If you’re sleeping, Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten is here to wake your a** up! Check out the latest & greatest gems Hip Hop has to offer. The adventure begins now!
1) POUNDS has been grinding away for years with past projects like 2012’s “Position of Power” & 2014’s “448 Grams…but the Rochester, NY spitter just raised his game to a whole different level on the WESTSIDE GUNN featured “Tributes.” The Spitzwell produced gem flaunts a soul-infused groove that gives listeners a good idea of what “The Godfather Theme” would sound like if it revolved around a crew of stick up kids in Bedstuy. Of course Gunn bodies his verse with an effortless display of skills that will command your full attention while Pounds brings raw intensity & fury to his delivery; adding up to one explosive track that deserves as many tributes as the industry can dish out!
2) A$AP NAST, A$AP TWELVYY & A$AP ROCKY bring back the Boom Bap on their dope new “Presidents” track. Banding together to deliver fans that hardcore Harlem ish, The Mob spit jewels on the mic while giving a nod to Jay Z & Nas’ classics for their #WavyWednesdays series. Getting experimental with the music is a good way for an artist to flex his creative muscles, but THIS is what we want to hear from the crew. Hopefully they’ll keep delivering!
3) MICK JENKINS put the Two-Faced Harvey Dents on blast in his new Kaytranada & THEMpeople produced joint, “The Artful Dodger.” Chicago’s lyrical messiah delivered sonic manna to his hungry followers by showcasing an ill, rapid-fire flow over the attention-grabbing track. Much like a chameleon, Mick adapts to any sonic environment & goes in for the kill!
4) HUS KINGPIN brings a winning spirit & always impressive lyrics to “Numbers Up” from ONE SESSION’s “Airliner” LP. Over a solid soul backdrop, Lord Wavy reminds us once again what being a true emcee is all about. Hus “shuts ’em down for the touchdown.” Check out the champion in action!
5) REKS & APATHY teamed up to dispel the false perceptions ingrained into our minds by society on the compelling new gem, “RELEARN.” The third(and arguably best)installment of Numonics’ “Year of The Fox” series finds the gifted lyricists breaking down the actual meaning of symbols & names with long-held negative connotations. It’s a brilliant lesson in how certain beliefs can be formed when we accept things at face value & fail to dig deeper for the truth. Unlearn everything you were taught & relearn with this new track!
6) When you hear CONWAY’s on a track you’re already primed to expect the best. When you hear Statik Selektah is producing that same track you shut everything else down & pull up a chair to listen. “Birdy” showcases The lyricist at his most raw & unfiltered. The Griselda Records powerhouse slices through Statik’s gritty soundscape with ease, proving forever more that no one can stop The Machine!
7) DANIEL SON continues creating dope underground heat with Crate Divizion’s Vic Grimes on his latest joint, “PARANOIA.” Vivid crime tales & street scenes take center stage as the Brown Bag Money lyricist rips into the track with unrivaled mic skills that ensure his lasting dominance in the game!
8) ROZEWOOD has always been the most envelope pushing member of #TheWinners. He can take the most bizarre, impenetrable soundscape and bend it to his will to create coveted Hip Hop gems. On the Arch Druids produced, “Ghxst GxD,” the lyricist crafts another mystical masterpiece that listeners will keep on repeat. It’s the perfect showcase for his exceptional gifts on the mic. This is one Ghost who won’t disappear!
9) ALCHEMIST enlisted MC EIHT & SPICE ONE for his “Craft Singles” series & dropped two dope tracks. The funky as hell “Any Means” was the first one we heard but it’s their “Supply” joint that really stood out to us. We’re talking about that laid back gangsta ish from the wild west coast. You can’t fight the funk!
10) QUENTIN MILLER linked up with SY ARI DA KID & came “Correct” on a soul-infused Ghost produced joint that slyly references the controversial “ghostwriter’s” altercation with Meek Mill(or does it?…hmmm). Whether flowing over Trap styled soundscapes, R & B flavored confections, or 90’s Boom Bap, Quentin is quickly proving that he sounds good on anything!
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
