The best new hip-hop this week includes albums, videos, and songs from Drake, Westside Boogie, Erica Banks and more.

Well, we were obviously shocked this week by Drake surprise releasing his seventh studio album Honestly, Nevermind that even ousted the Golden State Warriors’ NBA Finals victory from being the main topic of discussion. Now, if you aren’t feeling the dance and house vibes, there’s plenty of variety here for you.

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending June 17, 2022.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

Drake — Honestly, Nevermind

Honestly, Nevermind is surprising for multiple reasons. Notably, we didn’t know it was coming until less than 24 hours ago, and then the musical direction Drake went doubled down. The music you may normally curate for brunches or day parties seemed a bit more fitting for Zara or a rave. This does not mean it is bad at all; it’s actually quite good. For those who have asked Drake to take a risk for years, here it is. Sole feature 21 Savage adds in some of the braggadocious raps on “Jimmy Cook’s” that a subsection of fans likely would have preferred a full project of. This is a new venture for The Boy, his fanbase and his harshest critics, but it mostly goes over well. Early gems are “A Keeper,” “Down Hill,” “Texts Go Green,” “Flight’s Booked,” and “Liability.” It’s a journey. In this essay, I will… honestly, nevermind.

Westside Boogie — More Black Superheroes

Westside Boogie has a signature voice and palpable sense of vulnerability. His latest album More Black Superheroes delves further into his heart-on-his-sleeve delivery. An early standout is the follow-up record to 2019’s Everythings For Sale cut “Lolsmh,” “Lolsmh II” but appearances from Snoop Dogg, Smino, Shelley FKA Dram and more ought to compete for the hero of this project. If you ask Soulja Boy though, it would probably be him.

Gucci Mane & 1017 — So Icy Gang: The ReUp

Gucci Mane has never been one to shy away from spoiling the listeners, and So Icy Gang: The ReUp extends that reality. Clocking in at 32 songs, both his label talent and curation talent are on full display with contributions from Quavo, Lil Durk, Pooh Shiesty, Nardo Wick, Veeze and more. While the Atlanta veteran is deep in the game, it appears he will never be too lost in the sauce to be able to recognize who makes good music.

Chris Patrick — Lost Files

Chris Patrick is the type of talent you have to hear to believe. I can tell you how good he is, or you can listen to Lost Files and understand why it is only a matter of time before he is in some major conversations. The effortlessness in the way he raps, blends melodies, and attacks any beat is awe-inspiring. “Back On Road” featuring the Chicago hybrid Ausar, who also delivers a quality verse, is an instant repeat.

Kevin Gates — Khaza

You know what you’re going to get with Kevin Gates, and that’s why many people love him. One surprise here, though it has happened before, is he actually had a feature on Khaza in none other than Juicy J. As I sit here and think about the two rappers, Juicy J’s all-time bar “You say no to ratchet pussy, Juicy J can’t” sounds like something Kevin Gates would say. He certainly says a lot of things, but the loverboy comes out on this project too… Albeit through some very descriptive sexual lyrics.

Logic — Vinyl Days

Logic has been pretty active since unretiring, and Vinyl Days is a huge indicator of such, clocking in 30 songs. He does get some solid bars off throughout the ride and features from Russ, Wiz Khalifa, RZA and more enhance the experience.

Conway The Machine & Big Ghost Ltd — What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed

Conway The Machine and Big Ghost Ltd have a triumphant story to tell with What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed. With appearances from Method Man, Jae Skeese, Goose and more, they stick the lyrical landing.

Duke Deuce — Crunkstar

Duke Deuce is just one of the most entertaining people ever, but it should never be lost on anyone how talented he is. Crunkstar displays this to the nines, and honestly, the only complaint is not getting a full video of him dancing to every single song in the gym.

Erica Banks — Diary Of The Flow Queen

Erica Banks wins because she sampled “Pop, Lock And Drop It” on “Toot That.” Of course, she’s talented beyond measure among a landscape of talented women rappers, but transporting my pushing-30 self back to that moment — she won. DreamDoll, Beatking, and Bankroll Freddie only make it that much better.

Singles/Videos

Al-Doms ft. Pusha T — “Haha”

It’s always nice hearing Pusha T depart from his usual sonic niche, and Al-Doms achieves that with “Haha.” The uptempo trap jam blends sharp lyricism and a conviction that you can’t deny. Not to say Push doesn’t remain on-brand with his signature, composed flow, but it just breathes new life into a different arena.

Power Pleasant, Maxo Kream, Bas, Erick The Architect, Kenny Mason — “Overseas”

Rap posse cuts must never die. “Overseas” has a haunting backing track, and each rapper brings along spooky flows to match the energy. I mean, not actually horrific but more so it is just scary how talented this ensemble of Power Pleasant, Maxo Kream, Bas, Erick The Architect and Kenny Mason is. Not to mention, the song is under four minutes!

Curren$y x Fuse — “One Track Mind”

Curren$y has one of the most chill rap flows, but the talent will never make you lethargic. Over rattling Fuse production, the NOLA rapper floats on “Overseas.”

Scorey — “No Names”

In our melodic rap contribution for the day, Scorey curses the police and flexes his dollars alongside friends in “No Names.” A family man, there are scenes of him hugging relatives in what appears to be his hometown. No matter how much the rapper ups the score, Scorey will never forget his roots or snitch on a homie.

Ace Hood — “Energy”

Ace Hood! Who can forget all he gave us in the early 2010s? His new single “Energy” is aptly named, providing an immediate jolt of adrenaline along with his calculated, pocket-manipulating flow. Even he knows himself, rapping “With a flow like this, this sh*t hit with an impact”

Headie One x Luciano — “Cloud”

Headie One is one of the best doing it from the UK, and “Cloud” is just another tally on the chart. Luciano adds in his frantic disposition, which hits the mark despite being a bit jarring.

Rican Da Menace — “Ain’t Going Back”

Rican Da Menace lives a good life: riding bikes, drinking liquor, and rapping. “Ain’t Going Back” is her proud exclamation that this will be her permanent reality, and everything prior will remain in the rearview. The track blends drill and some slight house elements, but it is primarily strong raps to the fullest.

Wynne — “Gossip At Brunch”

Wynne can spit. Full stop. And now I’m especially endeared because she’s rapping about brunch on “Gossip At Brunch.” That’s definitely an environment where rumor passing occurs, but she seems focused on other things. The affirmation “I don’t go on walks of shame” is a standout line.

MCM Raymond — “Jimmy Choo”

MCM Raymond hails from Inglewood and the Cali energy is oozing out of “Jimmy Choo.” He blends the upbeat sounds you would drive around San Andreas to while playing Grand Theft Auto with the charming melodies you’d change the song to when picking up your date for the evening. “Jimmy Choo” can work in any environment.

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

In February of last year, Daft Punk announced that they were officially breaking up in a cryptic (but still obvious) video entitled Epilogue. In it, the robot-masked pair walk into the middle of a desert and one blows the other up in a dramatic explosion. “1993-2021,” flashes on the screen and that was the last time we’ve heard from Daft Punk. Until now…

In the most unpredictable turn of events possible, a video posted this week by Lil Nas X on his Instagram Story, has him in the studio vibing out to what sounds like Old World French music. His new blonde curly hair is bouncing every which way, and then, like a ghost, what very clearly appears to be Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter, walks behind him holding a guitar. A Twitter user spotted it and commented in French “J’hallucine ou c’est Thomas Bangalter en studio avec Lil Nas X ????” (Translation: “Am I hallucinating or is it Thomas Bangalter in the studio with Lil Nas X????”

Yes, Daft Punk have indeed shown their faces on very rare occasions and Bangalter’s frizzy crown around his bald head is pretty hard to miss. Lil Nas X, who has lately been in the news for smihing BET after being shunned by their Awards show and for an emotional speech at the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame Ceremony, seems to be working on what’s next. Could what comes next include production from one half of Daft Punk? It sure seems that way.

Among Draymond Green’s many talents — basketball player, podcaster, analyst, etc. — provocateur continues to rise the ranks. The four-time All-Star is clearly reveling in and enjoying his fourth title after the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics, 103-90, in Thursday’s Game 6.

In the 15 or so hours since the championship was finalized, Green’s celebration included calling out Kendrick Perkins and mocking a Jaylen Brown tweet from earlier this season. His latest endeavor, however, might be his finest yet. He got his hands on a Celtics shirt headlined by the words “it’s all about 18” screened across the top, with their 17 championship banners placed below and an empty spot for a potential 18th.

In place of that blank space, Green had some fun, given Boston did not win its 18th title this year, with he and the Warriors preventing it.

If you have poor eyesight like myself, Green scribbled “WARRIORS” atop that space and “NOPE!! Maybe in 23” inside the rectangle. This is a man very much basking in the success of he and his teammates — deservedly so, of course.

The Warriors’ core clearly has the uncanny ability to be aware of and remember every single slight against them, so I am quite curious to see what lies ahead. Their list of receipts is extensive. I wonder where they pivot next because this campaign is successfully hitting every direction possible, it seems.

Yes, Drake has a new album out called Honestly, Nevermind. Yes, it’s a dance music album. And finally, yes, this is not what people were expecting when the Toronto rapper announced yesterday that a new album was coming at midnight. Folks expecting a hip-hop album have been sharing their thoughts, saying that it sounds like mall music, cracking jokes and dropping memes on Twitter en masse. It’s kinda gotten out of hand, as the names of mall stores like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara have been trending today.

But Drake cares not for you plebes. Last night, at what looks like a release party for Honestly, Nevermind, Drake addressed the haters in an Instagram video. “It’s all good if you don’t get it yet. It’s all good,” Drake said, as “Calling My Name” played in the club. “That’s what we do. We wait for you to catch up. We’re in here, though. We’re caught up already. On to the next. My goodness.”

Damn, son. This is the Drake ethos conveyed straight from the horse’s mouth. He has always been the alpha influencer, discovering what’s about to pop off before it does, dropping videos and album covers that he expects to turn into memes, and then watching it go. As for what’s next, on his new Table For One SiriusXM show, Drake already teased both a new poetry book and the next Scary Hours pack.

In an effort to reach Americans, the January 6 committee has been uploading clips from its ongoing hearings to YouTube. There’s just one small problem. A recent video was pulled for triggering YouTube’s policy against election disinformation, which is obviously going to be in the mix. The January 6 attacks were the result of Donald Trump’s “Big Lie” that the 2020 election was stolen, so naturally, the topic is going to come up.

However, YouTube is actually defending the removal of the Jan. 6 committee video. In a statement to The New York Times, the company said election disinformation will be removed if “sufficient context” isn’t provided, regardless of the user:

“Our election integrity policy prohibits content advancing false claims that widespread fraud, errors or glitches changed the outcome of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, if it does not provide sufficient context,” YouTube spokeswoman Ivy Choi said in a statement. “We enforce our policies equally for everyone, and have removed the video uploaded by the Jan. 6 committee channel.”

That’s an odd stance for YouTube to take considering the context is an official government hearing on how election fraud claims sparked the January 6 insurrection. As for the disinformation that violated YouTube’s policy, it was a clip of Trump’s infamous “big massive dumps” interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo where the former president claimed suspicious data “glitches” were giving his votes to Joe Biden.

“They’re not glitches. They’re theft. They’re fraud. Absolute fraud,” Trump ranted to Bartiromo. “This election was over, and then they did dumps. They call them dumps. Big, massive dumps. In Michigan, in Pennsylvania, and all over.”

As of this writing, YouTube has yet to reverse its decision on removing the Jan. 6 committee’s video.

(Via The New York Times)

There are many, many anxiety-inducing scenes from Breaking Bad, like all of the various run-ins with the law and that one fatal ATM incident. But according to director Rian Johnson, there is one particular shot that makes him very upset. And it’s not even in the show!

Before directing Chris Evans and Co. in Knives Out, Johnson directed three episodes of the AMC drama series from 2010-2013. Apparently, Johnson is unhappy with the way Netflix displays the series on its site. The director took to Twitter to show his dissatisfaction with a single frame that is used to promote the series.

The shot features Walter looking stressed (as always) while on the phone (the second cell phone!) with two traffic cones in the background. As it turns out, those cones were not a part of the shot and were just there to block off the set, most likely for safety from potential traffic. Johnson does not like this, and wants to make it your problem, too!

He tweeted, “This key frame always drives me nuts – those traffic cones were out of our shot, they were just there for safety. And now they’ll drive you nuts too. You’re welcome!”

He is right. After all, who moves a cone like that? Considering how often Netlfix’s switches up their thumbnails, this one will likely be returned from the rotation now that Johnson pointed it out.

Why have a picnic in the park when you can have a full-blown festival in the park? That’s exactly what Welsh DJ Jamie Jones and LA-based production company Future Primitive did when they created Paradise in the Park.

Paradise began as a summer residency at Ibiza’s legendary DC-10 in 2012 but has since turned into a globally renowned event series. Its most recent extravaganza went down last weekend (June 11) in Downtown LA’s Pershing Square. Jamie Jones, along with other renowned electronic music producers, performed alongside a backdrop of the iconic DTLA skyline. The lineup also included Dubfire b2b Art Department, Carlita, DJ Holographic, and Airrica.

If you’re in need of something to get you excited for the weekend ahead, the photos below should do the trick. Scroll through the vibrant scenes of Paradise in the Park to inspire your weekend plans.

ALSO READ:

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• Let These Photos From The Framework After Party At Coachella Inspire You For The Weekend
• Zach Hood’s Guide To Gulf Shores, Alabama — Just In Time For Hangout Music Festival

There are many traditional staples of fatherhood—love, support, protection, security, providing an example—but there is, of course, that other not-so-warm-and-fuzzy feeling that dads can provoke in their kids at any given moment … sheer, utter embarrassment.

Usually in a father’s humiliation tool belt is the infamous dad joke. These corny puns have been around since 2003, and let’s face it, they’ll never leave. Of course, no dad needs one to make your eyes roll. They can do that most of the time simply by being themselves.

For his well-known #Hashtags segment, Jimmy Fallon asked his “Tonight Show” audience to share “funny, weird, or embarrassing” stories about their dads. Fallon, a father himself, is no stranger to the cringeworthy power of a dad joke. In a 2020 interview with TODAY, Fallon admitted, “I’m starting to get the eye rolls now where Daddy’s not the funniest person in the world.”

Don’t worry Fallon! Clearly you’re not alone, because people replied with some truly hilarious comments. Dads might be silly, but we’ll gladly put up with it for the love they give us.

Enjoy 20 of the very best #DadStories:

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As usual, Fallon went first:

1.

“Instead of buying a smoker my dad just grills in the garage with the door closed.” – @jimmyfallon

2.

“At my aunt’s wedding reception, my dad ran out from the bathroom when he heard You Should Be Dancing by the Bee Gees play, and proceeded to do John Travolta’s routine from Saturday Night Fever.” – @MJ_Rose88

3.

“My Dad will call me sometimes when he wants me to bring him food. He refers to me as ‘GrubDash.'” – @FalPalAMF828

4.

“My dad likes to play a very morbid game called ‘guess who died’, which consists of him gossiping about someone I probably haven’t seen in 20+ years and can’t remember at all, who died recently. Bonus points for guessing the cause of death.” – @jon_jonz

5.

“My dad used to drink his morning coffee with his dentures in his hand while reading the newspaper. When we asked him why, he said his teeth also wanted to read the newspaper.” – @FallonHolic_

6.

“When my dad took my sister to her first Jr. HS dance, she asked to be dropped off a block before the school. My dad proceeded to take her all the way up to the main entrance, got out of the car and loudly announced her arrival!” – @77BroncosFan

7.

“Asked my dad if he knew who Taylor Swift was…he said, I don’t care who he is!” – @JessyKrupa

8.

“My dad whistles really loud. He sticks his head out the window and whistles back to birds. But when the lady next door heard him, she called 911. The cops told her, ‘Lady, he didn’t whistle at you. He only flirts with birds.'” – @tostianascripts

9.

“When my dad would leave a message on my answering machine, he would end the message saying, ‘This is dad signing off.'” – @RealRobFindor

10.

“We were on vacation and the gift shops selling fudge called plain fudge ‘chocolate no nuts.’ A guy walked up to my dad with some samples and offered him some saying ‘chocolate no nuts?’ And my dad said ‘what did you just call me?'” – @lauraceciliaOT

11.

“My Dad laid a new floor in my brother’s house. It was all finished so we couldn’t understand why he was taking up the boards again. Turns out he had seen a spider run underneath and was worried it would be trapped.” – @Sohnzie

12.

“Whenever my dad would try to talk us into trying something new to eat he’d state, ‘It’s so good it’ll put hair on your chest.’ He had 3 daughters.” – @Bookelew

13.

“My mom once bought a 6 ft Santa statue at a yard sale without telling dad. When he got home and parked, we heard banging, crashing and swearing. We went to look and the Santa was laying face down on the curb. Dad thought someone was trying to jump him.” – @dknessfalls

14.

“My dad couldn’t decide if he wanted to be called ‘grandpa’ or ‘papa’ so he just told all of us to call him ‘Coach.’ He’s not a coach.” – @iPopEditor

15.

“My father went to the McDonalds drive thru and asked for a whopper. When they said ‘they didn’t have whoppers’, He just drove off without placing an order.” – @Marisa_Rosie22

16.

“One day we went out to eat at Pizza Hut and sat in front of an empty table with some pizza left on it. My dad, being the penny pincher he is, grabbed some and started eating it. A few minutes later the couple comes back from the bathroom asking ‘where’s our pizza?'” – @Alex_Erickson3

17.

“My dad let a bee land on his hand and watched it closely as it stung him because he ‘wanted to see the process up close.'” – @TrippyPsycholo1

18.

“My dad once tried to tell a lady she had a Big Bug on her, but accidentally told her she had a Really Big Butt. She was not amused.” – @Sallyjo25

19.

“My dad thinks it’s funny to introduce my mom as his ‘first wife’….my parents have been married for 58 years and are in their late 80’s.” – @annMcD87

20.

“My dad entered Canada by swimming across the Niagara from the US under the cover of night.” – @albertduic

Maile Trist adopted a dog named Jazzy four years ago in San Diego, California. When they first met at the shelter, Trist couldn’t resist petting her even though it violated the shelter’s “no touching” rule.

“I came across my gorgeous girl, I stuck my hand in the cage, and she automatically walked right up to me, tail wagging, and put her head in my hand,” said Trist to The Dodo. “I started crying because I had found my dog!”

After two years, Trist got a new full-time job 1,400 miles away in Salina, Kansas. Fearing that the move and new job would leave her no time for Jazzy, she left her to stay with friends until she got her bearings.

But when she reached out to her friends to get her dog back, they didn’t respond to her calls and shut down their social media profiles. Six months later, Trist’s fiance got in touch with them and they told him the dog had died. Trist was devastated and feared that leaving Jazzy with her so-called friends led to her death.

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Imagine her surprise when Trist recently received an email from the Cowley County Humane Society in Kansas, about three hours away from her home, saying her dog had been dropped off at the shelter after being found at a rock quarry.

“We scanned and found a chip but the chip was registered in California,” the shelter wrote on its Facebook page. “We were doubtful we could find the owner. We still attempted contact to find out the owner had moved to Salina two years ago.”

Trist took a chance and drove to the shelter. When she arrived, her dreams came true. Jazzy came running out and the two were reunited.

“I was crying and I was shaking because I was just so overjoyed that for one, she was still alive and for two, I could bring her finally home,” Trist told Local 12 Cincinnati. Since the two have been reunited, Jazzy has been nothing but tail wags and kisses. “She’s been so, so happy ever since and she will not leave my side or let me go anywhere without her,” Trist told The Dodo. “And I feel the same way!”

Jazzy is 11 years old and the two hope to spend the rest of her time together. “She’s still the same old lady she was before, and I’m so glad she stayed loving through these last two years,” she told The Dodo. “She will live out the rest of her years very spoiled and in her right-full home with me!” she wrote on Facebook.

Unfortunately, nobody knows why Trist’s friends ghosted her and then said that the dog had died, or how the dog got lost and wound up in a rock quarry. The good news is that everyone is back together and Jazzy is happy and healthy.

The Cowley County Humane Society used the heartwarming story as a reminder for people to microchip their dogs. “Microchips work to get your babies back home! Sometimes even years later!” the shelter posted on Facebook.

Trist agrees.

“Microchipping is worth every penny!” she responded to the post.

Sbtrkt has been one of the most influential producers of the past decade. What the project, helmed by Aaron Jerome, started with his 2011 debut laid the groundwork for modern day vocal collaborations between eclectic singers and MC’s, with electronically-minded beat-makers. The Little Dragon-featured “Wildfire” might just be the most significant dubstep-inflected collaboration of all time, and the now illustrious career of Sampha, began as the primary singer on both the debut and on 2014’s stellar follow-up, Wonder Where We Land.

But if there’s one thing Sbtrkt has also always been marked by, it’s in building mystique. Both Jerome and Sampha wore masks the entire time when they performed on stage, and to this day, Jerome has still not show his face in public. The mask motif and then the polymorphous cat from Wonder Where We Land (which was recorded on a sparsely accessible island)... are part of the signature Sbtrkt aesthetic. Jerome himself is highly elusive, and we’ve gotten no new music from the project since a Chance The Rapper remix four years ago. But now, a new chapter is building.

“Bodmin Moor” is the latest cut from Sbtrkt and it feels destined to be a part of a greater new universe. The song has two movements as it shifts from tension-building drums to a cymbal-heavy downtempo jazz break. The accompanying music video (directed by The Rest) hints at a multi-part story. Two hired hands search for a missing painting of a mythical panther (a visual theme for the next album, perhaps?) only to uncover that a secret society might be behind its theft. It ends with an ominous cliffhanger and the music soundtracks the mood masterfully. More is surely on the way…

Watch the video for “Bodmin Moor” above.