The Juiceman never stops releasing quality street music. The fourth installment of his 6 Ringz series keeps to his formula of hypnotic lines and hooks over modern trap production, his style largely unchanged in the 10+ years he’s been rapping. Why fix what isn’t broken?
Maryland artist Nicky Bleu forced me to break my rule of not posting freestyles over popular songs. Although this song is a few months old, Nicky’s version of Kodak’s “Testimony”, shot by Hidden Images DC, shines above. Smooth falsetto singing about Lean plugs overdosing and family tragedy show versatility that you rarely see in a freestyle. I hope to hear more from him soon, ideally with his talented friends like Knuklehead, Yung Wack and Murrrland.
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Alright so Shawty Paid is my favorite mixtape of this year so far. You might be wondering, how can you know? I was lucky enough to hear it early and it needs to be run back to back until the actual mp3s themselves are worn out.
Xanman is home, and dropping music. For once, something is right in the world. “PINK” was shot by JVproductions.
Johnny Cinco, one of the most influential artists from the “New Atlanta” has returned with his new album, Don’t Play Wit Him. The rapper and singer, largely credited with helping introduce “Mumble Rap”, and artists like YFN Lucci, and Hoodrich Pablo, to national audiences, has “stayed out of the way” recently, as the scene and styles he helped shape top the Billboard charts. It remains unclear if Cinco, an early signee to Quality Control Music, remains with the label. His 2017-2018 releases, John Popi 2, The Extra, and I Swear 2 (currently unavailable), appeared to be all released under QC, while Don’t Play Wit Him seems to be an independent release through Empire, without the Quality Control logo.
The 15 track project, produced mostly by ItsYungOnThaTrack and ShawnyBoi, has only two features, PG and Atlanta upstart Yung Mal. Two of Cinco’s most frequent collaborators, Spiffy Global and OG Parker, each produced a track. After hearing Spiffy’s haunting chords on “I’m The One”, one wonders why Spiffy didn’t contribute more. Comparably, if you were to visit Johnny Cinco’s instagram (@JohnPopi) in the past 6 months, you would have noticed a number of stellar unreleased tracks that don’t appear on Don’t Play Wit Him, including “All I Do Is Trap”, in which Cinco perfectly melds his repetitive, enchanting flows with Soul-tinged crooning. It’s unclear some of these songs didn’t make the cut, although 15 tracks is a full album, a far cry from the 20-30 minute EPs that are popular in the current Rap landscape.
Much like “All I Do Is Trap”, one of the album’s standout singles, “Let’s Get It”, combines Cinco’s endlessly-copied flows with his R&B singing to deliver a sound fine-tuned to be a Pop anthem for the streets. Many tracks on the album avoid the Modern Trap sound, combining 808s with Jazz chords and Soul samples, such as “Love Me”, where Cinco pleads for the people around him to “Keep it real”, referencing another track on the album, and wearing his Drake influence on his sleeve. Overall, Cinco seems unconcerned with fame and whether he has fallen out of Rap’s most popular circles, because the “Traphouse Bunkin” as always, because times will always be “Up & Down”, and because he remains “The One.” Don’t Play Wit Him is available for stream and purchase on all streaming platforms, with a tagged version hosted by GuyATL available for free on all the mixtape platforms. It remains relevant, and worthy of your ears, as Cinco pushes the boundaries further than most. If you hear similar-sounding songs from your favorite artists 6 months down the line, you’ll know where they came from, even though Johnny Cinco will likely be moving in another direction by then.
Z Money is on a two year run and he’s not stopping. Since the ZTM EP in late 2017, the Westside Chicago veteran has signed to 1017, dropped a second full-length mixtape, and toured with Shoreline Mafia. Next week, he’s releasing Shawty Paid, a new mixtape, largely produced by members of 808 Mafia. “1017 Paper Route” is the second single, with his esteemed colleague Key Glock. Lil Mexico’s haunting beat is the perfect backdrop for Z and Key to trade verses over. “1017 Paper Route” is worthy of endless repeats. Shawty Paid drops May 10th. If you missed the intro, check it out here.
Source: Complex
Z Money, the Chiraq Mogul, the best rapper in Chicago not named Valee, just released his new single, “Wealthy”, produced by Hendrixx. The 1017-signee told Hypebeast “Wealthy is my attitude since I started. It’s more than a title. You move different when you are wealthy…This song represents my life as you can be rich, but wealth is the goal. They look at you different when you reach new levels.” A day with new Z Money is a day worth living.
Shug keeps the pressure up with two new videos. “Who Not”, produced by Sparkheem and shot by Clockwork came out today. “Blast”, produced by London and shot by JV Productions, came out last week.
Probably the biggest unsigned artist in DC right now, Big Riff just dropped Where’s Sonny 1.5, full of freestyles, remixes and collaborations, to keep the fans held over until the next full project. Freestyles/remixes of “Drip Or Drown”, “Many Men”, “Fefe”, and features from Twinnski, Mike Brown, Mojo, and JG Whop, just to name a few.
Two of our favorite DC Rappers, Mike Brown and Twinn keep the momentum going with “Bammas”, shot by JFK Films. These two definitely have more heat on the way. If you like the single, check in out Apple Music.
GG X RMG, Goo and Mike Brown Da Czar kill it on “Ain’t Ask”, shot by DopeZX, also check out Mike Brown’s latest, “Get It From”, below.
Shy drops his brand new mixtape on his birthday. Check it out on Apple Music or Spotify (below).
Worldstar drops Glizzy’s “Ride 4 U” video, directed by Chris Hernandez.The song originally appeared on Young Jefe 2.
Forest Creek’s GooNew has been making waves recently with his blunt, fast-paced raps and morbid but humorous ad-libs (“Hey Auntie.”)
He linked up with Hoodrich Pablo (who recently added Goon’s homie Lil’ Dude to the Hoodrich roster) and has been killing YouTube and Spinrilla for some time.
His new mixtape, Beware Of Goon, hosted by DJ Bandz has been out for only two days now and continues to grow. Aside from a feature from Pablo, GooNew keeps it in the family, with production from Cheecho and a verse from Corleone. Check out Beware Of Goon, below and keep watching Goonew’s rise.
Glizzy drops a new visual for the hit “One”, off of The World Is Yours. Video directed by Michael Artis.
Mike Brown is making power moves! He just linked up with the hyper-talented Spiffy as well as Southern legend Jazze Pha for a new record “Ease Up.” EDIT- this sat in the drafts folder too long. Shout out to Dirty Glove for the premiere.
https://soundcloud.com/dirtyglovebastard/spiffy-global-jazze-pha-mike-brown-da-czar-ease-up
For their “Off The Porch” series, The good people over at DGB chopped it up with Hoodrich Pablo, just after he dropped his new mixtape. Enlightening interview, check it out. Produced by @itslilpooh, Shot & edited by @jcooperatl.
30 Glizzy kills a freestyle over “Eat” and drops a new banger featuring buzzing Maryland rapper Shabazz. Enjoy and be on the look out for more music soon.
Hoodrich Pablo and DJ Scream present their new mixtape, MONYPOWRSPT WORLD RULES, with Drugrixh Peso and Hect. Also, one saw with A$AP Ant and Lil Dude. Shout out to them.
Elevator Mag just dropped Lil Dude’s new video “GTA” when he out in LA. Dude continues to snap, this time over PVPS and Stukk Boy’s bubbly, glitchy beat.
Okay so Money Montana and Lulu P (aka Iceberg Lo) have been making waves in the DC area for a long time. We’ve been watching Money Mon since 2014 and Iceberg Lo years before that. Recently they’ve been rising and getting the attention they deserve. Their latest project, the suitably title Going the Fuk Off has Montana and Lulu going off with the Trap shit, as the should. Beats from buzzing producers Spiffy, Cashmoney AP, K Swisha, DVME and Fukk 12, as well as locals Kidd Slopes and Dolan back the vaguely DBZ-themed stylings of two of the best coming out right now. GTFO was hosted and stamped by Hoodrich Keem. Enjoy.
Jefe and 21 don’t need “No I.D.” as they flex over a sample-based beat by Ceej from Two-9.
Our favorite Atlanta transplant, DC White lets loose some tracks from The Vault out with taste makers Guy ATL and Show Out Time. The compilation is straight bangers, including “John Madden” and “Contraband” to name a few. The tape also has some well-placed features from the likes of Peewee Longway, Lil Duke, Yung Gwapa and more. Enjoy
“Lookin”, the new music video from Lizzle premiering today on JukeBOX DC is an initiation into what the Thraxxx artist is offering in 2017. To bring in the new year, he spazzes out over a stripped down beat produced by Ism, taunting those who with spite, and laying out his goals. “Lookin”, the lead single to Lizzle’s upcoming solo project 1st We Feast, is intended to introduce people to the mixtape. Standout, rapid-fire lines show Lizzle’s lyrical ability; “A lot of n***as showing love but I know that shit’s fake. I don’t let it get to me cause I know it’s just hate.” “In the next year I’m tryna be lookin out a Wraith.” “Lookin” was filmed and directed by the Mvp Visuals team, who brought the song to life with artsy, lo-fi shots and captivating visual distortions. 1st We Feast is dropping soon, as well as another project, D Generation Thraxxx with Freakshow. Free Flock.
