The Ones: 5 Best New Rap Songs From Goonew, Pink Siifu, Black Kray, 70th Street Carlos, and PNTHN
With artists releasing songs at a fast and furious pace it’s difficult for the average hip-hop head to keep track of it all—no matter how tapped in they are. That’s why we created The Ones, a daily roundup of the best new rap tracks you need to hear curated by the Levels team. We sort through all the new songs—across all the platforms and subgenres—so you don’t have to. Thank us later.
Goonew - “Takin Ova”
Rap’s most popular flow isn’t Valee’s breathless marathon style, it’s actually Prince George’s County, Md. rapper Goonew’s lethargic whisper. Goonew always sounds like he’s quietly recording vocals with his sleeping grandmother in the next room over and “Takin Ova” feels no different. The track is produced by Ayee Cheecho whose haunting melodies and drums are defining the cryptic sound of the DMV at the moment. Goonew is most comfortable over Cheecho production, tiptoeing his way through the tough talk: “I get a new hater like every day/I’m still in the hood where you pussies ain’t/I bought a new glock for the getaway.”
Pink Siifu - “Decisions Ova Jerk Chicken”
The grainy video for Pink Siifu’s “Decisions Ova Jerk Chicken” appropriately feels like a travel TV show you would stumble upon late night channel-surfing on cable. Pink Siifu’s music doesn’t feel rooted in any particular city and it might be because he’s well traveled: born in Birmingham, raised in Cincinnati, L.A.-based, and spending the summer in New York. On “Decisions Ova Jerk Chicken” he slowly moves through the track over a soothing guitar from Slauson Malone. His lyrics show an awareness of the world’s darkness but they’re still uplifting: “Skating on the block/Keep watch for every cop/Shout out my Gods alive/Can’t close my eyelids.” Most importantly, he knows to have his jerk chicken with a D&G Pineapple Ginger soda to wash it down.
Black Kray aka SICKBOYRARI - “Tearful”
Goth Money Records founder and de facto leader Black Kray has been a central figure in the depths of the underground since 2013. When he came onto the scene his mush-mouthed and sedated flow captured an audience, influencing everyone from Yung Lean to Lil Tracy. In 2018 Black Kray is still dropping music at a high rate, and “Tearful” is his latest. The DMV rapper floats on the hazy drum stuttering beat while he emotionally rattles off lines like, “I’ll shed a tear or two/Man this shit is tearful.”
70th Street Carlos - “Change on Me”
One of the most promising up-and-coming artists from Baton Rouge is 70th Street Carlos. “Change on Me” showcases everything there is to love about Carlos—the brass band horn instrumentation and his sense of humor. In an era when everyone has grown up on the internet, we don’t get the opportunity to see rappers channel their hometown musical roots as often and Carlos’ embracing of Louisiana’s rich music history is refreshing.
PNTHN - “SUPAFANTASTIC CHOPPA”
Texas-based supergroup PNTHN is looking to join the long line of collectives that have popped off in the 2010s (Odd Future, A$AP Mob, Brockhampton, etc.) and “SUPAFANTASTIC CHOPPA” is another posse cut that could take them there. The group is remarkably cohesive despite damn near throwing all of the Lone Star State on the track. The only knock against them is that they all feel like equals with no discernible standout member. Equality is good, but like how OF had Tyler, the Creator to have a breakout moment, a collective must have a breakout star. It’s still early for the crew and the standout member will eventually become apparent, but for now they will keep feeding us energetic cuts like “SUPAFANTASTIC CHOPPA.”
Check out yesterday’s Ones, and listen to new rap from Goonew, Pink Siifu, PNTHN, and more on our Spotify playlist, Apple Music playlist, and SoundCloud playlist.
