The Top 5 hottest Hip Hop releases for the week

Every Friday, music fans get some of the biggest music releases across genres like hip-hop, pop, trap, and more, with artists dropping lead singles and full-length projects on all major DSPs (Digital Streaming Platforms).

This feature will catalog the hottest hip-hop music releases from some of the biggest rappers in the game. From rising stars to established artists, our list includes records that would make an impressive addition to every rap fan's music playlist.

Rap Radar: Hip Hop releases of the week (September 11, 2024 — September 17, 2024)

These five records have caught major attention this past week, from news outlets across social media. Many of these projects aim to break through Billboard's Global 200 and Hot 100 charts this week.

1) Watch The Party Die (Kendrick Lamar) - Single Release

On September 11, Kendrick Lamar dropped a new track loosely titled Watch The Party Die, where the rapper teamed up with producers Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Pasqué, and Anca Trio Plus One.

The new record officially follows up on his chart-topping commercial hit Not Like Us, which has garnered over 740 million streams on Spotify since it was released to DSPs back in May.

The song interestingly revolves around Kendrick's outlook on the current state of the music and hip-hop industry, with memorable bars that include lines like:

"Burn the whole village, we start over, it's really that time / Why reason with these n----s if they can't see the future first? Why argue with these clowns if the circus is well at work? Just walk that man down, that'll do everyone a solid / It's love, but tough love sometimes gotta result in violence"

2) Dancing In The Flames (The Weeknd) - Single Release

As part of the official rollout for The Weeknd's upcoming sixth studio album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, the singer delivered the lead single from the project titled Dancing In The Flames last week via The Weeknd XO Music ULC.

The new record was distributed to streaming services on September 13, alongside a complete music video. The Weeknd teamed up with producers Max Martin and Oscar Holter to help compose the spacy track.

"I can't wait to see your face / Crash when we're switchin' lanes / My love's beyond the pain / But if I miss the brake / We're dancin' in the flames / It's indescribable" - The Weeknd's hook on 'Dancing In The Flames'.

3) The Death Of Slim Shady Mourner’s Edition (Eminem) - Deluxe Album Release

The official cover art for the Deluxe edition of Eminem's 12th studio album 'The Death Of Slim Shady' (Image via Instagram/@eminem)

Eminem returned with the official deluxe for his 12th studio album The Death Of Slim Shady on September 13, titled Expanded Mourner's Edition. The LP was delivered to streaming services via Shady, Aftermath, Interscope Records.

The complete tracklist for Em's The Death Of Slim Shady Expanded Mourner's Edition has been provided below:

Renaissance
Habits
Trouble
Brand New Dance
Evil
All You Got (skit)
Lucifer
Antichrist
Fuel
Road Rage
Houdini
Breaking News (skit)
Guilty Conscience 2
Head Honcho
Temporary
Bad One
Tobey (Feat. Big Sean and BabyTron)
Guess Who’s Back (skit)
Somebody Save Me
Steve Berman - Skit
Fuel - Shady Edition (Feat. Westside Boogie x GRIP)
Like My Sh*t
Kyrie & Luca

4) Souled Out (Jhené Aiko) - Album Release

The official cover art for the 10th anniversary of Jhené Aiko's debut studio album 'Souled Out' (Image via Instagram/@jheneaiko)

Jhené Aiko delivered a remixed version of her debut studio album, Souled Out, on September 13, marking the 2014 project's 10th anniversary. The remixed album was delivered to DSPs via UMG Recordings Inc.

Jhené's Souled Out includes revisions to her original songs as well as fresh tracks included on the original album's tracklist, which has been listed below:

Limbo Limbo Limbo
W.A.Y.S.
To Love & Die
Spotless Mind
It's Cool
Lyin King
Wading
The Pressure
Brave
Eternal Sunshine
Promises
Pretty Bird (Freestyle)
Remember
Blue Dream
You Vs. Them - Acoustic
Beautiful Ruin

5) ALL RED (Playboi Carti) - Single Release

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On September 13, Playboi Carti released a new single titled ALL RED, which was delivered to streaming platforms via AWGE and Interscope Records.

The single marks the rapper's first solo release since his 2022 album Whole Lotta Red, and features Carti rapping in a deeper voice which led fans to draw comparisons between him and Future. Playboi's new cadence is similar to his featured performance on Kanye West's Mr. Miyagi.

"The Bentley's parked outside / My vibe tryna go for a ride / I put VETEMENTS right on her thighs / I put the mask on 'cause I be fried / All red, I stay with the Fives / All red, we pull up and fire / All red, somebody dyin' / All red, I pour up then drive" - Playboi Carti's hook on 'ALL RED'.

Other notable hip-hop projects that released to DSPs this past week include Babyface Ray's new LP The Kid That Did, The Alchemist and ScHoolboy Q's new collaborative single Ferraris in the Rain, and Terrace Martin's new album Nintindo Soul.

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Edited by Perrin Kapur