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.

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DJ Mustard featuring Jay 305 and Tee Cee, "Ghetto Tales"

DJ Mustard is back with visuals for his banger "Ghetto Tales" featuring Jay 305 and Tee Cee. With a beat that immediately takes you back to old school Cali rap, it was only right for the three to hit up the streets of Los Angeles to bring their stories to life. Not to mention, riding clean in vintage Cadillacs to match their respected set only helped to glorify the West coast themed track.

The banger is featured on DJ Mustard's chart topping project 10 Summers.

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Joey Bada$$, "Christ Conscious"

Pro. Era ringleader and 2013 XXL Freshman Joey Bada$$ is back with a visual for his newest joint, entitled "Christ Conscious." On this track, Joey raps over bumping production, and provides us with the gritty rhymes we're used to hearing from the Brooklyn-bred MC. The song is not particularly religious, as the title may suggest, but the end of the video does find Joey ascending into the heavens, perhaps signaling his attainment of "Christ Conscious."

His debut album, B4.DA.$$, still doesn't have a release date, but with tracks like this continuing to come out, we hope the album drops sooner rather than later.

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CJ Fly And Joey Bada$$ Redo High School In “Sup Preme” Video
Joey Bada$$ Believes Police Tactics Are Too Harsh In Ferguson

Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar, "Never Catch Me"

It takes a pretty great video to match the artistry and complexity of a Flying Lotus song, especially one as great as his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar. Hiro Murai succeeded in doing so, however. He directs the poignant and beautiful video that goes from somber mourning at two kids' funeral to a dance routine after the children miraculously rise.

The poignancy lies within the novelty — it's very possible those kids are ghosts. Note how no one in that church is like, "Holy shit! Those kids are alive," when they rise from the coffin.  Joy is the overriding emotion of this video, though. Watch it above.

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Rich Gang, "Riding"

Rich Gang can't simply floss in every video. The trio has to rep the streets every now and then. Young Thug and Birdman do a bit of mobbing and some stuntin' (it's a habit) in the "Riding" video — the second visual the crew dropped on Monday.

Although this video isn't all that much deeper than "Tell Em," you do get an arguably better song. The use of negative space and stuttering drums with the ever-eccentric Young Thug's onomatopoeia gives "Riding" a convincing sense of darkness. That comes despite Birdman's notoriously vapid rapping. Young Ralph's graveled voice holds its weight, too.

Previously:Birdman, Young Thug And Rich Homie Quan’s “Tell Em” Video Proves They’re Still Living Affluent Lives
Rich Homie Quan Is Helping Birdman With The Rich Gang Project
Rich Gang, Young Thug And Rich Homie Quan Live It Up On “Lifestyle” Video

The Game featuring Jeezy and Kevin Gates "Riding"

Only a week after dropping the star studded joint "Really," The Game is back with another banger. This time around, the Compton MC enlists Jeezy and 2014 XXL Freshman Kevin Gates to join him on his latest track, "Black on Black." The track takes on the topic of surviving through adversity. Jeezy, fresh off the release of his successful Seen It All album, takes on the catchy hook, while delivering a dope verse. The Game and Kevin Gates also deliver solid verses backed by string laden production.

This track is the latest cut off of The Game's upcoming Blood Money: Year of the Wolf album, which is scheduled to drop  on Oct. 14. Listen to the track below, and grab the pre-order here.

Previously: The Game Featuring Yo Gotti, 2 Chainz, Soulja Boy And T.I. “Really”
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A$AP Rocky, "Multiply"

#FlackoJodyeSeason is here. A$AP Rocky returns tonight with a new single. Sampling Three 6 Mafia's "Stay Fly," Rocky hits hard with boastful rhymes, paying homage to Pimp C, H-Town and more. Although the A$AP Mob's L.O.R.D. is pushed back, this track means that Rocky has more coming real soon. Listen above.

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