With hints of fall weather creeping into August, hip-hop and R&B’s biggest stars are cranking out their summertime projects before the season comes to a close.
Last week (Aug. 8), Bryson Tiller (The Vices), JID (God Does Like Ugly) and Gunna (The Last Wun) all unleashed new projects stacked with A-list features and standout tracks that further boost an already banner year for hip-hop releases. Notably, Larry June, 2 Chainz and The Alchemist release a deluxe edition of their stellar Life Is Beautiful album, while Young Nudy dropped his new Paradise LP.
Clipse, who put out a heater of their own a few weeks ago in Let God Sort Em Out, graced New York’s Terminal 5 on their latest tour (Aug. 7), which included a guest appearance by Stove God Cooks. The same week, Eve, while on the Joe and Jada Podcast, named the female rappers she believes have sustainable careers — Doechii, Cardi B, GloRilla and Latto — amongst “a lot of crap,” as she described the scene. “I think there are some, but I don’t think it’s going to be a lot.”
Nicki Minaj, who sits sandwiched between Eve’s era and the current class of ascendant female MCs, also made headlines last week after she finally got in on her viral “High School” stiletto challenge.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from TA Thomas’ new Southern soul joint to Rakim and Big Ghost LTD’s new collaboration. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Sugarhill Ddot feat. BabyChiefDoIt & Baby Kia, “Crashouts”
From Clipse to Raekwon, the old heads have been making the mark in hip-hop this year, but the young cats still have some things to say. For a rambunctious new posse cut, Harlem rap star Sugarhill Ddot joined forces with fast-rising Chicago MC BabyChiefDoIt and Atlanta’s resident cashout rap representative Baby Kia.
Coming in hot on the chorus, BabyChief spits, “I get tired of rappin’, I ain’t gon’ lie, I hate this booth/ I hope you know I hate the opps, you f–k with ’em, I hate you too/ You got more dead friends than you got alive, why the f–k am I hangin’ with you?/ He was a bitch back in school, now all of a sudden, they think he a dangerous dude.” When a rapper kicks things off being frustrated with the literal act of getting in the studio and rapping, you know you’re in for a generational crashout — and that’s exactly what this trio delivers over Jaylap’s aggressive, zany beat. — KYLE DENIS
Rakim & Big Ghost LTD feat. Hus Kingpin, “Now Is the Time”
I can’t front, a Rakim tape fully produced by Big Ghost intrigues me very much, and it looks to be a reimagining of Rakim’s 2024 tape G.O.Ds NETWORK – REB7RTH that will feature knockin’ production like on the lead single here and a couple of bonus tracks. The Re-Up goes on sale on Aug. 29 in various formats, and you can cop a vinyl, CD, or cassette here. — ANGEL DIAZ
Isaiah Kaleo feat. SWAVAY, “Trick”
A smooth, swagger-filled track about spoiling a romantic interest while wrestling with feelings of being played or taken for granted, Isaiah Kaelo and SWAVAY’s new collab is a winner. The two artists are open to sharing the spoils of their hard-earned success, but they also sense that the other person might be using them. “Trick” blends flexing with vulnerability, revealing the tension between generosity, attraction and mistrust. It’s both a celebration of providing for someone you want, and a cautionary tale about the emotional cost when the loyalty feels one-sided. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
TA Thomas, “Outside Man”
For his first new song since May’s Southern Soul EP, “Outside Man,” released via High Standardz and Def Jam, finds rising R&B singer-songwriter TA Thomas upping the tempo with hearty handclaps, triumphant horns, and an earthy, groovy bassline. “I’m just an outside man, lookin’ for an inside woman,” he soulfully declares in the chorus, using a playful delivery and sultry tone reminiscent of classic Motown and Southern soul. — KYLE DENIS
Deki Alem, “Tip of Your Tongue”
The Swedish-Ghanian twins dropped their debut album Forget in Mass on Friday after they released impressive singles in “Fun” and “House Fire.” And while the latter is probably my favorite song on the project, the brothers released the visualizer last month, so it wouldn’t exactly be a fresh pick. So I’m highlighting “Tip of Your Tongue” because it’s a track about living vicariously through the Internet, and I think we all can relate to that on some level. — A.D.
Isaia Huron feat. Kehlani, “See Right Through Me”
On their new duet, Isaia Huron and Kehlani describe a relationship where their respective partners understand them completely, seeing past flaws, past mistakes, and the opinions of outsiders. “See Right Through Me” celebrates finding someone who not only accepts you but actively uplifts you, making you feel safe enough to let your guard down. The Huron-helmed track also frames love as a mutual investment, where both people “bet” on each other despite doubts or unconventional beginnings and eventually realize real love is rare and always worth fighting for. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
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