RemixdMag’s best new songs this week play on the theme of introspection. From Sleepy Hallow and Lil Tjay‘s “PAIN TALK” to EST Gee‘s “Turn The Streets Up,” these selections are bound to foster personal growth and a better outlook on life.
Read the list below!
Sleepy Hallow and Lil Tjay – “PAIN TALK.”
Sleepy Hallow and Lil Tjay escape the woes with their strongest vices in “PAIN TALK.” Their honest rhymes are backed by a melancholy drill pop beat and their innermost thoughts. Sleepy Hallow uses his signature raspy technique to call out those who “act like you feelin’ my pain” and others who will present fake love. Asserting that we only have ourselves to depend on in this life, the New York-based rapper wonders who will stay through thick and thin. He then reflects on his rise to fame, saying “‘Member me and big bro in the Wraith/Thinkin’ back, we was lookin’ for stains/Can’t believe I was askin’ for change/Can’t believe that this shit really changed.” Lil Tjay uses his verse to get back at those who once doubted his talents. He also speaks about his come-up and a near-death experience. Overall, “PAIN TALK” allows you to feel all of your feelings.
Juice WRLD – “Cheese and Dope (Freestyle)“
Juice WRLD’s “Cheese and Dope (Freestyle)” comes straight from the archives yet still has that new-age feel. The music video, shot by Steve Cannon and Chris Long, captured Juice WRLD when he was still living. The rapper passed in 2019 because of an accidental overdose. BBC.com claimed during that time that “Higgins [Juice WRLD] died as a result of oxycodone and codeine toxicity” and “the manner of death is an accident.” On “Cheese and Dope (Freestyle),” the Legends Never Die wordsmith spits over Project Pat‘s 2001 hit single. As he challenges his competitors to a lyrical duel, Juice WRLD annihilates them with fighting words and bragging rights, “Pull up on the scene with the chopper, like, ‘Damn,’ n**ga, shoot him in his face, but it hit his b**ch,” he spits. The song also emphasizes Juice WRLD’s clever punchlines and ability to spit straight off the dome.
LaRussell and UglyMarco – “PLEASE!“
Warning others not to sleep on their greatness, LaRussell and UglyMarco wake the world up with a series of hard-hitting bars and a beat that’s just as commanding in “PLEASE!” Grounded in a heavy West Coast soundscape, the hit single pull others in with a strong sense of relentlessness, confidence, and optimism. After expressing that the community hasn’t switched up, LaRussell illustrates how solid he is with their people. He also speaks about staying ten toes down, his humble beginnings, and endless streams of income. “PLEASE!” is about being real from the jump.
EST Gee – “Turn The Streets Up “
EST Gee underlines the essence of street code in his latest trap-heavy banger. Giving his flowers to well-respected OG’s “that taught us money, murder happen like a new level,” the Kentucky-bred MC gives us the 4-1-1 on how to stay on our P’s and Q’s. He also gives a realistic view of what it means to “get it out the stove.” EST Gee then iterates that he’s something serious, using vivid lyrics to forewarn others who rough him up. One line that shows there’s no cap in his rap goes, “Twisting the bowl, make it swole, add the Lidocaine/Even if I stretch it, it’s gon’ come back like a lighter change/We wrapped his arm up with the seatbelt, then we tied the veins/They hit the same batch killed his buddy, think he want the same.”
Lil Durk – “Pelle Coat“
Ushering in a list of bangers from his highly anticipated album, Almost Healed, “Pelle Coat” finds Lil Durk reflecting on his humble beginnings and the death of his day ones—moreover, King Von and (possibly) his cousin Nuski. Similarly, he addresses the conspiracy theories behind being involved in King Von’s murder. The gloomy trap beat and sampled line from OG Bobby Billions‘ “Outside (Better Days)” set a tone for Lil Durk to let it all out. In “Pelle Coat,” he also talks about others who try persuading him to get his lick back. The “All My Life” hitmaker combats this negativity with a strong sense of faith and hope. Assisting this new record is a music video that contains the intro “Therapy Session.” In it, Alicia Keys acts as Lil Durk’s therapist and asks him how he feels about certain rap beef and loved ones who departed Earth too soon. The music video is currently trending on YouTube Music.
Kota the Friend – “Hope You Heal”
Instead of praying for someone’s downfall, Kota the Friend manifests a world without suffering for them in “Hope You Heal.” Soothing the soul with a groovy house beat, Kota the Friend rap sings about not getting himself involved in theatrics. Amidst heated conversations, Kota the Friend chooses peace every single time. He even makes it known from the jump, saying, “I ain’t sure why they mad bitch/I just hope they get past it.” In hindsight, the summery diverse hip-hop record teaches us never to stress over things we can’t control. “Hope You Heal” comes right after his Statik Selektah-assisted LP, To See a Sunset.
