April music releases continue to pick up as the month winds down. Travis Scott and Kid Cudi united for their fourth collaboration, “The Scotts,” which premiered during Travis’ Astronomical experience in Fortnite this Thursday. Juice WRLD’s estate released the late rapper’s first posthumous single, “Righteous,” which will likely bring some fans to tears. Lil Baby also delivered a new song, “All In.” And in honor of TDE’s Appreciation Week, we received new music from Ab-Soul and Isaiah Rashad. But that’s only the beginning of a packed week in music.
Here’s the best new music of the week. And, if you’re into this kind of thing, follow our accompanying Best New Music playlist on Spotify here.
Travis Scott f/ Kid Cudi, “The Scotts”
Travis Scott and Kid Cudi have united for their latest single, “The Scotts.” The name of the song was inspired by their shared name, and it premiered during Travis’ Astronomical experience in Fortnite this Thursday. “The Scotts” is reminiscent of the hazy and digitized sounds you would hear on Scott’s 2016 project, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight (the beginning of the song feels kind of like a sluggish version of “outside”). On the track, which is co-produced by Dot Da Genius, Plain Pat, and Take A Daytrip, Trav and Cudi share similar flows as they rap about their influence over the rap game. Cudi skates over the beat, rapping, “Niggas don’t know where to go/Gotta keep givin’ em heat, heat/Time we double though, time they add up the math.” This is the fourth collaboration between The Scotts. Their last track was “Stop Trying to Be God” in 2018. We can’t wait to hear more.
Juice WRLD, “Righteous”
“Righteous” is the first posthumous single to be released from Juice WRLD’s estate. The track is audibly emotional as Juice sings in a low hum. The lyrics are equally poignant and haunting as the late Chicago rapper sings about drug use and his anxiety. The accompanying music video will likely bring some fans to tears, as it features a montage of clips of Juice in the studio and backstage while he was on tour. In January, Juice WRLD’s estate announced that they would be “sharing unreleased music and other projects that he was passionately in the process of developing” to honor his legacy. A timeline for future releases has not been revealed, but “Righteous” is here to bring his fans some solace as they continue to grieve.
Lil Baby, “All In”
On Lil Baby’s new single “All In,” the rapper reflects on his journey thus far, looking back on the days he used to run the streets, to trading in that life for rap and cashing in on a Maybach and Benz. “Ion gotta sell drugs no more, I’m bossed up, I got plenty business,” he raps over the Quay Global-produced trap beat. The accompanying music video for “All In” was shot during the COVID-19 quarantine, and finds Lil Baby cleaning his jewels in his mansion. “All In” is a single from the deluxe version of Lil Baby’s My Turn album.
YoungBoy Never Broken Again, “Ten Talk”
Only two months after YoungBoy Never Broke Again dropped Still Flexin’, Still Steppin’, the Baton Rouge rapper is back again with his 17-track mixtape, 38 Baby 2. The project includes “Ten Talk,” a BJ Beatz-produced track that finds YoungBoy rapping about his lavish lifestyle. The track is subtly boastful, as YoungBoy reminds you of how much he has in the bank and the cars he drives. “So many plaques around this bitch, fuck who don’t like what I’m sayin’/Swervin’ in the Lam’ with the gang, we all tool totin’,” he raps.
Fivio Foreign, “Issa Vibe”
Fivio Foreign released his latest project, 800 BC on Friday, featuring the standout track, “Issa Vibe.” On the record, the Brooklyn artist appears switches up his flow a little. The beat, which was produced by Yamaica Productions, is a typical Brooklyn drill beat with a booming bass and ominous tone, but Fivio flexes a melodic flow as he raps about his budding fame. “Thinkin’ to myself, ‘I gotta make it’/I’m Fivio Foreign, and I’m famous.” On “Issa Vibe,” Fivio is proving that he has more to offer Brooklyn’s rap scene than some may have thought.
Brevin Kim & Lil West, “Bleach”
Please don’t drink bleach, but you should try listening to it. Boston duo Brevin Kim have linked up with Delaware rapper Lil West for a freshly-released collaborative project, Metallic Body Language, and which features a must-listen cut called “Bleach.” I’ve always loved songs that clash organic, analog instrumentation with off-kilter electronic elements. And I usually gravitate to music that takes pretty sounds and roughs them up a little bit to make something that’s a little more strange. So of course I’m a big fan of “Bleach,” a song that pairs beautiful acoustic guitars with dirty synths and distorted vocals. It’s a little nostalgic, but it also sounds like the future (which can be said for a lot of Brevin Kim songs). Throw in a tight verse from Lil West, and you have a song that needs to be added to your playlists immediately. Like right now. Go do that. —Eric Skelton
Ab-Soul, “Dangerookipawaa Freestyle”
In honor of TDE’s Appreciation Week and Top Dawg’s birthday, Ab-Soul sounded off with a new single. “Dangerookipawaa Freestyle” is a slow-building track with production from Devin Williams. After the beat builds and grandiose horns kick in, Soul rhymes about his skill as a lyricist, referring to himself as a revolutionary in the rap game. The freestyle is Ab-Soul’s first solo record since he dropped his studio album Do What Thou Wilt in 2016, but it is still unclear whether this was a single release or if he’s just gearing up for a new project and sharing something new with fans. Either way, we’re happy to have him back.
Lil Skies, “Fidget”
On 4/20, Lil Skies dropped the trippy single and accompanying video for “Fidget.” The rapper’s flow on “Fidget” is a little different from the ones he's used on his previous hits like “I” or “Red Roses.” On the latest track, he switches from speeding up his delivery on his verses to using a choppier, more melodic cadence on the chorus. His lyrics cover a bunch of different topics, from flexing his jewels to sippin’ lean and addressing his trust issues, but the trap-inspired beat, led by kick drums and synths, holds the track together. “Fidget” is a laid-back banger you’d expect to hear at a house party and sets the right tone for Lil Skie’s upcoming project.
Smino, “Cabbage”
Smino has been keeping busy during the COVID-19 quarantine. The St. Louis rapper surprised fans on 4/20 with She Already Decided, a 16-track mixtape that Smi made while he was social distancing. There are a lot of great songs on the project, which is only available on Soundcloud, but one record that is worthy of some extra attention is “Cabbage.” The track is a freestyle over the instrumental of Megan Thee Stallion’s viral hit “Savage.” As J. White Did-It’s retro production kicks in, Smino bounces over the beat rapping, “Getting cabbage, and all my bitches nasty/I’m higher than your fashion/And if they ask, I’m taxin.” On “Cabbage,” Smino proves that mixtape culture is still alive.
Isaiah Rashad, “Why Worry”
“Why Worry” is Isaiah Rashad’s first solo single in four years, and it doesn’t disappoint. The record, which was released in commemoration of TDE’s appreciation week, is a soulful track with production from Crooklin. On the record, Isaiah Rashad gets introspective, seemingly trying to find a balance between his rap career and staying grounded. “Lay back and calm your thinkin’/Ink pen, ink blot, I’m sinkin’/Sober so far and shrinkin’,” he raps. Don’t get too excited about the new single, though. Rashad shot down fans’ hopes, saying the single would not be on his new album.
Earl Sweatshirt f/ Maxo, “Whole World”
Earl Sweatshirt is back with “Whole World,” a soulful track with a hazy beat produced by The Alchemist. On the record, Earl and Maxo trade reflective bars, contemplating ghosts from their past and life’s big changes. Earl in particular, taps into a dark place sprinkling in grim imagery throughout his verse. “My effervescence lost, but not entirely, I shrug the venom off/And kept a tiny piece for times we in the war/I like to think of life as deep, chilly water,” he raps. “Whole World” marks the first single from Earl Sweatshirt since he released Feet of Clay in November 2019.
Jackboy, “Won’t Understand”
Kodak Black’s artist Jackboy lit the streets on fire this week with his self-titled project. The 17-track album features “Won’t Understand,” which puts Jackboy’s life in perspective for outsiders. “I tell you bout my life, but you probably won’t understand/We was scared to leave our house without our pipes even tho we don’t fear no man,” he raps over somber piano keys. While some fans may not understand the life he’s lived, Jackboy’s soulful and passionate delivery will make them feel every word.
Lil Gotit f/ Gunna & Lil Keed, “Drip Day N Nite”
“Drip Day N Nite” leaked a while ago, but that shouldn’t stop you from listening to the official version of Lil Gotit’s collaboration with Gunna and Lil Keed. Each rapper adds a special touch to the track as they glide over a fun trap beat, courtesy of 10Fifty and Starboy. “We are not the same, I pop the champagne and eat Lo Mein on the flight/Higher than a plane, Codeine in my veins/Ain’t none of my soda be light,” Gotit and Gunna sing on the chorus. The new collab appears on Lil Gotit’s Hood Baby 2, which also dropped on Friday. The track has already garnered more than 10,000 views on YouTube and will likely keep going up as fans go into the weekend.
Mulatto, “No Hook”
After gaining a lot of attention with 2019’s “Bitch from Da Souf,” Mulatto is back with the introspective “No Hook.” The new single sounds like the opening track of an album. As the Bankhead-produced beat kicks in, Mulatto reflects on her newfound fame and the challenges that come with it. “I got money and my own family started acting funny/I don’t trust nobody, keep it on me/I swear they always told me that the top would be lonely,” she raps, as she addresses her trust issues. “No Hook” seems to be a play for showing that Mulatto has more to offer than female-driven club anthems.
