This week is all about quality over quantity! Let’s get right into it.
Digga D and AJ Tracey- Bringing It Back
As if my opinion holds any weight whatsoever, this is the best drill track I’ve heard this year so far. I’d love to see the actual recording of this track, because it really feels like AJ recorded his verse, then Digga D wrote is to one up or play off of it, and then AJ did the same thing. It just all fits together so well, and the chemistry between the two is just insane.
Both artists are making references to the freestyles that help launch their careers, with them recreating the visuals for AJ’s “Packages” and Digga’s “Next Up?” freestyle videos. Both guys are just at the top of their games in regards to flow, references and punchlines as well.
AJ makes reference to Manchester United footballer, and all around legend, Marcus Rashford, who has been fighting for accessible food for impoverished children in the UK, sometimes at direct odds with their shitbag Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. He later likens to getting one of his mates off of the prison wing by paying his bail to his own football team, Tottenham Hotspur, re-signing their former player, Gareth Bale, who plays on the wing. He also hits this disgusting flow pattern where he names a ton of things off in two’s. You’ll get that scrunched up face once you hear it.
Digga D continues to solidify himself as my favorite (and maybe best???) drill artist. He’s got his own football references on deck, rapping “Slap that PR, I saw them crouch/ If you save them shots like my man did/ Pronounce, I won’t hear ouch.” A PR’s a gun, and it’s meant to sound like “Peter” as in former footballer Peter Crouch, who is 6’7” (my guuuuuuuuuy), so picturing him actually crouching is hilarious. Dude would still be taller than most. He recalls his own absurd line from his “Mad About Bars“ freestyle about owning a sniper, and being in Sniper Gang like Kodak Black. He details his come up expertly with, “In cunch, I had plaque on my teeth/ Now I’ve got plaques on my wall, jheeze.” And the way he says “Please, please, babes, ease,” is just so easy going. His performances are so confident and he carries every track with a practically unmatched level of charisma.
Kwengface and PS Hitsquad- Petrol Station
Speaking of charisma and presence on a track; Kwengface and PS have that in spades. High energy, hard bars, and some hilarious punchlines make up the majority of this track. PS has some of the best bars on his verse. I can’t help but laugh when he says “me and Kweng in the booth just shoutin,” which I mean, yeah, they tend to shout a bit. He then goes on to refer to the Stormzy and Chip incident, as well as the Torey Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion shooting: “Still pulling up to their houses/ Still do it like Stormzy, gory, gory/ Brexit, I’m like a Tory, shoot shoot, I do it like Tory.” It’s always “fuck Tory Lanez,” in case that was ever in question.
Fredo and Dave- Money Talks
Dave and Fredo are back. In fact, Dave recently produced the whole of Fredo’s new album, Money Can’t Buy Happiness. The song is great, and the video is a literal movie. I don’t want to say too much, because I do plan on reviewing that album in the near future. Until then, here’s a taste of what’s to come.
In terms of the UK scene, that’s all I’ve got this week. But in a little twist of the normal format, let’s return home, back to America for this week’s grouping of Special Spliffs.
The JID Special
Cludder
HARD
Ballads with Conway
HARDER
Bruuuh (Remix) with Denzel Curry
HARDEST
Freddie Gibbs and ScHoolboy Q- Gang Signs
I saw so many little babies complaining online about this being disappointing. Sorry, but they’re wrong as fuck. Both Freddie and Q get on their melodic shit here, but they’re both at their best in that regard. It scratches a specific itch for me, which is the, “Breezy but HARD AS HELL,” rap song. It’s like you’re in a beautiful, lush park in the spring time, but the falling leaves have been replaced by shell cases swirling in the wind. Q fits the vibe perfectly here, splicing intimidating, heartfelt, and hilarious bars together.
I can’t get enough of this song. It’s such an impressive combination of sound and style. It’s just another reminder of how insane Freddie’s flow is too. Top 5 dead or alive, and I’ll take that to my grave. NOBODY can touch Gibbs. The only complaint is that it’s so short. We all could’ve benefited from another verse from both Freddie and Q. But goddamnit, I’m ecstatic with what we got.
EDIT- I’m an idiot and forgot to throw this one in. The lyrics speak for themselves and Chance and Vic really get to the heart of what’s wrong with the world today. It’s amazing to see both of them back at the top of their game, especially when tackling such heavy, heavy subject matter.
Vic Mensa, Wyclef Jean and Chance The Rapper- SHELTER