XXL’s Songs of the Week (June 13 – June 19)

Not only is this Sunday Father's Day--it's also the first official day of summer. To that end, artists this week began trotting out some of their heatwave-engineered material. As we prepare for full-length releases from artists like Boogie and 2015 XXL Freshman Vince Staples, we're inundated with sunburn and 12-inches that should carry us through the dog days. These are the XXL staff's picks for the best hip-hop songs released from June 13 through June 19, 2015.

RetcH Feat. Mac Miller, “Troubled Man’s Lullaby”

New Jersey MC RetcH taps Mac Miller for "Troubled Man's Lullaby," a brooding, nihilistic story from the former's forthcoming Finesse the World. The beat, produced by Miller under his Larry Fisherman moniker, creeps and sprawls through minor keys, the vocalists following one another with grim tales that border on the metaphysical. Miller continues his development from frat-rap party starter to one of the most confounding voices in the vibrant Los Angeles underground, and RetcH is Exhibit #64831 in what Guru had to say about the voice. Finesse the World is due out June 30.

Skyzoo Feat. Jadakiss, “See a Key (Ki’)”

Skyzoo is a rapper's rapper. The Brooklyn MC returns with his new album, Music For My Friends, which is anchored by the soulful Jadakiss collaboration "See a Key (Ki')." The hustler's song is a tried-and-true rap trope for a reason, but the two vocalists are able to bring a fresh spin to the art. What the song foregoes in narrative cohesion, it more than makes up for in razor-sharp darts. At this point, Jada should be giving subscription lectures about how to age gracefully in hip-hop. (For the uninitiated, the Lox legend's 2015 has been full of staggering freestyles over classic beats.)

Raury, "Devil's Whisper"

Raury, the 2015 XXL Freshman and multi-talented musician from Atlanta, capitalized on the buzz afforded to him this week by dropping a never-before-heard song, "Devil's Whisper." Building off the progress he made on his genre-melding breakthrough mixtape, Indigo Child, Raury lets the track morph from folk to pop to rap. In fact, the young MC channels the lite version of Mystikal for the song's aggressive coda. Next Friday is the second annual Raurfest, a $10 festival in Atlanta that will sport performances from Big K.R.I.T., Keith Ape, Trinidad James, Two-9, India Shawn, 6lack and more. 

Falcons Feat. Chaz French and GoldLink, "Aquafina"

Speaking of those who made this year's Freshman cover, Maryland rapper GoldLink teamed up with Chaz French this week to bless "Aquafina," the new single from Falcons, the Athletixx producer and DJ from Los Angeles. It's a lean, kinetic cut that highlights each rapper's ability to cut through unconventional production and assert their own identities. GoldLink in particular seems at home over the track, having tied himself closely to the Future Bounce movement that emphasizes such skills in rappers. Check out his Freshman profile, and watch his freestyle video below:

Boogie Feat. D'anna Stewart, "Make Me Over"

Next week, Long Beach by-way-of Compton rapper Boogie will drop The Reach, his second project in as many years. The 12-track set is full of the same acrobatic rapping and disarmingly honest, confessional writing that made last year's breakthrough tape, Thirst 48, so enthralling. "Make Me Over" serves as the followup to the massive "Oh My" and offers an even deeper look into the rapper's personal life. Featuring a spoken interlude from Boogie's own five-year-old son, "Make Me Over" wrestles with questions of pride and responsibility while trying to raise children in a gang-ravaged environment.

Vince Staples Feat. Desi Mo, "Get Paid"

If you value your mental health, your June 30 will consist of a quick drive to Target or Best Buy to pick up 2015 XXL Freshman Vince Staples' debut album, Summertime '06. Dropping on Def Jam, Summertime is the strongest double-disc effort since the first Diplomatic Immunity, or at least Underground Kingz and Da Drought 3. "Get Paid" is an urgent, claustrophobic run for small sums, for single job, for breathing room. Below, watch his Freshman freestyle video, or click here to read our profile on the Long Beach native.