This week, Joey Badass is back with “Zip Codes,” a slick new track from his forthcoming album, 2000. Latto is right on time with “Pussy,” an empowering sex-positive track that discusses women’s issues. And Steve Lacy dropped his long-awaited Gemini Rights album, featuring the standout “Buttons.” This week’s list also includes new music from Sheff G, DJ Premier, Nas, 2KBaby, Maxo Kream, Roy Woods.
Check out the best new music of the week. Follow our playlist on Spotify here.
Joey Badass, “Zipcodes”
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“Zipcodes” is a slick track that finds Joey Badass spitting lengthy verses about how far he’s come in his life and career, outlining his growing wealth and status. “Ten years killin’ this game, I’m really goated, nigga/ I’m the motherfuckin’ greatest, nigga/ I know you hate it, nigga/ Most underrated, at least they ain’t never underpayin’,” he raps. “Zipcodes” is the latest track from Joey’s highly-anticipated album, 2000, expected to drop on July 22.
Latto, “Pussy”
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“Pussy” is a sex-positive, politically-charged, empowering anthem from Latto about womanhood. She raps over a sample of Beyoncé’s “Upgrade U,” while talking about the hypocrisy of gender roles, double standards, and misogyny that is ingrained in men’s everyday thinking. She also seemingly takes a stab at the recent Roe V. Wade overturning, spitting over Johnny Goldstein production, “How you ain’t got a pussy, but got opinions on pussy?/ That’s pussy, my ovaries ain’t for you to bully.”
Steve Lacy, "Buttons"
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Steve Lacy’s new album Gemini Rights is finally here, and everyone from Tyler, the Creator to Kevin Abstract is already raving about it. This is an album that sounds great from top to bottom, but if we have to pick a favorite on first listen, we’ll go with “Buttons.” It’s very bare-bones and simple, but it plays to all of Lacy’s strengths, as he puts together a crisp, addictive song with to-the-point lyrics about falling in love before ultimately being treated like a dog. Start here, but make sure to listen to the rest of the album, too, because it might just be one of the year’s best. —ES
Terry Presume, “Loner”
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“Loner” is an electric, infectious track from Terry Presume, where he dances over a hypnotic beat as he wrestles with the idea of being alone. While he enjoys time to himself, he doesn’t want to be alone all the time, singing, “Baby I’m a loner, even when I don’t want to be/ It’s kind of nice alone, although it ain’t always nice alone.” “Loner” is the latest single from Pigeons & Planes upcoming compilation album See You Next Year. Read more about the project here.
Sheff G, “Listen”
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“Listen” is a slow-burning track from Sheff G. Produced by Great John, the song features raps from Sheff G about being emotionless as a result of running the streets. “Please don’t make me catch a body, huh/ My heart on freeze, and my/ My watch on freeze, and I’m, puttin’ my feelings on freeze,” he raps over soft background vocals. “Listen” is a new single from Sheff’s new album, From the Can, which was released while he serves as two-year prison sentence.
DJ Premier & Nas, “Beat Breaks”
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On “Beat Breaks,” DJ Premier enlists Nas for another collab. On the track, the Queens native delivers charismatic bars, paying homage to the legends that came before him, while also claiming his own legacy. “Preemo beats are water, let your thoughts dissolve in it/ Remember Nas like a father to the fatherless/ We take the pain, smile and mix it with street knowledge and/ Hop the turnstile back when I was a problem in,” he spits. “Beat Breaks” appears on DJ Premier’s new project, Hip Hop 50, Vol. 1. Read our interview with him about it here.
2KBaby, “Rain”
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2KBaby is back. “Rain” is an emotional track that finds the young rapper baring his soul as he raps about people praying on his downfall. Elsewhere on the track, he discusses the pain and struggles that come with being in his current position. He also offers words of encouragement when going through rough times, spitting, “When it rain on you don’t let it stay on you.”
Maxo Kream & Benny The Butcher, “Football Heads”
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Maxo Kream and Benny the Butcher have united on “Football Heads,” a hypnotic track about past drug deals. “Codeine by the lean-a/ Pounds of gasoline-a, and Griselda/ Servin’ with my nina/ Cookin’ good Christina Aguilera,” Maxo raps over a simplistic beat on the chorus. Benny enters on the second verse, rapping, “I fuck with niggas like Max’, you fuck with niggas who rats/ Fans don’t know the difference from song and what’s really true facts.” “Football Heads” appears on Maxo Kream’s Weight of the World (Deluxe).
Roy Woods, “Bad Bad”
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“Bad Bad” is a soulful track anchored in guitar strings. It’s a danceable song that finds Roy Woods singing sensually about a steamy romance, reciting, “We live odd lives that won’t equal/ Leavin’, like tell me right before the prequel/ Or you could pull up on me for the sequel/ You know seh mi no like them people.” “Bad Bad” arrives one year after Roy Woods 2021 single “Too Much.”
Zubin f/ Coi Leray & YungManny, “Givenchy”
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“Givenchy” is a luxurious new track from Coi Leray and YungManny that was orchestrated by producer Zubin. On the track, Coi Leray kicks it off with braggadocious bars about being covered in diamonds and fine jewelry while being flown around the world. “He keep me covered in diamonds / He wanna fuck on the privatе, give me his time, but stay on that grind/ Lil baby a flеx (Ooh), lil baby a flex,” she raps. YungManny also delivers melodic bars, spitting, “I fly you out to the west, no economy/ C-suite, I’ll private ya jet/ She don’t take nothing but yes/ 3k every week, nothing less.”
