With less than two weeks left in the decade, some of our favorite artists delivered new music this Friday, as we were blessed with projects from Cam’ron (Purple Haze 2), Gucci Mane (East Atlanta Santa 3), NLE Choppa (Cottonwood), SOB x RBE (Strictly Only Brothers), and more. Beyond the full-length offerings, some of the best new music this week came in the form of singles: Young Thug and Travis Scott’s “Hop Off a Jet”; Vince Staples’ “Hell Bound (Ad 01)”; Lil Wayne’s “Sleepless”; Lil Tecca’s “Why U Look Mad”; and more. These are the best new songs this week.
Follow our accompanying Best New Music playlist on Spotify here.
Young Thug f/ Travis Scott, “Hop Off a Jet”
Young Thug and Travis Scott are incapable of making a bad song together. Their track record as a collaborative duo speaks for itself: “Mamacita” (2014), “Skyfall” (2014), “Maria, I'm Drunk” (2015), “Floyd Mayweather” (2016), “Pick Up The Phone” (2016), “The London” (2019). Fresh off last month’s remix of “Hot,” Thugger and Travis join forces once again on “Hop Off a Jet,” an early standout from the deluxe version of Thug’s chart-topping album, So Much Fun. Backed by Wheezy’s eccentric, steel drum-soaked production, Thug and Trav trade verses rapping about luxury items we can’t afford—Rolls-Royces, McLarens, Corvettes, and baguettes. Thugger and La Flame remain undefeated. —Brad Callas
Vince Staples, “Hell Bound (Ad 01)”
Lately, Vince Staples has been releasing singles like August’s “So What?” and November’s “Sheet Music,” alongside episodes of his web series, The Vince Staples Show. This week, following last month’s 6LACK/Mereba collab “Yo Love,” Staples returns with his latest single, “Hell Bound (Ad 01).” The bouncy new track sees the Long Beach rapper reflecting on his past mistake over production from LeKen Taylor. “Please give me the strength to keep from maxing out my Visas/ Lunch at Matsuhisa, no more eating Little Caesars/ Pressure life can stress you out when everybody need ya/ Love ya but they'll bleed ya,” he raps. —Brad Callas
Cam’ron, “Toast to Me”
Even Cam’ron stans could be forgiven for expressing skepticism at the notion of a sequel to Purple Haze, his 15-year-old classic. Nothing he’s done in more than a decade has approached the best-loved titles in his catalog. But Purple Haze 2 is a solid late-career effort, starting with “Toast to Me.” With the Heatmakerz behind the boards, Cam rides, yes, a chopped-up soul sample as he celebrates himself and his circle, rapping, “If you messed up, it’s very rare you get a pass/We the reasons bodegas double up on the plexiglass.” Cam told Complex that more music may be on the way. Here’s hoping it sounds like “Toast to Me.”—Lucas Wisenthal
Lil Tecca, “Why U Look Mad”
Lil Tecca was one of the biggest breakout rappers of 2019, scoring his first top 10 hit (“Ransom”) and releasing his debut project, We Love You Tecca, in August. Following September’s one-off single “Glo Up,” the 17-year-old Queens native is back with his latest offering, “Why U Look Mad.” Over trap-heavy production from Ginseng & Rio Leyva, Tecca reflects on how his newfound fame and wealth has changed his demeanor. “They like, ‘Tecca, why you so moody?’/Lil' n***a I’m just in my mood (Why you so mad?)/I don't fuck with you n****s, I'm not quiet/I just don't talk to you,” he raps. The single arrives with an accompanying music video, while Tecca preps his next full-length project. —Brad Callas
NLE Choppa, “Matrix”
After finding viral success with “Shota Flow,” NLE Choppa opts to switch up his flow and delivery on “Matrix.” Choppa is still hyper and aggressive on the Wheezy-produced track, but he demonstrates some restraint as he transitions between verses. While Choppa displays his rambunctious and rebellious energy at the beginning of the song, ushering in the trap-infused beat with a large burp, he then slows his flow down on the chorus before erupting into rapid-fire and melodic verses. “Matrix” is undoubtedly a standout track on NLE Choppa’s recently released Cottonwood EP, and shows his versatility as an artist. —Jessica McKinney
SOBxRBE, “F*ck What U Heard”
SOBxRBE continue to develop their sound on their latest project, Strictly Only Brothers. “Fuck What U Heard” is a quintessential banger on the project that mixes a suave beat and traditional piano chords with cocky bars. “Heard the word going ‘round that the gang fell off/But fuck what you heard, I’m a motherfucking lost/Who you think gave niggas all the motherfucking sauce?” Yhung T.O. sings on the chorus. The Bay Area group holds attention, thanks to the different textures and pitches in their voices. “Fuck What U Heard” is tucked deep within the album’s 15-song tracklist, but its the breezy cut that you can play on a loop without getting bored. —Jessica McKinney
Gucci Mane f/ Quavo, “Slide”
Gucci Mane’s “Slide” feels like Christmas in the summer. The East Atlanta Santa coasts over an Honorable C.N.O.T.E. beat, flexing on verses about his expensive drip (“I’m the type of guy to fly yu to the islands (Fly)/I got the type of money flood a bitch in diamonds”). What really sets the track off, though, is Quavo’s contributions. Quavo’s melodic vocals on the chorus perfectly set the overall tone, and to anyone who thought all he had to offer was sharp ad-libs and catchy hooks, Quavo successfully transitions the 3-minute track to its trap side, which finds the Migos member flowing over the slow-burning instrumental. —Jessica McKinney
Lil Wayne, “Sleepless”
As we await the arrival of Lil Wayne’s next album, he has returned to whet fans’ appetites with “Sleepless,” the first song off of Ethika’s RGB mixtape series. Over production from WZRD BLD, Wayne recounts a tortured relationship with an ex-lover. Their connection is so toxic that Wayne can’t find peace, not even through the escape of heavy drug use. “You got me sleepless, sleepless in Miami/You got me sleepless when I’m on a Xanny/You got me creeping inside my own mansion," he raps. Along with Lil Wayne, RGB3 features tracks from The Game, Trippie Redd, Kid Ink, 2 Chainz, Quando Rondo, and more. —Brad Callas
