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 (October 10, 2024 — October 16, 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) Port Antonio (J. Cole) - Single Release

J. Cole finally addressed the 2024 beef on a new record titled Port Antonio, where the rapper discusses the possible reasons behind Drake and Kendrick Lamar's fallout. The track was produced by DZL and Omen, who used a Cleo Sol chopped sample to create an emotional hip-hop production.

Carried by two solo verses, J. Cole dives deeper into why he decided to step away from the beef, especially after responding to Kendrick Lamar on the now-deleted 7 Minute Drill. This is best evidenced in Port Antonio's second verse, where Jeramine raps:

"Now some will discredit me, try wipe away my pedigree / But please, find a n---a out that's rappin' this incredibly, uh / My dawg texted me, I'll share the words he said to me / If you refuse to shoot the gun, don't mean the gun ain't deadly, uh / I guess in that metaphor, hypothetically, the gun is me / I text him back like, Guess a gun ain't what I'm tryna be, my n---a"

2) Glorious (GloRilla) - Album Release

GloRilla dropped her highly anticipated debut studio album, Glorious, on all streaming platforms last Friday.

The LP was distributed via CMG and Interscope Records and hosted features from BossMan Dlow, Sexyy Red, Megan Thee Stallion, T-Pain, and more, over a 42-minute runtime. The official tracklist for GloRilla's Glorious has been provided below:

1. INTRO
2. HOLLON
3. PROCEDURE (Feat. Latto)
4. TGIF
5. WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME (Feat. Sexyy Red)
6. STOP PLAYING
7. DON'T DESERVE (Feat. Muni Long)
8. RAIN DOWN ON ME (Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard, Chandler Moore)
9. GLO'S PRAYER
10. HOW I LOOK (Feat. Megan Thee Stallion)
11. I AIN'T GOING
12. STEP (Feat. BossMan Dlow)
13. LET HER COOK
14. I LUV HER (Feat. T-Pain)
15. QUEEN OF MEMPHIS (Feat. Fridayy)

3) Last Lap (Rod Wave) - Album Release

Rod Wave delivered his sixth studio album, Last Lap, to all major streaming platforms last Friday. The highly-anticipated project was distributed via FAX Records, under an exclusive license to Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment.

Following up on the rapper's 2023 Nostalgia album, Rod's latest LP has a complete runtime of one hour and seven minutes, and the following records are included as part of its official tracklist:

1. Turtle Race
2. Last Lap
3. Apply Pressure
4. 25
5. Fuck Fame (Feat. Lil Yachty x Lil Baby)
6. Federal Nightmares
7. Angel With An Attitude
8. The Best
9. Never Mind
10. Mike
11. Even Love
12. Waited 2 Late (Feat. Wild Rivers)
13. D.A.R.E
14. The Mess They Made
15. Karma
16. Spaceship
17. Lost In Love (Feat. Be Charlotte)
18. Bachelor
19. Scared Love
20. Fall Fast in Love
21. Passport Junkie
22. IRan
23. Jersey Numbers (Feat. Rylo Rodriguez)

4) Piece By Piece (Pharrell Williams) - Soundtrack Album Release

On October 11, Pharrell Williams dropped his debut LEGO movie titled "Piece by Piece," which tells the "true story" of the rapper illustrating real-life instances and guest collaborations via LEGO Animations.

Alongside the movie, Pharrell also developed and produced a complete soundtrack for the movie which features artists and popular songs from Tyler The Creator, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and more. The complete tracklist of Pharrell Williams' "Piece by Piece soundtrack" album:

1. It's Happening
2. Piece By Piece
3. VIRGINIA Boy (Remix) (Feat. Tyler The Creator)
4. L'EGO Odyssey
5. For Real
6. Maybe (by N.E.R.D.)
7. God Bless Us All (by N.E.R.D.)
8. Señorita (by Justin Timberlake)
9. Rockstar (by N.E.R.D.)
10. Rump Shaker (by Wreckx-N-Effect)
11. Superthug (by N.O.R.E.)
12. I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me) (by Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams)
13. Hella Good (by No Doubt)
14. Drop It Like It's Hot (by Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams)
15. Grindin' (by Clipse and Pharrell Williams)
16. Frontin' (Feat. Jay-Z)
17. Beautiful (by Snoop Dogg, Charlie Wilson, and Pharrell Williams)
18. Sooner or Later (by N.E.R.D.)
19. Get Lucky (by Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, and Pharrell Williams)
20. Happy
21. Alright (by Kendrick Lamar)

5) Mad As F*ck (Cordae) - Single Release

As part of his ongoing rollout for Cordae's upcoming fourth studio album, The Crossroads, which is currently scheduled to be delivered to streaming platforms in November.

Last Friday, Cordae released his third lead single for the album titled Mad As F*ck, with production credits Darko, Elkan, and Smoko Ono. The track follows up on the rapper's collaborations with Lil Wayne and Anderson Paak titled Saturday Mornings and Summer Drop.

"My n---a keep the Uzi like JT, it get to actin' up (Pop) / Bought my mom a Beamer, yeah, shе used to whip that Acura truck (Skrrt) / Had to get a new crib, 'causе my old crib was inadequate (For real) / Suitland Station, where a young n---a had to catch the bus (On God) / We ask all the b---hes who the hottest, they all said it's us" - Cordae raps on 'Mad As F*ck'.

Other notable hip-hop releases from last week include Lupe Fiasco's Pound for Pound, BigXthaPlug's new single Take Care, both of which dropped alongside Rich The Kid, Jay Critch, and Famous Dex's new collaboration album titled Rich Forever 5.

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