New Music Releases: Hip Hop and Rap
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Check out the latest new music releases in the hip hop and rap genres. We’ve got the scoop on the hottest new tracks, albums, and artists to watch out for.
Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. The Compton-born rapper has been teasing the project for months, and it finally dropped on April 14. The album features 14 tracks, with Lamar tackling a variety of topics ranging from race and politics to love and relationships. As always, Lamar’s lyrical prowess is on display, and he delivers one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.
Release date
DAMN. was released on April 14, 2017, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album features production from a variety of producers, including Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, Sounwave and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith. It features guest appearances from Rihanna, U2 and Zacari.
Singles
“DNA.”
“HUMBLE.”
“LOYALTY.”
“FEAR.”
“YAH.”
“ELEMENT.”
“LOVE.”
“LUST.”
“XXX.”
“PRIDE.”
“HOOD Politics.”
“LOW LIFE.”
“BLOOD.”
Commercial performance
“DAMN.” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, earning Lamar his third consecutive number-one album in the United States, and his fourth overall. The album sold 603,000 equivalent album units in its first week, of which 484,000 were pure album sales. It is Kendrick Lamar’s highest-selling week ever in terms of pure sales. In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the chart, selling 184,000 units (19,000 in pure sales), which brought its total sales to 787,000 copies. In its third week, the album stayed at number two on the chart but with a little drop in units; it sold 172,000 units (11,000 in pure sales). The album remained at number two for a fourth consecutive week on the chart dated May 13, 2017; it sold 134,000 units that week (10,000 in pure sales). In August 2017 “DAMN.” was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent streams of over two million equivalentalbums in the United States.”DAMN.” became Lamar’s first album to be certified double platinum as a solo artist. On February 13th 2018 “DAMN.” won a Grammy award for Best Rap Album making it Lamar’s first ever Grammy win.
“DAMN.” debuted atop the UK Albums Chart with 61,000 combined sales (including 53,358 from physical formats and 7579 from streaming platforms), giving Lamar his second UK number one album following 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly. In New Zealand “DAMN.” debuted at number one on both the Top 40 Albums chart and on the Heatseeker Albums chart.
J. Cole – 4 Your Eyez Only
J. Cole is back with a new album titled 4 Your Eyez Only. The album was released on December 9, 2016, by Dreamville Records and Roc Nation. The album is Cole’s fourth studio album and features 10 tracks. The album has been met with positive reviews from critics.
Release date
4 Your Eyez Only was released on December 9, 2016, by Dreamville Records and Interscope Records. The album was Cole’s fourth studio album release, and follow up to his 2014 Forest Hills Drive album. It features guest appearances from Chad Butler, Kendrick Lamar, and Cole’s alter-ego, kiLL Edward. The album was supported by three singles: “Deja Vu”, “Neighbors”, and “False Prophets”.
Singles
“False Prophets”
“Everybody Dies”
“Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC”
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 492,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Of that sum, 360,000 were pure album sales. It is Cole’s fourth consecutive number-one album on the chart and sixth overall. The album also collected a little under 50,000 in streaming equivalent units. In its second week the album dropped to number four on the chart, earning an additional 133,000 units. As of March 2018, the album has earned 1.7 million units in the United States.
A Tribe Called Quest – We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service
After 18 years, A Tribe Called Quest dropped their sixth and final album, “We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service.” The album features Kendrick Lamar, André 3000, Busta Rhymes, Elton John, and Jack White. This album is a much-needed throwback to the golden era of hip hop and rap.
Release date
A Tribe Called Quest’s sixth and final album, We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service, was released on November 11, 2016, through Epic Records. The album features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, André 3000, Elton John, Jack White, and Busta Rhymes.
Singles
The first single, “We The People….”, was released on October 11, 2016. The song samples “Fuck You” by John Legend and contains a verse from Busta Rhymes.
The second single, “Whateva Will Be”, was released on November 4, 2016. The song is produced by Q-Tip and features vocals from Elton John and Nicole Scherzinger.
The third single, “Conrad Tokyo”, was released on December 2, 2016. The song is produced byStatik Selektah and features rapping from Nas and vocals from David Byrne.
Commercial performance
We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 136,000 album-equivalent units in its first week, with 111,000 pure albums. It is the group’s first number-one album and their highest charting album in 25 years. In its second week, the album dropped to number nine on the chart, selling 31,000 units. As of January 2017, the album has sold over 350,000 copies in the United States.
Chance the Rapper – Coloring Book
Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book is the third mixtape by the American rapper, following two previous independent releases. It was released on May 13, 2016, by Chance the Rapper’s own label, Second Chance Music. The mixtape features guest appearances from Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, and Cedarville University’s a cappella group, The Sweet Revenge. Coloring Book was Chance the Rapper’s first project to be released on Apple Music and received widespread critical acclaim.
Release date
The much-anticipated third mixtape from Chance the Rapper, Coloring Book, was released on May 13, 2016. The mixtape was streamed over 57 million times in the first week, setting a new record for streaming-only albums.
col·or·ing book
ˌkələriNG ˈboʊk/
noun
1. a book with line drawings or other images to be colored in, typically by children.
Singles
– Chance the Rapper – “All Night”
– Chance the Rapper – “No Problem” (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
– Chance the Rapper – “Summer Friends” (feat. Jeremih & Francis and the Lights)
– Chance the Rapper – “D.R.A.M. Sings Special”
– Chance the Rapper – “Blessings” (Reprise)
Commercial performance
Commercially, the album debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200, earning 62,000 equivalent album units in its first week (including 47,000 in pure album sales). It is Chance the Rapper’s second US top-ten entry. In its second week, the album remained in the top ten at Billboard 200 and dropped to number nine, earning 49,000 equivalent album units that week (including 32,000 in pure album sales). As of September 2016, Coloring Book has sold 156,000 copies in the United States.
Run the Jewels – Run the Jewels 3
Run the Jewels is back with their highly-anticipated third album, Run the Jewels 3. The album features 14 new tracks, with guest appearances from Danny Brown, Kamasi Washington, and TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe. As with their previous albums, RTJ3 is available for free online.
Release date
Run the Jewels 3 is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Run the Jewels, which consists of rapper/producer El-P and rapper Killer Mike. The album was released early for streaming on December 24, 2016, and was officially released on January 13, 2017, by Mass Appeal Records and RED. It is available for purchase on CD, vinyl, digital download, and as a free download.
Singles
“Talk to Me”
“Legend Has It”
“Call Ticketron”
“Hey Kids (Bumaye)”
“Don’t Get Captured”
“Thieves! (Screamed the Ghost)”
“2100”
“Panther Like a Panther (I’m the Shit)”
“Everybody Stay Calm”
“Oh Mama”
“Thursday in the Danger Room”
“report this ad
Commercial performance
“Run the Jewels 3” debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200, selling 42,000 album-equivalent units in its first week of release. It is the duo’s highest-charting album on the chart. The album also debuted at number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number four on the Rap Albums chart. In its second week of release, the album dropped to number 37 on the Billboard 200, selling 17,000 units. As of February 2018, the album has sold 109,000 copies in the United States.
In Canada, “Run the Jewels 3” debuted at number 39 on the Canadian Albums Chart.
