XXL’s Songs Of The Week

There’s plenty of new music to sift through. How do you know what is good or bad? Well, that’s where we come in.

Aside from a busy week of interesting news, there’s always a plethora of dope music that drops. Sometimes it’s out of nowhere, and sometimes it is promoted and released right when we expect it. As rap heads, we are all for it and love to talk about the new ish that comes out. In an attempt to keep you up to date with everything, we are going to round up our favorite tracks that we’ve been bumping in the offices. Click through for the best songs of the week.

Previously: The 25 Most Anticipated Albums For The Rest Of 2014
The 25 Best Songs Of 2014 (So Far)
The 25 Best Mixtapes Of 2014 (So Far)
The 25 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2014 (So Far)

Yung Joc Featuring T-Pain, "Features"

Give T-Pain some credit: He’s clearly been putting in a lot of effort in the months leading to the release of his next album. Plus, it’s not like it’s all totally for naught: ”Up Down (Do This All Day)” does bang in the club.

T-Pain’s latest effort finds him teaming up with Yung Joc on “Features,” which sounds like one of those jams you play when it gets closer to closing hours (like “Buy U A Drank,” another collaboration between the two). The song works even outside of that context. Yung Joc’s sullenness gives his turn-up a sense of melancholy, straddling optimism and pessimism as if he’s fighting off those drunken slurs while staring at that one girl through those drunk goggles. T-Pain, as he tends to do, plays the unbothered, clumsily romantic wingman on the hook.

“Features” will be featured on Yung Joc’s upcoming third album, which will be released via Polo Grounds Music/RCA Records later this fall.

Previously: DJ Sense Featuring T-Pain, Migos And K Camp “What You Know”
E-40 Featuring T-Pain, Kid Ink And B.o.B “Red Cup”

ScHoolboy Q Featuring Nas “Studio (Remix)”

ScHoolboy Q elevates his single “Studio” by adding Nas to the remix. From the jump, Nas addresses the possibly of putting out an album at another label. “Finished up my new album, single about to be droppin’/Last album on Def Jam, and I got so many options.” Q’s original vocals are intact, which automatically gives his record some new life. Hear it above.

Previously: ScHoolboy Q Battles For Rap Supremacy On ‘Oxymoron’
ScHoolboy Q Has Arrived – XXL Issue 153

Vince Staples “Hands Up”

Hip-hop has been very vocal against police brutality in the wake of the events in Ferguson, Mo. over the recent weeks, garnering a visceral reaction from hip-hop fans all across the world.

California native Vince Staples has decided to join in on the conversation with his brand new single entitled “Hands Up.” The menacing production, fully equipped with police sirens, sets the tone for a passionate Vince Staples to go off on law enforcement, especially the police departments in his neck of the woods. “LBPD, no they ain’t bout s**t/LAPD, no they ain’t bout s**t/LASD, no they ain’t bout s**t/Ridin’ round these streets givin’ out full clips. Check out the track below.

Vince Staples’s Def Jam debut, Hell Can Wait will be dropping on Sept. 23.

MC Lyte Featuring Common “Dear John”

The legendary Mc Lyte is back with new a single entitled “Dear John.” She calls on Common for assistance on this open letter to the men of America. The Loudbox produced track is part of Lyte’s Hip Hop Sisters Foundation’s signature scholarship initiative #EducateOURMen.

The initiative is dedicated to sending men of color to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Wale Featuring Jeremih “The Body”

Freshly off his leave from Roc Nation, Wale is pushing forward with his release of the highly anticipated The Album About Nothing. After releasing the trailer yesterday, Wale drops a teaser record called “The Body” featuring Jeremih. A strictly for the ladies cut, Wale compares their figures to expensive whips. Listen above.

[FSD]