Lane with this one. A third installment would be more than welcome. – AS

RBX Featuring Project Pat – “Picnic Caskets”

RBX let loose another warmup cut in anticipation of his comeback album, Hibernation Shivers, with “Picnic Caskets,” the former Death Row rapper’s eerie collaboration with Three 6 Mafia member Project Pat. Produced by Labcabin Records’ Sccit & Siavash The Grouch, the track follows previous RBX singles “Nightstalker” featuring Krayzie Bone of Bone Thugs~N~Harmony, and “Lets Ride”, featuring Sccit & Klientel.

“It came together naturally.. Didn’t have to force it.,” RBX says of his work with Project Pat. “Then Daz told us it just so happens to be Snoop’s birthday the day it drops, which the joint is kind of a sequel to ‘Serial Killa’ off Doggystyle. We ain’t gotta try, it lines up like that on its own when you movin on some real sh*t.” Hibernation Shivers is scheduled to drop in November and will include features from MC Eiht, Project Pat, Spice 1, Daz Dillinger, Kurupt, Ras Kass, Krayzie Bone, Crooked I, Cold 187um, Fatlip and more. – PB

Radamiz – El Duende!

Radamiz is genuinely one of the best lyricists in the game today and more people need to know about him. His new project El Duende! displays his rapping excellence over the course of nine tracks and almost 24 minutes. The project’s production is very soulful and Radamiz throws lyrical punches throughout each track. ICECOLDBISHOP, SadhuGold, JUNIE, and Rafael Moure-Elaso feature on El Duende! and add their own spirited elements to the overall impressive effort. It feels like Radamiz is on the verge of a breakthrough, but the words of this blurb can’t accurately depict it better than the bars he spits. – AS

More from VIBE.com

• Kodak Black Says 21 Savage Changed After Making 'Her Loss' Album With Drake

• Kodak Black Denies Ray J's Help And Raises More Concern About Drug Use

• Lil Yachty Teases Potential Collaborative Album With Drake

Click here to read the full article.