Songs of the Week: July 7th

By Spencer Lobdell

Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior. To stay up to date on all new music, follow our playlist “Hot 30” on Apple Music and Spotify. “Hot 30” is updated daily to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:

A playlist updated weekly by team members at StereoVision with the hottest new rap and hip-hop music. Always 30 songs with the hottest tracks at the top.

Songs of the week:

“Sunset” by J. Cole & Young Nudy

Sunset (feat. J. Cole & Young Nudy), a song by Dreamville, J. Cole, Young Nudy on Spotify

Although Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III collaborative album was packed full of high energy hits, it’s no doubt that head-honcho J. Cole and Young Nudy snatched the best joint on the tape with “Sunset”. The menacing track was originally titled “God Flinch” and featured Drake and while he may have been left off the Dreamville project there is still hope that this verse could appear on producer ChaseTheMoney’s debut album. This track is anchored by a sinister hook from J. Cole that is equal parts addicting and epic. Cole and Nudy both take full advantage of their respective verses, rapping about the dangers of their hometowns without ever forgetting to flex their excessive wealth. “Sunset” is an excellent track that should always be discussed when speaking on Cole’s impressive discography.

“Just made a mil’, I counted it once
I think I go spread it around in the slums
2-6 boy, that’s where I’m from
Help me get used to the sound of the drum”

— J. Cole "Sunset"

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“Phone Numbers” by Dominic Fike

Phone Numbers, a song by Dominic Fike on Spotify

Every morning when we wake up from our night's rest we are one day closer to the inevitable hour where Dominic Fike is the biggest star in music. The young pop-rapper’s overflowing potential is obvious on all three singles leading up to his forthcoming debut album with this weeks release, “Phone Numbers”, potentially being the best of the batch. On “Phone Numbers” Fike takes two perspectives: on the hook, he is an old acquaintance of the artist wondering why Dom won’t call him back or give him something, while on the verses, he is simply Dominic Fike rapping about how fast his incredible life is moving. Fike flexes some serious bars on this track as well as an infectious chorus that’ll have you hitting repeat all day.

“And yes, I moved lil’ shawty from ‘round
And she’ve been all in my business as of late
I got rich so goddamn fast
They want this break, can’t catch a break”

— Dominic Fike "Phone Numbers"

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“Cellout” by 03 Greedo & Travis Barker

Cellout, a song by 03 Greedo, Travis Barker on Spotify

New music from locked-up living-legend 03 Greedo always warrants immediate play regardless of what else is going on. This week, the Los Angeles icon released a brand new EP with drummer/producer Travis Barker titled Meet The Drummers and the intro titled “Cellout” is an instant hit. Throughout the whole song 03 cleverly goes back and forth between “not wanting to sell out” and “wanting to get out of his cell”. While the double meaning of sell/cell is extremely entertaining throughout the whole song, the cut is far deeper than witty wordplay as Greedo dives into what he expects from his homies well he’s locked up and also how life is inside the pen. With every release, Greedo’s musical catalog grows stronger and the chorus of voices simultaneously yelling “Free 03” gets louder.

“So much work keep weighing, think the scale off
Niggas out here broke, steady faking like they well off
Don’t let me go to jail and then get out and heard you fell off
I’ma peel these calendars inside the dirty cell off”

— 03 Greedo "Cellout"

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Thanks for reading, check back in next week for three new songs of the week. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter to get notified when we post:

Songs of the Week: June 16th

By Spencer Lobdell

Welcome to “Songs of the Week” a weekly segment where I highlight three of the best new songs released the week prior. To stay up to date on all new music, follow our playlist “Hot 30” on Apple Music and Spotify. “Hot 30” is updated daily to always include the freshest new music. Always 30 songs, hottest always at the top. Stream it here:

A playlist updated weekly by team members at StereoVision with the hottest new rap and hip-hop music. Always 30 songs with the hottest tracks at the top.

Songs of the Week:

“Down Bad” by Dreamville

Down Bad (feat. JID, Bas, J. Cole, EARTHGANG & Young Nudy), a song by Dreamville, JID, Bas, J. Cole, EARTHGANG, Young Nudy on Spotify

J. Cole’s powerhouse label “Dreamville” has been teasing their third collaborative album “Revenge of the Dreamers III” for awhile now and last Wednesday we finally got a taste of what they’ve been working on. While both songs on their EP “1-800-88-DREAM” were very good, “Down Bad” is already one of my favorite songs of the year. JID, Bas, J. Cole, and Johnny Venus, all deliver excellent verses to the point where it’s hard to pick a favorite. If I had to pick, I think JID’s verse barley edges out the other three but it is very close. This song is so fun and succeeded in adding to the excitement for the forthcoming album.

“I had to tighten the fuck up, but I’m here for the crown
Board of Education vs. Brown
I was bored of education, left the town
Fuck a résumé and fuck a cap and gown
Fuck a background check back ‘round when I get the check
Nigga, that’s now”

— JID "Down Bad"

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“Time” by Free Nationals (Feat. Mac Miller & Kali Uchis)

Time, a song by Free Nationals, Mac Miller, Kali Uchis on Spotify

Ten months after his passing, Mac Miller’s first posthumous verse has arrived, and it’s nothing short of perfect. The track is titled “Time” and released by Anderson .Paak’s band, Free Nationals. Kali Uchis is called upon for the first verse and hook and sounds angelic over the groovy soundscape provided by Free Nationals. One minute and thirty seconds into the record, Mac smoothly makes his presence known and spits a reflective verse about the benefits of letting time run its course in a relationship. He utilizes the same flow and style that was very present in Swimming allowing every introspective bar to resonate. We miss you Mac, rest in peace.

“Well, I don’t trip, but I slip, I fall
Sleep all day, maybe miss your calls
Like I been missing you
Still, I continue, tied up and tripping up
I’m making the wrong decisions and you sick of it all”

— Mac Miller "Time"

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“Money In The Grave” by Drake (Feat. Rick Ross)

Money In The Grave (Drake ft. Rick Ross), a song by Drake, Rick Ross on Spotify

Thursday night the Toronto Raptors won their first ever NBA championship meaning that their biggest fan and spokesperson, Drake, would be dropping new music in celebration before the weekend was over. On Friday night, the Canadian rapper dropped a two song EP titled The Best In The World Pack. The second track “Money In The Grave”  features Rick Ross, reuniting the dynamic “I’m On One/Lord Knows” duo. While the song has nothing to do with the Raptors, it’s a classic Drake freebie which always seem to go especially hard. The song features the two decorated emcees rapping about their success and how people will continue to try and feed off their image even after death.

“When I die, put my money in the grave
I really gotta put a couple niggas in they place
Really just lapped every nigga in the race
I really might tat “Realest Nigga” on my face”

— Drake "Money In The Grave"

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Thanks for reading, check back in next week for three new songs of the week. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter to get notified when we post:

Rethinking Atlanta’s Trap Sound with Young Nudy and Pi’erre Bourne on “Sli’merre”

By Carter Fife

For the past three years, few upcoming rappers have generated as much hype as Young Nudy. While relatively unknown to the mainstream, Nudy’s 2016 mixtape Slimeball and its successors have steadily pushed him further into hip-hop’s spotlight, with Nudy collaborating with Juicy J, Metro Boomin, and even his cousin, 21 Savage. Despite all of these newfound contacts, Nudy still remains close with his longtime peer Pi’erre Bourne, who has stayed close to Nudy ever since before the release of his debut mixtape. Five years later, Young Nudy and Pi’erre Bourne have reunited once again to create Sli’merre.

The two singles released prior to the album’s drop date were well received by many. ‘Mister’ featuring 21 Savage contains the two Atlanta-based rappers rapping over the same airy-woodwinds that have dominated many modern trap beats. While some claimed that Nudy’s performance on the track emulated the likes of other rappers such as Gucci Mane too much, others still enjoyed the hi-hat and 808-laden track as the perfect summertime anthem. ‘Extendo’ featuring Lil Uzi Vert drew similar complaints, but yet even critics could not deny the catchiness of the track. In classic Pi’erre Bourne fashion, the beat itself is arranged with many interweaving instruments and pads creating a simultaneously ambient and engaging banger. After all, the latest Uzi drought has left fans so hungry for new music that nobody minded when he said ‘She on my wood like a pencil’. Despite the strength of these two singles, the album was unable to live up to the hype.

While there are many high points on the album, Sli’merre is largely dominated by songs that sound unfinished, rushed, and overly derivative of other artists. The album kicks off with ‘Long Ride’, a song that features the same Charlie-Brown reminiscent instrumentation and dissonant musical intervals that are mainstays on producer Pi’erre Bourne’s tool belt. Although the beat is enjoyable, the percussion does not resonate in the same way that many of Pi’erre’s other beats have in the past. Nudy’s writing on the song is frankly lazy and sounds much closer to a reference track than a finished project. This is a common trend on the album, as songs like ‘Hot Wings’, ‘Black Hippie, White Hipster’, and ‘Swisher Backwood’ come so close to being fun and exciting bangers, but end up feeling unfinished due to both the efforts of both Pi’erre and Nudy.

‘Dispatch’ features a painfully boring and unoriginal Dababy feature that sounds like he was asked to do his best Blocboy JB or Youngboy NBA impression, and definitely not in a good way. In terms of the other features, the album does a great job in making each of these features important and not too-dominating on each track. Megan Thee Stallion gives a great verse on ‘Shotta’, and her aggressive cadence pairs nicely with Nudy’s confident and melancholic rapping. ’Sunflower’, ‘Call Dat Bitch Homicide’ and ‘Gas Station’ are all high points on the album, where no matter how much Nudy tries, he can’t seem to take the spotlight from Pi’erre’s production. Each beat stands out as unique, sounding almost like they were influenced by Pi’erre’s work with Cardo earlier this year.

Although Sli’merre fails to live up to the expectations set out by its two leading singles, there are still definitely reasons to listen to, and even revisit this album this summer. Nudy’s Gucci Mane-esque tone is infectious, and his brief moments of singing are just as entertaining as they are brief. Though Sli’merre is not without its low points, such as DaBaby’s weak verse, Nudy’s rushed writing or the occasional unfinished beat, Sli’merre is certain to have something for everybody.

Favorite Tracks:

Mister (Feat. 21 Savage)

Extendo (Feat. Lil Uzi Vert)

Call That Bitch Homicide

Rating: 6

Listen to Sli’merre here:

Sli'merre, an album by Young Nudy, Pi'erre Bourne on Spotify

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