With so many new rap albums, mixtapes, EPs and songs dropping every week; knowing which ones are worth your time can be a challenge. But no worries, we’ll help smooth out the process with “Now N’ Laters,” a column that highlights the hottest new releases of the week and the songs you’ll want to listen to now — and later.
This week was devoid of any major rap or R&B releases. But, that doesn’t mean that we were left hanging, as some of the game’s brightest stars came to the rescue with new music. With the release of his forthcoming album upon us, ScHoolboy Q spent the last week hinting that he had something special up the sleeve, which he revealed with the release of its lead-single and accompanying music video. With more than three decades in the rap game under his belt, E-40 has proved himself to be one of the more consistent artists in rap. 40 Water shows no signs of slowing down as he blesses his fans with a timely new slapper that is a reminder of his excellence. And last, but not least, rising star Yella Beezy comes through with a boisterous collaboration featuring two of Atlanta’s finest. Other key contributors to this week’s slate of new releases include Anderson .Paak, Shy Glizzy, Ray J, Beast Coast, and Mario.
With all of this new music getting airplay and dominating the conversation, REVOLT shares our critics’ picks for songs from this week that stand a cut above the rest and should be in your heavy rotation now — and later. Be sure to let us know what your favorites are.
ScHoolboy Q: “Numb Numb Juice”
ScHoolboy Q checks the temperature for his forthcoming album with this intense warning shot, which finds the TDE rapper on a trigger-happy rampage. Produced by Nez & Rio, DJ Fu, and Baby Keem; this quick-strike offering serves as the calm before the storm and should ratchet up the fanfare as we draw closer to the arrival of the MC’s third major label effort.
E-40: “Melt”
Bay Area icon E-40 continues to defy the hands of time with his new single, which finds the master of slanguistics dripping his swagger all over the beat. Produced by Kanobby and Avedon, and featuring an enthralling guest spot by Milla, this slapper should get E-40’s voice into the mix at your local function and is a worthy addition to your musical rotation.
Yella Beezy: “Bacc At It Again”
Producer Quay Global cooks up a 808-driven composition for Yella Beezy’s latest offering, as the rising star looks to build on the momentum he made in 2018. Phoning in Migos member Quavo and Gucci Mane for added reinforcement, Yella Beezy has money on his mind and if this track is any indication, he appears primed to get right back to making an impact on the Billboard charts.
Anderson .Paak: “King James”
Glorious horns, keys and percussion beckons listeners as they press play on west coaster Anderson .Paak’s first release since unleashing his Oxnard album last year. Produced by Callum and Kiefer, this groove exudes the type of funky vibes that made .Paak a hot commodity during his rise and sounds like the precursor to another quality body of work.
Mario: “Care for You”
Veteran crooner Mario returns with this piano-driven ballad, which captures the star in a lovelorn state. Produced by Jake Gosling, this selection displays Mario’s vulnerability, as the singer delivers impassioned vocals that find him taking his transgressions and flaws into account. The result in a riveting tune that tugs on heartstrings. It’s one of the premier R&B releases of the week.
Beast Coast: “Left Hand”
Producers Tyler Dopps and Sam Wish cook up a jittery instrumental for Brooklyn-based collective Beast Coast to run roughshod over on this amped-up posse-cut. Featuring Joey Bada$$, Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, Kirk Knight, Nyck Caution, and CJ Fly; this sonic collage of chaos showcases each individual artist, while putting the talents of the whole collective on full display.
Shy Glizzy: “Volcano”
Washington D.C.’s own Shy Glizzy returns with this new loosie that finds the rapper gliding over a subdued backdrop provided by Geraldo Live. Touching on the harsh realities of the streets while basking in his lavish lifestyle, Glizzy is in a reflective state of mind on this outing.
Ray J: “Hallelujah”
R&B singer Ray J takes a break from his reality TV gigs to come out on the musical front with this feel-good ditty. Featuring a guest appearance from his cousin Snoop Dogg, Ray J’s latest single arrives right in time for the warmer months of the year and finds the two artists basking in the California sunshine.
Drama Relax: “Energy”
Newcomer Drama Relax make a great first impression with his new single and it features Tory Lanez, and rising rapper Lil TJay. Produced by Taso, KillaBeatz, Beat Butcha, and Di$; this lady-friendly salvo is among this week’s more pleasant surprises and helps mark Drama Relax as an artist for listeners to keep an eye on moving forward.
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