Ab-Soul, Young Dolph, Boldy James Unleash New Music Friday Releases – VIBE.com

Today is Friday. That means you can’t wait for new releases from your favorite hip-hop artists. To help you relax and enjoy your weekend, check out VIBE’s recommended songs and albums to add to your weekend’s festive soundtrack.

Absoul – herbert

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Ab-Soul steps up to the plate with his new album Herbert. On this album, we see the TDE rapper unveiling his player Long, who delivers the excellence many of his fans have been waiting for. With the majestic opener “Message in a Bottle,” the Carson, Cali native is fully aware of his expectations. Over dusty kicks and snares, Soul proclaims, “I’m just trying to live up to the prophecy,” before an electric guitar riff breaks through near the track’s middle, foreshadowing a lyrical onslaught to come. while continuing to attack the truck.

Reminiscences of his formative years are interspersed throughout “Hollandaise,” a crisp groove that transforms into an epic soundbed of instrumentation, occupying one of the album’s more lighthearted moments. Solo selections like “Church On The Move” evoke Suro’s strong performances, but Herbert’s best inclusions are when he’s pushed by a guest rapper or complimented by a vocalist. On the soul-stirring “Good Man,” he hooked up with TDE exec and rapper his Punch, his Ab-Soul rolling up the bar in a sampled wailing, followed by a Zachary-assisted cut swear “Do Better”.

One track that looks good on paper but fails to live up to expectations is “Go Off,” which features Russ and Big Sean and is meant to be a three-way duel of Iron Mike. Yet while Russ unloads in a heady stanza, Saul and Sean Don allow their co-stars to lift heavy weights to account for a show closer to pedestrians. by $ (“Moonshooter”), Fre$H (“Gang ‘Nem”), and Jhene Aiko joining Spitter for a duet on the soothing number “The Wild Side.”

With Kendrick Lamar leaving TDE and ScHoolboy Q now obsessed with the golf course, Ab-Soul are clearly the next contenders and are well positioned to be at the forefront. Considering his ability to deliver this powerful effort after a six-year layoff, the rapper’s long term thinking appears to be making ten times more profit. herbert stacks nicely alongside his best work control system And fulfill the promises shown at the end.

Young Dolf – paper root frank

Paper Route EMPIRE release paper root frankThe first album after the death of late rap star Young Dorf. Arriving less than a month after his one-year anniversary of his tragic murder, the project keeps Dolph’s name alive while motivating for die-hard fans and neighborhood superstars. It succeeds in its intention to continue his tradition of producing anthems that inspire. Professing his “Love For The Streets” on the album’s first track, Dolph prances on nervous instruments created by Don Deal, detailing his flamboyant lifestyle. Boasts of his sexual conquest. “I love to hustle,” the Memphis legend proclaims over the booming “Blindfold,” before racking up the funds with the catchy song “Woah.”

brother in law key Glock pairs up with his rhyming partner on “That’s How,” and Gucci Mane completes Dolph’s Memphis-to-Atlanta connection on “Roster,” produced by Bandplay. 2 Chainz (“Beep Beep”), Big Moochie Grape and Snupe Bandz (“Infatuated With Drugs”) also paper root frankpeaking with highlights “Always” and “Hall of Fame,” and rounding out the best posthumous effort I’ve heard in recent memory. paper root frank justifies its namesake legacy, offering fans a collection to inspire their next play or celebrate their next win.

Boldy James – Be That As It May

Just when you thought Boldy James was pausing his release streak for the holidays, the Motor City host reappeared. Be That As It May, his latest set of lyrical vignettes. On this album, his second project and his fourth release of 2022, Boldy utilizes yet another producer to helm all proceedings, with Roman boarsman Cuns as his 11th producer. Got a beat and Bo Jack took over the play.

Spitter juggling over vintage soul samples and boom bap quickly earns points with early highlights “Earned Not Give” and “Foot Prints.” “2.2 Lbs” broadcasts a verbal exploit, while “Travel Lodge” finds Cuns melting the speakers in a dramatic soundscape and Boldy vanishing. Sonically a bit more hit-and-miss than his previous 2022 offering, Be That As It May‘s wounds aren’t terrible, solidifying the author’s claim to the title of rap’s most prolific artist at the moment.

Lil Dark – faithful brother 2

Lil Durk pushes his OTF platoon to the fore with new compilation Family Gifts: Royal Brothers 2, finds the superstar leading the charge while his team flanks the perimeter. Throwing a challenge on the intro “Set It Off,” he joins Future on “Mad Max,” setting the tone instantly before allowing the artists on his label to go wild. Doodie Lo (“ISTG Pt. 2”), Booka600 (“Feed Em Addys”) and OTF Boonie Moe (“We Did It”) all had memorable moments and the CEO delivered a number of show steals. increase. Runs 23 track lengths, faithful brother 2 Subject to filler at one point, it shows the growth and evolution of OTF, making Durkio the leap from artist to bona fide executive.