This week delivered a wide variety of new music, including some impressive albums. EST Gee dropped his highly anticipated new project, I Never Felt Nun, which included a Kentucky link-up with fellow Louisville native Jack Harlow. Ab-Soul also returned to drop more clever wordplay on his latest single, “Moonshooter,” and Oakland’s finest, Symba, proved that he’s more than just an elite lyricist with his melodic new song “Soul Ties” featuring Rayven Tyler. The best new music this week also comes from G Herbo, Bleu, Blood Orange, and more.
Check out this week’s best new music, below. You can also follow our playlist on Spotify to say to up to date on the latest releases here.
EST Gee f/ Jack Harlow, “Backstage Passes”
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Whenever Jack Harlow and EST Gee link up on a track, something special is always bound to happen, and “Backstage Passes” adds to their increasingly impressive resume together. The two Kentucky natives take turns trading bars on the techno-like trap beat as they rap about avoiding fake people. “Put your phone down and be somethin’, 25 and you broke/Talkin’ ‘bout me on the internet, but you dapped me up when we spoke” Jack spits on the song. “Backstage Passes” is a smooth cut on Gee’s highly anticipated new studio album, I Never Felt Nun.
G Herbo f/ Future, “Blues”
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G Herbo wants to set the record straight immediately. “I’m a street nigga that got rich,” he raps at the beginning of his song “Blues” featuring Future. The “blues” that Herb and Future are referencing are everything but sad though—it’s a shoutout to the blue-faced hundreds that they’ve both grown accustomed to thanks to their success as artists. The two spend the rest of the song reflecting on their journey from the mud to marble over an electrifying ATL Jacob beat.
Ab-Soul, “Moonshooter”
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Ab-Soul is a professional rhyme-spitter, and his latest single “Moonshooter” proves that the TDE rapper is only getting better with time. Soul drops several double entendres into two tightly packed verses over a lullaby-like beat that touches on industry platitudes. “I never been afraid, I’m protected by a force/I can’t really explain and I’m guided by the source/Fuck up out my way ‘fore I knock you off course/I was donkey of the day, now I’m on my high horse,” he spits. “Moonshooter” is Soul’s latest offering as fans continue to wait for the rapper to release the follow-up to his 2016 project Do What Thou Wilt.
Symba f/ Rayven Tyler, “Soul Ties”
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Symba has already proven that he’s an elite rapper, but his song “Soul Ties” featuring Rayven Tyler demonstrates that there’s more to the West Coast rhymer than just his bars. Smooth guitar chords guide Symba and Tyler's melodies as they croon about all of the reasons why they love and appreciate their significant others. “Soul Ties” adds a dash of airiness to Symba’s impressive, narrative-driven album Results Take Time.
Bleu f/ Nicki Minaj, “Love in the Way”
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Bleu is “Yung” no more, and that means he can stand with music heavyweights like Nicki Minaj who joins the singer on his latest track “Love in the Way.” “But don’t stop it, just keep doin’ what you do/How could I move with your love in my way?” the southern artist croons over a slick beat. Minaj’s bars about love lost in the second verse complete the track and make for another heartbreak ballot from Bleu.
B-Lovee f/ Ice Spice, Skillibeng, and J.I the Prince of N.Y, “One Time”
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B-Lovee brings different sides of New York rap together on his new song “One Time” featuring J.I the Prince of N.Y, Skillibeng, and Ice Spice. J.I holds down the hook for the melodic rap faction by delivering the song’s smooth chorus, while Skillibeng, B-Lovee, and Ice Spice each take turns delivering sharp verses over the chord-heavy beat. NY drill is having a major moment right now, and “One Time” includes some of the main players of the new guard pushing the sub-genre forward.
Blood Orange, “Something You Know”
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Blood Orange makes music for long car rides with the windows down and that peaceful moment of decompression after a stressful day, and his new song “Something You Know” fits right into that category. Off his latest EP, Four Songs, the track is carried by the singer's soothing voice and a peaceful guitar. Listening to “Something You Know” should encourage listeners to sit down, get a glass of wine, and just take a deep breath.
