Juice WRLD, Lil Baby, Cordae, And Other New Hip-Hop Releases To Soundtrack Your Weekend VIBE

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Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Juice WRLD, Nicki Minaj, Halsey – “All Girls Are The Same 2”

Juice WRLD feat. Nicki Minaj “AGATS2 (Insecure)” cover art

It’s always heartwarming to hear new Juice WRLD, though this is a familiar track to a degree. He reimagined his 2018 hit “All Girls Are The Same” and tapped superstar Nicki Minaj for her underrated lovely vocals and a gritty verse. The Barbie gave a nice helping of nostalgia with the “It’s Friday the 13th and guess who’s playing Jason” line.

It has been some time since Nicki jumped on a rock-influenced rap record, so this was a nice reminder of how talented she is as an overall popstar and how impactful Juice was in his short career. “AGATS2 (Insecure)” hits you right in the feels in all of the best ways. – Armon Sadler

Lil Baby – “5AM / Insecurities”

Lil Baby attends the 2024 Celebration of ASCAP Top Rhythm & Soul Music Songwriters and Publishers honoring Usher And Victoria Monét at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on June 27, 2024 in West Hollywood, California.

Lil Baby is back with his standard two-pack before it’s album time. “5AM” is pretty boring, admittedly. It continues a harsh reality for the Atlanta star: his rap style, flows, delivery, production, and content have not elevated in years. Hearing the same guy since 2020’s My Turn is a bit disheartening for those amazed by the hunger and consistency he displayed that year and the year prior.

“Insecurities” is a bit more interesting because he opens up more. At this stage, vulnerability and helping people understand where he is mentally at this stage of his career will be what helps people to connect more and, frankly, care at all. He is shooting 50% right now, which depending on the sport or discipline can be good in some areas and awful in others. – AS

Cordae – The Crossroads

Hailed as a promising young talent with a poetic flow, Cordae’s musical journey took him on his own path, the biggest milestone coming via the release of his debut album, From A Bird’s Eye View, in 2022. Receiving largely positive reviews, the project made good on the potential the Maryland native displayed during his YBN days, solidifying his position within the new class of wordsmiths looking to push the craft forward.

Nearly three years later, Cordae unleashes his sophomore album, The Crossroads, which only builds on the positive aspects of his debut while displaying an increased maturity, lyrically and sonically. Shared dreams of stardom with his mother on “06 dreamin” gets the album off to a candid and earnest start, as Cordae humanizes himself recollections the hopes that shaped him. Shades of Kanye West’s “Heard ‘Em Say” are present on “Nothing Promised,” a precursor to the Hip-Hop legend’s appearance on “No Bad News,” which also harkens back to Yeezy’s Late Registration era.

Lil Wayne appears for a pair of collaborative efforts (“Back on the Road” and “Saturday Mornings”), while Juicy J (“Never See It”), Anderson .Paak (“Summer Drop”), Ty Dolla $ign (“Pray”), and Joey Bada$$ (“Syrup Sandwiches”) also contribute to the proceedings, accounting for some of the more memorable selections on the tracklist.

While those numbers are more than worth their weight, it’s when Cordae gets reflective and introspective by his lonesome that he all but leaves listeners in awe, as is the case on the emotionally raw solo outings “All Alone,” “What Really Matters,” and “Now You Know.” These inclusions serve as the backbone of The Crossroads, a cohesive collection from an artist we’re confident we’ve yet to see or hear the best of. – PB

Dave East and AraabMuzik – Living Proof

A quarterly release from Dave East has all but come to be expected, as the lyricist has proven himself to be one of the more prolific artists on the independent circuit in recent years. The Harlem native looks to close off the year on a high note with Living Proof, his collaborative album with fellow New Yorker AraabMuzik, a 15-song offering that sticks to East’s trend of delivering descriptive accounts of the city’s underbelly.

Preceded by the singles “Percocet,” and “Buss Down” featuring Fabolous, Living Proof‘s first standout moment comes via “Bet My Life,” which finds a cocksure East conveying his bravado atop a frantic beat from Araab. The pair take a stroll through Harlem on “Walk Wit Me,” as East laments the beauty and struggle of their surroundings, from victims of stray shootings to communal nights on the neighborhood’s avenues and boulevards.

Loaded with guest appearances from Swizz Beatz, Benny The Butcher, Ransom, OT The Real, Quany Gz, Millyz, Cruch Calhoun, Lyrivelli, and Stacy Barthe, Living Proof is another strong body of work from Dave East and continues his reign as one of the more dependable emcees in the game. – PB

Boldy James and Harry Fraud featuring Babyface Ray – “Shrink Wrap”

After dropping off their single, “Cecil Fielder,” featuring Tee Grizzley, Boldy James and Harry Fraud have announced that they’re joining forces for a new collaborative album titled The Bricktionary, which is due to drop this coming week. The surprise is a pleasant one and is accompanied by “Shrink Wrap,” a track that serves as a preview of what’s to come from the forthcoming longplayer.

Featuring a guest verse from Detroit rhymer Babyface Ray “Shrink Wrap” is a bit more lively than the fare we’ve grown accustomed to from Boldy, but is a welcome shift in pace and has us primed for The Bricktionary’s arrival. – PB

Tyga – “Don’t Be Fooled”

Tyga is back with a two-pack EP Don’t Be Fooled. The title track is his signature sound: a West Coast bounce with his breathy ad-libs and simple but impactful punchlines. The Compton rapper continued his streak of being good for a banger every year, or every other year, because this one immediately raises the hair on one’s arms and makes them want to dance.

Tyga may be well into the legacy act phase of his career, but the people ought to give this the attention it deserves. The second track, “Mmphh,” sonically aligns with “Don’t Be Fooled” but picks up the BPM a bit more. He raps incredibly well on both, reminding people that he had one of the sharpest flows in the 2010s. “Don’t Be Fooled” may be the standout record, but “Mmphh” shouldn’t be slept on. – AS

Robb Bank$ – “Five Six”

Robb Bank$ takes it back to elementary school on “Five Six.” There is something so enjoyable about rappers using numbers sequentially and adding in details before they get to the next number. “Five, five hundred horses in my engine/ Six, six bi**hes all ridin’ wit’ me/ Seven, seven times that I flew out to Italy,” he spits in the chorus.

Later on, Bank$ tells listeners he has 4300 women who all “talk sh*t” and are expensive. He also throws shots at podcasters or people who just talk for a living with nothing to offer. The track is brief, but the amazing production loaded with synths and drums plus his lyrical nuances make it an enjoyable almost two-minute experience. – AS

Will Cherry – Somewhere In Ohio…

Will Cherry is back with his new album Somewhere In Ohio… and it’s a gripping journey into his mind and hometown. The intro “nowhere, USA” is a lyrical exhibition and displays his endearing, shapeshifting voice. The second record “bank” shows off a nice contrast, as his inflection is a bit higher and his cadence gets a bit more nimble. Throughout the 12-track effort, he is joined by Sango, Tae Miles, Bat Boy Bankie, Sierra Delaine, and other artists who may not be the biggest names but contribute to this artful endeavor.

Cherry’s strength has always been his incapability of being boxed in; you get raps, melodies, and just overall sounds that some rappers may not be able to be as skillful on as he is. Will Cherry’s albums are like being a kid on Christmas and approaching the tree without any idea of what one’s parents got for them; each track you play replicates that mystery of opening a box and being pleased at the contents that you find. – AS

Skyzoo featuring Chuck D – “Courtesy Call”

Brooklyn’s own Skyzoo recently linked with Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man for “The Workload,” a blistering cut that found both rhyme animals on top of their job and bringing forth a helping of raw Hip-Hop, sans the preservatives. Now, Skyzoo is back, this time with another legendary figure in Public Enemy leader Chuck D, who provides the bombastic hook on “Courtesy Call,” the pair’s new track, produced by The Dagger.

“I had this idea of a grand and boisterous voice to being the “warning” home; and there’s none better than the legendary Chuck D,” Skyzoo said of the backstory behind Chuck’s contribution. “Over the years, Chuck has been a huge supporter of mine, so we were overdue for a collab—and I am honored to have him on the record with me.” The record comes amid the announcement of Skyzoo’s forthcoming album, Keep Me Company, which is set to drop at the tail-end of this month and looks to build upon the acclaim of his brilliant 2023 album, The Mind of a Saint. – PB

Young Nudy and Pi’erre Bourne – Sli’merre 2

Young Nudy elevated his profile in a big way with his 2023 release, Gumbo, an album that showcased the Atlanta native’s penchant for dropping syrupy flows atop trunk-rattling beats. Looking to capitalize on that success and further his campaign as one of the rising young stars in the south, Nudy returns with his new project, Sli’merre 2, the sequel to his collaborative project with producer Pi’erre Bourne.

Sli’merre 2 comes on hot, as Nudy invites listeners into his drug-induced realm on “Come To My World,” spreading the good vibes atop a pulsating backdrop courtesy of Bourne. The rapper takes it to the trap on “Breakdown,” where he revels in his lifestyle as a trafficker and street entrepreneur, whereas “Loaded” captures Nudy taking account of his revenue amassed and boasting of the millions earned along his grind.

Tracks like “Splash,” the BabyDrill-assisted “Save Myself,” and album outro “4Slime” add on to the firepower featured on Sli’merre 2, which falls short of its predecessor and Nudy’s previous effort, but is more than serviceable on its own merit. – PB