Snoop Dogg And Dr. Dre Go Missionary, Will Smith And Joyner Lucas Throw A Tantrum, DMX Gets Spiritual, And Other New Hip-Hop Releases

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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.

Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre – Missionary

Arguably the most renowned duo in Hip-Hop history, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre’s reputation for excellence precedes itself.

Working their magic on pivotal, genre-defining releases such as The Chronic, Doggystyle, and 2001, the West Coast legends left the Hip-Hop world with bated breath upon word that the two were teaming up for Missionary, a follow-up to Snoop’s aformentioned debut album.

Hearing two of the more celebrated figures still in the game and displaying their talents is reason to celebrate, and Snoop and Dre manage to turn in a body of work that’s far from blemish, but contains highlights that far outweighs its lows.

Missionary gets off to an impressive start with “Shangri-La,” as Snoop and Dre turn back the hands of time and deliver a certified bomb, with Snoop dropping some of his strongest bars in recent memory. The magic continues on “Hard Knocks” and “Gorgeous,” a funky groove featuring Amerie, but slips with “Last Dance With Mary Jane, a sonically appealing inclusion, but one that sounds a bit misplaced.

That slight lull ends with “Skyscrapers” featuring Method Man and Smitty, and the reggae-tinged “Fire” alongside Cocoa Sarai, the latter of which succeeding where “Last Dance With Mary Jane” fell short. The Eminem and 50 Cent-assisted “Gunz N Smoke” serves as another opportune moment on Missionary that’s missed, as the reunion lacks the punch usually expected of such high-powered collaborations.

Ending strong with “Now Or Never,” one of three songs featuring vocals by Dre, and “Gangsta Pose,” Missionary is a mixed-bag, albeit with more treats than throwaways, that adds to Snoop and Dre’s enduring legacy. – Preezy Brown

DMX – Let Us Pray: Chapter X

More than three years have passed since the untimely death of Hip-Hop icon DMX, yet, the spiritual overtones of his artistry continues to be one of his more endearing traits.

Known for ending his albums with calls to a higher power, DMX’s reverence for the lord is conveyed on Let Us Pray: Chapter X, a posthumous collection of prayers paired by hard-hitting instrumentals and narration from Hip-Hop, gospel, and R&B stars.

On the album’s lead-single, “Favor,” Killer Mike and Mary Mary appear, with the latter’s vocals sandwhiched between X’s expressions of gratitude and redemption. “Bear With Me” features an appearance from Lecrae, while “One Life To Do It” and “Until I’m Gone” includes contributions from MC Lyte and Snoop Dogg, respectively.

Let Us Pray doesn’t include any raps spat by X or his costars, but is a fitting edition to his catalog and a reflection of the man behind the music. – PB

Will Smith, Joyner Lucas – “Tantrum”

Will Smith connects with Joyner Lucas for “Tantrum,” the duo’s latest single and follow-up to Joyner’s 2020 single, “Will (Remix).” Co-produced by Leo Son and Joyner Lucas, the song finds the two lyricists rapping in tandem, as they reflect on the journey traveled and chances taken.

Accompanied by a visual directed by Joyner Lucas and Matthew Bordenave, with animation by Cartuna Cartoon, “Tantrum” finds Lucas in pocket and Will Smith sounding reinvigorated, as the latter exudes unbidled aggression on the latest outing of his musical comeback – PB

Offset – “Swing My Way”

In the wake of headlines speculating on his love life, Offset delivers his latest single, “Swing My Way,” a catchy thumper on which he flexes and flosses while celebrating his plush lifestyle.

Differentiating himself from the others, the Atlanta native lists the ways in which he could upgrade a woman’s quality of life, from icy trinkets to excursions abroad.

Produced by Turbo, “Swing My Way” is accompanied by a music video directed by Kid Art and co-starring supermodel Anok Yai, with Yai’s presence in the visual sure to fuel the aforementioned rumors even further. – PB

GloRilla, Kehlani – “Xmas Time”

GloRilla and Kehlani embrace the holiday spirit on “Xmas Time,” a duet that’s wrapped in the warmth that defines the season. Beginning with a serenade from Kehlani, the song finds GloRilla reminiscing on her less fortunate days of Christmas past while reminding to remain grateful despite one’s circumstances.

Midway through, the track transforms into a trunk-rattling backdrop, with GloRilla dropping Christmas-inspired bars, resulting in a catchy bop that could use it own separate version. That said, “Xmas Time” arrives right on time, as both portions of the track are sure to be holiday hits in their own right for years to come. – PB