As summer winds down--and as corporate behemoths saddle up for the fourth-quarter gold rush--the trade winds have been relatively quiet for major rap releases. In the place of the blockbusters are daring new mixtapes, like the one from Chicago's teenaged (and newly minted) G Herbo, or one-off side projects from our more famous artists, like Erykah Badu and George Clinton. These are the XXL staff's picks for the best rap songs from the week ending today, October 2, perfect for putting the cover on the grill and pulling coats out of storage.

G Herbo, "Bricks & Mansions"

This week, G Herbo--the artist formerly known as Lil Herb--dropped his masterwork of a new mixtape, Ballin' Like I'm Kobe. Named for one of his late friends, the 14-track set melds soul and grit in a way few can. Building on last year's Welcome to Fazoland, Kobe is defined by cuts like "Brick & Mansions," which forgoes a hook because there's scarcely time for an extra breath. I'm in the hood with all my ice--who said they try'na kill me?

 

Funkadelic Feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You? (Louie Vega Remix)"

Kendrick Lamar's sophomore effort, this March's To Pimp a Butterfly, prided itself on melding together disparate musical traditions that had served as Lamar's influences. For the record's opener, "Wesley's Theory," Kendrick landed perhaps the most legitimizing force imaginable: George Clinton. Now, the two team back up, on the Louie Vega remix of "Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard On You," from Funkadelic's 2014 album First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate. And you thought the keys to California were big.

 

Erykah Badu, "Hotline Bling (BUT U CAIN'T USE MY PHONE MIX)

For all the sexist bullshit about how Erykah Badu is a cancer on male rappers' careers, here she is improving one of the biggest songs of the summer. Drake's "Hotline Bling" gets the Badu treatment, for her upcoming mixtape BUT U CAIN'T USE MY PHONE. She blows it up to seven-and-a-half minutes, complete with very specific instructions when hitting the Badu hotline.

 

Gucci Mane, "Orange"

Gucci Mane's productivity from behind bars has become well-known, but that doesn't make it any more staggering. Though he may be a half-degree removed from his mid- and late-2000s creative peak, the quality control of his 2014-15 output is difficult to reconcile with his circumstance. Nevertheless, "Orange" is a stripped-down, percussive track about giving after-market paint to classic cars. The sound file peaks, just because nothing can be perfect.

 

KR, "Bout That"

No matter what the industry newsletters might try to tell you, KR is currently one of the biggest artists in Los Angeles without a record contract. HIs latest, the slinking, sexual "Bout That" doubles down on what he must hope will be a fan-winning, uh, personal appeal. Consider him near the top of your artists to watch for 2016.

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