This is a big week for new music, and a lot of artists are returning with remixes to their original hits. Pop Smoke and Lil Wayne teamed up for the remix of “Iced Out Audemars.” Yung Bleu tapped Drake for the “You’re Mines Still” remix, while Sada Baby joined forces with Nicki Minaj for the “Whole Lotta Choppas” remix. Then Benny the Butcher dropped off a new album featuring the standout track, “Legend.” T.I. and Lil Baby connected on their trap record “Pardon,” and Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Gnar released their high-energy track, “Diamond Choker.” We also received new music from Young Nudy, Ty Dolla $ign, $not, and more.
Check out the best new music of the week below. Keep up with the latest drops by following our playlist on Spotify here.
Benny the Butcher, “Legend”
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Benny the Butcher is back. “Legend” is a reflective track that looks back on his come-up, from TNT vans to TMZ cameras (“My heart dropped when they put them TNT vans up/Now we gettin' caught by them TMZ cameras”). But on the song, Benny also makes a case for why he is a legend already. “They tried to tell me I’mma be a legend soon/ I’m a legend now,” he adds. Benny’s delivery is so persuasive that every bar he spits is believable, and his chemistry with Hit-Boy is undeniable. “Legend” appears on Benny’s new Hit-Boy-produced album, Burden of Proof.
Pop Smoke f/ Lil Wayne, “Iced Out Audemars Remix”
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Pop Smoke’s estate has tapped Lil Wayne for the remix of “Iced Audemars.” Pop is aggressive and electric with familiar bars about Dior and other designer jewels, while Lil Wayne adds a nice contrast to the record with a verse that pays homage to his fallen collaborator. “Rest in peace to Pop/We here today, we gone tomorrow/That’s the art of war,” he raps. Wayne also switches up his flow midway through the verse, delivering rapid-fire bars with high-pitched vocals. The original version of the track appeared on Pop Smoke’s first posthumous album.
Yung Bleu & Drake, “You’re Mines Still Remix”
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“You’re Mines Still Remix” is a gloomy and melodic record that finds Yung Bleu and Drake holding onto their ex-lover post-breakup even though they have already moved on. The track is right up Drake’s alley. He mixes rap flows with singing as he recalls a time when he saw his ex-girl giving out hugs to other people at the club. “I took you to the club, and you hugged onn somebody that I know/ And I know them type of hugs,” he sings. While it isn’t rare for Drake to collaborate with newer artists, Yung Bleu told Complex that he was surprised to receive Drake’s verse back within hours of sending it to him.
Lil Gnar & Lil Uzi Vert, "Diamond Choker"
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“Diamond Choker” has a slow build-up, but once the beat drops, Lil Gnar and Lil Uzi Vert go wild, unleashing punchy bars about diamond chains and other material things. Uzi is spitting on the track, but it still seems like he’s having fun, sprinkling in references about popular cartoons and anime. “Green diamonds on me, that Invader Zim/She eat that shit out the wrapper, Slim Jim/Choppa down, Naruto, piercin’ my face like I’m pain,” he raps. “Diamond Choker” is a saucy record that definitely warrants one of Uzi’s signature shoulder rolls.
Young Nudy, “Never”
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“Never” is a high-energy record that finds Nudy rapping about what he will never do again. The one thing Nudy will never go back to is being broke. “I ain’t never goin’ broke for no ho, never/Forever, I’mma be rich, nigga forever, forever,” he raps over Coupe production. “Never” is one of the first solo releases since Nudy dropped his debut studio album, Anyways, in February 2020. The track is expected to appear on an upcoming project, although details have not been shared yet.
Sada Baby f/ Nicki Minaj, “Whole Lotta Choppas Remix”
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The “Whole Lotta Choppas Remix” has a retro, preppy vibe going on, which fans can thank Nicki Minaj for. On the track, Nicki addresses her recent pregnancy, saying on the intro, “It’s the Queen Sleaze/Nine months motherfuckin’ pregnant, like what.” Elsewhere on the track, Nicki raps about Black Lives Matter and Burberry, among other trending topics, while Sada Baby delivers a smooth and raspy verse. “Whole Lotta Choppas Remix” is a great dance record.
Black Thought f/ Schoolboy Q, “Steak Um”
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“Steak Um” begins with a sample of Dave Chappelle’s 2017 Netflix comedy special in which he breaks down years of oppression from slavery to the backlash of Colin Kaepernick kneelinng during the national anthem. After the skit, Black Thought and ScHoolboy keep the trend going, addressing political topics with ease, as well as dropping confident bars about beating the odds. “Listen, they told me I was bound to lose/I had the crown to prove and fucked around and found the tools/Coulda failed, but I’m more compelled,” Black Thought raps. “Steak Um” appears on Streams of Thought Vol. 3: Cane and Abel.
James Blake, “Before”
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“Before” is a love song that contemplates the meaning of being in a romantic relationship, and what it feels like before having that special person was ever a factor. “I must be in pain cause I’ve never needed anyone before,” James Blake sings sweetly. While the track is significantly slower than your average dance record, there’s a certain energy about it that makes you want to loosen up and move. “Before” arrived on James Blake’s latest EP of the same name.
Ty Dolla $ign f/ Jhene Aiko & Mustard, “By Yourself”
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“By Yourself” starts off like a typical R&B song, thanks to a sample from Mustard. But as the beat drops, Ty Dolla $ign turns it into a party record as he celebrates a woman’s independence. “You ain’t afraid to be by yourself,” he chants. Jhene Aiko joins in with soothing and joyful vocals, singing, “You know I do this shit onn my own/Pockets long, I’m so grown, I’m godly.” “By Yourself” is slated to appear on Ty Dolla’s upcoming album, Featuring Ty Dolla $ign, which is due October 23.
Omar Apollo, “I’m Amazing”
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On “I’m Amazing,” Apollo sings about broken relationships and enjoying his new life. “I’m amazing, that’s what they tell me/I don’t think of that too much, it overwhelms me/I don’t think you love me cause you don’t reach out,” he sings. He also switches from English to Spanish throughout the track. “I’m Amazing” is a relaxing and fun record that’ll keep the feel of summer alive just a little bit longer.
T.I. f/ Lil Baby, “Pardon”
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Two generations collide on T.I.’s latest song, “Pardon,” which is a quintessential trap record. T.I. sets the tone with a fiery delivery and commanding presence, rapping, “Tip been solid, speak against his name in the hood/And you will get slapped out bout it, had straps out wildin’.” Lil Baby slides in on the beat, courtesy of Hitmaka and June The Genius, rapping about his status and material wealth. “Pardon” marks the first collaboration between T.I. and Lil Baby, which appears on T.I.’s latest album, The L.I.B.R.A.
$not & Flo Milli, “Mean”
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On “Mean,” $not raps about the toxic traits he likes in his romantic partner. “Yeah, I like a mean bitch, not in the scene bitch,” he raps. And Flo Milli fulfills $not’s obsession, unleashing rude and cocky bars with a preppy attitude. “She think she lit, but bitches ain’t on my level,” she spits. “Mean” was debuted with a video from Cole Bennett on Lyrical Lemonade, after originally being previewed last month.
