Thought It
Was a Drought

YG – Still Brazy

There are things that we know about YG: he’s from Compton, a capable rapper, and affiliated to the Tree Top Piru Bloods. That much he wears on the outside. Then there’s the stuff underneath: how he can’t sleep, and is so gripped by paranoia that he carries a pistol to answer his front door.

This is the YG we meet on Still Brazy. 12 months after he was shot leaving a Los Angeles recording studio, the rapper is firing back at a still-unknown target. It’s not just his shooter he’s going after either – though he’ll offer a million dollars for a name – he’s also growing suspicious of his inner circle, and he’s through with fake gangsters (Twist My Fingers), the police (Police Get Away With Murder), Donald Trump (FDT) and hangers-on looking for handouts (Gimme Got Shot).

Despite parting ways (for now) with closest collaborator DJ Mustard, the album’s updated G-funk sound is cohesive while avoiding the trappings of pure nostalgia. The most noticeable shift is in YG himself, who’s never sounded this fluid. His delivery is sharper, and the subject matter is more varied. In a confusing twist of circumstance (and untwisting of fingers), he even emerges as a spokesperson for unity in the record’s final stretch, rallying together races in the face of hatred. Still brazy – sure – but a lot more sensible than he lets on.

Maxo Kream – The Persona Tape

Sometimes you don’t know you want something until you hear it. Houston’s Maxo Kream rapping over eskibeat is one of those situations. Big Worm isn’t Texas’ first grime rap crossover (Dizzee’s been involved in at least three), but it’s the purest and most natural experiment yet. It’s also just a small part of what makes Maxo’s new The Persona Tape great.

Elsewhere it’s less grime but no less grimy. Maxo delves into the darkest details of Houston drug deals: “I got 25-to-life inside them cabinets in my kitchen,” he raps on Out The Door, following the grim origin story of how he learned the family trade. The storytelling takes another step up from last year’s #Maxo187, but these songs aren’t for the faint of heart. Maxo Kream remains the hardest rapper out of Houston.

Dave B – Outside

Dave B’s Punch Drunk is an album that I slept on last year, but thanks to a steady stream of new visuals it’s remained on heavy rotation. The latest clip for Outside is cut short, but in less than two minutes he manages to showcase his range. As comfortable launching into knotty verses as he is a sung chorus, the Seattle artist exceeds all expectations for a rapper named Dave, bringing to mind Chance the Rapper without the vocal quirks or delusions of grandeur. Look out for Tomorrow, his new collaborative album with producer Sango arriving 22 July.

AD & Sorry Jaynari – By The Way, RJ – OMMIO 3

While YG’s album is likely to own the summer in Bompton and beyond, he’s not the only rapper making waves in the city. Regular collaborators AD and RJ also released records this month that are set to have local radio stations on lock.

AD actually appears on Still Brazy opener Don’t Come to LA, and it’s in these short blasts where his delivery is most welcome. His collab album with Sorry Jaynari has several great songs, but sets a fast pace and struggles to maintain it. RJ, meanwhile, has a greater range, and his OMMIO mixtape series continues to reap rewards at the third time of asking. Best of the bunch is Strapped, a song they both appear on that does justice to a swiped Spice 1 hook and bassline.

Jimmy Wopo – Elm Street

The fine tradition of rap songs referencing Freddy Krueger spans The Fat Boys to Fredo Santana, but it may have finally peaked last month with Pittsburgh’s Jimmy Wopo. The rapper’s Elm Street video is a minor hit after racking up more than 300,000 views on YouTube, while follow-up Walking Bomb (Part 2) is a sparse gem of its own. Wopo’s well-titled Woponese mixtape is due to be released on July 24th, but even If that falls flat, we’ll always have the line: “It’s a mystery, Scooby Doo / Uzi make him do the hula-hoop”.

Kodak Black – Lil B.I.G. Pac

As Kodak Black’s profile continues to grow, the South Floridian rapper is beginning to sound like a legitimate star. This latest tape is his leanest yet at just 13 songs, and though arriving with added polish it retains the thoughtful, inward-looking tone of his best music.

Stylistic forefathers Boosie and Gucci add verses to Slayed and Vibin in This Bih respectively, but Kodak sounds unfazed. As he proved on the featureless Institution mixtape at the top of the year, he’s happy to do all the heavy lifting, and solo cuts like Gave It All I Got and Letter are the project’s standouts. A special mention too for the PNB Rock-featuring Too Many Years – the Philly newcomer is in desperate need of a name change, but you can’t argue with his hit rate.