It’s been a long time… I’ve been pretty lax about posting new rap music on the Tumblr lately, so I figured I’d make up for the lapse by bringing the old New Rap Music column back. For those just joining us, this is the post where I share recently released rap songs. And before you jump all on my dick about what you’ve had for days understand that recently can be any time in the past six months or so. I’m not on fucking Nah Right time here, I just want to write about rap songs that are good.

Freeway f/ Peedi Crakk – “Snappa Pow“

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from Diamond In The Ruff (Rhymesayers, Coming Soon)
One of the problems I had with The Stimulus Package was that it was too limited a palette. Jake One is a very adaptable producer but it seemed like there his hands were tied by the famous rapper, that he was deferring to the “talent” and giving him Freeway-esque beats. You know, Chipmunk soul. I think now that they’ve established a rapport we’re going to hear them taking more risks together. The Jake produced “Snappa Pow” definitely feels more “Roc The Mic” than “It’s Not Right” and that’s exactly the energy level that the State Prop clique needs to be at if anyones going to continue to care about them. (See also: Young Chris’ name drop heavy but kinda banging “Philly Shit.”) The beat isn’t mindblowing, it’s pretty much a rehash of any number of radio rap records from five years ago (or a New York radio hit of today! Hyo) but a perfect vehicle for him and Peedi to trade bars over. Every time they rap together I’m reminded of that Young America interview where Peedi talks about Freeway’s childhood ninja costume. (more…)

Blaq Poet – Ain’t Nuttin Changed
from The Best That Never Did It (Year Round, Coming Soon)
Blaq Poet is an ageless headbuster. I mostly posted this to balance out the next selection.

Drake f/ Bun B & Lil Wayne – “Uptown“

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from So Far Gone (Mixtape, 2008)
So Far Gone may be the first decidedly post-808s & Heartbreak mixtape, in fact roughly the first third of the tape sounds like producer 40 was told to “make something that sounds like ‘Say You Will’.” Drake later raps over the “Say You Will” instrumental. (Then there is a remake of June 27th freestyle on here, which just seems disingenuous, if not completely out of place.) But beat selection aside, my man is just not a very good rapper. Dude is like Wayne if you stripped him of all his charisma and style and just left the awkward punchlines. And it’s odd that, in the era of Officer Ricky, his credibility has remained unchecked. Far be it from me to suggest that someone can’t rap well (or rap/sing, as there is surprisingly little rapping going on here) simply because they are a soft handed Canadian television star, but when they actually can’t rap well and are also these things it should raise a few questions. This is the most tolerable track on the tape. (more…)

Youtube comments survey:
“do jay ever think about how many people he step on to get to the top jay has 1 friend bleek ” – philly1537

“he killed da singin and didn’t need the autotune bullshit, that’s an artist right there.” – phillypinno215

“Watching “Flipside” then watching this video is sad….the game’s changed. ” –
TruthxAR

Bump J f/ Peedi Crakk & Gillie Da Kid – “Pretty Girls In The VIP”
Black Deniro f/ Gillie Da Kid, Oschino, Peedi Crakk & E Ness – “Superman (Remix)”
Young Chris f/ Peedi Crakk – “3,2,1“

Emil just sent me a gang of zshares on new(ish) Philadelphia rap. “Pretty Girls In The VIP” being the obvious standout, Bomb Squad wall of noise + Too Short sampling chorus = noz catnip. The other two are cool, but not particularly memorable. Young Chris is still going deep with the style that Hov ran into the ground on “3,2,1″ (though it’s worth noting that Chris probably influenced Jay more than the other way around) and “Superman” just sounds like it came off a circa 99 Power 99 mixshow.

I should probably be paying more attention to Philly. There is so much talent in that city. They just need to get their shit together.