Metal Lungies

Johnny Cinco’s latest release opts for minimal 808 thumpers on which he slurs tales from the trap. MoneyMakinNique of Atlanta plays Big Boi to his Andre.

Future’s post-debut mixtape Monster gives us two (2) certified bangers, depending on your definitions of “certified” and “banger”. We’ll likely have to wait until his next proper album (or DJ Khaled feature) for a pop masterstroke of the order of “Honest,” but he acquits himself nicely on rawer cuts on Monster. A loosie, “Break The Rules,” is great too. Tagless versions exist on the iTunes / Spotify version.

I don’t think I’ve heard a sadder rap song in 2014. Listen to Indianapolis rapper Doe Boi’s mixtape from earlier this year below.

Flipping “Can’t Stop The Reign” will never not be a good idea.

In the space of two songs, Riff Raff compares himself to Rick James, Obama, Toucan Sam, Ryu from Street Fighter, Macho Man Randy Savage, and Eric Clapton. The scary part? He’s not far off.

Below are “Rookies of the Future” with Alchemist and Action Bronson and “Drip” with Curtis Williams and Mike Will. Can’t go wrong.

Here’s a video for the occasional lighting-in-a-bottle Statik Selektah track. They filmed it where I walk on my lunch break when I’m trying to digest Chipotle.

It’s been transitional year for Future. In 2014 he released his sophomore album (a dud despite great singles), a younger, weirder version of him named Young Thug stole some of his thunder, and his engagement to Ciara just fell apart (or not?). A new mixtape due Fall will be called Evol according to Buzzfeed. So what were the highlights of this transition?

Besides a brazen pop ballad joyride with Justin Bieber, Future’s work included emotional fervor (“Good Morning” and separately his “Drunk in Love” cover), towering trap posse cuts (“Chanel Vintage,” “Disfunction”), and moody wilderness (“Coupe,” “Moscato”). The upheaval in his life might spell dramatic change in Future’s music, but it’s exciting to think what that means for someone who seems to transcend styles and eras with his loose tracks.

The best thing to happen over a DJ Premier beat in recent memory.

Translee’s conversational flow is endearing and he flirts with poignancy on “Cold” from his Culture Junky mixtape.

You can skip Ice-T’s Art of Rap movie and whatever class Questlove is teaching at NYU and watch this video instead.