The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Lil Nas X, Mozzy, and more.

You’d think things would slow down with two of the biggest releases of the year, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy and Kanye West’s Donda, out of the way. Instead, it seems that everyone else has given themselves the go-ahead to drop new music without worrying about being overshadowed. Not that we’re complaining; this week’s slate of releases is a true “something for everybody” situation showcasing just how much variety and creativity modern-day hip-hop has to offer.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending September 17, 2021.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Curren$y & Kino Beats — Matching Rolexes

Any time Kino Beats gets to team up with a rapper for a whole project, fans are in for a treat. When that rapper happens to be Curren$y, one of the genre’s most consistent creators, it’s a double delight.

DijahSB — Tasty Raps, Vol. 1 [EP]

Toronto, stand up! Dijah’s only a couple of months removed from the release of her last full-length project, Head Above The Waters, but it looks like the smooth Canadian native isn’t through with 2021 just yet.

Injury Reserve — By The Time I Get To Phoenix

Arizona-based avant-garde trio-turned-duo Injury Reserve returns after the loss of Stepa J. Groggs with an album dedicated to his memory.

Lil Nas X — Montero

Nas’ long-awaited debut arrived this week to pay off all the fanfare he’s created in the lead up to its release, revealing an artist who isn’t afraid to take big swings and push himself out of his comfort zone.

Mozzy — Untreated Trauma

Speaking of “consistent,” Sac-town’s favorite son returns just a few months after releasing the joint tape Kommunity Service with YG, getting back to business and sticking to his gritty script while layering in newfound observations and introspection.

Rittz — S.O.S.

White Jesus returns for yet another in his annual string of independently-released albums. An eight-track effort, S.O.S. finds Rittz utilizing his rapid-fire flow as usual to address the struggles of growing up in Gwinnett County.

Wordsmith — Bittersweet

Baltimore-based Wordsmith is a veteran of the blog era whose sharp lyrics and uplifting messages pair with a polished flow on his latest release.

Singles/Videos

CJ — “Replica” Feat. El Alfa

If CJ’s hyperfocus on the drill sound convinced you he couldn’t or wouldn’t be good at switching lanes, he returns with a reggaeton anthem dedicated to calling out the fakes of the world with a cheeky video starring some eerie duplicates of the two Latino stars.

FXXXXY — “Yeah Kool” Feat. Lil Uzi Vert

Released in memory of the late Freebandz rapper, “Yeah Kool” and its claymation video are bittersweet. On one hand, it’s a genuinely fun song but on the other, it’s a reminder of what could have been.

Lakeyah — “313-414” Feat. Tee Grizzley

After impressing with her XXL Freshman Freestyle, the Milwaukee rapper has recruited DJ Drama to reintroduce herself via a Gangsta Grillz mixtape — the best way to do it, to be honest. Hanging with Tee Grizzley on a monstrous street sweeper of a single is a good start.

Wiki — “Promised” Feat. MIKE

This modern wave of lo-fi (an extension of early 2000s backpack rap) has been divisive, to say the least, but it’s really benefitted rappers like Wiki and MIKE, who are both great lyricists whose bars deserve to be the primary focus of whatever track they spit on.

Zack Fox & BFB Da Packman — “Bob And Weave”

Am I a little biased because Zack Fox is a hilarious comedian whose standup and television work has been amusing me for the last few years? Maybe. But I defy you to make it to the end of this wild, borderline disrespectful groove without breaking out into a grin at least once. You can’t do it. You won’t.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.