Iggy Azalea – In My Defense

Maxo Kream – Brandon Banks

Image credit: Roc Nation

This is a standout: Houston, Texas rapper Maxo Kream follows up Punken with his big label debut Brandon Banks, named so after his father’s criminal past:

“This album is me telling the story of how I’m just like my dad except he was a scammer and I was a trapper… Despite his flaws, he was a great parent, always made sure the rent was paid, made sure I went to school, taught me right from wrong. I wasn’t raised to be a trapper, it just happened because of my circumstances. My relationship with my dad now is great – I used to be terrified of him growing up but now that’s my n***a. We’re like yin and yang.”

Features on the 15-track album include those from Megan Thee Stallion, ScHoolboy Q, Travis Scott and A$AP Ferg. Press play below.

Beyoncé – The Lion King: The Gift

Image credit: Parkwood/Columbia

You might as well just call this a Beyoncé album. King Bey “curated” a Lion King compilation separate from the official soundtrack titled The Gift, which sees 14 tracks and assistance from Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Kendrick Lamar, JAY-Z, Childish Gambino, Pharrell, Blue Ivy Carter, Saint JHN, WizKid, Tierra Whack, Tiwa Savage and more. In addition to seeing the film remake, you can press play on The Gift below.

Tinchy Stryder – Change

Image credit: Cloud 9

Following his visual for “Promise,” Grime/UK Rap veteran Tinchy Stryder delivers a new EP titled Change, which sees seven new tracks from the London artist. Also added with the EP is another dope visual for the track “Proper.”

Nas – The Lost Tapes 2

Image credit: Mass Appeal/Def Jam

Welp, some 17 years after the classic Lost Tapes project was released comes its polarizing sequel. Check out Nas‘ 16-track deep The Lost Tapes 2, which features throwaway cuts from Hip-Hop Is Dead, Untitled, Life Is Good and Nasir. Features and production comes from Swizz Beatz, Pharrell Williams, Kanye West, The Alchemist, DJ Toomp, RZA, DJ Khalil, Statik Selektah and more. Press play below.

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Check out “Started” below.

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The post Iggy Azalea Delivers New Visual for “Started” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Now, it looks like Iggy’s prepping a new album for this year titled In My Defense, and she’s prefacing that with the new single (and visual for) “Sally Walker,” which features a drag queen, twerk-heavy funeral following a rather bizarre hit-and-run accident. Famous drag queens Shea Couleé, Mayhem Miller and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo co-star in the clip.

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The post Iggy Azalea is Back with New Visual for “Sally Walker” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Travis Scott – Astroworld

Image credit: David LaChapelle (via Travis Scott)

No debate: Travis Scott has remained one of the most consistent artists in Hip-Hop (and music period), thanks to a slew of amazing features and a damn-near flawless catalog of mixtapes and albums. Today, he’s back with his third studio album, titled Astroworld, of which he explained viaGQ:

“They tore down [Houston’s Six Flags] AstroWorld to build more apartment space. That’s what it’s going to sound like, like taking an amusement park away from kids. We want it back. We want the building back. That’s why I’m doing it. It took the fun out of the city.”

Features on Astroworld are extensive, too: Drake, Frank Ocean, Murda Beatz, Cardo, Hit-Boy, The Weeknd, 21 Savage, NAV, Pharrell, Migos and more all add some sort of contribution (vocally or production-wise) to the effort. Expect this to be the chart-topper this coming week.

Mac Miller – Swimming

Image credit: Warner Bros.

What a whirlwind life for Pittsburgh emcee Mac Miller (and the kid’s only 26). In two years, we’ve seen him go from a high-profile relationship with Ariana Grande and his ode to her (and women, period) The Divine Feminine to an unfortunate break-up amidst stories of addiction (and a DUI). Now, the man who’s career we’ve seen blossom and evolve in ways few of his peers could ever accomplish has a new album titled Swimming, which continues that evolution sonically. No features here, either: just added production from J. Cole, Jon Brion, ID Labs, DJ Dahi, Cardo, Tae Beast and more. Stream below.

YG – Stay Dangerous

Image credit: Def Jam

YG is back. Every two years, you can expect a new collection of West Coast bangers from the Compton rapper, and — following 2016’s Still Brazy — we now have his third studio album Stay Dangerous, which sees him largely back on the field alongside partner-in-crime (DJ) Mustard. Production aside, features include YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Quavo, Ty Dolla $ign, A$AP Rocky, “Big Bank” collaborators Nicki Minaj, Big Sean (who isn’t too happy with EA Sports in regards to this song), 2 Chainz and more. 400!

Q Da Fool & Zaytoven – 100 Keys

Image credit: Roc Nation

Q Da Fool continues to make power moves following his inclusion into Roc Nation. For his latest, he teams up with the legendary Zaytoven for the 9-track release 100 Keys, a collaboration that he previously spoke on via Billboard:

“Working with Zaytoven on this EP has been a dope experience for me… I mean, Zay is a legend in the game and when he sent me the first set of beats, I knew then that this 100 Keys EP was going to be a classic project for me.”

Vibe to the Maryland artist’s latest below.

Moneybagg Yo – Bet On Me

Image credit: N-Less/Interscope

Moneybagg Yo fans are currently celebrating the release of the Memphis star’s new EP titled Bet On Me, an apparent appetizer to hold us over until his debut album arrives. The 7-track project also sees appearances from Atlanta trifecta Gunna, Lil Baby and Young Thug; rising beatsmith Tay Keith handled executive production duties.

Baka Not Nice – 4MILLI

Image credit: OVO Sound/Warner Bros.

Drake‘s former muscle-turned-artist Baka Not Nice has officially christened his transition with his new EP titled 4MILLI, an 8-track tour de force that features previously-released singles “Money In The Bank,” “Live Up To My Name” and “Junior High.” Turn up to Canada’s latest below.

Iggy Azalea – Survive The Summer

Image credit: Island

Iggy Azalea‘s rollercoaster career is well-documented: the Aussie rhymer somehow went from chart-topping phenom to appropriating culture vulture in what seems like seconds (to be fair, her shallow attempts to address the faux Southern accent haven’t really helped). Even T.I. had to separate himself from his own artist.

Given this, her follow-up to 2014’s The New Classic simply couldn’t catch steam (Digital Distortion?)…fast-forward to Summer ’18, and Iggy now has a new EP titled Survive The Summer (a presumed leftover of another shelved album, Surviving The Summer), which sees 6 tracks and features from Tyga (“Kream”) and Wiz Khalifa (“OMG”).

Very interested to see the next move for Iggy Azalea after this.

H.E.R. – I Used To Know Her: The Prelude

Image credit: RCA/Sony

Last but not least: if there’s an album we’re reaching rabid levels for, it’s H.E.R. — Gabi Wilson‘s quasi-alter-ego left us (me) in a spell via her Volume 1 and Volume 2 EPs (both of which are now joined for your listening pleasure). This weekend, the multi-faceted artist-musician gives us another appetizer: below lies I Used To Know Her: The Prelude, which sees 6 tracks and features from DJ Scratch and Bryson Tiller. Vibes.

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Image credit: Island

UPDATE: New visual for “Kream” added below. Probably not safe to watch this at work.

So, it seems like Iggy Azalea isn’t catching any breaks when it comes to project release dates (Surviving The Summer was apparently supposed to drop tomorrow in some form). Nonetheless, the Australian artist looks to at least restart that momentum with a couple of new singles — one of which features Tyga. You can check out both, “Kream” and “Tokyo Snow Trip,” below.

Surviving The Summer (an EP) is now set to be released August 3rd. Pre-order here.

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The post Iggy Azalea Drops “Tokyo Snow Trip,” Visual for Tyga-Assisted “Kream” (UPDATE) appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Now, what was supposed to be her return (Digital Distortion) is now said to be titled Surviving The Summer, which will be released via Island Records/Roc Nation (yep, Jay-Z is in on it). First, she makes landfall with the new single “Savior,” which features go-to Hip-Hop feature Quavo. The track described as being more “intimate and personal” than recent releases:

I’ve never really been this honest about the things I struggle with… I always try to be really tough for everybody – especially women.

Check out the Colin Tilley-directed clip above and pick up the new single here.

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Iggy Azalea has quite a set of obstacles ahead of her career-wise. Three years ago, the Australian rapper found herself in the midst of the growing racial tension in America, mainly thanks to a polarizing debate about whether or not she’s appropriating Hip-Hop culture (all the way down to her faux Southern-American accent) and her rather insensitive responses to the matter (which led to internet “beefs” with the likes of Azealia Banks, Q-Tip and — surprisingly — her own colleague T.I.). Since then, she’s been in the headlines for the usual Hollywood fare: her heavy use of plastic surgery and failed relationship with L.A. Lakers’ player Nick Young. While there was a growing buzz for the follow-up to debut album The New Classic (titled Digital Distortion, led by last year’s “Azillion” and “Team“) and a massive North American tour, all was suddenly put on hold, leaving Iggy’s fans wondering what her next move would be.

This week, it looks like Iggy’s ready to restart her momentum, as she’s liberated a brand new single titled “Mo Bounce”, which premiered on Apple Music’s Beats 1. The track — produced by The Stereotypes and Far East Movement‘s Kev Nish — is a futuristic, bouncy cut (hence the name) that sees Azalea rapping like she’s at a South Central cookout:

Bounce like a motherf***in’ ’64, sick flow
Slick talk, spittin’ that Crisco
Drop that s***, like a cholo at the dub show
Can you hit the switch and pick it up and let the world know?

Check out “Mo Bounce” below (UPDATE: Official video added). Presumably, Iggy will be revealing for information about Digital Distortion soon.

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