Lil Durk, Ab-Soul, Benny The Butcher, 38 Spesh

Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Lil Durk – “Opportunist”

“Opportunist” is Lil Durk at his best; pensive, crooning, and flowing over a piano-loaded beat. This is definitely one of the better songs he has released in some time, though still it doesn’t compare to his peak a few years ago.

One of Durk’s major issues is there hasn’t been much of a narrative change over the years either; the songs usually sound good, but when really digesting the lyrics, it is hard to distinguish this track from any others he has put out. His story is his story but how many times can one tell the same story before people get bored? – Armon Sadler

Ab-Soul featuring Jason Martin, Thirsty P – “All That”

Causing a stir with the release of his warning shot, “Squeeze 1st 2,” Ab-Soul doubles back with his latest drop, “All That,” which finds the TDE spitter inviting all of the smoke.

Produced by Rascal and Tae Beast, “All That” includes various nods to the gang lifestyle and ’90s luminaries Digable Planets, and Keenan and Kel, as Soulo saunters over the track with a tempered aggression.

Featuring a guest appearance from Jason Martin, formerly known as Problem, “All That” is a simmering thumper that commands instant inclusion into one’s musical rotation, as it’s simply too good for one-off status.

The track also arrives as Ab-Soul announces his forthcoming album, Soul Burger, due to arrive on Nov. 8. With a title inspired by his late close friend, Doe Burger, Soul Burger marks the rapper’s first album since his last full-length offering, Herbert, which he unleashed in 2022 to critical acclaim.

If “All That” and “Squeeze 1st 2” are any indication, listeners can expect Soul Burger to be another continuation of his knack for channeling tragedy into triumph. – Preezy Brown

Benny The Butcher and 38 Spesh – Stabbed & Shot 2

Benny The Butcher and 38 Spesh have quietly become among the more impressive tandems out of the eastern seaboard, as the upstate New Yorkers’ brand of no-frills lyricism and street parables have gradually risen in demand.

Picking up where they left off on their debut collaborative effort, Stabbed & Shot, Benny and Spesh band together for its sequel, an explosive offering that ups the ante on its predecessor.

“Stabbed & Shot 2 is a sound that can only come from experienced street hustlers,” Benny The Butcher attests. “There is some glorification because we’re proud of where we come from and it made us who we are; but this is pure intellectual street dialect mixed with hindsight.”

The pair’s chemistry is evident throughout the album’s 16 tracks, which includes the highlights “Center Stage,” “Brick Specials,” “Money Counter,” and “Intent To Sell.” Contributions from guest artists Busta Rhymes, Dave East, Ransom, ElCamino, OT The Real, Bink, V Don, Klass Murda, and boardsmen Harry Fraud, Daringer, and StreetRunner only add to the firepower on Stabbed & Shot 2, as the dynamic duo complete the assignment while leaving no witnesses – PB

Gunna – “Him All Along”

Gunna’s “Him All Along” is a triumphant affirmation. Though the production is a bit more midtempo, his vocals are passionate and loaded with conviction. He belts about reaching his goals despite being doubted because, like the title, he has been “him” this entire time. It especially hits differently given what he has endured over the last few years.

Turbo delivers him a signature beat and Wunna understood the assignment. As stated before in this column, it is nice to hear him tell his story of what he’s been going through but also hear him flex and be confident; this record blends both concepts. – AS

Danny Brown – Quaranta (Deluxe)

Nearly a year after dropping his stellar Quaranta album, Danny Brown drops off the deluxe version, which includes two new songs and a handful of instrumentals to fan-favorites from the original. On “Cheaters,” the Detroit rhyme animal volleys slick couplets atop production by Black Milk, from plotting on a hottie reminiscent of Heidi Klum to lamenting his faults as an infidel.

On the Black Noi$e-scored “Keep It To Me,” Danny brings down the tempo with a more measured offering, as he muses on his self-medication through various intoxicants. Bookended by instrumental versions of album standouts “Tantor,” “Jenn’s Terrific Vacation,” “Y.B.P.,” and “Dark Sword Angel,” Quaranta (Deluxe) is a welcome accompanying piece to its standard version and conjures yearning for another body of work from Danny Brown to come sooner rather than later. – PB

Big Boogie – Ether

Big Boogie is back with his latest project, Ether, and he’s kicking things off with a bang. The album opens strong with the raunchy club bangers “SDA” and “BS,” setting the perfect vibe for a night of twerking and good times.

The rump-shaking doesn’t let up with “Make That A** Bounce,” ensuring the dance floor stays lit. But it’s “Tender,” sampling the soulful classic “A Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, that showcases Big Boogie’s artistic depth, marking it as one of his most impressive solo efforts to date.

The album also boasts features from heavy hitters like 42 Dugg and YTB Fatt on “Pool Party,” Lakeyah with “Water,” Moneybagg Yo on “Stuff Her,” and GloRilla‘s energetic presence on “Bop.” While Ether offers its share of party anthems and positive vibes, it also reveals opportunities for growth in Big Boogie’s subject matter and overall versatility.

This project solidifies his place in the CMG roster while hinting at the potential for even deeper exploration in future works. – PB

Ice Cube – “It’s My Ego”

Ice Cube carves time out of his pursuit of dominance in the professional sports landscape to dust off his trusty pen and notepad for his new musical release, “It’s My Ego.” Produced by E-A-Ski, this upbeat number finds Cube plastering his gruff flow against a bouncy backdrop, boasting, “I was Kendrick before Kendrick/ Rock & Roll Hall of Famer like Jimi Hendrix” on the opening verse.

“It’s My Ego” is the lead-single to Ice Cube’s forthcoming album, MAN DOWN, his first LP since his 2018 album, Everythang’s Corrupt. Scheduled for release on Nov. 22, MAN DOWN is a project which Cube hopes will urge men in society to rise to the occasion and become men of respect and leadership. “It’s really about me thinking real men need to stand up,” Cube said in a statement. “I think we’re already down in a lot of ways.”

Accompanied by a music video that’s a contender for visual of the year, “It’s My Ego” is a stellar offering from Cube that has us anticipating MAN DOWN as one of the potential dark horse releases of the fourth quarter. – PB

Loe Shimmy & Cash Cobain – “Confession”

Loe Shimmy and Cash Cobain delivered a reimagined version of “Rump Punch” with “Confessions.” The effort was admirable, but the result was a bit uninspiring. It is a cool trend to see artists sampling or interpolating tracks that have come out recently, but this just felt a bit unnecessary. Cash sounds great here, but Loe Shimmy didn’t bring the same swagger and vocally he clashes with the vibe of the track.

Cash is generous with his sound and production efforts, but he may benefit from being more selective as everyone wants a piece of “slizzy” and sexy drill. Ultimately, this music is for the ladies so time will tell how they feel about it. But this left us wanting to just go back to “Rump Punch.” – AS

Jordan Adetunji featuring Lil Baby – “Options”

Jordan Adetunji feat. Lil Baby “Options” cover art — A 300 Entertainment release. Under exclusive license to 300 Entertainment LLC., © 2024 Indigo Kid Ltd.

Jordan Adentunji redid the “Kehlani” formula on “Options” and added Lil Baby to the mix. Much like many life experiences, it didn’t hit as hard as the first time but it’s not bad. The structure, flow, and cadences are nice; Adetunji sounds good vocally. And the sexy drill production still hasn’t gotten old yet. However, it will be nice to see a new direction over time before it starts to feel one-trick pony-like.

Quiet as kept, Lil Baby has been on a nice feature run as of late and he continued it here. This was the key for him after a down last few years: stepping into other musical lanes and reminding the world why they fell in love with him. It’s hard to see this song catching on like “Kehlani” did but honestly, that’s okay. Let the next hit be something different and better. – AS

MIKE – “Pieces Of A Dream”

MIKE’s “Pieces Of A Dream” is honestly a bit boring. Again, the lackadaisical approach doesn’t work for everyone. The production, loaded with instruments, helps the record to be a bit more ear-grabbing but the foundation of the track is his vocals and they make it hard to want to really consume what he is saying.

MIKE is a talented rapper undoubtedly, but this one just didn’t do it. Perhaps a flow-switch or a change in his tone may have helped this one out, but as it stands, it is very hard to envision going back to “Pieces Of A Dream.” – AS