Megan Thee Stallion Channels Gwen Stefani, Gunna Takes Aim, And Ice Spice Sparks Up On This Week’s Hip-Hop Releases

Preezy Brown and Armon Sadler

May 13, 2024 at 3:58 AM·8 min read

Like every Friday, some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists released a ton of new music just in time for the weekend. As you unwind and enjoy Saturday and Sunday, check out VIBE’s picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities.

Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”

Megan Thee Stallion’s “BOA” is one of her most confident releases yet, and it is especially enjoyable to hear her not addressing her rivals or those who have hurt her in the past. The upbeat track samples Gwen Stefani’s “What Are You Waiting For?” and feels like a warning shot to all male and female rappers. She brags about being a real star and not having to make TikToks, though the fans do love her non-music content on social media. “BOA” is a reminder that Meg’s delivery is her biggest selling point, as the conviction and passion in every word are palpable. If there’s more of this on the album, it could easily be her best yet. – Armon Sadler

Gunna – One of Wun

Gunna’s One Of Wun was a solid next step in this post-jail era of his career. He reverts back to the Atlanta rapper fans grew to love, with boisterous, confident bars about his money, jewelry, clothing, and women. The production leaves a bit to be desired as many songs sound the same despite having different choruses and verses. This results in a 20-song effort feeling like it can be, and should have been, cut down to a nice 14 songs. Surprisingly, his collaboration “Clear My Rain” with Leon Bridges works a lot more than one would expect. The back half of the album shows that Gunna can excel at making slower, more earnest tracks. Overall, it is a good LP that could have been great if he had been more selective and called in more versatile producers. – AS

Ice Spice – “Gimmie A Light”

Ice Spice’s “Gimmie A Light” was ambitious, flipping Sean Paul’s undeniable classic record from the early 2000s. While there have been some gems to come from her brand of sample drill, this was not one of them. The presence of Paul’s memorable chorus was not enough to distinguish this record from any that she has made in the past. Also, her choice to rap as if she were yelling caused a discord with the frantic, fast-paced production. Though she is still a new artist, the repetitive concepts within her songwriting and linear flows are beginning to wear out their welcome. This is by no means a sign that things are coming to an end for the Bronx star, but it does render the desire to hear a sonic evolution as she continues on. – AS

Ghostface Killah – Set The Tone (Guns & Roses)

Ghostface Killah 'Set The Tone' Album Cover

As the most consistently active Wu-Tang Clan member, Ghostface Killah has made it a near-tradition to dropping cohesive bodies of work. However, on Set The Tone (Guns & Roses), the veteran’s latest long-player, he slightly strays from the tried-and-true sound that cast him out of the shadows as a supreme soloist nearly three decades ago.

On the introductory salvo “6 Minutes,” GFK is joined by Jim Jones and Sheek Louch, delivering a fiery opening verse before passing the mic off to his fellow Big Apple luminaries. Fellow Clansmen Method Man (“Pair Of Hammers”) and Raekwon (“Skate Oddysey”) join in on the festivities, adding to Set The Tone‘s lengthy list of contributors, as Kanye West, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, AZ, Remy Ma and more lend their talents to the 19 track affair. – Preezy Brown

Mach-Hommy Feat. KAYTRANADA and 03 Greedo – “#RICHAXXHAITIAN”

Mach-Hommy Featuring 03 Greedo and KAYTRANADA "#RICHAXXHAITIAN" Cover Art

Mach-Hommy unveils “#RICHAXXHAITIAN,” the latest single and title track from his forthcoming album, due to drop May 17. Featuring a verse from 03 Greedo, the release finds Hommy and his Western costar gliding over a pulsating backdrop scored by KAYTRANADA that is sure to beckon those within earshot to the dancefloor or induce a slight shoulder bop, at the very least.

According to the Mach, #RICHAXXHAITIAN is an examination of “the past, present, and future through the lenses of his two homelands” and was a labor equal parts love and passion. “I’ve always wanted to rep for Haiti and the cultural and intellectual richness we’ve provided the world,” the emcee expressed in a statement.

“From our musical styles like kontradans that have influenced world music, our natural resources which provide so much raw material for so many important advancements in technology, our thinkers that pioneered philosophical movements and Black pride, and our spiritual leaders who kept the religious traditions of Guinea alive and intact, the religious traditions of Ayiti.” – PB

Coi Leray – “Lemon Cars”

Coi Leray throws an unexpected curveball in the form of “Lemon Cars,” her single from her upcoming EP, due to drop later this month. The project’s title track, “Lemon Cars” is powered by an upbeat ditty that harkens back to the electro vibes of the ’80s, albeit with a modern twist. “Fancy cars, lemon drops/ She likes to go out, and she want to f**k,” the hitmaker drawls on the song’s opening stanza, conjuring images of an inebriated bar-hopper looking for a good time. Produced by Mike WiLL Made-It “Lemon Cars” continues Leray’s gradual expansion of her sound and is further evidence of her willingness to stray beyond her expected comfort zones. – PB

Conway The Machine – Slant Face Killah

Conway the Machine continues to live up to his name, as he churns out Slant Face Killah, yet another collection of grisly bars from the Buffalo wordsmith. Taking a paint-by-the-numbers approach, Conway enlists upwards of a dozen artists to help bring Slant Face Killah to life, with the helping hands assisting him in completing one of his finer pieces yet.

On the Stove God Cooks featured “Mutty,” the Machine gets loose, basking in his evolution from the trenches to the penthouse, quipping “Them M’s come in portions weekly, that’s how we meal prep” over production by Conductor Williams, Nape, and David Emmanuel.

Shining by his lonely on the standouts “Give & Give,” “Milano Nights, Pt. 1,” and “Karimi,” additional highlights include “Meth Back!” featuring Method Man and the previously released “Vertino” alongside Joey Bada$$. Other guests on Slant Face Killah include Larry June, Swizz Beatz, Key Glock, TechN9ne, Ab-Soul, Jay Worthy, Raekwon, and more. – PB

Tee Grizzley Feat. Future – “Swear To God”

Tee Grizzley caught Future at a great time on “Swear To God.” HNDRXX delivers a strong hook and verse on the bass-heavy, car-rattling record. What initially seemed like a Gunna diss when he promoted it on X was actually just an assertion that no rappers can mess with his catalog: “F**k yo’ album, sh*t ain’t slappin’ like my mixtape.” What is most impressive is that Grizzley holds his own, dropping powerful bar after bar and synergizing seamlessly with the mid-tempo production. Future has a tendency to outperform many people he links with for one-off features, but Tee Grizzley is no slouch here. – AS

Kodak Black – “Dis Time”

Has someone checked on Kodak Black lately? “Dis Time” is another somber record, though the production is hauntingly beautiful. The guitar strums, hi-hats, flute, and drums come together to give him the ideal canvas to continue bearing his soul. Of course, it isn’t completely sad; he can’t not brag about violence or his wealth, but there is still a level of introspection that has been equally refreshing and concerning. He acknowledges that he doesn’t want to use drugs anymore, reflects on a failed relationship, and how people are out to get him. However, it seems like he knows he brought that on himself and you can’t ask for more accountability. – AS

Kalan .FrFr – Make The West Great Again

Capping last year off with the release of his Not Hard 2 Understand EP, Kalan.FrFr goes full throttle on his latest effort, Make The West Great Again. Comprised of 8 tracks, the project finds the Cali native campaigning to be the face of his coast’s continued resurgence, relying on catching jams rather than overt appeasement. Opening with the boisterous “Bad Bi**h” On Seen,” “Not Hard 2 Understand” offers solo a mix of solo standouts (“Everybody”) and guest spots, as YG (“Cool Down”), Ty Dolla $ign (“Silhouette”), G Herbo (“No Munyon No Funyon”), and Spooky Jay (“Keep Going”) all pop up on its tracklist. – PB